President Barack Obama told the nation’s governors this morning during a White House meeting that he is directing $15 billion of federal funds into Medicaid health care programs in the states.
** NEW POLL: THAT TERRIBLY CONTROVERSIAL MICHELLE OBAMA … I remember hearing all the time last year about what a problem Michelle Obama was going to be for Barack Obama’s campaign. She was angry, had a chip on her shoulder, wasn’t proud of America, wrote a bad senior thesis at Princeton, or so the stories went. The brand new CBS News/New York Times poll shows that Michelle Obama is the most popular first lady in decades. She starts off much popular than did Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Barbara Bush, or Nancy Reagan. She is viewed favorably by 49%, unfavorably by only 5%. 44% have no opinion of her. Hillary Clinton started off with a 44% favorable rating, to 16% unfavorable, while Nancy Reagan had a 28% favorable rating at the start of her husband’s presidency. And another myth bites the dust.
** ABC/WASHPOST POLL: BIG BACKING FOR OBAMA AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY PROGRAM. The new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds President Barack Obama’s job approval rating at 68%. And support for the economic recovery program he got through Congress – despite lots of media flak – at a whopping 64%. Oddly, I just heard right-wing Congressman Tom McClintock, citing spurious polling numbers, tell the California Republican Party convention over the weekend over the weekend that the stimulus plan was wildly unpopular and had already brought Republicans back to political parity in America. Now resuming discussion of the real world … Obama’s popularity is extraordinarily high amongst Democrats, and very high with Republicans. But less than half as high with Republicans as with Democrats. Obama gets the nod on the economy over Republicans by a whopping 61% to 26%. He also gets credit for reaching out to Republicans, even though few GOP politicians are reaching back to him. But was predicted …
** RIGHT TRACK/WRONG TRACK TICKS UPWARD. The latest AP poll measuring whether voters think America is on the right track or the wrong track has ticked upward since the enactment of President Barack Obama’s phase one economic recovery bill.
It’s now at 40% right track/49% wrong track. Before Obama’s inauguration in January, it was at 35% right track/54% wrong track.
In early December, it was 32% right track/60% wrong track.
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … WHITMAN’S SAMPLER: FORMER EBAY CEO JOINS THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CULTURE IN EARNEST.
The Morning Column: MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK.
Another big week in presidential politics, and a more relaxed week in California politics.
President Barack Obama delivers his first address to Congress, Tuesday night in prime time. He will discuss his first federal budget – he is seeking cuts even as he implements one of the largest economic programs in American history – the economic crisis, and some moves in America’s geopolitical crises.
After meeting with many of the nation’s mayors last week, and admonishing them to spend new federal funds with care, Obama had dinner last night with most of the nation’s governors and met again in a more business-like setting this morning.
While Obama has had very little luck with House Republicans, and only some luck with Senate Republicans, he is forging alliances with top Republican governors, most notably Florida Governor Charlie Crist and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Both praised him yesterday on Sunday TV chat shows. His Republican gubernatorial critics of the day? South Carolina’s Mark Sanford and Lousiana’s Bobby Jindal, who may, somewhat incongruously, hope to run for president in 2010.
Jindal will deliver the Republican response Tuesday night to the president’s address.
Having the governors of South Carolina and Louisiana – both of whom have said they won’t take federal economic recovery dollars – as the face of the opposition is good for Obama. It shows the Republican Party pinned back into a geographical and ideological corner.
On the geopolitical front, the Obama Administration continues its complex dance with Russia, which is now aiding the supply of US troops fighting in Afghanistan, but wants more concessions on its influence in its “near abroad” and so is still providing some assistance to Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel’s unsettled governance continues in the wake of elections two weeks ago. (See item just below.) Europe is in in economic turmoil, with Central and Eastern European nations sliding toward insolvency.
And Mexico is becoming a sleeper issue of major concern, as drug cartels alternately battle and infiltrate the government, sometimes forcing temporary bridge closures along the border with the US.
In California politics, a quieter week. Gubernatorial hopefuls continue their moves, which are still pretty low-key, and I have a column coming on this.
The dust is settling from the controversial state budget compromise, with California’s Republicans still reeling over the breaking of their budget blockade and historic tax increase occasioned with key Republican votes.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be increasingly evident in public later this week, following his return from Washington, talking about the budget and the economic crisis.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama meets with most of the nation’s governors in the White House, then holds a press avail on the White House lawn. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is there for both.
Obama is releasing another $15 billion from the economic recovery program to pay for health care costs.
Obama and Vice President Joe Biden host a fiscal responsibility summit in the White House in advance of Obama’s big address tomorrow and release of a proposed federal budget. Which he proposes to cut, with major cuts coming in the Terror War effort around the world.
Meanwhile, back from what looks like a successful tour of Asia, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that she will go to the Middle East next week
Perhaps the cloudy Israeli political scene will be more settled by then. Though centrist Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s Kadima finished first, conservative former Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s Likud finds more splinter right-wing parties as allies. So President Shimon Peres, a former Labour prime minister, gave the nod to Netanyahu to try to form a government.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Washington for the winter meeting of the National Governors Association. After he and First Lady Maria Shriver attended a dinner in the White House last night, he participated in a private meeting with President Obama and other governors in the White House this morning and then appeared publicly with the president on the White House lawn.
Schwarzenegger is expected to return to California later today.
He will then work with Californian voters to explain the controversial new state budget and deal with the economic crisis.
After five previous Academy Award nominations, Kate Winslet won the Best Actress Oscar last night for The Reader. Slumdog Millionaire won Best Picture, Sean Penn nabbed another Oscar as Best Actor for Milk, and the late Heath Ledger won Best Supporting Actor for a performance for the ages as the Joker in The Dark Knight.
** FAR RIGHT FURY OVER CALIFORNIA TAX HIKES AND OPEN PRIMARY. Bill Bennett told conservative California Republican convention delegates meeting in Sacramento just what they wanted to hear today. In a speech that sounded exactly like what he was saying 20 years ago — aside from substituting Islamic terrorists for Soviet Communists as the big bad — the veteran right-wing pundit and former Reagan era education secretary soothed the audience by telling them that their ideology hadn’t really lost in November. Because John McCain didn’t run as a conservative. Enough of a conservative, that is. And, besides, Barack Obama won big because the education system has brainwashed younger voters.
However, much as they liked being pandered to by Bennett’s old-time religion, California’s far right Republicans are fit to be tied now. After half of their state convention, they’re engaging in a
festival of recriminations over a half dozen of their legislators breaking ranks to pass a big tax increase to help out the strapped state budget, as well as another 15 GOP legislators voting to pass an open primary system in the Golden State. The two moves are viewed as anathema by the far right. …
** CALIFORNIA: THE FAR RIGHT’S RITUAL DANCE ON THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF. Yes, it is Groundhog Day. Again. California governance is poised on the edge of a cliff, for the sixth day in a row one Republican vote shy of passing a budgetary mix of spending cuts, tax increases, borrowing, and various reforms, real and otherwise, to plug the state’s $41-plus billion gap over 18 months. Meanwhile, an increasingly conservative Republican Party in this state Barack Obama carried by 24 points dances about in a ritual purification ceremony, promoting non-existent budget solutions and launching coups against conservative party leaders who prove too pragmatic for the true believers.
Before getting to the unintentionally fascinating Republican politics, a word about the state budget. California has had a chronic budget problem dating back to the relatively short-lived dot-com boom, when it took on unsustainable spending programs and tax cuts, with both parties taking part in the party. Then Governor Gray Davis ended up going along, though he had told me he wouldn’t. The pressure from his own party was very strong.
When Arnold Schwarzenegger was swept into office in the 2003 recall, prompted mainly by Davis’s handling of the state’s electric power crisis early in the decade, the former action superstar promptly cut the car tax, to massive public approval. (Davis made two mistakes, incidentally, in the electric power crisis, which saw brief blackouts and skyrocketing rates in a partially deregulated system. First, in looking to Bill Clinton’s regulators (who didn’t help) and not immediately moving to long-term power contracts as the crisis began — Davis and his advisors shortsightedly didn’t want even a small increase in electric rates — and, later, in not moving very aggressively against merchant power generators manipulating the system.)
This combination of spending increases and tax cuts created a structural budget deficit, routinely papered over with accounting legerdemain and borrowing. The state made some progress, but everything went decidedly south with the advent of what is now the global economic crisis. Unlike the federal government, which can print money and borrow from China, as it did for eight years under George W. Bush, California has to balance its budget every year, or at least do a fairly convincing job of faking it. And unlike the federal government — and all but two other, much smaller states — California has the near unique requirement of a two-thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature to pass a budget or increase a tax. But not to cut a tax.
Enter the Republicans, who are getting more and more conservative as their ranks shrink. …
** AFGHANISTAN: RUSSIA TO THE RESCUE. In a very positive sign for the US effort in Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that transit of US and NATO non-military supplies through Russia to troops in Afghanistan will begin within days.
Ironically, this comes on the 20th anniversary of the Soviet withdrawal from Kabul. And the man who commanded those Soviet forces, retired Lieutenant General Boris Gromov, warned the US today that a military surge in Afghanistan will not solve its problems there.
With our putative ally Pakistan increasingly unstable and jihadists carrying out many successful attacks on supply lines and convoys there — they seem to blow up the route over the legendary Khyber Pass every other week — alternative means of supply are increasingly necessary to sustain the US and NATO effort in Afghanistan.
That means, one way or another, Moscow, which can provide transit through its own territory and guarantee transit through Central Asian nations formerly part of the Soviet Union. There’s been a major dance underway for weeks on this, unreported by the conventional media, naturally. …
** “POST-PARTISANSHIP”: HOW IT WORKS, HOW IT DOESN’T. Back in 2007, when he was still an underdog candidate for president jousting with John Edwards (remember him?), Barack Obama said that he liked the “post-partisan” posturings of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the idea that people should set aside their partisan differences to solve big issues. Now, as president, he’s adopted much the same tack, to the dismay of hyper-partisans of all stripes.
They ought to be dismayed, because it works. To a point.
But not in a linear sense.
Let’s take a look at how it went in California, and how it may go in Washington. … From my February 12th column.
** OH, ABOUT THAT “END” OF THE OBAMA HONEYMOON … From my February 9th column.
** SMOOTH SAILING FOR PANETTA. … From my February 6th Huffington Post column.
** OBAMA IN THE TANK. … From my January 29th column.
** OBAMA AND THE CALIFORNIA WAY ON CLIMATE. … From my January 27th column.
** “MAC IS BACK?” HEY, IT NEVER LEFT. MACINTOSH TURNS 25. … From my January 24th column.
** OBAMA AND HIS COMMANDERS. … From my January 23rd 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. … From my January 13th 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 around $40 per barrel.
This is up several dollars per barrel since the enactment of the Obama economic recovery bill, which may stimulate the economy into greater activitiy and, hence, energy use..
The drop of $107 per barrel since the record high over the summer comes on acknowledgment that the weak US and global economy will cut future demand and on the easing of previous geopolitical tensions in the Middle East surrounding a supposed attack on Iran.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum.
Read 
| Comments (53) |
Good talk by Obama.
I’m glad Kate Winslet finally won.
Obama is the governors’ savior. They better like him.
I haven’t really seen Kate Winslet in anything since “Titanic.”
The Flash Report boys will go nuts over this.
BB:While Obama has had very little luck with House Republicans, and only some luck with Senate Republicans, he is forging alliances with top Republican governors, most notably Florida Governor Charlie Crist and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Both praised him yesterday on Sunday TV chat shows. His Republican gubernatorial critics of the day? South Carolina’s Mark Sanford and Lousiana’s Bobby Jindal, who may, somewhat incongruously, hope to run for president in 2010.
I like Winslet winning the Oscar. She’s gettin’ edgier in her roles.
Isn’t he America’s savior?
Capitol Boy Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 am
Obama is the governors’ savior. They better like him.
We’re raising spending to float the economy. We’re sending more troop to Afghanistan. We’re cutting the deficit. How?
Hey, look, the glitch didn’t eat my post.
“The Dark Knight” was robbed, man.
Capitol Boy Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:10 am
I haven’t really seen Kate Winslet in anything since “Titanic.”
lol
Capitol Boy Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:10 am
The Flash Report boys will go nuts over this.
BB:While Obama has had very little luck with House Republicans, and only some luck with Senate Republicans, he is forging alliances with top Republican governors, most notably Florida Governor Charlie Crist and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Both praised him yesterday on Sunday TV chat shows. His Republican gubernatorial critics of the day? South Carolina’s Mark Sanford and Lousiana’s Bobby Jindal, who may, somewhat incongruously, hope to run for president in 2010.
I’m looking forward to that.
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … WHITMAN’S SAMPLER: FORMER EBAY CEO JOINS THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CULTURE IN EARNEST.
That is the job of the chief performance officer–cutting waste, fraud and inefficiency. Of course the problem now is their first choice for the job, Nancy Killefer, had to withdraw due to ubiquitous “tax problems” that have plagued many Obama appointees.
Interesting how Republicans during the Bush 43 era talked about the priorities of making government smaller and trimming the deficit yet somehow only managed to get around to enacting tax cuts for the wealthy. Meanwhile Democrats when they last held the White House achieved many of those goals. And Obama seems about the repeat this trick. Can we agree now Republicans are only good for shoveling money into the pockets of the rich? I guess that is what the guy meant when he said they need to agree on taxes…
>Jack Aubrey Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
We’re raising spending to float the economy. We’re sending more troop to Afghanistan. We’re cutting the deficit. How?
Winslet was brilliant in “The Reader.” She is brilliant in everything.
Len Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:16 am
I like Winslet winning the Oscar. She’s gettin’ edgier in her roles.
I hope Schwarzenegger gets the money that Jindal and Sanford are foolishly turning down.
If the likes of them are the face of the Republican Party future, there is no Republican Party future.
Capitol Boy Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 am
Obama is the governors’ savior. They better like him.
Are Louisiana and South Carolina that conservative? Or are those governors trying to run for the Reep presidential nomination?
Amen to that.
Capitol Boy Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:21 am
I’m looking forward to that.
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … WHITMAN’S SAMPLER: FORMER EBAY CEO JOINS THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CULTURE IN EARNEST.
Another month of this and we’ve got ourselves a trend. Very encouraging.
>It’s now at 40% right track/49% wrong track. Before Obama’s inauguration in January, it was at 35% right track/54% wrong track.
In early December, it was 32% right track/60% wrong track.
It looks pretty good. It’s like the old saying, you don’t turn an ocean liner on a dime.
She’s been edgy for quite some time. Check out “Holy Smoke.”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144715/
It’s good to see her win.
> [Winslet has been] gettin’ edgier in her roles.
Of course, I have to write it …
># marcos leon Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 pm edit
Amen to that.
Capitol Boy Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:21 am
I’m looking forward to that.
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … WHITMAN’S SAMPLER: FORMER EBAY CEO JOINS THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CULTURE IN EARNEST.
The Party of No is the way to go.
># marcus waldron Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:35 am edit
I hope Schwarzenegger gets the money that Jindal and Sanford are foolishly turning down.
If the likes of them are the face of the Republican Party future, there is no Republican Party future.
Capitol Boy Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 am
Obama is the governors’ savior. They better like him.
She is an exceptional actress.
># marcus waldron Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:33 am edit
Winslet was brilliant in “The Reader.” She is brilliant in everything.
Len Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:16 am
I like Winslet winning the Oscar. She’s gettin’ edgier in her roles.
Oh, I left out the word “not” …
># Bill Bradley Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm edit
The Party of No is the way to go.
># marcus waldron Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:35 am edit
I hope Schwarzenegger gets the money that Jindal and Sanford are foolishly turning down.
If the likes of them are the face of the Republican Party future, there is no Republican Party future.
Capitol Boy Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 am
Obama is the governors’ savior. They better like him.
Well, I don’t think that is going to do nearly all that stuff.
># Dana Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:23 am edit
That is the job of the chief performance officer–cutting waste, fraud and inefficiency. Of course the problem now is their first choice for the job, Nancy Killefer, had to withdraw due to ubiquitous “tax problems” that have plagued many Obama appointees.
Interesting how Republicans during the Bush 43 era talked about the priorities of making government smaller and trimming the deficit yet somehow only managed to get around to enacting tax cuts for the wealthy. Meanwhile Democrats when they last held the White House achieved many of those goals. And Obama seems about the repeat this trick. Can we agree now Republicans are only good for shoveling money into the pockets of the rich? I guess that is what the guy meant when he said they need to agree on taxes…
>Jack Aubrey Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
We’re raising spending to float the economy. We’re sending more troop to Afghanistan. We’re cutting the deficit. How?
The software learned. Again.
># Jack Aubrey Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 am edit
Hey, look, the glitch didn’t eat my post.
I’m behind the curve on that question.
># Jack Aubrey Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 am edit
We’re raising spending to float the economy. We’re sending more troop to Afghanistan. We’re cutting the deficit. How?
# Jack Aubrey Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 am edit
We’re raising spending to float the economy. We’re sending more troop to Afghanistan. We’re cutting the deficit. How?
Word.
># Jack Aubrey Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:56 am edit
“The Dark Knight” was robbed, man.
Capitol Boy Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:10 am
I haven’t really seen Kate Winslet in anything since “Titanic.”
You mean, the Obamessiah …
># Len Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:17 am edit
Isn’t he America’s savior?
Capitol Boy Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 am
Obama is the governors’ savior. They better like him.
When Obama talked about the budget a while back he mentioned targeting programs that don’t work for cuts or elimination. I had the impression he might take on some sacred cows of the left. That could get interesting.
>Bill Bradley Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Well, I don’t think that is going to do nearly all that stuff.
Having the governors of South Carolina and Louisiana – both of whom have said they won’t take federal economic recovery dollars – as the face of the opposition is good for Obama. It shows the Republican Party pinned back into a geographical and ideological corner. — I think that in this interview Sanford paints a rather good face on opposition to the federal economic recovery.
EUROPEAN WOODSTOCK
ENORMOUS ANTI-NATO RALLY
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO’s) 60th Anniversary celebrations is scheduled to take place from ( April 3rd to 5th ) in Strasbourg, the European capital of human rights and unity. And, the (U.K.) United Kingdom, London based Stop the War movement which organized the biggest protest in British history against the Iraq war in (2003) with over (1M) one million on the streets of London, supporters are already paying (£73UK/$106.25) to reserve (bus/coach) seats to Strasbourg, and well over a million demonstrators from all parts of Europe and America are making their way to Strasbourg by plane and train encouraged by the news that American Professor Noam Chomsky, a critic of (USI/MIC) United States of Israel, Military Industrial Complex, foreign policy, will be attending the (Anti-NATO) conference to be held in the growing (NATO Protest Village) in Strasbourg. The demonstrations will begin first in London with the (G20) major economic countries on (April 2nd), to demand the redrawing of economic borders, and diversify currency reserves, ending the ($US) Dollar base system, and then proceed on to Strasbourg. The events could make Woodstock Pale in comparison, with huge International Celebrity Attendance providing support.
WHAT’S NATO’S PUROPSE?
International public opinion is increasingly beginning to ask the question what is the purpose and logic of (NATO), not only in the context of the global financial and economic crisis, with (NATO) an expensive (USI/MIC) lead military alliance of foreign wars, that is no more than a luxury of the elitist in imperialist (USI/MIC), old think government, that can well be done without in the absence of external threats. But the replacement of (NATO) with a (ERDF) European Rapid Defense Force in the (21st) Century a period of rapid Change, Geo-economic, political, social, environmental, and military, moving towards a community of neighborhoods, inter-reacting with each other via the (U.N.) United Nations, and ruled by Charters, Inter-national Laws, Treaties, and Conventions.
NATO NEW STRATEGIC CONCEPT
The Secretary General of (NATO) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, wants’ the alliance to develop a “New Strategic Concept”, just a carbon copy actually of the (USI/MIC) United States of Israel, Military Industrial Complex, too run around the globe in a misguided alliance confronting “Islamic Terrorism” that’s a good “Muslim” and that’s a “Bad Muslim”, fighting cyber attacks, and stopping all the problems resulting from climate change.
The (USI/MIC) is threatening (NATO), saying, “If you don’t contribute to troops in Afghanistan, then what use are you in the modern world?” The threat has come home to roost with the European Community looking at what should the geo-political, social, economic and military be in the (21st) Century, and what sort of use should it’s forces be required to undertake in the (21st) Century, with the (USI/MIC) given less sway than in the past as to those decisions, the era of “Pox Americana” is ending around the globe.
EUROPEAN DEFENSE FORCE
Germany, which confirmed a pledge of (600) six-hundred more personnel than it first made earlier in the year bringing it’s force size to (2) Brigades, (4100) four-thousand, located in northern Afghanistan, rejected calls by (USI/MIC) Secretary of Defense Gates for troops from the (NATO/NRF) NATO Response Force (NRF) to be deployed to Afghanistan, as the German Defense Force Minister Franz Josef Jung countered “The (NRF) should not be used as a reserve, The (NRF) has fundamentally different tasks.” And, that task is basically a (ERDF) European Rapid Defense Force, and many see that the “New Concept” of the 21st Century, should no longer be one of a (USI/MIC) lead (NATO) in which the (USI/MIC) barks the order to jump and the European Community ask how high, but a sole (ERDF) European Rapid Defense Force, (70%) Seventy- Percent of (NATO) organization membership is now basically a European Defense Force designed for regional defense operations within their own geo-military boundaries, limiting them in their ability to contribute to or support expensive military alliance and foreign wars.
The Global Community has had enough of “Yankee” bad manners, international cowboy diplomacy, economic mis-management, ecological terrorism, and energy waste, and it’s going to end.
I almost feel sorry for Jonny Flash. He spent years defending and supporting Mike Carona only to have Carona agree that Jon is a moron on his best day.
Jon (like many screaming heads) is long on rhetoric, short on substance. Of course he wouldn’t give any details of what he wants cut to balance the state budget. There would have been conservative factions affected. Can’t have the GOP losing more of its already dwindling base.
Tom McC made spurious remarks to a group he knows won’t question him.
He’s one of the biggest hypocrites to ever hold public office. Yet conservatives idolize the man.
Go figure the logic on that one.
Some nice pieces both on CA and DC politics — especially linking the death-spirals of the CRP and RNC.
RE: Obama and the plates — on his first day at the Oval, I believe Obama said something about the room’s décor of blue china. Something to the effect of “I’m not much of a plate guy.”
Just wondering if he got those sissy plates replaced by something more manly. Maybe signed game balls from the 1993 Bulls, 1985 Bears and the…1908 Cubs?
“Obama gets the nod on the economy over Republicans by a whopping 61% to 26%.”
Jaw-dropping.
If this was a kid’s softball game, the officials would have called it…after the first inning.
Looks like there’s a problem with the blog.
The problem seems to be fixed.
Yes, the far right strategy is working like a charm …
># Brasky Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:38 pm edit
“Obama gets the nod on the economy over Republicans by a whopping 61% to 26%.”
Jaw-dropping.
If this was a kid’s softball game, the officials would have called it…after the first inning.
Thanks. Whitman coming up …
I haven’t been in the Oval Office since Clinton was president, and missed the Obama comment on the china.
># Brasky Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:23 pm edit
Some nice pieces both on CA and DC politics — especially linking the death-spirals of the CRP and RNC.
RE: Obama and the plates — on his first day at the Oval, I believe Obama said something about the room’s décor of blue china. Something to the effect of “I’m not much of a plate guy.”
Just wondering if he got those sissy plates replaced by something more manly. Maybe signed game balls from the 1993 Bulls, 1985 Bears and the…1908 Cubs?
I actually filmed McClintock’s speech Saturday night, unfortunately in low light.
It was like being in a time warp.
># Elroy El Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:25 pm edit
Tom McC made spurious remarks to a group he knows won’t question him.
He’s one of the biggest hypocrites to ever hold public office. Yet conservatives idolize the man.
Go figure the logic on that one.
Jon seemed very perturbed this past weekend.
># Elroy El Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:11 pm edit
I almost feel sorry for Jonny Flash. He spent years defending and supporting Mike Carona only to have Carona agree that Jon is a moron on his best day.
Jon (like many screaming heads) is long on rhetoric, short on substance. Of course he wouldn’t give any details of what he wants cut to balance the state budget. There would have been conservative factions affected. Can’t have the GOP losing more of its already dwindling base.
I don’t find his arguments effective.
># Hap Hazard Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm edit
Having the governors of South Carolina and Louisiana – both of whom have said they won’t take federal economic recovery dollars – as the face of the opposition is good for Obama. It shows the Republican Party pinned back into a geographical and ideological corner. — I think that in this interview Sanford paints a rather good face on opposition to the federal economic recovery.
That could certainly come on entitlements.
># Dana Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:53 pm edit
When Obama talked about the budget a while back he mentioned targeting programs that don’t work for cuts or elimination. I had the impression he might take on some sacred cows of the left. That could get interesting.
>Bill Bradley Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Well, I don’t think that is going to do nearly all that stuff.
Jon seemed very perturbed this past weekend
According to today’s Roundup, Jon angrily confronted Abel Maldonado. Abel handled it well according to that story.
Therein lies the difference between being a screaming head and an elected official. Jon gets elected by moonbats who demand no-tax pledges from candidates knowing full well those doing the demanding will never be responsible for anything except rhetoric. Abel on the other hand has to get re-elected in a very moderate borderline liberal district. Big difference in how one approaches public policy.
The Liberal OC has an interesting post on how it looks like the Jonny Flash crowd is only targetting the latino legislator who voted for the budget but is saying nothing about the five white male legislators. I don’t think it is racially driven but as one of the posters points out to Matt Cunningham (Red County Blog), perception is sometimes reality in the political world.
interesting article about the California republicans. Norquist and his acolytes aren’t doing them any favors, nor is Joel Fox and the hard line anti tax crowd. If they were smart they would embrace the majority rule on budgeting, abandon the morality politics, and focus on traditional conservative fiscal policies, and they would find lots of the independents and conservative democrats giving them another look. But having been children of Prop 13, I think most of them and their heirs who are now in the party apparatus have grown comfortable with the notion that they don’t have any real responsibilities when they are a distinct minority, so they really don’t know how to and have no interest in actually fighting or plotting for what they believe in because they don’t actually want to win a majority. Too much responsibility. Easier to throw rocks without any alternative governance plan. A shame.
Michelle Obama seems to strike just the proper balance: She’s supportive of her husband, a caring mother, yet she projects strength in her own right.
What new video today?
Economy and satellite.
Indeed.
># Clutch J Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:21 pm edit
Michelle Obama seems to strike just the proper balance: She’s supportive of her husband, a caring mother, yet she projects strength in her own right.