Catholic cardinals fanned out across Rome Sunday, leading mass at local churches two days before they lock themselves into the Sistine Chapel to select the next pope.
** OBAMA TODAY – SUNDAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington.
Obama received the intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
He has no scheduled public events as of this morning.
Obama spoke last night at the annual Gridiron Dinner, an arguably off-the-record event hosted by Washington media elites, covered by only one press pool reporter, yet with a full transcript of Obama’s prepared remarks in wide release.
Before I begin, I know some of you have noticed that I’m dressed a little differently from the other gentlemen. Because of sequester, they cut my tails. (Laughter.) My joke writers have been placed on furlough. (Laughter.) I know a lot of you reported that no one will feel any immediate impact because of the sequester. Well, you’re about to find out how wrong you are. (Laughter.)
Of course, there’s one thing in Washington that didn’t get cut — the length of this dinner. (Laughter.) Yet more proof that the sequester makes no sense. (Laughter.)
As you know, I last attended the Gridiron dinner two years ago. Back then, I addressed a number of topics — a dysfunctional Congress, a looming budget crisis, complaints that I don’t spend enough time with the press. It’s funny, it seems like it was just yesterday. (Laughter.)
We noticed that some folks couldn’t make it this evening. It’s been noted that Bob Woodward sends his regrets, which Gene Sperling predicted. (Laughter.) I have to admit this whole brouhaha had me a little surprised. Who knew Gene could be so intimidating? (Laughter.) Or let me phrase it differently — who knew anybody named Gene could be this intimidating? (Laughter.)
Now I know that some folks think we responded to Woodward too aggressively. But hey, when has — can anybody tell me when an administration has ever regretted picking a fight with Bob Woodward? (Laughter.) What’s the worst that could happen? (Laughter and applause.)
But don’t worry. We’re all friends again in the spirit of that wonderful song. As you may have heard, Bob invited Gene over to his place. And Bob says he actually thinks that I should make it too. And I might take him up on the offer. I mean, nothing says “not a threat” like showing up at somebody’s house with guys with machine guns. (Laughter.)
Now, since I don’t often speak to a room full of journalists — (laughter) — I thought I should address a few concerns tonight. Some of you have said that I’m ignoring the Washington press corps — that we’re too controlling. You know what, you were right. I was wrong and I want to apologize in a video you can watch exclusively at whitehouse.gov. (Laughter.) …
Here’s what Obama’s week ahead looks like. As you can see, much of the week is taken up with Obama’s sudden charm offensive with congressional Republicans.
On Monday, Obama will attend meetings at the White House.
On Tuesday, Obama will welcome Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei to the White House. The East Asia Summit and U.S.-ASEAN Summit will be held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei in October. Later on Tuesday, Obama will travel to Capitol Hill to meet with the Senate Democratic Caucus.
On Wednesday, Obama will travel to Capitol Hill to meet with the House Republican Conference.
On Thursday, Obama will travel to Capitol Hill to meet separately with the Senate Republican Conference and the House Democratic Caucus.
On Friday, Obama will travel to Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois, for an energy event, with more details to follow.
Of course, those are the best-laid plans, as it were.
Sometimes other events intervene. For example, Afghan President Hamid Karzai charged today that the US is negotiating rather feverishly with the Taliban, at sessions in the Gulf and in Europe, and leaving him and his administration out of the mix.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, in the midst of an Afghan visit, denied that the US is negotiating “unilaterlly” with the Taliban. And the Taliban denied that any talks are taking place.
Obama is monitoring several geopolitical crises involving the Arab Awakening, Iran and Israel, Syria, Iraq, AfPak, and the South China Sea.
Military Crisis Zone Times: The Persian/Arabian Gulf is ten hours ahead of Pacific time, and Afghanistan is eleven and a half hours ahead of Pacific time. The time in Manila, on the South China Sea, is fifteen hours ahead of Pacific time.
** FROM THE JERRY FILES – SUNDAY. Governor Jerry Brown is in Northern California.
He has no scheduled public events as of this morning.
Click here for my compendium of articles laying out the re-emergence of Jerry Brown as governor of California.
Click here for my compendium of articles providing a narrative of his governorship.
Jihadists staged two deadly suicide attacks Saturday, including one on the Afghan Defense Ministry in Kabul, to mark the first full day of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s visit to Afghanistan.
** OBAMA TODAY – SATURDAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington.
Obama received the intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
At 4 PM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks at the Gridiron Dinner at the Renaissance Hotel.
The only official direct coverage will come from a single print press pooler.
The Gridiron is a classic Washington insider affair, an arguably amusing affair, at least in attempt.
Obama is monitoring several geopolitical crises involving the Arab Awakening, Iran and Israel, Syria, Iraq, AfPak, and the South China Sea.
Military Crisis Zone Times: The Persian/Arabian Gulf is ten hours ahead of Pacific time, and Afghanistan is eleven and a half hours ahead of Pacific time. The time in Manila, on the South China Sea, is fifteen hours ahead of Pacific time.
** FROM THE JERRY FILES – SATURDAY. Governor Jerry Brown is in Northern California.
He has no scheduled public events as of this morning.
Late yesterday, Brown set May 21st as the date of a special election to replace state Senator Michael Rubio, the Central Valley Democrat who chaired the Senate Environmental Quality Committee but suddenly resigned to head up state government affairs for Chevron Oil.
Quite a few potential candidates have demurred so far.
Former state Senate leader and San Francisco Congressman John Burton is going for another term as state Democratic Party chairman at the California Democratic Party convention next month in Sacramento. With Brown’s backing.
I don’t believe he has an opponent. Burton, now 80, has the state party organization humming along, with a huge warchest, and has avoided collateral political damage from his famously, er, pithy comments while still occasionally scoring opponents in his inimitable fashion.
Click here for my compendium of articles laying out the re-emergence of Jerry Brown as governor of California.
Click here for my compendium of articles providing a narrative of his governorship.
In his weekend video/radio address, President Barack Obama said that the economic recovery has generated some momentum, with 246,000 new jobs last month and job growth every month for the past three years, and called on Republican leaders to help sustain the momentum by avoiding the arbitrary cuts of the budget sequester, which are just beginning to go into effect.
** THE SUDDENLY SCRAMBLING OBAMA. … From my March 8th column.
** CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS: OUT OF STUNTS. … From my March 6th column.
** WILL JERRY BROWN BE UNOPPOSED FOR RE-ELECTION? … From my March 4th feature.
** SECRETARY HAGEL AND THE SENATE’S MASSIVE WASTE OF TIME. … From my February 27th essay.
** OSCARMANIA! (OR NOT): A POLITICAL STEW ON LIGHT SIMMER. … From my February 25th essay.
** THE HAILSTORM AROUND HAGEL POINTS UP THE SYSTEM’S DYSFUNCTIONALITY. … From my February 21st essay.
** THE ANTI-HAGEL GAMBITS: CLEVER, BUT NOT REALLY THAT CLEVER. … From my February 15th essay.
** WITH LITTLE POLITICAL OR POLICY IMPACT AND DUMBED DOWN LANGUAGE, DOES THE STATE OF THE UNION EVEN MATTER? … From my February 12th column.
A small film called Iron Man 3 is set for release across North America on May 3rd. It will debut in international markets during the two weeks before that.
** 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 AL JAZEERA. With the US entangled in major military operations in the region, and the Arab awakening underway, it’s valuable to keep up with news and perspectives from the leading Middle Eastern-based TV news network. 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.
** 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 from the Russia Today channel. The NWN live link to RT does not constitute an endorsement of the state-run channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND NATIONAL ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. Having crashed over $147 for yet another record on July 11th, 2008, crude oil closed at $91.95 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
This is up about $58 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity, and down about $22 per barrel from the price at the time of the Osama bin Laden raid.
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| Comments (25) |
Good bad news news video of Secretary hagel’s first visit to Afghanistan.
Good weekend address on the economy by President Obama.
Great trailer for the new “Iron Man” movie.
Barack is on message.
He’s a good man to be there for us, to wind it down.
Jonas says:
March 9, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Good bad news news video of Secretary hagel’s first visit to Afghanistan.
It looks good.
Jonas says:
March 9, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Great trailer for the new “Iron Man” movie.
Yes, Mr. Tony Stark, exemplar and vessel of American exceptionalism. When he is sober, that is.
Past time to wind it down for us all, I’m afraid.
Capitol Boy says:
March 9, 2013 at 2:35 pm
He’s a good man to be there for us, to wind it down.
Jonas says:
March 9, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Good bad news news video of Secretary hagel’s first visit to Afghanistan.
More Afghanistan crisis video today?
I had totally forgotten about the Pope election. Any favorite?
Barack is pretty funny there…
BB:Obama spoke last night at the annual Gridiron Dinner, an arguably off-the-record event hosted by Washington media elites, covered by only one press pool reporter, yet with a full transcript of Obama’s prepared remarks in wide release.
Good news video on the Catholic cardinals.
Afghanistan got worse again today…
Your Man in Kabul, apologies to Graham Greene, is certainly acting up of late, isn’t he? He would appear to be angling to a proper role post-America and Super Friends in 2015. One such role that I fear only he can see, that is.
Afhanistan crisis video today?
Yes.
I like that phrase.
> axel white says:
March 11, 2013 at 6:33 am (Edit)
Your Man in Kabul, apologies to Graham Greene, is certainly acting up of late, isn’t he? He would appear to be angling to a proper role post-America and Super Friends in 2015. One such role that I fear only he can see, that is.
Quite.
> Jack Aubrey says:
March 10, 2013 at 7:32 pm (Edit)
Afghanistan got worse again today…
It’s amusing.
> Capitol Boy says:
March 10, 2013 at 2:38 pm (Edit)
Barack is pretty funny there…
BB:Obama spoke last night at the annual Gridiron Dinner, an arguably off-the-record event hosted by Washington media elites, covered by only one press pool reporter, yet with a full transcript of Obama’s prepared remarks in wide release.
I have no real idea.
> Capitol Boy says:
March 10, 2013 at 2:37 pm (Edit)
I had totally forgotten about the Pope election. Any favorite?
Indeed.
> axel white says:
March 10, 2013 at 8:49 am (Edit)
Past time to wind it down for us all, I’m afraid.
Capitol Boy says:
March 9, 2013 at 2:35 pm
He’s a good man to be there for us, to wind it down.
Jonas says:
March 9, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Good bad news news video of Secretary hagel’s first visit to Afghanistan.
Just call him Captain America. Oh, wait …
> axel white says:
March 10, 2013 at 8:49 am (Edit)
Yes, Mr. Tony Stark, exemplar and vessel of American exceptionalism. When he is sober, that is.
I’m sure he found it most edifying.
> Capitol Boy says:
March 9, 2013 at 2:35 pm (Edit)
He’s a good man to be there for us, to wind it down.
Jonas says:
March 9, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Good bad news news video of Secretary hagel’s first visit to Afghanistan.
It does look quite good.
> Jonas says:
March 9, 2013 at 12:47 pm (Edit)
Great trailer for the new “Iron Man” movie.
Incidentally, NWN passed 129,000 comments sometime in the past several weeks.