News Nuggets 205

A baby Loggerhead Sea Turtle in Florida - from the Chicago Tribune

Former President's Speech Shows Widening Split Among Iran's Rulers from the Economist [of London]

"The fissures at the top of the Islamic regime show no signs of healing. With more senior clerical figures coming out in support of Mr Mousavi, the ruling elite is looking increasingly divided between the clerics and the military."

Rafsanjani Makes His Move from RealClearWorld

"By using the word 'crisis' in front of millions of Iranians, Rafsanjani's biggest target was Ali Khamenei. Sending a direct message to the Supreme Leader, Rafsanjani made it clear that unless a solution suitable for both sides is found, the situation will continue, and this could be dangerous."

Iranian Protesters Galvanized by Sermon from the Los Angeles Times 

"A sermon by powerful cleric and opposition supporter Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani reignited Iran's simmering protest movement Friday, heartening thousands of supporters who braved tear gas and club-wielding militiamen to march and chant slogans across Tehran."

Former Iranian President Blasts Government (Reza Aslan) from the Daily Beast

"Ali-Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani spoke at Friday Prayer and delivered pointed criticism of the handling of the Iranian election and the arrest of protesters. Demonstrators took to the streets. Reza Aslan says the revolution may not be over."

Tehran Losing Iranians' Trust, Ex-Leader Says from the New York Times

"As thousands of protesters chanted Friday in the streets outside, a former Iranian president, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, assailed the government’s handling of the post-election unrest, saying it had lost the trust of many Iranians, and called for the release of hundreds of those arrested in recent weeks."

Reset Reviewed (Mikhail Gorbachev) from the New York Times

"The past few years have been a very difficult period in relations between the United States and Russia. ...  The recent visit of President Barack Obama to Russia was a first step toward an exit from the deadlocked state of our relations."

Even at the Vatican, They Love Obama from Newsweek

"President Obama is much more popular at the Vatican than he is with the most vocal American bishops. American monsignori in Vatican City "are all Fox News, Bush-loving Republicans," a Vatican reporter told me on the condition that I not use his name and harm his access. "The Italians, however, are another story. They love Obama.""

Obama: Don't Bet Against Me from Politico

"Obama also tried to quiet naysayers with a bold prediction that he would sign a bill by year’s end, despite the frequent setbacks. “That is why those who are betting against this happening this year are badly mistaken," Obama said. "We are going to get this done. We will reform health care. It will happen this year. I’m absolutely convinced of that.” "

Climate Push Gets Personal from Politico

"Stung by complaints that it did too little, too late in the House, the Obama administration has launched an intense, senator-by-senator effort to push climate change legislation through the Senate."

Health Reform Rises from the Dead (Kai Wright) from the Root

"For those of us who questioned how hard the White House and its congressional allies would fight for health care reform, the answer is here. ... in the last couple of days Barack Obama has put Republicans and conservative Democrats alike "on notice": Get on board or get left behind."

This week has been such a roller coaster concerning health care, going up, down and sideways.  Who knows where the Hell this will end up.

Another optimistic note from:

Health Care's Historic Moment (Timothy Egan) from the New York Times

"Politics is so often a salon sport, with its up-and-down arrows, weekly winners and losers, and reliable hypocrisies providing sustainable entertainment for the permanent class in Washington. But every now and then elected officials do something that has deep and lasting consequences — a generational life-changer."

Losing the Races (Charles Blow) from the New York Times

"In Buchanan’s white-centered Republican world, playing the victim is a route to victory. If Hispanics are offended by Republicans attacking Sotomayor, so be it. After all, he says, there were 10 times more white voters in November than Hispanic ones.  If Republicans buy this “who cares” reasoning, they’re doomed to defeat."

Palin vs. Planet from the Daily Beast

"Congressman Ed Markey, co-author of a new energy bill in the House, fires back at the Alaska governor for her confusion, fuzzy math, and inaction on global warming."

Here again, Palin is the perfect stand-in for a whole faction of the GOP.

In Sonia v. Sarah, GOP is Doomed (Editorial) from the [Toronto] Globe and Mail

"The Democrats have Sonia Sotomayor. The Republicans have Sarah Palin. That's all you really need to know. Between them, these two women explain why the Republicans are doomed."

Birther Movement Dogs Republicans from the Washington Post

"The Republicans who appear to be willing to listen to “birthers,” even to debunk them, have to walk a tightrope. ... In early July, a small group of “birthers” walked the halls of Congress handing “grand jury presentments” over to the confused front desk assistants of members of Congress; the activists rushed online to report the latest member who had been “handed” the information."

More evidence (if you needed any) of how far off the deep end the GOP has gone!