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October 19, 2007 8:45 AM
Non-Random Notes: Unclear Results For Israel, New Oil Record, Bush For Giuliani, Cali GOP Power Brokers, Arnold And Traffic, Pakistan Mystery, Cali Independents Rise, Family Values Conference, Cali Women's Conference, And More
Moscow is the largest city in Europe. Russia comprises 11 time zones, so that may be a factor as well, in addition to the loss of novelty. Putin’s New Year’s addresses — New Year is historically a bigger holiday in Russia than Christmas, which was, after all, officially suppressed during the Soviet era — reportedly have stayed in the 70% to 80% range nationwide. There are no TV shows that compare in the US in terms of ratings, not even the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the mystery over Putin’s impromptu Thursday summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert continues. Neither side is giving any specifics as to what was discussed beyond what’s already been reported on NWN, much less what if any agreements were reached. It may well be that Mr. Olmert returned from Moscow with nothing but pleasantries. He is being criticized by the opposition in Israel for appearing weak in rushing to Moscow in the immediate wake of Putin’s trip to Iran, where the former spymaster met privately not only with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad but also Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Who, of course, is not dead …
“As someone who grew up around politics and candidates,” said the 2005 graduate of the University of Texas, “I know that Rudy has the leadership qualities and unmatched experience to be the next President of the United States. I’m honored to join his campaign and look forward to working with the many young professionals throughout Florida supporting the Mayor,” said Bush, who works in commercial real estate in Miami. In itself, not the biggest deal in the world. But an interesting straw in the world, nonetheless. It comes a few weeks after the president’s longtime political confidante, Dan Bartlett, now departed from the White House, issued a blistering public critique of the Republican presidential field. All the candidates except, as it happens Rudy Giuliani, about whom Bartlett had nary a negative comment. Incidentally, I think this means that you can forget about, if you’d heard about it in the first place, James Carville’s prediction earlier in the week on one of the cable chat shows that Jeb Bush will be the Republican presidential nominee …
I pointed out that, despite his influence in Republican party politics, he didn’t really raise money for the party. Now he is running himself. For re-election to the West Covina School Board. Where is West Covina? It’s a little suburb to the west of Los Angeles. (Note: That’s a typo. Of course it’s east of LA.) According to his friend Jon Fleischman, a key ultra-rightist and author of the resolution to block independents from voting in the Republican presidential primary, Spence is running against candidates backed by the local teachers union. And needs help. In a race in West Covina. Which has about a tenth the population of a state Senate district. Even better, Fleischman talks up all the help Spence gave to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in his teacher tenure initiative. He doesn’t mention that Spence and he spend far more of their time attacking Schwarzenegger as a closet socialist. (When they aren’t attacking everything else under the sun in hyperpartisan mode.) Which, since they believe that the minimum wage is socialism, only makes sense. So the Flash Report has an emergency appeal for funds for this would-be power broker who was going to recall a state senator for being insufficiently conservative … as the lead item on its site for the day.
Nearly 150 people are known to have been killed by the two massive explosions which resulted, with more killed in a fierce ensuing firefight. And Pakistan, a haven to Al Qaeda and Taliban cadre in its remote regions, ally of the US in the Terror War, and posessor of many nuclear weapons, is further destabilized.
Doesn’t that sound like a fun event?
New York Times columnist Tom Friedman will moderate a conversation on leadership and the environment between former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Schwarzenegger.
After a series of races around the world, Britain’s Lewis Hamilton, the first black driver in F1, has a slight lead going into the final race. He can be the first rookie to win the world championship. Two-time defending champion Fernando Alonso of Spain, who like Hamilton races for the British McLaren team, is just four points behind. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikonnen, the flying Finn, is just three points behind Alonso. It should be a great morning of sophisticated international spectacle.
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 foolish to expect to see, say, criticism of Vladimir Putin on Russia Today, the channel is quite interesting nonetheless. 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. Moscow time is 11 hours ahead of Pacific time.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. Comments (66)Jonas Blane :Capitol Boy :Our Republicans wouldn't want anyone unclean, like independents, to mess with their little pond of a primary. Ann :Don't a lot of factions want Benzir Bhutto dead? Bill Bradley :Bill Bradley :Ishmael :Regarding Republicans, Primaries, Elections...anybody know if there is any truth to the rumor that the California Republicans have found a 'sugar daddy' who is going to restart the 'Electorial Reform' initiative? Bill Bradley :Capitol Boy :I'm curious which Republican wants to waste his money on a bad campaign and get investigated. Ishmael :Mr. B -- I know you've got a close ear to the rail. There is a Verdun-like battle between GOP & Dem funders trying to influence the ballot compositions in CA,FLA, and a few others (creating the 'need' for one side to have to expend resources, etc)...ya, I do have some 'sources' but I'm trying to figure out whats fact & fiction myself... Bill Bradley :"Verdun?" You're a first-time poster here. That's, frankly, the usual profile of an attempt to spin something. I don't see any sophisticated money person getting into a losing campaign with the well already poisoned against it. Bill Bradley :I wonder if the discussion might focus on what I'm writing. It is a fair amount of work, and plnety to discuss. Just as it is a fair amount of work dealing with the unrelated spin. Ishmael :No spin intended, sir. But will respect your on topic request. :) Bill Bradley :If you have something to share other than a rumor with nothing attached to it, feel free. Hap Hazard :Who is behind the attack on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, just returned to Pakistan after eight years in exile? -- all my money is on the Taliban wilbur :>>Hap Hazard : -- all my money is on the Taliban Or Taliban with an independent enabling assist from a certain pol whose own political fortunes might be advanced? Bill Bradley :It looks like whomever it was had official help. Hap Hazard :,i>It looks like whomever it was had official help -- Absolutely agree. Supposedly, the route to be traveled was cordoned off in some fashion, or cleared, long before the arrival -- by the govt. officials / law enforcement / military. Hap Hazard :aliban with an independent enabling assist from a certain pol - How can you be so conspiratorial in your thinking about the ways things go in that country? Hap Hazard :As usual, should you or any member of your I.M. Force be captured or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your existence. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim Vladimir Bierko :Did Mr. Phelps ever decide not to take the mission? What if he always getting offers other I.M. Force leaders declined?
Brasky :Bill, don’t forget the Mike Spence fundraising request sent to members of the California Republican Assembly on September 5. It comes from the CRA, but at the end of the email, it says “Paid for by Friends of Mike Spence.” It’s pretty short, so I’ll paste it here. If you want my copy, email me.
For five years Mike has served us as President of the California Republican Assembly. When we needed him to stand up for principles he was always there. Now, Mike needs our help. He has filed for re-election to the West Covina School Board. His district has stood up for parental rights, opposed union control of the district and fought for the same values you and I have. Last year, an officer in the teacher's union said they were going to get Mike because he has helped train scores of school board members across the state. The election is just 9 weeks away. Will you help him? You can donate by credit card here: Thank you, P.S. You can give a check this weekend at the CRP Convention, where Mike will be fighting for us instead of his re-election. Paid for by Friends of Mike Spence, 391 E Michelle St, West Covina, CA 91790, ID #129781 Jonathan Hemlock :The attack is no surprise. The Pakistani intelligence service invented the Taliban. Jonathan Hemlock :The attack is no surprise. The Pakistani intelligence service invented the Taliban. Brasky :“’FAMILY VALUES’: REPUBLICANS TAKE AIM AT GIULIANI, AND EACH OTHER.” For some reason I picture one of those nature shows. You know, the one were they film some lake as it slowly dries-up from a drought. When the lake is full of water, there’s lots of fish, so the crocodiles are fat and happy. At the start of the drought, crocs start getting a little cranky. By the end of the drought, they’ve turned cannibalistic and constantly fighting for some little muddy patch of what used to be their great lake. Don’t know why that popped into my head... Jonathan Hemlock :Sorry for the double posting. Jonathan Hemlock :Sorry for the double posting. Bill Bradley :Bill Bradley :There's no question that they helped tremendously. >Jonathan Hemlock : Bill Bradley :What? You think NWN should endorse Mike Spence? For what reason? >Brasky : Brasky :"James Carville’s prediction earlier in the week on one of the cable chat shows that Jeb Bush will be the Republican presidential nominee" I think James is getting fantasy and reality mixed-up again. Denis Kucinich would beat a Bush these days. Bill Bradley :That's not the way they wrote the show. Incidentally, I've been swamped and also under the weather this week. What do you make of Heroes, btw? Will it pick up? >Vladimir Bierko : Bill Bradley :Even though Bhutto tempted fate by taunting the jihadists and having that long, slow procession, those explosions were way too big and the bit with the street lights was way too obvious. This was a very brazen act. >Hap Hazard : Brasky :“What? You think NWN should endorse Mike Spence? “ Um, no. I’d rather drink battery acid. Just wanted to point out that Spence has been scrambling to fund his school board race for some time and using whatever pathetic resources the California Right has, further lending to the your characterization that he is a paper tiger in capable of I’m also interested in how the money changed hands for the CRA email. Brasky :Oops, meant to say “...incapable of having any financial impact on state politics.” Bill Bradley :Although I don't raise money for or contribute money to campaigns, it might be interesting to keep Mike Spence in office ... Ann :Bill, you should give to Mike Spence's campaign and re-elect him! It would be such a big laff. lol Bill Bradley :Sounds like a very expensive joke. Brasky :How about we pledge a $1 to Spence for every comment on the Flash Report... Ann :The Republicans of California are following the orders of their leader, Jonny Flashman. lol
Thank you. Comments (0) Ann :wilbur :>>Brasky : How about we pledge a $1 to Spence for every comment on the Flash Report... Now THAT we could easily afford. wilbur :OK, so what's the skinny on Rick Rodriguez' departure from the Bee? Did he resist one too many Britney rehab story? Brasky :I think Ann said last week Flash Report had something like 6 comments. In that case, I'm willing to pay for last week, on the condition that the campaign committee we form has a suitably hilarious name, like “Commies for Mike Spence.” Bill Bradley :Well, that's an amount that falls out of my pocket ... :) Bill Bradley :I don't know anything about it. >wilbur : Bill Bradley :... Okay, so, I still don't know. I have to admit I don't pay as much attention to the Sacramento Bee as I used to -- I've twice been a contributing editor to its Sunday Forum section, but there've been a number of legacy media gigs -- but that's true of many newspapers. He's a good guy. I remember him covering Gary Hart's presidential campaigns at a couple of moments. I suspect he is running afoul of the general trend. The Bee has undertaken a fairly disastrous attempt to charge people beaucoup bucks for mostly what you can read on NWN for free and, as far as I can tell from top lobbyists who can afford it, haven't gotten many takers. But that's only part of it. Good guy. Conventional thinker. But the fundamental problem is not his, it's a new reality that the old business model can't even begin to address. I may actually start getting into this next week with a little announcement about one of my new roles ... Ann :SacBee is a bore. What's complicated about that? lol Capitol Boy :Nuthin'. Sacramento Solon :Mr. Bradley, Happened to notice that both UCLA/California and USC/Notre Dame are being televised at the same time. Which one will you be watching??? NickM :It's a fundraising missive. Ever see one that didn't claim to be an emergency? I think most fundraisers have several dozen macros for phrases like "We need your help now," "This is urgent," "have pulled out all the stops in an effort to defeat," and "Your contribution is crucial to stop". BTW, West Covina is considerably east of Los Angeles. carole w :West Covina, small somewhat wealthy suburb. Some politician is using the old Republican anti-labor BS to raise some money. I believe these small town elections should stay small and reflect the interests of the community. Sounds like Flash is trying to bundle for the city council. Maybe this is tied into advertising revenue. Bill Bradley :Do you ever get tired of spin? The point is that it was the top item of the day on the Flash Report site. >NickM : It's a fundraising missive. Ever see one that didn't claim to be an emergency? I think most fundraisers have several dozen macros for phrases like "We need your help now," "This is urgent," "have pulled out all the stops in an effort to defeat," and "Your contribution is crucial to stop". Bill Bradley :Coin toss. Probably Cal. USC can't win the national title now, but Cal can win the Pac-10. >Sacramento Solon : Mr. Bradley, Happened to notice that both UCLA/California and USC/Notre Dame are being televised at the same time. Which one will you be watching??? Oct 19, 2007 07:17 PM Sacramento Solon :Well, Mister B, enjoy the game you watch... Given the crazy nature of college football this year, I'm not so sure that one loss precludes the Trojans from winning the national crown. However, I sure don't plan on going out and looking for a wager that it will happen. Speaking of college football, yesterday's Wall Street Journal had an interesting piece on Ohio State's athletic program. NickM :I called it as fundraising spin. This isn't Kremlinology. Jon's friends get heavily promoted for anything they're running for or involved in. Mike Spence is one of them - and has been for about 2 decades. Every single time you find something with top billing there that doesn't seem to warrant it, you'll find a longstanding connection between the author or subject of the piece and Jon. Bill Bradley :Of course, the point is that anybody who needs special help running for a small city school board is no statewide power broker. As I believe I've mentioned a few times now. Bill Bradley :USC also has a hurt qb and a string of unimpressive wins. >Sacramento Solon : Bill Bradley :How do you like Las Vegas now with Tom Selleck instead of James Caan? >carole w : Sacramento Solon :Bill, Fully aware that USC has a hurt QB and a couple unimpressive wins. Also understand the crazy nature of college football enough to know that any team once ranked as high as USC was and with only one loss is not out of the running for the national championship. I'm not saying the will make it, but that's a far cry from saying the can't win it. However, why screw up a Saturday arguing about it? Hope you're enjoying yours as I am mine. Bill Bradley :Never say never. SC did well today. 38-0 over Notre Dame. Which is a bad team. But Ohio State barely beat a poor team. NickM :Bill, do you actually think he needs special help? I've seen lots of fundraising letters, and written a few, but I've never come across one that says "He's going to win by more than 20 points, but send him money anyway." And my team is undefeated in conference. :-) Bill Bradley :Now you're boring me. Sacramento Solon :Largest margain of victory ever for the Trojans over ND... Sorry to see Cal get dusted by the Bruins...hope it doesn't add up to a bad second half for the Golden Bears. carole w :I like Tom's character but, I miss Caan. Caan is old Vegas...tough gritty, a pleasure to look at and sexy. Tom is great. Tom is a keeper. carole w :....and...I do not want Jay Leno to leave NBC. I saw Leno in Vegas, he is American pop culture at it's best. Bill Bradley :Incidentally, NWN passed 42,000 comments sometime in the past week. Comments have been archived for this page. |
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That's awesome video!
Oct 19, 2007 09:12 AM