Barack Obama addresses the National Council of La Raza convention in San Diego on Sunday. John McCain addresses the convention today.
** BUSH MAKES A MOVE ON OFFSHORE DRILLING — A FEW DAYS BEFORE COMING TO CALIFORNIA. Seemingly making it clear that national Republicans are intent on electing a Democratic governor in California in 2010 — probably former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown, the two-time runner-up for the Democratic presidential nomination — President George W. Bush today removed the executive block on offshore oil drilling. Now all that has to happen is for Congress to move.
Which, as a top aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the San Francisco Democrat who got her start in politics as the Maryland political director for Brown’s 1976 presidential campaign, makes clear will never happen.
Of course, if Bush were actually serious about bringing down oil prices, there are a few actual things he could do right now. Such as release some oil from the strategic petroleum reserve. And crack down on the oil speculation made possible by the, now, former McCain for President campaign co-chairman Phil Gramm and his wife, former federal regulator-turned-Enron board member Wendy Gramm. (Yes, you read that right.) And urge his former colleagues in the oil industry to use the multitude of unused offshore oil leases they already have drilling rights to.
At a certain point, these sorts of political maneuvers become the real world equivalent of The Gong Show.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Could there be, confounding expectations, a California state budget sooner than later? You never know.
** OBAMA UP IN COLORADO. Barack Obama leads John McCain by 4 points in battleground Mountain West state Colorado. In the latest Public Policy Polling survey there, conducted July 9-10 with over 1000 likely voters, Obama is up 47-43. His lead is based on a big edge among Latino voters, 58-34.
In this year’s US Senate race for the seat of retiring Republican Wayne Allard, Democrat Mark Udall leads Bob Schaffer, 47-38. Hall of Fame former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, the former Stanford star, is frequently talked about as a future candidate. He trails incumbent Democratic Senator Ken Salazar, who is up for re-election in 2010, 44% to 37%.
** A BIZARRE NEWSWEEK POLL. Many are touting a new Newsweek poll purporting to show Barack Obama only 3 points ahead of John McCain — 44-41 — after last month seeming to lead him by 15 points. I never wrote about the earlier Newsweek poll, which seemed to oversample Democrats a tad.
But media “surprise” at this new poll seems, frankly, idiotic. Because this poll obviously undersamples Democrats. As it has an equivalent number of Republicans and Democrats. When every legitimate and obviously realistic measure recognizes the reality that the Republican brand is in the dumper.
In case you were wondering if the media wants a horse race, no matter what. Here is Exhibit A.
The actual Newsweek article, preposterously, goes on and on about — how can this be? Well, it’s because you have a preposterous sample. But the article never mentions the absurd equivalence of Republican and Democratic identification in the poll’s sample.
Now, do other political journalists bother to examine the actual poll? Of course not. That would distract from the time it takes to get into full yaposphere mode.
THE MORNING COLUMN: MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK.
John McCain and Barack Obama scuffle starting out the week over the Latino vote — or Hispanic vote, as the national Republicans still call it — and over the economy and, perhaps most of all, Iraq and the overall Terror War.
Obama was in San Diego yesterday to address the National Council of La Raza convention. McCain is there this afternoon. This, mind you, was a group described by many Republicans during the false dawn of freeflowing immigration of 2006 as a “reconquista” organization. In other words, supposedly dedicated to the Mexican reconquest of the American Southwest.
Er, not so much.
Obama emphasized education and the economy yesterday. McCain today will remind the group of his comprehensive immigration bill — which nearly destroyed his primary candidacy last year — co-authored with Ted Kennedy. He presumably will not mention that he said in a Republican debate that he would not vote for his bill today.
Meanwhile, McCain has a new Spanish-captioned TV ad up over the weekend in Mountain West states. Despite early hopes that brown voters would not vote for a black candidate, Obama has a big lead in public polls amongst Latino voters. But in Florida, of course, McCain is likely to continue to hold a lead with Cuban voters still angry over Fidel Castro’s Communist takeover of the Caribbean island nation some 50 years ago.
Meanwhile, the fight over the slumping national economy will continue. Phil Gramm, McCain’s old buddy — Texas senator-turned-Swiss banker — and national campaign co-chairman and chief economic advisor, is now off the radar screen following his moronic comments about America being “a nation of whiners.”
And Iraq and the Terror War take center stage this week. In the wake of the Iraqi government’s insistence that the US set a timeline for withdrawal of troops, Obama has a new op-ed in today’s New York Times. Tomorrow he will deliver a major speech on the topic.
As all this goes on, Al Qaeda Prime — the actual people who attacked the US on 9/11 — continues to consolidate its position in Pakistan. And Taliban attacks in Afghanistan are on the rise, as are US casualties.
The Pentagon is looking to cut the number of combat brigades in Iraq and increase the force in Afghanistan. It’s certainly about time for the latter.
I’ve been warning on NWN about the situations in Pakistan and Afghanistan for two years now.
** MEET MAC’S NEW SUPREMO: STEVE SCHMIDT AND HIS TUMULTUOUS FIRST WEEK. It was a very interesting first meeting. In January 2006, I’d revealed that then embattled Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was getting a new campaign manager. A name Republican operative and veteran of the Bush/Cheney White House to balance the new, Democratic, chief of staff I’d written about a few weeks earlier. I described Schwarzenegger’s impending new campaign manager, a fellow named Steve Schmidt, as a right-wing hatchet man to balance Schwarzenegger’s new chief of staff Susan Kennedy, the longtime Democratic operative, a pro-choice leader and lesbian married on Maui whose appointment enraged California’s far right.
Schwarzenegger’s then new communications director, Adam Mendelsohn, called and told me I had it wrong, that Schmidt was a reasonable and moderate pragmatist, as well as one of his best friends.
Early in our first meeting, I wasn’t so sure about that.
After about 30 seconds, I realized that Schmidt was giving me no response to anything I said. The former high school tight end, dubbed by Karl Rove as the “Bullet” for his imposing shaven-headed mien, simply stared impassively at me as I spoke, offering only the briefest, monotonal responses. I decided to ignore the potentially intimidating modus operandi and act as though I were getting normal responses to what I was saying.
After 10 minutes of this, I was getting normal responses from Schmidt. Thoughtful, amusing even, in a dry sort of way. His earlier act had been an intimidation technique. Later, when Schwarzenegger was working on getting recalcitrant Republican legislators to vote for a massive infrastructure bond package, state Senate Democratic leader Don Perata described Schmidt’s role to me in the meetings as being “like Frank Nitti (Al Capone’s enforcer), just sitting there and staring at them.” … From my other blog.
** WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
Barack Obama is in Chicago and Cincinnati, Ohio. Obama has private meetings in Chicago, a public event in Cincinnati and private fundraiser there.
John McCain is in San Diego and Albuquerque, New Mexico. McCain addresses the National Council of La Raza in San Diego and does fundraising there and in Albuquerque.
I have a forthcoming column on McCain’s attempt to wrest the Latino vote from Obama.
** SCHWARZENEGGER LIVE WEBCAST THIS MORNING. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger tours the NASA Ames research facility at Moffett Field in the San Francisco Bay Area and then discusses the importance of surveillance drones to the California firefighting effort. The event will be webcast live at 10:45 AM at www.gov.ca.gov.
** 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, which I know as a former DemRussia advisor, the channel is very interesting nonetheless. With U.S. cable news chattering away as it does, this sort of respite can be informative. 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.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND U.S. ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. After crashing over $147 for yet another record on Friday, crude oil is trading in the $145 to $146 per barrel range. The big run-up in recent days is mostly due to the saber rattling by and against Iran.
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89 Comments
Jonas Blane:That is another very good Obama speech.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:01 am Jonas Blane:McCain will never get away from Gramm.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:11 am Jonas Blane:Your site is really slow today.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:12 am Capitol Boy:Your site is SLOOWWW today.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:24 am Capitol Boy:Who says the right-wing (Pajamas Media) is more efficient than the left-wing (LA Weekly)?
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:26 am Ann:lol
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:27 am Len:Who is McCain kidding? He pandered to the Mexican vote. Then he got killed by the Republicans and pandered to them. Now he is pandering to the Mexican vote again and pretending nobody will notice. What a jackass.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:35 am Capitol Boy:That is another outstanding Barack speech.
He can be a great President.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:36 am Bill Bradley:Perhaps.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:38 am Bill Bradley:He is flip-flopping.
>Len:
Who is McCain kidding? He pandered to the Mexican vote. Then he got killed by the Republicans and pandered to them. Now he is pandering to the Mexican vote again and pretending nobody will notice. What a jackass.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:39 am Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 9:35 am
Yep.
>Capitol Boy:
Your site is SLOOWWW today.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:40 am Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 9:24 am
Thanks.
>Ann:
lol
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:40 am Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 9:27 am
It has been.
>Jonas Blane:
Your site is really slow today.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:41 am Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 9:12 am
Not for lack of trying …
>Jonas Blane:
McCain will never get away from Gramm.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:42 am Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 9:11 am
Not one of his best, but good.
>Jonas Blane:
That is another very good Obama speech.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:42 am Hilltopper:Jul 14, 2008 - 9:01 am
Obama looked really good. Thus, I was amazed this morning to read the news with the focus on Obama not doing a town hall forum with McCain. Sigh. Perhaps McCain would be willing to go one on one with Obama as Lincoln and Douglas did.
John McCain Opposed Expanded GI Bill
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:46 am Ann:lol
** A BIZARRE NEWSWEEK POLL. Many are touting a new Newsweek poll purporting to show Barack Obama only 3 points ahead of John McCain — 44-41 — after last month seeming to lead him by 15 points. I never wrote about the earlier Newsweek poll, which seemed to oversample Democrats a tad.
But media “surprise” at this new poll seems, frankly, idiotic. Because this poll obviously undersamples Democrats. As it has an equivalent number of Republicans and Democrats. When every legitimate and obviously realistic measure recognizes the reality that the Republican brand is in the dumper.
In case you were wondering if the media wants a horse race, no matter what. Here is Exhibit A.
The actual Newsweek article, preposterously, goes on and on about — how can this be? Well, it’s because you have a preposterous sample. But the article never mentions the absurd equivalence of Republican and Democratic identification in the poll’s sample.
Now, do other political journalists bother to examine the actual poll? Of course not. That would distract from the time it takes to get into full yaposphere mode.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:59 am Brasky:The poll is also almost 90% white and 25% white evangelical. Looks like an RNC poll re-branded as Newsweek. The other poll was ridiculous too.
A drunk, shotgun-wielding Dick Cheney would be more accurate.
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:17 am Bill Bradley:Aside from all that, it’s totally legit …
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:21 am Bill Bradley:Indeed.
>Ann:
lol
** A BIZARRE NEWSWEEK POLL. Many are touting a new Newsweek poll purporting to show Barack Obama only 3 points ahead of John McCain — 44-41 — after last month seeming to lead him by 15 points. I never wrote about the earlier Newsweek poll, which seemed to oversample Democrats a tad.
But media “surprise” at this new poll seems, frankly, idiotic. Because this poll obviously undersamples Democrats. As it has an equivalent number of Republicans and Democrats. When every legitimate and obviously realistic measure recognizes the reality that the Republican brand is in the dumper.
In case you were wondering if the media wants a horse race, no matter what. Here is Exhibit A.
The actual Newsweek article, preposterously, goes on and on about — how can this be? Well, it’s because you have a preposterous sample. But the article never mentions the absurd equivalence of Republican and Democratic identification in the poll’s sample.
Now, do other political journalists bother to examine the actual poll? Of course not. That would distract from the time it takes to get into full yaposphere mode.
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:22 am Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 9:59 am
Where is that a current story? Salt Lake?
>Hilltopper:
Obama looked really good. Thus, I was amazed this morning to read the news with the focus on Obama not doing a town hall forum with McCain. Sigh. Perhaps McCain would be willing to go one on one with Obama as Lincoln and Douglas did.
John McCain Opposed Expanded GI Bill
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:22 am Brasky:Jul 14, 2008 - 9:46 am
“Lincoln and Douglas ”
I’m playing RNC Talking Point Bingo at home. I’m one “untested” away from winning…
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:31 am Pat Skipper:Really, that Newsweek poll is a joke. “Shotgun-wielding Dick Cheney.” That killed me.
Interesting that both the Rasmussen and Gallup tracking show the race narrowing, but the state polls look great for Obama.
He’s got an eight-point lead in Michigan. Wow. Leading in Washington (not surprising) and Wisconsin. Now showing 5 pt. lead in Mizzu, which explains all-out blitz planned for that state. Ahead in Montana. Within the margin in North Dakota.
So, how can the tracking polls show it this close?
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:45 am Bill Bradley:I’m not sure folks know what Lincoln and Douglas means.
Lincoln and Douglas is total advantage Obama.
Sorry, I majored in history.
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:45 am Bill Bradley:I believe that any reasonable national poll has Obama up by 5 to 8 points.
I’ve been going through the state polls.
I’ve also been drinking a fair amount of champagne over the weekend.
Nevertheless …
>Pat Skipper:
Really, that Newsweek poll is a joke. “Shotgun-wielding Dick Cheney.” That killed me.
Interesting that both the Rasmussen and Gallup tracking show the race narrowing, but the state polls look great for Obama.
He’s got an eight-point lead in Michigan. Wow. Leading in Washington (not surprising) and Wisconsin. Now showing 5 pt. lead in Mizzu, which explains all-out blitz planned for that state. Ahead in Montana. Within the margin in North Dakota.
So, how can the tracking polls show it this close?
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:49 am Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 10:45 am
… Seriously, the only reason why this election currently seems close is because some folks have questions about the exotic Obama.
You put the center-left/pre-MoveOn John Edwards up there, McCain is already yesterday’s toast.
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:51 am Bill Bradley:… And I say this as a lifelong fan of John McCain, who backed him 2000 as a member of Veterans for McCain.
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:52 am Brasky:“You put the center-left/pre-MoveOn John Edwards up there, McCain is already yesterday’s toast.”
Yup.
sigh
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:55 am Bill Bradley:I was just trying to post something and the whole thing blew up.
Jul 14, 2008 - 11:08 am Bill Bradley:… So.
As I was attempting to say.
You remember the old Will Rogers line about the Democrats, I assume …
Jul 14, 2008 - 11:09 am Brasky:“the old Will Rogers line about the Democrats, I assume …”
Indeed. Although, it could be said of the Republicans in this election as well.
In any event, our lack of organization has made this a very entertaining election.
Jul 14, 2008 - 11:15 am Ann:lol
BB:But media “surprise” at this new poll seems, frankly, idiotic. Because this poll obviously undersamples Democrats. As it has an equivalent number of Republicans and Democrats. When every legitimate and obviously realistic measure recognizes the reality that the Republican brand is in the dumper.
Jul 14, 2008 - 11:22 am Brasky:“Not one of his best, but good.”
It wasn’t great by Obama standards. He hit some important points clearly outlining where he was willing to go (and NOT go) on immigration reform. I’m sure some there weren’t happy with everything he said.
However, I think he came off as very empathetic an sincere, which was good. His two biggest applause points were about PEOPLE rather than POLICY. At 5 minutes, he hit the crescendo with “nursing mothers torn from their babies” and at 15 minutes with “women serving lunch right here.”
And he didn’t try to speak Spanish, which was good.
Jul 14, 2008 - 12:24 pm Hilltopper:Bill,
Responding to your comment at 10:22, today’s SF Chron story is more about Obama ducking town hall forums than about what he said. I started to clip excerpts to paste here, but it got way too long. Here is a sample though:
“But in making the La Raza appearance, Obama rejected McCain’s challenge for a joint town hall appearance before the organization, which gathered 15,000 people in San Diego this weekend - and represented the capstone of a week in which both candidates addressed Latino issues in several major venues across the country.”
“Even officials of the organization, however, acknowledged disappointment that the two presidential candidates didn’t appear on the same stage. “We would have loved to have them in a town hall,” said Janet Murguia, president of the La Raza organization.”
“But with just weeks until the Democratic and Republican nominating conventions, the decision by Obama to sidestep town halls has been sharply noted by critics who charge that his campaign, while celebrating its populist themes, has fallen short on allowing opportunities for grilling the candidate.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/13/MNVR11OJEI.DTL
Jul 14, 2008 - 1:45 pm Brasky:Why is McCain “ducking” multiple appearances before tens of thousands of people? Why is he “ducking” accepting millions of dollars in $20 donations from average Americans?
This is a joke.
Jul 14, 2008 - 2:01 pm Hilltopper:To Brasky:
I agree. McCain is also ducking one-on-one debates. All he wants is “town hall forums,” the one type of appearance in which he does well.
Obama should suggest Lincoln-Douglas style debate. 90 minutes with no moderator and no questions. Nothing but a time clock, to keep them each to 45 minutes.
John McCain Wants to Overturn Roe v. Wade
Jul 14, 2008 - 2:05 pm Hilltopper:Speaking of polls, two out today not mentioned above. Each is a key state, but neither result changes the landscape any.
Iowa: Went for Bush in 2004. Obama has been leading. Today’s Rasmussen poll (counting leaners) has Obama up 51-41.
Colorado: Obama has consistently lead by a few points. Today’s PPP poll has Obama up 47-43 and Udall leading in the Senate race 47-38.
As noted above, if Obama wins all of Kerry’s states plus the two that went for Gore, then Bush (NM and Iowa), he has 264. Colorardo alone puts him over the top.
John McCain Opposed Health Insurance For Children
Jul 14, 2008 - 2:21 pm Brasky:Personally, I think Obama is doing just fine for now. And, Newsweek polls aside (and their Magic 8 Ball accuracy), it seems Obama inches forward every week.
I doubt that McCain would have really spoke at the NCLR event, since it occurred over the weekend and McCain has been so adverse to giving up his Saturdays for his race for the presidency.
Jul 14, 2008 - 2:23 pm JTF:I am not sure what everyone is drinking, but this race has narrowed to within 4 points according to poll averages complied by Real Clear Politics - Newsweek, Rassmussen, CNN, Gallup. This during what most, including our own BB and the faithful commenters have declared to be the most inept presidential general election campaign in a generation or two.
What will happen in the polls if McCain team ever gets its act together?
Don’t measure drapes yet!
Jul 14, 2008 - 2:32 pm Brasky:JTF: As others have pointed out, look to the state-by-state polls and Obama is pulling away. McCain hasn’t shown any ability to get his act together and the addition of the lead-like quality of Mike Murphy ain’t going to make that balloon float any higher.
In any case, as BB as pointed out, if Obama is going to lose, it’s because America rejects his “exotic” qualities, not because he didn’t do enough events with McCain.
Jul 14, 2008 - 2:42 pm Prospero:I’ll have what JTF is drinking!
And if McCain chose me as his running mate, he’d be a slam dunk. I can carry California for him.
Jul 14, 2008 - 2:42 pm Capitol Boy:Averaging bad polls equals bad poll averages.
JTF:
I am not sure what everyone is drinking, but this race has narrowed to within 4 points according to poll averages complied by Real Clear Politics - Newsweek, Rassmussen, CNN, Gallup. This during what most, including our own BB and the faithful commenters have declared to be the most inept presidential general election campaign in a generation or two.
What will happen in the polls if McCain team ever gets its act together?
Don’t measure drapes yet!
Jul 14, 2008 - 2:32 pm
Jul 14, 2008 - 2:57 pm Dana:You have, indeed. Am I right the pull out of brigades in Iraq the President is talking about is really a redeployment to Afghanistan?
“I’ve been warning on NWN about the situations in Pakistan and Afghanistan for two years now.”
Jul 14, 2008 - 2:59 pm Dana:BTW, Bill thanks for the link over the weekend to the New Yorker piece on Obama’s political apprenticeship in Chicago. Give a nice feel for his impulses–actually makes him a bit more human to relize how calculating he is.
Jul 14, 2008 - 3:07 pm Bill Bradley:He’s a POLITICIAN.
Jul 14, 2008 - 3:17 pm Bill Bradley:By all means, JTF, simply ignore what I just wrote. And mischaracterize a lengthy profile that just received national attention, linked to again here.
** A BIZARRE NEWSWEEK POLL. Many are touting a new Newsweek poll purporting to show Barack Obama only 3 points ahead of John McCain — 44-41 — after last month seeming to lead him by 15 points. I never wrote about the earlier Newsweek poll, which seemed to oversample Democrats a tad.
But media “surprise” at this new poll seems, frankly, idiotic. Because this poll obviously undersamples Democrats. As it has an equivalent number of Republicans and Democrats. When every legitimate and obviously realistic measure recognizes the reality that the Republican brand is in the dumper.
In case you were wondering if the media wants a horse race, no matter what. Here is Exhibit A.
The actual Newsweek article, preposterously, goes on and on about — how can this be? Well, it’s because you have a preposterous sample. But the article never mentions the absurd equivalence of Republican and Democratic identification in the poll’s sample.
Now, do other political journalists bother to examine the actual poll? Of course not. That would distract from the time it takes to get into full yaposphere mode.
>JTF:
I am not sure what everyone is drinking, but this race has narrowed to within 4 points according to poll averages complied by Real Clear Politics - Newsweek, Rassmussen, CNN, Gallup. This during what most, including our own BB and the faithful commenters have declared to be the most inept presidential general election campaign in a generation or two.
What will happen in the polls if McCain team ever gets its act together?
Don’t measure drapes yet!
Jul 14, 2008 - 3:19 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 2:32 pm
Eventually, at least.
They shouldn’t simply cycle brigades from one war to another.
>Dana:
You have, indeed. Am I right the pull out of brigades in Iraq the President is talking about is really a redeployment to Afghanistan?
“I’ve been warning on NWN about the situations in Pakistan and Afghanistan for two years now.”
Jul 14, 2008 - 3:20 pm Wilbur:Jul 14, 2008 - 2:59 pm
I’m very intrigued by your budget tease, Bill. I would have wagered that a budget before mid-August was about as likely as wild monkeys flying out of… well, you know.
Do you plan to put a little more flesh on that tease tomorrow?
Jul 14, 2008 - 4:22 pm richard locicero:Considering it was a “Town Hall Meeting” where St John showed he knew nothing about how Social Security works - and called it a “disgrace” besides - Obama would have nothing to fear from these gatherings and could put McCain away!
And note the Arnold interview from Sunday. Is he still claiming to be a Republican?
Jul 14, 2008 - 4:36 pm Sacramento Solon:Bill,
I agree with Wilbur. And to quote the very quotable Oliver Twist, “please, sir, I want some more”….
Jul 14, 2008 - 5:16 pm Bill Bradley:We will sell no wine before its time.
Jul 14, 2008 - 5:29 pm Bill Bradley:Yes, he is.
>richard locicero:
Considering it was a “Town Hall Meeting” where St John showed he knew nothing about how Social Security works - and called it a “disgrace” besides - Obama would have nothing to fear from these gatherings and could put McCain away!
And note the Arnold interview from Sunday. Is he still claiming to be a Republican?
Jul 14, 2008 - 5:29 pm Sacramento Solon:Jul 14, 2008 - 4:36 pm
Bill Bradley:
We will sell no wine before its time.
—-
You say you have wine for sale???
Jul 14, 2008 - 5:30 pm Bill Bradley:I’m not really getting into more in the Forum than I am on the front page.
>Wilbur:
I’m very intrigued by your budget tease, Bill. I would have wagered that a budget before mid-August was about as likely as wild monkeys flying out of… well, you know.
Do you plan to put a little more flesh on that tease tomorrow?
Jul 14, 2008 - 5:30 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 4:22 pm
I think some of the national polls are using silly partisan samples, as we see with Newsweek. Which is simply utterly preposterous.
>Pat Skipper:
Really, that Newsweek poll is a joke. “Shotgun-wielding Dick Cheney.” That killed me.
Interesting that both the Rasmussen and Gallup tracking show the race narrowing, but the state polls look great for Obama.
He’s got an eight-point lead in Michigan. Wow. Leading in Washington (not surprising) and Wisconsin. Now showing 5 pt. lead in Mizzu, which explains all-out blitz planned for that state. Ahead in Montana. Within the margin in North Dakota.
So, how can the tracking polls show it this close?
Jul 14, 2008 - 5:32 pm Capitol Boy:Jul 14, 2008 - 10:45 am
Bush is crazy.
Jul 14, 2008 - 5:58 pm Brasky:Bush I - avoided a costly mistake in Iraq and instituted a coastal oil drilling moratorium
Jul 14, 2008 - 6:22 pm Brasky:Bush II - not so much
“former federal regulator-turned-Enron board member Wendy Gramm”
Just like the Bay of Pigs Invasion and New Coke, I’m sure it seemed like a good idea at the time…
Jul 14, 2008 - 6:25 pm Pat Skipper:Just sputtered on my iPhone, Brasky…LOL
Jul 14, 2008 - 7:44 pm James:Bank failures loom large: IndyMac is gone, and Washington Mutual is rumored to be the next major one to implode. So exactly when will John McCain’s role in the Keating Five savings and loan scandal come again to the forefront? The NY Times took some heat when they raised the issue last January, but it’s different now. As bank failures accelerate it’s got to be a tremendously awkward position for him. I think it’s fair game to ask Senator McCain how he would handle the current round of bank failures as President when he himself was involved in highly questionable dealings that led to the collapse of Lincoln Savings and Loan in 1989.
Jul 14, 2008 - 8:09 pm marcus waldron:McCain will never escape Gramm.
Jul 14, 2008 - 8:55 pm Sam Loomis:Bill, come on. You know full well that drawing from the US petroleum reserve is a VERY short term action, which depletes the national 60 day reserve if there should be an emergency. You know full well that the California pensions have been HUGE players in oil speculation. Oh my god! California teachers in their prairie dresses are oil speculators!!! Bill, you know full well that Obama’s plan of giving voters a stimulus package (money) to offset the cost of their gas purchases exacerbates the problem.
Windmills, conservation, and sunshine. We are led to believe that is the final solution. Gull I Bulle.
Come on. At some point (apparently not anytime soon) people must step up and provide sane rational and effective solutions to our energy problem. This fantasy crap is really getting old. $5 is too much for gas. Ms. Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Feinstein, and Maria Shriver are incompetent for not even noticing that.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:27 pm Sam Loomis:I take no responsibility for the typos and grammar errors in my previous post. I typed to enter my “Name:” field, and the blog posted it. And there is no “preview” option. Frankly, the entire comment was a rough draft. That’s okay - it is close enough to what I actually did want to submit.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:31 pm Bill Bradley:Whatever …
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:45 pm Bill Bradley:Let me know when you are going to comment on what I’m actually saying.
You could, for example, send up a flare …
>Sam Loomis:
Bill, come on. You know full well that drawing from the US petroleum reserve is a VERY
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:46 pm Bill Bradley:Correct.
>marcus waldron:
McCain will never escape Gramm.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:47 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 8:55 pm
I don’t think the Keating 5 comes back into play any more than Bill Ayers is in play …
>James:
Bank failures loom large: IndyMac is gone, and Washington Mutual is rumored to be the next major one to implode. So exactly when will John McCain’s role in the Keating Five savings and loan scandal come again to the forefront? The NY Times took some heat when they raised the issue last January, but it’s different now. As bank failures accelerate it’s got to be a tremendously awkward position for him. I think it’s fair game to ask Senator McCain how he would handle the current round of bank failures as President when he himself was involved in highly questionable dealings that led to the collapse of Lincoln Savings and Loan in 1989.
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:48 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 8:09 pm
So long as coffee is not involved, there should be no electrical accidents.
>Pat Skipper:
Just sputtered on my iPhone, Brasky…LOL
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:49 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 7:44 pm
The Gramm situation is preposterous. No question about that.
>Brasky:
“former federal regulator-turned-Enron board member Wendy Gramm”
Just like the Bay of Pigs Invasion and New Coke, I’m sure it seemed like a good idea at the time…
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:49 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 14, 2008 - 6:25 pm
Yes.
The Golden Age.
George Herbert Walker Bush.
President by virtue of former CIA ops in Florida.
>Brasky:
Bush I - avoided a costly mistake in Iraq and instituted a coastal oil drilling moratorium
Jul 14, 2008 - 9:51 pm Sam Loomis:Bush II - not so much
Jul 14, 2008 - 6:22 pm
Bill, do you honestly believe this insanely illogical comment about depleting the 60 day national oil reserve is a legitimate, above board, comment? Come on!
Of course, if Bush were actually serious about bringing down oil prices, there are a few actual things he could do right now. Such as release some oil from the strategic petroleum reserve.
That comment is so offensive on so many levels. Just let me drive my freaking car. All of you who have friends who all have retired children will never understand. “I got mine; what’s the dealio?!”
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:12 pm Bill Bradley:I suggest you become less hysterical in commenting on what I am saying.
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:16 pm Bill Bradley:… This sounds, incidentally, like you are drunk or high:
That comment is so offensive on so many levels. Just let me drive my freaking car. All of you who have friends who all have retired children will never understand. “I got mine; what’s the dealio?!”
Jul 14, 2008 - 10:17 pm Jonas Blane:What new video today?
Jul 15, 2008 - 6:40 am Kandy Kid:Bill, don’t be so quick to take the “I want to go to the Convention” spin that the state budget will be done any time soon. While there are two Senate Republican votes for any reasonable deal, the Assembly Republicans will not put up a single vote for a budget package that includes permanent revenue increases and does not include a real spending cap.
Republicans can build a lot of conservative cred by fighting off $8 billion in announced new taxes, so they are happy to extend the run of this tedious show. If the stalemate extends beyond the Secretary of State’s” deadline to put a spending limit on the November ballot (about August 15), it could be a long, hot Fall.
Jul 15, 2008 - 7:52 am Capitol Boy:“Conservative cred.”
What do you think that means?
Jul 15, 2008 - 8:00 am Sacramento Solon:Kandy,
What happens when the state runs out of money? Or don’t the warnings from both the Department of Finance and State Controller mean anything to your team? Are you willing to pay the the cost of us having the go out for Revenue Anticipation Warrants (RAWs) as opposed to Revenue Anticiaption Notes (RANs)?
Your side’s quest for respect ends when it costs the taxpayers millions and only hurts those who can least afford to be hurt.
Finally, where the hell have you been and where’s my wine!
Jul 15, 2008 - 8:25 am tom the 3L:Bill.
Jul 15, 2008 - 8:27 am Brasky:Have you seen the fight going on between PXP and Exxon over rights to drill the Tranquillon Ridge offshore oil field. (http://www.countyofsb.org/energy/projects/PlainsPedernales.asp) The point to be made here is that with directional extended reach drilling technology there is really no reason why most of the offshore oil fields can’t be tapped from onshore locations. I think that the longest well drilled to date is over 7 miles long.
“Just sputtered on my iPhone, Brasky…LOL”
Just be careful - remember the SNL skit when a spilled pepsi at a nuclear plant resulted in a 50 foot radioactive president Carter?
Jul 15, 2008 - 9:25 am Bill Bradley:Well, we don’t want that.
Jul 15, 2008 - 10:17 am Bill Bradley:No, I have not, thanks.
That is very interesting.
>tom the 3L:
Bill.
Jul 15, 2008 - 10:17 am Bill Bradley:Have you seen the fight going on between PXP and Exxon over rights to drill the Tranquillon Ridge offshore oil field. (http://www.countyofsb.org/energy/projects/PlainsPedernales.asp) The point to be made here is that with directional extended reach drilling technology there is really no reason why most of the offshore oil fields can’t be tapped from onshore locations. I think that the longest well drilled to date is over 7 miles long.
Jul 15, 2008 - 8:27 am
Not too far off …
>Sacramento Solon:
Kandy,
What happens when the state runs out of money?
Jul 15, 2008 - 10:18 am Bill Bradley:Holding on to that 25% to 33% base?
>Capitol Boy:
“Conservative cred.”
What do you think that means?
Jul 15, 2008 - 10:19 am Bill Bradley:Jul 15, 2008 - 8:00 am
Actually, KK, I’m not.
>Kandy Kid:
Bill, don’t be so quick to take the “I want to go to the Convention” spin that the state budget will be done any time soon. While there are two Senate Republican votes for any reasonable deal, the Assembly Republicans will not put up a single vote for a budget package that includes permanent revenue increases and does not include a real spending cap.
Republicans can build a lot of conservative cred by fighting off $8 billion in announced new taxes, so they are happy to extend the run of this tedious show. If the stalemate extends beyond the Secretary of State’s” deadline to put a spending limit on the November ballot (about August 15), it could be a long, hot Fall.
Jul 15, 2008 - 10:19 am carole w:Jul 15, 2008 - 7:52 am
I don’t remember that skit…please post it!
Jul 15, 2008 - 10:20 am Bill Bradley:Latin Mac …
More to follow.
>Jonas Blane:
What new video today?
Jul 15, 2008 - 10:20 am Jonas Blane:Jul 15, 2008 - 6:40 am
What skit are you talking about?
Jul 15, 2008 - 10:25 am Jonas Blane:I’m replying to another carole post.
Jul 15, 2008 - 10:26 am carole w:Jonas,
Jul 15, 2008 - 11:09 amI was asking Brasky about a SNL skit but, my post was delayed.