At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Saturday night, the US blocked a move for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
** OBAMA TODAY – SUNDAY. With Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha having moved to Washington yesterday, President-elect Barack Obama follows this afternoon, joining his family at the Hay Adams Hotel.
Obama meets tomorrow with congressional leaders to discuss his agenda, notably his big economic stimulus program. (Which he discusses in the weekly address you see below.)
He also needs to find a new secretary of commerce, as New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is withdrawing. Richardson is under investigation for allegedly granting state contracts in exchange for financial support for his 2008 presidential bid. He insists he is innocent, but the investigation won’t be completed prior to his Senate confirmation hearing.
Meanwhile, Israel continues its ground offensive in Gaza, and Obama continues his silence on the matter.
Using armor, the IDF has apparently split Gaza City off from the rest of the Gaza Strip and is moving against rocket launch sites. Israel is a little vague about its ultimate goals. It seems unlikely that its leaders want to get bogged down in a guerilla war in one of the most densely populated places on the planet.
What may be happening is that Israel is out to destroy as much of Hamas’s offensive capability as possible, then press for a peacekeeping force from other nations. And that the IDF will be pulling out right around the time of Obama’s inauguration.
In other action, comedian Al Franken has a 225-vote lead over incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman with the recount completed in the Minnesota race. Coleman is now trying to get the state Supreme Court to order that other ballots be counted, and to start the recount over with different counters (from the state, not the normal county officials).
President-elect Barack Obama delivers his weekly video/radio address coming out of the holiday season.
** ISRAELI GROUND ASSAULT ON GAZA BEGINS. The Israeli army has entered the Gaza Strip in a further escalation of its offensive against Hamas. The Israelis have been gearing up for this for days.
How long will the IDF be in Gaza? What are its objectives? They’ve said they want to stop Hamas from being able to keep firing rockets into Israel, and to block the so-called “smuggling tunnels” which bring military materiel and other supplies in to Hamas.
The IDF essentially lost its war with Hezbollah in 2006. Now they’re entering one of the most densely populated places in the world. Will they fight house-to-house there?
** OBAMA TODAY – SATURDAY. President-elect Barack Obama is back in Chicago following a 12-day Christmas vacation with his family in Hawaii.
Today, incidentally, is the first anniversary of Obama’s “surprise” breakthrough victory in Iowa, which was expected here on NWN.
The Obamas are packing up this weekend for a quick move to Washington on Sunday, where they will take up residence at the historic Hay Adams Hotel in advance of the inauguration on January 20th.
The girls start school on Monday at Sidwell Friends. And dad has a few meetings, too … with the top congressional leaders on his agenda.
He talks about some of this in his weekly video/radio address, which you can watch above and read below: “As the holiday season comes to end, we are thankful for family and friends and all the blessings that make life worth living. But as we mark the beginning of a new year, we also know that America faces great and growing challenges – challenges that threaten our nation’s economy and our dreams for the future. Nearly two million Americans have lost their jobs this past year – and millions more are working harder in jobs that pay less and come with fewer benefits. For too many families, this new year brings new unease and uncertainty as bills pile up, debts continue to mount and parents worry that their children won’t have the same opportunities they had.
“However we got here, the problems we face today are not Democratic problems or Republican problems. The dreams of putting a child through college, or staying in your home, or retiring with dignity and security know no boundaries of party or ideology.
“These are America’s problems, and we must come together as Americans to meet them with the urgency this moment demands. Economists from across the political spectrum agree that if we don’t act swiftly and boldly, we could see a much deeper economic downturn that could lead to double digit unemployment and the American Dream slipping further and further out of reach.
“That’s why we need an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that not only creates jobs in the short-term but spurs economic growth and competitiveness in the long-term. And this plan must be designed in a new way – we can’t just fall into the old Washington habit of throwing money at the problem. We must make strategic investments that will serve as a down payment on our long-term economic future. We must demand vigorous oversight and strict accountability for achieving results. And we must restore fiscal responsibility and make the tough choices so that as the economy recovers, the deficit starts to come down. That is how we will achieve the number one goal of my plan – which is to create three million new jobs, more than eighty percent of them in the private sector.
“To put people back to work today and reduce our dependence on foreign oil tomorrow, we will double renewable energy production and renovate public buildings to make them more energy efficient. To build a 21st century economy, we must engage contractors across the nation to create jobs rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, and schools. To save not only jobs, but money and lives, we will update and computerize our health care system to cut red tape, prevent medical mistakes, and help reduce health care costs by billions of dollars each year. To make America, and our children, a success in this new global economy, we will build 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries. And to put more money into the pockets of hardworking families, we will provide direct tax relief to 95 percent of American workers.
“I look forward to meeting next week in Washington with leaders from both parties to discuss this plan. I am optimistic that if we come together to seek solutions that advance not the interests of any party, or the agenda of any one group, but the aspirations of all Americans, then we will meet the challenges of our time just as previous generations have met the challenges of theirs.
“There is no reason we can’t do this. We are a people of boundless industry and ingenuity. We are innovators and entrepreneurs and have the most dedicated and productive workers in the world. And we have always triumphed in moments of trial by drawing on that great American spirit – that perseverance, determination and unyielding commitment to opportunity on which our nation was founded. In this new year, let us resolve to do so once more. Thank you.”
** OBAMA: VACATION’S END. With brand new, and extremely positive, signs from the Gallup Poll that his transition is more than weathering criticism from the left and the right, President-elect Barack Obama’s Hawaiian sojourn is at its end.
It’s that bittersweet time for Obama, a time that we all know, in between the end of the vacation and the renewal of work.
Obama had what appears to have been a lovely working vacation in his native Hawaii, our Pacific paradise which is a source of calming solace for the 44th president.
I hope he’s recharged his batteries from a rough though ultimately commanding election campaign in 2007 and 2008. The current president, after intermittent shows of competence, is leaving him with an historic, multi-layered, mess.
The stock exchange lost nearly a third of its value last year, the worst showing since 1931.
That’s not a haircut. That’s Skinhead Nation.
When did Bush or his allies raise the alarums? That would be, never. In fact, they insisted until the bitter end that all was well.
The environment got worse, too, with the Bush/Cheney regime not only going out of its way to block progress on fuel efficiency and greenhouse gases, as the North Pole melted, but also making late moves to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act. Which environmental groups and former California Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown have just sued to prevent.
Then there is geopolitics. … From my new Huffington Post column.
** HOW OBAMA’S ADROIT SYMBOLISM YIELDS SKY-HIGH APPROVAL. Well, President-elect Barack Obama has more than weathered a few highly-publicized controversies. He has the highest approval rating for a president-elect in decades. He’s done it with a lot of good will from the campaign, and some adroit symbolism during the transition. … From my Monday column.
** OBAMA FLOATS THROUGH TEAPOT TEMPESTS. With the fastest Cabinet appointments in 40 years completed, Barack Obama is off to a working vacation in his native Hawaii. It increasingly looks like he’s rolled through two teapot tempests. One in which the far right flipped out, and another in which some on the left, frustrated at an avoidable defeat on same-sex marriage, forgot about the center part of center/left.
The far right flipping out about Obama is nothing new. Nor, I suppose, is a lot of the media going along for the ride. The media loves controversy, deep or otherwise. It’s easier than contemplating pressing issues. … From my December 22nd column.
** CALIFORNIA CRACKING. From my December 10th column.
** 12 KEY THINGS ABOUT THE MUMBAI CRISIS. From my December 5th column.
** OBAMA’S NEW POWER TROIKA FACES CRISES OLD AND NEW. From my December 3rd column.
** HAPPY THANKSGIVING, MR. PRESIDENT-ELECT! While Barack Obama promised “a new and brighter day yet to come” in his Thanksgiving address, an old and darker day yet to leave reminds that events — and perhaps political fate itself — can turn on a dime in presidential politics. …
For a political operation that prefers to focus on its preferences, it’s a sharp reminder to Team Obama that the presidency can be every bit as reactive as it is proactive. … From my November 28th Huffington Post column.
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev delivers his New Year Address.
** 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.
** SCHWARZENEGGER’S CALIFORNIA. Here is my series of five columns on the governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Los Angeles Times in debate with Pulitzer Prize-winning former Times reporter/editor Bill Boyarsky, whose columns are also included.
Among them is what I’m sure is the first piece examining Schwarzenegger’s legacy as governor of California. Since he will actually be governor of California until 2011. No technology known to be disruptive to the space/time continuum was used in its preparation.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND NATIONAL ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. After crashing over $147 for yet another record on July 11th, crude oil closed on Friday at $46.34 per barrel. Energy markets are closed on the weekend.
The drop of $101 per barrel since the record high over the summer comes on acknowledgment that the weak US economy will cut future demand and on the easing of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. It is clear that that, contrary to much chatter, neither the US nor Israel is about to launch a strike against Iran. And the Russian war with Georgia, confounding much speculation and reporting to the contrary, actually decreased the geopolitical risk premium in the oil market.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum.
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| Comments (39) |
That’s a very good Obama speech.
Medvedev is impressive.I like his backdrop for Russian New Year.
Watch the Republicans try to block Barack’s plan after screwing up the economy themselves.
Russian New Year looks prettier than ours.
That was a great day for America.
BB: Today, incidentally, is the first anniversary of Obama’s “surprise” breakthrough victory in Iowa, which was expected here on NWN.
Congrats on your new HuffPo column.
Red Square is a lot better looking than Times Square.
Jonas Blane Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:26 am
Medvedev is impressive.I like his backdrop for Russian New Year.
Yes, that’s a good new column on Obama. Some of the commenters over there don’t think you hate Bush enough, however.
Thanks. I don’t hate Bush, as I’m sure you know.
Yes, it’s much more elegant and filled with history.
># Jack Aubrey Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 pm edit
Red Square is a lot better looking than Times Square.
Jonas Blane Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:26 am
Medvedev is impressive.I like his backdrop for Russian New Year.
Thanks.
># Jack Aubrey Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:59 am edit
Congrats on your new HuffPo column.
American politics changed that day a year ago.
># Capitol Boy Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:31 am edit
That was a great day for America.
BB: Today, incidentally, is the first anniversary of Obama’s “surprise” breakthrough victory in Iowa, which was expected here on NWN.
I like McConnell’s newfound concern about the budget deficit …
># Capitol Boy Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:28 am edit
Watch the Republicans try to block Barack’s plan after screwing up the economy themselves.
He’s the good cop.
># Jonas Blane Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:26 am edit
Medvedev is impressive.I like his backdrop for Russian New Year.
He’s pretty good at speaking, or so I hear.
># Jonas Blane Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:21 am edit
That’s a very good Obama speech.
Bill, FYI:
http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/2008/12/lincoln-gambit.html
FYI, wingnuttery. lol
Brilliant riposte, Ann.
Gee, thanks.
GAZA BLACK TRAP!
Best guess, the Japanese form of death, take your enemy with you, what is the Black Trap, Biological Warfare, Pick-Up and Delivery Style. If you can’t deliver it, just let them pick it up. By the time the (IDF) Israeli Defense Force knows they have been exposed to a biological agent it will have spread thru most of Israel. Biological Agents spread and kill by percentages of the population. It’s the only option the Palestians have left, the last Great Act of Defiance! (The Plague, the Black Death!
And the diabolical part is—the Palestians (sic) are immune! What a brilliant plot!
What new video today?
Ann, you’re boxed in by wingnuts! But we’re here for you. Just yell if you need a lifeline.
Good video from the UN meeting.
It sounds like a pretty good conspiracy between Israel, Bush, and Obama.
BB:What may be happening is that Israel is out to destroy as much of Hamas’s offensive capability as possible, then press for a peacekeeping force from other nations. And that the IDF will be pulling out right around the time of Obama’s inauguration.
WARRING ON THE CHEAP OR WAR OF RETROBUTION?
Warring on the cheap
At the times of an economic crisis wars have to be fought fast, efficient, and on the cheap. Fighting wars costs money. The more sophisticated weapons one employs, the more it costs.
This is a time of an entire peoples crisis, that of not only the Islamic Peoples of Palestine, but the entire Islamic World, a war that (5/6th) Five-sixths of the world population over (5B) Five Billion People simple turn a blind eye to, fought against it by The (51st) State of and the (USI/MIC) United States of Israel / Military Industrial Complex, with the approval of the (EU) European Union, a war of “Genocide”.
The only question left for that (1/6th) One-sixth, of the world population is will it go to its death with its enemies stand above their graves in victory or will they go to their graves with the certain knowledge that their enemies will lay next to them?
The Ultimate weapons are Fast, Efficient, Cheap, they answer to only one master an that is Death, they know no mercy nor malice, do not recognize race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, wealth, position or title. These weapon are non-detectable until the final outcome is only that of death, Inspectors become Infectors, any type of transportation will do a walking individual, a bike, a car, a plane, a train, a plane, a ship, all serve its pleasure. It lives to survive and survives to live.
And that weapon is the Biological Weapon, it is as fast as breaths entering and leaving the body, it flows as fast as the blood thru the veins, it is efficient in finding its needs and satisfying its needs, it is cheap, living off its host, it is unsophisticated and earns its own keep.
“I Spit at Thee from the Gates of Hell” and have sent my minions to do my bidding and bring you too me!
Pretty amusing stuff there.
But way too loong.
Perhaps.
># Jonas Blane Says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:37 am edit
It sounds like a pretty good conspiracy between Israel, Bush, and Obama.
BB:What may be happening is that Israel is out to destroy as much of Hamas’s offensive capability as possible, then press for a peacekeeping force from other nations. And that the IDF will be pulling out right around the time of Obama’s inauguration.
Why FYI to me?
Abraham Lincoln the socialist?
># holmesfan Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:10 pm edit
Bill, FYI:
http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/2008/12/lincoln-gambit.html
Indeed.
># larry Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:09 pm edit
And the diabolical part is—the Palestians (sic) are immune! What a brilliant plot!
Bill,
Don’t think there are many places one could go and find out the Richardson news as quickly. Sad that he’s forced to step aside. Like him and think he would have been a good member of the team.
Thanks for taking the time to stay on top of things this Sunday…and every other day of the week ending in a “y”!
Just download Foxfire…like it. Seems quicker than IE.
That’s bad news about Richardson.
What new video for today?
MARCHING TO WORLD WAR III
Now, no war in history just happened, there was always the drum beating and the preparations of the public for the war to come, and so it is today, every human being on the face of the globe knows full well that the (USI/MIC) United States of Israel / Military Industrial Machine is engaged in the World Chess Board Theory of (FSWD) Full Spectrum World Domination Strategy, Preparation of the Battle Field, Pre-Emptive “Shock & Awe” Nuclear Attack, followed by Clear, Hold, and Rebuild to (USI/MIC) Democratic Standards.
So, let’s understand just what Albert Einstein in his time said about World War III, which was he had no idea of the type’s of weapon’s that would be employed to fight it, but World War IV, would be fought with “Stick’s and Stone”. The Gentlemen’s Agreements about what weapons will or will not be use in warfare no longer exist, this is now kill or be killed, and he who preemptively strikes first wins.
The fact of the matter is that all weapons are now back on the table, the (USI/MIC), has broken all Treaties, all International Laws, Conventions and (UN) United Nations Charters, all methods of Warfare are now on the table and the list alphabetically is indeed a long and deadly listing.
(WMD) Weapons of Mass Destruction
(A) Atomic; Nuclear Weapon’s (Air: Electro Magnetic taking out electronics), (Ground: Civilian & Military targets), (Sub-Surface: Against submarines). (Has Range Limits)
(B) Biological: The Black Plague, The Spanish Flu, Typhoid Fever, Polio, killing populations by percentages, without mercy, and (NO Range Limits)
(C) Chemical: Mustard Gas, Riot Gas, Phosgene Gas, Nerve Gas (Vs), (Vx), killings silently without warning, limited by wind direction, temperature, moisture, best use in confined areas, buildings and subway systems.
(D) Digital Warfare: Electronic Warfare, to break down or break into the communications systems and routing of information, disruptions, and destruction of digital systems.
(E) Economic Warfare: Attacking the economic markets of a nation by short selling, insider trading, raising prices on critical items and materials.
(G) The Geneva Convention has been gutted, it is now legal to set up torture facilities such as Git-Mo, and Baghrum Air Force Base in Afghanistan for the (Rendition) a term for torture of prisoners.
And the List Goes On and On:
Make no mistake the World is Marching to World War III and The (USI/MIC) United States of Israel / Military Industrial Complex, of (NYC) New York City, “Little Israel” the Propaganda Center and Economic Center, Washington, D. C. the Political and Military Center, along with Israel the “Tip of the Spear of War”, are the one’s driving this bus over the edge.
What?
It’s generally best to hyperventilate into a bag, not a blog.
>TRIATHLON Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 9:16 am edit
MARCHING TO WORLD WAR III
Obama kids go to their new school and a new DNC chairman.
># Jonas Blane Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 6:33 am edit
What new video for today?
Thanks.
Firefox is better than IE, but you’ve noticed that the numbering glitch re IE has been fixed.
># Sacramento Solon Says:
January 4th, 2009 at 2:22 pm edit
Bill,
Don’t think there are many places one could go and find out the Richardson news as quickly. Sad that he’s forced to step aside. Like him and think he would have been a good member of the team.
Thanks for taking the time to stay on top of things this Sunday…and every other day of the week ending in a “y”!
Just download Foxfire…like it. Seems quicker than IE.
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