President Barack Obama dispatched his special envoy to the Middle East, former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, to the region for a trip beginning today.
** OBAMA AND THE CALIFORNIA WAY ON CLIMATE. President Barack Obama is choosing the California way of dealing with climate change. What this means is that major action to curtail greenhouse gases can happen faster, and without dealing with a traditional lobby-dominated Congress, with California and other states leading the way and doing the work.
Here’s how. … From my new column.
** SHE’S BACK – SARAHPAC! Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the highly controversial 2008 Republican nominee for vice president, has just launched a new political action committee.
“Dedicated to building America’s future, supporting fresh ideas and candidates who share our vision for reform and innovation. SarahPAC believes America’s best days are ahead. Our country, founded on conservative principles and the fight for freedom, must confront the challenges of the 21st century with integrity, innovation, and determination.
“SarahPAC believes energy independence is a cornerstone of the economic security and progress that every American family wants and deserves.
“SarahPAC believes the Republican Party is at the threshold of an historic renaissance that will build a better future for all. Health care, education, and reform of government are among our key goals. Join us today!”
Yay.
** CONFIDENCE IN OBAMA CHANGE UP IN WAKE OF INAUGURAL ADDRESS. The new Hotline poll shows a whopping 75% of US voters “confident that he will bring real change to the way things are done in Washington, DC.” 68% said that they watched President Obama’s Inaugural Address last week. 33% said it was the best inaugural address ever. 45% said it was better than most. 16% said it was about the same as past inaugurals.
63% say they approve of Obama’s performance as president. 76% say they have a favorable impression of Obama, while only 15% have an unfavorable impression.
** LATE MORNING UPDATE: NO CALIFORNIA BUDGET DEAL YET. A breathless situation, no?
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … OBAMA AND THE CALIFORNIA WAY ON CLIMATE POLICY.
** OBAMA’S FIRST NETWORK TV INTERVIEW, EXCERPTED. INTERVIEW OF THE PRESIDENT BY HISHAM MELHEM, AL ARABIYA. White House Map Room 5:46 P.M. EST, Monday 1/26/08.
Q Mr. President, thank you for this opportunity, we really appreciate it.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much.
Q Sir, you just met with your personal envoy to the Middle East, Senator Mitchell. Obviously, his first task is to consolidate the cease-fire. But beyond that you’ve been saying that you want to pursue actively and aggressively peacemaking between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Tell us a little bit about how do you see your personal role, because, you know, if the President of the United States is not involved, nothing happens — as the history of peacemaking shows. Will you be proposing ideas, pitching proposals, parameters, as one of your predecessors did? Or just urging the parties to come up with their own resolutions, as your immediate predecessor did?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think the most important thing is for the United States to get engaged right away. And George Mitchell is somebody of enormous stature. He is one of the few people who have international experience brokering peace deals. And so what I told him is start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating — in the past on some of these issues — and we don’t always know all the factors that are involved. So let’s listen. He’s going to be speaking to all the major parties involved. And he will then report back to me. From there we will formulate a specific response.
Ultimately, we cannot tell either the Israelis or the Palestinians what’s best for them. They’re going to have to make some decisions. But I do believe that the moment is ripe for both sides to realize that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people. And that instead, it’s time to return to the negotiating table.
And it’s going to be difficult, it’s going to take time. I don’t want to prejudge many of these issues, and I want to make sure that expectations are not raised so that we think that this is going to be resolved in a few months. But if we start the steady progress on these issues, I’m absolutely confident that the United States — working in tandem with the European Union, with Russia, with all the Arab states in the region — I’m absolutely certain that we can make significant progress.
Q You’ve been saying essentially that we should not look at these issues — like the Palestinian-Israeli track and separation from the border region — you’ve been talking about a kind of holistic approach to the region. Are we expecting a different paradigm in the sense that in the past one of the critiques — at least from the Arab side, the Muslim side — is that everything the Americans always tested with the Israelis, if it works. Now there is an Arab peace plan, there is a regional aspect to it. And you’ve indicated that. Would there be any shift, a paradigm shift?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, here’s what I think is important. Look at the proposal that was put forth by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia –
Q Right.
THE PRESIDENT: I might not agree with every aspect of the proposal, but it took great courage –
Q Absolutely.
THE PRESIDENT: — to put forward something that is as significant as that. I think that there are ideas across the region of how we might pursue peace.
I do think that it is impossible for us to think only in terms of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and not think in terms of what’s happening with Syria or Iran or Lebanon or Afghanistan and Pakistan. These things are interrelated. And what I’ve said, and I think Hillary Clinton has expressed this in her confirmation, is that if we are looking at the region as a whole and communicating a message to the Arab world and the Muslim world, that we are ready to initiate a new partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest, then I think that we can make significant progress.
Now, Israel is a strong ally of the United States. They will not stop being a strong ally of the United States. And I will continue to believe that Israel’s security is paramount. But I also believe that there are Israelis who recognize that it is important to achieve peace. They will be willing to make sacrifices if the time is appropriate and if there is serious partnership on the other side.
And so what we want to do is to listen, set aside some of the preconceptions that have existed and have built up over the last several years. And I think if we do that, then there’s a possibility at least of achieving some breakthroughs. …
Q Absolutely. Let me take a broader look at the whole region. You are planning to address the Muslim world in your first 100 days from a Muslim capital. And everybody is speculating about the capital. (Laughter.) If you have anything further, that would be great.
How concerned are you — because, let me tell you, honestly, when I see certain things about America — in some parts, I don’t want to exaggerate — there is a demonization of America.
THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely.
Q It’s become like a new religion, and like a new religion it has new converts — like a new religion has its own high priests.
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q It’s only a religious text.
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q And in the last — since 9/11 and because of Iraq, that alienation is wider between the Americans and — and in generations past, the United States was held high. It was the only Western power with no colonial legacy.
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q How concerned are you and — because people sense that you have a different political discourse. And I think, judging by (inaudible) and Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden and all these, you know — a chorus –
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I noticed this. They seem nervous.
Q They seem very nervous, exactly. Now, tell me why they should be more nervous?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think that when you look at the rhetoric that they’ve been using against me before I even took office –
Q I know, I know.
THE PRESIDENT: — what that tells me is that their ideas are bankrupt. There’s no actions that they’ve taken that say a child in the Muslim world is getting a better education because of them, or has better health care because of them.
In my inauguration speech, I spoke about: You will be judged on what you’ve built, not what you’ve destroyed. And what they’ve been doing is destroying things. And over time, I think the Muslim world has recognized that that path is leading no place, except more death and destruction.
Now, my job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect. I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries.
Q The largest one.
THE PRESIDENT: The largest one, Indonesia. And so what I want to communicate is the fact that in all my travels throughout the Muslim world, what I’ve come to understand is that regardless of your faith — and America is a country of Muslims, Jews, Christians, non-believers — regardless of your faith, people all have certain common hopes and common dreams.
And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives. My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect. But if you look at the track record, as you say, America was not born as a colonial power, and that the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago, there’s no reason why we can’t restore that. And that I think is going to be an important task.
But ultimately, people are going to judge me not by my words but by my actions and my administration’s actions. And I think that what you will see over the next several years is that I’m not going to agree with everything that some Muslim leader may say, or what’s on a television station in the Arab world — but I think that what you’ll see is somebody who is listening, who is respectful, and who is trying to promote the interests not just of the United States, but also ordinary people who right now are suffering from poverty and a lack of opportunity. I want to make sure that I’m speaking to them, as well.
Q Tell me, time is running out, any decision on from where you will be visiting the Muslim world?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’m not going to break the news right here.
Q Afghanistan?
THE PRESIDENT: But maybe next time. But it is something that is going to be important. …
Q President Bush framed the war on terror conceptually in a way that was very broad, “war on terror,” and used sometimes certain terminology that the many people — Islamic fascism. You’ve always framed it in a different way, specifically against one group called al Qaeda and their collaborators. And is this one way of…
THE PRESIDENT: I think that you’re making a very important point. And that is that the language we use matters. And what we need to understand is, is that there are extremist organizations — whether Muslim or any other faith in the past — that will use faith as a justification for violence. We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence that is done in that faith’s name.
And so you will I think see our administration be very clear in distinguishing between organizations like al Qaeda — that espouse violence, espouse terror and act on it — and people who may disagree with my administration and certain actions, or may have a particular viewpoint in terms of how their countries should develop. We can have legitimate disagreements but still be respectful. I cannot respect terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians and we will hunt them down.
But to the broader Muslim world what we are going to be offering is a hand of friendship.
Q Can I end with a question on Iran and Iraq then quickly?
THE PRESIDENT: It’s up to the team –
MR. GIBBS: You have 30 seconds. (Laughter.)
Q Will the United States ever live with a nuclear Iran? And if not, how far are you going in the direction of preventing it?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, I said during the campaign that it is very important for us to make sure that we are using all the tools of U.S. power, including diplomacy, in our relationship with Iran.
Now, the Iranian people are a great people, and Persian civilization is a great civilization. Iran has acted in ways that’s not conducive to peace and prosperity in the region: their threats against Israel; their pursuit of a nuclear weapon which could potentially set off an arms race in the region that would make everybody less safe; their support of terrorist organizations in the past — none of these things have been helpful.
But I do think that it is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but where there are potential avenues for progress. And we will over the next several months be laying out our general framework and approach. And as I said during my inauguration speech, if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us. …
It turns out that 90% of the executives running the bailed-out banks were running them when they crashed.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama goes up to Capitol Hill today to discuss his economic recovery program with Senate and House Republicans. The House Republicans, whose ranks have been diminished to essentially conservative members, are likely to oppose Obama. Senate Republicans, who have to appeal to actual states, rather than gerrymandered districts, are more open to Obama.
The truth is, Obama doesn’t need any House Republican votes. And he only needs a couple of Senate Republican votes if the minority party decides to try a filibuster.
But it serves Obama’s interests to try to be bipartisan. Or at least to appear to try to be bipartisan.
In other action, Obama’s holdover Defense Secretary Bob Gates is testifying to a joint hearing of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. The US has just dispatched 3000 additional troops to the troubled war in Afghanistan. Gates is discussing a coming “surge” in the moutainous failed state that has confounded foreign militaries for centuries.
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, and at least one of the developments is directly tied to his inauguration as president.
Israel has all its troops out of the Gaza Strip. And Russia has restarted natural gas flows to Europe through Ukraine. With the likelihood of Ukraine moving back into the embrace of Moscow. So much of what Russia is doing is to reassert itself in the “Post-Soviet Space.” The US has an emerging set of deals to supply the troubled war in Afghanistan outside the usual supply lines through increasingly unstable Pakistan. But more work remains with Moscow to lock all that down further, especially with regard to the transit of weapons.
Meanwhile, Iraq is beginning to look to a swifter US withdrawal of combat troops, with Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki saying that Iraq can be ready for a withdrawal of all US combat forces in 16 months.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger holds private talks in and around the Capitol, mostly focused on California’s chronic budget crisis. Schwarzenegger appears at a meeting of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors this afternoon. But press will only be allowed in for a “photo spray” at the top of the meeting.
Some 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.
Naturally, much of California’s far right – which is doing a remarkable job of driving the state’s Republican Party deeper into permanent minority status – is going bonkers over this.
And environmentalists are deeply suspicious of what the Republicans might want in exchange for at last coming to a resolution on the budget crisis, and will hold a press conference today charging that the right wants to wreck the state’s environmental safeguards in exchange for a needed tax hike.
** “MAC IS BACK?” HEY, IT NEVER LEFT. MACINTOSH TURNS 25. Whenever John McCain and his backers would start up one of their chants in the campaign that “Mac is back,” I’d say, what the heck are they talking about? It’s never left.
So here we are, 25 years to the day since Apple launched the Macintosh computer. And the Mac, unlike my old friend John McCain, is going as strong as ever, maybe even stronger. It hasn’t taken over the world, as Steve Jobs hoped. But it’s changed the face of computing in many ways, and is doing a lot better than any other computer in this global recession.
I’m a Mac guy since the ’80s. I run what we laughingly call my operation, a one-person operation, that is, as a Mac shop. Two Apple laptops on a wireless network, with a six-year old iBook as an emergency back-up.
But it’s deeper than that. I was there in Silicon Valley 25 years ago when the Macintosh was launched by Steve Jobs.
I was working with Senator Gary Hart then, and had gotten to know his backer, Apple’s marketing and PR guru Regis McKenna (I later worked with him as assistant to the chairman at his firm). Regis, who came up with the Apple logo, told me that I really didn’t want to miss the 1984 Apple shareholders’ meeting. As usual, he was right. …
** OBAMA AND HIS COMMANDERS. … From my Friday column.
** 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.) … From my January 19th Huffington Post column.
** 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.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM AL JAZEERA. With the US entangled in two wars in the region, it’s valuable to keep up with news and perspectives from the leading Middle Eastern-based TV news network. Based in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, Al Jazeera is very influential and more than a bit controversial.
Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer. The NWN live link to AJ 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 range of $43 to $44 per barrel.
The drop of $104 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 (100) |
That’s good! Don’t overdue it.
># Sacramento Solon Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 1:13 pm edit
Yes, it is. Resume walking either tomorrow or Thursday. Small baby steps…short distance…but it will lead me back to the path on Sunday.
Nice to see that we have a President who’s talking…leading. Thanks for bringing it all to us.
“Well, I can either be the Sacramento Bee and pretend there is breaking news, or I can deal with political reality.”
Yeah, SacBee has been chasing that southbound Ford Bronco for awhile now…
Once again the Reps are making noises about all sorts of policy concessions unrelated to the budget they expect to get as part of a deal. In the immortal words of Rocket J. Squirrel “That trick never works!” At the state and national level Republican legislators these days appear clueless and adrift.
The Bee just figured out that superior court law and motion judges issue tentative rulings the afternoon before the hearing. They omit to mention that they are posted on the court’s website that afternoon (used ta have to call a phone recording number in the old daze).
We’ll get a clue as to where the judge is headed tomorrow afternoon. Many are overlooking the possibility he may punt and not really definitively resolve the question, on which the unions have the better legal argument IMO.
YAY!
lol
** SHE’S BACK – SARAHPAC! Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the highly controversial 2008 Republican nominee for vice president, has just launched a new political action committee.
“Dedicated to building America’s future, supporting fresh ideas and candidates who share our vision for reform and innovation. SarahPAC believes America’s best days are ahead. Our country, founded on conservative principles and the fight for freedom, must confront the challenges of the 21st century with integrity, innovation, and determination.
“SarahPAC believes energy independence is a cornerstone of the economic security and progress that every American family wants and deserves.
“SarahPAC believes the Republican Party is at the threshold of an historic renaissance that will build a better future for all. Health care, education, and reform of government are among our key goals. Join us today!”
Yay.
Good Huffington Post column on the California climate way.
Ditto.
Ann Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
YAY!
lol
** SHE’S BACK – SARAHPAC! Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the highly controversial 2008 Republican nominee for vice president, has just launched a new political action committee.
“Dedicated to building America’s future, supporting fresh ideas and candidates who share our vision for reform and innovation. SarahPAC believes America’s best days are ahead. Our country, founded on conservative principles and the fight for freedom, must confront the challenges of the 21st century with integrity, innovation, and determination.
“SarahPAC believes energy independence is a cornerstone of the economic security and progress that every American family wants and deserves.
“SarahPAC believes the Republican Party is at the threshold of an historic renaissance that will build a better future for all. Health care, education, and reform of government are among our key goals. Join us today!”
Yay.
Ah, yes.
Thanks.
># Capitol Boy Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 5:48 pm edit
Good Huffington Post column on the California climate way.
Thanks.
>Ann Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 5:38 pm edit
YAY!
lol
** SHE’S BACK – SARAHPAC! Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the highly controversial 2008 Republican nominee for vice president, has just launched a new political action committee.
Not entirely sure what you’re referring to, but I’m gathering that your assumption is that the public employee unions trump the twice elected by landslide margins governor of California even in the midst of the biggest fiscal crisis in modern California history.
I think that’s a pretty shaky assumption there, entirely dependent on the draw of the judge …
># Wilbur Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 4:51 pm edit
The Bee just figured out that superior court law and motion judges issue tentative rulings the afternoon before the hearing. They omit to mention that they are posted on the court’s website that afternoon (used ta have to call a phone recording number in the old daze).
We’ll get a clue as to where the judge is headed tomorrow afternoon. Many are overlooking the possibility he may punt and not really definitively resolve the question, on which the unions have the better legal argument IMO.
I suspect they will get something for their years of obstinacy.
Just not what they wanted.
># Dana Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 3:21 pm edit
Once again the Reps are making noises about all sorts of policy concessions unrelated to the budget they expect to get as part of a deal. In the immortal words of Rocket J. Squirrel “That trick never works!” At the state and national level Republican legislators these days appear clueless and adrift.
I get all these “exciting” e-mails from the Bee, most of them telling me stuff I’ve known for hours.
># Brasky Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 2:22 pm edit
“Well, I can either be the Sacramento Bee and pretend there is breaking news, or I can deal with political reality.”
Yeah, SacBee has been chasing that southbound Ford Bronco for awhile now…
I know more about the California environmental program reading your column than looking at everything run in the California newspapers today.
announce, post-stimulus signing, that he intends to personally outreach to Muslim leaders throughout the world.. — Bold is one way to characterize this.
Editor: I think you changed something here …
Well, this is exactly what a president with balls should do. Go out there and say to the Muslim world that we are not against you — which would be extremely idiotic, frankly — and we will be your friends unless you are frakking with us. In which case …
Well, I hope so.
># Len Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 6:01 pm edit
I know more about the California environmental program reading your column than looking at everything run in the California newspapers today.
From the SarahPAC website:
“Paid for by SarahPAC — Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee”
So it’s ABOUT Sarah, not FOR Sarah?
When Sarah Palin says she “believes the Republican Party is at the threshold of an historic renaissance,” I assume she’s talking about fashion…
Oh, come on now. Don’t hold her to a higher standard than any other politician.
Christ, I was referring to your earlier comment.
Remind me again why I have comments …
“Oh, come on now. Don’t hold her to a higher standard than any other politician.”
Anyone who knows me will tell you my standards are pretty low…
It was more of a technical question as to the purpose of the fund. I assume it’s an issue PAC that will pay for consultants, polling, travel and (of course) clothes.
“Remind me again why I have comments …”
I assumed it was an elaborate plan to ferret-out Skynet…
lol
Bill Bradley Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Christ, I was referring to your earlier comment.
Remind me again why I have comments …
“OBAMA AND THE CALIFORNIA WAY ON CLIMATE. ”
A great piece.
One of the things Obama realizes (I think), is that energy independence and green technologies allow us to invest money in jobs and infrastructure that would have been spent on ongoing energy costs.
The additional cost of green technologies will be paid for by energy savings. Plus, you’re putting less greenhouse gas into the air and you’re buying less fuel from US enemies. PLUS, the demand for these green technologies will create a new high-tech manufacturing base that American can use going forward.
But you gotta make the programs provide incentives to make sure the green wave of technologies are home grown and not outsourced.
SarahPAC is an unregulated federal issues PAC that can receive unlimited contributions and its purpose is government reform…
WTF?!
She’s also one of the few vendors that apparently still takes Discover cards…
…Diner’s Club, not so much…
Huh, the guys running the website seem pretty-well connected to McCain…interesting.
http://www.campaignsolutions.com/
I agree. Something they likely could have gotten months ago if they had stopped grandstanding and cut the deal there for the taking. These antics bore me.
>Bill Bradley Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
I suspect they will get something for their years of obstinacy.
Is Palin going to try and fill the leadership vacuum of the Republicans? Wow! This should be an interesting show–and we’ll have front row seats to all the fun…
Go out there and say to the Muslim world that we are not against you — which would be extremely idiotic, frankly — and we will be your friends unless you are frakking with us. In which case — 100% agree with THAT outreach message
I am feeling a lot more comfortable with President Obama.
He is steady.
He is not retreating. The world likes him. The military seems to like him. I like it.
Dana Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Is Palin going to try and fill the leadership vacuum
No way. Sarah filling a vacuum violates the laws of physics.
Palin and Romney are titans. TITANS I tell you!
LOL
I assume I’m still the only one working out there?
Ugh — my project is done and now I must retire before the sun rises.
Good night sir!
When is President Obama coming to Moscow? He spoke with President Medvedev yesterday.
What new video today?
Obama, ME, and Davos.
They’re meeting in London in April. Not sure when Obama’s going to Moscow. But Hillary Clinton will be in Moscow before the London meeting.
># sergei Says:
January 28th, 2009 at 4:10 am edit
When is President Obama coming to Moscow? He spoke with President Medvedev yesterday.
That was pretty late!
># Brasky Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 11:50 pm edit
I assume I’m still the only one working out there?
Are you saying that vacuum cannot fill a vacuum?
># larry Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 8:09 pm edit
Dana Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Is Palin going to try and fill the leadership vacuum
No way. Sarah filling a vacuum violates the laws of physics.
I think it works as well as anything. Obama has to make sure that anti-Americanism doesn’t metastasize.
># Hap Hazard Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 7:54 pm edit
Go out there and say to the Muslim world that we are not against you — which would be extremely idiotic, frankly — and we will be your friends unless you are frakking with us. In which case — 100% agree with THAT outreach message
I think she’s trying to retain political traction. And I think Obama is happy to have her and Limbaugh to bat around.
># Dana Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 6:51 pm edit
Is Palin going to try and fill the leadership vacuum of the Republicans? Wow! This should be an interesting show–and we’ll have front row seats to all the fun…
They’re trying to cut a deal before the barrel goes over the waterfall.
># Dana Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 6:48 pm edit
I agree. Something they likely could have gotten months ago if they had stopped grandstanding and cut the deal there for the taking. These antics bore me.
>Bill Bradley Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
I suspect they will get something for their years of obstinacy.
Romney is much more credible.
># Brasky Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 8:44 pm edit
Palin and Romney are titans. TITANS I tell you!
LOL
How can you tell?
># Brasky Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 6:46 pm edit
Huh, the guys running the website seem pretty-well connected to McCain…interesting.
http://www.campaignsolutions.com/
What is a Discover card?
># Brasky Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 6:36 pm edit
She’s also one of the few vendors that apparently still takes Discover cards…
…Diner’s Club, not so much…
Thanks. Good points.
># Brasky Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 6:32 pm edit
“OBAMA AND THE CALIFORNIA WAY ON CLIMATE. ”
A great piece.
One of the things Obama realizes (I think), is that energy independence and green technologies allow us to invest money in jobs and infrastructure that would have been spent on ongoing energy costs.
The additional cost of green technologies will be paid for by energy savings. Plus, you’re putting less greenhouse gas into the air and you’re buying less fuel from US enemies. PLUS, the demand for these green technologies will create a new high-tech manufacturing base that American can use going forward.
But you gotta make the programs provide incentives to make sure the green wave of technologies are home grown and not outsourced.
That’s it!
># Brasky Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 6:22 pm edit
“Remind me again why I have comments …”
I assumed it was an elaborate plan to ferret-out Skynet…