President Barack Obama welcomed Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s re-election with as much admonishment as praise. The Saturday run-off election was canceled after the top challenger withdrew, citing massive electoral fraud.
** QUICK HITS. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s finance director, Mike Genest, resigned today after four years of hard service. The veteran Republican blasted GOP gubernatorial hopeful Steve Poizner’s proposals as being non-serious. … Attorney General Jerry Brown’s communications director Scott Gerber resigned today. He caught a hostile reporter distorting remarks from the AG’s office, and presented a correct transcript to the San Francisco Chronicle, which had to change the story. However, he taped her without mentioning he was doing so. Can’t do that, even if your purpose is to maintain an accurate record of one’s own remarks.
** IT’S NOVEMBER 22, 1963 ON MAD MEN. “Everything’s going to be okay.” — Don Draper
No, Don. It won’t. It really won’t. …
President Barack Obama campaigned yesterday with New Jersey’s unpopular Democratic governor, Jon Corzine, a former Wall Street mogul who is in a very tight race in Tuesday’s election.
MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK.
This is a very big week in presidential politics, as President Barack Obama marks the first anniversary of his victory. I’ll have a special column on that.
His party also has important elections in Virginia and New Jersey, and Obama hopes to move national health care through one house of Congress as he holds a summit with leaders of the European Union and preps for his big tour of Asia next week.
In California politics, it might be a big week, if long-promised action on the state’s chronic water crisis happens. In the 2010 race for governor, favorite Jerry Brown settles in as the de facto Democratic nominee after finishing clearing the field last week. And the Republican hopefuls continue sniping at one another on the riveting question of which is most right-wing.
Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi will win a Bay Area special election for Congress on Tuesday occasioned by the president’s appointment of Ellen Tauscher as undersecretary of state for arms control. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger then appoints a new lieutenant governor, who must be confirmed by the Legislature.
Team O seems confident that national health care reform will be passed this week by the Hose of Representatives. Speaker Nancy Pelosi late last week unveiled a bill which has won support from her fractious party caucus, a bill which includes the public option.
Things are less upbeat in two off-year gubernatorial elections. Republican Bob McDonnell, the state’s attorney general — who has won quite a few Democratic endorsements — will defeat state Senator Creigh Deeds handily. Deeds lost to McDonnell in 2005 for attorney general by less than 400 votes. But state attorney general is the best office to hold, and the best from which to run for governor or senator.
In New Jersey, unpopular Democratic Governor Jon Corzine, the former Wall Street mogul, may pull out a win against Republican Chris Christie. Or he may not. Obama campaigned with Corzine yesterday.
Meanwhile, geopolitical crises simmer and bubble as Obama engages in more summitry this week prior to his big trip to Asia next week.
Iran seemed, after a typical stalling tactic, to accept the nuclear deal it negotiated the week before last in Vienna, albeit with big caveats, then said no to it. Now it says it wants to negotiate “details.”
Strange doings in the Islamic republic.
In Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai’s rival, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, pulled out of 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.
The Obama Administration today congratulated Karzai on his re-election. The run-off, you see, has now been called off. No sense risking lives for an election with no contest.
This is a serious problem for Obama, who is in the final stages of devising his latest strategy for Afghanistan.
He may not divulge his new Afghanistan strategy before he leaves for Asia next week. He seems to want more alternatives.
European leaders also descend on Washington this week, with the EU-US summit. The principal focus will be climate change.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is addressing a joint session of Congress and conferring with the president.
Will he press the case for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to be the first president of the European Union? Merkel has emerged as the biggest roadblock to a Blair presidency.
With Blair as president of Europe, the US would have a big ally in global deliberations.
He, of course, remains highly controversial for his backing of George W. Bush in the invasion of Iraq and the war on terror. And many on the right distrust him because, while a man of the center/left, he is a social democrat. Though hardly a socialist.
In California, we’ll see if a big water program is approved. I know you’ve seen me write this before.
I’ll also explain later in the week much of how Brown finished clearing the Democratic field for governor of California. I’ve just noticed a very self-serving version dictated to a compliant blog by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s late strategist. It’s all Newsom’s fault. He’s lazy and incompetent.
Actually, no. In any event, Newsom is the same person he’s always been. It was obvious to me from the beginning that he had no chance against Brown.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington today.
Obama has received his intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
At 8:10 AM Pacific, Obama meets with the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board in the Roosevelt Room.
At 11 AM Pacific, Obama meets with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden in the Oval Office.
Reinfeldt holds the presently rotating presidency of the European Union. Toorrow is the EU-US summit in Washington.
At 1 PM Pacific, he meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office.
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, then said no to it. Now it says it wants to negotiate “details.”
This is typical Iranian stall ball.
Obama continues deliberations on Afghanistan, where President Hamid Karzai is officially re-elected with the weekend election now canceled.
Vice President Joe Biden is in New York state today, trying to help Democrat Bill Owens steal a congressional seat opened by the president’s appointment of its longtime GOP incumbent as secretary of the Army. This opened a huge fissure in the Republican party between moderates and the right-wing.
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is still closed, nearly a week after Labor Day repairs came crashing down during the Tuesday evening rush hour. It may re-open this afternoon.
9:30 AM UPDATE: The Bay Bridge has reopened.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger holds private talks in and around the Capitol today.
He has no scheduled public events.
No legislative action yet on the big proposed California water deal, other than hearings.
** 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. …
** MAD MEN REVIEW: “THE GYPSY AND THE HOBO.” … From my October 26th review.
** 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.) … From my October 23rd essay.
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” … From my October 21st column.
** MAD MEN REVIEW: “THE COLOR BLUE.” … From my October 19th review.
** MAD MEN REVIEW: “WEE SMALL HOURS.” … From my October 12th review.
** WHY OBAMA DOESN’T DESERVE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, OR THE OLYMPICS RAP. … From my October 9th column.
** ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, JERRY BROWN, BILL CLINTON AND THAT CRAZY CALIFORNIA GOVERNORSHIP. … From my October 8th essay.
** MAD MEN REVIEW: “SOUVENIR.” … From my October 5th review.
** IRANIAN CRISIS: PROGRESS, PROBLEMS. … From my October 2nd column.
** OBAMA: RIDING WITH HISTORY. (NOTE: As Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States, this column was the featured column on the top of the front page of the Huffington Post.) … From my January 19th Huffington Post column.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM RUSSIA TODAY. Russia has re-emerged as one of the world’s great powers. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer, bringing you English-language, jargon-free, fast-paced coverage of global and Russian news from the 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.
** SCHWARZENEGGER’S CALIFORNIA. Here is my series of five columns on the governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Los Angeles Times in debate last fall, prior to the global economic meltdown, with Pulitzer Prize-winning former Times reporter/editor Bill Boyarsky, whose columns are also included. Among them is what I’m sure is the first piece examining Schwarzenegger’s legacy as governor of California. Since he will actually be governor of California until 2011. No technology known to be disruptive to the space/time continuum was used in its preparation. You can listen to my recent video webchat with Schwarzenegger here.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND NATIONAL ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. Having crashed over $147 for yet another record on July 11th, 2008, crude oil is trading at $77 per barrel.
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.
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| Comments (49) |
The Prez looks good in the Garden State.
Arnold better get that bridge open.
I think it’s opening.
It’s not easy for Barack to carry Corzine across the finish line.
Jonas Blane says:
November 2, 2009 at 10:12 am
The Prez looks good in the Garden State.
Where’s that BS spin?
BB:I’ve just noticed a very self-serving version dictated to a compliant blog by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s late strategist. It’s all Newsom’s fault. He’s lazy and incompetent.
Actually, no. In any event, Newsom is the same person he’s always been. It was obvious to me from the beginning that he had no chance against Brown.
I doubt the legislature could agree on a water plan, even if it was down to a choice between Sparklets and Arrowhead…
If Corzine wins, it’s because of Obama.
Buzzzz…….
lol
Capitol Boy says:
November 2, 2009 at 10:42 am
Where’s that BS spin?
BB:I’ve just noticed a very self-serving version dictated to a compliant blog by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s late strategist. It’s all Newsom’s fault. He’s lazy and incompetent.
Actually, no. In any event, Newsom is the same person he’s always been. It was obvious to me from the beginning that he had no chance against Brown.
So what are the odds for the Meg to get the LJ appointment? It would be a great bully pulpit to get some free publicity and counter her lack of experience!
I hope the Mad Men review is here soon.
4 more years.
In Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai’s rival, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, pulled out of 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.
Soon. Mondays are busy. The show is on at the worst possible time for me.
> Lorena says:
November 2, 2009 at 11:11 am (Edit)
I hope the Mad Men review is here soon.
Ah, that’s … less than zero. Read between the lines here.
Arnold will appoint me long before her.
> tom the JD says:
November 2, 2009 at 11:04 am (Edit)
So what are the odds for the Meg to get the LJ appointment? It would be a great bully pulpit to get some free publicity and counter her lack of experience!
Indeed.
> Ann says:
November 2, 2009 at 10:56 am (Edit)
Buzzzz…….
lol
Capitol Boy says:
November 2, 2009 at 10:42 am
Where’s that BS spin?
BB:I’ve just noticed a very self-serving version dictated to a compliant blog by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s late strategist. It’s all Newsom’s fault. He’s lazy and incompetent.
Actually, no. In any event, Newsom is the same person he’s always been. It was obvious to me from the beginning that he had no chance against Brown.
And not his personality?
> Brasky says:
November 2, 2009 at 10:52 am (Edit)
If Corzine wins, it’s because of Obama.
The state Senate says it’s voting this afternoon.
> Brasky says:
November 2, 2009 at 10:51 am (Edit)
I doubt the legislature could agree on a water plan, even if it was down to a choice between Sparklets and Arrowhead…
The Bay Bridge is open again.
> Jonas Blane says:
November 2, 2009 at 10:14 am (Edit)
Arnold better get that bridge open.
And that ain’t easy, is it?
> Jonas Blane says:
November 2, 2009 at 10:12 am (Edit)
The Prez looks good in the Garden State.
I’m not privy to Newsom’s day-to-day shortcomings as a candidate (specifically, his willingness, or lack thereof, to dial-for-dollars in a disciplined manner). But the Calbuzz piece failed to state the obvious: The key reason Newsom’s candidacy did not take off was because he was running in a Democratic primary against the legendary Jerry Brown.
Afghanistan just got that much harder, with a government built on a foundation of sand…
Newsom’s withdrawl reminds me of Phil Gramm in 1996 with a full war chest falling flat on his face in a pre-Iowa Luiisiana caucus and withdrawing when the voting had barely started.
That game show host guy. Whatever. He wasn’t going anywhere.
Hey there’s the post.
Karzai is a crooked clown.
Dana says:
November 2, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Afghanistan just got that much harder, with a government built on a foundation of sand…
Passing a water bill out of the senate is about as valuable as half a hundred dollar bill.
“. . . the Hose of Representatives”! Typo or editorial comment? Either way the images in my mind all work.
Prospero, I laughed hard at the image…
Additional video today?
When does the Chron fire Carla for her terrible reporting?!
… Attorney General Jerry Brown’s communications director Scott Gerber resigned today. He caught a hostile reporter distorting remarks from the AG’s office, and presented a correct transcript to the San Francisco Chronicle, which had to change the story. However, he taped her without mentioning he was doing so. Can’t do that, even if your purpose is to maintain an accurate record of one’s own remarks.
I just noticed that the NWN server hasn’t been set back an hour.
Brown is the man. I don’t know why anybody’d think Newsom would receive our support. He has never done anything except for the sanctuary for the undocumented. That does not help us. That hurts us.
All (state) politics is local.
Jonas Blane says:
November 2, 2009 at 10:12 am
The Prez looks good in the Garden State.
Afghanistan looks like a disaster if the President does the big buildup. This Karzai is muy malo.
What took you so long!? I just went ahead and assumed that NWN didn’t believe in turning the clocks back.
…I’m talking to you, Brasky!
Wonderful review of the “Mad Men” Kennedy assassination episode.
what new video today?
The O and the state elections.
Thanks!
> marcus waldron says:
November 2, 2009 at 11:35 pm (Edit)
Wonderful review of the “Mad Men” Kennedy assassination episode.
It’s the future vs. the past!
> Elizabeth Miller says:
November 2, 2009 at 6:38 pm (Edit)
What took you so long!? I just went ahead and assumed that NWN didn’t believe in turning the clocks back.
Sort of …
> marcos leon says:
November 2, 2009 at 6:28 pm (Edit)
All (state) politics is local.
Jonas Blane says:
November 2, 2009 at 10:12 am
The Prez looks good in the Garden State.
Yesterday was very busy. I’ve alerted the webmaster.
> Brasky says:
November 2, 2009 at 6:15 pm (Edit)
I just noticed that the NWN server hasn’t been set back an hour.
Yes.
> Jonas Blane says:
November 2, 2009 at 4:54 pm (Edit)
Additional video today?
Typo.
> Prospero says:
November 2, 2009 at 3:51 pm (Edit)
“. . . the Hose of Representatives”! Typo or editorial comment? Either way the images in my mind all work.
It’s half of half of that, so far …
> Brasky says:
November 2, 2009 at 1:02 pm (Edit)
Passing a water bill out of the senate is about as valuable as half a hundred dollar bill.
Correct.
And he was badly served by his advisors.
> Jack Aubrey says:
November 2, 2009 at 12:48 pm (Edit)
That game show host guy. Whatever. He wasn’t going anywhere.
That’s another reason why we can’t do the big plan there …
> Dana says:
November 2, 2009 at 12:21 pm (Edit)
Afghanistan just got that much harder, with a government built on a foundation of sand…
It’s poor analysis.
> Clutch J says:
November 2, 2009 at 11:51 am (Edit)
I’m not privy to Newsom’s day-to-day shortcomings as a candidate (specifically, his willingness, or lack thereof, to dial-for-dollars in a disciplined manner). But the Calbuzz piece failed to state the obvious: The key reason Newsom’s candidacy did not take off was because he was running in a Democratic primary against the legendary Jerry Brown.