Senator Bob Casey endorses Barack Obama.
** NORTH CAROLINA: BIG OBAMA LEAD. After the Rev. Wright firestorm, Barack Obama’s lead in the increasingly pivotal North Carolina primary on May 6th dipped to the low single digits. Last week, the freshman Illinois senator campaigned there, as did the New York senator and the former president. The upshot of last night’s Public Policy Polling tracking poll? Obama 54%, Clinton 36%. He leads everywhere but in the mountains.
** ICK(ES). In case you missed it, the not entirely late LA Times has a profile of Hillary Clinton’s changeable agent Harold Ickes. This guy is a real piece of work. “His enthusiasm for no-holds-barred politics sometimes rattles friends and foes alike. Ickes once got so carried away that he bit another political operative on the leg. Now, some 35 years later, at age 68, he has mellowed so little that it could happen again.”
Sweetie, you try biting me on the leg and we are publishing your obituary. With not a lot of effort on my part, incidentally. Things just happen naturally.
** KENTUCKY: HILLARY’S BEST STATE? With Hillary Clinton’s numbers dropping around the country, we may have found the best state left in America for the former Democratic presidential frontrunner. That would be the Bluegrass State, Kentucky. (I was last there for the Kentucky Derby, some years ago.) According to this poll, Clinton, in a closed Democratic primary, leads Barack Obama, 58% to 29%. Not that it will make a bit of difference in the outcome.
** NEW PODCAST. The road ahead, following Snipergate, Wrightgate, et al. Heading into this week’s John McCain tour.
** WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
Barack Obama campaigns in Lancaster and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Hillary Clinton campaigns in Harrisburg and Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.
Bill Clinton, the ultimate trouper for his wife — or is he? — campaigns in Portland, Salem, and Bend, Oregon. All very familiar turf for NWN. Here’s a tip: Obama wins big.
John McCain kicks off his my-biography-is-the-story-of-America tour (somewhat discussed on NWN) in Meridian, Mississippi.
** PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON’S CALIFORNIA CONVENTION SUPERDELEGATE HAUL: 0. There is a long form. That is the short form. And the ultimate bottom-line end result of this year’s California Democratic Party convention. Aside from Jerry Brown wowing the crowd on Saturday. Which was also not exactly a surprise to anyone paying attention here.
** 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 new 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. 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.
** CHRONIC TECH PROBLEMS CONTINUE ON NWN. They especially affect commenting in the Forum. Sorry for the continuing difficulty.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND U.S. ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. Crude oil is trading in the $105 to $106 per barrel range.
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76 Comments
Jonas Blane:Good for Casey.
Mar 31, 2008 - 7:20 am Jonas Blane:Good for Casey.
Mar 31, 2008 - 7:20 am paul m:How about a little report on the Migden/Leno kerfuffle? I hear Karen Bass came out strongly for Leno, helping to get the overwhelming vote to pull back the recommended endorsement of Migden. Given that the Migden/Leno fight has become somewhat of a proxy fight for the Senate and Assembly, what does this indicate about dynamics in the Building?
It doesn’t seem like it was a very good weekend for Migden or Perata…
Mar 31, 2008 - 7:27 am paul m:How about a little report on the Migden/Leno kerfuffle? I hear Karen Bass came out strongly for Leno, helping to get the overwhelming vote to pull back the recommended endorsement of Migden. Given that the Migden/Leno fight has become somewhat of a proxy fight for the Senate and Assembly, what does this indicate about dynamics in the Building?
It doesn’t seem like it was a very good weekend for Migden or Perata…
Mar 31, 2008 - 7:27 am Bill Bradley:You want to look at …. the Weekend Edition?
With regard to this essentially neurotic story?
Mar 31, 2008 - 7:37 am Bill Bradley:You want to look at …. the Weekend Edition?
With regard to this essentially neurotic story?
Mar 31, 2008 - 7:37 am Jonas Blane:Let me speak for America. I don’t care.
Mar 31, 2008 - 7:38 am paul m:Saw it, of course, but it stops before (though alludes to) the reversal of the endorsement on the floor. And I think it’s an interesting microcosm of the civil war between the Senate and Assembly.
Just curious how you read the fact that Bass got out in front of Leno, given that Perata went all-in for Migden.
Plus, a little Sacramento palace-intrigue is a nice change of pace from an increasingly stale Dem primary campaign.
Mar 31, 2008 - 7:51 am paul m:Saw it, of course, but it stops before (though alludes to) the reversal of the endorsement on the floor. And I think it’s an interesting microcosm of the civil war between the Senate and Assembly.
Just curious how you read the fact that Bass got out in front of Leno, given that Perata went all-in for Migden.
Plus, a little Sacramento palace-intrigue is a nice change of pace from an increasingly stale Dem primary campaign.
Mar 31, 2008 - 7:51 am Bill Bradley:Frankly, anyone who thinks Migden-Leno is interesting …
I frankly found it — up close and personal, in real time, I’m out of cliches blah blah blah …
It is all such predictable, penny ante politics.
The Sad Bee has a site for that stuff.
Migden has lost it, by any big time politics measure. She can’t even drive her car without multiple incidents.
Leno is a joke, by any big time measure. Let’s think. Oh, he’s parsing how many pieces of kiddie porn are permissible.
How about zero?
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:00 am Hap Hazard:I have problems posting in today’s Forum, but am not sure others do. In any event, follow the link below to post in today’s forum if necessary
http://mt.pajamasmedia.com/xpress/billbradley/2008/03/31/nonrandom_notes_with_updates_a_9.php
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:03 am Hap Hazard:I have problems posting in today’s Forum, but am not sure others do. In any event, follow the link below to post in today’s forum if necessary
http://mt.pajamasmedia.com/xpress/billbradley/2008/03/31/nonrandom_notes_with_updates_a_9.php
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:03 am Bill Bradley:Thanks, Hap.
Thanks to PJM tech changes, I can’t post comments on my own site.
The LA Weekly version of NWN couldn’t show videos.
There are always trade-offs, regardless of ownership.
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:08 am Bill Bradley:Thanks, Hap.
Thanks to PJM tech changes, I can’t post comments on my own site.
The LA Weekly version of NWN couldn’t show videos.
There are always trade-offs, regardless of ownership.
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:08 am Capitol Boy:Thank you, Hap Hazard, otherwise I can’t post here.
I don’t see how Hillary is even relevant in 2 months.
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:16 am Bill Bradley:I don’t disagree.
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:22 am Bill Bradley:What a surprise.
>Jonas Blane :
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:24 am Bill Bradley:Let me speak for America. I don’t care.
Mar 31, 2008 07:38 AM
What a surprise.
>Jonas Blane :
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:24 am Bill Bradley:Let me speak for America. I don’t care.
Mar 31, 2008 07:38 AM
Indeed.
>Jonas Blane :
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:26 am Hap Hazard:Good for Casey.
Mar 31, 2008 07:20 AM
I don’t see how Hillary is even relevant in 2 months. — Except perhaps as the one who brought focus on Obama’s negatives. By the way, this and related issues are addressed entertainingly and well in Bill’s podcast of the week, and we should all be listening in, if we aren’t already doing so.
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:28 am Hap Hazard:I don’t see how Hillary is even relevant in 2 months. — Except perhaps as the one who brought focus on Obama’s negatives. By the way, this and related issues are addressed entertainingly and well in Bill’s podcast of the week, and we should all be listening in, if we aren’t already doing so.
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:28 am Jason Benjamin:Think Treasury Secretary Paulson’s proposal gives McCain an economic platform, while giving the two Democrat nom’s something to attack as insufficient? I suppose those are two separate questions wrapped up into one sentence.
Mar 31, 2008 - 9:08 am Anonymous:Bill…
at the risk of raising your ire (or lowering your opinion of me), the Leno/Midgen issue does have significance beyond the race itself. it is part of a larger set of circumstances which reflect slow,subtle power shift within the party — both within the leadership itself and between leadership and grassroots. the results of which will have a visible impact.
Mar 31, 2008 - 9:35 am Anonymous:Bill…
at the risk of raising your ire (or lowering your opinion of me), the Leno/Midgen issue does have significance beyond the race itself. it is part of a larger set of circumstances which reflect slow,subtle power shift within the party — both within the leadership itself and between leadership and grassroots. the results of which will have a visible impact.
Mar 31, 2008 - 9:35 am Scott:Just getting a chance to catch up on the weekend updates now. Thanks for all the info. It’s always nice to see what the party insiders are up to, even in the era of decentralizing party power. Only question for me is, whatever happened to the ‘he he he’ speculation of a possible major Obama surrogate? I’m assuming that it didn’t pan out and hence it ended up being a non-story, but just curios…
Mar 31, 2008 - 11:09 am Scott:Just getting a chance to catch up on the weekend updates now. Thanks for all the info. It’s always nice to see what the party insiders are up to, even in the era of decentralizing party power. Only question for me is, whatever happened to the ‘he he he’ speculation of a possible major Obama surrogate? I’m assuming that it didn’t pan out and hence it ended up being a non-story, but just curios…
Mar 31, 2008 - 11:09 am Juan Cortina:re: “the Leno/Midgen issue does have significance beyond the race itself…”
Poppycock!
Mar 31, 2008 - 12:06 pm Ann:Who cares? lol
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:13 pm Jack Aubrey:President Clinton keeps on failing. Time to quit!
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:32 pm Jack Aubrey:President Clinton keeps on failing. Time to quit!
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:32 pm Brasky:“Bill Clinton…campaigns in Portland, Salem, and Bend, Oregon.”
Just noticed this. Eugene is a bigger dem stronghold than Salem or Bend. Anyone who has a shot at the state would make it a top priority, second only to Portland.
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:42 pm Bill Bradley:Oregon is like the second state in my life’s portfolio of states. And having campaigned in Eugene for someone frequently mentioned here in 1976, I can tell you it’s bad turf for the Clintons.
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:49 pm Bill Bradley:Oregon is like the second state in my life’s portfolio of states. And having campaigned in Eugene for someone frequently mentioned here in 1976, I can tell you it’s bad turf for the Clintons.
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:49 pm Bill Bradley:Bill Richardson would have been a soap opera. Ted Kennedy is not well. So it ended with Kamala Harris and Steve Westly.
And the current situation remained.
>Scott :
Just getting a chance to catch up on the weekend updates now. Thanks for all the info. It’s always nice to see what the party insiders are up to, even in the era of decentralizing party power. Only question for me is, whatever happened to the ‘he he he’ speculation of a possible major Obama surrogate? I’m assuming that it didn’t pan out and hence it ended up being a non-story, but just curios…
Mar 31, 2008 11:09 AM
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:52 pm Bill Bradley:Bill Richardson would have been a soap opera. Ted Kennedy is not well. So it ended with Kamala Harris and Steve Westly.
And the current situation remained.
>Scott :
Just getting a chance to catch up on the weekend updates now. Thanks for all the info. It’s always nice to see what the party insiders are up to, even in the era of decentralizing party power. Only question for me is, whatever happened to the ‘he he he’ speculation of a possible major Obama surrogate? I’m assuming that it didn’t pan out and hence it ended up being a non-story, but just curios…
Mar 31, 2008 11:09 AM
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:52 pm Bill Bradley:Yep.
>Jack Aubrey :
President Clinton keeps on failing. Time to quit!
Mar 31, 2008 01:32 PM
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:54 pm Bill Bradley:Indeed.
>Ann :
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:56 pm Bill Bradley:Who cares? lol
Mar 31, 2008 01:13 PM
Indeed.
>Ann :
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:56 pm Bill Bradley:Who cares? lol
Mar 31, 2008 01:13 PM
Hah!
>Juan Cortina :
Mar 31, 2008 - 1:59 pm Bill Bradley:re: “the Leno/Midgen issue does have significance beyond the race itself…”
Poppycock!
Mar 31, 2008 12:06 PM
Frankly, I found the whole thing bizarre. Two ultra-libs expending enormous amounts of energy, each demanding the state party pay attention to them.
Which it should not, because they represent that which is least amenable to actual statewide voters.
>Anonymous :
Mar 31, 2008 - 2:04 pm Bill Bradley:Bill…
at the risk of raising your ire (or lowering your opinion of me), the Leno/Midgen issue does have significance beyond the race itself. it is part of a larger set of circumstances which reflect slow,subtle power shift within the party — both within the leadership itself and between leadership and grassroots. the results of which will have a visible impact.
Mar 31, 2008 09:35 AM
Frankly, I found the whole thing bizarre. Two ultra-libs expending enormous amounts of energy, each demanding the state party pay attention to them.
Which it should not, because they represent that which is least amenable to actual statewide voters.
>Anonymous :
Mar 31, 2008 - 2:04 pm Brasky:Bill…
at the risk of raising your ire (or lowering your opinion of me), the Leno/Midgen issue does have significance beyond the race itself. it is part of a larger set of circumstances which reflect slow,subtle power shift within the party — both within the leadership itself and between leadership and grassroots. the results of which will have a visible impact.
Mar 31, 2008 09:35 AM
“I can tell you (Eugene is) bad turf for the Clintons.”
My read as well. Winning OR without Eugene is a serious handicap for a dem.
Can you imagine a dem running in CA and not visiting San Francisco?! Skipping Eugene is an admission that the state is already lost to Obama — they’re just trying to hold the margin of victory down by a delegate or two.
One of the best campaigners the dem party has ever seen and THIS is what Bill Clinton is doing? Wow, how the mighty have fallen…
Mar 31, 2008 - 2:20 pm Brasky:Thanks for the Ickes piece - this end is a little chilling:
“Both the loyalty and the focus were on display in February 1999, when the Senate voted not to remove Bill Clinton from office.
In the White House residence, Ickes and the first lady were poring over New York state maps in preparation for her Senate bid.
A call came in informing the first lady that her husband had been acquitted, Ickes recalled. “She puts down the phone and says, ‘Harold, we were talking about Buffalo.’ ”
With that, they went back to work.”
Mar 31, 2008 - 2:31 pm Brasky:Thanks for the Ickes piece - this end is a little chilling:
“Both the loyalty and the focus were on display in February 1999, when the Senate voted not to remove Bill Clinton from office.
In the White House residence, Ickes and the first lady were poring over New York state maps in preparation for her Senate bid.
A call came in informing the first lady that her husband had been acquitted, Ickes recalled. “She puts down the phone and says, ‘Harold, we were talking about Buffalo.’ ”
With that, they went back to work.”
Mar 31, 2008 - 2:31 pm Brasky:Hap - thanks for keeping the comments section open for business!
Mar 31, 2008 - 2:33 pm Dana:Lockyer isn’t running for Governor? I thought he was one of those wannabes who has been positioning themselves for years. Any idea why the cold feet?
And thanks for attending the Dem convention and giving us the surreal flavor of the event.
Mar 31, 2008 - 6:02 pm Dana:Lockyer isn’t running for Governor? I thought he was one of those wannabes who has been positioning themselves for years. Any idea why the cold feet?
And thanks for attending the Dem convention and giving us the surreal flavor of the event.
Mar 31, 2008 - 6:02 pm Bill Bradley:Shall I drag out the suspense or cut to the chase?
Mar 31, 2008 - 6:20 pm Bill Bradley:Indeed.
>Brasky :
Mar 31, 2008 - 6:22 pm Bill Bradley:Hap - thanks for keeping the comments section open for business!
Mar 31, 2008 02:33 PM
Indeed.
>Brasky :
Mar 31, 2008 - 6:22 pm Bill Bradley:Hap - thanks for keeping the comments section open for business!
Mar 31, 2008 02:33 PM
Yep.
>Brasky :
Mar 31, 2008 - 6:22 pm Bill Bradley:Thanks for the Ickes piece - this end is a little chilling:
“Both the loyalty and the focus were on display in February 1999, when the Senate voted not to remove Bill Clinton from office.
In the White House residence, Ickes and the first lady were poring over New York state maps in preparation for her Senate bid.
A call came in informing the first lady that her husband had been acquitted, Ickes recalled. “She puts down the phone and says, ‘Harold, we were talking about Buffalo.’ ”
With that, they went back to work.”
Mar 31, 2008 02:31 PM
I worked Eugene for Jerry Brown in 1976. You don’t do well in Oregon without it.
>Brasky :
Mar 31, 2008 - 6:23 pm Bill Bradley:“I can tell you (Eugene is) bad turf for the Clintons.”
My read as well. Winning OR without Eugene is a serious handicap for a dem.
Can you imagine a dem running in CA and not visiting San Francisco?! Skipping Eugene is an admission that the state is already lost to Obama — they’re just trying to hold the margin of victory down by a delegate or two.
One of the best campaigners the dem party has ever seen and THIS is what Bill Clinton is doing? Wow, how the mighty have fallen…
Mar 31, 2008 02:20 PM
I worked Eugene for Jerry Brown in 1976. You don’t do well in Oregon without it.
>Brasky :
Mar 31, 2008 - 6:23 pm Ann:“I can tell you (Eugene is) bad turf for the Clintons.”
My read as well. Winning OR without Eugene is a serious handicap for a dem.
Can you imagine a dem running in CA and not visiting San Francisco?! Skipping Eugene is an admission that the state is already lost to Obama — they’re just trying to hold the margin of victory down by a delegate or two.
One of the best campaigners the dem party has ever seen and THIS is what Bill Clinton is doing? Wow, how the mighty have fallen…
Mar 31, 2008 02:20 PM
What’s the chase?
Dana :
Mar 31, 2008 - 6:40 pm Dana:Lockyer isn’t running for Governor? I thought he was one of those wannabes who has been positioning themselves for years. Any idea why the cold feet?
And thanks for attending the Dem convention and giving us the surreal flavor of the event.
Mar 31, 2008 06:02 PM
Bill Bradley :
Shall I drag out the suspense or cut to the chase?
Mar 31, 2008 06:20 PM
I suspect cold feet are spelled B-R-O-W-N…
>Bill Bradley :
Mar 31, 2008 - 6:54 pm Dana:Shall I drag out the suspense or cut to the chase?
I suspect cold feet are spelled B-R-O-W-N…
>Bill Bradley :
Mar 31, 2008 - 6:54 pm Minerva:Shall I drag out the suspense or cut to the chase?
You are my All-Time Hero for this comment!:
Sweetie, you try biting me on the leg and we are publishing your obituary. With not a lot of effort on my part, incidentally. Things just happen naturally.
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:18 pm Minerva:You are my All-Time Hero for this comment!:
Sweetie, you try biting me on the leg and we are publishing your obituary. With not a lot of effort on my part, incidentally. Things just happen naturally.
Mar 31, 2008 - 8:18 pm Brasky:What well-known comedy was shot at the University of Oregon?
Eugene was supposed to be an Eastern campus…
Mar 31, 2008 - 10:48 pm NickM:Actually, the Migden/Leno/Nation fight is a symbol of how much incumbency is treated as the end of a discussion, rather than the beginning.
Leno vs. Nation would be an interesting race to see how much the extremist nature of a district primary electorate can elect someone who is a detriment to his party statewide, but Carole Migden would be a complete nonfactor if not for Perata going to the mat for her. The woman is in desperate need of being involuntarily committed to a psychiatric institution for being dangerous to others. The reckless driving is among her lesser offenses. We’re talking about someone who routinely (in the Assembly, Board of Equalization, and Senate) tried to severely injure others, including members of her own staff, by hurling hard objects at their heads - staplers, calculators, vases, paperweights, candy dishes, and on at least one occasion scissors!
What has to be going through the mind of someone who decides to endorse a borderline psychotic over people who will vote just about the same way as she does on everything?
Apr 1, 2008 - 3:34 am Jonas Blane:Wow!
Apr 1, 2008 - 5:44 am Jonas Blane:Wow!
Apr 1, 2008 - 5:44 am Bill Bradley:Indeed.
Apr 1, 2008 - 11:15 am Bill Bradley:Indeed.
Apr 1, 2008 - 11:15 am Bill Bradley:Nick, your post may constitute libel.
>NickM :
Actually, the Migden/Leno/Nation fight is a symbol of how much incumbency is treated as the end of a discussion, rather than the beginning.
Apr 1, 2008 - 11:16 am Bill Bradley:I don’t know. Any other clues?
>Brasky :
What well-known comedy was shot at the University of Oregon?
Eugene was supposed to be an Eastern campus…
Mar 31, 2008 10:48 PM
Apr 1, 2008 - 11:17 am Bill Bradley:I don’t know. Any other clues?
>Brasky :
What well-known comedy was shot at the University of Oregon?
Eugene was supposed to be an Eastern campus…
Mar 31, 2008 10:48 PM
Apr 1, 2008 - 11:17 am Bill Bradley:Thanks!
>Minerva :
You are my All-Time Hero for this comment!:
Sweetie, you try biting me on the leg and we are publishing your obituary. With not a lot of effort on my part, incidentally. Things just happen naturally.
Mar 31, 2008 08:18 PM
Apr 1, 2008 - 11:19 am Bill Bradley:I believe Bill Lockyer has already said that if Jerry Brown runs, he wins.
>Dana :
I suspect cold feet are spelled B-R-O-W-N…
>Bill Bradley :
Shall I drag out the suspense or cut to the chase?
Mar 31, 2008 06:54 PM
Apr 1, 2008 - 11:20 am Bill Bradley:I believe Bill Lockyer has already said that if Jerry Brown runs, he wins.
>Dana :
I suspect cold feet are spelled B-R-O-W-N…
>Bill Bradley :
Shall I drag out the suspense or cut to the chase?
Mar 31, 2008 06:54 PM
Apr 1, 2008 - 11:20 am Bill Bradley:You mean what’s likely to happen?
>Ann :
What’s the chase?
Dana :
Lockyer isn’t running for Governor? I thought he was one of those wannabes who has been positioning themselves for years. Any idea why the cold feet?
And thanks for attending the Dem convention and giving us the surreal flavor of the event.
Mar 31, 2008 06:02 PM
Bill Bradley :
Shall I drag out the suspense or cut to the chase?
Mar 31, 2008 06:20 PM
Mar 31, 2008 06:40 PM
Apr 1, 2008 - 11:20 am NickM:Bill - something has to be untrue to be libelous.
I’ve talked to four staffers who have been themselves the targets of her rage as well as witnessing it directed at others. I’ve even seen pictures of gouges she left in office walls.
BoE agency staff suffered more than any other group - they’re not used to politicians trying to treat them as personal servants, and having civil service protection, were willing to say no to her.
Apr 1, 2008 - 12:05 pm NickM:Bill - something has to be untrue to be libelous.
I’ve talked to four staffers who have been themselves the targets of her rage as well as witnessing it directed at others. I’ve even seen pictures of gouges she left in office walls.
BoE agency staff suffered more than any other group - they’re not used to politicians trying to treat them as personal servants, and having civil service protection, were willing to say no to her.
Apr 1, 2008 - 12:05 pm Bill Bradley:Well, I don’t know that. And it’s my real name on this site.
Apr 1, 2008 - 2:13 pm Bill Bradley:Incidentally, NWN passed 54,000 comments sometime in the past week.
Apr 2, 2008 - 12:18 pm Bill Bradley:Incidentally, NWN passed 54,000 comments sometime in the past week.
Apr 2, 2008 - 12:18 pm