CIA Director Leon Panetta addressing agency staff in Langley, Virginia during President Barack Obama’s April visit. Panetta, the former longtime California congressman, was Obama’s emissary to Israel regarding a potential military strike against Iran.
** QUICK HITS. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a bit of pickle over when she knew about waterboarding, has been backed by former Senate Intelligence PeCommittee chairman Bob Graham about briefings in 2002, which CIA claimed told both of them about the practice of torture. New CIA Director Leon Panetta backed his agency, naturally, but, though he doesn’t say it, doesn’t actually know if notes taken seven years ago were accurate. In any event, Pelosi acknowledges knowing in 2003, though not as a result of being briefed by CIA, and sought today to calm the waters by praising intelligence work. … Once and future GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney joined a parade of conservative pols today at the National Rifle Association convention in Phoenix, where he said President Obama is out to make America weak and please radical law professors and editorial boards. … Always interesting to watch the one-time moderate Romney pander to the far right. Meanwhile, in the real world, those radical law professors and editorial boards are denouncing Obama this week for his appointment of a new Afghanistan commander (see my column linked below) who is a hardball special ops officer, for moving to block release of more photos of detainee abuse, and for today’s decision to revive military tribunals for suspected terrorists, albeit with more legal safeguards for the accused.
** GAFFEIN’ GAVIN. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, whose comments and behavior inadvertently helped pass the Prop 8 anti-gay marriage initiative last November, has offered up his vision of the media future to The Economist, the venerable British newsweekly of global persuasion. If the San Francisco Chronicle folds, he opined, “People under 30 won’t even notice.”
Naturally, the Chronicle caught wind of this. (Thanks to NWN poster Mr. Brasky for pointing this out in the NWN Forum.)
Putting aside the obvious gaffe here – namely, the most unwise insult to the mayor’s hometown newspaper which, for the most part, has not delved into various problems of his mayoralty – let’s look at the substance of Newsom’s insight.
Newsom, influenced by his friend, actor Ashton Kutcher, who is the acknowledged king of the medium, has become a champion of Twitter. Which enjoys a certain vogue. But only allows for the most shallow form of communication, given the inherent limits of what one can say in 140 characters.
There may be a lot of folks under 30 who think that Twitter is media. Others think it’s mostly noise, and largely self-indulgent noise at that. And Twitter, as a recent media report I read reveals, has a dangerously high drop rate, much higher than other social media.
If the Chronicle goes down in terms of its physical newspaper, that will greatly affect its popular web site, sfgate.com, if it even survives. Why? Because useful content requires reporting. Which requires people with at least a modicum of skills to gather and present news. But that requires a business model to support those reporters. Which physical newspapers had, and online publications, with very few exceptions,do not. If the paper goes down, there won’t be enough reporters left to keep the website substantive.
And I’m sure there will be more than a few people under 30 who notice that, no matter how shallow Newsom assumes them to be.
** THE GAY MARRIAGE DIVIDE. With the New York state Assembly having passed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, and a tough fight looming in the state Senate, a new Quinnipiac poll finds New York voters evenly divided on the issue, with 46% in favor and 46% opposed.
Support on the issue is up sharply in the last five years; an April 2004 poll showed gay marriage opposed, 55% to 37%.
In addition to the even split on the issue among all voters, there is a sharp racial divide. While white voters very narrowly approve of gay marriage, 47% to 45%, African American voters are strongly opposed, 55% to 37%. Predictably, Democrats are strongly in favor and Republicans are strongly opposed. But independents are split, 46-45.
** OBAMA RE-STARTS MILITARY TRIBUNALS FOR TERROR SUSPECTS, WITH NEW SAFEGUARDS.
Obama’s statement today: Military commissions have a long tradition in the United States. They are appropriate for trying enemies who violate the laws of war, provided that they are properly structured and administered. In the past, I have supported the use of military commissions as one avenue to try detainees, in addition to prosecution in Article III courts. In 2006, I voted in favor of the use of military commissions. But I objected strongly to the Military Commissions Act that was drafted by the Bush Administration and passed by Congress because it failed to establish a legitimate legal framework and undermined our capability to ensure swift and certain justice against those detainees that we were holding at the time. Indeed, the system of Military Commissions at Guantanamo Bay had only succeeded in prosecuting three suspected terrorists in more than seven years.
Today, the Department of Defense will be seeking additional continuances in several pending military commission proceedings. We will seek more time to allow us time to reform the military commission process. The Secretary of Defense will notify the Congress of several changes to the rules governing the commissions. The rule changes will ensure that: First, statements that have been obtained from detainees using cruel, inhuman and degrading interrogation methods will no longer be admitted as evidence at trial. Second, the use of hearsay will be limited, so that the burden will no longer be on the party who objects to hearsay to disprove its reliability. Third, the accused will have greater latitude in selecting their counsel. Fourth, basic protections will be provided for those who refuse to testify. And fifth, military commission judges may establish the jurisdiction of their own courts.
These reforms will begin to restore the Commissions as a legitimate forum for prosecution, while bringing them in line with the rule of law. In addition, we will work with the Congress on additional reforms that will permit commissions to prosecute terrorists effectively and be an avenue, along with federal prosecutions in Article III courts, for administering justice. This is the best way to protect our country, while upholding our deeply held values.
** LIVE WEBCAST OF JERRY BROWN’S U.S.C. LAW SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS. Former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown delivers the commencement address this afternoon at the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law in Los Angeles. Read the USC news item here.
The event will be webcast live by the USC Law School, starting at 3:30 PM.
** QUOTE OF THE DAY
“If I had listened to the naysayers, I would still be in the Austrian Alps yodeling.”
– Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, in this morning’s University of Southern California commencement address.
** PANETTA TO ISRAEL: NO STRIKE ON IRAN. CIA Director Leon Panetta has twice journeyed to Israel in the past few weeks to sound out the new Israeli government and to deliver a pointed message from President Barack Obama: No sudden attacks on Iran.
Panetta was there most recently earlier this week, according to Israeli and British media, to deliver that message to new Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. After more than a month of delay following unsettled Israeli elections, he and his right-wing Likud formed a conservative government relying on the far right party of Avigdor Lieberman, who is much reviled in the Arab world for his sentiments.
Obama is attempting to engage Iran, which has its own elections next month. But the saber-rattling rhetoric out of Israel has increased since the new right-wing government was formed.
Late last month, as I noted at the time, Panetta went to Israel to meet with the country’s new leadership. He met with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak (a former prime minister who brought his sagging Labor Party into the coalition), Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and Mossad director Meir Dagan.
Panetta got to know Israeli leaders well during his time as Bill Clinton’s White House chief of staff, a time which coincided with significant chaos within Israel following the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin by a right-wing religious extremist upset about the peace process.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama has received his daily intelligence and economic briefings and met with senior advisors in the Oval Office.
At 9:20 AM Pacific, Obama welcomes the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team to the White House at the South Portico. The Phillies won the World Series last year. Pennsyvlania was also a cornerstone state in Obama’s sweeping electoral college victory. Obama also intends to hold the Senate seat next year of Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter.
At 10:05 AM Pacific, Obama meets with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Oval Office.
Vice President Joe Biden is in California.
At 11 AM Pacific, he tours the Esperanza Community Housing Corporation in South Central Los Angeles.
At 11:30 AM Pacific, Biden will make remarks on the stimulus bill in South Central Los Angeles.
Behind the scenes, Obama is focusing in on his pick to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter. He apparently still has six or more candidates in play. The pick may come next week. Or it may not.
Obama is also closely monitoring the Pakistani Army offensive against the Taliban, which he and his advisors urged upon President Asif Ali Zardari.
Another major topic of Obama’s meeting with Hillary Clinton today is next week’s visit to Washington of new Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. With Israel boasting a new right-wing government, casting the Middle East peace process in some doubt and ratcheting up the pressure around Iran, the US and Israel are in a very delicate situation.
Obama has twice dispatched CIA Director Leon Panetta to Israel in the last few weeks to sound out the Israeli leadership and to deliver messages.
Obama is taking some heat on the left for his choice of a new American commander in Afghanistan, Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal, former head of Joint Special Operations Command. See my column linked below on the Afghan command change.
You’ll notice that Obama is not focused on health care reform today, after a major focus on the first three days of the week. He and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made it known yesterday that the bill will be passed on a party-line vote in both houses.
This means two things politically. First, that House Republicans are irrelevant. Second, that more conservative Democrats in the Senate like Evan Bayh and Ben Nelson, are not needed.
Mad TV ends its 14-season run this weekend. Here is Will Sasso as Arnold Schwarzenegger promoting his new super-smash hit movie, Stolen Identity III.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Los Angeles today.
He delivers the commencement address at the University of Southern California this morning at 9 AM. He will also receive an honorary doctorate degree.
By coincidence, former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown delivers the commencement address for the USC Law School this afternoon.
Having unveiled two fiscal emergency budgets for the State of California earlier in the day, Schwarzenegger did not attend last night’s premiere of Terminator Salvation at Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. His children Katherine, Patrick, and Christopher Schwarzenegger were on hand, however, along with stars Christian Bale and Sam Worthington.
As first revealed in my live webcast with him last month, Schwarzenegger agreed to reprise his iconic role in cameo fashion in the new movie, assuming the digital technology needed to insert him worked. It did, and I’ll have more on that soon.
** WHAT DOES OBAMA’S AFGHAN COMMAND CHANGE MEAN? For the first such change in wartime since Harry Truman replaced General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War in 1951, Barack Obama is replacing General David McKiernan in Afghanistan. Obama is moving both to change a stalemated war in Afghanistan and to scale back expectations there.
In the process, the Obama Administration is signaling that there will be no massive military surge preferred by General David Petraeus, as well as, seemingly, an end to nation-building fantasies and a preference for more special operations while searching for compromise.
McKiernan, the commander of conventional ground forces for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, is being replaced by a rather controversial special operations expert, Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal. As head of Joint Special Operations Command, McChrystal oversaw the capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and the killing of Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. …
** THE HYPE FLU’S BIG FADE. Remember that big, dangerous swine flu threat that the cable culture was going on about round the clock, still scaring the sweat out of people a week ago? Why, it’s going to … er, never mind.
It was all very breathless and alarming. … From my May 11th column.
** STAR TREK‘S NEW COMING-OF-AGE SAGA FOR GENERATION O. Let’s get the straight-up politics out of the way up front. Barack Obama, as he says himself, grew up on Star Trek. And both the new Spock, young Heroes TV star Zachary Quinto, and the classic Spock, Leonard Nimoy, each of whom star in the new movie, backed him for president, with Quinto campaigning around the country.
Obama even flashed the Vulcan hand sign — not so easy to do the first few times you try — at Nimoy at an Obama fundraiser in, for those of you who were johnnies-come-lately, January 2007.
Now for the part that’s not quite so obvious. This Star Trek hinges on the original captain of the Enterprise. But not the one you’re thinking of.
In rebooting the saga, the new stewards of Star Trek have neatly set up a classic coming-of-age journey for a new generation, the Obama generation. … From my May 8th column.
** OBAMA’S TROUBLED AFPAK SUMMIT. The optics seem more telling than the rhetoric.
President Barack Obama is hosting his first summit of his wartime allies, the presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the so-called “AfPak” summit, dealing with what Obama calls the biggest geopolitical threat to America’s security. But there’s no state dinner in their honor. No address to Congress, which must fund Obama’s plans (and may attach conditions).
And the principal social event, a dinner for the presidents hosted by Vice President Joe Biden at the Naval Observatory, has its own ironic backstory. Biden famously walked out of a dinner last year with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
After their meetings today, Obama struck a note of optimism. … From my May 6th column.
** OBAMA’S CRISIS MANAGEMENT: OF FLU AND AFPAK. … From my May 4th column.
** THIS X DOESN’T MARK THE SPOT. WOLVERINE MISSES THE SERIES’ DEEPER THEMES. … From my May 2nd column.
** OBAMA’S DEEPENING AFPAK CRISIS. … From my April 30th column.
** OBAMA’S CALIFORNIA: ANGST AND IRONY FOR WINNING DEMOCRATS. … From my April 28th column.
** OBAMA’S EARTH DAY ENERGY DECLARATION: CALIFORNIA MAY BE THE NATIONAL MODEL HE SAYS, BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH. … From my April 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.
** 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 last fall, prior to the global economic meltdown, 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.
You can listen to my April 21st video webchat with Schwarzenegger here.
** 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 in the $58 to $59 per barrel range.
This is up about $24 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 geopolitical jitters over Pakistan.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum.
Read 
| Comments (49) |
Leon Panetta’s a good man.
The Arnold clone video is very funny.
I laugh every time Bill runs it.
We’re lucky Feinstein didn’t get her way in stopping him from being CIA Director.
Jonas Blane Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Leon Panetta’s a good man.
Where’s Schwarzeneger?
I’m really sick of Schwarzeneger’s stupid “wait” music.
Here it is, 30 minutes late.
Schwarzeneger’s commencement speech was actually good. lol
Ann:
Here are some alternatives for waiting music for Schwarzenegger:
Baby Elephant Walk
Little Spanish Flea
The Jaws Theme
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (the 17 minute length is probably about the average delay of his webcasts)
Israel wanting to attack Iran is like the last thing we need.
Okay! A Jerry Brown webcast, now we’re talking!
More video today?
That Mad TV video of “Arnold” pimping his crazy clone movie is crazy funny.
What does Arnold think of it, hmm?
I like Obama’s new policy using military “commissions” to try suspected terrorists.
He completely took away the ill-gotten fruit of torture interrogations from the trial. That’s another reason not to torture, besides the new rules.
Torture will never be eradicated. But its use is being sharply curtailed. Torture was a crutch for an administration flying blind, in hysterics.
He thinks it’s a completely accurate impersonation.
># Jack Aubrey Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 10:17 am edit
That Mad TV video of “Arnold” pimping his crazy clone movie is crazy funny.
What does Arnold think of it, hmm?
Probably.
># Jonas Blane Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 10:10 am edit
More video today?
There are probably a few other things …
># Len Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 9:39 am edit
Israel wanting to attack Iran is like the last thing we need.
I like the last one.
># Brasky Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 9:12 am edit
Ann:
Here are some alternatives for waiting music for Schwarzenegger:
Baby Elephant Walk
Little Spanish Flea
The Jaws Theme
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (the 17 minute length is probably about the average delay of his webcasts)
It was quite good.
># Ann Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 9:09 am edit
Schwarzeneger’s commencement speech was actually good. lol
I think that was a function of USC, not Arnold.
># Ann Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 8:34 am edit
Here it is, 30 minutes late.
Indeed.
># Capitol Boy Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:59 am edit
We’re lucky Feinstein didn’t get her way in stopping him from being CIA Director.
Jonas Blane Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Leon Panetta’s a good man.
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida video. It’s broken into two parts so you can get a snack halfway thru.
Part one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6xdC7yu4cw
Part two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdmcxRIvv54&feature=related
Meanwhile, Gavin just stuck his finger in the eye of the Chronicle. Not smart.
What did Gavin do now?
From the Chronicle:
“The SF leader turned gubernatorial candidate/media pundit apparently told The Economist if the Chronicle were to fold, ‘People under 30 won’t even notice.’ (Tip to SF Business Times)”
You can debate if Gavin is correct, but you can’t debate that it was a bonehead move.
BTW — best Gavin picture EVER: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/scavenger/detail?entry_id=40177&tsp=1
Gavin Newsoms’ a tool.
I meant fool.
I meant Newsom’s both.
REMOVING THE WEDGES BREAKING THE IMPASSE!
(Hierarchical Structure)
The Hierarchical Structure is a type of New World Order Structure with the (AIE), American Israeli Empire, and Israel at the apex, creating a better behavioral and efficient structure, with the Imperial Media Messiah World President and (CEO),
Now or Never!
The problem with you Bill is you’re a non-Israeli Jew, you don’t think like an Israeli Jew. It is now or never,
“TRIATHLON Says:
The problem with you Bill is …”
…he still refuses to block your crazy ass from this website.
Actually, as is not hard to figure out, I’m an agnostic of English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry, transplanted to America a couple of centuries ago.
In other words, I’m a WASP.
># TRIATHLON Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:53 pm edit
Now or Never!
The problem with you Bill is you’re a non-Israeli Jew, you don’t think like an Israeli Jew. It is now or never,
Unbelievable.
No wonder he’s spending a fortune on consultants.
>Brasky Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 1:40 pm edit
From the Chronicle:
“The SF leader turned gubernatorial candidate/media pundit apparently told The Economist if the Chronicle were to fold, ‘People under 30 won’t even notice.’ (Tip to SF Business Times)”
You can debate if Gavin is correct, but you can’t debate that it was a bonehead move.
BTW — best Gavin picture EVER: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/scavenger/detail?entry_id=40177&tsp=1
lol
Capitol Boy Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Gavin Newsoms’ a tool.
Capitol Boy Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I meant fool.
Capitol Boy Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I meant Newsom’s both.
How much trouble is Pelosi in?
Gavin Newsom looks like a game show host.
Brasky Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
From the Chronicle:
“The SF leader turned gubernatorial candidate/media pundit apparently told The Economist if the Chronicle were to fold, ‘People under 30 won’t even notice.’ (Tip to SF Business Times)”
You can debate if Gavin is correct, but you can’t debate that it was a bonehead move.
BTW — best Gavin picture EVER: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/scavenger/detail?entry_id=40177&tsp=1
I’m afraid Speaker Pelosi walked into her own buzz saw. Oh, well, the weekend isn’t here soon enough,
The Arnold clone video is fun. It’s good he’s a good sport ‘n pokes fun at himself and all. ‘Specially now with California politics a complete disaster.
Just read that papers have been filed for another recall attempt against Arnold. What a waste of time. Even if they could get the signatures, which I doubt they can, this state needs another election like I need…well, you get the picture.
Understand they are resurrecting the Titanic for Tuesday evening. All of those who love this state can come aboard, rise one to the grand old days, and watch as the voters of this state pretend they are icebergs (and no, T, that’s not a Yiddish family from a northern climate) and ram the hell out of it.
Okay, back to thinking about Oregon…Washington…
What new video today?
Obama and Terminator …
This is the fifth recall attempt. Yet another crank effort …
>Sacramento Solon Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:21 pm edit
Just read that papers have been filed for another recall attempt against Arnold. What a waste of time. Even if they could get the signatures, which I doubt they can, this state needs another election like I need…well, you get the picture.
A fair amount. But not nearly so much as the right and the media make it out to be.
># Jack Aubrey Says:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:37 pm edit
How much trouble is Pelosi in?
Bill Bradley Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
This is the fifth recall attempt. Yet another crank effort …
—–
Some of us believe that all recall efforts against both this and the last administration of been crank efforts. But the voters felt otherwise.
Stay cool…
Bill Bradley Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
This is the fifth recall attempt. Yet another crank effort …
—–
Some of us believe that all recall efforts against both this and the last administration have been crank efforts. But the voters felt otherwise.
Stay cool…
Frosty …
The snow man…who fraking melted in today’s heat. Sad, too, for if only he had lasted another day he could have experienced truly oppressive heat as we are predicted to reach 107 tomorrow. Oh, well, I only have a ten mile training walk scheduled.
Sounds fun …