A sunset in Hawaii -- from the Daily Telegraph of London
Protesters, Security Forces Gather Across Iran from the Daily Beast
Hold onto your hats -- this could be a tough day in Tehran.
"Protesters and security forces have begun to gather in the streets of downtown Tehran as the nation braces for a potential day of violent confrontations."
Five Leaders Who Miss George W. Bush from Foreign Policy Magazine
VERY interesting item -- says a lot about the global arena Obama is stepping onto.
"Barack Obama might still be overwhelmingly popular around the world, but here are five heads of state who probably wish they could have the old guy back."
Russia No Match for NATO (Editorial) from the Moscow Times
"If Russia cannot even provide regional security in its so-called “sphere of privileged interests,” it is clear that Medvedev’s attempt to redesign the global security architecture is overly ambitious and misplaced, to say the least. He is acting like a pole vaulter who after failing five attempts to jump over 3 meters raises the bar to 6 meters on the sixth attempt."
Interesting perspective on Russia's concerns and policies these days. There's two more HERE and HERE from the same paper.
US and Russia Negotiate to Lift Trade Restrictions from the Washington Post
"Obama had promised to make a priority of repealing the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment, which was originally designed to impose limits on trade with communist countries that restricted emigration but which remains a sore point between Washington and Moscow."
Russians 'Fell in Love' with the Obamas from the Gazeta Wyborcza [of Poland in English]
An interesting, wide-ranging analysis that highlights many cultural aspects of Russia.
"Michelle is very popular in Russia. Her beauty, friendliness and, as the Russians put it, “the spark” between her and her husband, are viewed in a sympathetic light. The fact that the president's wife started a garden at the White House, where she grows lettuce and carrots, made her dear to the hearts of millions of Russian women."
Honduras and the 'Little Yankees' from Tal Cual [of Venezuela in English]
A FASCINATING view of the recent coup in Honduras and Obama's response to it.
"For once in its long history of outrages against its 'backyard,' the Empire is behaving with discretion and prudence. But ousted President Zelaya wants to return to power riding a gringo tank."
Obama's Test in Ghana from the Boston Globe
This item provides some insight into what Obama will be walking into when he gets to Ghana on Saturday.
"As the first independent nation in sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana has been a beacon of hope for black people around the world. So it’s particularly disappointing to see Ghana backing the African Union resolution on Bashir, who is allegedly responsible for the murder of thousands of Africans."
The Unemployed Will Roar (Marie Coco) from the Washington Post via RealClearPolitics
"Let's stop kidding ourselves. In no contemporary economic crisis -- not even those that unfolded on the Republicans' watch -- has Congress left the unemployed completely in the lurch. So some sort of spending package -- call it stimulus, call it stopgap emergency aid, whatever works -- is going to have to be passed."
This author I suspect has a clear-eyed and sobering view of where the economy is right now and what needs to happen.
Generation Obama Meets Bill Clinton from Politics Daily
"Although they had seemed mortal enemies during the 2008 campaign, all seemed to be forgiven between Clinton and this crowd of energized Obama devotees at the Campus Progress national conference."
Obama Still Viewed as a Strong Leader, Poll Shows from CNN
Now, I tend to avoid obsessive poll-watching. It's usually a waste of time -- especially NOW so far out from any election. However, the results from the first two questions of this poll are remarkable given the continuing economic slide and everything else.
Obama vs. MoveOn from the Daily Beast
"When the White House made noises about compromising on health care, MoveOn.org went on the attack. The Daily Beast's Matthew Yglesias on the political minefield that awaits the president and the Senate."
To the Right of the Pope (E.J. Dionne) from the Washington Post
"Obama will have his audience with Benedict just three days after the release of a papal encyclical on social justice that places the pope well to Obama's left on economics. What a delightful surprise it would be for a pope to tell our president that on some matters, he's just too conservative."
The Republicans' Dwindling Options (David Frum) from The Week
"With Sarah Palin and Mark Sanford out of the running, the GOP has to hope that Mitt Romney shows his good side in 2012."
Some interesting analysis from a GOP insider who I usually don't like.
To Go Forward, GOP Must Snap Out of Its Sarah Palin Spell (Mike Murphy) from the New York Daily News
"Last year, the big wrong idea was this notion that base voters have somehow become the new swing voters. We are now told the party base - those voters who will vote for a bag of cement if it has an R or D attached to it - must be carefully appealed to, romanced and appeased. Under that funhouse reasoning, Palin was an inspired pick."
Why Sarah Palin Really Quit Us (Dahlia Lithwick) from Slate
"Palin's political skill lies in selling a persona but not a message. And in the end, this may explain why she quit."
Palin's Problem Outside the Base from Pollster.com
TWO POLLS IN ONE DAY! Unheard of at the News Nuggets!
"Palin's problem outside the base. Of all the dimensions on which Palin can be viewed, the one that is most crucial for any national ambitions she may hold is the most fundamental: is she qualified to be president? "
CULTURAL REGRESSION NUGGET!!
Swim Club Accused of Discrimination Sics Cops on Media from RawStory
"More than 60 children enrolled in day-care in the basement of a Northeast Philadelphia elementary school were told to pack up and not return, after the Valley Swim Club in Montgomery County accused them of changing the “complexion” and “atmosphere” of the club."
When I first read this story, my response is "NO WAY!" There must be some mis-reporting here. But no ... it's actually worse than the headline suggests. Incredible.
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