President-elect John F. Kennedy declares victory at the Hyannis Armory on November 9, 1960. He was assassinated 46 years ago in Dallas on November 22, 1963.
** OBAMA TODAY – SUNDAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington today.
He has no scheduled public events.
Neither does Vice President Joe Biden.
Obama won a big victory Saturday night when the Senate, in a rare weekend evening vote, defeated the Republican effort to block consideration of national health care via a filibuster.
The vote was 60-39, with all Democrats holding together as proponents invoked the memory of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, a great favorite of the Senate and the longtime champion of national health care reform whose loss hurt the legislation’s prospects. Senator Joe Lieberman, the independent who caucuses with the Democrats, voted with the party.
Which is not to say that there is not a lot of horse trading ahead. The final shape of the legislation, including the controversial public option which the massive insurance industry is dedicated to defeating for obvious reasons (and how a public option might take place should it be included), is still unclear.
But with this hurdle cleared, it is very likely that a big national health care bill will be enacted.
Opponents might try to filibuster again, and some more conservative senators might peel off (and a couple of moderate Republicans could come on board), but a bill could be enacted through a process called reconciliation, which wold require only 51 votes and not the 60 needed to beat a filibuster. While not a preferred option, it is an option, and added leverage on senators who, once all the smoke clears, might not want to be seen as having opposed important new legislation of public benefit.
In other action, Iran, stalling and intransigent on its nuclear program, has begun its largest ever air defense drills.
These drills are centered on defending against potential air strikes against its nuclear sites.
The Iranian exercise will continue through Thanksgiving Day.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives in Washington today for a few days of talks.
Obama will hold his first state dinner at the White House this coming week in honor of Singh.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE – SUNDAY. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Los Angeles today.
He has no scheduled public events.
** MAD MEN: THREE SEASONS ON AND LOOKING FORWARD. …
In his weekend video/radio address recorded in Seoul, South Korea, President Barack Obama discusses his trip to Asia, casting his primary objective as engaging in new markets with potential to spur job creation here at home.
** OBAMA TODAY – SATURDAY. President Barack Obama, back from his eight-day trip to Asia, is in Washington today.
He has no scheduled public events.
He is working with Senator Harry Reid to line up votes for national health care reform. A vote to stop a Republican filibuster in the Senate is slated for tonight.
Democrats are optimistic.
The decision on Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan is expected in a few weeks. Obama continues conferring with advisors and allies.
The new Afghanistan strategy will not be announced before Thanksgiving.
Vice President Joe Biden celebrated his 67th birthday yesterday at home in Delaware.
Nevada’s Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, says the national health care reform bill reduces short-term and long-term debt, expands coverage, contains reform and promotes competition.
In a sign of confidence about the rare Saturday night vote, Biden delivers remarks at tonight’s Iowa Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Des Moines, a key annual Democratic Party event.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE – SATURDAY. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in California following his trip to Israel, Iraq, Austria, and Italy.
Schwarzenegger has no scheduled public events today.
He has private talks in Los Angeles.
Schwarzenegger is pushing the state Assembly to follow the lead of the Senate in passing legislation to make California eligible for the Obama Administration’s Race to the Top education challenge grants. Asssembly Speaker Karen Bass says that the Assembly will vote to follow the lead of the Senate sometime next month.
** THE INEVITABLE FLUKE THAT IS SARAH PALIN. Five minutes into yesterday’s Oprah extravaganza with Sarah Palin, I messaged Steve Schmidt, John McCain’s presidential campaign manager: “So how did you know Bristol was pregnant before it was announced?”
His immediate reply: “I didn’t, untrue.” …
** OBAMA IN FLUX. As he embarks on his first big trip to Asia, President Barack Obama’s strategies are in flux in many areas. …
It’s no surprise that Obama is being followed on his Asian trip by other crises. Because so much in his geopolitics is so fundamentally unresolved, making that Nobel Peace Prize more than a bit premature. … From my November 13th column.
** MAD MEN‘S SENSATIONAL SEASON FINALE. … From my November 9th review.
** OBAMA’S OFF TO A VERY GOOD START. One year ago, Barack Obama was elected president of the United States. Is his presidency delivering on the promise of his candidacy? Yes. I think he’s off to a very good start. But I’m not doing handstands. … From my November 4th column.
** IT’S NOVEMBER 22, 1963 ON MAD MEN. … From my November 2nd review.
** AFGHANISTAN, AGAIN: THE THICKET OBAMA’S NOT GETTING OUT OF. … From my October 29th column.
** MAD MEN REVIEW: “THE GYPSY AND THE HOBO.” … From my October 26th review.
** CHINATOWN’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND THE POLANSKI SCANDAL. … From my October 23rd essay.
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” … From my October 21st 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 closed on Friday at 77.47 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.
Read 
| Comments (35) |
Good speech by the President on his trip.
Harry Reid sounds confident about the vote.
Barack is going to win this.
Good spin, too.
Jonas Blane says:
November 21, 2009 at 11:02 am
Good speech by the President on his trip.
I read the essay. I love it!
** MAD MEN: THREE SEASONS ON AND LOOKING FORWARD.
The Dems have the votes to block the health care filibuster. That’s a big win for the President right there.
Yeah! To top off the day, Cal needs to beat Stanford in the Big Game. I think they’ll do it, Stanford’s got to be too cocky after whipping SC and Oregon.
Cal’s right in it at the half, twice as many first downs as Stanford, need to finish drives.
Cal is ripping Stanford, fantastic!!!!
Fantastic win for Cal in the Big Game!
CAL 34, STANFORD 28!!!
Cal was down 14 and didn’t have Best the best. Great playing by Shane Vereen filling in, 195 yards and 3 TDs.
New video today?
Big win for the President last night, as expected.
Not a lot of Stanford people here?
Great video of President Kennedy declaring victory. This is a sad anniversary.
Cal is nationally ranked again, #21. Ahead of SC! They dropped to #24.
It is sad, and lovely to watch. What a great moment that was.
Jonas Blane says:
November 22, 2009 at 11:19 am
Great video of President Kennedy declaring victory. This is a sad anniversary.
It is, indeed, and was …
Very boring.
> TRIATHLON says:
November 22, 2009 at 11:34 am (Edit)
This is a wild college football season, especially in the Pac 10.
> Capitol Boy says:
November 22, 2009 at 11:59 am (Edit)
Cal is nationally ranked again, #21. Ahead of SC! They dropped to #24.
That was a great contest.
> Capitol Boy says:
November 21, 2009 at 5:54 pm (Edit)
Cal’s right in it at the half, twice as many first downs as Stanford, need to finish drives.
It is a very big win.
> Jack Aubrey says:
November 21, 2009 at 2:41 pm (Edit)
The Dems have the votes to block the health care filibuster. That’s a big win for the President right there.
Thanks!
> Lorena says:
November 21, 2009 at 12:45 pm (Edit)
I read the essay. I love it!
** MAD MEN: THREE SEASONS ON AND LOOKING FORWARD.
It’s rather defensive, I think, repositioning the trip after the fact.
> Jonas Blane says:
November 21, 2009 at 11:02 am (Edit)
Good speech by the President on his trip.
Capitol Boy,
California is ranked ahead of USC in the writer’s poll, the Trojans are ahead of them in the coaches’ poll and ranked #20 in the BCS, while the Bears are not BCS ranked.
Your team deserved the victory last evening. I’ll admit that I didn’t think they could do it and my hat is off to you for never giving up on them. They have had a nice comeback for after a couple large losses to both Oregon and USC. They have earned a berth in a quality bowl.
But just remember, years from now, when no one remembers who was ranked where, the only record that counts is the one that shows what happened when the two teams met on the field of battle.
Enjoy your evening…glow in the victory of your team…and I wish them well when they go bowling.
Your Kennedy video is the only commemoration of what happened 46 years ago that I have seen all day. Though I’ve not been following things too closely today, I haven’t heard one word about November 22, 1963 anywhere else.
I guess that after 46 years, it’s just a lot easier, not to mention safer, to ignore it than to highlight it and then have to endure endless chatter about kooky conspiracy theories from the obviously unstable types who spew them.
After 46 years, maybe it’s time to put the whole sordid affair to bed. I’m game, finally.
CB,
Before I get jumped on for providing wrong information:
AP – California #21, USC #24
USA/Coaches’ – USC #22, California out of top 25
BCS – USC #20, California #22
Enjoy your week.
What new video today?
Yeah. Cal was already nationally ranked by BCS after beating Arizona. They weren’t going to go down after beating Stanford, too.
Cal is also national #23 in the Harris poll, SC is #22.
Mr. Solon says:
November 23, 2009 at 5:01 am
CB,
Before I get jumped on for providing wrong information:
AP – California #21, USC #24
USA/Coaches’ – USC #22, California out of top 25
BCS – USC #20, California #22
Enjoy your week.
I saw a few things. However, it’s an ahistorical society.
There was more talk about it around the Mad Men episode that dealt with it.
> Elizabeth Miller says:
November 22, 2009 at 9:10 pm (Edit)
Your Kennedy video is the only commemoration of what happened 46 years ago that I have seen all day. Though I’ve not been following things too closely today, I haven’t heard one word about November 22, 1963 anywhere else.
I guess that after 46 years, it’s just a lot easier, not to mention safer, to ignore it than to highlight it and then have to endure endless chatter about kooky conspiracy theories from the obviously unstable types who spew them.
After 46 years, maybe it’s time to put the whole sordid affair to bed. I’m game, finally.
SC and Cal will both go to nice bowls. Oregon to the Rose Bowl after barely beating Arizona, which Cal handled easily the week before.
It’s a wild season in college football and the Pac 10 is one rugged conference.
> Mr. Solon says:
November 22, 2009 at 7:07 pm (Edit)
Capitol Boy,
California is ranked ahead of USC in the writer’s poll, the Trojans are ahead of them in the coaches’ poll and ranked #20 in the BCS, while the Bears are not BCS ranked.
Your team deserved the victory last evening. I’ll admit that I didn’t think they could do it and my hat is off to you for never giving up on them. They have had a nice comeback for after a couple large losses to both Oregon and USC. They have earned a berth in a quality bowl.
9/11 and NASCAR …
> Jonas Blane says:
November 23, 2009 at 6:39 am (Edit)
What new video today?
Bill,
While it will probably happen, the Ducks must beat the Beavers before earning a trip to Pasadena.
In the ESPN national rankings, Cal is #23 and SC is #24.
http://espn.go.com/ncf/powerrankings?season=2009&week=12
That familiar Kennedy video really is a classic timepiece of an altogether different era in terms of media as well as presidential security. During the final minute, the camera pans over the beaming family members.
Within a year or so, Joe had his stroke and, well, you know the rest.
CB,
What was the final score when they played???? And, sire, you know as well as I that there are three polls that have any meaning…USAToday, AP and BCS.
Sorry, Bill, for posting on yesterday’s thread. This will be my last post on it.
Least I forget…CB, have a great Thanksgiving