** END OF DAY. Barack Obama has placed himself in direct opposition on the proposed California gay marriage ban on the November ballot. He’s against it; McCain’s for it. When you have the kind of lead Obama has in California, you can take risks. And I wouldn’t bet on its passage. … Rough day for General Wes Clark, who was discussing John McCain’s qualifications for the presidency on one of the Sunday chat, doing fine in delineating what McCain actually has and hasn’t done till he spoke disparagingly of McCain’s Vietnam service as “riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down” — after speakingly glowingly of him as a hero! Obama disavowed the remark, but Clark won’t. While this might have removed Clark from the veepstakes, the McCain folks shouldn’t overplay their hand here, as I expect them to do. Clark’s other points are cogent, and the former NATO commandeer and Vietnam War hero will just keep repeating them. … But it was a big day for another potential Obama veep, Virginia Senator and former Navy Secretary Jim Webb. His new GI bill was signed into law. With President Bush and John McCain both taking some credit. Whoa! They both fought hard against the Webb bill, as the Vietnam War hero rather gleefully pointed out. … Obama and Bill Clinton finally talked on the phone today. Clinton will be campaigning with Obama later. … California, to no one’s surprise, misses the constitutional deadline for budget passage at midnight tonight. Legislative leaders are nowhere on this, nothing is getting done, and the ultra-government and anti-government factions that dominate the two legislative parties are locked into reflexive positions.
** WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
Barack Obama is in Independence, Missouri, Harry Truman’s hometown, for a speech on patriotism.
John McCain is in Harrisburg and Pipersville, Pennsylvania, trying to catch up in a state many had thought would be a big problem for Obama.
** SCHWARZENEGGER LIVE ELECTRIC CAR WEBCAST THIS MORNING. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joins state Treasurer Bill Lockyer and officials of Tesla Motors this morning in San Carlos to announce that production of the firm’s innovative new all-electric sports cars — 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds — will take place in California. The event will be webcast live at 11:30 AM on www.gov.ca.gov.
** OBAMA’S CALIFORNIA. It began as Clinton Country. For awhile, it seemed John McCain might stake his claim on the Golden State. But now, it is clearly Barack Obama’s California. From my other blog.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM RUSSIA TODAY. Russia has re-emerged as one of the world’s great powers. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer, bringing you English-language, jargon-free, fast-paced coverage of global and Russian news from the new Russia Today channel. You probably already know about CNN International, BBC World, and Al Jazeera. Russia Today, which also features culture, entertainment, and sports, is based in Moscow and is owned and operated by the TV Novosti division of Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti.
While it’s quite foolish to expect to see, say, criticism of Vladimir Putin on Russia Today, which I know as a former DemRussia advisor, the channel is very interesting nonetheless. With U.S. cable news chattering away as it does, this sort of respite can be informative. The NWN live link to RT does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND U.S. ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. After crashing through the $143 per barrel barrier earlier today, crude oil is trading in the $140 per barrel range.
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I’m watching Obama’s patriotism speech now. It’s good. He’s taking this head on.
He’s getting it done.
A wonderful speech by Obama.
Can you post Obama’s speech?
Solon,
In answer to your question of last night, yes I have read Hidden Moon, the second Inspector O book. While it lacks the novelty of insight into North Korean society the first book had, it is very worthwhile, revolving around a bank robbery, a crime so rare there are no police procedures to deal with it. Inspector O continues to develop as a character.
Did Obama apologize for Clark’s outrageous attack on John McCain’s military service?
What is Inspector O?
I’ll run the video tomorrow.
>Jack Aubrey:
Can you post Obama’s speech?
Jun 30, 2008 – 10:03 am
It’s a good one.
>marcus waldron:
A wonderful speech by Obama.
Jun 30, 2008 – 9:45 am
He rejected Clark’s most inartfully phrased remark.
>marcus:
Did Obama apologize for Clark’s outrageous attack on John McCain’s military service?
Jun 30, 2008 – 10:37 am
Perhaps.
>Capitol Boy:
He’s getting it done.
Jun 30, 2008 – 9:38 am
He has to take it head on. Repeatedly.
>Len:
I’m watching Obama’s patriotism speech now. It’s good. He’s taking this head on.
Jun 30, 2008 – 9:31 am
Where’s Schwarzeneger?
There’s Schwarzeneger. Pretty car!
I need a Tesla…now!
:):)
Yeah for the Firefighters in Northern California!
P.S. I will trade in my SUV for one!
Bill,
Inspector O is the main character in two books set in North Korea, The Corpse in the Koyro and Hidden Moon, by “James Church,” a pseudonym for a former “Western intelligence agent.” Fascinating picture of present day North Korea. The author clearly knows the locale. Good as books, too.
That sounds very interesting. Except for the North Korea part. Is it as drab as I think?
Actually, Carole, you’ll trade in your SUV for about one-fifth of one …
>carole w:
I need a Tesla…now!
:):)
Yeah for the Firefighters in Northern California!
P.S. I will trade in my SUV for one!
Jun 30, 2008 – 12:00 pm
Okay, I will take the fifth and work the rest off:)
Bill,
In the Inspector O books North Korea is pictured as both drab and fascinating.
Larry,
Thanks for the feedback. Undecided whether to get it now or wait until it comes out in softcover at the end of October…about that same time another in the series appears in hardback! It’s titled “Bamboo and Blood” and will be released on November 25.
—
Bill,
Larry’s spot on about the book
Sounds very interesting.
>larry:
Bill,
In the Inspector O books North Korea is pictured as both drab and fascinating.
Jun 30, 2008 – 3:00 pm
Good luck!
>carole w:
Okay, I will take the fifth and work the rest off:)
Jun 30, 2008 – 2:23 pm