Notes on Newsom and the Pax Americana

Perhaps Joe Biden's "Feisty" and "Firey" State of the Union will keep his party from replacing him on the presidential ballot, but if not, Gavin Newsom is waiting in the wings, eager to serve. Here are a few reminders and new details concerning his actions both on the domestic and international fronts:

Non-disclosure agreements concerning California State business policy discussions

You probably remember the story about Gavin Newsom's suspected involvement in arranging a carve-out for his friend, the owner of several Panera bakeries, from California's new minimum wage law for fast food restaurants.

Well, NorCal Sierra Foothills Lurker has alerted us to a new twist on this story, which she has seen reported on local news: Non-disclosure agreements were used in negotiations of California's landmark fast food worker law

SACRAMENTO, Calif. --

We may never know what exactly happened in the final negotiations of California's controversial fast food minimum wage law because the groups involved signed non-disclosure agreements, multiple sources on all sides of the issue have confirmed to KCRA 3.

That law, which takes effect on April 1, has been at the center of intense scrutiny as Gov. Gavin Newsom faces allegations that he pushed for a special exemption in the law for bakeries to help benefit one of his billionaire donors who is also a Panera franchisee, Greg Flynn. Newsom has said the claim is absurd, and the franchisee said he never asked for special treatment.

The reporter here did some real work, and it's a fairly detailed piece. At the end:

Republican leaders call for Newsom to release documents about the bakery exemption

California Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher and Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones on Thursday called for Newsom to voluntarily release records from his office about negotiations that led to the bakery carve out in the fast food bill.

A letter to Newsom called for the release of records related to the exception and communications between his administration and Flynn.

"While we realize some of the documents requested may be exempt from disclosure, we believe that in the interest of transparency, the public interest would be served by your voluntary disclosure of these records," the letter said.

Republican lawmakers previously called for California Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate the governor's involvement in the special exemption for bakeries.

Bonta said his office is reviewing that letter.

Here's a video covering much of the information above.

And here's one from yesterday, with reactions from lawmakers.

An assemblyman named Fong from Bakersfield is proposing legislation to invalidate all laws involving non-disclosure agreements.

If City Councils can't set up non-disclosure agreements and must follow strict rules concerning public access, why not the favorites of the bigwigs?

Meanwhile, the State of California is chipping away at the rights of employers to have employees sign non-disclosure agreements.

Gavin Newsom's Visit to China

Don't forget that Newsom visited China in late October. The visit was touted as focusing on environmental issues, but some other issues, such as fentanyl, were also broached.

He stopped off in Israel for a day on the way. An update on responses to his visit later.

Dan Walters, one of the last old-time "real journalists" who didn't go to J-school, wrote this about his trip in Gavin Newsom's trip to Israel and China was tinged with hypocrisy:

So what should Californians glean from their governor's global gallivanting last week?

We learned that Gavin Newsom won't let tinges of hypocrisy impede his obsession with becoming a national, or even international, political figure.

Newsom's hastily arranged first stop was in Israel, where he spent a day commiserating about the bloody assault by Hamas terrorists. His visit included a chat with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, some conversation with victims' families about living with the constant threat of violence, and watching a video that depicted the carnage. . .

It should be noted, however, that Newsom's show of solidarity with Israelis occurred just days after he signed legislation that, among other things, makes it illegal for Californians with concealed weapons permits to carry guns in their own synagogues, for example, to defend themselves against terrorists' attacks.

That's not an imaginary threat. Just four years ago on the last day of Passover, a man armed with a rifle burst into a synagogue in Poway, near San Diego, fatally shot one woman and injured three other congregants, including the synagogue's rabbi.

A year before, an even more horrific attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue left 11 dead.

In the aftermath of the attack on Israel, many American Jews are arming themselves. But in California, not only will Jews and worshippers in other faiths be banned from protecting themselves in their houses of worship, but would-be killers will know that potential victims in "sensitive" areas will be unarmed.

After his quick trip to Israel, Newsom continued to China for events that were supposed to highlight common interests in battling climate change.

Newsom said he wanted to sidestep the growing frictions between the U.S. and China over the latter's imperialistic ambitions, its harsh repression of political dissenters in Hong Kong, its ethnic cleansing of Uyghurs in Xinjiang and other economic issues. . .

"Divorce is not an option," Newsom also said. "The only way we can solve the climate crisis is to continue our long-standing cooperation with China."

That said, China's autocratic regime is not fundamentally different from Vladimir Putin in Russia or Hamas in Palestine. All want more power, all trample on human rights - often with indiscriminate violence - and all see the United States as the major impediment.

Moreover, as Newsom was extolling Xi and other Chinese leaders for their commitment to climate change, he was ignoring the fact that they are building coal-burning power plants as fast they can.

Finally, his soft-pedaling approach to China stands in stark contrast to his drumbeat of harsh rhetoric - which continued during his travels - directed at Republican politicians in America.

It's a great piece. Worth reading and even sharing.

Most of the mainstream media was complimentary about the trip, of course. For a maybe more balanced view, Fox in Los Angeles, did an extended video about the trip. There may be some additional useful information on the trip to China here.

You might also recall that this happed soon after Newsom's trip: San Francisco cleans up filthy streets as Xi Jinping visits from China to meet with Team Biden.

They could have cleaned up the filthy streets any time they wanted to clean them up.

Update on Newsom and Israel

After his short visit to Israel in October, things didn't stay as straightforward for Newsom as he might have wanted. CalMatters, January 3: 90 days in, California politicians keep trying to navigate the Israel-Hamas war

As he promised, Newsom met with leaders of California Muslim and Arab communities on Dec. 16. The hour-long Zoom meeting, included 15 leaders from various chapters of the Council on American Islamic Relations, from mosques and from Palestinian Christian and Muslim communities. . .

Attendees described it as a positive meeting -- one in which their concerns were not dismissed or rejected, unlike experiences some California residents have had with elected officials.

"He listened, he expressed empathy and sympathy . . . and understands our concern," said Ahmed Soboh, chairperson of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, an advisory board for mosques in the region.

Attendees had six requests of Newsom, including to call for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid, and to address civil rights violations and of freedom of speech of Californians who spoke in support of Palestinians. . .

Basim Elkarra, executive director of the Sacramento and Central Valley chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations -- whose parents were born in Gaza -- said he shared with the governor that he had lost 73 members of his extended family, and that Palestinians in Gaza are starving and have limited access to water.

But he acknowledged that the governor is in a difficult situation politically.

"It's very difficult for him to say anything or put out an announcement that can contradict Biden's stance at the moment," Elkarra said. "We still hope that somehow he'll come out stronger."

He also acknowledged that Newsom delivered on his promise to send medical and other aid to Gaza.

At the meeting, attendees asked the governor to "utilize his relationship with the president and other lawmakers to bring awareness to our sentiment and demands," according to the Shura Council.

But for Assembly Republicans, the state's response against Hamas has not been strong enough. . .

So, Newsom is expressing sympathy and sending token aid to both sides, apparently. Muslim leaders in California are understanding.

Students and activist groups, maybe not so much.

The Black Agenda Report calls Newsom a Zionist in Waiting

Those who want to cast a vote against Israel's war on Gaza in next year's presidential election have no choices except Dr. Jill Stein and Dr. Cornel West . Biden is 1000% behind Israel, as are Trump and all his Republican competitors, and independent RFK Jr. may be the worst pro-Zionist contender among them. Biden's seeming heir apparent, California Governor Gavin Newsom, had the colors of the Israeli flag projected on the state capitol building on October 9, then flew off to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog and grandstand about how personal Israeli anguish had become to him after meeting with survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack. His official statement said nothing about Gaza or Palestine.

In late November, Newsom chastised the Oakland City Council for passing a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza without condemning Hamas.

Several years back, when the California Department of Education (CDE) released a draft curriculum for high school ethnic studies classes in 2019, it mentioned BDS and activists like Linda Sarsour. Jewish groups then accused the CDE and the governor of anti-Semitism, after which Newsom assured Jewish News of Northern California that the draft "will never see the light of day" and called it "offensive in so many ways." In the rewrite, there was no exploration of Palestine to be found. . .

Interesting that this would be on the "Black Agenda".

Earlier, Newsom skipped lighting the official Christmas tree because of protesters against Israel.

Do you see any notable differences from what Biden is facing?

Pax Americana, South America

Why are the taxpayers of the United States borrowing money in the name of their unborn grandchildren for their Navy to send $500,000 to Chile for, “STEAM AND GENDER STRENGTHENING THE TRAJECTORIES OF GIRLS AND YOUNG PEOPLE FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN VILLA ALEMANA CHILE.”

Really? https://t.co/XMJyJTmR7e

— cdrsalamander (@cdrsalamander) February 19, 2024

Pax Americana, Djibouti

Reuters, London:

Container ship MSC Sky II was continuing its voyage to Djibouti on Tuesday after being hit by a missile a day earlier near Yemen's port city of Aden, its operator MSC said. MSC Sky II was hit by a missile about 85 miles southeast of Aden and 170 miles east-southeast of the Bab al-Mandab Strait while it was sailing from Singapore to Djibouti, the Swiss-headquartered MSC said in a statement.

Crew from attacked ship evacuated to Djibouti

A National Guard unit from Utah is being deployed to Djibouti, the largest deployment in a decade.

The French Foreign Legion is also sending a company to djibouti. But just for four months.

Pentagon official underscores defense ties with Djibouti.

The army has been helping locals care for goats in Djobouti

Fact sheet on the U.S. government school there.

Tech in Djibouti - Looks like a site primed for development.

Music

Tin Foil Hats

Hope you have something nice planned for this weekend.

This is the Thread before the Gardening Thread.

Last week's thread, March 2, BAD THERAPY: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up

Comments are closed so you won't ban yourself by trying to comment on a week-old thread. But don't try it anyway.

posted by K.T. at 11:22 AM

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