U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, a longtime moderate Pennsylvania Republican, is now a Democrat.
** THEY LIKE HIM, THEY REALLY LIKE HIM. On the eve of his 100th day in office, the brand new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows 81% of American voters saying they personally like President Barack Obama. 64% view him favorably as a political figure. 61% approve of his job as president.
These figures are well above those for Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton at a comparable moment in their presidencies, and approach Reaganesque levels of popularity.
43% see America as being on the right track, up 17 points since Obama’s inauguration, while 43% see it on the wrong track.
Some warning signs. Growing numbers worry that Obama is trying to do too many things. And he is increasingly seen as an ideological liberal.
As I keep saying, America is a center/left country, not a center/right country. And not a left/liberal country.
** SPECTER AND THE J.F.K. ASSASSINATION. Something most people don’t know about Senator Arlen Specter is that he came up with the “magic bullet” theory of the John F. Kennedy assassination. Then a young researcher for the Warren Commission charged with investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Specter solved a principal conundrum for the commission by positing that one bullet caused several wounds in the late president and Texas Governor John Connally, ending up, oddly enough, little the worse for all that wear when it was found on a stretcher at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Absent the magic bullet, you have more than one shooter.
** OBAMA’S CALIFORNIA: ANGST AND IRONY FOR WINNING DEMOCRATS. It’s a great time in many ways for California Democrats, who just had their annual convention in Sacramento. Barack Obama carried the state with 61% of the vote and the party has a big registration edge over Republicans, as well as a much better handle on the large and growing number of independent voters.
No wonder House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime acquaintance, was so ebullient when I spoke with her over the weekend. But it’s also a time of angst and irony.
I talked with former Governor Gray Davis, the only Democratic governor since World War II not named Brown, who told me: “California may be at a tipping point.” And Democratic delegates were in disarray on what to do about it, even as they enjoyed speeches from their two most likely gubernatorial contenders. …
Officials around the world are scrambling to contain the swine flu outbreak, which is nonetheless short of pandemic status. Cases are reportedly declining in Mexico, where the outbreak began.
** SCHWARZENEGGER DECLARES SWINE FLU STATE OF EMERGENCY, OBAMA PRESSES FOR EMERGENCY FUNDING. Following two deaths of people with swine flu-like symptoms in the LA area, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency. (One of the two turns out to have reportedly died of something else.)
While this sounds very dramatic, it isn’t that dramatic, and Schwarzenegger adds “there is no need for alarm” in the statement accompanying the proclamation. Basically, it cuts through red tape to coordinate and assist public health personnel. Schwarzenegger also advises some common sense things about sneezing, washing one’s hands, avoiding sick people, and so on.
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has asked Congress for $1.5 billion in emergency funding for flu prevention. There are 65 cases across the country, 10 of them in California. As Marc Cooper points out, the emergency funding is necessary because Maine Senator Susan Collins, one of the Republican moderates needed to avoid a filibuster on the Obama economic recovery program, succeeded in stripping out $1 billion in flu prevention funding.
** BROWN ORDERS CHANGES IN MAYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT. Former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown this morning announced the results of a 16-month Department of Justice investigation into the police force in Maywood, a south LA city. The city of 30,000 is 96% Latino.
Brown declared that the DOJ found “gross misconduct and widespread abuse including unlawful use of force against civilians,” with the department operating outside the control of the city manager and city council. He announced that he is seeking an immediate stipulated court order to ensure reforms and place the department under ongoing oversight by the Attorney General’s office.
It’s the latest in a series of high-profile moves by Brown, who has signaled his interest in a return to the governorship and whose off-the-cuff address was very warmly received by delegates to last weekend’s state Democratic convention. Brown has also recently sued Wells Fargo for $1.5 billion in allegedly fraudulent investments and, at the request of the state Supreme Court, issued a legal opinion that the Prop 209 anti-affirmative action initiative was unconstitutional.
** SPECTER SWITCHES FROM REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS POISED ON VERGE OF 60 VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE. Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, facing defeat in an increasingly conservative Republican primary, is switching to the Democratic Party. When you add in the inevitable, though still delayed, addition of comedian Al Franken in the Minnesota recount case, that will give Democrats a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority in the 100-member U.S. Senate.
This reminds of Obama’s wisdom in blocking the expulsion of Joe Lieberman from the Senate Democratic caucus, which many on the left wanted. Lieberman, who sharply criticized Obama while campaigning with his friend, John McCain, has been singing Obama’s praises and providing key votes to the Obama Administration in moving the major elements of its agenda.
** NEW POLL: SLIM MAJORITY FAVORS TORTURE PROBE, BIGGER MAJORITY FAVORS TORTURE. The new Gallup Poll on the controversy over the use of torture in the interrogation of suspected terrorists brings very mixed tidings for liberal critics.
By a 51% to 42% margin, Americans want an investigation into the the use of torture, a crusade-level issue for much of the left.
But by a 55% to 36% margin, Americans say that torture was justified in defense of national security.
I think the poll is a little too broadly framed. I don’t believe that 55% support torture as a matter of national policy. A better way of asking would focus on the question of torture as a national policy, which it became in the Bush/Cheney Administration, as distinguished from torture in certain circumstances, and of course a strict abolition on torture in any circumstances. But either way, the results probably wouldn’t make a lot of liberals happy.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama has received his daily intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
He meets at 8 AM Pacific with Federal Bureau of Investigations Director Robert Mueller and other top officials at FBI headquarters in Washington. Afterwards, he addresses the FBI staff.
At 11 AM Pacific, Obama meets with the Congressional Progressive Caucus in the East Room of the White House.
At 12:05 PM Pacific, he presents the National Teacher of the Year award in the Rose Garden.
At 1:30 PM Pacific, Obama meets with Defense Secretary Bob Gates in the Oval Office.
At 4:30 PM Pacific, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hold a reception with members of the Cabinet in the Blue Room.
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is expected to be confirmed today by the Senate as US health and human services secretary. Her appointment has been held up by a Republican filibuster over abortion and her support of the pro-choice position on the issue.
The administration has decided not to close the border with Mexico, adopting a passive surveillance policy instead.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will hold state budget-related discussions in and around the Capitol.
He holds a press conference this morning in the Capitol Rotunda with former state Senate Minority Leader Dave Cogdill to urge passage of higher education-related legislation that will benefit members of the California National Guard.
The event will be webcast live at 10:45 AM at www.gov.ca.gov.
This afternoon, Schwarzenegger will hold a press availability on the East Steps of the Capitol while viewing the Honda FCX Clarity. This is the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle built from the platform up and was researched, designed and co-developed by engineering teams in Tochigi, Japan and Torrance, California.
Schwarzenegger, incidentally, who told me in my Tuesday afternoon live webchat with him that he planned to appear in the forthcoming Terminator Salvation movie if it worked out technologically – he didn’t act on set – will be appearing in the film in a cameo role via the wonders of digital mapping technology. More to follow on that. You can listen to the conversation here.
A Russian tanker crew repelled a band of Somali pirates yesterday in the Indian Ocean.
** OBAMA’S EARTH DAY ENERGY DECLARATION: CALIFORNIA MAY BE THE NATIONAL MODEL HE SAYS, BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH. President Barack Obama made a big show for Earth Day of his commitment to a much greener energy future, and in the process paid a huge compliment to California for dramatically altering its energy path three decades ago. But even though California, as Obama puts it, shows the rest of America what can be done, it’s not enough.
Obama spoke after touring a wind energy equipment factory, once a Maytag washing machine factory, in Newton, Iowa. While he talked up innovation in new technologies, he noted that, in our history, increases in innovation are generally coupled with big increases in consumption. And that that can lead to disaster.
Obama framed the the development of green energy technology — which includes energy efficiency tech as well as renewable sources such as wind, solar, waves, geothermal, and biomass — as the way out of the usual false choice on the environment. …
** THE REPUBLICAN CHOICE: REACT OR MODERNIZE. … From my April 22nd column.
** THE STATE OF PLAY OF STATE OF PLAY. … From my April 18th column.
** OBAMA AND MEXICO: MANAGING INCIPIENT CHAOS. … From my April 17th column.
** EARL GREY, ANYONE? A CALIFORNIA CAPITOL TEA PARTY. …… From my April 15th column.
** OBAMA’S CRISIS MANAGEMENT: OF PIRATES AND MISSILES. … From my April 13th column.
** OBAMA’S NEW GEOPOLITICS: 10 KEY TAKEAWAYS. … From my April 9th column.
** TURKEY: NOT THE USUAL GEOPOLITICAL SANDWICH. … From my April 6th column.
** RE-SETTING THE GEOPOLITICAL TABLE: HOW OBAMA’S BIG TRIP IS GOING. … From my April 3rd column.
** AFGHANISTAN: THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM? … From my March 30th 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.
** 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. Having crashed over $147 for yet another record on July 11th, crude oil is trading around $50 per barrel.
This is up about $16 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, due in part to some positive economic signs and in part to fresh geopolitical jitters over Pakistan.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum.
Read 
| Comments (55) |
I think the media is being completely hysterical about swine flu.
Good for the Russians beating back the pirates. Remember when they were the big threat; now it’s swine flu.
The pirates were 2 weeks ago.
The wingnuts are blaming Mexico.
Jonas Blane Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 7:32 am
I think the media is being completely hysterical about swine flu.
It’s an ingrained response.
They’re like Watchmen. Over. Or not …
># Capitol Boy Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 7:36 am edit
The pirates were 2 weeks ago.
I think there are some tough customers on those Russian ships.
># Jonas Blane Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 7:33 am edit
Good for the Russians beating back the pirates. Remember when they were the big threat; now it’s swine flu.
I may be wrong, but my gut feeling is it’s not a disaster.
># Jonas Blane Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 7:32 am edit
I think the media is being completely hysterical about swine flu.
I don’t like that. They agree with Cheney!
** NEW POLL: SLIM MAJORITY FAVORS TORTURE PROBE, BIGGER MAJORITY FAVORS TORTURE. The new Gallup Poll on the controversy over the use of torture in the interrogation of suspected terrorists brings very mixed tidings for liberal critics.
By a 51% to 42% margin, Americans want an investigation into the the use of torture, a crusade-level issue for much of the left.
But by a 55% to 36% margin, Americans say that torture was justified in defense of national security.
This, I like, A LOT!
** SPECTER SWITCHES FROM REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS POISED ON VERGE OF 60 VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE. Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, facing defeat in an increasingly conservative Republican primary, is switching to the Democratic Party. When you add in the inevitable, though still delayed, addition of comedian Al Franken in the Minnesota recount case, that will give Democrats a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority in the 100-member U.S. Senate.
Not just wingnuts. There have been reports tracing this to a livestock processing facility in Mexico.
Sometimes (like the stopped clock) the media knows a story when it sees one. Ask me– the parent of a child who came down with flu-like symptoms Sunday and has been home sick from school for two days– if this isn’t something to which people are paying attention.
>Capitol Boy Says:
The wingnuts are blaming Mexico.
>>Jonas Blane Says:
I think the media is being completely hysterical about swine flu.
How ironic that Liebermann and Specter will be the 59th and 60th votes for health care reform, climate change policy, the budget, etc.
Issues such as torture are why we have (and must have) a republic, not a democracy.
Where is Schwarzeneger?
Mister Bradley, the media may be hysterical over swine flu, but I am for anything that takes Nadia “Octomom” Suleman out of the news.
As for the hysterical part, maybe a little bit. But if several people die, that usually qualifies something as serious. I wonder if there will be any gothca pictures of elected officials wearing masks on airplanes. Didn’t a chief of staff get slammed for that when there was a shortage of masks during the SARS deal?
Also, what’s up will all the animal flues? Bird Flu, Swine Flu? M. Night should write a “Happening” sequel about that.
Full disclosure: I am coming down with “Wolverine” Fever.
SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
(AIE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE)
Good thing Obama didn’t listen to the netroots about Lieberman, huh?
Clutch J Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:57 am
How ironic that Liebermann and Specter will be the 59th and 60th votes for health care reform, climate change policy, the budget, etc.
I hope you’re right about that…Kaff kaff.
Bill Bradley Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:16 am
I may be wrong, but my gut feeling is it’s not a disaster.
># Jonas Blane Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 7:32 am edit
I think the media is being completely hysterical about swine flu.
There’s common sense in that poll.
Clutch J Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Issues such as torture are why we have (and must have) a republic, not a democracy.
Yeah, but you don’t BLAME Mexico.
Clutch J Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Not just wingnuts. There have been reports tracing this to a livestock processing facility in Mexico.
Sometimes (like the stopped clock) the media knows a story when it sees one. Ask me– the parent of a child who came down with flu-like symptoms Sunday and has been home sick from school for two days– if this isn’t something to which people are paying attention.
>Capitol Boy Says:
The wingnuts are blaming Mexico.
>>Jonas Blane Says:
I think the media is being completely hysterical about swine flu.
Yes, poorly framed though it is.
># Jack Aubrey Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:56 am edit
There’s common sense in that poll.
Clutch J Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Issues such as torture are why we have (and must have) a republic, not a democracy.
Yes, Polonius-like though Lieberman can be, exiling him would have been very stupid.
># Jack Aubrey Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:50 am edit
Good thing Obama didn’t listen to the netroots about Lieberman, huh?
Clutch J Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:57 am
How ironic that Liebermann and Specter will be the 59th and 60th votes for health care reform, climate change policy, the budget, etc.
Has anyone died in America from it?
Anyway, I’m on the X-Men Wolverine thing. Looking forward to it, and I’ll be writing about it.
># Vladimir Bierko Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:04 am edit
Mister Bradley, the media may be hysterical over swine flu, but I am for anything that takes Nadia “Octomom” Suleman out of the news.
As for the hysterical part, maybe a little bit. But if several people die, that usually qualifies something as serious. I wonder if there will be any gothca pictures of elected officials wearing masks on airplanes. Didn’t a chief of staff get slammed for that when there was a shortage of masks during the SARS deal?
Also, what’s up will all the animal flues? Bird Flu, Swine Flu? M. Night should write a “Happening” sequel about that.
Full disclosure: I am coming down with “Wolverine” Fever.
That poll was very surprising to some of my folks on the left.
The world is not actually defined by Keith and Rachel …
># Clutch J Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 9:25 am edit
Issues such as torture are why we have (and must have) a republic, not a democracy.
Sorry to hear about your child. Any sign of the constellation of symptoms that accompany swine flu?
>Clutch J Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:55 am edit
Not just wingnuts. There have been reports tracing this to a livestock processing facility in Mexico.
Sometimes (like the stopped clock) the media knows a story when it sees one. Ask me– the parent of a child who came down with flu-like symptoms Sunday and has been home sick from school for two days– if this isn’t something to which people are paying attention.
I don’t think that’s actually true, for reasons I mentioned regarding how the poll is framed. But they may agree with Jack Bauer …
># Capitol Boy Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:48 am edit
I don’t like that. They agree with Cheney!
** NEW POLL: SLIM MAJORITY FAVORS TORTURE PROBE, BIGGER MAJORITY FAVORS TORTURE. The new Gallup Poll on the controversy over the use of torture in the interrogation of suspected terrorists brings very mixed tidings for liberal critics.
By a 51% to 42% margin, Americans want an investigation into the the use of torture, a crusade-level issue for much of the left.
But by a 55% to 36% margin, Americans say that torture was justified in defense of national security.
Not actually that ironic with regard to Lieberman, who is a pretty standard Democrat on most issues.
># Clutch J Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:57 am edit
How ironic that Liebermann and Specter will be the 59th and 60th votes for health care reform, climate change policy, the budget, etc.
#11…Clutch J,
Make sure you take care of yourself and get plenty of rest. There is nothing worse than when your children are sick.
We don’t have the flu but, this is a nasty allergy season.
Specter sounds only alright.
Bill, do you think Oswald was the sole assasin?
Now THIS is some movie news worthy of NWN.
Has anybody asked Gavin if DiFi is too old to be governor?
Computer fixed…
Nice to have Specter on our side…
My party did a dumb thing on Sunday…shame on those who voted no.
Clutch J…hope your child gets well soon.
All the US and Canadian (and I believe everywhere except Mexico) swine flu cases have been mild, with only one person hospitalized here, and that only overnight. The question intriguing scientists is why people have gotten so much sicker in Mexico, and as yet there is no explanation. The only deaths have been in Mexico.
I fear there is a bigger pollution problem in Mexico that lowers the immune system.
I don’t like Arlen Specter. However, I’m glad he’s a Democrat.
The Republican Party is burning down.
** SPECTER AND THE J.F.K. ASSASSINATION. Something most people don’t know about Senator Arlen Specter is that he came up with the “magic bullet” theory of the John F. Kennedy assassination. Then a young researcher for the Warren Commission charged with investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Specter solved a principal conundrum for the commission by positing that one bullet caused several wounds in the late president and Texas Governor John Connally, ending up, oddly enough, in little the worse for all that wear when it was found on a stretcher at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Absent the magic bullet, you have more than one shooter.
That’s good, Solon.
The endorsement votes didn’t even make sense, as I pointed out.
Endorse 1B, but not 1A. But there’s no 1B without 1A. Willie Pelote, the AFSCME guy, gave a very emotional stemwinder out of the Jesse Jackson school of rhetoric that might have swayed a handful of people into not voting for 1A.
Emotional moves, not logical. Especially as I’m looking right now at a brand new poll on doing away with 2/3 vote requirements …
># Sacramento Solon Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 3:38 pm edit
Computer fixed…
Nice to have Specter on our side…
My party did a dumb thing on Sunday…shame on those who voted no.
Clutch J…hope your child gets well soon.
I mentioned the contradiction in the new column. (Brown is too old according to Newsom spinners but Newsom would get out of the race for Feinstein, who is five years older than Brown and far more establishmentarian.)
I haven’t bothered to ask Newsom about it.
># Clutch J Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 3:32 pm edit
Has anybody asked Gavin if DiFi is too old to be governor?
Wall Street II!
># Clutch J Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 3:18 pm edit
Now THIS is some movie news worthy of NWN.
No.
># Clutch J Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 3:15 pm edit
Bill, do you think Oswald was the sole assasin?
Bill Bradley Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
That’s good, Solon.
The endorsement votes didn’t even make sense, as I pointed out.
Endorse 1B, but not 1A. But there’s no 1B without 1A. Willie Pelote, the AFSCME guy, gave a very emotional stemwinder out of the Jesse Jackson school of rhetoric that might have swayed a handful of people into not voting for 1A.
Emotional moves, not logical. Especially as I’m looking right now at a brand new poll on doing away with 2/3 vote requirements …
——
If I missed it above…spank me. But care to share the results of the poll or must I wait???
Steve Schmidt is pulling his hair out over Arlen Specter.
lol
Sacramento Solon Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Computer fixed…
Nice to have Specter on our side…
Larry, the experts last night on Cjarlie Rose seems to be in line with your comments in re Swine Flu–so far more concerning than worth panic. Folks tend to forget how many thousands die each year from influenza.
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10256
The poll is embargoed right now.
># Sacramento Solon Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 4:28 pm edit
Bill Bradley Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
That’s good, Solon.
The endorsement votes didn’t even make sense, as I pointed out.
Endorse 1B, but not 1A. But there’s no 1B without 1A. Willie Pelote, the AFSCME guy, gave a very emotional stemwinder out of the Jesse Jackson school of rhetoric that might have swayed a handful of people into not voting for 1A.
Emotional moves, not logical. Especially as I’m looking right now at a brand new poll on doing away with 2/3 vote requirements …
——
If I missed it above…spank me. But care to share the results of the poll or must I wait???
Heard radio ad by Jon Coupal this morning taking dead aim at 1A, urging a no vote with usual rhetoric. No New Taxes, No on Proposition 1A (a project of the HJTA) is the umbrella he is using, beating the bushes for $$$ evidently allied with Michael Reagan:
http://www.reagannoonprop1a.com/
I am not enthused about the measures but think the alternative is horrifying. Plus remember even if they pass we still have a yawning deficit that will require further measures.
Dana,
I agree with you about the measures.
Can’t share my thoughts about Coupal as I don’t want to use that kind of language on the list.
Mister Bradley, can you at least tell us if Proposition 1F has broken 100 percent yet?
What new video today?
Pakistan, and Obama and the new health secretary.