Mike's Washington Watch http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/ A collection of analysis, news and restaurant reviews from Mike Berman. en Copyright 2009 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:59:00 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss State of the Nation
36% of Americans say they are following national politics very closely. This is the largest number in a non-Presidential election year since Gallup began tracking this question in 2001. [Gallup 9/09]

In 1999 55% of Americans said they had at least a fair amount of trust and confidence in the mass media, while 44% said they had not much or no confidence at all. By 2009 Americans had reversed their positions, with 55% saying they had not much or no confidence in the mass media and 45% expressing the contrary view. [Gallup]

This December the NBC/WSJ asked respondents from which of the following national TV news sources they get most of their information about politics and current events. Respondents said:

  • Broadcast networks such as ABC, CBS or NBC: 36%
  • Fox News cable channel: 27%
  • CNN cable channel: 16%
  • Other national TV news sources: 7%
  • MSNBC cable channel: 5%
Where folks get most of their information does seem to affect their views (or perhaps they select news channels that they know reflect their views).

In the tables that appear at several places in this newsletter, you will find the varying views of all respondents, those for whom Fox is their primary TV news source, and those whose primary TV news source is other than Fox. [NBC/WSJ 12/09]

Total - All respondents in the survey
Fox - Fox is primary news source
Other - ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, other channels are primary news source


Public opinion as to whether the country is headed in the right direction or is on the wrong track continues to track negatively. However, the 55% who think the country is on the wrong track in the NBC/WSJ poll is a substantial improvement from a year ago, when 80% thought the country was on the wrong track.

NBC/WSJ
RD/WT		 NYT/CBS
RD/WT		 WP/ABC
RD/WT
February 41/44% 23/68% 31/67%
April 43/43% 39/53% 50/48%
June 42/46% 44/50% 47/50%
July 39/49% 42/49% xxxx
August xxxx xxxx 44/55%
September 39/48% 41/53% xxxx
October 35/52% xxxx 44/54%
December 33/55% 37/56% xxxx


Total Fox Other
Country going in right direction 33% 11% 40%
Country on wrong track 55% 84% 44%



A substantial majority believe the country is in a state of decline.

Total Fox Other
America in a state of decline 61% 79% 54%
America not in a state of decline 25% 19% 41%


When asked to volunteer the most important problem facing the country today, the three top choices are jobs, the economy and healthcare. There have been some changes since January.

12/09 1/09
Jobs 24% 12%
Economy 23% 49%
Healthcare 12% 2
[CBS/NYT 12/09]



66% do not feel confident that "the life for our children's generation will be better than it has been for us."

46% believe that 2010 will be a better year for the country. 25% think it will be worse.

67% are at least somewhat satisfied with their current job security, while 32% are at least somewhat dissatisfied. These are about the same levels of satisfaction as a year ago.

15% think it is likely that they or someone in their household will lose his/her job in the next year. This is roughly the same number of folks who had this concern 10 years ago and 20 years ago.

32% report that they are providing some financial support for a child over the age of 21 or for relatives other than children or parents. [NBC/WSJ]


As a result of the recession, during the past year among 18-34 year olds,

  • 15% have postponed getting married
  • 14% postponed having a baby
  • 12% moved in with a roommate
  • 10% moved back in with their parents. [Pew 11/09]

Lack of money and low wages is the most important financial problem facing American families, say 17% of Americans in an open ended question. 14% say healthcare costs. [Gallup 11/09]


CBS/New York Times conducted a poll in early December that oversampled the unemployed. It then published the findings of its regular poll and separately reported the results from unemployed persons. There are a number of questions in which the answers of the unemployed are quite different than the population at large.


Regular sample Unemployed
Obama job approval 50% 61%
Approve Obama handling of economy 47% 57%
Approve Obama handling of healthcare 42% 55%
Approve Obama handling of job creation 38% 47%
Recession has been a hardship 24% 49%
Do you have health insurance 87% 52%



About 23% of homeowners owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. More than a half million homeowners have received notices of default. [WSJ 11/24/09]


Charities are feeling the pinch of the current economic conditions. 21% of Americans say they will be giving less to charity this year than in past years. 13% say they are likely to give more. [WP 11/09]


The Tea Party Movement (TPM) is an organizational effort begun on April 15, 2009, by three conservative organizations: FreedomWorks, dontGO, and Americans for Prosperity.

52% of respondents to the recent NBC/WSJ survey knew at least something about the TPM. with only 7% knowing a great deal about it. 48% knew little or nothing.

All respondents to the survey were asked whether they were positive or negative about the Tea Party Movement. Here is how they responded, as compared to the same group of respondents’ assessment of the Democratic and Republican Parties.

Positive Negative Neutral
Tea Party Movement 41% 23% 21%
Democratic Party 35% 45% 19%
Republican
Party		 29% 43% 27%



While the Tea Party Movement is still a bit amorphous, it is more popular than either the Democratic or Republican Parties. 41% have positive feelings about the Tea Party Movement, while 35% express positive feelings toward the Democratic Party, and 28% are positive toward the Republicans.

Total Fox Other
Identify as Democrat 40% 14% 50%
Identify as Republican 34% 61% 24%
Positive Feelings toward Dem Party 35% 10% 45%
Negative Feelings toward Dem Party 45% 77% 32%
Positive Feelings toward Repub Party 28% 45% 22%
Negative Feelings toward Repub Party 43% 27% 40%
Pos Feel toward Tea Party Movement 41% 76% 27%
Neg Feel toward Tea Party Movement 23% 5% 31%
[NBC/WSJ]



From a list of 10 people who have been public officials in the last decade, respondents were asked to select one or two people for whom they had the "most" regard and respect, and one or two for whom they had the "least" regard and respect. [153 specific choices were recorded.]

The differences between the selections of all respondents versus those who have Fox as a primary TV news source, and those who do not have Fox as a primary source, are notable.

Barack Obama and Colin Powell were first and second in the minds of the total sample as being the people for whom they had the most regard. George Bush and Dick Cheney headed the list of those for whom they had the least regard.

Among Fox viewers the results were dramatically different. Heading the list of most respected were George Bush and Sarah Palin. Al Gore and Barack Obama headed the list of least respected.

Those whose primary news sources was other than Fox rank the officials in both categories roughly the same as the total sample.

The person who was effectively best regarded by all three groups was Colin Powell. Powell finished 2nd among the total group and the non-Fox viewers, and 3rd among Fox viewers. When it came to the list of the least regarded he was at the bottom of the list of all 3 groups.

For which of these people do you have the most regard and respect:

Total Fox Other
Barack Obama 28% 4% 37%
Colin Powell 27% 26% 27%
Bill Clinton 21% 13% 24%
George W. Bush 17% 36% 11%
Hillary Clinton 14% 4% 18%
John McCain 13% 16% 11%
Sarah Palin 13% 29% 7%
Dick Cheney 9% 23% 4%
Al Gore 8% 1% 10%
Joe Biden 3% 1% 4%


For which of these people do you have the least regard and respect:

Total Fox Other
George W. Bush 33% 13% 41%
Dick Cheney 27% 8% 33%
Al Gore 19% 41% 10%
Barack Obama 19% 35% 12%
Sarah Palin 16% 7% 14%
Bill Clinton 14% 16% 13%
Hillary Clinton 10% 10% 10%
Joe Biden 9% 19% 5%
John McCain 5% 3% 6%
Colin Powell 1% 2% 1%



22% of all U.S. households do not have telephone land lines. [CDC]


The more important religion is to an individual, the more likely that he or she will identify as a Republican. The less important religion is in a person's life, the more likely they are to identify as a Democrat.

Among the most highly religious, 49% identify as Republican and 37% as Democrats. Among those who are not very religious, 26% identify as Republicans, while 56% identify as Democrats. [Gallup 12/09]


There have been a few changes in how we rate the honesty and ethics of various professions.

Continuing to top the list are nurses, who get a very high/high rating from 83% of respondents (-1 point from 2008). In second place are pharmacists at 66% (-4 points) and doctors at 65% (+1 point).

Police officers showed the greatest increase in their rating, reaching 63% (+7 points).

The biggest losers were clergy, who dropped from 56% to 50%, and bankers, who dropped from 23% to 19%.

As usual, car salespeople, at 6%, bottomed the list. [Gallup 12/09]


As of August 2008

  • Full-time civilian employment in the U.S. - 112,260,000
  • Total part-time employment - 27,600,000
    • Total employment - 139,862,000
  • Total work force of all governments - 22,487,000
  • Total U.S. government civilian work force w/o Post Office - 1,800,000
  • Total U.S. government civilian work force with the Post Office - 2,821,000
  • U.S. miliary - 1,454,000
  • U.S. military reserves - 848,000


]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/state_of_the_nation_12.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/state_of_the_nation_12.shtml December 2009 No. 89 Washington Watch december 2009 state of the nation Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:59:00 -0500 President Obama

NBC/WSJ NYT/CBS WP/ABC
Obama overall job approval
February 60/26% 62/15% 68/25%
April 61/30% 66/24% 69/26%
June 56/34% 63/26% 65/31%
July 53/40% -- 58/37%
August 51/40% -- 57/40%
September 51/41% 56/33% 54/43%
October 51/42% -- 57/40%
December 47/46% 50/39% 50/46%


In addition to the surveys above, the Gallup weekly average number for December 7-13 is 49%/42%.

When matched against the approval ratings of the last 8 Presidents in mid- December of the first year of their initial terms in office, Obama is now tied with Ronald Reagan for 8th/9th place on the basis of their approval ratings, and "1st," based on disapproval ratings. [Gallup surveys]

Approve Disapprove
GW Bush (II) 86% 11%
Kennedy  77 11
G Bush (I) 71 20
Eisenhower 69 22
Nixon 59 23
Carter 57 27
Clinton 54 40
Reagan 49 40
Obama 49 42


The following are selected demographic cuts of Obama's job approval ratings in the Gallup surveys in the 12/7-13/09 period.

Approve
Men 46%
Women  52%
18-29 year olds 59%
65 years and older 40%
White 41%
Black 70%
Hispanic 64%
Democrats 81%
Independents 46%
Republicans 18%
Liberal Democrats 86%
Pure Independents 41%
Conservative Repub 11%
Married 42%
Not Married 59%
Weekly Church Att 42%
Seldom/Never Att 53%


Here is how Obama is rated based on the two news sources.

Total Fox Other
Obama job approval 47% 15% 59%
Obama job disapproval 46% 80% 33%



The December 13th WP/ABC survey recorded a 52% disapproval of Obama's performance on the economy. 46% approved. This was the first time that his performance on the economy has moved into negative territory.

The NBC/WSJ survey taken at roughly the same time found a similar shift. 51% disapproval and 42% approval. This was also the first time his disapproval score exceeded his approval score in this survey.

Obama does get positive ratings for his performance in foreign policy. 49% approve - 42% disapprove. More specifically, he gets a 46% approval - 42% disapproval score for his handling of the war in Afghanistan. [NBC/WSJ 12/09]


The President is seen as doing a better job than the Republicans in Congress on the economy, healthcare reform, Afghanistan, and energy policy. [WP/ABC 12/09]


19% of Americans are extremely confident that Obama has the right goals and policies to be President. 33% are not at all confident.

13% are extremely confident that the President has the right goals and policies to improve the economy, but 36% are not at all confident. [NBC/WSJ 12/09]


Here is how Obama is rated on his handling of the Federal budget deficit.

Approve/Disapprove
December 2009 37/56%
October 45/51%
September 39/55%
August 41/53%
July 43/49%
June 48/48%
April 2009 51/43%
[WP/ABC]



Personal feelings about the President remain relatively high, with little change since the middle of the year.

Positive Negative
December 2009 50% 30%
October 56% 33%
September 56% 33%
August 55% 34%
July 64% 23%
June 68% 19%
April 2009 66% 14%
[NBC/WSJ]



As of the end of 2009, 32% of the officials that Obama has announced, nominated or had confirmed are women. This compares with 42% in the first year of Bill Clinton's Administration, and 26% in the first year of the Administration of George Bush II. [WashPost.com/headcount-2001 Brookings study]


Finally, in several recent December surveys, 50% or more disapprove of the way Obama in handling healthcare.

Disapprove Approve
Washington Post/ABC 53% 44%
Fox 54% 39%
CBS/NY Times 50% 42%
Bloomberg 53% 40%
Quinnipiac 54% 38%


]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/president_obama_4.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/president_obama_4.shtml December 2009 No. 89 Washington Watch december 2009 president obama Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:58:00 -0500 Healthcare
Next stop is the House/Senate conference, with the ostensible goal of final passage of legislation prior to the State of the Union Address early next year.


Rule XXII

On January 14, 1975, Senators Fritz Mondale (D-MN) and Jim Pearson (R-KS) launched an effort to change Rule 22 of the U.S. Senate. The Rule at the time required the vote of 66 Senators to end debate on a matter.

They were joined in their efforts by a number of Senators, including two who remain prominent in American politics, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Vice President Joe Biden, then a Senator from Delaware.

Their proposal was that debate could be ended by the vote of 3/5ths of the Senators present and voting.

The debate went on for just over 7 weeks. It ended on March 7, 1975, with a compromise. The Rule was changed so that debate could be ended with the vote of 3/5ths of the total number of Senators.

Would the Senate be headed for passage of this landmark healthcare legislation if 66 Senators were required to end debate? Not likely.

[Mondale was staffed by Bob Barnett.]


The following is a summary of the state of public opinion about various aspects of the legislation. The survey results that are included were all published in the last two months unless otherwise noted. [A list of all the surveys is found at the end of this section.]

* 55% say they have a good basic understanding of the changes proposed to the healthcare system
  • 56% support the change
  • 43% oppose the change
* 44% believe the changes proposed are too complicated for a good basic understanding
  • 38% support change
  • 57% oppose change
* In April 57% approved of the way that Obama was handling healthcare, with 29% disapproving. Now, in the same survey, 53% disapprove, while 44% approve.

* The public trusts Obama to do a better job of handling healthcare than the Republicans by 46% to 39%. However, that is down from June, when 55% trusted Obama, while 33% trusted the Republicans.

* By 50% to 47% Americans think it is not the government's responsibility to make sure that everyone has health coverage. However, a year ago 54% thought it was the government's responsibility.

* 47% to 32% think that the "Obama healthcare plan" is a bad idea. In April, by a 7 point margin, Americans thought it was a good idea. However, since July a plurality has considered it to be a bad idea.

* 60% don't think a health care overhaul plan should be adopted if only Democrats support it.

* In April, 24% believed that the quality of healthcare would get worse based on what they heard about the Obama plan. In late October that number rose to 40%.

* 57% think that people should have the option of being covered by a government health insurance plan: the so-called “public option.”

* If the new healthcare bill becomes law, 41% think the healthcare system will be better and 40% think it will be worse.

* 48% would advise their Member of Congress to vote against the healthcare bill, while 46% would advise their Member to vote for it.

[WP/ABC 11/09]
[WP/ABC 4/09;12/09]
[WP/ABC 12/09;6/09]
[NBC/WSJ 12/09;4/09]
[Quinnipiac 11/09]
[NYT 4/09;NBC/WSJ 10/09]
[Quinnipiac 11/09]
[Gallup 11/09]
[Gallup 12/09]


Medicare spends 2 or 3 percent of its budget on administration. If a government- run plan had to spend its own money to collect premiums, market itself to customers, maintain a reserve, and manage care in a way that lowers costs and raises quality – none of which Medicare now does – then you can be sure its administrative costs would be nowhere near 2 or 3 percent. [Steve Pearlstein, WP 8/19/09]

]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/healthcare.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/healthcare.shtml December 2009 No. 89 Washington Watch december 2009 healthcare Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:57:00 -0500 2010 Congressional Campaigns
You'll recall that the Democratic margin before the 2008 election was 15 points, 54% to 39%.


68% disapprove of the job being done by Congress according to the mid- December NBC/WSJ survey. Only 22% approve. This is the lowest score recorded for the Congress in that survey since January 2009, when a similar number expressed their disapproval.

Those numbers are confirmed by a recent Gallup survey which found 69% disapproval and 25% approval of the job being done by Congress. A December Fox survey paints a slightly better picture, finding only a 59% disapproval.


34% say they rate the current Congress as one of the worst when it comes to performance and accomplishments. Another 24% say it is below average, bringing the total negative rating to 58%. This is the most negative rating recorded in the NBC/WSJ survey, which first asked this question in the fall of 1990. In October 1994, only 16% rated that Congress as being one of the worst.

81% of Americans feel that 2009 was a year in which the Democrats and Republicans in Congress represented a period of division with little willingness to compromise. In January 2009, when asked to look ahead at the coming year, a plurality of 48% thought the year would be one of unity and working together by the two Parties.

The preference of the public remains marginally for a Democratic-controlled Congress, by 43% to 41%. In November 2008 there was a preference for Democratic control by 12 points, and in October 2006 the Democratic margin was 15 points. [NBC/WSJ 12/09]

U.S. Senate

In the U.S. Senate the position of Democratic incumbents who must face the voters in 2010 continues to be problematic. For all practical purposes the Connecticut race is now rated as Leaning Republican. Senator Chris Dodd (D) does not seem able to overcome the drop in popularity that followed his unsuccessful run for the Presidency.

North Dakota Democratic Senator Byran Dorgan is in good shape for re-election so long as Republican Governor John Hoeven does not enter the race. The governor has not yet made his intentions clear. This is a free race for the Governor, since he will still be governor if he makes the Senate run and loses. If he enters the race, this contest between two very popular public officials will be rated as a Toss-Up.

The Pennsylvania race will be interesting. Republican turned-Democrat Arlen Spector has a May 18th primary date with Congressman Joe Sestak. Former Republican Congressman Pat Toomey is likely to make the general election a real slug fest.

  • Democrats 58
  • Republicans 40
  • Independents 2 (caucus Dem)
Here is how the 37 Senate elections (19 Democratic incumbents, 18 Republican incumbents) look to me at this time (underlining reflects retirement). (D=Dem incumbent in office, R=GOP incumbent in office, I=Ind. incumbent in office)

Safe Democratic (9) Leaning Democratic (4) Toss-Up (9) Leaning Republican (4) Safe Republican (11)
Hawaii Arkansas
 Colorado Connecticut Alabama
Indiana California Delaware Florida
 Arkansas
Maryland New York (B)*
 Illinois Louisiana Arizona
Massachusetts
 No. Dakota
 Kentucky No. Carolina Georgia
New York (A) Missouri
Idaho
Oregon
Nevada
Iowa
Vermont New Hampshire   Kansas
Washington
   Ohio   Oklahoma
Wisconsin   Pennsylvania   So. Carolina
 
  So. Dakota
      Utah





  Democrats Republicans Ind
Seats not up in 2010 40 21 2
Safe in 2010 9 11 0
Leaning in 2010 4 4 0
Total 53 36 2
Toss-ups 9 (4R / 5D)    


[* Gillibrand]

The U.S. House of Representatives

When it comes to the potential re-election of their representative in Congress, 49% now think it is time to give a new person a chance, as opposed to 38% who say their representative deserves to be re-elected.

  Total Fox Other
Representative deserves re-election 38% 29% 41%
Give new person a chance 49% 62% 44%


The number of seats that the Cook Political Report rates as solidly Democratic has dropped by 30 seats since the beginning of the year, from 204 to 174. The total number of solidly Republican seats has grown from 147 to 151. Two Democratic seats are now seen as in the Republican column, while 1 Republican seat is now leaning Democratic.

  • Democrats 258
  • Republicans 177
  • Vacancy 3


4/1/09 8/15/09 10/6/09 11/5/09 12/16/09
Total Dem 255 256 256 258 257
Solid Dem 204 195 183 180 174
Likely Dem 29 37 44 45 44
Lean Dem 20 17 20 21 29
Toss-Up 2 9 11 15 19
     D 2 7 9 12 16
     R 0 2 2 3 3
Lean GOP 6 9 10 9 8
Likely GOP 26 27 21 15 16
Solid GOP 147 138 143 150 151
Total GOP 179 176 176 177 178


[As always, thanks to the Cook Political Report, which is the best when it comes to analysis of Congressional races (as well as other electoral matters)].


Pollsters Bennett, Petts & Normington have opined that the approval rating of the President drives his party's gains or losses in mid-term elections. Their conclusion is that losses of more than 20 seats only occur when a President's approval rating slips significantly below 50%.

The following is a summary of mid-terms beginning with 1978.

1978

- President Carter
- Gallup job approval ratings 2 months before election

  • September 48/34
  • October 49/36
- Incumbent President House seat losses - 15

1982

- President Reagan
- Gallup job approval ratings 2 months before election

  • September 42/48
  • October 42/48
- Incumbent President House seat losses - 20

1986

- President Reagan
- Gallup job approval ratings 2 months before election

  • September 63/26
  • October 63/29
- Incumbent President House seat losses - 5

1990

- President Bush I
- Gallup job approval ratings 2 months before election

  • September 67/20
  • October 54/36
- Incumbent President House seat losses - 8

1994

- President Clinton
- Gallup job approval ratings 2 months before election

  • September 44/51
  • October 41/52
- Incumbent President House seat losses - 54

1998

- President Clinton
- Gallup job approval ratings 2 months before election

  • September 63/35
  • October 65/32
- Incumbent President House seat gains - 5

2002

- President Bush II
- Gallup job approval ratings 2 months before election

  • September 66/30
  • October 62/31
- Incumbent President House seat gains - 8

2006

- President Bush II
- Gallup job approval ratings 2 months before election

  • September 44/51
  • October 37/58
- Incumbent President House seat losses - 30

]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/2010_congressional_campaigns_4.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/2010_congressional_campaigns_4.shtml December 2009 No. 89 Washington Watch 2010 congressional campaigns december 2009 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:56:00 -0500 Restaurant: KOMI

KOMI

1509 17th Street NW
Washington, D.C.
Reservations 202-332-9200
johnny@komirestaurant.com I went to Komi with Libby, Heather and Tony. This restaurant is a "must" for your list of places to eat when you want a special meal.

Komi is on the 2nd floor of an unassuming building above a dry cleaner. It is reached by an outdoor wrought iron stair case. The dining room is long and relatively narrow, with a kitchen at the far end. There is an open doorway and a large window through which you can watch the food being prepared.

The walls of the restaurant are painted a light cream color and the floor is of well- honed wood planks. The lighting is such that there is a generally comfortable feeling about the room. Scattered around the room are high sconces with real burning candles.

There are two overall "dinner" options.

The 1st option is called "Dinner" - $90 - which is only offered on Tuesday- Thursday. The 2nd option is "Degustazione” - $125. It is offered Tuesday - Saturday. [Wine is extra.]

We selected the "Dinner." The "Degustazione" is apparently an even larger version of the "Dinner."

Dinner began with a selection of "Mezzetkakia" (a series of "small" dishes or hors d'oeuvres). There is generally about one bite per person.

Sliced yellow fin
Steamed brioche topped with creme freshe and caviar
Oysters
Tartare of Alaskan king salmon with candied pine nuts
Crispy Caesar salad (not like any Caesar salad you have ever eaten)
Tiny hoagie sandwich
Grilled octopus with braised Brussel sprouts
Prosciutto Sendanide

For a first course, Libby and Tony selected the Kabocha Agnolotti with blood oranges & speck. Heather and I had the Pappardelle with a ragu of rabbit & olives. Of course we all shared tastes.

For their entree Heather and Tony opted for the Roasted Katsikaki. Libby and I went for the Roasted Suckling Pig. (Three of the four dishes offered as entrees were for two persons. The 3rd dish for two was Cavrari Me Alati. The only dish that seemed to be designed for one person was Cauliflower Flan with smoked greens.)

1/4 of a suckling pig is roasted, skin and all, and then sliced after presentation. This was the first time I ate suckling pig. It is quite good.

The Katsikaki is cooked whole in a mound of salt and then served filleted.

The separate dessert menu offered four treats. We ordered all of them and had a tasting, Greek Doughnuts with a mocha milkshake; Frozen Baklava; Chocolate Tart with Pomegranate & green tea; Caramel Apple with malt & ginger.

Tony selected the wines.

The service was as close to perfect as a restaurant might get. Everything came with an explanation.

Johnny Monis, the owner/chef, is 24 years old.

This is not a place to go for a "quick" dinner. We were eating for about 2 1⁄2 hours, but it did not drag. And it is not a meal that you will want to have too often.

For those who invariably request that there be one or more changes to items on the menu, this is not the place for you. First, you don't know in advance what will be delivered in the way of small dishes. And, given the nature of the items for which there is a choice, modification is not a logical option.

The men's room is near the back of the restaurant, up two stairs. The room is not very large, but of ample size. On the wall to the right of the door there is a white ceramic washbasin with a silver framed mirror above it. The towels are cloth. On the wall opposite the door there is a white ceramic commode and a white ceramic, wall-attached, urinal. There is no separator between them. The walls are covered with large square charcoal gray tiles with light accents and swirls. The floor is covered with large black tiles.

Dress is nice, but casual, like so many of the restaurants in the area and increasingly around D.C.

Reservations are accepted up to one month before the date you would like to visit. We got our reservation by calling and asking what dates might be available. The first date suggested was only 10 days from our phone call.]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/restaurant_komi.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/restaurant_komi.shtml December 2009 No. 89 Restaurant Reviews Washington D.C. Washington Watch komi restaurant washington d.c. Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:55:00 -0500 Restaurant: La Pain Quotidian

La Pain Quotidian

4874 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, D.C.
202-459-9179 On the Friday after Thanksgiving I ventured off to the Spring Valley Shopping Center to get my car serviced. As luck would have it, they were able to start working on the car immediately. It was 8:15 a.m. and I needed to kill 45 minutes.

Across Mass Avenue I saw a Starbucks and headed in that direction. But as I crossed the street I found myself in front of a restaurant/bakery I had passed many times before but never tried. And so I did.

It is called La Pain Quotidian.

In terms of the kind food that is served here, it is about as far away from Ben's Chili Bowl as one can get. But in its own way, it is just as good.

The restaurant is V-shaped, with two long walls being floor-to-ceiling glass windows. There are a number of 2- and 4-person tables, and two communal tables, one which holds 30 people, and the other which holds 16.

The tables and chairs are made of plain wood and the chairs are a little on the small side.

I had a small bowl of cut fruit (the fruit is cut into relatively small pieces, making it a whole lot easier to eat than the ordinary size of cut fruit); a small bowl of mixed berries; a bowl of fresh organic granola with skim milk; an egg white omelet with wild mushrooms; a pumpkin muffin (selected by my server as her favorite); hot and cold espresso; and ice tea. [I did not eat all of the foregoing at one time. I tried the restaurant a second time the next morning.]

The breakfast menu includes 6 different omelettes, all of which can be ordered with egg whites. Plain fried eggs are also available. In addition to the Granola there is an offering of organic steelcut oatmeal.

There are a variety of fresh breads and rolls available for consumption during a meal or for take-out from a bakery section.

On my 3rd visit I ordered artine (sandwich) of warm chicken, cheddar cheese and a smatterings of other goodies. It was quite large, and frankly would serve two people if you started with a bowl of soup or a small salad.

The lunch menu includes:

13 Tartines such as grilled chicken, smoked mozzarella, arugula and basil pesto; 8 salads; 4 special platters; and 3 quiches.

There are organic & biogeneric beers and wines on request.

The restaurant offers three meals a day. It is a bit pricey, but overall worth it.

On my first visit there were relatively few people in the restaurant. On Saturday, when I arrived around 10 a.m., it was quite a bit busier. There were many families with small children and it was a bit noisier than my previous visit. On my 3rd visit, late noon on a Friday, there were maybe a dozen people having lunch.

The servers were young, energetic, friendly, and attentive.

The men's room is simple but more than adequate. There is a white ceramic commode and a white ceramic washbasin with a large ornate framed mirror over it. There are small light green tiles up to 6 feet on the walls, and then tan painted walls above that height. The floor is covered with very large tan tiles.

]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/restaurant_la_pain_quotidian.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/12/restaurant_la_pain_quotidian.shtml December 2009 No. 89 Restaurant Reviews Washington D.C. Washington Watch la pain quotidian restaurant washington d.c. Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:55:00 -0500 State of the Nation
Unemployment may have actually reached 20%, when taking into account people who have stopped looking for jobs and those who are underemployed as a result of significant cuts in their total compensation.


The October NBC/WSJ survey paints a portrait of how Americans feel early in the 4th quarter of 2009.

52% - country off on the wrong track

63% - the level of unemployment has not hit bottom

58% - there is still a ways to go before the economy hits bottom

49% - very dissatisfied with the state of the U.S. economy today. Additional

31% - are somewhat dissatisfied.

22% - think economy will get worse (33% think it will stay the same)

62% - the President and Congress should think more about keeping budget deficit down even if it takes longer for economy to recover

48% - government doing too many things

36% - government has not done enough to help improve economy (30% say it has done enough)

65% - trust the government only some of the time

46% - at least mildly favor building a new independent political party (this is roughly the same % of folks who had this view in April 2006. 53% expressed this view in July 2007)


Here is the track of opinion as to whether the country is headed in the right direction or off on the wrong track.

NBC/WSJ
RD/WT		 NYT/CBS
RD/WT		 WP/ABC
RD/WT
February 41/44% 23/68% 31/67%
April 43/43% 39/53% 50/48%
June 42/46% 44/50% 47/50%
July 39/49% 42/49% xxxx
August xxxx xxxx 44/55%
September 39/48% 41/53% xxxx
October 35/52% xxxx 44/54%



In the year since President Obama was elected there has been a change in intensity as to which of several identified issues should be the top priority for the President. The economy is still #1; healthcare and the Federal budget deficit have gone from single to double digits.

11/08 10/09
Economy 64% 41%
Iran and Afghanistan 11% 18%
Health care 5% 17%
Federal budget deficit 7% 14%
Energy 6% 2%


Democrats and Republicans agree on the importance of the economy, and they are in close agreement on Iran and Afghaniston. Beyond that there is little agreement between partisans. Democrats (30%) find healthcare more important than Republicans (10%); Republicans (23%) are more concerned with the deficit than Democrats (5%). [Gallup]


There is increasing consternation about the amount of money being spent on Federal elections. It is estimated that $5.9 billion was spent in 2007-08. Certainly that is a lot of money. But is it really that much money, given the importance of these elections, and the amount of money that is spent on other things?

In the same 2007-08 period, Americans spent $10.8 billion on decorations, costumes and candy for Halloween.

[Tony Corrado, Colby College; National Retail Federation]


As to relations between blacks and whites, the assessment by Americans today is about what it was in 1963. The highest level of optimism came in 2008, immediately following the election of Barack Obama. The height of pessimism came in 1996, following the acquittal of O.J. Simpson. [Gallup]

Will always be
a problem		 Solution will be
worked out
2009 40% 56%
2008 30% 67% (post-election)
2001 47% 47%
1996 68% 29%
1993 53% 44%
1963 42% 55%



On October 6th, by a margin of 48% to 45%, we favored sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. On September 23rd, we opposed additional troops by 50% to 41%. [Gallup]


Federal lobbyists seem to come and go. By mid-year 2007, there were 13,428 registered lobbyists. As of the end of the 3rd quarter 2009 there were 11,014 registered lobbyists, an 18% decline. While the number of registrations has always varied between reporting periods, this is the most dramatic drop since 2000. [Center for Responsive Politics; OMB Watch]

Conventional wisdom seems to be that a large part of this change is driven by the Obama Administration's stated antipathy for lobbyists. The open-ended question is whether those who have "de-registered" are still in the business or hewing carefully to a strict interpretation of the law, rather than responding to the spirit of the law.

There is one other period during this decade in which there were a large number of "de-registrations." Registrations dropped from 11,604 to 9,721 between the middle and end of 2000. The reason for that 16% drop is not obvious. It may have to do with heat being applied to some outliers who were pushing the limits of the law. Again, folks who had registered out of an abundance of caution deregistered.

]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/state_of_the_nation_11.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/state_of_the_nation_11.shtml No. 88 November 2009 Washington Watch november 2009 state of the nation Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 Who We Are
In the October NBC/WSJ survey, 30% described themselves as Democrats and 17% as Republicans. 44% are Indepenents (13 points lean Dem/14% points lean GOP). 9% picked another description or were not sure.


Who are the Democrats, Republicans and Independents ideologically? Who are the liberals, moderates and conservatives on a Party partisan basis?

Those questions should be pretty easy to answer. You run tabs for the one against the other, and it is done. However, it turns out it is not so easy. First, you have to decide how you are going to define the parameters of each of the partisan choices.

For example, if you include within the group of Republicans those Independents who "lean" Republican, and within the group of Democrats those Independents who "lean" Democratic, because that is how they tend to vote, then Independents (including those who do not answer) account for 26% of the electorate. However, if you lump together all of the folks who say they are Independents, and do not look to how they "lean", then Independents represent 52% of the electorate.

To fully calculate whether Independent "leaners" should be included as Democrats or Republicans, one would analyze the two leaning groups and see to what extent they look like those who are totally part of one partisan group or the other. That analysis is beyond the energy of the WW.

Here is the partisan/ideological split, using the broadest definition of Independents. [October NBC/WSJ]

Democrats - 30% of the electorate

  • 47% liberal
  • 36% moderate
  • 14% conservative


Independents - 52% of the electorate

  • 18% liberal
  • 36% moderate
  • 37% conservative


Republicans - 17% of the electorate

  • 6% liberal
  • 24% moderate
  • 69% conservative


The partisan/ideological split, including "leaners" with the partisan group to which they lean, looks like this

Democrats - 43% of the electorate

  • 43% liberal
  • 40% moderate
  • 14% conservative


Independents - 26% of the electorate

  • 14% liberal
  • 40% moderate
  • 38% conservative


Republicans - 31% of the electorate

  • 6% liberal
  • 25% moderate
  • 67% conservative


Finally, here is a look at the ideological/partisan split including Independent "leaners" with the partisan group to which they lean

Liberals

  • 75% Democratic
  • 17% Independent
  • 8% Republican


Moderates

  • 51% Democratic
  • 26% Independent
  • 23% Republican


Conservatives

  • 17% Democratic
  • 32% Independent
  • 60% Republican


]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/who_we_are.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/who_we_are.shtml No. 88 November 2009 Washington Watch november 2009 who we are Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:58:00 -0500 2009 Elections
The elections can also be read as a reflection of a Democratic gubernatorial incumbent (New Jersey) who had a very poor job approval rating for his performance in office, and a Democratic candidate for Governor (Virginia) who simply didn't have it.

The elections can also be read as older Americans caring more than younger Americans about making the effort to get out and vote, and as Independents switching course.


Given the surprising closeness of the New York Mayoral election, the most intriguing post-election question is whether City Comptroller Bill Thompson, the Democratic nominee, would have won if any part of the Democratic establishment from the President to the Congressional delegation had actively supported him?


It is hard to believe that there is much to be read in the Democratic victory in the NY-23 Congressional seat. A political fiction writer probably would not have been able to find a publisher for a novel with the plot line that transpired in that race.


It is fair to say that, while voters still like President Obama, his personal status is not transferable to others in the political arena.


It is always the case that the composition of the electorate in a non- Presidential election year is quite different from that in Presidential election years. This was particularly notable in this year's Virginia and New Jersey elections. The following reflects the percentage of the electorate that each of the noted groups constituted in November 2008 and November 2009 in these two States.

Virginia New Jersey
'08 '09 '08 '09
18-29 years of age 21% 10% 17% 9%
45 years of age and older 49% 65% 53% 66%

Conservatives 33% 40% 25% 30%
Independents 27% 30% 28% 28%


While Independents are not a party, they do seem supported Democrats in 2008 and 2006. In 2009 they switched.

Here is how Independents voted in the two Gubernatorial elections last Tuesday, compared to how they voted last November. [WW is conscious that votes for President and votes for Governors are different. Nonetheless WW finds the comparison interesting.]

Virginia 2008 Obama (D) 49% McCain (R) 48%

2009 Deeds (D) 33% McDonnell (R) 66%

New Jersey 2008 Obama (D) 51% McCain (R) 47%

2009 Corzine (D) 30% Christie (R) 60%


Whether these elections are a harbinger of the future in the 2010 and 2012 elections is less clear.

The following chart details, from 1960 - 2008, the results of the Gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey following each Presidential election year.

Following the 7 Presidential elections, 1960-1984, there were 5 Virginia/New Jersey Guberatorial elections in which the person elected in each of the States was from the same Party as the recently elected President. In the other 2 cycles, one State selected a person who was of the same Party as the President.

Beginning in 1988, there has not been a single cycle when both States elected a Governor who was from the same Party as the President.

In 1988, 2000 and 2004, with a Republican President, both States elected Democratic Governors. In 1992, 1996 and 2008, with a Democrat President, both States elected Republican Governors. Go figure.

Virginia & New Jersey Election Results 1960 to Present:

Virginia and New Jersey Election Results 1960 to Present

]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/2009_elections.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/2009_elections.shtml No. 88 September 2009 Washington Watch 2009 elections november 2009 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:57:00 -0500 President Obama

NBC/WSJ NYT/CBS WP/ABC
Obama overall job approval
February 60/26% 62/15% 68/25%
April 61/30% 66/24% 69/26%
June 56/34% 63/26% 65/31%
July 53/40% -- 58/37%
August 51/40% -- 57/40%
September 51/41% 56/33% 54/43%
October 51/42% -- 57/40%


When matched against the approval ratings of November of the first year of their initial terms in office, Obama now ranks 8th. Only Clinton had numbers lower than his. Last month he was tied for 5th/6th/7th. [Gallup surveys]

Approve Disapprove
GW Bush (II) 89 9
Kennedy  79 9
G Bush (I) 70 17
Nixon 67 19
Eisenhower 61 26
Carter 55 30
Reagan 53 35
Obama 50 41
Clinton 48 45


The WP/ABC survey in mid-October gave Obama a 50% approval rating on the economy, with disapproval being 48%, the lowest approval rating on this subject since he took office.

The NBC/WSJ survey in late October found the country about dead even on his handling of the economy, with 47% approval to 46% disapproval. This is the lowest approval and highest disapproval record in this poll on this subject since Obama took office.

As to his handling of foreign policy, the NBC/WSJ survey showed Obama with a 51% approval rating and a 39% disapproval rating. The WP/ABC shows him with an approval of 57% and disapproval of 36% on his handling of international affairs. It also rates him at 52% to 36% on handling Iran.

Here is how Obama is rated on his handling of the Federal budget deficit.

AP/DAP
April 51/43% [WP/ABC]
June 48/48% [WP/ABC]
July 43/49% [WP/ABC]
August 41/53% [WP/ABC]
September 39/55% [WP/ABC]
October 45/51% [WP/ABC]



Personal feelings about the President remain relatively high, with little change since the middle of the year.

Positive Negative
October 2009 56% 33%
September 2009 56% 33%
July 2009  55% 34%
April 2009 64% 23%
February 2009 68% 19%
January 2009 66% 14%
[NBC/WSJ]



When asked to rate the President on a number of personal qualities, the response to Obama is still quite strong and positive, although the strength of those ratings has dropped somewhat since the first of the year.



However, when it comes to qualities that might more accurately be described as performance qualities, rather than personal qualities, Obama is not doing nearly as well.




There has been a drop in confidence as to whether Obama will be able to meet a number of the challanges facing his Administration.

November 2008 October 2009
Heal political divisions in the country 54% 28% (-26)
Control Federal spending 52% 31% (-21)
Improve healthcare system 64% 46% (-18)
Reduce unemployment 67 51% (-16)
Increase respect for U.S. abroad 76% 60% (-16)
Bring U.S. troops home from Afghanistan in a way not harmful to U.S. 58% 46% (-12)
Bring U.S. troops home from Iraq in a way not harmful to U.S. 66% 56% (-10)
Keep U.S. safe from terrorism 62% 57% (-5)
[Gallup]



82% of Americans still believe it is important that Obama keep his campaign promises. They are equally divided, 48%/48%, as to whether Obama has kept the promises made during his Presidential campaign. In April, by 65% to 29%, respondents thought he had been keeping his promises. [Gallup]


After his election the public was evenly divided, 45% to 43%, in its belief that Obama's policies would be slightly more moderate than liberal. Today, their view has changed. Now 54% see him as pursuing liberal policies, as opposed to 34% who say he pursues primarily moderate policies. [Gallup]


Immediately after his election, 80% thought Obama would make a "sincere effort to work with Republicans." Today 60% have that view. The number who did/do not think he would make a sincere effort has doubled from 19% to 38%. [Gallup]


While Obama's personal and performance numbers have dropped, there is still considerable support for him. When working for candidates, we learn that the last thing you want to do, because it is so hard, is to convince someone who is supporting the other candidate to be for your candidate.

You first have to get that person to consider the possibility that s/he may be wrong and get them to an "undecided" position. Then you have to convince them that they were wrong and to vote for your candidate.

During the campaign there were many people who came to believe that their aspirations could be fulfilled by voting for Obama. Now, it seems they are not yet ready to admit they might have been wrong.


Vice President Biden's favorable rating has dropped from 53% to 42% since the beginning of the Administration. His unfavorable rating has grown from 29% to 40%. [Obama's relative drop in favorable ratings during the same period was 78% to 55%.]

There has been little drop in the positive attitude of Democrats during that period (75% to 73%). As would be expected, it dropped by 16 points among Republicans (48% to 32%).

The decline among Independents has also been rather steep, 48% to 32%. [Gallup]

]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/president_obama_3.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/president_obama_3.shtml No. 88 November 2009 Washington Watch november 2009 president obama Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:56:00 -0500 Healthcare: Could Christmas Eve Come and Go Without Completion of Healthcare?
The Senate is not yet ready to bring its bill to the floor, but is likely to do so in the next week. Negotiations among the various factions within the Democratic caucus are continuing.

It is most likely that by the time of the Christmas break, both houses will have passed their versions of the bill. The conference will then take place after the 1st of the year, with a goal of having the legislation enacted before the President gives his State of the Union address.

Going back to early September, there has only been one major national media survey that found a plurality of Americans approving of the way in which the President is handling healthcare. Most recently, the NBC/WSJ survey [10/22/09] reported that Americans disapproved of the way Obama was handling the issue by 48% to 43%.

The public, as it has for some time, is far more trusting of President Obama then they are of Republicans to handle healthcare. By 62% to 21% folks do not approve of the way that Republicans in Congress are handling healthcare reform.

However, a plurality of 42% think that the President's plan is a bad idea. 38% think it is a good plan. [NBC/WSJ 10/09]

57% support the idea of the Government creating a health insurance plan to compete with private health insurance plans. [WP/ABC 10/09]

51% believe the Federal Government should guarantee health insurance for all Americans. [CBS/NYT 9/09]

By 2 to 1 there is support for raising income taxes on households making more than $250,000 to provide health insurance for those who cannot afford it. [CBS/NYT 10/09]

]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/healthcare_could_christmas_eve.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/healthcare_could_christmas_eve.shtml No. 88 November 2009 Washington Watch healthcare november 2009 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:55:00 -0500 2010 Congressional Campaigns
This was a substanial fall from the 54% - 39% Democratic margin just before the 2008 election. This is also down from a 6 point margin in July.

Based on the historical relationship between the final pre-election results in the generic ballot just before the election and the final results of the election, Democrats need to be getting 48-49% of the vote in order to achieve at least a 218 vote majority in the House.


In its late October survey, NBC/WSJ found 65% disapproving of the job being done by Congress, with 24% approving.

A Gallup survey earlier in the month found 16% of Independents approving of the work being done by Congress.

The U.S. Senate

There have been no significant changes in the contests for the U.S. Senate in the last month. Increasingly, odds are that the Democrats will not be able to maintain their 60 vote position.

  • Democrats 58
  • Republicans 40
  • Independents 2 (caucus Dem)
Here is how the 38 Senate elections (19 Democratic incumbents, 19 Republican incumbents) look to me at this time (underlining reflects retirement). (D=Dem incumbent in office, R=GOP incumbent in office, I=Ind. incumbent in office)

Safe Democratic (10) Leaning Democratic (4) Toss-Up (10) Leaning Republican (3) Safe Republican (11)
Hawaii Arkansas
 Connecticut Florida
 Alabama
Indiana California Delaware Louisiana
 Arkansas
Maryland Colorado
 Illinois No. Carolina Arizona
Massachusetts
 No. Dakota
 Kentucky   Georgia
New York (A) Missouri
Idaho
New York (B)
Nevada
Iowa
Oregon New Hampshire   Kansas
Vermont   Ohio   Oklahoma
Washington   Pennsylvania   So. Carolina
Wisconsin   Texas   So. Dakota
      Utah





  Democrats Republicans Ind
Seats not up in 2010 39 21 2
Safe in 2010 10 11 0
Leaning in 2010 4 3 0
Total 53 35 2
Toss-ups 10 (5R / 5D)    


The U.S. House of Representatives

There is a general pattern of a new President's political Party losing seats in the House in the mid-term election following his inauguration. This was true of Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton. The only exception was the first mid- term of election of Bush II in which Democrats lost 7 seats.

Most observers who WW respects are quite certain that Obama's first mid- term election will not be an exception to this pattern.


While the total number of Democratic seats in the House has grown from 255 in April to 258 today, the number of seats that the Cook Political Report rates as solidly Democratic has dropped from 204 to 180. The total number of solidly Republican seats has grown from 147 to 150.

  • Democrats 256
  • Republicans 176
  • Vacancy 3

4/1/09 8/15/09 10/6/09 11/5/09
Total Dem 255 256 256 258
Solid Dem 204 195 183 180
Likely Dem 29 37 44 45
Lean Dem 20 17 20 21
Toss-Up 2 9 11 15
     D 2 7 9 12
     R 0 2 2 3
Lean GOP 6 9 10 9
Likely GOP 26 27 21 15
Solid GOP 147 138 143 150
Total GOP 179 176 176 177


[As always, thanks to the Cook Political Report, which is the best when it comes to analysis of Congressional races (as well as other electoral matters)].

]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/2010_congressional_campaigns_3.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/2010_congressional_campaigns_3.shtml No. 88 November 2009 Washington Watch 2010 congressional campaigns november 2009 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:54:00 -0500 Select Cable / Broadcast Ratings
Beginning on October 8th with statements in Time Magazine, and continuing on CNN on October 11th, the White House staff expressed its irritation and took on Fox.

Fox responded through various of its programs, and the encounter was on and accelerated. Intrigued with the question of whether this encounter had the affect of increasing Fox's audience, WW set out to find out.

Based on WW's review (which will be explained below) there was no apparent increase in audience.

Here is what I did. I reviewed the daily and weekly ratings of the Fox News Channel for the 7-12 p.m. time period, and particular programs for the 2 weeks before and the 2 weeks after October 11th. Additionally, I looked at a different set of ratings for the 6-9 a.m. period.

[HH = number of TV households; rating of 1.0 = 1,149,000 households]

7- 12 p.m.

2 weeks before - average HH rating 1.28 (1,471,000HH)
2 weeks after - average HH rating 1.275 (1,465,000HH)

Glen Beck show

2 weeks before - average HH rating 1.025 (1,178,000HH)
2 weeks after - average HH rating .98 (1,126,000HH)

Sean Hannity show

2 weeks before - average rating 1.075 (1,235,000HH)
2 weeks after - average rating 1.015 (1,166,000HH)

6 - 9 a.m.

9/22-10/19/08 - rating .98 (1,126,000HH)
9/21-10/18/09 - ratomg .83 (953,000HH)

Here is additional information you may find of interest.

7-12 p.m. 4th quarter 2009 season to date

Fox News Channel - rating 1.28 (1,471,000HH)
CNN - rating .44 (506,000HH)
MSNBC - rating .44 (506,000HH)
Headline news - rating .35 (402,000HH)
CNBC - rating .13 (149,000HH)

6-7 p.m. 4th quarter 2009 season to date

NBC Nightly News - rating 5.47 (6,285,000HH)
ABC World News Tonight - rating 5.07 (5,825,000HH)
CBS Evening News - rating 3.91 (4,493,000HH)

]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/select_cable_broadcast_ratings.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/select_cable_broadcast_ratings.shtml No. 88 November 2009 Washington Watch Broadcast Ratings november 2009 Select Cable Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:53:00 -0500 Restaurant: Ben's Chili Bowl

Ben's Chili Bowl

1213 U Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
202-667-0909
www.benschilibowl.com It is 7:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning. You have eaten carefully for days on end; chicken, fish, veggies and fruit, little or no added fat.

Suddenly, you have an unquenchable "thirst" for an old fashioned, artery- clogging, bacon and egg sandwich. You know there are a variety of restaurants in which you can get this treat. But as long as you are going to treat yourself you might as well go for the best.

So, I headed to Ben's Chili Bowl.

At 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning, there were no lines and there were available seats at the counter. I opted to take the sandwich home with me.

I am savoring it as I write this note. Freshly scrambled whole eggs, with gobs of bacon that was cooked some time earlier and is sitting, partially curled, in a metal pan which is kept warm, and bread covered with butter.

There are a variety of breakfast sandwiches in just about every combination of eggs from scrapple to salmon cakes. And there is French toast and hotcakes.

Subsequent to my breakfast foray I attended an event at the Lincoln Theater which is next door to the Chili Bowl. During the cocktail hour one of the items passed were minature chili dogs, the treat for which Ben's is particularly well known. Ambrosia is probably the wrong word, but it is close.

Breakfast is served starting at 6:00 a.m. Monday - Friday and 7:00 a.m. on Saturday. It ends at 10:45 a.m. Breakfast is not served on Sunday.

]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/restaurant_bens_chili_bowl.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/restaurant_bens_chili_bowl.shtml No. 88 November 2009 Restaurant Reviews Washington D.C. Washington Watch ben's chili november 2009 restaurant washington d.c. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:52:00 -0500 Restaurant: Osteria Bibiania

Osteria Bibiania

1100 New York Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
202-216-9550
(Entrance at 12th and H)
www.bibianadc.com I first visited Bibiania with Marcia and Fred. I look forward to returning.

As you enter, there is a host stand, and directly behind the stand is a long, straight bar with about 16 high chairs. Behind the bar are open areas that allow you to look into the working kitchen.

Directly to the right of the entry dining room there is a cozy seating area that holds a dozen or more people for drinks and socializing.

There are two dining rooms. The one to the left of the entry way seats about 50 in 4s and 2s. It is sometimes used for private parties.

The dining room to the right seats 70. There is a half-wall separating the room from the entry way. Along that half-wall there is a padded bench which is used for seating at a series of tables. There is a private area at the far side of this dining room that looks to seat up to 10 people. The area is separated from the rest of the room by a gauzy curtain.

The dining room to the right, in which our table was located, was quite noisy, but we were able to hear ourselves think and to hear each other.

There are large black and white photographs scattered about the restaurant and the men's room. The dominant decorating material throughout the restaurant appears to be chrome.

We began our meal by sharing a series of Piatti (appetizers):

Arancini (Saffron Rice Fritters, Parmigiano)
Baccala (Salted Cod Fritters,Pil-Pil)
Polpettine (Veal Meat Balls in Sugo Finto)
Carciofi (Artichoke Guidea)
Pomodor (Heirlook Tomato Salad)

There are 4 pieces of each of these treats.

For her main course, Marcia chose Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese (Tagliatelle with traditional bolognes,Ragu). Fred and I chose the same entree, Razza (Seared Skate, little neck clams, cauliflower,brown butter).

I was alone in ordering dessert, each of 3 available flavors of gelatto. They were served in an interesting fashion, The flavors were layered in a glass that had the appearance of a short clear drinking glass. It was easy to spoon out all 3 flavors at the same time.

The service was fast and attentive, even though the restaurant was quite full. Our serving person was particularly friendly. He remembered me from another restaurant at which he had worked.

The men's room has a bright red wall on the right as you enter. To the left are two large round white ceramic cylyndrical wash basins standing about 3 feet deep with a large mirror behind them.

In most men's rooms there are one or two urinals that are relatively out in the open, easily visible. In this restroom there was no urinal in the open. There are 3 small "rooms," completely enclosed from floor to ceiling with full size doors. The doors and walls are heavy, dark wood. In each of the 2 narrower "rooms" there is a urinal. In the larger "room" there is a white ceramic commode. There is also a large picture above the commode.

The walls, other than the red wall, are painted in a very dark color, and the floors are totally covered with a dark material that appears to be planks laid end- to-end in rows.

Reservations are recommended. There is valet parking at the H Street entrance to the restaurant.

]]> http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/restaurant_osteria_bibiania.shtml http://www.mikeswashingtonwatch.com/archives/2009/11/restaurant_osteria_bibiania.shtml No. 88 November 2009 Restaurant Reviews Washington D.C. Washington Watch november 2009 Osteria Bibiania restaurant washington d.c. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:51:00 -0500