President Barack Obama was a big hit today with his address to the UK Parliament at Westminster. Of course, quoting Winston Churchill is usually a good way to score with a British audience.
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** QUICK HITS. Very neatly (and quite promptly, may I say!) demonstrating the Democratic part of California’s Capitol dysfunction, Assembly Democrats today moved to try to reverse some of the state’s just approved budget cuts. Why? Because there is some new revenue. Do we know if it will continue onward into the future? No. Just as we did not during the dot-com boom. Can the money be used for other things? Yes. Like, for example, paying off debt, or paying for future needs. Needless to say, Governor Jerry Brown is not thrilled with his very short-sighted colleagues, who would expand the state’s long-term spending base. It’s not just the easily lampooned Party of No that created this chronic crisis. … For their part, the cargo cult known as the California Republican Party is being bucked up by a Beltway lobbyist to use this same little burst of revenue as an excuse not to do tax extensions. … Remember the equation. The ultra-government faction always wants to expand government, as much as seemingly possible. The anti-government faction always wants to contract government. … Speaking of the march to folly, the so-called Ryan Plan, which led to the loss of a long entrenched Republican congressional seat last night in New York, went down hard today in the U.S. Senate on a 57-40 vote. Seven Republicans either voted no or took a walk. More than did so in the entire House of Representatives when the fiscal plan for electoral disaster passed overwhelmingly there last month.
** OBAMA REMARKS TO THE PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, ASSEMBLED IN LONDON’S WESTMINSTER HALL.
This is Obama’s major address of his European trip, seeking to redefine the “special relationship” between the US and UK and reassure Europe of its central role in American geopolitics in a time of tectonic change.
Thank you very much. Thank you. (Applause.)
My Lord Chancellor, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Prime Minister, my lords, and members of the House of Commons:
I have known few greater honors than the opportunity to address the Mother of Parliaments at Westminster Hall. I am told that the last three speakers here have been the Pope, Her Majesty the Queen, and Nelson Mandela — which is either a very high bar or the beginning of a very funny joke. (Laughter.)
I come here today to reaffirm one of the oldest, one of the strongest alliances the world has ever known. It’s long been said that the United States and the United Kingdom share a special relationship. And since we also share an especially active press corps, that relationship is often analyzed and overanalyzed for the slightest hint of stress or strain.
Of course, all relationships have their ups and downs. Admittedly, ours got off on the wrong foot with a small scrape about tea and taxes. (Laughter.) There may also have been some hurt feelings when the White House was set on fire during the War of 1812. (Laughter.) But fortunately, it’s been smooth sailing ever since.
The reason for this close friendship doesn’t just have to do with our shared history, our shared heritage; our ties of language and culture; or even the strong partnership between our governments. Our relationship is special because of the values and beliefs that have united our people through the ages.
Centuries ago, when kings, emperors, and warlords reigned over much of the world, it was the English who first spelled out the rights and liberties of man in the Magna Carta. It was here, in this very hall, where the rule of law first developed, courts were established, disputes were settled, and citizens came to petition their leaders.
Over time, the people of this nation waged a long and sometimes bloody struggle to expand and secure their freedom from the crown. Propelled by the ideals of the Enlightenment, they would ultimately forge an English Bill of Rights, and invest the power to govern in an elected parliament that’s gathered here today.
What began on this island would inspire millions throughout the continent of Europe and across the world. But perhaps no one drew greater inspiration from these notions of freedom than your rabble-rousing colonists on the other side of the Atlantic. As Winston Churchill said, the “…Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, Habeas Corpus, trial by jury, and English common law find their most famous expression in the American Declaration of Independence.”
For both of our nations, living up to the ideals enshrined in these founding documents has sometimes been difficult, has always been a work in progress. The path has never been perfect. But through the struggles of slaves and immigrants, women and ethnic minorities, former colonies and persecuted religions, we have learned better than most that the longing for freedom and human dignity is not English or American or Western –- it is universal, and it beats in every heart. Perhaps that’s why there are few nations that stand firmer, speak louder, and fight harder to defend democratic values around the world than the United States and the United Kingdom.
We are the allies who landed at Omaha and Gold, who sacrificed side by side to free a continent from the march of tyranny, and help prosperity flourish from the ruins of war. And with the founding of NATO –- a British idea –- we joined a transatlantic alliance that has ensured our security for over half a century.
Together with our allies, we forged a lasting peace from a cold war. When the Iron Curtain lifted, we expanded our alliance to include the nations of Central and Eastern Europe, and built new bridges to Russia and the former states of the Soviet Union. And when there was strife in the Balkans, we worked together to keep the peace.
Today, after a difficult decade that began with war and ended in recession, our nations have arrived at a pivotal moment once more. A global economy that once stood on the brink of depression is now stable and recovering. After years of conflict, the United States has removed 100,000 troops from Iraq, the United Kingdom has removed its forces, and our combat mission there has ended. In Afghanistan, we’ve broken the Taliban’s momentum and will soon begin a transition to Afghan lead. And nearly 10 years after 9/11, we have disrupted terrorist networks and dealt al Qaeda a huge blow by killing its leader –- Osama bin Laden.
Together, we have met great challenges. But as we enter this new chapter in our shared history, profound challenges stretch before us. In a world where the prosperity of all nations is now inextricably linked, a new era of cooperation is required to ensure the growth and stability of the global economy. As new threats spread across borders and oceans, we must dismantle terrorist networks and stop the spread of nuclear weapons, confront climate change and combat famine and disease. And as a revolution races through the streets of the Middle East and North Africa, the entire world has a stake in the aspirations of a generation that longs to determine its own destiny.
These challenges come at a time when the international order has already been reshaped for a new century. Countries like China, India, and Brazil are growing by leaps and bounds. We should welcome this development, for it has lifted hundreds of millions from poverty around the globe, and created new markets and opportunities for our own nations.
And yet, as this rapid change has taken place, it’s become fashionable in some quarters to question whether the rise of these nations will accompany the decline of American and European influence around the world. Perhaps, the argument goes, these nations represent the future, and the time for our leadership has passed.
That argument is wrong. The time for our leadership is now. It was the United States and the United Kingdom and our democratic allies that shaped a world in which new nations could emerge and individuals could thrive. And even as more nations take on the responsibilities of global leadership, our alliance will remain indispensable to the goal of a century that is more peaceful, more prosperous and more just.
At a time when threats and challenges require nations to work in concert with one another, we remain the greatest catalysts for global action. In an era defined by the rapid flow of commerce and information, it is our free market tradition, our openness, fortified by our commitment to basic security for our citizens, that offers the best chance of prosperity that is both strong and shared. As millions are still denied their basic human rights because of who they are, or what they believe, or the kind of government that they live under, we are the nations most willing to stand up for the values of tolerance and self-determination that lead to peace and dignity.
Now, this doesn’t mean we can afford to stand still. The nature of our leadership will need to change with the times. As I said the first time I came to London as President, for the G20 summit, the days are gone when Roosevelt and Churchill could sit in a room and solve the world’s problems over a glass of brandy -– although I’m sure that Prime Minister Cameron would agree that some days we could both use a stiff drink. (Laughter.) In this century, our joint leadership will require building new partnerships, adapting to new circumstances, and remaking ourselves to meet the demands of a new era.
That begins with our economic leadership.
Adam Smith’s central insight remains true today: There is no greater generator of wealth and innovation than a system of free enterprise that unleashes the full potential of individual men and women. That’s what led to the Industrial Revolution that began in the factories of Manchester. That is what led to the dawn of the Information Age that arose from the office parks of Silicon Valley. That’s why countries like China, India and Brazil are growing so rapidly — because in fits and starts, they are moving toward market-based principles that the United States and the United Kingdom have always embraced.
In other words, we live in a global economy that is largely of our own making. And today, the competition for the best jobs and industries favors countries that are free-thinking and forward-looking; countries with the most creative and innovative and entrepreneurial citizens.
That gives nations like the United States and the United Kingdom an inherent advantage. For from Newton and Darwin to Edison and Einstein, from Alan Turing to Steve Jobs, we have led the world in our commitment to science and cutting-edge research, the discovery of new medicines and technologies. We educate our citizens and train our workers in the best colleges and universities on Earth. But to maintain this advantage in a world that’s more competitive than ever, we will have to redouble our investments in science and engineering, and renew our national commitments to educating our workforces.
We’ve also been reminded in the last few years that markets can sometimes fail. In the last century, both our nations put in place regulatory frameworks to deal with such market failures — safeguards to protect the banking system after the Great Depression, for example; regulations that were established to prevent the pollution of our air and water during the 1970s.
But in today’s economy, such threats of market failure can no longer be contained within the borders of any one country. Market failures can go global, and go viral, and demand international responses.
A financial crisis that began on Wall Street infected nearly every continent, which is why we must keep working through forums like the G20 to put in place global rules of the road to prevent future excesses and abuse. No country can hide from the dangers of carbon pollution, which is why we must build on what was achieved at Copenhagen and Cancun to leave our children a planet that is safer and cleaner.
Moreover, even when the free market works as it should, both our countries recognize that no matter how responsibly we live in our lives, hard times or bad luck, a crippling illness or a layoff may strike any one of us. And so part of our common tradition has expressed itself in a conviction that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security -– health care if you get sick, unemployment insurance if you lose your job, a dignified retirement after a lifetime of hard work. That commitment to our citizens has also been the reason for our leadership in the world.
And now, having come through a terrible recession, our challenge is to meet these obligations while ensuring that we’re not consuming — and hence consumed with — a level of debt that could sap the strength and vitality of our economies. And that will require difficult choices and it will require different paths for both of our countries. But we have faced such challenges before, and have always been able to balance the need for fiscal responsibility with the responsibilities we have to one another.
And I believe we can do this again. As we do, the successes and failures of our own past can serve as an example for emerging economies -– that it’s possible to grow without polluting; that lasting prosperity comes not from what a nation consumes, but from what it produces, and from the investments it makes in its people and its infrastructure.
And just as we must lead on behalf of the prosperity of our citizens, so we must safeguard their security. Our two nations know what it is to confront evil in the world. Hitler’s armies would not have stopped their killing had we not fought them on the beaches and on the landing grounds, in the fields and on the streets. We must never forget that there was nothing inevitable about our victory in that terrible war. It was won through the courage and character of our people.
Precisely because we are willing to bear its burden, we know well the cost of war. And that is why we built an alliance that was strong enough to defend this continent while deterring our enemies. At its core, NATO is rooted in the simple concept of Article Five: that no NATO nation will have to fend on its own; that allies will stand by one another, always. And for six decades, NATO has been the most successful alliance in human history.
Today, we confront a different enemy. Terrorists have taken the lives of our citizens in New York and in London. And while al Qaeda seeks a religious war with the West, we must remember that they have killed thousands of Muslims -– men, women and children -– around the globe. Our nations are not and will never be at war with Islam. Our fight is focused on defeating al Qaeda and its extremist allies. In that effort, we will not relent, as Osama bin Laden and his followers have learned. And as we fight an enemy that respects no law of war, we will continue to hold ourselves to a higher standard -– by living up to the values, the rule of law and due process that we so ardently defend.
For almost a decade, Afghanistan has been a central front of these efforts. Throughout those years, you, the British people, have been a stalwart ally, along with so many others who fight by our side.
Together, let us pay tribute to all of our men and women who have served and sacrificed over the last several years -– for they are part of an unbroken line of heroes who have borne the heaviest burden for the freedoms that we enjoy. Because of them, we have broken the Taliban’s momentum. Because of them, we have built the capacity of Afghan security forces. And because of them, we are now preparing to turn a corner in Afghanistan by transitioning to Afghan lead. And during this transition, we will pursue a lasting peace with those who break free of al Qaeda and respect the Afghan constitution and lay down arms. And we will ensure that Afghanistan is never a safe haven for terror, but is instead a country that is strong, sovereign, and able to stand on its own two feet.
Indeed, our efforts in this young century have led us to a new concept for NATO that will give us the capabilities needed to meet new threats — threats like terrorism and piracy, cyber attacks and ballistic missiles. But a revitalized NATO will continue to hew to that original vision of its founders, allowing us to rally collective action for the defense of our people, while building upon the broader belief of Roosevelt and Churchill that all nations have both rights and responsibilities, and all nations share a common interest in an international architecture that maintains the peace.
We also share a common interest in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. Across the globe, nations are locking down nuclear materials so they never fall into the wrong hands — because of our leadership. From North Korea to Iran, we’ve sent a message that those who flaunt their obligations will face consequences -– which is why America and the European Union just recently strengthened our sanctions on Iran, in large part because of the leadership of the United Kingdom and the United States. And while we hold others to account, we will meet our own obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and strive for a world without nuclear weapons.
We share a common interest in resolving conflicts that prolong human suffering and threaten to tear whole regions asunder. In Sudan, after years of war and thousands of deaths, we call on both North and South to pull back from the brink of violence and choose the path of peace. And in the Middle East, we stand united in our support for a secure Israel and a sovereign Palestine.
And we share a common interest in development that advances dignity and security. To succeed, we must cast aside the impulse to look at impoverished parts of the globe as a place for charity. Instead, we should empower the same forces that have allowed our own people to thrive: We should help the hungry to feed themselves, the doctors who care for the sick. We should support countries that confront corruption, and allow their people to innovate. And we should advance the truth that nations prosper when they allow women and girls to reach their full potential.
We do these things because we believe not simply in the rights of nations; we believe in the rights of citizens. That is the beacon that guided us through our fight against fascism and our twilight struggle against communism. And today, that idea is being put to the test in the Middle East and North Africa. In country after country, people are mobilizing to free themselves from the grip of an iron fist. And while these movements for change are just six months old, we have seen them play out before -– from Eastern Europe to the Americas, from South Africa to Southeast Asia.
History tells us that democracy is not easy. It will be years before these revolutions reach their conclusion, and there will be difficult days along the way. Power rarely gives up without a fight -– particularly in places where there are divisions of tribe and divisions of sect. We also know that populism can take dangerous turns -– from the extremism of those who would use democracy to deny minority rights, to the nationalism that left so many scars on this continent in the 20th century.
But make no mistake: What we saw, what we are seeing in Tehran, in Tunis, in Tahrir Square, is a longing for the same freedoms that we take for granted here at home. It was a rejection of the notion that people in certain parts of the world don’t want to be free, or need to have democracy imposed upon them. It was a rebuke to the worldview of al Qaeda, which smothers the rights of individuals, and would thereby subject them to perpetual poverty and violence.
Let there be no doubt: The United States and United Kingdom stand squarely on the side of those who long to be free. And now, we must show that we will back up those words with deeds. That means investing in the future of those nations that transition to democracy, starting with Tunisia and Egypt -– by deepening ties of trade and commerce; by helping them demonstrate that freedom brings prosperity. And that means standing up for universal rights -– by sanctioning those who pursue repression, strengthening civil society, supporting the rights of minorities.
We do this knowing that the West must overcome suspicion and mistrust among many in the Middle East and North Africa -– a mistrust that is rooted in a difficult past. For years, we’ve faced charges of hypocrisy from those who do not enjoy the freedoms that they hear us espouse. And so to them, we must squarely acknowledge that, yes, we have enduring interests in the region -– to fight terror, sometimes with partners who may not be perfect; to protect against disruptions of the world’s energy supply. But we must also insist that we reject as false the choice between our interests and our ideals; between stability and democracy. For our idealism is rooted in the realities of history -– that repression offers only the false promise of stability, that societies are more successful when their citizens are free, and that democracies are the closest allies we have.It is that truth that guides our action in Libya. It would have been easy at the outset of the crackdown in Libya to say that none of this was our business -– that a nation’s sovereignty is more important than the slaughter of civilians within its borders. That argument carries weight with some. But we are different. We embrace a broader responsibility. And while we cannot stop every injustice, there are circumstances that cut through our caution -– when a leader is threatening to massacre his people, and the international community is calling for action. That’s why we stopped a massacre in Libya. And we will not relent until the people of Libya are protected and the shadow of tyranny is lifted.
We will proceed with humility, and the knowledge that we cannot dictate every outcome abroad. Ultimately, freedom must be won by the people themselves, not imposed from without. But we can and must stand with those who so struggle. Because we have always believed that the future of our children and grandchildren will be better if other people’s children and grandchildren are more prosperous and more free -– from the beaches of Normandy to the Balkans to Benghazi. That is our interests and our ideals. And if we fail to meet that responsibility, who would take our place, and what kind of world would we pass on?
Our action -– our leadership -– is essential to the cause of human dignity. And so we must act -– and lead -– with confidence in our ideals, and an abiding faith in the character of our people, who sent us all here today.
For there is one final quality that I believe makes the United States and the United Kingdom indispensable to this moment in history. And that is how we define ourselves as nations.
Unlike most countries in the world, we do not define citizenship based on race or ethnicity. Being American or British is not about belonging to a certain group; it’s about believing in a certain set of ideals — the rights of individuals, the rule of law. That is why we hold incredible diversity within our borders. That’s why there are people around the world right now who believe that if they come to America, if they come to New York, if they come to London, if they work hard, they can pledge allegiance to our flag and call themselves Americans; if they come to England, they can make a new life for themselves and can sing God Save The Queen just like any other citizen.
Yes, our diversity can lead to tension. And throughout our history there have been heated debates about immigration and assimilation in both of our countries. But even as these debates can be difficult, we fundamentally recognize that our patchwork heritage is an enormous strength — that in a world which will only grow smaller and more interconnected, the example of our two nations says it is possible for people to be united by their ideals, instead of divided by their differences; that it’s possible for hearts to change and old hatreds to pass; that it’s possible for the sons and daughters of former colonies to sit here as members of this great Parliament, and for the grandson of a Kenyan who served as a cook in the British Army to stand before you as President of the United States. (Applause.)
That is what defines us. That is why the young men and women in the streets of Damascus and Cairo still reach for the rights our citizens enjoy, even if they sometimes differ with our policies. As two of the most powerful nations in the history of the world, we must always remember that the true source of our influence hasn’t just been the size of our economies, or the reach of our militaries, or the land that we’ve claimed. It has been the values that we must never waver in defending around the world — the idea that all beings are endowed by our Creator with certain rights that cannot be denied.
That is what forged our bond in the fire of war — a bond made manifest by the friendship between two of our greatest leaders. Churchill and Roosevelt had their differences. They were keen observers of each other’s blind spots and shortcomings, if not always their own, and they were hard-headed about their ability to remake the world. But what joined the fates of these two men at that particular moment in history was not simply a shared interest in victory on the battlefield. It was a shared belief in the ultimate triumph of human freedom and human dignity -– a conviction that we have a say in how this story ends.
This conviction lives on in their people today. The challenges we face are great. The work before us is hard. But we have come through a difficult decade, and whenever the tests and trials ahead may seem too big or too many, let us turn to their example, and the words that Churchill spoke on the day that Europe was freed:
“In the long years to come, not only will the people of this island but…the world, wherever the bird of freedom chirps in [the] human heart, look back to what we’ve done, and they will say ‘do not despair, do not yield…march straightforward’.”
With courage and purpose, with humility and with hope, with faith in the promise of tomorrow, let us march straightforward together, enduring allies in the cause of a world that is more peaceful, more prosperous, and more just.
Thank you very much.
** NEW POLL: STRESS TEST. Well, it looks like multi-culturalism leads to a very pleasant life and strict moral values lead to a very stressful life. Or so one could easily spin.
A new Gallup Poll survey finds that people in Hawaii are the least stressed in America.
And that people in Utah are the most stressed in America.
Where does California fit on this measure? Amidst the mid-range of states when it comes to stress. In 24th place, to be specific.
It’s not nearly as, er, mellow as it used to be. (During Jerry Brown’s first go-round as governor of California, Doonesbury dubbed his associates the “Mellow Mafia.” Not so this time around.
Incidentally, stress has lessened since last year in most of the country.
Hawaiians were the least likely in the United States in 2010 to say they felt stressed for much of the previous day, at 30.2%. Residents of Utah were the most likely to report experiencing stress, at 45.1%, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. …
These state-level data are based on daily surveys conducted from January through December 2010 and encompass more than 350,000 interviews. Americans’ average stress level was 39.4% last year, similar to 2009 (39.9%) and 2008 (38.8%).
Hawaii has had the distinction of being the least stressed state for three years in a row. Utah and Kentucky have been among the top two most stressed states for the past three years.
Stress levels decreased at least somewhat for residents living in about half of the states in 2010. This is a positive turnaround from 2009, when residents’ stress levels increased in most states. …
States with 40% or more people reporting being stressed are mostly clustered in the West and Northeast, but also include Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
States with lower stress levels — where less than 38% of residents reported experiencing it — are primarily located in parts of the Midwest.
President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron did a joint press conference today outside Lancaster House in London.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Britain.
Obama received his daily intelligence briefing this morning at Buckingham Palace in London.
British time is eight hours ahead of Pacific time.
Obama is only the second U.S. president in history to be afforded a full state visit by the United Kingdom. The first was President George W. Bush in the wake of 9/11.
At 1:50 AM Pacific, Obama held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street in London.
At 2:05 AM Pacific, Obama held a meeting with Prime Minister Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at 10 Downing Street.
At 2:35 AM Pacific, Obama held an expanded bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Cameron at 10 Downing Street.
Obama and Cameron have some differences over the Afghan War, where the British are clearly looking to the exits after completing their withdrawal from Iraq, and over the LIbyan War.
Cameron wants the US to play much more of a lead role in Libya, but Obama has consistently demurred since the establishment of the no-fly zone.
Meanwhile, Britain and France are squabbling over increased strikes on Tripoli, and on who should play the lead role in introducing helicopter gunships to provide closer air support.
At 3:30 AM Pacific, Obama and Prime Minister Cameron attended an event hosted by Mrs. Cameron and First Lady Michelle Obama to honor military families, U.S. and U.K. service members and veterans at 10 Downing Street.
At 4:25 AM Pacific, Obama and Prime Minister Cameron held a a joint press conference outside Lancaster House.
At 7:30 AM Pacific, Obama delivered remarks to the United Kingdom Parliament in Westminster Hall.
At 8:55 AM Pacific, the Obamas hosted a U.S. Embassy meet and greet at the Grosvenor House Hotel.
At 12:30 PM Pacific, the Obamas reciprocate the hospitality of Queen Elizabeth and hold a dinner in her honor at the residence of the American ambassador at Winfield House in London.
For his part, Vice President Joe Biden attended a luncheon where he delivered remarks celebrating the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s moon shot speech at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum outside Boston, Massachusetts.
Tonight Biden delivers remarks at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Queen Elizabeth and President Barack Obama toasted one another last night at a state dinner in Buckingham Palace.
Obama is quietly savoring the Democratic upset last night in the longtime Republican stronghold of New York’s 26th congressional district.
Democrat Kathy Hochul upset Republican frontrunner Jane Corwin, 47% to 43%, after making Corwin’s backing for what is increasingly clearly the albatross of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan’s fiscal plan the central issue of the special election.
I believe only four House Republicans, most of whom are safe in gerrymandered districts, voted against this, and radio talkers like Rush Limbaugh have obligingly made it a litmus test for the Republican presidential race.
But Senate Republicans fear the issue, with several already backing quickly away even before last night’s results.
Obama is also monitoring a variety of geopolitical crises.
War Zone Times: Libya is nine hours ahead of Pacific time, Iraq is ten hours ahead of Pacific time, and Afghanistan is eleven and a half hours ahead of Pacific time.
** JERRY BROWN RETURNS (AGAIN!) ONLY TO DROP BACK INTO STEALTH MODE. Governor Jerry Brown is back. Again. For the third time. And not a moment too soon, as California needs to solve its chronic budget crisis and, after a Supreme Court ruling, deal with its chronic prison crisis. But will Brown try, once again, to do it all behind the scenes?
First, of course, he executed a spectacular political comeback, capped off by his landslide victory last November over the biggest spending non-presidential campaign in American history. (You can click here for my compendium of articles laying out the re-emergence of Jerry Brown as governor of California.) Brown celebrated briefly, then promptly disappeared for months into the underbrush of inside baseball politics, in interminable negotiations to try to solve California’s chronic budget crisis, making only a handful of public appearances. Not surprisingly, his standing in the polls suffered from his absence from the spotlight, as did support for his plans.When he surfaced at the end of March, nearly three weeks past his March 10th deadline for a budget deal, it was to announce that he had ended negotiations with Republican legislators.
He then engaged in a round of public appearances, seeing his standing in the polls go up, and have some big appearances on tap… only to pull back again as he underwent a relatively common procedure for a non-metastasizing skin cancer. Last week, none the worse for wear — which was no surprise as I’d spoken with him while he was conducting business in private and he had the same energy he’s had for the decades I’ve known him — Brown resurfaced to present the annual May revision of the budget proposal. But since that appearance, a wide-ranging press conference laced with his trademark humor, he’s been mostly back behind the scenes, with only two brief appearances in Sacramento and none around the state, unusual for a governor looking for support for his budget. Is he repeating past mistakes?
Brown ran into three very significant problems very early on.
First, he assumed that he could make a deal by dint of endless behind-the-scenes negotiations. He set March 10th as his target date for the deal. Which, of course, has long since come and gone.
Second, in his mono-focus on the inside game, Brown completely ignored the outside game. He brought no public pressure to bear, either from the governorship or from interested parties, on Republican legislators.
Third, he neglected his own public profile, making only a handful of public appearances, virtually none of them outside Sacramento, which most Californians have long since learned to tune out. As a result, his polling numbers went down,substantially lower than they should have for someone who won a landslide victory over the biggest-spending non-presidential campaign in American history. …
** FROM THE JERRY FILES. Governor Jerry Brown is in Sacramento.
He has no scheduled public events as of this morning.
Brown is working on California’s chronic budget crisis and his nascent administration.
** NCIS: AMERICA’S FAVORITE SHOW AND WHAT IT TELLS US. Tuesday night saw the season finale of NCIS, the most watched scripted television series in America. Indeed, if a national poll is to be believed, the veteran CBS procedural about Navy cops (NCIS standing for Naval Criminal Investigative Service), finishing its eighth season, is not only the most popular current scripted show in the country, it’s the favorite show of all time.
How was the season finale? On the anti-climactic side, actually, and not nearly as good as the penultimate episode, one of the show’s best. But it did set up an intriguing beginning to the show’s ninth season in the fall, one which says nefarious things about our national security apparat. More about that in a moment. There be some spoilers ahead.
So, NCIS, the most popular show of all-time? Really? … From my May 18th essay.
** IN THE SHADOW OF BIN LADEN: THE CALIFORNIA CONNECTION. The first official to announce the death of Osama bin Laden was not President Barack Obama, it was Senator Dianne Feinstein. The Senate Intelligence Committee chair was speaking at a memorial service in Santa Monica for her longtime campaign manager, Kam Kuwata.
Feinstein says she thought that Obama was about to give his nationally televised address. Which he actually gave about an hour later. And that the memorial, filled with pols and media types, was off the record. Which of course is why her remarks were reported in the media.
But Feinstein’s premature announcement of one of the biggest stories in recent memory is only one of the California connections to the demise of the legendary founder and leader of al Qaeda, who claimed credit for ordering the 9/11 attacks on America and eluded American forces for nearly a decade. … From my May 11th feature.
** IN THE SHADOW OF BIN LADEN: REPUBLICANS AND THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. … From my May 7th essay.
** CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS: AN UNCERTAIN TRUMPET. … From my May 2nd feature.
** OBAMA’S BIGGEST PROBLEMS STILL LIE ABROAD. … From my April 29th essay.
** HAS CALIFORNIA’S REFORM MOMENT ARRIVED? … From my April 26th column.
** THE NON-IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY: OBAMA AND LIBYA. … From my April 21st essay.
** FROM GOVERNATOR TO MOONBEAM. … From my January 3rd, 2011 feature.
** 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, 2009 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 three wars in the region, and the Arab uprising underway, 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 is trading around $101 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
This is up about $67 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 (38) |
Good video of the joint press conference.
Good news video of the Queen’s dinner last night with President Obama.
That was great to watch live yesterday here!!!
Too bad the site was down earlier when we could have watched it live here on New West Notes…
Jonas Blane says:
May 25, 2011 at 11:18 am
Good video of the joint press conference.
JB, don’t be boring!!
** FROM THE JERRY FILES. Governor Jerry Brown is in Sacramento.
He has no scheduled public events as of this morning.
Can you netcast this??
BB:At 12:30 PM Pacific, the Obamas reciprocate the hospitality of Queen Elizabeth and hold a dinner in her honor at the residence of the American ambassador at Winfield House in London.
New West Notes still looks great. Sorry to hear about the server troubles…
More video today?
Yes.
Thanks, it was very disruptive.
> Requiem says:
May 25, 2011 at 12:03 pm (Edit)
New West Notes still looks great. Sorry to hear about the server troubles…
No, there was no feed available.
> Capitol Boy says:
May 25, 2011 at 11:47 am (Edit)
Can you netcast this??
BB:At 12:30 PM Pacific, the Obamas reciprocate the hospitality of Queen Elizabeth and hold a dinner in her honor at the residence of the American ambassador at Winfield House in London.
Indeed.
> Capitol Boy says:
May 25, 2011 at 11:46 am (Edit)
JB, don’t be boring!!
** FROM THE JERRY FILES. Governor Jerry Brown is in Sacramento.
He has no scheduled public events as of this morning.
I watched part of it. It was well done, by both country’s leaders.
> Capitol Boy says:
May 25, 2011 at 11:44 am (Edit)
Too bad the site was down earlier when we could have watched it live here on New West Notes…
Jonas Blane says:
May 25, 2011 at 11:18 am
Good video of the joint press conference.
Ain’t that the truth? Particularly in this state.
BB: “But Jerry Brown doesn’t have to win over a party that seems determined to become a VERY LARGE CULT…”
Ya know, it makes more sense when you think of it like a cult.
The Invisible Man can still get stuff done…
Bill Bradley says:
May 25, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Indeed.
> Capitol Boy says:
May 25, 2011 at 11:46 am (Edit)
JB, don’t be boring!!
** FROM THE JERRY FILES. Governor Jerry Brown is in Sacramento.
He has no scheduled public events as of this morning.
Tech is a bitch when it doesn’t work.
Requiem says:
May 25, 2011 at 12:03 pm
New West Notes still looks great. Sorry to hear about the server troubles…
Obama and Cameron look like they get on better than Obama and Gordon Brown. Huh.
I love reading Barack’s whole speech to the British Parliament!!
To make an idol out of Grover Norquist shows how crazy a cult the California Republicans have gotten to be.
Pat Skipper says:
May 25, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Ain’t that the truth? Particularly in this state.
BB: “But Jerry Brown doesn’t have to win over a party that seems determined to become a VERY LARGE CULT…”
I love JB but it’s like we don’t have a Governor most of the time…
Bill Bradley says:
May 25, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Indeed.
> Capitol Boy says:
May 25, 2011 at 11:46 am (Edit)
JB, don’t be boring!!
** FROM THE JERRY FILES. Governor Jerry Brown is in Sacramento.
He has no scheduled public events as of this morning.
He’s the leader of the party nationwide. Most people couldn’t pick him out of a line up.
Capitol Boy says:
May 25, 2011 at 4:43 pm
To make an idol out of Grover Norquist shows how crazy a cult the California Republicans have gotten to be.
Read this quote from renowned lefty, Alan Simpson:
“If the American people are in thrall with Grover Norquist, some guy just wandering around in the swamps, taking a pledge from people at a time when America was flush, pushing people like Orrin Hatch off the cliff as if he were a commie,” Simpson said. “I mean what kind of a nut is this guy?”
Great news on the Ryan plan – Republicans not only touched the third rail, they fanatically embraced it and now they are paying the price.
ZZZZZZZZZZZap!
What new video today?
Obama’s speech to the British Parliament and the Obama’s greeting the Queen as she arrives for dinner.
Indeed.
> Brasky says:
May 25, 2011 at 7:28 pm (Edit)
Great news on the Ryan plan – Republicans not only touched the third rail, they fanatically embraced it and now they are paying the price.
ZZZZZZZZZZZap!
I’m actually acquainted with some of these folks, as you know, and find it all rather amazing.
> Pat Skipper says:
May 25, 2011 at 6:59 pm (Edit)
Read this quote from renowned lefty, Alan Simpson:
“If the American people are in thrall with Grover Norquist, some guy just wandering around in the swamps, taking a pledge from people at a time when America was flush, pushing people like Orrin Hatch off the cliff as if he were a commie,” Simpson said. “I mean what kind of a nut is this guy?”
Well, not really on the former. He has a special connection to California Republicans, in that the former state party chairman worked for him.
> Pat Skipper says:
May 25, 2011 at 6:23 pm (Edit)
He’s the leader of the party nationwide. Most people couldn’t pick him out of a line up.
Capitol Boy says:
May 25, 2011 at 4:43 pm
To make an idol out of Grover Norquist shows how crazy a cult the California Republicans have gotten to be.
It is a bizarre situation.
> Capitol Boy says:
May 25, 2011 at 4:43 pm (Edit)
To make an idol out of Grover Norquist shows how crazy a cult the California Republicans have gotten to be.
Pat Skipper says:
May 25, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Ain’t that the truth? Particularly in this state.
BB: “But Jerry Brown doesn’t have to win over a party that seems determined to become a VERY LARGE CULT…”
It’s a very telling address.
> Capitol Boy says:
May 25, 2011 at 4:41 pm (Edit)
I love reading Barack’s whole speech to the British Parliament!!
They most certainly do.
> Jack Aubrey says:
May 25, 2011 at 3:17 pm (Edit)
Obama and Cameron look like they get on better than Obama and Gordon Brown. Huh.
Indeed.
> Jack Aubrey says:
May 25, 2011 at 3:05 pm (Edit)
Tech is a bitch when it doesn’t work.
Requiem says:
May 25, 2011 at 12:03 pm
New West Notes still looks great. Sorry to hear about the server troubles…
Yes, but it’s easier when you have the public dimension.
> Jack Aubrey says:
May 25, 2011 at 3:04 pm (Edit)
The Invisible Man can still get stuff done…
Bill Bradley says:
May 25, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Indeed.
> Capitol Boy says:
May 25, 2011 at 11:46 am (Edit)
JB, don’t be boring!!
** FROM THE JERRY FILES. Governor Jerry Brown is in Sacramento.
He has no scheduled public events as of this morning.
The CRP is an amazing institution …
> Pat Skipper says:
May 25, 2011 at 2:28 pm (Edit)
Ain’t that the truth? Particularly in this state.
BB: “But Jerry Brown doesn’t have to win over a party that seems determined to become a VERY LARGE CULT…”
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