President-elect Barack Obama began his campaign for passage of his big economic recovery package.
** QUICK HITS. Russia is evidently re-starting natural gas flows to Europe via Ukraine, with European Union monitors in Ukraine to see that the country doesn’t steal the energy flow. The Russia/Ukraine row shut down natural gas flows into Europe as an artic front lingered over the continent. Of course, there is a deeper issue than lack of payment for energy involved; namely, Moscow’s plan to turn Ukraine away from the US and NATO back to its sphere of influence. … Israel rebuffed the UN Security Council’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and Hamas followed not soon after. I‘m thinking this lasts about another week and a half … Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger intends to shut down most California state operations on the first and third Fridays of each months to cut spending. Will the public notice?
** NATO, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS. US Army General John Craddock, director of operations for NATO, says that the financial crisis which began on Wall Street is beginning to affect the troubled war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Asked whether the global slump would affect participation by allies, U.S. Army Gen. John Craddock, the alliance’s operational commander, said, “It will increase the risk that they won’t be able to stay longer.”
Craddock, speaking to reporters at a breakfast, said budget problems could have an impact on alliance operations in the Balkans and the Mediterranean Sea as well. “We are going to have some hard times ahead and it’s going to impact… the ability of nations to stay in operations,” he said.
Let’s think back, to just a few months ago, when the word from the financial smart guys in New York was that the real threat was Barack Obama’s idea to spend more money to stimulate the economy.
** JOHNNY BURTON’S ONLY OPPONENT DROPS. Not that anybody was going to beat him, but the sole opponent to former California Senate President Pro Tem John Burton for chair of the California Democratic Party has dropped out of the, frankly, non-existent race.
I’ve been acquainted with Burton for a long time. And am something of a history buff. So we will have a bit of fun with this.
I’m thinking of starting – say, next week – some notable John Burton quotes. NWN posters should feel free to suggest their own …
And, naturally, NWN may generate some new ones, depending on what time of the day that I call.
** FAR RIGHT WEB SITE OPPOSES PUBLIC VOTE IN CALIFORNIA. The Flash Report, a highly ideological web site curiously influential with Republican legislators, opposes any public vote on the state’s chronic budget crisis. So readers who abhor the site don’t have to click through, the gist is that the site’s proprietor – political consultant Jon Fleischman, a state vice chairman of the Republican Party who formerly headed the extreme right-wing California Republican Assembly – says that a democratic vote in California on fiscal matters would be unfair because Democrats are too strong.
Fleischman was the longtime PR man for disgraced Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona, the target of a multi-faceted federal prosecution alleging that the former deputy marshal engaged in a systematic conspiracy to use his office to enrich himself since 1998.
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … C.I.A.: THE PANETTA PICK AND THE FEINSTEIN FACTOR.
** OBAMA TODAY. President-elect Barack Obama continues work on his transition in Washington.
At 7:30 AM Pacific, he holds a press conference to announce his top intel leadership. The event will be roadblocked on all cable news nets. Retired Navy Admiral Dennis Blair, former chief of Pacific Command, will be director of national intelligence, as I reported right after the election, and former White House chief of staff Leon Panetta, the former California congressman who is now head of a California think tank, will be director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
LA Congresswoman Hilda Solis, Obama’s pick for secretary of labor, has her Senate confirmation hearing this morning. It’s expected to go smoothly.
General Colin Powell, the former secretary of state, national security advisor, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who broke with his old friend John McCain to back Obama, holds a press conference today as co-chairman of the Obama Inaugural Committee to talk about Obama’s call to national service.
Vice President-elect Joe Biden is in Pakistan today, meeting with the troubled ally’s president, prime minister, and army chief of staff. Biden, in his guise as outgoing chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – he had himself sworn in to the Senate earlier (he won re-election in November as he was also elected vice president) – is leading a congressional delegation which just finished visiting the Middle East and is now on the South Asia portion of its tour. That means India anad Afghanistan are on the itinerary. Biden will be pushing Pakistan to be more forthcoming about the Pakistani role in the Mumbai attacks to avert war with India.
The UN Security Council has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza crisis.
Speaking of war, the US, as I reported yesterday, finally went along with a UN Security Council call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza crisis. But Israel is not complying, at least, not so far.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has private meetings and discussions today around his state of the state address on January 15th and California’s chronic budget crisis.
** CIA: PARSING THE PANETTA PICK. … From my new column.
** OBAMA: VACATION’S END. … From my Friday Huffington Post column.
** 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 is trading in the $41 to $42 per barrel range.
The drop of $106 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 previous 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.
Read 
| Comments (60) |
Obama’s speech yesterday was good.
How can Israel refuse the ceasefire?
Israel thinks it has 11 more days.
It was really good. I wish the whole thing was here.
Jonas Blane Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Obama’s speech yesterday was good.
This is smart.
BB: Vice President-elect Joe Biden is in Pakistan today, meeting with the troubled ally’s president, prime minister, and army chief of staff. Biden, in his guise as outgoing chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – he had himself sworn in to the Senate earlier (he won re-election in November as he was also elected vice president) – is leading a congressional delegation which just finished visiting the Middle East and is now on the South Asia portion of its tour. That means India anad Afghanistan are on the itinerary. Biden will be pushing Pakistan to be more forthcoming about the Pakistani role in the Mumbai attacks to avert war with India.
This will be fun.
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … C.I.A.: THE PANETTA PICK AND THE FEINSTEIN FACTOR.
Yeah, I’m looking forward to that.
Thanks.
Hopefully.
># Capitol Boy Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 7:17 am edit
This will be fun.
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … C.I.A.: THE PANETTA PICK AND THE FEINSTEIN FACTOR.
Biden is a clever guy.
># Capitol Boy Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 7:17 am edit
This is smart.
BB: Vice President-elect Joe Biden is in Pakistan today, meeting with the troubled ally’s president, prime minister, and army chief of staff. Biden, in his guise as outgoing chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – he had himself sworn in to the Senate earlier (he won re-election in November as he was also elected vice president) – is leading a congressional delegation which just finished visiting the Middle East and is now on the South Asia portion of its tour. That means India anad Afghanistan are on the itinerary. Biden will be pushing Pakistan to be more forthcoming about the Pakistani role in the Mumbai attacks to avert war with India.
Oddly, the Obama transition hasn’t made the entire speech available.
># Capitol Boy Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 7:11 am edit
It was really good. I wish the whole thing was here.
Jonas Blane Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Obama’s speech yesterday was good.
That may be it.
># Capitol Boy Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 7:10 am edit
Israel thinks it has 11 more days.
Now Hamas is rejecting it, too.
># Jonas Blane Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 6:56 am edit
How can Israel refuse the ceasefire?
Where’s Obama? lol
Well, they said 7:30, then 7:45. Now he’s late for that.
I predict that Mr. Panetta will be a superb director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
DiFi is really screwing up here. Not only is she becoming less of a force in Washington, but by becoming among the most high-profile Dems to (even mildly) criticize Obama, she’s going to lose just enough popularity in Obama stronghold CA that she won’t seem quite so invulnerable in a CA Dem primary should she tire of DC and decide, after all, to run for guv. DiFi has jumped the shark (Of course, the expression “jump the shark” has also jumped the shark).
DiFi’s not running for governor.
I’ve been through this twice before with her, predicting each time (1998 and 2003) that she would not run.
NOT happening.
And this time there is the addtional factor that you don’t take on a major Senate committee — the chair of which she has always coveted — and jump off in mid-stream.
But I expect the Chronicle and a few other folks to generate some press otherwise, not that it matters.
I agree.
># Jonathan Hemlock Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 9:05 am edit
I predict that Mr. Panetta will be a superb director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Bill is wired in.
Chris M Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 9:13 am
DiFi is really screwing up here. Not only is she becoming less of a force in Washington, but by becoming among the most high-profile Dems to (even mildly) criticize Obama, she’s going to lose just enough popularity in Obama stronghold CA that she won’t seem quite so invulnerable in a CA Dem primary should she tire of DC and decide, after all, to run for guv. DiFi has jumped the shark (Of course, the expression “jump the shark” has also jumped the shark).
It’s weird they haven’t.
Bill Bradley Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Oddly, the Obama transition hasn’t made the entire speech available.
># Capitol Boy Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 7:11 am edit
It was really good. I wish the whole thing was here.
Jonas Blane Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Obama’s speech yesterday was good.
Hopefully, true.
># marcos leon Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 9:31 am edit
Bill is wired in.
Chris M Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 9:13 am
DiFi is really screwing up here. Not only is she becoming less of a force in Washington, but by becoming among the most high-profile Dems to (even mildly) criticize Obama, she’s going to lose just enough popularity in Obama stronghold CA that she won’t seem quite so invulnerable in a CA Dem primary should she tire of DC and decide, after all, to run for guv. DiFi has jumped the shark (Of course, the expression “jump the shark” has also jumped the shark).
DiFi has jumped the shark?
As a senator, no.
As anything else, yeah.
Word.
Bill Bradley Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 9:15 am
DiFi’s not running for governor.
I’ve been through this twice before with her, predicting each time (1998 and 2003) that she would not run.
NOT happening.
And this time there is the addtional factor that you don’t take on a major Senate committee — the chair of which she has always coveted — and jump off in mid-stream.
But I expect the Chronicle and a few other folks to generate some press otherwise, not that it matters.
They’re all nuts.
Bill Bradley Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Now Hamas is rejecting it, too.
># Jonas Blane Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 6:56 am edit
How can Israel refuse the ceasefire?
Jonny Flashman!
lol
** FAR RIGHT WEB SITE OPPOSES PUBLIC VOTE IN CALIFORNIA. The Flash Report, a highly ideological web site curiously influential with Republican legislators, opposes any public vote on the state’s chronic budget crisis. So readers who abhor the site don’t have to click through, the gist is that the site’s proprietor – political consultant Jon Fleischman, a state vice chairman of the Republican Party who formerly headed the extreme right-wing California Republican Assembly – says that a democratic vote in California on fiscal matters would be unfair because Democrats are too strong.
Fleischman was the longtime PR man for disgraced Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona, the target of a multi-faceted federal prosecution alleging that the former deputy marshal engaged in a systematic conspiracy to use his office to enrich himself since 1998.
“The Flash Report… says that a democratic vote in California on fiscal matters would be unfair because Democrats are too strong…Fleischman was the longtime PR man for disgraced Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona…”
In my civics class, I remember arguing about the virtues of a Democracy versus an autocratic, corrupt dictatorship. Fleischman must have been sick that day …
Well, I just cast my votes for the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The other movie and TV awards I vote on are the Saturn Awards.
I’ll get into all this stuff this weekend …
Thanks.
># Ann Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 10:52 am edit
Jonny Flashman!
lol
** FAR RIGHT WEB SITE OPPOSES PUBLIC VOTE IN CALIFORNIA. The Flash Report, a highly ideological web site curiously influential with Republican legislators, opposes any public vote on the state’s chronic budget crisis. So readers who abhor the site don’t have to click through, the gist is that the site’s proprietor – political consultant Jon Fleischman, a state vice chairman of the Republican Party who formerly headed the extreme right-wing California Republican Assembly – says that a democratic vote in California on fiscal matters would be unfair because Democrats are too strong.
Fleischman was the longtime PR man for disgraced Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona, the target of a multi-faceted federal prosecution alleging that the former deputy marshal engaged in a systematic conspiracy to use his office to enrich himself since 1998.
It’s a theory …
># Jack Aubrey Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 10:35 am edit
They’re all nuts.
Bill Bradley Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Now Hamas is rejecting it, too.
># Jonas Blane Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 6:56 am edit
How can Israel refuse the ceasefire?
lol
** JOHNNY BURTON’S ONLY OPPONENT DROPS. Not that anybody was going to beat him, but the sole opponent to former California Senate President Pro Tem John Burton for chair of the California Democratic Party has dropped out of the, frankly, non-existent race.
I’ve been acquainted with Burton for a long time. And am something of a history buff. So we will have a bit of fun with this.
I’m thinking of starting – say, next week – some notable John Burton quotes. NWN posters should feel free to suggest their own …
And, naturally, NWN may generate some new ones, depending on what time of the day that I call.
“I’m thinking of starting – say, next week – some notable John Burton quotes. NWN posters should feel free to suggest their own …”
I thought you were trying to keep the language clean on this website?
Burton’s quotes would make the late Red Fox blush.
Wall Street had better stop crapping around or else we will be humiliated in the world.
** NATO, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS. US Army General John Craddock, director of operations for NATO, says that the financial crisis which began on Wall Street is beginning to affect the troubled war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Asked whether the global slump would affect participation by allies, U.S. Army Gen. John Craddock, the alliance’s operational commander, said, “It will increase the risk that they won’t be able to stay longer.”
“NATO, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS”
Wow, just when I thought that Bush couldn’t find another way to frack-up the war in Afghanistan before he left office.
No one ever lost money underestimating the competence of this White House.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Indeed.
># marcus Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 12:08 pm edit
Wall Street had better stop crapping around or else we will be humiliated in the world.
** NATO, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS. US Army General John Craddock, director of operations for NATO, says that the financial crisis which began on Wall Street is beginning to affect the troubled war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Asked whether the global slump would affect participation by allies, U.S. Army Gen. John Craddock, the alliance’s operational commander, said, “It will increase the risk that they won’t be able to stay longer.”
Well, I can always institute light edits.
Probably necessary given the advent of California Democratic Chairman John Burton.
># Brasky Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 11:53 am edit
“I’m thinking of starting – say, next week – some notable John Burton quotes. NWN posters should feel free to suggest their own …”
I thought you were trying to keep the language clean on this website?
Burton’s quotes would make the late Red Fox blush.
ISRAELI CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
Charge: That the (USI/MIC/51st State) United States of Israel, Military Industrial Complex, (51st) State Israel, “Tip of the Spear of War” and Manager State of the Middle East and Central Asia (USI/MIC) Territories, are engaged in a War of Atrocity, and Crimes against the Islamic Peoples of the Islamic Palestinians of the Gaza Territories.
The War Atrocity Meter
The War Atrocity Meter or (DWI) Dirty War Index has been created by Hsiao-Rei Hicks of King’s College in London and Michael Spagat of The Royal Holloway College in Egham, (UK) The United Kingdom.
The math behind it is simple. They list atrocities that can be considered inappropriate or “Dirty” for an armed conflict, such as:
The number of such cases is divided by the total number of respective outcomes – deaths, face-to-face encounters between combatants and non-combatants etc. The result is then multiplied by (100) One-Hundred for the sake of visualization.
Now the Researchers themselves admit in their published article “The war atrocity meter’ that the meter is far from perfect, and list its imperfections honestly.
WAR ATROCITY
Civilian Killings:
In the disproportionate use of force and death toll of the Islamic Peoples of the Islamic Palestinians of the Gaza Territories, of the Middle East and Central Asia (USI/MIC) Territories. Since (Sept 2005) only (9) nine Israeli’s have been killed by Hamas rockets, and prior to Christmas (2008) over 1,400 Islamic Palestinian of the Gaza Territories had been killed in response, a factor of (155::1) One-hundred-fifty-five to one. After a week’s aerial asymmetrical bombardment framed vaguely as “rising tensions in the Middle East” by news anchors, the death toll already stands at nearly (500) five-hundred, (70) seventy children and (27) twenty-seven women, with (2,650) Two thousand-six-hundred-fifty wounded, (270) two-hundred-seventy women, (650) six-hundred-fifty children, so much for Israel’s claim that their targets are Hamas militants.
Thursday 8, January, and today death toll was (763) seven-hundred sixty-three Islamic Palestinians of the Gaza Territories and (11) eleven Israeli Invaders, a factor of (69::1)
Rapes: None Reported
Torture: Ignoring (UN) United Nations calls to release Islamic Palestinians detainees from imprisonment.
The Use of Indiscriminate Weapons: As bombs recently manufactured by the (USI/MIC) are being tested and dropped on the people of the Palestinian People of the Gaza territory, a violation of treaties signed between both countries.
Attacks upon Humanitarian Operations: With the Israelis firing on a (UN) United Nations Relief Convoy, clearly marked and having provided to the (IDF) its route, and location during the movement Relief Convoy, (UN) says it has “lost confidence in the Israeli side” after troops shell supply vehicles, ending any further Relief Convoys, and continues Gaza assault after rejecting (UN) demands for an “immediate ceasefire”.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
Crimes against the Islamic Peoples of the Islamic Palestinians of the Gaza Territories
Rights recommendations violations:
THE UNITED NATIONS:
The Human Rights Council of the (UN) United Nations listed (99) ninety-nine recommendations that Israel failed to comply with, the repeated violation of the (UN) Convention on Anti-Imperialism, as an apartheid state, and the repeated violation of the (UN) Convention The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by Israeli increased dominance and the of subjugation of the Islamic Palestinians Peoples taking away their human rights, equality, sovereignty and dignity, as the (IDF) Israeli Defense Force of occupation uses tactics of constant persecution, oppression, and murder of the Islamic Palestinian Peoples in the occupied areas.
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THR RED CROSS:
The International Committee for the Red Cross has stated that a humanitarian crisis exists for the Palestinian Gaza territory’s, (1.5M) One Point Five Million residents one of the most-densely populated places on the globe, by the Israeli two-year blockade the Palestinian Gaza Territories Erez, Karam Abu Salam, and Karni, crossings, to (UN) United Nations Humanitarian Operations, medical emergency team’s entry on numerous occasions, humanitarian workers, journalists, food and medical supplies, creating medical facilities critically short of doctors, personnel, equipment, and drugs. The Islamic Palestinian of the Gaza Territories and its refugees subsist near the edge of hunger, were (70%) Seventy per cent of Palestinian children in Gaza suffer from severe malnutrition and psychological trauma. The Nahal Oz fuel terminal the only power plant of the Palestinian Gaza Territories is randomly blockaded causing shortages of power as well as, cooking gas for the general public and petrol/fuel/gas, has created a human garbage dump, a vast outdoor prison camp filled with desperate people, an act of blatant of genocide which is an egregious violation of International law and the Geneva Conventions, a “Crime Against Humanity”.
My favorite from Burton quote:
“You *&%ing !!*^(! What’s the &#@^ing matter with you?”
(Actually, I think it’s Burton, but it might have been Migden, too.)
““You *&%ing !!*^(! What’s the &#@^ing matter with you?””
I think that’s more of a Burton catchphrase, rather than an actual quote…
BTW, congratulations to John on his likely position as party chair. Life is about to get a whole lot more interesting, and thank God for that.
Okey-doke.
Let me put this as politely as I can.
This is too fucking long, my friend.
This is a non-serious rant.
Another such will be summarily deleted.
That is all.
>TRIATHLON Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 1:03 pm edit
ISRAELI CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
I’m not into the Migden stuff …
># Prospero Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 1:07 pm edit
My favorite from Burton quote:
“You *&%ing !!*^(! What’s the &#@^ing matter with you?”
(Actually, I think it’s Burton, but it might have been Migden, too.)
You know — hi, Senator Caroline Kennedy! — I am trying to think of what it was he said when he was busted for bookmaking in that San Francisco parking lot …
># Brasky Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 1:13 pm edit
““You *&%ing !!*^(! What’s the &#@^ing matter with you?””
I think that’s more of a Burton catchphrase, rather than an actual quote…
BTW, congratulations to John on his likely position as party chair. Life is about to get a whole lot more interesting, and thank God for that.
“hi, Senator Caroline Kennedy! ”
You think that is the same kind of certainty as the Burton chair? Wow.
Senator Caroline makes life more interesting too, which is also good.
That’s for sure.
Where’s the column?
lol
Bill Bradley Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I’m not into the Migden stuff …
># Prospero Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 1:07 pm edit
My favorite from Burton quote:
“You *&%ing !!*^(! What’s the &#@^ing matter with you?”
(Actually, I think it’s Burton, but it might have been Migden, too.)
I hope it’s Caroline, for Barack’s sake.
Brasky Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
“hi, Senator Caroline Kennedy! ”
You think that is the same kind of certainty as the Burton chair? Wow.
Senator Caroline makes life more interesting too, which is also good.
That’s who he wants. She can raise megabucks, unlike any of the others.
Thanks.
># Ann Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 5:34 pm edit
lol
Bill Bradley Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I’m not into the Migden stuff …
># Prospero Says:
January 9th, 2009 at 1:07 pm edit
My favorite from Burton quote:
“You *&%ing !!*^(! What’s the &#@^ing matter with you?”
(Actually, I think it’s Burton, but it might have been Migden, too.)