The famed “1984″ ad, introducing the Macintosh computer, aired during the Super Bowl 25 years ago today.
** FRANKEN WANTS THE SENATE TO DECIDE. Comedian Al Franken is out to short-circuit a lawsuit filed by Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in that tight Minnesota Senate race. Franken leads by an eyelash, and would be the 59th Democratic senator if he ultimately prevails.
Democratic candidate Al Franken made a bid Wednesday to short-circuit the court case that’s intended to give Minnesota a winner in its closely contested Senate race. Attorneys for Franken argued that a state court should dismiss the lawsuit filed by Republican Norm Coleman because the three-judge panel designated to hear the case lacks jurisdiction for Coleman’s type of complaint.
The proper venue, Franken’s attorneys argued, is the U.S. Senate, which has the power to judge the election of its members.
Franken declared victory over Coleman Jan. 5 after state officials certified recount results that gave him a 225-vote lead out of 2.9 million votes cast in the Nov. 4 election.
Coleman promptly challenged the results, arguing that some ballots were counted twice, absentee ballots that should have been counted were rejected, and procedures for accounting for missing ballots were not dealt with consistently over the course of the recount.
** CALIFORNIA ON THE POTOMAC. Senator Dianne Feinstein certainly had a high profile at the Obama Inaugural; she oversaw it as chair of the Congressional committee for the Inauguration and essentially acted as master of ceremonies at the Inauguration ceremony itself. Then she did the honors at the Congressional luncheon in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall honoring the president and vice president immediately after they were sworn into office.
But there were some big glitches, with many ticketed people not getting into the festivities, so Feinstein – who some still talk about as a possible gubernatorial contender notwithstanding her having just taken on a huge national and global role as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee – may come in for some criticism.
Still, she hosted the key party for California politicos, with such potential gubernatorial candidates as former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and former state Controller Steve Westly, one of Obama’s earliest and biggest backers, all on hand shaking hands. Newsom, a national co-chairman of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, was initially thrilled that he was profiled in the new Newsweek, but it proved to be a bad story saying he’s viewed as a “joke” by “Democratic insiders.”
Brown, a two-time runner-up for the Democratic presidential nomination, was making the rounds throughout, and held a big finance event hosted by longtime backer Melissa Moss. Greentech venture capitalist Westly, who was in the mix to be Obama’s secretary of energy, was very active as well, attending Vernon Jordan’s party and getting a good perch indoors for the freezing inaugural parade at a Pennsylvania Avenue law firm.
Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, who has already declared his candidacy for governor, was also in evidence, and met with officials of five big unions.
Former Assembly Speaker and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown was, reportedly, everywhere, to no one’s surprise.
Also spotted by my sources – veteran Silicon Valley executive John Thompson, the former CEO of Symantec – who is a strong finalist to be Obama’s secretary of commerce.
Orange County evangelical pastor Rick Warren gave a highly controversial benediction – controversial amongst some on the left because he backed the same-sex marriage ban – which in the end could hardly have been less objectionable.
But aside from Warren, the only Californian who rivaled Feinstein in terms of a high profile was Arianna Huffington.
The longtime commentator of the right turned left – now head of the biggest liberal news and commentary site in the world, the Huffington Post – was much in evidence at the most exclusive events. Everyone says the most star-studded party of all was her Huffington Post Inaugural Ball.
** HUGE AUDIENCE AND HIGH RATINGS FOR OBAMA’S INAUGURAL. The new Gallup Poll shows that, as expected, there was a huge television audience for the inauguration of President Barack Obama, in addition to the two million or so folks who braved the bone-chilling weather to be there in person. And that Obama’s speech was extremely well-received.
Six in 10 Americans tuned in live to the presidential inauguration ceremonies on Tuesday. Another 20% heard or read news reports of the event while 20% caught none of it.
The live audience included 70% of nonworking Americans, but also 53% of those currently employed — suggesting that many workers either took the day off or had the opportunity to watch or hear the ceremonies at work.
Americans were clearly more interested in the inauguration of Barack Obama than they were in George W. Bush’s second inauguration four years ago. In 2005, only 40% of Americans said they watched or heard the inaugural ceremonies live.
The greater attention paid to Obama’s inaugural likely stems from the combination of his taking office for the first time, his being the first Democrat in eight years to assume the presidency, and the historic significance of the nation’s installing its first African-American president.
There was considerable pressure on President Obama, known for his oratory skills, to deliver an impressive inauguration speech, and from Americans’ perspective, he succeeded. Among those who saw or otherwise followed the inauguration on Tuesday, close to half — 46% — say Obama’s speech was “excellent.” That compares with a 25% excellent rating for Bush’s 2005 inauguration speech. Another 35% say Obama’s speech was good, while only 15% consider it “just okay” or worse.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama has a rather busy day. He meets with top economic advisors in the morning at the White House to go over his economic revival program, then meets with his White House senior staff and with retired military officers.
In the afternoon, Obama goes over to the State Department in Foggy Bottom with Vice President Joe Biden and National Security Advisor Jim Jones. Obama, Biden, and Jones will meet there with top officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Then Obama and Biden speak to the State Department staff.
Obama is expected to sign executive orders today to shut down the prison camp at Guantanamo and other “black site” prisons in foreign countries, notably Eastern Europe, and to end torture in interrogations.
Meanwhile, Obama is catching a break on some geopolitical crises. Not that they are necessarily “breaks,” as Obama and his emissaries have been in touch with global players for months.
Israel has all its troops out of the Gaza Strip. And Russia is restarting natural gas flows to Europe through Ukraine. At a cost down the line to the notion of Ukraine joining NATO.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has private talks in and around the Capitol today. His focus is on the chronic California budget crisis. Schwarzenegger has no scheduled public events today.
Republican legislators, who have essentially blockaded the budget for months by publicly refusing to consider any tax hikes, seem to be getting closer to going for a budget that includes tax hikes as well as program cuts and a spending cap.
This viral mashup ad for Barack Obama in 2007 took off successfully on the “1984″ ad.
** OBAMA: RIDING WITH HISTORY. (NOTE: As Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States, this column was the featured column on the top of the front page of the Huffington Post.)
As the hours count down to his inauguration, Barack Obama must be hearing the hoofbeats of history. He certainly invokes it. Indeed, he seeks to be one of its great riders.
For all the president-elect’s evocation of Abraham Lincoln — and his own description of Lincoln in “The Audacity of Hope” as both deep-seated idealist and ultra-pragmatist was more revealing of Obama’s political character than anything produced by any media outlet — fate and his own design cast what Obama says as our brand-new president alongside somewhat more contemporary figures.
Obama takes office as the 44th president of the United States at a moment of multi-faceted crisis. But it is not a moment like that of Lincoln’s inauguration. President Bush and his essentially feckless administration leave behind the worst economy since the Great Depression, an environment increasingly out of whack, two troubled, troubling, and mismanaged wars, a black eye around the globe, and a sense of fatigue from years of overwrought hysteria. Lincoln’s challenge was of a very different nature.
So the figures of comparison for Obama, his fellow riders of history if you will, are, notwithstanding his hero Lincoln, different. …
From my new Huffington Post column.
Russian natural gas is flowing again to Europe, ending a weeks-long crisis.
** ANOTHER DAY: 24 AND THE AGE OF OBAMA. One of the signature TV series of the Bush/Cheney years is back. What relevance, if any, does it have in the new age of Obama? … From my January 13th column.
** CIA: THE PANETTA PICK AND THE FEINSTEIN FACTOR. President-elect Barack Obama named his top intelligence leadership team on Friday. And, as I expected, new Senate Intelligence Committee chair Dianne Feinstein rather quickly backed down from her opposition to Leon Panetta and championing of a CIA insider for the post, of only a few days ago. The whole exercise was very instructive in old and new political dynamics. … From my January 12th column.
** CIA: PARSING THE PANETTA PICK. … From my January 6th column.
** OBAMA: VACATION’S END. … From my January 2nd 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 $42 to $43 per barrel range. This is a significant advance since the inauguration of President Barack Obama, relecting the oil market’s view that the US economy will experience a recovery under the new American administration
The drop of $105 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 (42) |
The Russians must have gotten what they wanted with Ukraine to get that gas flowing again.
The Mac ad is a GREAT ad.
The Mac ad mashup is a great ad, too.
It really kick started things for Barack.
It holds up very well.
Jonas Blane Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:33 am
The Mac ad is a GREAT ad.
One of Bush’s biggest mistakes was in encouraging Georgia last summer.
Jonas Blane Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:31 am
The Russians must have gotten what they wanted with Ukraine to get that gas flowing again.
Newsweek sure got that right.
Newsom was initially thrilled that he was profiled in the new Newsweek, but it proved to be a bad story saying he’s viewed as a “joke” by “Democratic insiders.”
“1984″ plays like a little movie.
What, no Obama video? You’re forgetting about him alrady?
Obama is signing the executive order to shut down Guantanamo now.
This is exciting.
He just ended torture.
lol
Len Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:12 am
Newsweek sure got that right.
Newsom was initially thrilled that he was profiled in the new Newsweek, but it proved to be a bad story saying he’s viewed as a “joke” by “Democratic insiders.”
Obama has just now ended one of the darkest and most despicable periods in American history. It was a quiet and great moment.
Who stands for torture now?
Jack Bauer?
Yes he can.
># marcos leon Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:24 am edit
He just ended torture.
Obama? Who’s that?
># Jack Aubrey Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:17 am edit
What, no Obama video? You’re forgetting about him alrady?
It was directed by Ridley Scott, who had directed Blade Runner and Alien in the few years before.
># Len Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:16 am edit
“1984″ plays like a little movie.
I’m not sure Bush did that.
># Capitol Boy Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:41 am edit
One of Bush’s biggest mistakes was in encouraging Georgia last summer.
Jonas Blane Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:31 am
The Russians must have gotten what they wanted with Ukraine to get that gas flowing again.
It was quite effective in helping catalyze a mood. Assuming that’s a word …
># Jonas Blane Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:35 am edit
The Mac ad mashup is a great ad, too.
We’ll get into this more when the anniversary of the launch comes.
># Jonas Blane Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:33 am edit
The Mac ad is a GREAT ad.
I’m sure they did.
># Jonas Blane Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:31 am edit
The Russians must have gotten what they wanted with Ukraine to get that gas flowing again.
Via LABiz Observed: Now we are finding out Merrill paid BILLIONS in bonuses mere days before the sale to B of A closed. Another bailout stinker!
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/merrill-reportedly-paid-bonuses-early-as-merger-closed/#more-30457
Article VI. To Obama from Russia
Now that Barack Obama is president of the United States, it is time to recast Russia-US relations. I have a list of items that could see this happen.
The US should stop seeking security at the expense of other countries, including Russia. Washington should completely abandon anti-missile defense in Europe or agree to a plan that acknowledges Russia’s legitimate security concerns.
The US should stop meddling in the post-Soviet space. This means no more “rent-a-crowd” revolutions. Look what they have accomplished in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. They have only brought political instability and insecurity. If the “end of history” is democracy for all mankind, then let it happen without outsiders artificially pushing the process.
The US should stop cuddling reckless leaders like Saakashvili. Washington (and NATO countries) sold arms to Saakashvili which killed Russian passport holders and peacekeepers. America’s continued support of the current regime in Tbilisi is an insult to Moscow. It is tantamount to rewarding an aggressor.
The US should stop trying to expand NATO. Instead, NATO should be reinvented in such a way that it truly protects security. Once that happens, Russia will change the way it regards the alliance.
The US should stop its selective approach when honoring (or not honoring) arms control agreements. The START treaty expires this year. Re-negotiating a new one would set the tone for other arms control agreements.
The US should stop claiming the moral high ground. All across the board civil society and political rights have eroded in America over the past eight years. The US has no moral right to lecture any country on human rights.
The US should stop claiming Russia uses energy as a political weapon. It is the US and its allies who are trying to build pipelines around Russia for geopolitical reasons. Russia is building pipelines around Ukraine to protect itself and its European energy partners and consumers.
The US should stop using the Jackson-Vanik amendment as a political weapon that hinders Russia’s entrance to the WTO.
Well, that’s the short list. Simply put, Obama has a lot to do to turn the page in Russia-US relations.
(SOURCE: PETER LAVELLE’S BLOG (RT))
TO OBAMA FROM AMERICA (Addition to Obama from Russia)
The ending of the (USI/MIC) United States of Israel, Military Industrial Complex has to be of the highest priority, and a return to Constitutional Law and the United States of America.
The ending of the Patriot Acts and a return of the “Rights” under the Constitution to American People should be a top priority.
Term limits across the board in all section of the political system and the ending of Gerrymandering of Elite Political Families into permanent power at the highest levels of government should be stopped.
The (51st) State of Israel, The Tip of the Spear into the heart of the “Islamic crescent”, Middle Eastern and Central Asian, the manager state of those territories, should either be made a legal tax paying state within the present Union, or it should be treated as a foreign power on its own, without special considerations.
The entire world has changed and the placement of American Troops of Occupation, with regions is a relic of old war think, as they will only be Nuclear Waste products in the event of a nuclear confrontation, with most countries more than able to defend themselves in minor warfare, until treaty limits are met and troops could be air lifted to those areas if asked for, the United States can no longer foot the bill at a Trillion Dollar per year cost and rising.
It is the end of “Pax Americana” and a new millennium it’s time to end Clinton, Bush, Clinton, Bush, one family taking the reins after another all related, its time to prepare the American people for the decline, technological superiority has slipped out of its hands, and world leadership has become bias leadership as shown with its one sided approach to international relationships and Israel.
The only superiority that America has is in what an athlete can do with a ball, bounce it, kick it, hit it with a club or a bat, roll it down an alley (bowling), throw it, but the one round thing the United States will never totally control will be the little blue one we live on.
Ouch, that Newsweek piece on Newsom was a little harsh. While my first inclination is to support JB, I respect the energy Newsom has brought to public life and am willing to give him a look.
The TV audience for Obama’s inauguration was large in many places. Friends in London and Warsaw say they stayed up to watch, as did many of their friends. The Toronto Globe & Mail did a survey of Canadians. While it has all the flaws of any newspaper survey, 53% of Canadian respondents said they watched the inauguration live.
Garamendi, who has already declared his candidacy for governor, was also in evidence, and met with officials of five big unions — I have heard that, at least at the labor union locals level, that Garamendi is their favored guy. Of course, now that Burton and the machine are returning, the statewide labor chieftans can easily be called on to tamp down local union dissenters and persuade them to get on board with a different program if they should so decide. It would be consistent with previous Burton – labor traditions.
Closing Gitmo and the black sites, operating government in the sunshine again, and giving the lobbyists a swift kick in the shorts.
Nice start for the new guy.
L.A. Observed notes the L.A. Times reports that L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo again has filed to raise $$$ to run for state A.G. This guy is a empty suit/publicity hound whose ambition knows no bounds. Bet he falls flat on his face in the primary. Again.
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2009/01/rocky_files_to_raise_ag_m.php
I spent a little time catching-up on polling. Most of it was BS, but I did find to tidbits.
Fox did a poll last week that had Hugo Chavez (11%) and Fidel Castro (7%) with hiring approval ratings than Blagojevich (5%).
There was also an interesting poll where 20% of the sample was done on cell phones. 17% of the total sample said they had NO landline (which means they must have reached them by cell). When asked how many cell numbers could be used to reach a respondent (whether they answered by landline or cell phone), 51% said one cell phone. But 17% said “two” and 14% said “three or more.” Phone polling is much more complicated than it used to be.
THE COURT WAR CRIMES AND REPARATION’S DUE!
Why should the Islamic Peoples of the Gaza Territory take Israel to court for War Crimes Against Humanity, after all they are not going to except any verdict other than not guilty and will never turn over those in command who gave the orders for the atrocities, committed to establish “Deterrence Capacity”.
To establish in a Court of International Law that in fact The State of Israel is guilty of War Crimes, and Crimes against Humanity, to no less standard then was Nazis Germany, Germany had to pay Reparations to the victims of their crimes for decades, and to this day Jewish families around the globe file law suits to regain what they feel is their property or reparations from those have it for its loss.
Well what goes around comes around, (400) four-hundred children loss their lives, in a blood lust attack upon an almost defenseless civilian population, and their parents are due compensation for their loss, and the rest of the world should not have to pay for the damages done by Israel to (UN) United Nations Property, and personnel who were caught and killed or wounded in the on mindless onslaught of (IDF) Israeli Defense Force thugs. No, Israel will not willing pay for its crimes even in money willingly but international banks can be forced to freeze Israeli Assets.
And, beyond the State of Israel, ground exist for the (USI/MIC) United States of Israel, Military Industrial Complex to be named in any law suit as a co-defendant, for it’s supplying of high tech weaponry during the onslaught which was employed by the (IDF), in it’s act of crimes against humanity.
“Ouch, that Newsweek piece on Newsom was a little harsh. While my first inclination is to support JB, I respect the energy Newsom has brought to public life and am willing to give him a look.”
He also got hit with a Rasmussen poll today showing him losing to Meg Whitman by 3 pts.
More interesting is that his combined Unfavorables are 41%.
The Whitman numbers are incredibly soft though — those are BS.
The Merrill CEO who gave out those billions in bonuses was canned today. And he didn’t get the $10 million bonus the tonedeaf fool thought he deserved! Once in a while truth, justice and the American way prevails!
http://www.laobserved.com/biz/2009/01/merrill_ceo_gets_hea.php
Didn’t you go out with Arianna Huffington, Bill?
What new video today?
Obama, Obama, and a very cheap newspaper …
Yeah, it was big story on newsradio all day.
># Dana Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:19 pm edit
The Merrill CEO who gave out those billions in bonuses was canned today. And he didn’t get the $10 million bonus the tonedeaf fool thought he deserved! Once in a while truth, justice and the American way prevails!
http://www.laobserved.com/biz/2009/01/merrill_ceo_gets_hea.php
I know how the polls are going to go.
Gavin has really stepped on himself in the last two years. The Newsweek story didn’t have his deepest problem.
The Rasmussen poll actually came out last weekend. Apparently the California press just learned of it.
Rasmussen hasn’t revealed its partisan sampling or ballot descriptions. Or why Poizner, the actual GOP frontrunner, wasn’t polled.
># Brasky Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:54 pm edit
“Ouch, that Newsweek piece on Newsom was a little harsh. While my first inclination is to support JB, I respect the energy Newsom has brought to public life and am willing to give him a look.”
He also got hit with a Rasmussen poll today showing him losing to Meg Whitman by 3 pts.
More interesting is that his combined Unfavorables are 41%.
The Whitman numbers are incredibly soft though — those are BS.
Interesting.
># Brasky Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm edit
I spent a little time catching-up on polling. Most of it was BS, but I did find to tidbits.
Fox did a poll last week that had Hugo Chavez (11%) and Fidel Castro (7%) with hiring approval ratings than Blagojevich (5%).
There was also an interesting poll where 20% of the sample was done on cell phones. 17% of the total sample said they had NO landline (which means they must have reached them by cell). When asked how many cell numbers could be used to reach a respondent (whether they answered by landline or cell phone), 51% said one cell phone. But 17% said “two” and 14% said “three or more.” Phone polling is much more complicated than it used to be.
He was a very aggressive campaigner in 2006, who naturally had no chance against Jerry Brown.
But against someone who hasn’t won all kinds of races and isn’t named Brown, you never know. He may have learned a few things.
># Dana Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:31 pm edit
L.A. Observed notes the L.A. Times reports that L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo again has filed to raise $$$ to run for state A.G. This guy is a empty suit/publicity hound whose ambition knows no bounds. Bet he falls flat on his face in the primary. Again.
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2009/01/rocky_files_to_raise_ag_m.php
Yes, it’s going well. Gitmo is complex, which is why it will take a year to sort it all out.
># Pat Skipper Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:51 pm edit
Closing Gitmo and the black sites, operating government in the sunshine again, and giving the lobbyists a swift kick in the shorts.
Nice start for the new guy.
Well, he actually got no support from those unions. It has nothing to do with John Burton.
># Hap Hazard Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:58 am edit
Garamendi, who has already declared his candidacy for governor, was also in evidence, and met with officials of five big unions — I have heard that, at least at the labor union locals level, that Garamendi is their favored guy. Of course, now that Burton and the machine are returning, the statewide labor chieftans can easily be called on to tamp down local union dissenters and persuade them to get on board with a different program if they should so decide. It would be consistent with previous Burton – labor traditions.
That’s amazing.
And will certainly repair our troubled relationship with Canada …
># larry Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:31 am edit
The TV audience for Obama’s inauguration was large in many places. Friends in London and Warsaw say they stayed up to watch, as did many of their friends. The Toronto Globe & Mail did a survey of Canadians. While it has all the flaws of any newspaper survey, 53% of Canadian respondents said they watched the inauguration live.