President Obama should study the tough political wheeler-dealers, horse-traders, and consummate arm-twisters that preceding him in office: Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), and Ronald Wilson Reagan (RWR). They may have been all smiles for public consumption but they were top politicians behind closed doors who left policies and legacies that … [Read more...] about PLAYTIME IS OVER – NOW LET’S REALLY GET DIRTY
Obama’s Remarks on Gay Rights
The White House: REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE SIGNING OF A PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM REGARDING FEDERAL BENEFITS AND NON-DISCRIMINATION Oval Office 6:04 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Well, today I'm proud to issue a presidential memorandum that paves the way for long-overdue progress in our nation's pursuit of equality. Many of our government's hard-working, … [Read more...] about Obama’s Remarks on Gay Rights
Public Worried About Deficit
According to a new poll from MSNBC the public is getting increasingly concerned about the amount of debt that is being incurred by the administration. As mentioned in the MSNBC article this may be a sign we are moving past the honeymoon phase to where the public starts to split between how they feel about the person and how they feel about the policies. It's actually pretty … [Read more...] about Public Worried About Deficit
The dynamics of revolution
Lots of commentators have pointed out the relatively conservative aims of the Iranian protesters. The marchers seek only to perfect the Islamic Republic so that it lives up to its ideals. They have only called for new Presidential elections, with hints now and then for the replacement of Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei with a different cleric. The chief players in the movement - … [Read more...] about The dynamics of revolution
The American Tribe – Unite
I wrote yesterday about tribes and how I believe President Obama is getting us back to respect and need of the whole tribe. I got to thinking about the American Tribe, which I tend to do. What makes the American Tribe unique is that we are a tribe composed of people who were kicked out of, or in rare circumstances voluntarily left, virtually every other tribe on earth. The … [Read more...] about The American Tribe – Unite
Why Twitter Works
In Iran, why didn't they just turn Twitter off? From All Things Considered: Jonathan Zittrain, co-founder of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School, says Iran uses a basic filtering architecture that has the average Internet connection piped through a government server farm before it goes anywhere else. But, like resourceful American students in … [Read more...] about Why Twitter Works
Lebanon and Iran: Mr. Obama’s Push of Dialogue and Openness Kicks In – L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon
To what degree can the recent election result in Lebanon and the current events in Iran be attrutible to President Barack Obama? That question is at the heart of much of the global commentary in regard to the unfolding drama in the streets of Tehran, and as we learn from this article from Lebanon's L'Orient Le Jour, Beirut as well. For L'Orient Le Jour, Issa Goraieb … [Read more...] about Lebanon and Iran: Mr. Obama’s Push of Dialogue and Openness Kicks In – L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon
TV Blames Victims, Not Perps
I was watching the evening news last night and they had a story about credit cards. It seems a lot of people are no longer able to service them. In response, in hopes of getting at least something back on their bad loans, card issuing banks now often cut deals for a lot less than outstanding balances. This is not a very surprising phenomenon, given the way the economy has … [Read more...] about TV Blames Victims, Not Perps
On the Big New NOAA Global Climate Change Report
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report today on the effects we can expect that global climate change will have on the United States. Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States draws material from 13 US government science agencies. Ten key findings: Global warming is unequivocal and primarily human-induced Climate changes are … [Read more...] about On the Big New NOAA Global Climate Change Report
The Vile Hypocrisy and Cynicism of Neocons on Iran
Matthew Cooper notes the continuing "neocon buffoonery" around Iran and Pres. Obama's response to the unrest there: … [Read more...] about The Vile Hypocrisy and Cynicism of Neocons on Iran
Robert Fisk Reports From Iran
He's been driving all around Tehran with no interference, and seeing extraordinary scenes. Here are some snips: … [Read more...] about Robert Fisk Reports From Iran
OBAMA FATIGUE
After five months in office, his whirlwind presidency is taking a toll on the President in more ways than one. Worrying about the economy "keeps me awake at night," he told an interviewer yesterday. At the same time, signs of Obama Fatigue are showing up among his own party in Congress over the massive muddle of health care reform. His tireless cheer-leading has failed … [Read more...] about OBAMA FATIGUE
Have You Read a Good Passport Lately?
On long international flights, after I have exhausted my regular reading material, I sometimes resort to reading my U.S. passport. I have one of those “old” passports, the ones without the “sensitive electronics,” but also without much interesting reading material. Thus, I have by now pretty much memorized the gallant laissez-passer admonishment by our State … [Read more...] about Have You Read a Good Passport Lately?
A Time To Play, A Time To Shut Up
Most high school graduation ceremonies are behind us now but they're still fuming over the one held Friday in the Bonny Eagle school district in Portland, Maine. Diplomas for two graduates were upheld because of excessive celebration in the eyes of the school superintendent. One grad blew kisses to his mother and the other accused of inflating and releasing a rubber duck and … [Read more...] about A Time To Play, A Time To Shut Up
Fire David Letterman Rally Becomes Medley Of Hate
So what if David Letterman apologized to Sarah Palin and if she did accept his apology? Apology, aschmology...in American politics, some people can't turn down a chance for some good 'ol, fashioned hate. Who could pass up chance to chance to attend a bona fide, "Fire David Letterman" rally right after he apologized and Palin accepted his apology? Apparently hundreds of … [Read more...] about Fire David Letterman Rally Becomes Medley Of Hate
HERE WE GO AGAIN
U.S. Senator John Ensign of Nevada recently admitted to an extramarital affair. We have gone through this many times before with other elected figures under different personal circumstances, including the failed impeachment of President Clinton. Some people who have inherited the faulty combination of prurient and puritan genes are getting themselves all worked up in a tizzy … [Read more...] about HERE WE GO AGAIN
Quote of the Day: Joe Klein on John McCain on Iran
From Swampland: For two years now, John McCain has been entirely consistent on Iran: every last statement he's made--at least, those that I've seen -- has been (a) fabulously uninformed and (b) dangerously bellicose. He's still at it, apparently. There is no question that President Obama's more prudent path is the correct one right now. There is also no question that the … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Joe Klein on John McCain on Iran
Challenging Khamenei?
Scroll down Nico Pitney's live blog, until you see this entry: 2:01 AM ET -- Aslan: Rafsanjani calls "emergency" meeting of Assembly of Experts. Read it all. Sullivan cautions: Not confirmed and not clear what it could mean. But it strikes me that the regime is now clearly on the defensive. … [Read more...] about Challenging Khamenei?
Quote of The Day: Iran Election Results Pulled “Out Of Their Hats”
Our Quote of the Day comes from a MUST READ Christian Science Monitor piece titled:"Was Iran's election rigged? Here's what is known so far." Farideh Farhi of the University of Hawaii, whose decades of studying Iran has included poring over data from Iranian elections, says the result was "pulled out of a hat." Here's why. Ms. Farhi: My personal feeling is that … [Read more...] about Quote of The Day: Iran Election Results Pulled “Out Of Their Hats”
Obama the Fiscal Conservative
This breaking news story of hope and change comes to you directly from the Washington Post. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that worrying about the U.S. government's finances "keeps me awake at night" and the country needed to start planning now to tackle soaring deficits. Man. I wish we'd had a president like you a couple of months ago. Oh... wait... … [Read more...] about Obama the Fiscal Conservative