Nepal, world's youngest Republic, on Monday elected its first president, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, of the Nepali Congress (NC). Yadav defeated his nearest rival from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). The Constituent Assembly on May 20 abolished the 240-year-old Shah monarchy and decided Nepal would be a federal democratic republic. A medical doctor by profession, Yadav spent … [Read more...] about Nepal’s First President: Dr. Ram Baran Yadav
On South Dakota’s unbelievable new abortion law
In this morning's civil rights roundup David brought us the headline -- doctors in South Dakota are now required to tell a woman seeking an abortion that the procedure "will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique living human being." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit last week lifted a preliminary injunction handing a victory to antiabortion forces: The … [Read more...] about On South Dakota’s unbelievable new abortion law
Vote Inflation
While the media continues to swarm over the Obama trip to "points beyond," John McCain is hitting some key swing states to talk about more pressing domestic issues, including energy policy. As the New York Times points out, these are key battlegrounds and it's a message which may resonate with the hurting pocketbooks of voters more than the opinions of foreign … [Read more...] about Vote Inflation
Question for the Candidates: “Is Pursuing Justice, Partisan Bickering?”
In a recent post, “Bush’s Aspirational Words on Timetables, and Torture,” I briefly touched on the Bush administration’s sorry record when it comes to the issue of torture. It would be my hope that, one day, those guilty of trampling our Constitution, our laws, and international Conventions and treaties on any issue, but especially on the issue of human rights, would be made to … [Read more...] about Question for the Candidates: “Is Pursuing Justice, Partisan Bickering?”
Welcome Obama: A Man Who Has ‘Played His Cards Right’
Well, Barack Obama's long-awaited world tour has finally begun - and according to this editorial from France's Le Figaro newspaper - things have been going his way. First, dwelling on Obama's amazing popularity in Europe, Pierre Rousselin warns: "This capacity to restore the image of an America that wants so badly to be loved is an electoral asset. Provided, however, that … [Read more...] about Welcome Obama: A Man Who Has ‘Played His Cards Right’
What McCain gets wrong about the surge and Iraq
Multiple statements by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki have confirmed his supported for a short timetable for US troops to withdraw from Iraq. Even the spokesman responsible for a clumsy and half-hearted walkback of that timetable went on camera today and reaffirmed that US troops should be gone by 2010. As Spencer Ackerman notes, this puts John McCain in quite a box. … [Read more...] about What McCain gets wrong about the surge and Iraq
Iran’s nuclear program, Israel and the US : buying time after Geneva
Iran’s goal seems to be to bait Israel into quickly making precision attacks on its nuclear installations before diplomatic options are exhausted. Its apparently irrational regime may think the mess in the region will be so great that it will obtain even bigger gains in political influence than those from the debacle in Iraq. So it is deftly buying time through diplomacy and … [Read more...] about Iran’s nuclear program, Israel and the US : buying time after Geneva
Bringing Back a Black-and-White World
A London gallery next week will show pictures of Johnny Cash, an American legend, some of them unseen for almost half a century. Taken by my friend Marvin Koner, they show, not the familiar man in black with a life-scarred face, but a smooth-skinned 27-year-old at the brink of a career that would sear his voice and music into America's memory. Koner was one of the young men … [Read more...] about Bringing Back a Black-and-White World
Civil Rights Roundup: 07/21/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news The Boston Globe has a report on Democratic efforts to find an "anti-Scalia." Could Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, a former bigwig in the Civil Rights division of the Justice Department, be that guy? A dissident Catholic group claims it has ordained three women as priests. I missed this while I was in NY, but … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 07/21/08
Squandering Those Few Shreds Of Credibility
The kerfuffle over whether Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki explicitly endorsed Barack Obama's Iraq troop withdrawal plan will pass quickly, but it is worth noting before it does that the Bush administration just can't help but squander what few shreds of credbility it still has left. In case you missed it, Al-Maliki tokld Der Spiegel over the weekend that he found much to … [Read more...] about Squandering Those Few Shreds Of Credibility
New Yorker Reporter Denied Seat On Obama Overseas Trip Plane
Was the campaign of Democratiic presumptive Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama sending a publication -- and perhaps the press in general -- a petulant or hard-ball message? Or was it strictly coincidence? And if it is to explained and dismissed by some as a coincidence is it as believable as being a coincidence in the political world as to the weekend clarification … [Read more...] about New Yorker Reporter Denied Seat On Obama Overseas Trip Plane
A New Candidate for the GOP
No, I'm not talking about replacing John McCain for this year's election. While almost all of the political news from the weekend for McCain looked better suited to an M. Night Shymalan film, I don't expect anyone to be rushing the Senator toward the door. But for the moment, let's assume that Shaun Mullen was correct in his earlier column and Barack Obama wins in November. (By … [Read more...] about A New Candidate for the GOP
India’s Nuclear Dilemma: Washington Crosses Fingers
On Tuesday the crucial vote in the Indian Parliament over the India-US civil nuclear deal would decide the fate of the present coalition government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "The Washington establishment is keeping its fingers crossed and lips sealed before Tuesday’s trust vote," says The Economic Times. "The White House and the State Department have refrained … [Read more...] about India’s Nuclear Dilemma: Washington Crosses Fingers
Surge in support for gays serving openly in the military
This from a Washington Post-ABC News poll (July 10-13, 2008) out Saturday: Public attitudes about gays in the military have shifted dramatically since President Bill Clinton unveiled what became his administration's "don't ask, don't tell" policy 15 years ago today. Seventy-five percent of Americans in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll said gay people who are open about … [Read more...] about Surge in support for gays serving openly in the military
Musings on Barack Obama: Why The Only Question Is What His Margin of Victory Will Be
Even with the election three and a half months out, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that Barack Obama will be the next president. This is not a particularly rash prediction given that color-blind Democrats and Independents and even some Republicans will far outnumber people who would never vote for an African-American, Obama has an enthusiastic base and will attract a … [Read more...] about Musings on Barack Obama: Why The Only Question Is What His Margin of Victory Will Be
Why the New Yorker Cartoon Matters
In the Blogosphere, issues tend to come and go. People tend to react to something rather quickly and move on. Now I am a little late on commenting on the whole New Yorker cartoon with Barak Obama in somekind of Muslim-type dress, giving a fist bump to his wife Michelle who is dressed up as a modern-day Angela Davis, with a flag burning in the fireplace and a picture of … [Read more...] about Why the New Yorker Cartoon Matters
On Barack Obama, ambition, & the greater good
I may be the last blogger to finish Ryan Lizza's 15,000 word New Yorker article on Obama's roots in Chicago politics. My chosen quote: Many have said that part of the appeal of “Dreams” is its honesty, pointing out that it was written at a time when Obama had no idea that he would run for office. In fact, Obama had been talking about a political career for years, musing about … [Read more...] about On Barack Obama, ambition, & the greater good
A Family Triumphs
This story is absolutely amazing, a must-read, if there ever was one. The author's husband is a good friend and former colleague. We had drinks in D.C., shortly after Josephine was born. It's remarkable, how much they've endured and how far they've travelled together. … [Read more...] about A Family Triumphs
Election 2008: Scoreboard
We are now through exactly half of the states, 25 down and 25 more to go. If you haven't taken a look at the state by state summaries please check the blog for each one. President: So far Senator Obama retains his lead over Senator McCain. The numbers from the first 25 states give him 162 Electoral Votes to 125 for Senator McCain. This is a net Democratic Gain of 16 over … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Scoreboard
Election 2008: Missouri
Missouri is considered a key to Presidential elections not only because of it being an important swing state but because it has voted with the winner in 25 of the last 26 Presidential elections (the only miss was in 1956). President: Polls have been very close and the state could easily go to either candidate. The Democrats hope to start with a big vote in the urban areas … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Missouri