John McCain says that Barack Obama, prepping for a big foreign tour, is wrong on Iraq and wrong on Afghanistan.
** B.C. SAYS “READY TO GO’ FOR O. The two major Democratic figures of the ’90s, Bill Clinton and Al Gore, both selected today to announce big new initiatives. Gore did his thing, on renewable energy, in Washington while Clinton was at his foundation headquarters in New York, where he called for a new global initiative to fight malaria.
The former president, said by many to be sulking after his wife’s defeat for the Democratic presidential nomination by Barack Obama, said he’s “ready to go” for Obama. After “a good talk” between the two, Clinton said he will go anywhere, any time he’s asked to campaign for the freshman Illinois senator. I can think of some swing states where Clinton would be very effective. He was actually very effect campaigning for his wife, when he wasn’t making himself the center of attention with angst or anger-ridden comments.
** GORE CALLS FOR CHALLENGE DECADE, REJECTS V.P. NOD. Al Gore today set a goal of providing 100% of America’s electricity by renewable power in 10 years. That’s kind of ambitious, don’t you think? He says he thinks it’s doable. And necessary, as he cites increased instability in the Middle East, the melting of the ice cap over the Arctic Sea, and freakish weather in Antarctica, amongst a number of reasons, including improvements in renewable technology. Obviously, he’s not running for vice president again.
** GAVIN ON HUFFPOST. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom continues his exploratory campaign for governor of California with this piece on the Huffington Post. In it, he touts San Francisco’s environmental leadership. Newsom is venturing to Austin, Texas for the Netroots convention there. He also has a radio show on Air America, as I believe I mentioned a while back. Whether the former Hillary Clinton national campaign co-chairman knows how to actually outflank old friend and family benefactor Jerry Brown, should the former governor-turned-attorney general choose to run in 2010, is another matter.
** MENDELSOHN IN AS R.N.C. COMMUNICATIONS OVERSEER. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s former communications director Adam Mendelsohn, now a private consultant, will quarterback convention communications on behalf of John McCain and the Republican National Committee. Mendelsohn is now the senior consultant overseeing such matters for September’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. He’ll be working with convention communications manager Matt Burns, former communications director for the US Department of Veteran Affairs.
** JUNE MONEY HUNT: O 52, MAC 22. It turns out that, contrary to an erroneous report in the Wall Street Journal, Barack Obama raised $52 million last month. That was his second best month. John McCain had his best month, with $22 million. The WSJ had claimed that Obama only raised $30 million in June. Incidentally, I got a subscriber missive from the WSJ saying that with President Bush now again authorizing public negotiations with Iran (see the morning column) and on the verge of ordering further Iraq troop withdrawals, this will hurt Obama. No. This will validate Obama.
Having profiled Rupert Murdoch, the new owner of the Journal, back in the ’90s, I can tell you it’s not always clear what he is up to. He seems to like, actually, Obama, though not as much as he liked Tony Blair after correctly assessing him as the coming man in Britain. But he installs a lot of ideologues in his media shops. With this sort of reportage and analysis creeping into the Journal, things may be becoming rather problematic there.
Incidentally, the limping Democratic National Committee is now matching the Republican National Committee in fundraising.
THE MORNING COLUMN: IRAN, OIL MARKETS, AND RUSSIA.
Do we believe in coincidence? The US announces it will have the number 3 official in the State Department negotiate this coming weekend with Iran’s national security advisor on the odd Islamic Republic’s nuclear progam. And oil prices drop nearly $10 a barrrel.
Now there is another factor in this, i.e., the continuing “slowdown” of the US economy, epitomized by remarkably low levels of driving over the 4th of July holiday weekend in the face of record gasoline prices. But we already knew that.
This is a stark demonstration of the geopolitical risk premium built into the price of oil.
I have no idea how much of the price can be attributed to this. Though there are some analysts who privately tell me they think about $50 per barrel can be attributed to the continuous buzz of war in one or another portions of the Middle East and contiguous South Asia.
I do know this. If the KGB still existed — that is a little joke — and I were an agent of that organization, I would do everything possible to drum up talk of war.
No nation has prospered more from and become more powerful as a result of the controlled sense of hysteria coursing through global events since 9/11 than Russia.
Think about it. Russia’s return to the ranks of the world’s few great powers is fueled by record commodity prices, most notably in oil. Its ability to manipulate events in the Middle East — it’s providing advanced air defense systems to Iran, which has to factor into any real or imagined timeline for Israel or even the US with regard to a potential military strike — is dependent on constant rumors of war.
** TV AD WARS: GLOBAL O v. LATIN MAC. From my other blog.
** WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
Barack Obama is in Chicago, with no public events scheduled.
John McCain is in Kansas City, Missouri, a battleground state where he trails slightly in recent polling.
** SCHWARZENEGGER AND BUSH LIVE WEBCAST THIS AFTERNOON. Another interesting day in the life of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governor greets President George W. Bush and Air Force One this afternoon at Redding Airport. They then get a briefing on the fire situation and do an aerial tour of the rural Northern California fires. Then the two will brief the public and press in Redding, where Bush will announce federal support for the extraordinary fire outbreak. Which Schwarzenegger, of course, at least in part attributes to climate change. Which Bush has chosen to do nothing to halt.
I’ll have a piece on Schwarzenegger and his recent moves tomorrow.
The event will be webcast live at 3:50 PM on www.gov.ca.gov.
** 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.
** 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 now trading down in the $136 to $137 per barrel range amidst multiple signs that the weak US economy will cut demand and fresh signs of a rapprochement between the US and Iran.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum.
Digg This
del.icio.us
PJM Home
80 Comments
Jonas Blane:McCain is very unconvincing in his video. He’s been wrong about everything but the surge.
Jul 17, 2008 - 9:02 am Jonas Blane:Do you have the new Obama ad?
Jul 17, 2008 - 9:04 am Bill Bradley:Having trouble with the coding.
Jul 17, 2008 - 9:09 am Sacramento Solon:Good stuff, William.
I too much of a partisan to comment on the McCain video. Leave that for others.
Back to watching The Open…
Jul 17, 2008 - 9:09 am Bill Bradley:He was right about pulling the Marines out of Lebanon.
Being right about the surge is a major thing …
>Jonas Blane:
McCain is very unconvincing in his video. He’s been wrong about everything but the surge.
Jul 17, 2008 - 9:10 am Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 9:02 am
Thanks, Solon.
What Open? Golf? Tennis?
I’m getting ready for the Olympics.
>Sacramento Solon:
Good stuff, William.
I too much of a partisan to comment on the McCain video. Leave that for others.
Back to watching The Open…
Jul 17, 2008 - 9:12 am Sacramento Solon:Jul 17, 2008 - 9:09 am
Golf. The British Open.
Olympics will be cool.
Jul 17, 2008 - 9:29 am Capitol Boy:McCain makes sense if you buy the neocon doctrine.
Jul 17, 2008 - 9:30 am Capitol Boy:I hope you can get the new Obama ad on here.
Jul 17, 2008 - 9:31 am Len:No more KGB, that’s very funny.
Jul 17, 2008 - 9:38 am Ann:Golf. That is the game with little white men hitting little white balls into holes in the verdant green grass while riding around in little white carts?
Jul 17, 2008 - 9:59 am Bill Bradley:Now, now …
Jul 17, 2008 - 10:19 am Bill Bradley:In a sardonic way.
>Len:
No more KGB, that’s very funny.
Jul 17, 2008 - 10:20 am Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 9:38 am
Mac’s not a neocon.
>Capitol Boy:
McCain makes sense if you buy the neocon doctrine.
Jul 17, 2008 - 10:20 am Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 9:30 am
I love the Olympics.
They’ll be especially fascinating this year with all the political and environmental issues swirling about Beijing.
>Sacramento Solon:
Golf. The British Open.
Olympics will be cool.
Jul 17, 2008 - 10:32 am Capitol Boy:Jul 17, 2008 - 9:29 am
Newsom is not silly enough to run against Jerry Brown.
Jul 17, 2008 - 10:44 am Brasky:I watched about 3 minutes of McCain and thought his material was pretty good, but his delivery was off. He didn’t seem very presidential and looked at his notes way too much.
Jul 17, 2008 - 10:48 am marcus waldron:Russia must be very happy for the American “debate.”
Jul 17, 2008 - 10:55 am Kandy Kid:Ann, evidently you have not spent much time on the golf course. The white men driving the carts are usually not little, the walkers are the fit ones.
Jul 17, 2008 - 10:57 am Sacramento Solon:Bill Bradley:
I love the Olympics.
———————-
I agree. Love them. Just can’t wait until my favorite event, synchronized swimming. Be still my beating heart!
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:07 am Sacramento Solon:Ann,
Must agree with the kid. Plus, last time I checked, the best golfer on this planet wasn’t a fade!
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:09 am Bill Bradley:A fade?
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:19 am Bill Bradley:Oh, the Russians are very happy.
Maybe I should get into the Georgia situation, where the US tried a show of force this week and was humiliated …
>marcus waldron:
Russia must be very happy for the American “debate.”
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:20 am Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 10:55 am
He needs a vacation. So does Obama.
>Brasky:
I watched about 3 minutes of McCain and thought his material was pretty good, but his delivery was off. He didn’t seem very presidential and looked at his notes way too much.
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:21 am Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 10:48 am
Really?
Vladimir Putin’s favorite event is rhythm gymnastics …
>Sacramento Solon:
Bill Bradley:
I love the Olympics.
———————-
I agree. Love them. Just can’t wait until my favorite event, synchronized swimming. Be still my beating heart!
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:22 am Brasky:Jul 17, 2008 - 11:07 am
“He needs a vacation. So does Obama.”
I talked to someone who’s seen Obama close up on several occasions. This person recommended taking Obama out of circulation for a couple of days to recharge the batteries.
A retreat with foreign policy experts or potential VP candidates might be just the thing.
And I thought McCain was already taking weekends off?
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:26 am Brasky:“Vladimir Putin’s favorite event is rhythm gymnastics …”
“It’s good to be the King.”
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:27 am Bill Bradley:I think he’s getting his name out there, seeing what it’s like to do politics outside the magical boundaries of the City by the Bay, and ya know he’ll see what happens.
>Capitol Boy:
Newsom is not silly enough to run against Jerry Brown.
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:28 am Jack Aubrey:Jul 17, 2008 - 10:44 am
Forget about boring experts. The man should show Scarlett Johansson his own personal Hawaii.
Brasky:
“He needs a vacation. So does Obama.”
I talked to someone who’s seen Obama close up on several occasions. This person recommended taking Obama out of circulation for a couple of days to recharge the batteries.
A retreat with foreign policy experts or potential VP candidates might be just the thing.
And I thought McCain was already taking weekends off?
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:35 am Jack Aubrey:Jul 17, 2008 - 11:26 am Brasky
Didn’t Putin have some gold medal hottie mistress?
Brasky:
“Vladimir Putin’s favorite event is rhythm gymnastics …”
“It’s good to be the King.”
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:27 am
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:37 am Brasky:Yikes - taking the JFK thing a bit too far.
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:37 am Brasky:RE: Obama, not Putin.
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:39 am marcus:That’s what I call Diamond Head.
<<Jack Aubrey:
Forget about boring experts. The man should show Scarlett Johansson his own personal Hawaii.
Brasky:
“He needs a vacation. So does Obama.”
I talked to someone who’s seen Obama close up on several occasions. This person recommended taking Obama out of circulation for a couple of days to recharge the batteries.
A retreat with foreign policy experts or potential VP candidates might be just the thing.
And I thought McCain was already taking weekends off?
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:26 am Brasky
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:35 am
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:40 am Brasky:Wow, what is this, the Friars’ Club?
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:44 am Brasky:
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:44 am Sacramento Solon:Bill Bradley:
A fade?
—-
Old time South Central for white boy! Learned it from my brothers in the ‘hood!
Jul 17, 2008 - 12:37 pm Jonas Blane:$52 million to $22 million. That is a wipe out.
Jul 17, 2008 - 1:00 pm Jonas Blane:Any luck with the new Obama TV ad?
Jul 17, 2008 - 1:00 pm Sacramento Solon:Bill Bradley:
Really?
Vladimir Putin’s favorite event is rhythm gymnastics
—–
Nope, only kidding with you. I’m a track and field person…especially the long distance stuff.
—–
How the hell does someone raise $52 million in one month??? Wow!!!!
Jul 17, 2008 - 1:38 pm Chris M:$52,000,000 in June equals more than
$1,700,000 per day or
$72,000 per hour or
$1,200 per minute or
$20 per second
I like the ATM-like image connoted by $20/second.
Jul 17, 2008 - 2:38 pm Capitol Boy:The man raises that by being right with the Lord.
Jul 17, 2008 - 3:43 pm Dana:Newsflash–new Public Policy Institute Report: Peripheral Canal Is Best Strategy To Save Delta Ecosystem, Ensure Reliable Water Supply
http://www.ppic.org/main/pressrelease.asp?i=859
How does this dovetail w/the water bonds Senator Feinstein and the Governor are promoting?
Jul 17, 2008 - 3:55 pm Brasky:Word was Arnold and Bush would be together around 4pm. For some reason, it doesn’t seem that Arnold is going to stream me video of this event.
Jul 17, 2008 - 4:06 pm Bill Bradley:I don’t know.
Jul 17, 2008 - 4:11 pm Bill Bradley:Arnold and DiFi want a new version of the Peripheral Canal.
>Dana:
Newsflash–new Public Policy Institute Report: Peripheral Canal Is Best Strategy To Save Delta Ecosystem, Ensure Reliable Water Supply
http://www.ppic.org/main/pressrelease.asp?i=859
How does this dovetail w/the water bonds Senator Feinstein and the Governor are promoting?
Jul 17, 2008 - 4:12 pm Dana:Jul 17, 2008 - 3:55 pm
And now they have an impartial analysis to point to that supports the concept…
>Bill Bradley:
Arnold and DiFi want a new version of the Peripheral Canal.
Jul 17, 2008 - 4:21 pm Capitol Boy:We have got to move water around this state.
Jul 17, 2008 - 5:00 pm marcos leon:I’m glad Bill Clinton is finally on board. He can help.
Is Gore a little over the edge here?
Jul 17, 2008 - 5:09 pm Brasky:“We have got to move water around this state.”
Historically, any plan that moves water from the North to the South tends to run into some opposition from the North, which always perplexes the South.
It will be interesting to watch this develop.
Jul 17, 2008 - 5:21 pm Bill Bradley:ALL, as may be, gang.
I am listening to The Dark Knight score, which I’ve had most of the week, contemplating dinner, and then the midnight showing of The Dark Knight.
Which actually, odd as may seem, appears to be something of a political movie.
Thankfully, sans the usual trivia.
Jul 17, 2008 - 5:25 pm Brasky:I’d still like to see Bill and Obama go fishin’ or such. A regular guy photo op would do wonders for both of them. And please, no Eddie Bauer fly fishing gear. I’m talking sports fishing, with big motors and coolers of beer.
Jul 17, 2008 - 5:28 pm Ann:At least it’s not the Eagles.
Bill Bradley:
ALL, as may be, gang.
I am listening to The Dark Knight score, which I’ve had most of the week, contemplating dinner, and then the midnight showing of The Dark Knight.
Which actually, odd as may seem, appears to be something of a political movie.
Thankfully, sans the usual trivia.
Jul 17, 2008 - 5:25 pm
Jul 17, 2008 - 5:30 pm Brasky:And he claims to be bipartisan, but hasn’t posted CCR once. The dude does not abide.
Jul 17, 2008 - 5:39 pm Chris M:Ann, since you brought up classic rock, I’ll recommend the VH1 Rock Honors The Who show tonight at 9pm on …VH1. I attended the show Saturday at Pauley Pavillion. Good stuff if you like The Who (or the bands that covered them such as Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Tenacious D…)
Jul 17, 2008 - 5:42 pm Bill Bradley:I can’t listen to that now …
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:24 pm Bill Bradley:Creedence Clearwater Revival were Republicans?
>Brasky:
And he claims to be bipartisan, but hasn’t posted CCR once. The dude does not abide.
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:25 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 5:39 pm
Yeah, thanks.
>Ann:
At least it’s not the Eagles.
Bill Bradley:
ALL, as may be, gang.
I am listening to The Dark Knight score, which I’ve had most of the week, contemplating dinner, and then the midnight showing of The Dark Knight.
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:26 pm Brasky:“Creedence Clearwater Revival were Republicans?”
I was refering to the CCR/Eagles Divide that was highlighted in The Big Labowski.
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:27 pm Bill Bradley:Are we entirely clear that Bill Clinton is that kind of bass angler fisherman type guy.
My recollection is that he likes Cuban cigars and flashy blondes.
>Brasky:
I’d still like to see Bill and Obama go fishin’ or such. A regular guy photo op would do wonders for both of them. And please, no Eddie Bauer fly fishing gear. I’m talking sports fishing, with big motors and coolers of beer.
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:29 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 5:28 pm
Perhaps.
>marcos leon:
I’m glad Bill Clinton is finally on board. He can help.
Is Gore a little over the edge here?
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:30 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 5:09 pm
Um. Right.
>Capitol Boy:
The man raises that by being right with the Lord.
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:31 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 3:43 pm
Indeed.
>Chris M:
$52,000,000 in June equals more than
$1,700,000 per day or
$72,000 per hour or
$1,200 per minute or
$20 per second
I like the ATM-like image connoted by $20/second.
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:32 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 2:38 pm
Not at the moment. This Net stuff can be a major pain the ass.
>Jonas Blane:
Any luck with the new Obama TV ad?
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:34 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 1:00 pm
Better than Casper, I s’pose.
>Sacramento Solon:
Bill Bradley:
A fade?
—-
Old time South Central for white boy! Learned it from my brothers in the ‘hood!
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:35 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 12:37 pm
I don’t know. But my old gal pal does lots of events at the Friars Club …
>Brasky:
Wow, what is this, the Friars’ Club?
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:36 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 11:44 am
In odd synchronicity, looking at a pic of gal pal posed atop Diamond Head, panoramic view of Honolulu behind her.
>marcus:
That’s what I call Diamond Head.
<<Jack Aubrey:
Forget about boring experts. The man should show Scarlett Johansson his own personal Hawaii.
Brasky:
“He needs a vacation. So does Obama.”
I talked to someone who’s seen Obama close up on several occasions. This person recommended taking Obama out of circulation for a couple of days to recharge the batteries.
A retreat with foreign policy experts or potential VP candidates might be just the thing.
And I thought McCain was already taking weekends off?
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:26 am Brasky
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:35 am
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:38 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 11:40 am
Well, ah, purportedly. I think Putin shut down a newspaper over that, although I may be mistaken.
>Jack Aubrey:
Didn’t Putin have some gold medal hottie mistress?
Brasky:
“Vladimir Putin’s favorite event is rhythm gymnastics …”
“It’s good to be the King.”
Jul 17, 2008 - 11:27 am
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:39 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 11:37 am
Oh, right, in that scenario the Eagles are the Republican band …
>Brasky:
“Creedence Clearwater Revival were Republicans?”
I was refering to the CCR/Eagles Divide that was highlighted in The Big Labowski.
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:40 pm Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 6:27 pm
Anything over 1500 meters gets boring to me.
>Sacramento Solon:
Bill Bradley:
Really?
Vladimir Putin’s favorite event is rhythm gymnastics
—–
Nope, only kidding with you. I’m a track and field person…especially the long distance stuff.
—–
How the hell does someone raise $52 million in one month??? Wow!!!!
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:42 pm Brasky:Jul 17, 2008 - 1:38 pm
“Are we entirely clear that Bill Clinton is that kind of bass angler fisherman type guy.”
Yes. But Obama is not. I’d hate for him to do the above photo op and appear wearing something with epaulettes.
Bass anglers are the NASCAR of fishermen. That’s what I’m talking about.
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:47 pm Sacramento Solon:Bill Bradley:
Anything over 1500 meters gets boring to me
—–
I’m shocked to find out that we might disagree on something. Isn’t this the first time it’s ever happened????
Jul 17, 2008 - 6:50 pm Bill Bradley:Astonishing, to be sure.
Jul 17, 2008 - 7:30 pm Bill Bradley:Er, we are buying Bill Clinton as a bass angler because … ?
Brasky:
“Are we entirely clear that Bill Clinton is that kind of bass angler fisherman type guy.”
Yes. But Obama is not. I’d hate for him to do the above photo op and appear wearing something with epaulettes.
Bass anglers are the NASCAR of fishermen. That’s what I’m talking about.
Jul 17, 2008 - 7:32 pm Dana:Jul 17, 2008 - 6:47 pm
But the moves are so late in the game I have to guess most of the players are waiting to see who the new President will be.
And while Iraq is quelled for the moment, I worry it could alweays flare up again. Plus progress politically seems about nil.
>Bill Bradley:
Bush’s activities domestically don’t really make sense to me. He’s making some good moves internationally.
Jul 17, 2008 - 7:51 pm Dana:In the tradition of my review of La Fonda, last night I attended an informal going away get together for a friend leaving Metro to work at the Federal Transit Administration in D.C. It was held at the Edison, an upscale bar in a basement off 2nd and Main in downtown Los Angeles (I got there by bus but they have valet parking for you auto users). Place used to be a power plant, so it has a retro art deco vibe with the waitress dressed like a flapper. While an old Russian film (circa 1930) w/captions was playing on one wall another had a silent deco flying air machine shadow animated movie. The place is kind of dark, lots of people (including women in their 20s) standing around talking but they have some chairs for sitting (not just bar stolls) and some snacky food items besides serving tons of libations. I had ginger ale and listened to an insider who just retired share why he thinks the local transportation sales tax proposal may suffer because the current generation of politicos (i.e. Mayor AV) don’t know how to cut deals. If you enjoy liquid adult refreshments (albeit somewhat pricey) it is a good choice for an evening of fun, especially with some friends for company. And next door is a woodfire pizza place of some renown.
http://www.edisondowntown.com/
Jul 17, 2008 - 8:04 pm Brasky:“Er, we are buying Bill Clinton as a bass angler because … ? :)”
Bubba factor. You either have it, or you don’t.
Jul 18, 2008 - 9:27 am Bill Bradley:Ah spose …
Jul 18, 2008 - 9:53 am Bill Bradley:Sounds pretty cool. What was the old Russian movie?
>Dana:
In the tradition of my review of La Fonda, last night I attended an informal going away get together for a friend leaving Metro to work at the Federal Transit Administration in D.C. It was held at the Edison, an upscale bar in a basement off 2nd and Main in downtown Los Angeles (I got there by bus but they have valet parking for you auto users). Place used to be a power plant, so it has a retro art deco vibe with the waitress dressed like a flapper. While an old Russian film (circa 1930) w/captions was playing on one wall another had a silent deco flying air machine shadow animated movie. The place is kind of dark, lots of people (including women in their 20s) standing around talking but they have some chairs for sitting (not just bar stolls) and some snacky food items besides serving tons of libations.
Jul 18, 2008 - 9:54 am Bill Bradley:I don’t think Iran is waiting.
>Dana:
But the moves are so late in the game I have to guess most of the players are waiting to see who the new President will be.
And while Iraq is quelled for the moment, I worry it could alweays flare up again. Plus progress politically seems about nil.
>Bill Bradley:
Bush’s activities domestically don’t really make sense to me. He’s making some good moves internationally.
Jul 18, 2008 - 9:54 am Bill Bradley:Jul 17, 2008 - 7:51 pm
Incidentally, NWN passed 67,000 comments sometime in the past week.
Jul 23, 2008 - 6:40 pm