President Barack Obama, celebrating intellectual endeavor, says he will have a national science fair next year to honor young inventors with the same gusto that college and professional athletes celebrate their victories at the White House.
** 7 PM UPDATE ** … Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will hold a press conference Tuesday morning at 10 AM in LA’s Ruben Salazar Park to introduce his appointee as California’s new lieutenant governor, State Senator Abel Maldonado.
NWN predicted Maldonado’s appointment weeks ago.
The event will be webcast live on www.gov.ca.gov.
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … TONY BLAIR’S CAUTIONARY TALE FOR OBAMA.
** QUICK HITS. California GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Meg Whitman, the ex-eBay CEO and McCain for President national co-chair, and Steve Poizner, the state insurance commissioner and ex-Silicon Valley entrepreneur, continued their long-running tussle over debates. The only one that Whitman, who has a CEO-type book coming early next year, has agreed to doesn’t take place till March. There have been four debates so far between Poizner and ex-Silicon Valley Congressman Tom Campbell. … Iran is in the midst of a six-day exercise drilling its air defenses near its nuclear sites, prepping to repel potential Israeli air strikes. But, perhaps tellingly, the Islamic republic is complaining bitterly about longtime ally Russia, noting that there is yet another delay in completing the Bushehr nuclear plant and that hoped-for S-300 anti-aircraft systems, among the most advanced in the world, have not materialized. … The Israelis easily bested Syria’s air defenses, said to be equivalent to Iran’s, two years ago in destroying a reported nuclear weapons development site.
** PALIN STRONG WITH IOWA G.O.P. While she certainly can’t win Iowa in a general election, the new Iowa Poll shows that Sarah Palin is strong with Iowa Republicans. However, she would be in for a real fight with Mike Huckabee, who won Iowa last year in the GOP presidential contest.
Palin will flog her new book in Iowa in a few weeks.
The first public poll to test Palin’s favorability in the leadoff nominating state found 55 percent of all Iowans hold an unfavorable opinion of Palin a little more than a year after the last election. Only 37 percent feel favorably about her.
And those feelings are intense: The percentage of Iowans who view Palin very unfavorably is more than twice as large as the percentage who view her very favorably.
But more than two-thirds of Republicans like what they see, making her a credible candidate for the 2012 caucuses should she decide to run for president, strategists say.
“These numbers put her in a position where she can obviously look at Iowa,” said David Winston, a national Republican pollster. “But she has this big jump that she’s got to overcome. People like her personally on the Republican side, but there’s this policy substance question.”
Only 8 percent of Iowans are unsure about Palin just 15 months after the former Alaska governor burst on the national scene.
The 45-year-old self-styled “hockey mom” ignited the Republican National Convention as an establishment outsider, and quickly became a focal point of the media during the 2008 campaign’s final months. Iowa Republican activists raved when John McCain named her his running mate and later turned out in big, enthusiastic audiences as she campaigned solo for the ticket in Des Moines, Dubuque and Sioux City.
Iowans’ feelings about Palin track generally with the national mood. A Washington Post-ABC News national survey taken this month showed 52 percent of Americans had an unfavorable opinion of Palin, compared to 42 percent favorable.
Marlys Popma, a former Iowa Republican Party director and leading GOP activist, said Palin was treated poorly by the McCain campaign and the news media, but she can now reintroduce herself on her own terms.
“This is a smart, bright driven woman who got herself from city council, to mayor to governor exactly because she is smart, bright and driven,” said Popma, who was an adviser to McCain in Iowa. “So, I think her unfavorable ratings are because she is misunderstood and has taken the brunt of mistakes that are not her own. She’s getting the chance to set the record straight.”
Palin plans to make her first appearance in Iowa since the 2008 election on Dec. 6, when her national book tour rolls into Sioux City. She is scheduled to sign copies of her book, “Going Rogue,” at 1 p.m. that Sunday at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Southern Hills Mall. …
Sixty-eight percent of Iowa Republicans view Palin favorably. That’s close to the 70 percent who hold favorable views of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the 2008 caucuses, and it’s higher than the 66 percent who view former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich favorably. Palin’s number is also higher than that of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, runner-up in the 2008 caucuses, who is viewed favorably by 58 percent of the state’s Republicans.
Huckabee, Romney and Gingrich are considered 2012 presidential prospects.
“With those kind of numbers, if she were to become a candidate, while it’s not a sure thing, she would be starting out in a very good position,” said veteran Iowa GOP strategist David Roederer, who ran McCain’s 2008 Iowa campaign.
But 24 percent of Iowa Republicans view Palin unfavorably, compared with 12 percent for Huckabee.
The five men facing trial in New York City for the 9/11 attacks will plead not guilty so that they can air their criticisms of U.S. foreign policy.
MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK.
This is a short week in presidential politics and in California politics.
President Barack Obama confers again today and later this week on his new strategy for Afghanistan. The strategy will be announced sometime in the next few weeks.
Obama has his first state dinner on Tuesday night, in honor of visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived in Washington yesterday for a few days of talks.
Obama will also be dealing with the next phase of the national health care bill. Debate will pick up again in the Senate after Thanksgiving.
Obama, whose globe-trotting has cost him in the polls, will spend Thanksgiving in Washington.
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, began its largest ever air defense drills over the weekend. These drills are centered on defending against potential air strikes against its nuclear sites.
The Iranian exercise will continue through Thanksgiving Day. The Iranians are concerned about Israeli air strikes.
In California politics, not much will happen unless Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger chooses to appoint the new lieutenant governor before Thanksgiving. I expect that choice to be State Senator Abel Maldonado. It may that Democrats have been having some difficulty lining up the right candidate for that state Senate seat.
Schwarzenegger is also considering options for the latest phase of California’s chronic fiscal crisis. The state is now seen to be over $20 billion in the hole for the current and coming fiscal years.
Federal court decisions have had a big impact on California’s fiscal woes. One court blocked reductions in in-home care for disabled people. Thanks to another federal court decision, prisons are spending $1.4 billion more than budgeted. The court also stopped the state’s general fund from taking $800 million in gas tax money from the transportation fund.
In the 2010 governor’s race, California Attorney General Jerry Brown, the former governor, continues consolidating his position as the Democratic favorite to be the next governor. As predicted here, the teapot tempest over an ex-aide recording on-the-record interviews with a few reporters without telling them has fizzled, despite efforts by a few very interested parties to keep it alive.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington.
He has had his daily intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
Obama has also delivered remarks at an event highlighting science, technology, engineering and math education.
At 9:35 AM Pacific, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have lunch in the Oval Office.
At 10:45 AM Pacific, Obama meets with the Cabinet in the Roosevelt Room.
After that, he confers with his national security team on Afghanistan in the Situation Room.
At 1:50 PM Pacific, Obama meets with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Oval Office.
At 2:50 PM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks and presents the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award at the White House.
Californian Jimmie Johnson is the first driver in NASCAR history to win his fourth straight Cup championship, clinching it in the series finale yesterday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Los Angeles today.
He has no scheduled public events.
Schwarzenegger congratulated Jimmie Johnson, a native of El Cajon, for becoming the first person to ever win four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles:
“On behalf of all Californians, I congratulate Jimmie Johnson on his amazing fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. Jimmie broke records and showed remarkable talent, determination and sportsmanship in today’s race. His performance is a testament to our state’s championship spirit and I am proud to say that he is from California. Tonight we celebrate Jimmie, his team and their fans on this tremendous achievement.”
** MAD MEN: THREE SEASONS ON AND LOOKING FORWARD. …
** 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 is trading around $79 per barrel.
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.
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| Comments (54) |
It’s looking that way, and that’s very good.
> sergei says:
November 24, 2009 at 4:34 am (Edit)
I feel certain Iran will not receive the S-300.
Oh, that.
> Elizabeth Miller says:
November 23, 2009 at 8:21 pm (Edit)
Oh, having Sarah in our midst.
See comment #30 … I thought I’d be next in line and didn’t reference it. The comments are coming so fast and furiously around here we must be soon approaching the 100K threshold!
Bill Bradley says:
November 23, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Get used to what?
I think the real trick for the Israelis isn’t hitting the targets, it’s knowing which targets to hit and getting there.
> Brasky says:
November 23, 2009 at 8:00 pm (Edit)
“And all the Iranian electronics are being intercepted. Perhaps not a brilliant deal.”
That was my thought as well. That’s like holding maneuvers for D-Day in the English channel.
You’d due better have pilots due practice intercepts over non-military targets at lock your operations people in a bunker and simulate attacks without using any electronic transmissions.
The Senate is looking far better in that regard.
> Dana says:
November 23, 2009 at 8:00 pm (Edit)
Which reminds me between this and the upcoming reapportionment could the Democrats be near 2/3 majorities in both parts of the legislature and no longer held hostage at budget time by the fringe anti-tax minority? And what are the Norquist and Fleischman contingent doing to prevent this? The Adams recall fizzling just adds to the picture of a movement that is toothless and increasingly irrelevant.
This could get interesting. A rush to marginalization by the tinfoil hat types…
43.Capitol Boy says:
November 23, 2009 at 7:38 pm
This is great! Democrats can get another state Senate seat if they’re organized!