As expected, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the only challenger left to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, officially withdrew from next Saturday’s run-off election, citing ongoing massive fraud.
** OBAMA TODAY – SUNDAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey today.
Obama is going all out today to secure the re-election of New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, who is in a tight race on Tuesday. The Republicans will re-take the governorship of Virginia.
Obama has received his intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
At 8:55 AM Pacific, Obama departs the White House on Marine One en route to Andrews Air Force Base, where he boards Air Force One.
At 9:10 AM Pacific, Obama departs Andrews Air Force Base en route to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
At 9:55 AM Pacific, Obama arrives in Philadelphia.
At 10:20 AM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks at an event for Governor Corzine in Susquehanna, New Jersey.
At 11:25 AM Pacific, Obama departs Philadelphia on Air Force One en route. Newark Liberty International Airport.
At 11:55 AM Pacific, Obama arrives in Newark, New Jersey.
At 12:25 PM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks at an event for Governor Corzine at the Prudential Center in Newark.
At 1:20 PM Pacific, Obama departs Newark, New Jersey on Air Force One en route to Andrews Air Force Base.
At 2:10 PM Pacific, Obama arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, where he boards Marine One.
At 2:25 PM Pacific, Obama lands on the South Lawn of the White Hose.
Obama is monitoring geopolitical crises in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.
Iran is now saying it wants to continue negotiating on the nuclear deal its negotiators accepted, and which it more recently said no to. The Iranian signals on this are rather chaotic.
In Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai’s rival, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, today said officially that he will not participate in the run-off presidential election next Saturday.
This is a serious problem for Obama, who is in the final stages of devising his latest strategy for Afghanistan.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Israel this weekend for talks on the Palestinian peace process and the Iranian crisis.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE – SUNDAY. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Los Angeles today.
He has no scheduled public events.
In his weekend video/radio address, President Barack Obama says that, while there is nothing to celebrate until job numbers turn around, the recent dramatic turnaround in gross domestic product is a sign of better things to come.
Happy Halloween!
I’m wearing my Don Draper costume this year …
** OBAMA TODAY – SATURDAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington today.
Obama has received his intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
At 3:35 PM Pacific, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet trick or treaters at the North Portico.
Ah, how did those darn kids get in?
At 4 PM Pacific, the Obamas attend a Halloween reception in the East Room.
Obama is monitoring geopolitical crises in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.
Iran, which seemed, after a typical stalling tactic, to accept the nuclear deal it negotiated last week in Vienna, albeit with big caveats, has now said no to it.
Strange doings in the Islamic republic.
In Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai’s rival, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, says he will boycott the run-off election next Saturday.
Why? He says that Karzai refuses to make the moves necessary to make it a fair election.
One-third of Karzai’s votes in the first election were thrown out due to fraud.
This is a serious problem for Obama, who is in the final stages of devising his latest strategy for Afghanistan.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joined Vice President Joe Biden and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley yesterday in Washington to talk up the Obama economic program.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE – SATURDAY. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Los Angeles today.
He has no scheduled public events.
No legislative action yet on the big proposed California water deal.
Schwarzenegger is back from a whirlwind trip to Washington, where yesterday he held a press conference with Vice President Joe Biden to discuss actions to stimulate the economic recovery, and New York, where he participated in a charity auction with Audemars Piguet.
Schwarzenegger holds a private fundraiser today for his friend, Florida Governor Charlie Crist.
Crist is running for the Senate in Florida, and is the favorite.
** AFGHANISTAN, AGAIN: THE THICKET OBAMA’S NOT GETTING OUT OF.President Barack Obama is fixing to reveal his latest strategy for Afghanistan, perhaps after the election a week from Friday. He appears to be preparing to split the difference. Perhaps he should be preparing to split the territory.
Afghanistan has a government, of a sort, but it doesn’t really have a nation. It won’t have a nation unless we build it. And there is no guarantee that, as the saying goes, if we build it, they will come. …
** CHINATOWN’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND THE POLANSKI SCANDAL. In one of the great ironies, the 35th anniversary edition of Chinatown came out this month, nearly at the same time that its director, Roman Polanski, was arrested in Switzerland after fleeing Los Angeles over 30 years ago following a guilty plea and brief imprisonment for unlawful sex with a minor.
Chinatown, the tale of a smart, tough detective investigating what he thinks, at first, is a simple case of infidelity in late 1930s Los Angeles, is my favorite film. On the surface, it’s a period detective picture, a big Hollywood movie with the trappings of film noir. Beneath, it’s much more. Armed with an alarmingly intelligent screenplay by Robert Towne, brilliantly cast from stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway down through the extras, the film creates its own mesmerizing world through evocative music, costuming, and production design.
“You may think you know what you’re dealing with, Mr. Gits. But believe me, you don’t.” (Words to always keep in in mind, which I sometimes have not.) … From my October 23rd essay.
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” Considering that he is the most recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama is in a seemingly curious set of positions. He’s spurred major military offensives in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has been deeply enmeshed in a tense stand-off with Iran.
There are many complex things to be said about each of these situations, which are all interrelated with not only one another, but also US relations with such challenging countries as Israel and Russia. But let’s start with the basic versions. …
Obama is in the thicket of “Afghaniranistan,” a multi-faceted complex of geopolitical crises. He is actively using military force in two of the countries, and has threatened, at the least, tough sanctions in the third. (The Obama Administration also recently accelerated the development of advanced bunker-buster bombs, suitable for use against, say, underground nuclear facilities.)
** 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 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, 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.
** 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, 2008, crude oil closed on Friday at $77 per barrel. Energy markets are closed on the weekend.
This is up about $43 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.
President Barack Obama announced that former Senators Chuck Hagel, a Republican, and David Boren, a Democrat, have agreed to serve as co-chairmen of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. The previous members, who included former California Governor Pete Wilson, all appointed by former President George W. Bush, agreed to resign en masse when Obama took office.
** FLASH — IT IS THE DAY FOR GAVIN. HE’S GONE, AS REPORTED FIRST ON NWN. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom dropped his longshot bid for governor of California at 3 PM today.
Frankly, despite all the hype from a credulous local press, he never had a chance.
This leaves Jerry Brown, already the favorite for the governorship in 2010, as the de facto Democratic nominee.
The field has been cleared.
As long anticipated on NWN.
There’s a lot more to say. But I’ve already said it.
** IS THIS THE DAY FOR GAVIN? Rumors are flying that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will drop his longshot bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
I don’t know for sure if he’ll do it today. However, the end of his candidacy is only a matter of time. One way or the other.
Also on hand was Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, an old colleague of mine from the Gary Hart for President days. A great guy. Marty was an advance man, which I think is one of the best ways to get politics.
Hey, how come I’m not governor of a mid-Atlantic state?
Anyway, I digress.
The Obama administration on Friday touted reports of 640,000 stimulus jobs, the latest economic numbers and the backing of a Republican governor to try to undercut GOP attacks on the effect of its massive $787 billion package.
Reports to be released Friday afternoon will show that stimulus projects, such as highway and other infrastructure work, have directly saved or created 640,239 jobs, Vice President Joe Biden said. White House officials said a total of about 1 million jobs have been created or saved by the stimulus when taking into account the roughly 400,000 jobs that come from the economic effect of tax cuts, increased Pell Grants and other direct payments not measured in Friday’s reports.
“I can say, without fear of being contradicted by a responsible source, that so far we have created over a million jobs,” Biden said.
Biden also noted that the GDP grew by a 3.5 percent annualized rate in the third quarter of 2009, marking the first time the economy expanded since last year’s second quarter. Economists “left, right and center have attributed it to the Recovery Act,” he added. …
Republicans at every turn have cast skepticism on the stimulus’s positive effect. They’ve noted that the unemployment rate, less than 8 percent when President Barack Obama took office, is now at nearly 10 percent. …
Biden appeared Friday with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of a handful of Republicans outside Washington who publicly pushed for the White House’s stimulus package.
“This is not something that is a Democrat issue here or a Republican issue; this is a people’s issue,” Schwarzenegger said. “It’s a jobs issue. It’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs.”
Schwarzenegger also took on GOP suggestions that the stimulus reports have shown that the package hasn’t had much effect. He said the data to be posted Friday afternoon will show that California, struggling to close a $60 billion deficit, has seen more than 100,000 jobs as a direct result of the package, the most of any state.
“This is also what our numbers show,” Schwarzenegger added.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington today.
It’s a big AfPak day today.
Obama has received his intelligence and economic briefings and met with senior advisors in the Oval Office.
Obama has also signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 in the Diplomatic Reception Room.
At 10:30 AM Pacific, Obama meets with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Situation Room.
In addition to the president, here are the participants:
Vice President Joe Biden
Secretary of Defense Bob Gates
General James Jones, National Security Advisor
Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General James Cartwright, USMC, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General George Casey, Chief of Staff of the Army
General James Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps
Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations
General Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Advisor
John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security
Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, Special Assistant to the President for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Notice the heavy contingent from the Department of the Navy, nearly half the group.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Pakistan, conferring with that nation’s leaders.
Obama is monitoring geopolitical crises in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.
Iran, which seemed, after a typical stalling tactic, to accept the nuclear deal it negotiated last week in Vienna, albeit with big caveats, has now said no to it.
Strange doings in the Islamic republic.
Obama is also monitoring the meeting of the European Union’s council of ministers in Brussels. The group is discussing the powers of the first president of the European Union, who may be elected in the next few months by representatives of EU nations.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is the leading candidate for president of the European Union. Blair, of course, is at once loved and hated, highly controversial for his role in backing America in the invasion of Iraq and the war on terror.
Blair’s candidacy, which he has not officially declared, is running into opposition from the left, for his former alliance with George W. Bush, and the right, because he is a social democrat.
He may also be too big a figure for the liking both of aspiring leaders on the world stage — who don’t like being overshadowed — and smaller countries, who fear that he will ignore them.
In any event, the European Union must decide whether it wants a real president or a sort of convener, as the duties of the office are not spelled out in the founding document.
The European Union is also running into trouble with regard to climate change. This is a bad sign for the Copenhagen conference in December.
The European Union is to provide finance for developing nations to help them cut greenhouse gas emissions. But Eastern European countries, never rich to begin with, are mired in deep recessions and don’t want to ante up.
Highly-regarded Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, the ex-New York police commissioner, is stepping down for a high-paying private sector job, raising fears that the department will suffer in his absence.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Washington today.
No legislative action yet on the big proposed California water deal.
Schwarzenegger holds a press conference with Vice President Joe Biden at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to discuss actions to stimulate the economic recovery.
He holds another press availability at another site nearby a little later to address specifically California-oriented questions on the economy.
** AFGHANISTAN, AGAIN: THE THICKET OBAMA’S NOT GETTING OUT OF.President Barack Obama is fixing to reveal his latest strategy for Afghanistan, perhaps after the election a week from Friday. He appears to be preparing to split the difference. Perhaps he should be preparing to split the territory.
Afghanistan has a government, of a sort, but it doesn’t really have a nation. It won’t have a nation unless we build it. And there is no guarantee that, as the saying goes, if we build it, they will come. …
** CHINATOWN’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND THE POLANSKI SCANDAL. In one of the great ironies, the 35th anniversary edition of Chinatown came out this month, nearly at the same time that its director, Roman Polanski, was arrested in Switzerland after fleeing Los Angeles over 30 years ago following a guilty plea and brief imprisonment for unlawful sex with a minor.
Chinatown, the tale of a smart, tough detective investigating what he thinks, at first, is a simple case of infidelity in late 1930s Los Angeles, is my favorite film. On the surface, it’s a period detective picture, a big Hollywood movie with the trappings of film noir. Beneath, it’s much more. Armed with an alarmingly intelligent screenplay by Robert Towne, brilliantly cast from stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway down through the extras, the film creates its own mesmerizing world through evocative music, costuming, and production design.
“You may think you know what you’re dealing with, Mr. Gits. But believe me, you don’t.” (Words to always keep in in mind, which I sometimes have not.) From my October 23rd essay.
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” Considering that he is the most recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama is in a seemingly curious set of positions. He’s spurred major military offensives in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has been deeply enmeshed in a tense stand-off with Iran.
There are many complex things to be said about each of these situations, which are all interrelated with not only one another, but also US relations with such challenging countries as Israel and Russia. But let’s start with the basic versions. …
Obama is in the thicket of “Afghaniranistan,” a multi-faceted complex of geopolitical crises. He is actively using military force in two of the countries, and has threatened, at the least, tough sanctions in the third. (The Obama Administration also recently accelerated the development of advanced bunker-buster bombs, suitable for use against, say, underground nuclear facilities.)
** 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 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, 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.
This is up about $44 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.
President Barack Obama spent early Thursday morning honoring the return of fallen soldiers. Obama attended the return of 18 soldiers killed this week in Afghanistan at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
** QUICK HITS. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today unveiled a national health care reform bill that has won support throughout her fractious party caucus, including the public option. Some thought it couldn’t be done. I first met her at a party at her San Francisco home, back when she was Northern California chair of the party at the designation of Jerry Brown. … Iran “accepted” the nuclear deal negotiated last week in Vienna. But with such huge caveats that more negotiations will be needed. Which, I believe, is the point. I suspect Israel’s patience is running a bit thin. … LA Times columnist George Skelton reveals two giant falsehoods in ex-eBay CEO Meg Whitman’s radio ads. She’s already spent many millions trying to be the Republican nominee for governor of California. … The California press is noticing that organized labor is donating very heavily to the favorite to be the next governor of California, former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown. Lobbyist and political consultant Garry South’s candidate has been essentially ignored by labor. So he trashed labor’s significance and told a reporter, with regard to another campaign: “What happened with the major bunch-up behind that Democratic candidate, labor included, is you got an unelectable candidate,” South said. This is non-serious. Or has South forgotten that the candidate with whom he made his name, former Governor Gray Davis, was heavily backed by, yes, organized labor, which was critical to his election? Not really. He just thinks what’s left of the local press doesn’t know much. As in the case of the “big Bill Clinton endorsement,” actually part of a nationwide payback tour for Hillary backers.
** AFGHANISTAN, AGAIN: THE THICKET OBAMA’S NOT GETTING OUT OF.President Barack Obama is fixing to reveal his latest strategy for Afghanistan, perhaps after the election a week from Friday. He appears to be preparing to split the difference. Perhaps he should be preparing to split the territory.
Afghanistan has a government, of a sort, but it doesn’t really have a nation. It won’t have a nation unless we build it. And there is no guarantee that, as the saying goes, if we build it, they will come. …
But is V-R Day, not that he said anything like that, Victory over Recession Day or Virtual Reality Day? While unemployment is always a lagging indicator, employment is notably lacking in this recovery. The recession began two years ago, though many on the right denied it for most of 2008.
President Barack Obama said U.S. economic growth in the third quarter affirms that the recession is abating, adding that the nation has “a long way to go” to fully recover and reduce unemployment.
He said a Commerce Department report that the economy grew at a 3.5 percent pace in the third quarter, after shrinking for four quarters, is “welcome news and an affirmation that this recession is abating.” It isn’t enough, he added.
“The benchmark I use to measure the strength of our economy is not just whether our GDP is growing, but whether we’re creating jobs, whether families are having an easier time paying their bills, whether our businesses are hiring and doing well,” Obama told business leaders in a speech on the White House grounds.
Washington policy makers are seeking to sustain the recovery from the worst recession since the 1930s and boost job growth. The unemployment rate reached a 26-year high of 9.8 percent in September. …
The bigger-than-expected growth may strengthen Democrats in Congress, said House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, who called the economic turnaround a response to Democratic fiscal and monetary policy. Economic growth weakens Republican arguments that Democratic priorities such as overhauling health care and limiting greenhouse gases should be put off until the economy improves, he said.
“They’re using the argument that this is a bad time,” Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in an interview. The growth “undercuts that because it shows by the time these things go into effect we will be out of the recession.”
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Delaware and Washington today.
Early this morning, Obama made an unscheduled trip to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to honor the return of 18 soldiers fallen this week in Afghanistan.
As George W. Bush never did this, it’s the first occasion since 9/11.
Obama received his daily intelligence briefing onboard Marine One.
At 8:50 AM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks on the Administration’s plan to help small businesses at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
At 10:45 AM Pacific, Obama meets with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore in the Oval Office.
Lee is the architect and patriarch of Singapore, having served as its prime minister from 1959 to 1990, during which time the small city-state became a leading Asian Tiger. His son is Singapore’s current prime minister.
Singapore hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which Obama will attend, next month.
At 11:40 AM, Obama meets with Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy in the Oval Office.
At 12:45 PM, Obama meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office.
At 2:45 PM Pacific, Obama meets with representatives of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in the Roosevelt Room.
Obama flew very early this morning on Marine One to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for a solemn movement.
Obama is prepping today for his Afghanistan strategy session on Friday with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
National Security Advisor General James Jones is in Moscow today on a two-day visit to confer with top Russian leaders on the Iranian crisis, Afghanistan, NATO, and other matters.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Pakistan, conferring with that nation’s leaders.
Obama is monitoring geopolitical crises in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.
Obama is also monitoring the meeting of the European Union’s council of ministers in Brussels. The group is discussing the powers of the first president of the European Union, who may be elected in the next few months by representatives of EU nations.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is the leading candidate for president of the European Union. Blair, of course, is at once loved and hated, highly controversial for his role in backing America in the invasion of Iraq and the war on terror. He’s a longtime favorite here on New West Notes, which has occasionally been referred to as New Labour Notes. Blair’s recasting of the sclerotic Labour Party as New Labour galvanized Britain and ended the right’s seeming lock on politics there.
Tony Blair is also the subject of a scathingly clever roman a clef novel — with an explosive conclusion — by ex-Blair friend Robert Harris called The Ghost. Roman Polanski, the director of Chinatown, made it into a movie starring former Bond Pierce Brosnan as “Adam Lang” and Ewan McGregor as the ghostwriter of his memoirs. However, it was not complete when Polanski was arrested in Switzerland, where he’s long had a home, on a 32-year old California sex charge. The movie was to have been released in February, when the formal British inquiry into Iraq, which begins in 26 days, is to wrap up.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Washington today.
Schwarzenegger will receive the National Park Trust – 2009 Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award for his role in preserving parks during California’s chaotic budget crisis.
This event is at the Newseum.
Schwarzenegger delivers remarks at 9:45 AM Pacific.
The National Park Trust cites Schwarzenegger for “his leadership and innovation in the protection of public lands in California and for his life-long commitment to children’s health and to connecting them with the outdoors.”
In the evening, Schwarzenegger attends a gala marking the opening of a new building at Georgetown University’s school of business.
First Lady Maria Shriver is a Georgetown grad, though not in business.
Schwarzenegger will deliver remarks, after which McDonough School of Business Dean George Daly will present Gov. Schwarzenegger with the school’s Dean’s Medal.
** CHINATOWN’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND THE POLANSKI SCANDAL. In one of the great ironies, the 35th anniversary edition of Chinatown came out this month, nearly at the same time that its director, Roman Polanski, was arrested in Switzerland after fleeing Los Angeles over 30 years ago following a guilty plea and brief imprisonment for unlawful sex with a minor.
Chinatown, the tale of a smart, tough detective investigating what he thinks, at first, is a simple case of infidelity in late 1930s Los Angeles, is my favorite film. On the surface, it’s a period detective picture, a big Hollywood movie with the trappings of film noir. Beneath, it’s much more. Armed with an alarmingly intelligent screenplay by Robert Towne, brilliantly cast from stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway down through the extras, the film creates its own mesmerizing world through evocative music, costuming, and production design.
“You may think you know what you’re dealing with, Mr. Gits. But believe me, you don’t.” (Words to always keep in in mind, which I sometimes have not.) From my October 23rd essay.
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” Considering that he is the most recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama is in a seemingly curious set of positions. He’s spurred major military offensives in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has been deeply enmeshed in a tense stand-off with Iran.
There are many complex things to be said about each of these situations, which are all interrelated with not only one another, but also US relations with such challenging countries as Israel and Russia. But let’s start with the basic versions. …
Obama is in the thicket of “Afghaniranistan,” a multi-faceted complex of geopolitical crises. He is actively using military force in two of the countries, and has threatened, at the least, tough sanctions in the third. (The Obama Administration also recently accelerated the development of advanced bunker-buster bombs, suitable for use against, say, underground nuclear facilities.)
** 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 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, 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.
This is up about $44 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.
Hours after a car bomb in Peshawar killed at least 91 people, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton kicked off a three-day visit to Pakistan, where she praised the country’s fight against jihadists and pledged U.S. support.
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … AFPAK, AGAIN: THE THICKET OBAMA’S NOT GETTING OUT OF.
** QUICK HITS. President Barack Obama today signed the national defense bill that kills some costly weapons projects, such as the F-22 fighter, and expands war efforts. In a major civil rights change, the law also makes it a federal hate crime to assault people based on sexual orientation. That was tacked on to the defense bill to gain needed Republican votes it wouldn’t get otherwise. … Obama meets with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday to discuss Afghanistan. It looks like he will split the difference on the advice he’s getting. … Legislative hearings today finally, however, no action yet on a California water deal after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger held additional talks with legislative leaders. … Assemblyman Tom Ammiano said today he hopes that he and Schwarzenegger have a “clean slate” after the action superstar sent an acrostic F*** Y** veto message after Ammiano screamed “You lie!” and “Kiss my gay ass!” at him at a dinner at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Schwarzenegger vetoed most of his bills. … Why is the Bay Bridge closed, snarling traffic all over the San Francisco Bay Area? High winds late yesterday afternoon broke a portion of the span repaired over Labor Day weekend. How reassuring. … Advocates of a California constitutional convention turned in language for two proposed initiatives to authorize and then create the convention. They hope to qualify for the fall 2010 ballot. … GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Steve Poizner and Tom Campbell debate each other again tonight at Brandman College in Orange County. Putative front-runner Meg Whitman is again a no-show, after challenging them to debate three times this fall. … I think Jerry Brown is going to speak at a college tomorrow. If he’s able to awaken from his nap in time, I’m sure he’ll bore the poor kids to tears …
** NEW NBC NEWS POLL REVEALS MUCH ON AFGHANISTAN, NATIONAL HEALTH CARE, CONVENTIONAL PARTISANSHIP. With President Barack Obama’s ratings holding steady, a brand new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll is very revealing about with regard to views on Afghanistan, national health care reform, and hyperpartisan fighting and gridlock in Washington.
A plurality of Americans now backs a troop increase, and a strong majority supports waiting on a decision until after the country conducts its presidential runoff election next month.
Also, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid moves forward crafting a Senate health-care bill that contains a public option — with a state “opt out” — the survey shows support for a government-run insurance plan is at its highest level since the debate began and opposition is at its lowest level.
Perhaps most revealing, the poll highlights the public’s disgust at Washington, with the number trusting government at its lowest level in 12 years and with nearly half of Americans favoring the creation of a new political party.
Let’s take those one at a time. On Afghanistan, the message is decidedly mixed. Decidedly. While there is support for a troop increase — which is a sharp reversal since last month — it’s at a much lower level than that advocated by the commander for Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal. Think 10,000, not 40,000. And nearly as many want to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan right now.
On national health care, the public option is favored by a near majority. But most doubt the overall plan, not that they understand it. Still, most want to pass an Obama health care plan, while worrying at the same time that it might go too far.
Okay then.
What is especially striking is the public disgust with Washington. (It sounds like Californians’ disgust with the Capitol.) A big majority says there’s too much partisan infighting. Republicans get the rap more than Democrats, but a strong plurality blames both parties. And nearly half want a new independent party.
But asked to choose between Republicans and Democrats, the not so Grand Old Party gets the decidedly shorter end of the stick. Only 25% have a favorable view of the Republican Party, while 42% have a favorable view of the Democratic Party.
That ties the Republicans’ all-time low.
This is a country that is rather confused and contradictory, and decidedly disappointed, with regard to its politics.
Afghan police said an attack today by gunmen on a United Nations house in Kabul has left 12 dead. The Taliban have claimed responsibility, saying the assault was aimed at the upcoming presidential election on November 7th.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington today.
Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have received the president’s daily intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
At 8 AM Pacific, he delivers remarks at the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in honor of former Senator Edward Brooke, the first black senator.
At 9 AM Pacific, Obama and Biden have lunch in the Oval Office.
At 10:20 AM Pacific, Obama and Biden host a meeting with the co-chairmen of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board and the senior leadership of the intelligence community in the Cabinet Room.
At 11:30 AM Pacific, Obama signs the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 in the Rose Garden.
At 12:10 PM Pacific, Obama and Biden meet with Secretary of Defense Bob Gates in the Oval Office.
At 1 PM Pacific, Obama meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office.
At 2:30 PM Pacific, Obama attends a commemorative tree planting at the North Portico.
At 3:05 PM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks at a reception commemorating the enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the East Room.
In other action, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden attend Game One of the 2009 World Series in New York City.
Eight American troops were killed on Tuesday in Afghanistan, making October the deadliest month of the war.
National Security Advisor General James Jones is in Moscow today on a two-day visit to confer with top Russian leaders on the Iranian crisis, Afghanistan, NATO, and other matters.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Pakistan, conferring with that nation’s leaders.
Obama is monitoring geopolitical crises in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has private talks in and around the Capitol today.
He has no scheduled public events.
His principal topic? A possible deal on California’s chronic water crisis.
He’ll also be focused on the crisis in the San Francisco Bay Area occasioned by the breaking of a cable on the westward span of the Bay Bridge into San Francisco. That happened last night.
The Bay Bridge is now closed in both directions, which will lead to increased gridlock in the region. How soon will the bridge be fixed? That’s not clear.
Schwarzenegger is getting a lot of attention for a veto message on a minor bill by San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano. First reported by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, Schwarzenegger’s message, written in innocuous language, takes on a different cast when the first letter of each line is read top to bottom. It’s a two-word phrase that starts with “F.”
Schwarzenegger’s staff calls it a coincidence, noting that other less charged words can be seen in the same way.
Do I think this is intentional on Schwarzenegger’s part?
Of course.
Ammiano notoriously screamed “You lie!” and “Kiss my gay ass!” at Schwarzenegger when he was Willie Brown’s guest at a recent San Francisco Democratic Party dinner. Brown was greatly and publicly displeased by these childish antics. Not that Schwarzenegger was fazed in the least by the display.
The daily newspapers went wild over this great event. What was oddly never reported, however, is that Ammiano ran against Willie Brown when the ex-Assembly speaker went for his second term as San Francisco mayor in 1999. So there was additional history there. Especially since Brown won in a 20-point landslide after Ammiano forced a run-off as a write-in candidate.
Seeing what was happening, I covered Ammiano’s primary night headqarters event for the LA Weekly. And it was immediately obvious to me, as I reported at the time, that Brown would destroy Ammiano in the run-off. Ammianno wasn’t mainstream enough to win a city-wide election in San Francisco.
** CHINATOWN’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND THE POLANSKI SCANDAL. In one of the great ironies, the 35th anniversary edition of Chinatown came out this month, nearly at the same time that its director, Roman Polanski, was arrested in Switzerland after fleeing Los Angeles over 30 years ago following a guilty plea and brief imprisonment for unlawful sex with a minor.
Chinatown, the tale of a smart, tough detective investigating what he thinks, at first, is a simple case of infidelity in late 1930s Los Angeles, is my favorite film. On the surface, it’s a period detective picture, a big Hollywood movie with the trappings of film noir. Beneath, it’s much more. Armed with an alarmingly intelligent screenplay by Robert Towne, brilliantly cast from stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway down through the extras, the film creates its own mesmerizing world through evocative music, costuming, and production design.
“You may think you know what you’re dealing with, Mr. Gits. But believe me, you don’t.” (Words to always keep in in mind, which I sometimes have not.) From my October 23rd essay.
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” Considering that he is the most recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama is in a seemingly curious set of positions. He’s spurred major military offensives in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has been deeply enmeshed in a tense stand-off with Iran.
There are many complex things to be said about each of these situations, which are all interrelated with not only one another, but also US relations with such challenging countries as Israel and Russia. But let’s start with the basic versions. …
Obama is in the thicket of “Afghaniranistan,” a multi-faceted complex of geopolitical crises. He is actively using military force in two of the countries, and has threatened, at the least, tough sanctions in the third. (The Obama Administration also recently accelerated the development of advanced bunker-buster bombs, suitable for use against, say, underground nuclear facilities.)
** 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 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, 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.
This is up about $45 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.
President Barack Obama today announced $3.4 billion for the nation’s power transmission system to foster new technologies. He likened the effort to the ambitious development of the national highway system 50 years ago.
** QUICK HITS. Senator Joe Lieberman says he’ll filibuster against national health care if it includes the public option. Or does he? … President Barack Obama meets with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday to discuss Afghanistan. … No action yet on a California water deal after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger canceled a Long Beach press conference and flew to the Capitol.
** IRAN AGREES TO THE DEAL … KINDA, SORTA, WE’LL SEE.Iran said today that it agrees, in general, to the nuclear deal its negotiators accepted last week in Vienna. Except, of course, where it doesn’t.
The deal was to have been accepted last Friday. Then Iran issued conflicting statements. Then its negotiators said there was no deadline and, besides, they hadn’t briefed top leadership on the deal. With which they’d been in constant contact throughout the three-day negotiation.
Now Iran will have more to say, with unspecified amendments, on Friday. A week after the deadline.
Iran accepts the “general framework” of a United Nations-brokered proposal for the country to send most of its enriched uranium to Russia for processing into reactor fuel, though it will first request “important” changes to the plan, the country’s state-run Al Alam television said.
Iran prefers to send the material abroad in stages, rather than all at once as the measure requires, Alaeddin Borujerdi, head of the parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, was cited as saying by the state-run Iranian Students News Agency. Another option is to buy readymade reactor-grade fuel, he said, repeating comments made by Iranian officials.
The Persian Gulf country will give its response to the plan from the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency by Oct. 30, state-run Press TV said. The IAEA’s deadline was Oct. 23. Iran’s reply will include a draft of the changes, Arabic-language Al Alam said, citing an unidentified person familiar with the issue. The station didn’t give details of Iran’s amendments.
Any changes by Iran to proposals for the processing of its nuclear fuel wouldn’t send a “very encouraging sign,” French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told reporters after a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg today. “Time is working against the Iranians.” A continued standoff could lead to “completely unforeseeable” consequences, he said.
** BIDEN FALLING IN POLLS.The new Gallup Poll shows Vice President Joe Biden down to near parity in favorability vs. unfavorability.
After peaking at 59% last November, Vice President Joe Biden’s favorable rating continues to decline and now stands at 42%. That barely exceeds his 40% unfavorable rating, and is easily his worst evaluation since last year’s Democratic National Convention.
These data are based on the latest USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted Oct. 16-19. Biden’s favorable rating has dropped by five or six points each of the last three times Gallup has updated it — in January, before Barack Obama’s inauguration; in July; and in the most recent poll.
The source of the decline — by party affiliation — has varied over time. During the post-election to pre-inauguration phase, Biden’s favorable rating dropped significantly among Democrats, but it has been fairly steady since, and remains strong at 73%.
Republicans had relatively low opinions of Biden even at the peak of his popularity, with 33% holding a favorable opinion of him. Those views did not change appreciably until after he took office, but Republicans’ views of Biden have declined in both post-inauguration readings, and now stand at 18% favorable.
Independents’ opinions of Biden have declined more steadily since the post-election high mark, and now 32% of independents view the vice president favorably.
Picking partisan fights, which Biden has done, tends to work poorly with independents.
Ex-veep Dick Cheney has certainly been provocative. However, he’s also unpopular. This is what staff and the DNC chair are for. Incidentally, where is the DNC chair?
** UPDATE:Schwarzenegger canceled his Long Beach press conference and flew to the Capitol for private talks with legislative leaders. Principal topic? A potential deal on California’s chronic water crisis.
The relatives of three Berkeley grads held captive in Iran released video they say shows the California hikers believed they were in Iraq.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Florida, Virginia, and Washington today.
Obama has received his daily intelligence and economic briefings.
At 7 AM Pacific, Obama departs Miami, Florida en route to Sarasota, Florida.
At 7:50 AM Pacific, he arrives in Sarasota.
At 9:10 AM Pacific, he tours DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center in Arcadia, Florida.
At 9:25 AM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks at the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center.
He will make a “smart grid” announcement that will be the largest stimulus investment so far in clean energy.
At 11:05 AM Pacific, he departs Sarasota, Florida on Air Force One en route to Norfolk, Virginia.
At 12:50 PM Pacific, Obama arrives in Norfolk, Virginia.
At 1:55 PM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks at a rally for Creigh Deeds, candidate for governor of Virginia.
Deeds is trailing for next week’s election by 11 points in the new Washington Post poll.
At 3:05 PM Pacific, Obama departs Norfolk, Virginia on Air Force One en route to Andrews Air Force Base.
At 3:50 PM Pacific, Obama arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, where he boards Marine One.
At 4:05 PM Pacific, Obama lands on the South Lawn of the White House.
For his part, Vice President Biden makes a major announcement about the future of the former General Motors Boxwood Plant in his native Delaware.
Biden will announce that California’s Fisker Automotive will build plug-in hybrid electric vehicles there.
Obama is monitoring geopolitical crises in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in the Los Angeles area today.
Schwarzenegger will take part in the 2009 California Women’s Conference hosted by First Lady Maria Shriver at the Long Beach Convention Center.
Gov. Schwarzenegger will participate in the Once-in-a-Lifetime Conversation: Tough Leadership Decisions in Tough Times at the 2009 Women’s Conference. That takes place at 8:25 AM.
Schwarzenegger will also tour the conference expo hall.
Then he holds a press conference to highlight the signing of AB 119 by Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento).
This bill prohibits discrimination in health insurance in the individual market by preventing health plans from charging a different price in premiums and coverage based on gender.
Roman Polanski’s one-time victim says endless media scrutiny caused by the director’s arrest is causing her health problems and job worries. She is urging a California appeals court to dismiss the criminal case against the director.
** CHINATOWN’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND THE POLANSKI SCANDAL. In one of the great ironies, the 35th anniversary edition of Chinatown came out this month, nearly at the same time that its director, Roman Polanski, was arrested in Switzerland after fleeing Los Angeles over 30 years ago following a guilty plea and brief imprisonment for unlawful sex with a minor.
Chinatown, the tale of a smart, tough detective investigating what he thinks, at first, is a simple case of infidelity in late 1930s Los Angeles, is my favorite film. On the surface, it’s a period detective picture, a big Hollywood movie with the trappings of film noir. Beneath, it’s much more. Armed with an alarmingly intelligent screenplay by Robert Towne, brilliantly cast from stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway down through the extras, the film creates its own mesmerizing world through evocative music, costuming, and production design.
“You may think you know what you’re dealing with, Mr. Gits. But believe me, you don’t.” (Words to always keep in in mind, which I sometimes have not.) From my October 23rd essay.
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” Considering that he is the most recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama is in a seemingly curious set of positions. He’s spurred major military offensives in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has been deeply enmeshed in a tense stand-off with Iran.
There are many complex things to be said about each of these situations, which are all interrelated with not only one another, but also US relations with such challenging countries as Israel and Russia. But let’s start with the basic versions. …
Obama is in the thicket of “Afghaniranistan,” a multi-faceted complex of geopolitical crises. He is actively using military force in two of the countries, and has threatened, at the least, tough sanctions in the third. (The Obama Administration also recently accelerated the development of advanced bunker-buster bombs, suitable for use against, say, underground nuclear facilities.)
** 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 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, 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.
This is up about $46 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.
Three helicopter crashes killed 14 Americans in Afghanistan on Monday. It was one of the deadliest days of the war for U.S. troops. Two of the helicopters collided. In the other incident, the helo was engaging opposition troops.
** QUICK HITS.Had a disaster with my new Mad Men review, losing all 3400 words to a technological glitch. I’ll see if it can be recreated. … Senator Harry Reid is going to the floor with a public option in national health care from which states can opt out. … Senator John Kerry is trying to put the brakes on a big Afghanistan build-up. He addressed the Council on Foreign Relations today. … California GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner traded dueling endorsements, ex-LA mayor Dick Riordan for Whitman and American Conservative union chairman David Keene for Poizner.
On average, the top 25 papers lost 10.6% in circulation over the past year. The biggest loser? The San Francisco Chronicle, down a whopping 25.8% over the past year, to just over 250,000. When I wrote a monthly column for the paper in the ’90s, its circulation was over twice that, in the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country.
Also down big? The Los Angeles Times, down 11%, to just over 650,000. In the ’90s, Times circulation was up to 1.2 million, and was thought to be scratching the surface of its vast metropolitan area.
The only paper that is barely down at all is the Wall Street Journal, with over 2,000,000. The New York Times is, with a less than 8% drop, still well over 900,000.
MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK.
Another big week in presidential politics, with President Barack Obama pushing on national health care and energy at home and dealing with international crises on Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. And in California politics, perhaps a big week with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislative leaders trying to enact a big package to deal with the state’s chronic water crisis.
National health care appears to be moving, with the so-called public option likely to be in the mix in one form or another. (It may simply be in the package, plain and simple, states may be able to opt ot, or it cold be triggered by insurance industry failure.)
The Senate seems likely also to take up climate change legislation, which had been stalled after passage in the House, later this week.
Obama has his hands full this week with international crises.
The Iranian crisis flared up again at the end of last week. After its negotiators in Vienna agreed to a deal to ship the bulk of its uranium to Russia and France for further enrichment — thus (apparently) removing the amount of uranium needed to produce a workable nuclear weapon, at least for the next year or so — Iran at the end of last week decided to stall. Instead of ratifying the deal on Friday, the agreed upon deadline, Iran said there was no deadline and it wold decide sometime this week.
Yesterday Iran finally let inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency look at its previously secret nuclear facility. They’ll take a few days inspecting the facility. Which is not yet in operation, so the inspection has limited vale.
Afghanistan is scrambling to hold a run-off presidential election in 12 days. The Taliban say they will disrupt it.
Against this backdrop, Obama continues to consider his latest course correction there.
The news is better in Pakistan, where Pakistani forces are engaged in a maor offensive in the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan.
The news is again not so good in Iraq. There suicide bombers killed over 150 people in two precisely timed Baghdad attacks on Sunday.
Obama will also monitor this week’s meeting of the European Union’s council of ministers in Brussels. The group will discuss the powers of the first president of the European Union, who may be elected in the next few months, by representatives of EU nations.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is the only candidate for president of the EU at present. He is backed by Britain, France, and Germany. He’s currently the special Mideast envoy, but is having little success in that role between Israelis and Palestinians.
In California politics, Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders will again try to move a comprehensive water package. Legislative hearings that had been set for last week are now set for this week.
The low-key gubernatorial race to succeed Schwarzenegger, who is prohibited by term limits from running again, continues this week in its appointed fashion.
The favorite, former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown, who last week executed a notable smackdown on CNBC hosts who criticized his going after a big bank he charged with ripping off the state’s pensions funds, will do a variety of things, as will San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is flailing in his try to run against Brown for the Democratic nomination.
Republican hopefuls Meg Whitman, Steve Poizner, and Tom Campbell will continue talking to local Republican and small business groups.
President Barack Obama addressed Israeli President Shimon Peres’ “Facing Tomorrow” Conference in Jerusalem by video.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington and Florida today.
Obama has received his daily intelligence and economic briefings and met with senior advisors in the Oval Office.
At 8:30 AM Pacific, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with the national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan in the White House Sitation Room.
At 9:45 AM Pacific, Obama departs the White House on Marine One en route to Andrews Air Force Base.
At 10 AM Pacific, he departs Andrews Air Force Base on Air Force One en route to Jacksonville, Florida.
At 11:45 AM Pacific, Obama arrives in Jacksonville, Florida.
At 12:15 PM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks to Navy and Marine Corps personnel at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
At 1 PM Pacific, Obama meets with Navy and Marine Corps personnel at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
At 1:25 PM Pacific, he departs Jacksonville, Florida en route to Miami.
At 2:35 PM Pacific, Obama arrives in Miami.
At 4:25 PM Pacific, he delivers remarks at a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee/Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reception.
At 4:50 PM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks at a DSCC/DCCC dinner.
For his part, following the latest AfPak conference, Biden is off to Ohio for political events and a recovery act event in Cleveland.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Los Angels and the Capitol today.
He has no scheduled public events.
He will have private talks, principally on the topic of California’s chronic water crisis.
Schwarzenegger has hopes for legislative action starting this week.
** CHINATOWN’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND THE POLANSKI SCANDAL. In one of the great ironies, the 35th anniversary edition of Chinatown came out this month, nearly at the same time that its director, Roman Polanski, was arrested in Switzerland after fleeing Los Angeles over 30 years ago following a guilty plea and brief imprisonment for unlawful sex with a minor.
Chinatown, the tale of a smart, tough detective investigating what he thinks, at first, is a simple case of infidelity in late 1930s Los Angeles, is my favorite film. On the surface, it’s a period detective picture, a big Hollywood movie with the trappings of film noir. Beneath, it’s much more. Armed with an alarmingly intelligent screenplay by Robert Towne, brilliantly cast from stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway down through the extras, the film creates its own mesmerizing world through evocative music, costuming, and production design.
“You may think you know what you’re dealing with, Mr. Gits. But believe me, you don’t.” (Words to always keep in in mind, which I sometimes have not.) From my October 23rd essay.
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” Considering that he is the most recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama is in a seemingly curious set of positions. He’s spurred major military offensives in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has been deeply enmeshed in a tense stand-off with Iran.
There are many complex things to be said about each of these situations, which are all interrelated with not only one another, but also US relations with such challenging countries as Israel and Russia. But let’s start with the basic versions. …
Obama is in the thicket of “Afghaniranistan,” a multi-faceted complex of geopolitical crises. He is actively using military force in two of the countries, and has threatened, at the least, tough sanctions in the third. (The Obama Administration also recently accelerated the development of advanced bunker-buster bombs, suitable for use against, say, underground nuclear facilities.)
** 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 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, 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.
This is up about $46 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.
Two powerful car bombs exploded in downtown Baghdad Sunday, killing at least 38 people in an apparent attempt to target the fragile city’s government offices, Iraqi authorities said. Others say well over 100 were killed.
** OBAMA TODAY – SUNDAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington today.
He has no scheduled public events.
Obama has received his daily intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
International inspectors have arrived in Iran. They have not yet inspected the recently revealed secret facility.
In Afghanistan, officials are scrambling to mount a November 7th run-off election for president between President Hamid Karzai and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.
The challenger said today he won’t be part of a coalition with Karzai.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE – SUNDAY. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Los Angeles today.
He has no scheduled public events.
In his weekly video/radio address, President Barack Obama says small business is the key to recovery.
** OBAMA TODAY – SATURDAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington today.
He has no scheduled public events.
Obama has received his daily intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
The Iranian crisis has flared anew, with Iran backing away from the deal its negotiators agreed to in Vienna.
We’ll soon see how Sunday’s scheduled inspection of a previously secret Iranian nuclear facility goes.
Iran on Friday did not commit to a draft agreement aimed at reducing global concerns over its nuclear activities. The deal was hammered out a few days ago in Vienna by representatives of Iran, Russia, the US and France. Russia is to do the bulk of the nuclear fuel processing for Iran, with France also playing a significant role.
Iranian representatives agreed in negotiations with the US, France, and Russia to send 75% of its nuclear fuel for further enrichment to Russia. Now the deal has to be ratified in the respective capitals, with Tehran the potential obstacle.
The Russians officially adopted the plan early yesterday, first nation to do so, and called on Iran to do so as well.
The other 25% is deemed insufficient to start a nuclear weapons program. I’m not sure of the status of international inspections in Iran with regard to being sure that it is only 25% of the total, or whether the delayed inspection of the previously secret underground facility will take place this weekend as finally planned. Note that the facility was revealed a month ago and still no inspector has been inside it. Nevertheless, this was a good development.
Friday was the deadline agreed to by all parties, including Iran.
Iran has delayed a decision on its already negotiated nuclear deal till next week. Negotiators denied they’d agreed to the Friday deadline and said they hadn’t even briefed the leadership in Tehran on the plan to which they’d agreed.
But late yesterday, Iran’s negotiators said Friday was not the deadline. And, in any event, they had yet not briefed Iran’s leadership on the deal.
Despite consulting with Tehran throughout the three days in Vienna.
This is all too typical Iranian stall ball.
U.S. and Israeli forces conducted their largest joint air-defense training exercise ever this past week The objective of Operation Juniper Cobra is testing defenses against missile attacks from Iran, Syria and Lebanon.
In Afghanistan, officials are scrambling to mount a November 7th run-off election for president between President Hamid Karzai and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. Half the country’s local elections officials have been fired in the wake of findings of massive fraud in what was claimed at first to be a landslide win for Karzai.
The Afghan Taliban said today that they will try to stop the elections.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE – SATURDAY. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Los Angeles today.
He has no scheduled public events.
He will have private talks, principally on the topic of California’s chronic water crisis.
Schwarzenegger has hopes for legislative action starting next week.
** CHINATOWN’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND THE POLANSKI SCANDAL. In one of the great ironies, the 35th anniversary edition of Chinatown came out this month, nearly at the same time that its director, Roman Polanski, was arrested in Switzerland after fleeing Los Angeles over 30 years ago following a guilty plea and brief imprisonment for unlawful sex with a minor.
Chinatown, the tale of a smart, tough detective investigating what he thinks, at first, is a simple case of infidelity in late 1930s Los Angeles, is my favorite film. On the surface, it’s a period detective picture, a big Hollywood movie with the trappings of film noir. Beneath, it’s much more. Armed with an alarmingly intelligent screenplay by Robert Towne, brilliantly cast from stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway down through the extras, the film creates its own mesmerizing world through evocative music, costuming, and production design.
“You may think you know what you’re dealing with, Mr. Gits. But believe me, you don’t.” (Words to always keep in in mind, which I sometimes have not.)
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” Considering that he is the most recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama is in a seemingly curious set of positions. He’s spurred major military offensives in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has been deeply enmeshed in a tense stand-off with Iran.
There are many complex things to be said about each of these situations, which are all interrelated with not only one another, but also US relations with such challenging countries as Israel and Russia. But let’s start with the basic versions. …
Obama is in the thicket of “Afghaniranistan,” a multi-faceted complex of geopolitical crises. He is actively using military force in two of the countries, and has threatened, at the least, tough sanctions in the third. (The Obama Administration also recently accelerated the development of advanced bunker-buster bombs, suitable for use against, say, underground nuclear facilities.)
** WHY OBAMA DOESN’T DESERVE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, OR THE OLYMPICS RAP. When the Vulcans finally make first contact with the peoples of Spaceship Earth, there’s no doubt who most will choose to represent us. Which is when we may learn that President Barack Obama really is a “Manchurian candidate,” an alien agent, albeit not of the sort featured in even the sweatiest imaginings of the yaposphere.
Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize this morning makes it two surreal Fridays in a row.
Last week, we learned that Chicago would not host the 2016 Olympic Games. Which should have surprised approximately no one, not that you’d know that from the profusions of rage and disappointment — or from the far right, happy rage — that Obama’s trip to Copenhagen came up short. … From my October 9th column.
** ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, JERRY BROWN, BILL CLINTON AND THAT CRAZY CALIFORNIA GOVERNORSHIP.Six years ago last night, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California in a 17-point landslide. It was the dramatic California recall election, and I spoke with Schwarzenegger in his suite at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles before he went downstairs to deliver his victory speech in the ballroom below.
The sun was setting, in the rather nice view from the presidential suite, into the Pacific and what proved to be more a more than capacity crowd was gathering downstairs. Schwarzenegger, naturally excited even when he’s not all that excited, told me he intended to do big things for California, and end the gridlock that ground state government to a halt less than a year after the re-election of Gray Davis.
Five years earlier, in 1998, I spoke with Gray Davis in his rather less cinematic election night suite at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. He had just won a 20-point landslide election as governor of California.
Davis, a less excitable fellow than Arnold Schwarzenegger, was nevertheless quite pleased at gaining this goal of a lifetime. He told me that he intended to do big things for California, but wanted to avoid spending commitments that the state’s revenue — then flush from the dot-com boom — couldn’t sustain over time.
Despite all the drama, and landslide election victories for governors of two different political parties — who are nonetheless friends now notwithstanding Schwarzenegger ousting Davis in the recall election six years ago — including another 17-point landslide victory for Schwarzenegger in 2006, the state’s budget is a mess, its political gridlock seemingly intractable.
Now California is heading into another gubernatorial election. And according to the brand new Field Poll, and everything else I know, the likely next governor is someone who’s already won a landslide election as governor, albeit 30 years ago. That’s Jerry Brown, who won his latest landslide in 2006 when he was elected California’s attorney general, the state’s top law enforcement officer. Brown is a former two-term governor, two-term mayor of gritty Oakland, and two-time runner-up for the Democratic presidential nomination. … From my October 8th essay.
** 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 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, 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.
This is up about $46 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.
President Barack Obama, declaring today that passage of comprehensive energy legislation is key to America’s future success, said opponents are using “cynical claims” aimed only at stopping change.
** CHINATOWN’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND THE POLANSKI SCANDAL. In one of the great ironies, the 35th anniversary edition of Chinatown came out this month, nearly at the same time that its director, Roman Polanski, was arrested in Switzerland after fleeing Los Angeles over 30 years ago following a downward guilty plea and brief imprisonment for unlawful sex with a minor.
Chinatown, the tale of a smart, tough detective investigating what he thinks, at first, is a simple case of infidelity in late 1930s Los Angeles, is my favorite film. On the surface, it’s a period detective picture, a big Hollywood movie with the trappings of film noir. Beneath, it’s much more. Armed with an alarmingly intelligent screenplay by Robert Towne, brilliantly cast from stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway down through the extras, the film creates its own mesmerizing world through evocative music, costuming, and production design.
“You may think you know what you’re dealing with, Mr. Gits. But believe me, you don’t.” (Words to always keep in in mind, which I sometimes have not.)
The move comes after several confusing hours of mixed signals, mostly negative and unofficial, from the Iranian regime.
All the other parties to the deal have accepted it, leaving only Iran still studying what its negotiators — who were in constant contact with Tehran — have already agreed to.
Iran is still studying a U.N.-drafted plan to ship much of its uranium to Russia for further enrichment and will formally respond to the offer next week, Iran’s envoy to the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Friday.
Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s permanent envoy to the U.N. nuclear agency, told Iran’s state Press TV that Iran is “working and elaborating on all the details of this proposal” and that he would inform the International Atomic Energy Agency “next week about our evaluation.”
The draft plan was put forth Wednesday after three days of talks between Iran and world powers in Vienna, Austria. The plan is seen as a way to curb Iran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon. The United States, Russia and France officially endorsed the deal Friday.
Soltanieh’s statement indicated that Iran could still accept the plan. Tehran’s acceptance would ease Western fears about Iran’s potential to make a nuclear weapon.
In Vienna, the IAEA said on Friday that Iran told the agency’s chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, it is “considering the proposal in depth and in a favorable light, but needs until the middle of next week to provide a response.”
However, Soltanieh’s comments came just hours after Iran’s state TV quoted an unnamed source close to the Iranian nuclear negotiating team as saying Iran wants to buy nuclear fuel it needs for a research reactor, rather than accept the U.N. proposed plan. The official said Tehran has its own proposal on purchasing nuclear fuel and would wait for a response from the world powers.
What that other proposal is was not spelled out. Naturally.
This is actually a classic Iranian move. The Islamic republic is known for playing stall ball in these matters.
However, it’s probably not a good idea now. Patience is running low.
We wait today for Iran to agree to sign the draft agreement reached in Vienna on Iran’s nuclear program. Even if it is signed, we won’t know whether or not Iran is still enriching uranium to higher levels absent additional inspections.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington, Boston, New York and Connecticut today.
At 7:05 AM Pacific, Obama departs the White House on Marine One en route to Andrews Air Force Base.
At 7:20 AM Pacific, Obama departs Andrews Air Force Base on Air Force One en route to Boston, Massachusetts.
Obama will receive his daily intelligence and economic briefings on Air Force One.
At 8:30 AM Pacific, Obama arrives in Boston, Massachusetts.
At 9 AM Pacific, Obama tours a research laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
At 9:30 AM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks challenging Americans to lead the global economy in clean energy.
At 11:05 AM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks at a fundraising reception for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.
At 12:40 PM Pacific, Obama departs Boston, Massachusetts on Air Force One en route to New York City.
At 1:35 PM Pacific, Obama arrives in New York City.
At 2:15 PM Pacific, Obama and Senator Chris Dodd tour a small business in Stamford, Connecticut.
At 3:45 PM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks at a fundraising dinner for Senator Chris Dodd at the Stamford Hilton.
At 5 PM Pacific, Obama departs New York City on Air Force One en route to Andrews Air Force Base.
At 5:55 PM Pacific, Obama arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, where he boards arine One.
At 6:10 PM Pacific, Obama lands on the South Lawn of the White House.
Today we see if Iran will commit to a draft agreement aimed at reducing global concerns over its nuclear activities. A deal was hammered out a few days ago in Vienna by representatives of Iran, Russia, the US and France. Russia will do the bulk of the nuclear fuel processing for Iran, with France also playing a significant role.
Iranian representatives agreed in negotiations with the US, France, and Russia to send 75% of its nuclear fuel for further enrichment to Russia. Now the deal has to be ratified in the respective capitals, with Tehran the potential obstacle.
The Russians officially adopted the plan earlier today, first nation to do so, and called on Iran to do so as well.(France is also part of the nuclear fuel processing, contrary to earlier Iranian protests.)
The other 25% is deemed insufficient to start a nuclear weapons program. I’m not sure of the status of international inspections in Iran with regard to being sure that it is only 25% of the total, or whether the delayed inspection of the previously secret underground facility will take place this weekend as finally planned. Note that the facility was revealed a month ago and still no inspector has been inside it. Nevertheless, this is a good development.
U.S. and Israeli forces are now conducting their largest joint air-defense training exercise ever. The objective of Operation Juniper Cobra is testing defenses against missile attacks from Iran, Syria and Lebanon.
In retaliation for the offensive against the Taliban stronghold, bombings around Pakistan killed at least 24 people Friday. A major air force complex, a recreation hall and a wedding bus were all hit.
In Afghanistan, officials are scrambling to mount a November 7th run-off election for president between President Hamid Karzai and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. Half the country’s local elections officials have been fired in the wake of findings of massive fraud in what was claimed at first to be a landslide win for Karzai.
The Pakistani Army’s offensive in the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan is continuing. Pakistani forces are moving in a deliberate manner; this is not a blitzkrieg. Which would probably miss major pockets of resistance.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden is on a five-day trip to Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic.
Prior to yesterday, Biden had been reassuring allies but not rattling the cage of Russia, which is key to defusing the Iranian crisis. Yesterday he rattled the Russian cage with remarks in Romania, where he decried “spheres of influence” as a 19th century notion. Not that he thinks that with regard to our own, naturally.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger holds private discussions today in Los Angeles and an event in the LA area.
The principal topic of his talks? California’s chronic water crisis.
A legislative hearing set for this week was postponed till next week. Yet Schwarzenegger still thinks that action on a big water package can happen.
At 2:15 PM, Schwarzenegger addresses the California state convention of the NAACP in Manhattan Beach.
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” Considering that he is the most recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama is in a seemingly curious set of positions. He’s spurred major military offensives in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has been deeply enmeshed in a tense stand-off with Iran.
There are many complex things to be said about each of these situations, which are all interrelated with not only one another, but also US relations with such challenging countries as Israel and Russia. But let’s start with the basic versions. …
Obama is in the thicket of “Afghaniranistan,” a multi-faceted complex of geopolitical crises. He is actively using military force in two of the countries, and has threatened, at the least, tough sanctions in the third. (The Obama Administration also recently accelerated the development of advanced bunker-buster bombs, suitable for use against, say, underground nuclear facilities.)
Which is a seemingly odd place for the most recent Nobel Peace Prize winner to be. …
** WHY OBAMA DOESN’T DESERVE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, OR THE OLYMPICS RAP. When the Vulcans finally make first contact with the peoples of Spaceship Earth, there’s no doubt who most will choose to represent us. Which is when we may learn that President Barack Obama really is a “Manchurian candidate,” an alien agent, albeit not of the sort featured in even the sweatiest imaginings of the yaposphere.
Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize this morning makes it two surreal Fridays in a row.
Last week, we learned that Chicago would not host the 2016 Olympic Games. Which should have surprised approximately no one, not that you’d know that from the profusions of rage and disappointment — or from the far right, happy rage — that Obama’s trip to Copenhagen came up short. … From my October 9th column.
** ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, JERRY BROWN, BILL CLINTON AND THAT CRAZY CALIFORNIA GOVERNORSHIP.Six years ago last night, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California in a 17-point landslide. It was the dramatic California recall election, and I spoke with Schwarzenegger in his suite at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles before he went downstairs to deliver his victory speech in the ballroom below.
The sun was setting, in the rather nice view from the presidential suite, into the Pacific and what proved to be more a more than capacity crowd was gathering downstairs. Schwarzenegger, naturally excited even when he’s not all that excited, told me he intended to do big things for California, and end the gridlock that ground state government to a halt less than a year after the re-election of Gray Davis.
Five years earlier, in 1998, I spoke with Gray Davis in his rather less cinematic election night suite at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. He had just won a 20-point landslide election as governor of California.
Davis, a less excitable fellow than Arnold Schwarzenegger, was nevertheless quite pleased at gaining this goal of a lifetime. He told me that he intended to do big things for California, but wanted to avoid spending commitments that the state’s revenue — then flush from the dot-com boom — couldn’t sustain over time.
Despite all the drama, and landslide election victories for governors of two different political parties — who are nonetheless friends now notwithstanding Schwarzenegger ousting Davis in the recall election six years ago — including another 17-point landslide victory for Schwarzenegger in 2006, the state’s budget is a mess, its political gridlock seemingly intractable.
Now California is heading into another gubernatorial election. And according to the brand new Field Poll, and everything else I know, the likely next governor is someone who’s already won a landslide election as governor, albeit 30 years ago. That’s Jerry Brown, who won his latest landslide in 2006 when he was elected California’s attorney general, the state’s top law enforcement officer. Brown is a former two-term governor, two-term mayor of gritty Oakland, and two-time runner-up for the Democratic presidential nomination. … From my October 8th essay.
** 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 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, 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.
This is up about $47 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.“
More than 100,000 people have fled their homes in South Waziristan. The Pakistani province bordering Afghanistan is the setting for intense fighting between troops and the Taliban.
** QUICK HITS.ABC News says that Senator Harry Reid has the votes for public option in the national health care bill. At least 51 for the policy, and the needed 60 to block a GOP filibuster when it’s part of the conference package. Opponents can vote against the policy and accept the package. … A panel of federal judges reiterated that California has three weeks to come up with a workable plan to reduce the prison population by more than 40,000. Okay then. … A top Iranian legislator said today in Tehran that Iran won’t ratify the nuclear deal it negotiated in Vienna yesterday. He may not speak for the regime.
** THE BACKLASH TO THE CALIFORNIA BACKLASH BEGINS? Time magazine has a big story out now on how California is NOT the dystopia that many media reports have made it out to be. That in fact it is the avatar of the latest future that is already being born. Right here.
I think it’s a rosy scenario, yet there is no question that a real sense of history yields the insight that California has been in the toilet many times before. “The Day of the Locust” is a very old story now. Yet the doom never really arrived.
I can write an essay on this, and will, but not today and not in response to a magazine story. For now, I’ll state the obvious, which is that it serves a variety of purposes to claim that California is dead. It serves the far right, it serves the far left, it serves elements of big business, it serves rival regions, and so on.
California has many leading edges, notably green energy and tech, the new next big thing, biotech, the constant next big thing, diversity, and a big economy that’s still ailing.
Its trailing edge lies in and around its Capitol. California’s governance is holding the state back. It’s not the fault of any one person, it’s really a matter of hyperpartisanship taking hold again with state revenues falling through the floor coupled with an excess of interest groups looking at the state in the narrowest of terms.
California, you may have heard, is an apocalyptic mess of raging wildfires, soaring unemployment, mass foreclosures and political paralysis. It’s dysfunctional. It’s ungovernable. Its bond rating is barely above junk. It’s so broke, it had to hand out IOUs while its leaders debated how many prisoners to release and parks to close. Nevada aired ads mocking California’s business climate to lure its entrepreneurs. The media portray California as a noir fantasyland of overcrowded schools, perpetual droughts, celebrity breakdowns, illegal immigration, hellish congestion and general malaise, captured in headlines like “Meltdown on the Ocean” and “California’s Wipeout Economy” and “Will California Become America’s First Failed State?”
Actually, it won’t.
Ignore the California whinery. It’s still a dream state. In fact, the pioneering megastate that gave us microchips, freeways, blue jeans, tax revolts, extreme sports, energy efficiency, health clubs, Google searches, Craigslist, iPhones and the Hollywood vision of success is still the cutting edge of the American future — economically, environmentally, demographically, culturally and maybe politically. It’s the greenest and most diverse state, the most globalized in general and most Asia-oriented in particular at a time when the world is heading in all those directions. It’s also an unparalleled engine of innovation, the mecca of high tech, biotech and now clean tech. In 2008, California’s wipeout economy attracted more venture capital than the rest of the nation combined. Somehow its supposedly hostile business climate has nurtured Google, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Facebook, Twitter, Disney, Cisco, Intel, eBay, YouTube, MySpace, the Gap and countless other companies that drive the way we live.
“Whenever we have a problem, everyone makes a big drama — ‘Oh, my God, it’s the end. California is over,’” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told me. “It’s all bogus.” Schwarzenegger likes spin and drama too — he’s issued warnings about a “financial Armageddon” — and he literally blew smoke in my eyes while we spoke. But his belief in the anything-is-possible dream of California is more than spin; he is, after all, its ultimate embodiment.
California, to borrow a phrase, will be back. It’s been stuck in an awful recession — not quite as awful as Nevada’s — but it’s getting unstuck. …
** JERRY-RIGGING: THE FOIL KNOWN AS CNBC. Jerry Brown garnered lots of buzz with his appearance on CNBC Tuesday afternoon. They invited California’s attorney general on to, ostensibly, talk about his lawsuit against State Street Bank for ripping off the state’s pension fnds. Turns out they wanted to be cynical and, in thinly veiled fashion, make light of the whole thing.
Big mistake. And predictable, given that it’s CNBC.
You’ll note that Brown is now right above me on the HuffPost front page. Which I am, needless to say, none too happy about …
If street thugs were to hold up a convenience store and drive off with $1 million, it would be national news. But when a venerable Boston bank rips off California’s two largest pension funds for $56 million, it’s business-as-usual — at least to the anchors of CNBC. …
But, in a commentary post today, CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera sneered at California’s effort to recover $200 million in damages and penalties, using a made-up quote from Elliot Spitzer to call it “quaint.”
This follows an interview Tuesday that was straight out of the Daily Show. CNBC invited me on to talk about the case, and then Caruso-Cabrera asked why I would come on the air to talk about it.
Her co-anchors seemed to have no problem with the rip-off (”as long as they quoted you a dollar and you paid the dollar, what do you care what they got it for”) and questioned the integrity of the whistle-blowers (”that whistle-blower — is that a private law firm that you guys have hired to do this for you?”) Unbelievable. And for the record, the whistle-blowers are industry insiders who have yet to be named.
The tone and substance of the interview are symptomatic of the Eastern financial elite, who think that $200 million is small potatoes, and big business should be given the benefit of the doubt.
In my book, there’s nothing quaint about corporate fraud. There’s nothing quaint about ripping off pension funds. And, I — along with attorneys general from across the nation — will continue to bring these high-priced rip-off artists to justice.
President Barack Obama announced new lending initiatives to help small businesses have more access to credit during a visit yesterday to Metropolitan Archives in Landover, Maryland.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington today.
Obama has had his daily intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
At 7 AM Pacific, Obama meets with Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, via videoconference in the Situation Room.
At 8:05 AM Pacific, Obama meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office.
At 9:30 AM Pacific, Obama meets with Speaker Nancy Pelosi for lunch in the Private Dining Room.
At 11:15 AM Pacific, Obama signs the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act in the East Room.
At 12:15 PM Pacific, Obama meets with Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner in the Oval Office.
At 12:45 PM Pacific, Obama meets with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Oval Office.
In Washington today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other congressional leaders are playing hardball with the insurance industry on national health care reform, threatening to strip the industry of anti-trust exemptions.
Iran has until Friday to commit to a draft agreement aimed at reducing global concerns over its nuclear activities. A deal was hammered out yesterday in Vienna by representatives of Iran, Russia, the US and France. Russia will do the bulk of the nuclear fuel processing for Iran, with France also playing a significant role.
Iran yesterday agreed in negotiations with the US, France, and Russia to send 75% of its nuclear fuel for further enrichment to Russia. Now the deal has to be ratified in the respective capitals, with Tehran the potential obstacle.
(France is also part of the nuclear fuel processing, contrary to earlier Iranian protests.)
The other 25% is deemed insufficient to start a nuclear weapons program. I’m not sure of the status of international inspections in Iran with regard to being sure that it is only 25% of the total, or whether the delayed inspection of the previously secret underground facility will take place this weekend. Nevertheless, this is a striking development.
In Afghanistan, officials are scrambling to mount a November 7th run-off election for president between President Hamid Karzai and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. Half the country’s local elections officials have been fired in the wake of findings of massive fraud in what was claimed at first to be a landslide win for Karzai.
Abdullah has agreed to take part, and there is talk of a coalition government ahead.
The Pakistani Army’s offensive in the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan is continuing. Pakistani forces are moving in a deliberate manner; this is not a blitzkrieg. Which would probably miss major pockets of resistance.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden is on a five-day trip to Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic.
Biden is reassuring allies but not rattling the cage of Russia, which is key to defusing the Iranian crisis.
Defense Secretary Bob Gates is in Japan, meeting with the new leadership of a country long governed, until the recent election, by the Liberal Democratic Party. (Which wasn’t all that much of either.) Gates is finding some resistance. Japan has already pulled out of a naval refueling operation for Afghanistan.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger holds private discussions today in Los Angeles and events in the LA area.
The principal topic? California’s chronic water crisis.
A legislative hearing set for yesterday was postponed till next week.
At 9 AM, Schwarzenegger holds a press conference in the City of Industry to sign legislation easing the path for a possible new NFL football stadium.
At 7 PM, Schwarzenegger speaks to the Southern California Water Committee on the topic of California’s chronic water crisis and a potential breakthrough in the Capitol.
He continues to think that a breakthrough deal is in the cards.
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” Considering that he is the most recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama is in a seemingly curious set of positions. He’s spurred major military offensives in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has been deeply enmeshed in a tense stand-off with Iran.
There are many complex things to be said about each of these situations, which are all interrelated with not only one another, but also US relations with such challenging countries as Israel and Russia. But let’s start with the basic versions. …
Obama is in the thicket of “Afghaniranistan,” a multi-faceted complex of geopolitical crises. He is actively using military force in two of the countries, and has threatened, at the least, tough sanctions in the third. (The Obama Administration also recently accelerated the development of advanced bunker-buster bombs, suitable for use against, say, underground nuclear facilities.)
Which is a seemingly odd place for the most recent Nobel Peace Prize winner to be. …
** WHY OBAMA DOESN’T DESERVE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, OR THE OLYMPICS RAP. When the Vulcans finally make first contact with the peoples of Spaceship Earth, there’s no doubt who most will choose to represent us. Which is when we may learn that President Barack Obama really is a “Manchurian candidate,” an alien agent, albeit not of the sort featured in even the sweatiest imaginings of the yaposphere.
Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize this morning makes it two surreal Fridays in a row.
Last week, we learned that Chicago would not host the 2016 Olympic Games. Which should have surprised approximately no one, not that you’d know that from the profusions of rage and disappointment — or from the far right, happy rage — that Obama’s trip to Copenhagen came up short. … From my October 9th column.
** ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, JERRY BROWN, BILL CLINTON AND THAT CRAZY CALIFORNIA GOVERNORSHIP.Six years ago last night, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California in a 17-point landslide. It was the dramatic California recall election, and I spoke with Schwarzenegger in his suite at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles before he went downstairs to deliver his victory speech in the ballroom below.
The sun was setting, in the rather nice view from the presidential suite, into the Pacific and what proved to be more a more than capacity crowd was gathering downstairs. Schwarzenegger, naturally excited even when he’s not all that excited, told me he intended to do big things for California, and end the gridlock that ground state government to a halt less than a year after the re-election of Gray Davis.
Five years earlier, in 1998, I spoke with Gray Davis in his rather less cinematic election night suite at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. He had just won a 20-point landslide election as governor of California.
Davis, a less excitable fellow than Arnold Schwarzenegger, was nevertheless quite pleased at gaining this goal of a lifetime. He told me that he intended to do big things for California, but wanted to avoid spending commitments that the state’s revenue — then flush from the dot-com boom — couldn’t sustain over time.
Despite all the drama, and landslide election victories for governors of two different political parties — who are nonetheless friends now notwithstanding Schwarzenegger ousting Davis in the recall election six years ago — including another 17-point landslide victory for Schwarzenegger in 2006, the state’s budget is a mess, its political gridlock seemingly intractable.
Now California is heading into another gubernatorial election. And according to the brand new Field Poll, and everything else I know, the likely next governor is someone who’s already won a landslide election as governor, albeit 30 years ago. That’s Jerry Brown, who won his latest landslide in 2006 when he was elected California’s attorney general, the state’s top law enforcement officer. Brown is a former two-term governor, two-term mayor of gritty Oakland, and two-time runner-up for the Democratic presidential nomination. … From my October 8th essay.
** 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 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, 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.
This is up about $46 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.
Afghanistan is hurriedly preparing for its presidential run-off election on November 7th.
** QUICK HITS.Former Barack Obama campaign manager David Plouffe and former John McCain (and Arnold Schwarzenegger) campaign manager Steve Schmidt are joining forces to establish a center for political communications at the University of Delaware. Both attended the school, but left before graduating, and both are finishing their bachelor’s degrees. … That Sacramento Bee story revealing that ex-eBay CEO Meg Whitman hadn’t registered to vote until she was in her late 40s continues to fall apart. … Someone named Jerry Brown has caused a bit of a stir with an appearance on CNBC. I may get into it in another “Jerry-Rigging.” Along with other things. He’s not someone you necessarily want to debate …
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.”Considering that he is the most recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama is in a seemingly curious set of positions. He’s spurred major military offensives in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has been deeply enmeshed in a tense stand-off with Iran.
There are many complex things to be said about each of these situations, which are all interrelated with not only one another, but also US relations with such challenging countries as Israel and Russia. But let’s start with the basic versions. …
Obama is in the thicket of “Afghaniranistan,” a multi-faceted complex of geopolitical crises. He is actively using military force in two of the countries, and has threatened, at the least, tough sanctions in the third. (The Obama Administration also recently accelerated the development of advanced bunker-buster bombs, suitable for use against, say, underground nuclear facilities.)
Which is a seemingly odd place for the most recent Nobel Peace Prize winner to be. …
Kenneth Feinberg, who was named the White House’s so-called “pay czar” in June, will demand that the seven largest bailout recipients lower the total compensation for their top 25 highest paid employees by 50%, on average, the official told CNN. For the past two months, Feinberg has been reviewing pay plans at Citigroup (C, Fortune 500), AIG (AIG, Fortune 500), Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500), General Motors, Chrysler, GMAC and Chrysler Financial in an effort to put these firms in a position to pay back bailout money as soon as possible.
Under the plan, which is expected to be officially released by the Treasury Department next week, annual salaries for executives at those seven firms are expected to fall 90%, on average, the official said.
This has been a simmering public outrage for months, the phenomenon of firms that only exist today because they were bailed out by the government, continuing to pay enormous salaries and “performance” bonuses to executives who ran them into the ground with reckless moves.
** GUN OWNERS THINK OBAMA WILL TRY TO TAKE THEM AWAY.The new Gallup Poll contains an interesting piece of paranoia. Most gun owners say they think that President Barack Obama will try to take their guns away.
Which I am quite sure is false.
Gallup cites the results as explanation for the recent increase in the sales of guns and ammunition in the US.
Well, that and the preposterous level of conspiracy-mongering about Obama ginned up by the far right.
Majorities of those who personally own a gun (55%) and of those with a gun in the household (53%), as well as 41% of all Americans, believe that President Obama “will attempt to ban the sale of guns in the United States while he is president.”
The issue of Obama’s intentions relating to guns has particular relevance given the widespread news reports of sharply increased sales of guns and ammunition. Many of these reports suggest that the reason behind these increased sales is the belief — right or wrong — that the president intends to severely curtail the legal availability of guns and ammunition. A recent National Public Radio news story, for example, reported: “Gun dealers and bullet-makers are straining to keep up with record demand for ammunition. Some dealers think it’s because of fear that President Obama might limit gun use. Although the president has made no specific proposal, bullets for sportsmen have been scarce for months.”
And similar themes were struck in an Associated Press report: “American bullet-makers are working around the clock, seven days a week, and still cannot keep up with the nation’s demand for ammunition. Shooting ranges, gun dealers, and bullet manufacturers say they have never seen such shortages. Bullets, especially for handguns, have been scarce for months because gun enthusiasts are stocking up, in part because they fear that President Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress will pass antigun legislation — even though nothing specific has been proposed and the president [in May] signed a law allowing people to carry loaded guns in national parks.”
Gallup’s question documents that for a majority of gun owners, the belief that the president intends to try to ban the sale of guns is apparently quite real. One is reminded of the sociological principle that if people believe a situation to be real, the consequences are real — whether or not that belief is factually correct. Thus, although the survey did not ask directly whether those who hold the belief that Obama wants to ban gun sales have acted on that belief in terms of increased purchases of guns and ammunition, a connection between the belief and the behavior is a logical hypothesis.
Those who have guns in the home are demographically and politically distinct from those who do not, so it is not surprising to find that belief that Obama is going to try to prohibit gun sales follows these same patterns. For example, Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats to have a gun in the home, and they are significantly more likely than Democrats to believe that Obama will attempt to ban the sale of guns. Additionally, the belief about Obama’s intentions regarding guns is somewhat more prevalent in the Midwest and South than it is on either coast, and is higher among conservatives than among moderates or liberals.
After international negotiations in Vienna appeared to stall in the wake of the deaths by terrorist bombing of much of its Revolutionary Guards leadership, Iran has agreed to have 75% of its nuclear fuel undergo further enrichment in Russia.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington and New Jersey today.
Obama has had his daily intelligence and economic briefings and met with senior advisors in the Oval Office.
At 9:40 AM, Obama meets with Senator John Kerry in the Oval Office.
Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, has returned from Afghanistan where he played a key role in effecting a run-off presidential election upon a reluctant President Hamid Karzai.
Kerry, incidentally, personally picked Obama to deliver his famed 2004 Democratic national convention address, which vaulted Obama into the political stratosphere.
At 10:50 AM Pacific, Obama announces a package of initiatives that will increase credit to small businesses in the White House Rose Garden.
At 12 noon Pacific, Obama attends a Cabinet-level earthquake tabletop exercise at the Treasury Department.
At 12:40 PM Pacific, Obama departs Andrews Air Force Base on Air Force One en route to Newark, New Jersey.
At 1:35 PM Pacific, Obama arrives in Newark, New Jersey.
At 3:05 PM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks at a rally for New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
President Barack Obama, in New York last night, called on Wall Street to accept financial regulatory reforms after the near collapse of the global financial system.
Corzine is locked in a tight battle for re-election next month, but is on upward trend. The former Wall Street mogul is backing Obama’s call for re-regulation of the financial industry in the wake of last year’s near collapse of the global financial system.
At 4:25 PM Pacific, Obama departs Newark, New Jersey on Air Force One en route to Andrews Air Force Base.
At 5:20 PM Pacific, Obama arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, where he embarks on Marine One.
At 5:35 PM Pacific, Obama lands on the South Lawn of the White House.
On the domestic front, Obama pressed Wall Street leaders during his trip yesterday to New York to accept financial regulations.
In Washington today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other congressional leaders are playing hardball with the insurance industry on national health care reform, threatening to strip the industry of anti-trust exemptions.
With regard to the Iranian crisis, there appears to have been something of a breakthrough in Vienna in the second round of international negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. After refusing yesterday to deal at all with France, stalling yesterday’s talks, Iran today agreed in negotiations with the US, France, and Russia to send 75% of its nuclear fuel for further enrichment to Russia.
The other 25% is deemed unsufficient to start a nuclear weapons program. I’m not sure of the status of international inspections in Iran with regard to to that to be sure that it is only 25%, or whether the delayed inspection of the previously secret underground facility will take place this weekend.
However, this is a striking development, coming as it does not only on the heels of refusal yesterday to deal with the France but also on the heels of Iran accusing the US, Britain, and Pakistan with participating in terrorist bombings that killed much of the leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Perhaps that was a positive development in the diplomatic process.
In Afghanistan, officials are scrambling to mount a November 7th run-off election for president between President Hamid Karzai and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. Half the country’s local elections officials have been fired in the wake of findings of massive fraud in what was claimed at first to be a landslide win for Karzai.
The Pakistani Army’s offensive in the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan is continuing. Pakistani forces are moving in a deliberate manner; this is not a blitzkrieg. Which would probably miss major pockets of resistance.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden is off on a five-day trip to Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic. Biden today offered Polish leaders reassurance about their security following the Obama Administration’s decision to dump the Bush/Cheney missile shield plan (which would also have established an American base in Poland, angering Russia). Biden said that better ties with Russia will be best for the region.
Defense Secretary Bob Gates is in Japan, meeting with the new leadership of country long governed, until the recent election, by the Liberal Democratic Party. (Which wasn’t all that much of either.)
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gives a major speech today in Washington on nuclear non-proliferation.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger holds private discussions today in Los Angeles and the Capitol.
The principal topic? California’s chronic water crisis.
However, a legislative hearing scheduled for today on a comprehensive water package has been posponed to next week.
At 3 PM, Schwarzenegger holds a press conference in the Capitol and signs state Senator Elaine Alquist’s bill restoring funding for battered women’s shelters.
** WHY OBAMA DOESN’T DESERVE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, OR THE OLYMPICS RAP. When the Vulcans finally make first contact with the peoples of Spaceship Earth, there’s no doubt who most will choose to represent us. Which is when we may learn that President Barack Obama really is a “Manchurian candidate,” an alien agent, albeit not of the sort featured in even the sweatiest imaginings of the yaposphere.
Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize this morning makes it two surreal Fridays in a row.
Last week, we learned that Chicago would not host the 2016 Olympic Games. Which should have surprised approximately no one, not that you’d know that from the profusions of rage and disappointment — or from the far right, happy rage — that Obama’s trip to Copenhagen came up short. … From my October 9th column.
** ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, JERRY BROWN, BILL CLINTON AND THAT CRAZY CALIFORNIA GOVERNORSHIP.Six years ago last night, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California in a 17-point landslide. It was the dramatic California recall election, and I spoke with Schwarzenegger in his suite at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles before he went downstairs to deliver his victory speech in the ballroom below.
The sun was setting, in the rather nice view from the presidential suite, into the Pacific and what proved to be more a more than capacity crowd was gathering downstairs. Schwarzenegger, naturally excited even when he’s not all that excited, told me he intended to do big things for California, and end the gridlock that ground state government to a halt less than a year after the re-election of Gray Davis.
Five years earlier, in 1998, I spoke with Gray Davis in his rather less cinematic election night suite at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. He had just won a 20-point landslide election as governor of California.
Davis, a less excitable fellow than Arnold Schwarzenegger, was nevertheless quite pleased at gaining this goal of a lifetime. He told me that he intended to do big things for California, but wanted to avoid spending commitments that the state’s revenue — then flush from the dot-com boom — couldn’t sustain over time.
Despite all the drama, and landslide election victories for governors of two different political parties — who are nonetheless friends now notwithstanding Schwarzenegger ousting Davis in the recall election six years ago — including another 17-point landslide victory for Schwarzenegger in 2006, the state’s budget is a mess, its political gridlock seemingly intractable.
Now California is heading into another gubernatorial election. And according to the brand new Field Poll, and everything else I know, the likely next governor is someone who’s already won a landslide election as governor, albeit 30 years ago. That’s Jerry Brown, who won his latest landslide in 2006 when he was elected California’s attorney general, the state’s top law enforcement officer. Brown is a former two-term governor, two-term mayor of gritty Oakland, and two-time runner-up for the Democratic presidential nomination. … From my October 8th essay.
** 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 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, 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.
This is up about $46 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.
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