An F/A 18 Hornet launches off the deck of USS Eisenhower. The US Navy has
begun its largest Persian Gulf exercise since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
** NUMBERS, WE GOT NUMBERS. I’m going through quite a few polling results, from California and elsewhere. Very interesting stuff which will dominate much of the late week coverage at NWN. Not out of line with what you’ve been reading here.
** U.S. SENATE VOTES FOR IRAQ WITHDRAWAL. The Senate just voted to back a timetable for withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq, 50 to 48. Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson and Nebraska Republican Chuck Hagel switched from no votes on March 15th to yes votes on March 27th.
** ARNOLD’S PRISON BREAK. Although the Legislature is about to break again for Easter recess, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said today that he thinks they are close to a solution on the California prison crisis. A federal court is threatening to take over the system, which is now terribly overcrowded, and might set an arbitrary cap on the overall number of prisoners, leading to release of criminals still doing their time. Schwarzenegger says that would be “a disaster. We could have dangerous criminals roaming the neighborhoods.”
Although some critics see no progress, Schwarzenegger does. The state Assembly yesterday passed a bill allowing judges greater discretion in setting sentences. The US Supreme Court earlier this year threw out California’s sentencing law. Schwarzenegger says he believes a solution will be found because one must be found. It’s not unlike the infrastructure bill last year. For long stretches of time, there was no apparent progress. But it ultimately came together.
** WILL SENATE DEMOCRATS GET IT DONE THIS TIME? The US Senate is moving toward a vote on another Iraq pullout measure, this one inserted in funding for the overall war effort. It’s a conditional deadline of March 2008. Senate Republicans, mindful of having members facing dicey re-elections next year, won’t attempt to filibuster the legislation, removing the need to have Republicans oppose allowing the bill to come to a vote. Similar legislation failed 48 to 50 last time, with Republican John McCain offf on the campaign trail and Democrat Tim Johnson still recovering from a brain ailment and unable to come to the floor to vote. With Joe Liebeman a certain no vote, Democrats are hoping to attract Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson and Arkansas Democrat Mark Pryor.
** EDWARDS RAMPS UP SOUTH CAROLINA SUPPORT. John Edwards, who had lately fallen behind in the fourth-in-the-nation South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, yesterday got a boost there as he unveiled the broadest group of state endorsers of any candidate. Edwards, the former U.S. senator from North Carolina and 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee, is a native of South Carolina. He won there in 2004, and almost certainly must win there next year.
** SCHWARZENEGGER WEBCAST AT 11:15 AM. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger discusses his water policy proposals in a live webcast from the Department of Water Resources operations center at 11:15 this morning.
** CARRIER BATTLE GROUPS CONDUCT WAR GAMES OFF IRAN. Two U.S. Navy aircraft carrier battle groups have begun an exercise in the Persian Gulf. The groups, which center on the USS Eisenhower and USS Stennis, are conducting air strike and air and sea defense operations. This is the biggest naval operation in the Gulf since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. US forces promise to respect the territorial waters of Iran, which extend twelve miles from shore into the Gulf. Meanwhile, the stand-off between Britain and Iran over the seizure of 15 British sailors and marines is in its fourth day.
** GIULIANI TO NEVADA. With the Nevada Republican Party in the process of moving its presidential caucus up to January 19th, which would match the Nevada Democratic caucus as the second-in-the-nation contest, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani travels to Nevada tomorrow. Giuliani leads in early polling in Nevada, with John McCain running second.
** DID CALIFORNIA CHANGE THE CLINTON STRATEGY? Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe says that it was the rumored move of the California presidential primary to February 5th that accelerated his candidate’s announcement plans and changed the nature of the race. The rise of Barack Obama might have had something to do with it, too.
** ARNOLD’S WATER WEEK CONTINUES. After touring a Central Valley dam and speaking to Fresno community leaders yesterday about his plan to add more above ground water storage, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger this morning tours the state Department of Water Resources’ operations center in Sacramento and discusses the water portion in Phase II of his Strategic Growth Plan. Schwarzenegger wants to spend $6 billion upgrading water transfer systems, expanding water storage, and conserving natural waterways. He’s making his pitch for more water storage based on population growth and the impact of the greenhouse effect on the Sierra snowpacks. Many environmentalists prefer conservation efforts to water storage, which led to the derailing of moves to add one or two dams to last year’s Phase I of the Strategic Growth Plan. The Fresno Bee editorialized this morning in favor of a new dam outside Fresno.
** Track global and national energy prices in near real time via Bloomberg. Crude oil prices remain up with the continuing Iranian crisis, in the $62 to $65 per barrel range.
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Barbara:This is a MAJOR exercise ….warships, over a 100 warplanes and approx 10,000 personnel…this will no doubt be a topic of chit chat around the water coolers at the Arab Summit…Along with Blair’s threat to Iran that IF diplomatic channels to NOT resolve this situation with the seamen The British government would advance to a “different phase”….
Mar 27, 2007 - 7:45 am Jonas Blane:I wonder how vulnerable those ships are to attack.
Mar 27, 2007 - 7:47 am Ann:How likely is it that a dam gets approved?
Mar 27, 2007 - 7:58 am Barbara:It’s just an exercise a very big message …nothing is going to happen immediately with a crucial Arab Summit HOURS away hosted by a U.S. friend in the ME …and the Iranians are feeling much better they have a big bargaining chip…the chances of a problem working out in a diplomatic way is always better when everyone has something someone else wants…
Mar 27, 2007 - 7:58 am Bill Bradley:We’ll see what they want.
Mar 27, 2007 - 8:04 am Barbara:Mr. Bradley:We’ll see what they want
You know what they want…and even if you should not (which I do not believe for a minute) the Saudis understand want they want …and the Iranians understand they are not going to get everything they want…that is why Mottaki is there and not anyone else…The US is handling this just fine at the moment, no doubt taking their cues from the British and the Saudis… from Burns remarks I am sure Condi and Gates have locked Cheney and Abrams in a closet…the British always know what they are doing …no body undertsands risk management like the British…BTW, I really like Hayden…if the CIA can be rebuilt after Cheney’s rape and punder …he appears to be the man who can to it…
Mar 27, 2007 - 8:25 am Bill Bradley:I’m not so sure what they want. It may not be prisoner exchange.
Mar 27, 2007 - 8:37 am Brasky:NRDC calls Temperance Flat, “the dumbest dam in America.” Dems in the legislature can kill almost any dam proposal by forcing proponents to answer three questions: how much will the water cost taxpayers, who gets the water and how much will they pay for it? You need good answers to all those questions and proponents usually don’t.
Mar 27, 2007 - 9:05 am richard locicero:Anyone delving in to water policy should read “Cadillac Desert” first as preparation for the discussion.
Mar 27, 2007 - 9:15 am Bill Bradley:The Fresno Bee editorialized for the dam today.
After I read “Cadillac Desert” many years ago, I was shocked when I drove into the Owens Valley and found it looked very different from what the author described.
Mar 27, 2007 - 9:17 am Brasky:“The Bee supports the idea of a new dam at Temperance Flat, assuming the engineering and environmental studies underway confirm its feasibility.”
You know what happens when you assume…
Mar 27, 2007 - 9:46 am Ann:It seems pretty logical that you want to catch the run-off from the mountains. lol
Mar 27, 2007 - 10:16 am Barbara:Mr. Bradley:I’m not so sure what they want. It may not be prisoner exchange.
Of course not…this is NOT about a prisoner exchange …these are big stakes at play …this is about what the future Sunni- Shia map of the ME, and Israel Palestinian conflict …and somewhat… future U.S.- Iran relations …but it is mostly about the how much influence the Iranians will have in Iraq post US-Iraq conflict…
They see and needed the seaman as new leverage for bargaining in Iraq and most likely to make a big point that they can combat covert acts of aggression…they appeared to be taken by surprise by Russia’s recent actions and that Russia China & EU backed second resolution…and they have taken some BIG HITS from covert actions…
The Saudis understand that something has to be brokered and still allow everyone to keep their dignity and honor…The Saudis want something too… they want a new Iraq constitution with more power for the Sunnis…and they are going to get that…
Mar 27, 2007 - 10:17 am Kandy Kid:Water policy is very complicated, but one of the most important reform principles is that users should pay for their service/benefits. The Governor’s Temperance Flat deal envisions $2 billion in revenue bonds that would be paid by users or about half the cost.
If users were required to pay all post-entitlement costs, Brasky’s good questions would get quality answers. Although urban and agricultural users would love additional heavily subsidized water just like they receive from the current state and federal water projects, paying the full cost will drive conservation and a more cost efficient allocation of existing supplies between competing urban and agricultural users.
Mar 27, 2007 - 10:18 am Bill Bradley:I’m not sure Iran will get much out of this particular caper. It may actually be retaliation for the Brits playing a role in splitting Shiites in Iraq, something not easily undone.
Mar 27, 2007 - 10:25 am Barbara:It’s 9:32 pm in Riyadh I wonder if King Abdullah is having a little “ice breaker” for attendees right now!…heck, he could have hired me to be the event coordinator! I would even be agreeable to do the check-in at registration!…I can’t wait to read the first press reports late tonight!
Mar 27, 2007 - 10:33 am Bill Bradley:The Iranians have Sunbeam anti-ship missiles, I’ve shown videos of them in action here on NWN, that should be handled if it comes to it by US Navy defensive systems.
>Jonas Blane :
Mar 27, 2007 - 10:36 am Kandy Kid:I wonder how vulnerable those ships are to attack.
Mar 27, 2007 07:47 AM
Continuing my sometimes unpopular analysis of Hillary’s electability should she become Democratic Party nominee for President. From TheHill.com http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/fifty-percent-of-americans-would-not-vote-for-clinton-2007-03-27.html
“Half of voting-age Americans say they would not vote for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) if she became the Democratic nominee for president in 2008, according to a Harris Interactive poll released Tuesday.”
Nearly half of the respondents said that they dislike Clinton’s political opinions and Clinton as a person. Fifty-two percent of people also said that “she does not appear to connect with people on a personal level.”
Mar 27, 2007 - 10:41 am Barbara:British splitting Shiites in Iraq
yep… that out’s there in one of the first analysis I have read last Friday BUT that is exactly the problem from their point…The Iranians would like to see Shia’s united and on board with them and their chosen surrogate…
The British did a good job with the “splitting” …but they are leaving the area ….the Iranians are staying …
I happen now to believe the report that there is an agent(s) on board…that has been out there since Friday but last night I read 2 credible reports about it…The Iranians have leverage with this incident if they have an agent…the British understand that …that is why everyone is tip toeing around…
Mar 27, 2007 - 10:42 am Bill Bradley:a full scale intel blow up will do no one any good just get a lot of well trained well placed people taken out on all sides…
Not good numbers, KK, the worst I’ve seen. And yet …
She has high unfavorables in New York, too. It all depends on the match-ups, and numbers can change.
Ask Arnold Schwarzenegge.
Mar 27, 2007 - 10:58 am Capitol Boy:Does Schwarzenegger have water on the brain?
Mar 27, 2007 - 11:12 am Ann:I don ‘t believe that Harris poll.
Mar 27, 2007 - 12:20 pm Brasky:Harris still sucks, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Most of the front runners (both Reep and Dem) have to convince voters they are the best candidate – which is hard enough. In order to win (the general), Hillary is in the position of actually having to get a portion of those who don’t like her now to switch their opinion and vote for her – that’s really hard.
Other candidates have baggage (and A LOT of it), but most voters haven’t made their judgments yet on what that means to them. Unfortunately for Hillary, many folks have already judged her.
Look at Arnold. His greatest asset was that voters never considered him a politician. Because of this, his past peccadilloes, behavior and image were largely compartmentalized by voters as belonging to “Arnold the Movie Star.” They were willing to judge “Arnold the Candidate” by different criteria.
Hillary doesn’t get the same benefit – her public image has always been along the arc of a politician. Voters will use their past judgments when judging her now, which is to her detriment.
Mar 27, 2007 - 12:32 pm Barbara:Interesting reports out now that the day is over …there appears to be quite a bit of waltzing going on …The Saudi’s invited India to have an “observer” status at the Summit…..and a PNA “request” is attributed to that move…that is very intriguing ….as India reps were recently in Israel to get anti- Terrorist training hints, which India appears to need pronto…..India is also advocating for Iran to become a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)….India also joined up with South Africa in an attempt to broker a timeout on the recently passed UN resolution/sanctions/Iran….
Mar 27, 2007 - 1:05 pm Brasky:A big pro Gov Sunni against Sunni insurgent car bomb attack in Baghdad marred the day…. but the DRAFT reformed “de-Baathification legislation” is moving forward in Iraq parliament and cabinet…
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana talked with Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Larijani on behalf of the international community, and told him everyone (including US) are interested in “renewing talks and negotiating to resolve differences”. Solana however did not back down on suspension of uranium enrichment as a pre-requisite but, Larijani agreed to further talks….. in a few days…..I assume he just might mean after the Arab Summit ends…
and the British Foreign Secretary is in Turkey today for the next 3 days meeting with Turkey’s PM and FM and Turkey’s EU negotiator …a timely visit, but it may be too little too late …I hope not.. I would prefer Turkey to look West than East..but the US and EU are pushing them East…not so sure in the wisdom of that as they and Iran have a certain mutual border concern…
Reading just one of Babs’ posts is the equivalent of listening to BBC World Service and NPR for 12 hours straight. The first presidential candidate to promise Babs a position at State gets my vote.
Mar 27, 2007 - 1:10 pm Barbara:Brasky,
you are very kind…
Well unfortunately I feel compelled to provide these “reports”..they are “reports” out there IF you know where to look in certain press publications and Think Tanks…and I only repeat what I believe is important to relay and is a credible report ..I have a special interest as I plan to go back to Grad School abroad sometime in the next 2 years…and I do have many contacts in ME there from living and working there during the 80’s and still visit the region on a fairly regular basis …I have a big trip planned next fall to Jordan with an international group to see Iraqi refugee camps…Americans in general are very ill informed about the world …even we saw (w/Reyes) some our elected officials and many journalists …there are also some incredible journalists Ware on CNN, the NYT gentlemen, Christine Amanpour …but the one person whose writing showed a real understanding of the Muslim world culturally and socially was ironically and sadly Daniel Pearl …in any event, in a global world we are in …any economic, environmental issues and conflict don’t stay local anymore…
Mar 27, 2007 - 1:48 pm Ann:I don’t buy that poll. And I think if you have to spend so much energy convincing that Hillary is unelectable, you are still convincing yourself.
Mar 27, 2007 - 2:06 pm Barbara:a report has Syria FM asserting that Syria has the “same position regarding Iran” as the Saudis!!!! This is a pre- Summit statement release… it is the middle of the night there …this… if correct could be very good news for making some progress in stabilizing Lebanon…
Mar 27, 2007 - 2:08 pm Bill Bradley:I hadn’t heard that report about Syria, Barbara, that’s very promising.
Mar 27, 2007 - 2:19 pm Bill Bradley:You seem to be forgetting that Arnold once in office was accepted and judge highly popular. Then he went down the tubes in 2005 and was judged by many to be dead meat.
Before he recovered last year. His names went up dramatically — while in the midst of the election year itself!
>Look at Arnold. His greatest asset was that voters never considered him a politician. Because of this, his past peccadilloes, behavior and image were largely compartmentalized by voters as belonging to “Arnold the Movie Star.” They were willing to judge “Arnold the Candidate” by different criteria.
Mar 27, 2007 - 2:21 pm Barbara:Hillary doesn’t get the same benefit – her public image has always been along the arc of a politician. Voters will use their past judgments when judging her now, which is to her detriment.
Re: Syria
Yes!It is …especially, as it is said today ..up front …before the Summit starts…it’s 1:33 am Wed the 28 in Riyadh! just a few more hours!
Mar 27, 2007 - 2:35 pm Bill Bradley:… Incidentally, I think it should be clear to folks that I don’t have a favorite among the candidates. There are at least a half-dozen I can vote for, from both parties. It’s an impressive field.
Mar 27, 2007 - 2:39 pm Brasky:“You seem to be forgetting that Arnold once in office was accepted and judge highly popular.”
Because he still wasn’t seen as a politician. Like gravity, I can’t explain it, I can only tell you that it’s real.
“Then he went down the tubes in 2005 and was judged by many to be dead meat.”
He wasn’t as damaged as many had thought, he changed direction dramatically and voters still wanted to see him succeed. So here we are.
Mar 27, 2007 - 2:42 pm Paul Burton:Barbara writes: “The Saudis understand that something has to be brokered and still allow everyone to keep their dignity and honor…The Saudis want something too… they want a new Iraq constitution with more power for the Sunnis…and they are going to get that…”
This may be true but don’t the Saudis - that is, the royal family of the oil rich kingdom - want more: to preserve their corrupt kingdom, their polluted wealth and their privileged lifestyles? They were able to summon oil baron Dick Cheney to their private chambers but their hold on power is threatened and their days are numbered. In the 21st century shouldn’t we be way past the era of kings and royals?
Mar 27, 2007 - 2:43 pm Bill Bradley:Ah, but Bill Brasky, I had some of the biggest Democratic consultants around telling me how HATED Arnold was in focus groups after the special election.
Despised.
No credibility.
Dead on his feet.
The news from Republican sources wasn’t so hot, either.
Mar 27, 2007 - 2:51 pm richard locicero:Why did Arnold “recover?” Simple he ran as far and as fast as he could from the GOP and was lucky to not have someone from there challenge his Republican credentials in the primary (as I believe they would now). His campaign in 2006 stressed things like health care, education, and the infrastructure and the only GOP note was his insistance that all could be done with no tax increases - good in the shortterm but he’ll be gone by the time it catches up with us. The rest of the party (Which dared not speak its name in Arnold’s campaign) went down hard but the governator survived. If he had continued to channel Pete Wilson, Phil Angelides (lame as he was) would be sitting in that office in Sacramento today.
And the Republicans have NO ONE to replace Arnold in 2010 wheras the Dems will have several possibilities, including - I guess - Jerry Brown who can run again.
Mar 27, 2007 - 2:53 pm Bill Bradley:You know, it’s important not to get to caught up in ideology in discussing politics. Because ideology — from an ideologue standpoint — in real world politics is pretty flexible. And ideologues tend to get smashed in actual elections. Unless they’re incumbents, in which case they win by attrition.
Arnold got back to the guy people thought they’d elected in 2003. Everything he’s saying now is more more or less consistent with what he was saying 3, 4, 5 years ago.
Which is all off my point. And thank you very much for that.
The point being that many “experts” were convinced that Arnold was beyond salvage. That the voters had irrevocably turned against him.
Not so.
Mar 27, 2007 - 3:03 pm Brasky:Bill — were these the same consultants who said Phil would win?
I was actually shocked at how little damaged he was post-election. I won’t go into details in order to keep my secret identity…
I think Reeps were mostly shocked at the low turn-out (and poor performance among those who did) in Reep strongholds like OC.
Richard — I think in a crazy fantasy match up, even Pete Wilson would beat Phil Angelides. Also, for 2010, you’re forgetting Arnold’s heir apparent, Poizner. He’s a self-funding moderate Reep (whatever that means these days) in an age of contribution limits. That’s a significant threat right there.
Mar 27, 2007 - 3:09 pm Brasky:“Arnold got back to the guy people thought they’d elected in 2003. Everything he’s saying now is more more or less consistent with what he was saying 3, 4, 5 years ago.”
That’s it in a nutshull. People said “I remember THIS Arnold, THIS is the one I like.”
Also, someone forgot to say it, so I will — Mike Murphy is an idiot.
Mar 27, 2007 - 3:12 pm Bill Bradley:No, actually, they included more than two sharp critics of Angelides.
>Brasky :
Mar 27, 2007 - 3:14 pm Bill Bradley:Bill — were these the same consultants who said Phil would win?
… Steve Poizner is an impressive guy. I voted for him. I’ve studied tape on him. He’s not ready yet to be a winning candidate for governor of California, certainly not against an experienced Democratic politician.
Mar 27, 2007 - 3:16 pm Brasky:Yes, Poizner would be eaten alive by a popular, well-funded Dem.
However, given our recent debacle of a Dem primary (where an unpopular, poorly-funded Dem was elected), I wouldn’t rule him out as a threat in 2010. I don’t think the Dems can repeat the disaster of 2006 if they tried (and they might), but Poizner is the only blip I can see on the Reep radar screen that constitutes a threat.
Mar 27, 2007 - 3:25 pm Bill Bradley:I agree.
Mar 27, 2007 - 3:28 pm Hap Hazard:I hope the intention of the US by putting the Fleet in the Gulf is to send Iran a Hallmark [when you care to send the very best] greeting card to commemorate old times, when the US was detaining and sinking Iranian vessels in the Gulf. Seems that Iran started “negotiating” with the US [giving concessions] soon thereafter.
Mar 27, 2007 - 3:47 pm Ann:Isn’t Poizner kinda of geeky?
Mar 27, 2007 - 3:48 pm Jonas Blane:Good on the Senate!
Mar 27, 2007 - 3:58 pm kandaharkid:We better not cut and run in Afghanistan.
Mar 27, 2007 - 4:13 pm Barbara:Well, well, well, …Russian atomic energy agency spokesman said that while construction deadlines are off due to the recent delay… some 2000 workers are back building the Bushehr nuclear power plant because Iran is back making payments again!…This is all going to get very interesting the next few days!
Mar 27, 2007 - 4:21 pm Bill Bradley:Don’t jump the gun. Iran has only made partial payments.
No Russian nuclear fuel is flowing yet.
Mar 27, 2007 - 4:24 pm Capitol Boy:Schwarzeengger wil get a prison deal.
Mar 27, 2007 - 4:25 pm Barbara:I agree…I am only repeating what the Russian spokesperson said…in any event, this plant will NEVER be finished under PUTIN…this is about face-saving… .and reaching out to Iran….note, the spokesperson said deadlines need to be pushed back ….but this was very bruising public spat for Iran ….
Mar 27, 2007 - 4:36 pm Wilbur:everyone wants them to feel a little better…to cooperate…..I am sure the Russians don’t won’t to be picking up bodies all over ME or Europe either….if that happened they would have more than anyone else!
Blair’s spokesperson also is saying “discreet talks” are going on …
Gee, it IS a nice day to go boating, isn’t it? ;-}
re: Prisons: It disappoints me to see a leader I warily admire and support yank out the old “dangerous criminals roaming the neighborhoods” saw, as if we don’t have many thousands with no history of violence whatever locked up who would go to the head of the line.
Arnold, the Willie Horton gag is beneath you, and you shouldn’t paint yourself in a corner regarding sentence reductions by stirring those passions. You may need to go there….
Mar 27, 2007 - 4:37 pm Barbara:Hey Paul,
there is some very erroneous info in your Saudi post…but in any event, I would throw a scarf around my head when Riyadh and work for them at a drop of a hat! Of course my main office would have to be Brussels! and of course, I would need to be in on every negotiation with Putin!
It’s 3:55 am Wed 3/28 in Riyadh!!!!
Mar 27, 2007 - 4:54 pm Kandy Kid:With his personal wealth and moderate positions, Steve Poizner is the GOP’s best/only hope to win the Governor’s race in 2010. Some of the GOP’s most able insiders are giving Poizner a crash course in government and politics to ramp up his public profile and campaign skills.
Tom McClintock would be Poizner’s only challenger, but the fact he has lost 4 straight statewide elections will likely make most donors pause before supporting a fifth suicide charge.
And I would also like to see Barbara with a role in ME policy. Her analysis makes a lot of sense to me.
Mar 27, 2007 - 5:05 pm Bill Bradley:My guess is he signs the sentencing bill I mentioned.
>re: Prisons: It disappoints me to see a leader I warily admire and support yank out the old “dangerous criminals roaming the neighborhoods” saw, as if we don’t have many thousands with no history of violence whatever locked up who would go to the head of the line.
Mar 27, 2007 - 5:08 pm Barbara:Arnold, the Willie Horton gag is beneath you, and you shouldn’t paint yourself in a corner regarding sentence reductions by stirring those passions. You may need to go there….
Thank You KK! Do you know any Saudis you could advance my resume to!
this is so amazing …I just googled “morning prayers in Riyadh” and this calendar came up that tells a Muslim when to say their prayers any where in the world! It is like the world wide Shabbat Calenders on the internet that tells a religious Jew when Shabbat begins and ends…
If I used it right the King Abdullah will be saying his morning prayers at 4:26 am it’s 4:17 am now!!! I love this world with all its differences!!!…
Mar 27, 2007 - 5:18 pm Brasky:“Tom McClintock…fifth suicide charge.”
If there is only one other candidate in the race, Tom will still find a way to come in third.
Mar 27, 2007 - 5:33 pm Ann:lol
Mar 27, 2007 - 5:49 pm Bill Bradley:Did it say anything about Easter Sunday?
Mar 27, 2007 - 6:09 pm Wilbur:> this is so amazing …I just googled “morning prayers in Riyadh” and this calendar came up that tells a Muslim when to say their prayers any where in the world! It is like the world wide Shabbat Calenders on the internet that tells a religious Jew when Shabbat begins and ends…
If I used it right the King Abdullah will be saying his morning prayers at 4:26 am it’s 4:17 am now!!! I love this world with all its differences!!!…
Mar 27, 2007 05:18 PM
>>BB: My guess is he signs the sentencing bill I mentioned.
I imagine he will, and that may solve the problem in future cases with the USSC decision re: sentencing triads, though that doubtless will be litigated as well.
But to address overpopulation by other any means other than by trying to simply build our way out of the crisis, he may have to (and should) embrace the sentencing commission concept, which red-meat Reeps deride as meaning “dangerous criminals roaming the neighborhoods.” I just think it unwise and impolitic to play to their hand by adopting their alarmist rhetoric, and thereby reinforcing the public perception that ANY form of early release is necessarily a danger to the public.
Mar 27, 2007 - 6:12 pm Bill Bradley:I think the reality of it is that most people don’t care about prison reform, or being good to convicts, or letting people out of prison early.
Remember, they vote for tough on crime stuff all the time.
Willie Horton worked. Nobody wants to be Michael Dukakis.
Mar 27, 2007 - 6:34 pm richard locicero:And poizner’s base is?
Sorry Bill, its not ideology. Arnold beat Davis because, well Davis was Davis and if there was an ideology there it escapes me. Course if Wilson hadn’t signed that ridiculous “Electricity Deregulation” bill and if “Kenny-boy” and the other Texas wonderkinds hadn’t raped the state Grey would never have been challenged. Really think Darryl Issa would have prevailed? Grey was cruising at 60% in the polls and then the lights went out. Perfect.
No, unless the GOP finds another “Last Action Hero” they’re toast in this state as their White base all moved to Idaho and Utah!
Sorry Bill, get used to it.
Mar 27, 2007 - 6:35 pm Bill Bradley:Richard, you have somehow managed to completely miss my point.
Mar 27, 2007 - 6:37 pm Jonas Blane:That is because you are too attached to ideology.
I wonder what is next for the Congress on Iraq.
Mar 27, 2007 - 7:09 pm Wilbur:BB: I think the reality of it is that most people don’t care about prison reform, or being good to convicts, or letting people out of prison early.
Agreed. But a wise leader who has done the math sometimes has to sometimes navigate around fear, ignorance and prejudice, and leaves himself/herself wiggle room to do so. This sort of talk on Arnold’s part, adopting the right wing’s talking point for his own purposes of demonstrating urgency, poisons the well for sentencing commission proposals not yet presented. I didn’t think he had already made his mind up to reject any such proposal, but it seems he just gravely undermined the concept by equating all forms of sentence reduction programs with Willie Horton. As you say, Willie Horton works. What dismays me is that I believe AS chooses his words more carefully than it sometimes appears, and HE knows that “Willie Horton works.”
Mar 27, 2007 - 7:13 pm Bill Bradley:My guess is he knows the Democrats, left to their own devices, won’t want to build more prison capacity.
Remember, in the term limits era, most of these folks have very limited political experience.
Mar 27, 2007 - 7:19 pm Death Star:Kandy Kid,
There is a big difference between GOP insiders who play tutor to Poizner vs. those who are leveraging him to attract business.
Got it?
One unnamed former State Senator and one unnamed consultant are going to get burned badly in the process. Stay tuned and read newspapers.
Beyond that brewing scandal, it is just too early to handicap a 2010 race for Governor. There are more aspirants than you cite. Some with credentials AND checkbook to blow away the field.
Dem field will be whittled down considerably. Don’t for a minute forget or dismiss Westly.
Mar 27, 2007 - 8:44 pm Ann:Doh! lol
. Don’t for a minute forget or dismiss Westly.
Mar 27, 2007 - 10:13 pm Kandy Kid:Death Star, I agree there are plenty of Republicans who would love to be our next Governor. I just do not see their checkbooks. Clearly there is plenty of time for the political landscape to change.
Mar 28, 2007 - 7:14 am Wilbur:Newt was on Charlie Rose last night, very effectively posturing as Elder Statesman And Bearer of The One True Flag, lamenting how the Bush Administration strayed from the Conservative Faith.
Is he lurking and assessing?
Mar 28, 2007 - 7:41 am Bill Bradley:He sure is, and if you all think Hillary has electability issues …
Notice the big flow to Hillary in the Iowa poll I report on in today’s issue.
Mar 28, 2007 - 7:49 am Jonathan Hemlock:Mr. Gingrich is utterly unelectable.
Mar 28, 2007 - 8:07 am Wilbur:The “personality” factor seems different, though, with Newt. My forebrain remembers that I detested him then and should detest him now, yet I caught myself being drawn in by his articulate and personable presence. Had to take 3 showers to feel clean again once I realized what was occurring, but it made me realize he does have some charm to draw on to mitigate substantive negatives. Hillary, alas, is still a work in progress in that dept., though I agree she’s getting better in the bits of appearances I’ve seen lately.
Mar 28, 2007 - 8:12 am Wilbur:Dr. Hemlock, I hope you guys are right. I was having an Oh-Oh moment when I caught myself being impressed.
Mar 28, 2007 - 8:15 am Barbara:Mr. Bradley:Did it say anything about Easter Sunday?
Mr. Bradley you are so funny!…it was a Muslim Prayer internet calendar! …they have “set times” for prayers! Christians can pray anytime! …all the time in fact! I am Saudi Summit watching today …It’s 8:29 pm in Riyadh!…Day 1 of Summit is over! But I am sure the King has them working late into the night! Toodles!
Mar 28, 2007 - 9:34 am Paul Burton:Barbara, was my comment that in the 21st century we should be way past the era of kings and royals erroneous?
or is that the Saudi royal family isn’t really wealthy? I’m sure they are altruistic with pure motives for playing peacemaker in the middle east.
ok, Dick Cheney isn’t really an oil baron, just a common war profiteer and corporate welfare queen.
Mar 28, 2007 - 10:44 am Bill Bradley:He’s a really great character on 24.
Mar 28, 2007 - 10:57 am