News Nuggets 170

Boy!  You try to help a species out -- and what do you get?  THIS in your back yard.  See the NATURE NUGGET below.  From the New York Times

Muslim 'Suspicion' Over Obama's 'Operation Seduction' from Le Quotidien d'Oran [of Algeria in English]

I think this is a pretty fair assessment of Arab reaction -- and what Obama needs to do next.

"Although Obama's speech genuinely expressed his vision on the future of ties he wishes to establish with the Muslim world, Obama must quickly follow up with strong action. This is the only way to begin tearing down the wall of suspicion that decades of humiliation inflicted by the U.S. on Muslims has erected in the Islamic consciousness against all things American."

I suspect Obama sees things the same way.  See: Obama Wants "Immediate" Mideast Talks: Mitchell from Reuters News Service

"Mitchell, who is en route to the Middle East, said the aim of such talks was "a comprehensive peace and normalization of relations" between Israel and its neighbors, which would also serve "the security interests of the United States.""

Will Iran's 'Marriage Crisis' Bring Down Ahmedinejad? from Time Magazine

"Farhad and Mahnaz can't afford to get married because even a one-bedroom apartment is beyond their reach, despite their both having decent middle-class jobs. This reality has preyed on their relationship, compelling them to consider leaving Iran. And they blame the government for their situation."

Obama's Nine Hard Truths from Mother Jones Magazine

"In Cairo, Obama challenges all parties involved in the clash between the West and the Muslim world."

Obama with Foreign Leaders: All Business, All the Time from the McClatchy News Service

THIS ITEM says a lot about Obama's foreign policy style, all of it good in my view.  Europeans are upset, though.  See the PARANOID EUROPEANS NUGGET below.

"The contrast between his public oratory and his determination to project an appearance of professionalism with his counterparts was visible during the four-nation trip that ended Sunday. It puts Obama in a different class of statesmen from his immediate two predecessors, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton , who spoke often of their trust or affection for other world leaders."

It's Time to Change the Tone of our 'Politics' Coverage (Stuart Rothenberg) from RealClearPolitics

"Too often, caricature and vitriol have replaced reporting and analysis.... America's cable "news" networks have concluded - on the basis of considerable research and evidence, I'm sure - that most viewers don't want straight news and analysis as much as they want to hear what they already think or to watch predictable partisan attacks."

Jared's rant: I completely agree with what Rothenberg has said.  Indeed, over nine years ago I concluded that cable and network news political programs actually left most viewers more MISINFORMED than informed about what was really going on and what was important.  As some of you know, I long ago stopped looking to television for ANY political news whatsoever.   Instead, I have looked to both national and international newspapers (often online) and NPR.  

The funny part of it is -- I'm convinced that my stress level is much reduced as a result.  Everyone I know who relies on TV for most of their political news are more stressed out and anxious about the VERY NEWS MATERIAL about which they are being misinformed.  A whole new paradigm for presenting political news and analysis on TV needs to be developed.  What does it say when Jon Stuart is viewed as a better source of political news than anything provided by the cable shows?  Rothenberg avoids the real lesson from his experience: people committed to being informed need to TURN THE THING OFF -- PERIOD.  We return you now to our regularly scheduled nuggets.

The Importance of Being Obama (Eugene Robinson) from the Washington Post

"I used to fear that President Obama was overestimating the power of his personal history as an instrument of foreign policy. Now I wonder if he might have been underestimating."

Hillary's New Crusade from the Daily Beast

"A year ago this week, Hillary Clinton ended her presidential campaign—to the relief of many. But even her critics must admit that as secretary of State, she’s been a feminist hero to behold."

Nobel Winner Krugman Sees US Recession Ending Soon from the Bloomberg News Service

"“I would not be surprised if the official end of the U.S. recession ends up being, in retrospect, dated sometime this summer,” he said in a lecture today at the London School of Economics."

In Artur Davis, Will Alabama Elect a Black Governor? from The Root

I have long found Artur to be a very interesting pol -- very much coming out of the Obama mold.  I'm skeptical that Alabama's white voters will get with his program though.

"Rep. Artur Davis will run for governor in 2010. He’s leaving Alabama’s tortured racial history in the past. But will the state’s Republican voters be able to do the same?"

Sarkozy Entertains Michelle and the Girls After Obama Heads Home from the Times [of London]

"He failed to persuade Barack Obama to socialise with him, but Nicolas Sarkozy enjoyed a consolation prize yesterday: lunch with the President’s wife Michelle and their children."

What Single Women Can Learn From Michelle from The Root

"Would most Type A, professional women have dated Barack when he was a broke, big-eared organizer with a funny name?"

REALLY-PARANOID-ALLIES NUGGET!

Really, I Do Like You, Obama Tells French and Germans from Reuters News Service

"Barack Obama's trip to Europe this weekend revealed deep anxieties among the French and Germans that the U.S. president, hugely popular in both countries, doesn't really like them."

NATURE NUGGET!

Return of the Once-Rare Beaver? Not in My Back Yard from the New York Times

Those little devils!  Some of you may recall a month or two ago when I posted a similar article about the reintroduction of the beaver in Europe -- AND what I said at the time was that I wasn't sure it was a good idea.  This article confirms some of those doubts.  [I guess it's my day for being self-righteous].

"“We have a huge problem,” said David Pavlik, an engineer for the town of Lexington, where dams built by beavers have sent water flooding into the town’s sanitary sewers. “We trapped them,” he said. “We breached their dam. Nothing works. We are looking for long-term solutions.” ... You can breach a beaver dam, but “I guarantee you that within 24 hours if the beavers are still there it will be repaired. Beavers are the ultimate ecosystem engineers.”"