 |
|
|
|
September 19, 2007 8:15 AM
Non-Random Notes: Top Republican Backs Gay Marriage, Democratic Feud Surfaces, Webb Falls Short, CIA Grounded In Iraq, Schwarzenegger And Clinton, Black Caucus Mystery, Giuliani In London, And More
Here is a thought, gentlemen. At this rate, despite all the terrific accomplishments, you will both be the lamest of ducks in November 2008, while of course NWN remains. Despite many promises, you failed on redistricting reform. (Of course, the Republicans got cold feet there, too, but they are nowhere near being in charge.) Health care reform is iffy, looking presently like a Rube Goldberg construct. One thing the state actually needs in order to function is a highly reliable supply of water. Get something done. That is, if you want the term limits change initiative to pass next February. From the polls I have, which you may or may not have, California voters are not happy with you.
Webb, the most high-decorated Marine combat officer of the Vietnam War, is a best-selling novelist who served as secretary of the Navy in the Reagan Administration. His hopes on the bill were dashed when fellow Virginian John Warner, also a former secretary of the Navy, switched from supporting the bill to opposing. Warner, the former Senate Armed Services Committee chairman who has become a reluctant critic of the Iraq War, is retiring at the end of next year.
Meanwhile, Blackwater will continue to guard State Department personnel. The State Department and other US officials in Iraq rely on Blackwater — rather than US military or State Department protective services personnel. But they have been instructed not to travel outside the so-called Green Zone enclave inside Baghdad.
Clinton praised Schwarzenegger for having the best child fitness and nutrition policies in the country. For his part, Schwarzenegger, in an energized and jocular mood, noted that he and the president have much in common, both coming from small towns and being married to “women who look a lot better than we do on television.” Clinton, ever the master analyst of political performance, had a familiar appraising look on his face while Schwarzenegger spoke, and frequently peered at the governor’s text, the better to compare what was written there with what Schwarzenegger actually said. The two both talked up the school’s weight room and how active and fit the children looked as they performed their morning exercises. Both spoke of a spreading obesity crisis around the country, with Schwarzenegger in particular imploring the school children before them to live healthy lifestyles, while Clinton, once the overweight boy in the school band, said that he can identify with people grabbing on to food, a still very affordable pleasure compared to others, one all too readily available in a society with increasingly sedentary lifestyles. The governor said that, over the paast decade, Californians have gained 360 million pounds. (Presumably compared to a similar sample the decade before. One of three children and one of four teens he deemed overweight or at-risk of obesity. “Second only to tobacco,” said Schwarzenegger, “obesity is a leading cause of preventable death among Californians and costs the state $28.5 billion in health care costs, lost productivity and workers’ compensation.”
Giuliani had a public meeting yesterday with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and a private meeting with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, now the special Mideast envoy. Giuliani, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2002 for his leadership of New York during 9/11, is clearly making the rounds in London. But it is his linkage with Thatcher that may be most valuable. The former prime minister, a great ally of Ronald Reagan, may be the greatest conservative icon remaining. Fred Thompson, who went to London in July and also delivered an address there, also met with Thatcher but appeared to come away empty-handed. Giuliani is picking up some of Thatcher’s foreign policy advisors, along with his award and high-profile lectureship.
** SCHWARZENEGGER AND CLINTON IN LIVE WEBCAST AT 9:15 AM. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former President Bill Clinton join forces this morning at a middle school in El Monte, several miles east of Los Angeles, in a new partnership to promote healthier living for schoolchildren. The two will announce that they are co-leaders of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. They should be touring the school now and will appear in a live webcast set of addresses at 9:15 AM.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. Comments (70)Ann :Ann :I CAN'T WAIT for the Flush Report to explode over Schwarzeneger with Slicky Willie Clinton. lol Ann :Schwarzeneger is late again! lol richard locicero :Oh really Bill! Do you think Maggie Thatcher will get Rudy one vote over here? She couldn't even help the Tories now! Her "Support" is the kiss of death. Ask Michael Howard or the other clowns that Blair dispatched. See David Cameron ignore her - "Margaret who?" Bill Bradley :You're missing the obvious. David Cameron isn't a primary candidate, he's out to win a general election. Tony Blair wasn't running in Tory or Republican primaries, either. Ann :Still no Schwarzeneger. lol Jonas Blane :Giuliani does better in newscasts than ads. Ann :There's Schwarzeneger. Finally. four waters :Ann : and given the helicopers... i assume Clinton as well. Capitol Boy :That was pretty interesting. Schwarzenegger seemed energized by Clinton on the same stage. Brasky :"I CAN'T WAIT for the Flush Report to explode over Schwarzenegger with Slicky Willie Clinton." They're lucky those two are constitutionally bared from running for president. richard locicero :Maybe someone will ask Arnold's Chief of Stafdf - Susan Kennedy - how she feels about the Governator vetoing the Gay marriage bill. Robin Tyler, a lesbian activist is mentioned today in John Aravosis' AMERICABLOG asking her to resign in protest. Tyler notes that she attended Kennedy's same sex marriage in Hawaii so why can't she get married here? Bill Bradley :My guess is she'd say whatever she said the last few times she was asked. Whatever that was. There's nothing new here. Bill Bradley :That would be a fun race. >Brasky : Bill Bradley :The competitive juices kick in. >Capitol Boy : Bill Bradley :Brasky :Susan's been through this fire drill before, as has Arnold. Not really news. Len :Why didn't Clinton and Schwarzenegger take questions? That was weird. Ann :The righty wingnut Flash Report Klown Show is on again. Jonny Flashman attacked Schwarzeneger for bonds for water projects. Schwarzeneger's a SOCIALIST! Jonny boy, that's two conservative Republicans carrying the bills. lol Bill Bradley :I'm told it was because they were running so far behind schedule. >Len : Brasky :Flashreport might as well support the bonds - they aren't going to pass (as proposed anyway). Their record of never accomplishing anything will remain intact. Brasky :"I'm told it was because they were running so far behind schedule." Yeah, THAT was it. I wouldn’t expect questions at that event - way too many landmines. Bill Bradley :I reported it. I don't necessarily buy it. Bill Bradley :As Villines' comments suggest, they're part of the bargaining process. >Brasky : Brasky :After reading the bullet-point version of the Hillary health care plan, it seems to me that the use of tax credits to subsidize insurance costs would push more of the middle class into the AMT. Tax policy is not my forte, so I might be wrong. Jonathan Hemlock :The banning of Blackwater in Iraq may be most important. It may well be the beginning of the end for the U.S. Jonathan Hemlock :The banning of Blackwater in Iraq may be most important. It may well be the beginning of the end for the U.S. Brasky :Staggering how many private security forces are in Iraq – something like 182,000. Now 118,000 of them are Iraqis and only 21,000 are Americans, but still. Dana :As of January State Senator Mark Ridley Thomas becomes Chair of the Black Caucus. And based on some comments by local South L.A. political columnist Betty Pleasant, my impression is the change in leadership has caused discomfort among the older generation of black politicians. Demographic changes are eroding the power base of blacks in South L.A., plus the recent debacle of King Harbor Hospital's shutdown has shaken the reputation of most of the opinions leaders of the black community. Plus L.A. County Supervisor Yvonne Burke is retiring soon and there is a scramble over which ambitious black politician (current front runners are Ridley Thomas and L.A. Councilman Bernbard Parks) will get the coveted seat. All these have created tensions I am sure are behind the split in the caucus. http://wavenewspapers.com/ (click "Soulvine" to read Pleasant's most recent columns) Hap Hazard :Interesting reference to the Black Caucus goings on. I would support any maneuvering that might have effectively make it easier for Rod Wright to return sooner than later to elected office. Brasky :Just watched the Clinton/Schwarzenegger event. Poor bastard from the Heart Association had to go third. I thought I could hear tripods being folded in the background... Bill Bradley :I actually forgot his name, and unfortunately it's not on the release. Those are two people you do NOT want to follow ... :) Bill Bradley :Now Rod Wright is an interesting character. >Hap Hazard : Bill Bradley :I think that's true. Witness Jesse Jackson's criticism of Obama -- he's already endorsed him -- for not being black enough. >Dana : Bill Bradley :Apparently the CIA station in Baghdad is now pinned down in the Green Zone as well with the grounding of Blackwater. I think it is absolutely absurd that the CIA has to depend on a private outfit to protect itself in the capital city of Iraq, a country we conquered over four years ago. >Jonathan Hemlock : Bill Bradley :That's more than the US military force there, post-surge! >Brasky : Brasky :We're kickin' ass...at outsourcing... Brasky :"it is absolutely absurd that the CIA has to depend on a private outfit to protect itself " Well, if they hadn't pissed-off Jason Bourne... Bill Bradley :Good one. Unfortunately. Bill Bradley :If I were in the CIA, I would be far too proud to have to rely on hired guns for security. >Brasky : Brasky :How many of those guys are ex-CIA and getting paid more as private security to protect their former co-workers? Brasky :Bill Bradley :My understanding is they are usually ex-military special ops -- Army, Navy, Marines -- who receive the special training and experience and then are lost to a private outfit like Blackwater that pays more. But they only do what Blackwater is hired to do. And these guys frequently have higher skill sets than are needed to provide security for diplomats and spooks. Meanwhile, the US military loses its return on investment and lacks control over what they do. Capitol Boy :I heard Villaraigosa and Nunez pulled deals with Dymally and Swanson to switch them from Obama to Clinton. Ann :That sounds right. Len :CIA stuck in the "Green Zone." Can anyone say, pathetic? Bill Bradley :How about, unfortunate and unseemly? Jack Aubrey :This is one embarassing situation. Richard :If anyone wants to see "The End of Baghdad" read Frank Snepp's "Decent Interval" about the fall of Saigon. While we don't have the commies waiting to invade, I see a certain repetition of events. Bill Bradley :Good book. richard locicero :Re the Webb Amdt. Harry Reid should have called their bluff and kept the debate going and going and going. Let's see "Huckleberry" Graham and Warner and Speter and Lugar and all the other chickenshits so afraid of mr 29% that they'll throw the troops under the bus! Sam Loomis :After Monday's Prison Break was the premiere of K-Ville - a Miami Vice type of show set in the mostly abandoned lawless post-Katrina New Orleans. The timing was too funny - The villains were Gulf war '91 veterans who recently made big bucks working for "Blackriver", providing security in Iraq. Monday they were employed providing casino security, shooting up everyone who got in the way of their crooked plot to buy up lots of cheap land to keep blacks from returning. Not a good week for Blackwater. jonathan Hemlock :Gay/lesbian marriage is in our future. Why not make it part of the present? jonathan Hemlock :Gay/lesbian marriage is in our future. Why not make it part of the present? Jonathan Hemlock :Sorry for the double- posting. Wilbur :A little voice keeps telling me the Blackwater incident, which seems not particularly unique, has been seized upon either to send a pushback message to the US for leaning too hard on the Iraqis, or perhaps even a sincere step toward showing us the door? (please?) Brasky :I still think Arnold was setting-up the legislature for failure on the big three items of the year. If he doesn't get at least one, I bet he goes to the ballot with all three. He'll win those and legislators will lose term limits. sergei :America must stop in Iraq. Jonas Blane :More Guiliani video coming? Bill Bradley :Not today. Bill Bradley :That may be. It's certainly a huge, even shocking, achilles heel. >Wilbur : Bill Bradley :How do we think Arnold was setting up the Legislature for failure? >Brasky : carole w :I agree with the San Diego mayor. If two people love each other and want the marriage certificate, I don't see the problem? Brasky :Arnold picked 3 things that would be big wins for him, but almost impossible for our current legislature to pass (2/3 vote + polarized legislature). If he wins, he wins. If he loses, he goes to the ballot and he wins. Brasky :P.S. - Passing a comprehensive water package that has bipartisan support is impossible. Bill Bradley :Actually, what you're saying is that the Legislature is fundamentally dysfunctional. With that as a premise, asking it to do anything major is "setting it up." But since Schwarzenegger actually wants to do major things, setting up the Legislature is not his goal. Brasky :I think you can get major things done in the legislature, just not those three things. What's the legislature's history in passing water, redistricting and health care reforms? Water can't be done, because of surface storage. Not going to happen with it, not going to happen without it. Redistricting can't be done for a lot of reasons, few of them to do with policy. Health care? Well, health care = taxes. Enough said. Workers compensation, infrastructure - these kinds of things can be done with this legislature. Those are important, big things. But there is enough wiggle room here and there for a back and forth and horse trading can occur. Prison reform could probably be done by the legislature. Each of the three things Arnold put on HIS agenda this year suffer from very immutable barriers. Anyone short of Arnold would not be able to get them done. Arnold might be able to do one of them done. But because he’s Arnold, he can turn that failure into victory through the ballot. Bill Bradley :A few too many excuses, there, I think. Brasky :The capitol has never been short of excuses. Redistricting – 1990 and 2000 were a joke (except for the court intervention). As long as the national democrats have a line drawn in the sand, we are at a standstill. And now republicans are having their own issues, so both ends of the boat are leaking. Water – we’ve been having some version of the same problem (where does it go and who pays for it) for hundreds of years. Putting less water and more people in the state makes it harder, not easier, to pass these things. Health care – that’s a minefield. Taxes, regulations, benefits, life and death – pretty much everything that is anathema to politicians finding real solutions. These are all really important things – we need solutions to all of them. I’m just pessimistic that we can get 2/3 of the legislature to sing Cumbya at the signing ceremony. The hard fact is, most of these issues will have to be decided at the ballot. Johnnie Rico :Kill 'em all. Comments have been archived for this page. |
Pajamas MediaSocialized Medicine Looks Inevitable Former CIA Agent in Iran Comes In from the Heat Pinning Down Obama on Iraq Beheading Hitler Richardson and Romney Lead PJM Veepstakes Next Clash of Titans: Microsoft vs. Adobe Abortion Is a No-Win Issue for Obama The Sky Is Falling — and Warming! Everybody Panic!
Support Pajamas Media; Visit Our Advertisers
Support Pajamas Media; Visit Our Advertisers
RSS FeedsADVERTISEMENT
|
digg this
del.icio.us
That's a neat coup for Giuliani.
Sep 19, 2007 08:52 AM