News Nuggets 226

A honey bee -- in Poland -- from Der Spiegel

NOTE: Yours truly will be at the Netroots Nation Annual Conference the next several days so my postings will probably not be "daylee". I may post some of my own observations or link to some of the live-blogging of the conference that will be going on. FIRST UP: Bill Clinton will be the key-note speaker tonight! Howard Dean tomorrow!

Five Risks to Watch for in the Middle East from the China Post [of Taiwan in English]

"From Iran's nuclear ambitions and post-election tensions to the fallout from the financial crisis in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, the Middle East offers a string of risks that could spill over to wider world markets."

Where World Leaders Vacation from Newsweek

"The most powerful people in the world spend August escaping their capital cities, sleeping in, and showing off their abs. A survey of how heads of state spend their vacations."

Revolution Leaders Struggle for Power in Tehran from Der Spiegel

"In the wake of a bogus election, the deadly harassment of protestors and squabbling among hardliners, everything seems to have changed in Tehran. Two men could now pose a serious threat to the regime: Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri and multimillionaire Hashemi Rafsanjani."

Why America Should Play the Long Game in Iran (Editorial) from the National [of Dubai in English]

"These developments require that the United States rethink its long-term strategy towards Iran’s nuclear programme. The Iranian regime is experiencing a deep legitimacy crisis; it is weak, and feels vulnerable. It would love to have seen the Obama administration wade in with support for the opposition, thereby discrediting that opposition. Wisely, Washington declined to rise to the bait."

Cheney Uncloaks His Frustration with Bush from the Washington Post

"In his first few months after leaving office, former vice president Richard B. Cheney threw himself into public combat against the "far left" agenda of the new commander in chief. More private reflections, as his memoir takes shape in slashing longhand on legal pads, have opened a second front against Cheney's White House partner of eight years, George W. Bush."

It was only a matter of time before the principles from the last administration started shooting at each other. This is LONG overdue in my view.

Hillary's Visit is 'No Bad Thing' (Editorial) from Le Potential [of Congo in English]

"It's no bad thing to deal with the 'powerful nations.' To maintain responsible cooperation would mean immensely profitable opportunities and the opening of a new era of relations between the DRC and the United States."

Long Lines as Free Health Care Offered in LA Areas from the Associated Press

"The Los Angeles event marks the first time Remote Area Medical has provided such medical care in a major urban area. The medical group typically serves patients in rural parts of the United States and travels to underdeveloped countries."

Is it Now a Crime to be Poor? (Barbara Ehrenreich) from the New York Times

"In defiance of all reason and compassion, the criminalization of poverty has actually been intensifying as the recession generates ever more poverty."

Obama is Taking Back the Debate on Health-Care Reform from the Editorial Board of the Seattle Times

"PRESIDENT Obama's return to public meetings on health-care reform elevates a debate that had spiraled dramatically downward. He has been on the defensive. The challenge for Obama is to move from defending reform to selling it."

So Much for Bipartisan Governing (Derrick Jackson) from the Boston Globe

"Only a half year into Obama’s presidency, the only strategy the Republicans have is to stoke so much anger in Americans that they forget what they want."

Town Hall Anger Rages On from Politico

"Out on the health care firing line, senators and members of Congress continued to get battered by constituents angry over President Barack Obama’s reform plan Wednesday — with voters raising questions about everything from assisted suicide to coverage for illegal immigrants."

A Price to Pay for the Town Hall Rage (David Broder) from the Washington Post

"Scenes like the one in Romulus have filled cable TV news as Democrats across the country have been meeting their constituents during this August congressional recess. The cameras were watching as Sens. Arlen Specter and Claire McCaskill were harangued on Tuesday. What doesn't make the news is what the reaction is among the larger population of voters whose views will ultimately influence the fate of health-care legislation."

First Thoughts on MD Town Halls (Chuck Todd et al.) from MSNBC

"While the focus of all these town-hall meetings across the country has been on health care, what has become clear is that the anger and frustration in the debate is about much more than that. ... They were irritated with the direction of the country after the 2008 election, with a man as president they didn't vote for, and with a Congress ruled by Democrats. They were angry with being out of power and having -- because of being in the minority -- what they felt was no say."

The Reckless Right Courts Violence (David Frum) from The Week

"Hysterical talk from TV and radio hosts may be a cynical marketing exercise. But it's getting too dangerous to ignore."

FILM NUGGET!!

Alfred Hitchcock: The Master's View from The National [of Dubai in English]

An odd source for this kind of piece -- but there it is.

"Directors, of both high art and low pulp frequently cite the influence of master filmmakers on the dramatic action, no matter how insignificant or ungainly, within their own frames. And yet it says something truly profound about the ubiquity of Hitchcock’s influence."

BOOK NUGGET!!

Making Sense: An Interview with Leslie Gelb [the author of Power Rules] from RealClearWorld

"Editor's Note: Leslie Gelb is President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations and author of the new book: Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue U.S. Foreign Policy. A Pulitzer Prize winner for the New York Times, Gelb served in both the Defense and State Departments. When we spoke, President Obama had just unveiled his new strategy for Afghanistan."