News Nuggets 323

The work of the "rabbit whisperer" -- see the Rabbit Nugget below. From the Daily Mail [of the UK].

The Truth About Nuclear Iran from The Diplomat

"Is a nuclear Iran a foregone conclusion? Certainly not. Despite all the bombastic claims regarding ‘giant strides’ being made by Iran over its nuclear programme, in reality, Tehran is facing severe problems that are hampering its goals to make a nuclear bomb."

World Warming to US Under Obama, BBC Poll Suggests from the BBC

"Views of the US around the world have improved sharply over the past year, a BBC World Service poll suggests."

Obama at Cooper Union: Learning from Lincoln? from TalkLeft

"President Obama [will] be at Cooper Union on Thursday to "remind Americans what is at stake if we do not move forward with changing the rules of the road as part of a strong Wall Street reform package,"

PREDICTION: This will be a hum-dinger of a speech -- and it will majorly put the GOP on the spot.

Senate Insider Chris Dodd Tries to Retire as a Reformer from Politico

"In the twilight of his career, history and a touch of Catholic guilt have now pushed Dodd, the consummate insider, into the role of reformer: the old Senate telling the new that it must act to have any hope of redemption."

Reid Spokesman: McConnell and Cornyn Should Reveal What They Discussed in Backroom Meeting with Bank Execs from the Democrats' Senate Caucus Website.

"Senators McConnell and Cornyn should immediately reveal what they discussed earlier this month during secret, closed-door meeting with Wall Street executives in New York City."

This could get good!

Church Pedophilia Scandal Grows in Latin America from the Associated Press via Huffington Post

"The detention of an 83-year-old priest in Brazil for allegedly abusing boys as young as 12 in a case involving lurid videotape and a congressional investigation has added to the scandals hitting the Roman Catholic Church in Latin America."

WHO CALLED IT?!!

Munich Vicar General Reportedly Says He Was Forced to Take the Fall for Cardinal Ratzinger from the National Catholic Reporter

"The cleric who last month took responsibility for moving a known pedophile priest into ministry in the Munich archdiocese in 1980 after the priest was allowed into the archdiocese by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, is now reportedly saying he was pressured into taking the blame for that decision."

Talk about a TRAIN WRECK in slow motion!!

Fact Checked: US Bishops on Health Care Reform from the National Catholic Reporter

"By declaring an unalterable opposition to the entire health care reform bill because of its failure to legislate the Hyde Amendment as statutory law, not just annual appropriations measures, the bishops took a major political gamble. They lost. The political fallout will continue for many years to come."

To Young Voters, Socialism isn't a Bad Word (Jesse Singal) from the Boston Globe

"Republican strategists see short-term advantages in the tea party movement’s passion. But if conservatives can’t wean themselves off of Cold-War-era rhetoric, they risk alienating an entire generation of young people. The tea party is well on its way to doing just that. A recent New York Times/CBS News survey found that three-quarters of the movement’s supporters were older than 45."

Singal is so on-the-money here. Young people associate socialism with western Europe -- and they can't see what's wrong with western Europe! They seem genuinely happy and there seems no movement whatsoever of them wishing they had our system.

A National Deficit of Trust (Eugene Robinson) from the Washington Post

"American public opinion seems to have become an unguided Weapon of Mass Suspicion, and it's not hard to understand why. But those who would exploit distrust, dissatisfaction and anger for political gain had better worry about collateral damage."

Pressured in Senate Race, Crist May Leave G.O.P. from the New York Times

"Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, facing pressure from fellow Republicans to abandon his Senate campaign, said Monday that he would not allow party leaders in Washington to push him from the race and declared that he was considering running for the seat as an independent."

The news here is that " he was considering..." It would improve his chances -- but even running as an independent will be no slam dunk.

What Americans Can Do to Discourage Future McVeighs (Kathleen Parker) from the Washington Post

"Is the political environment becoming so toxic that we could see another Timothy McVeigh emerge? No one knows the answer, but fears that anger could escalate into action beyond the ballot box are not misplaced. Ninety-nine percent of angry Americans might be perfectly satisfied to rail at their television sets -- or to show up at a Tea Party rally -- but it takes only one."

The Tea Party: Populism of the Privileged (E.J.Dionne) from the Washington Post

"The Tea Party is nothing new. It represents a relatively small minority of Americans on the right end of politics, and it will not determine the outcome of the 2010 elections."

Peter Beinart has a related story HERE from the Daily Beast

A Mighty Pale Tea (Charles Blow) from the New York Times

"On Thursday, I came here outside Dallas for a Tea Party rally. At first I thought, “Wow! This is much more diverse than the rallies I’ve seen on television.” Then I realized that I was looking at stadium workers. I should have figured as much when I approached the gate. The greeter had asked, “Are you working tonight?”"

Don't be Too Quick to Mistake the Tea Party for the Perot Movement (Dan Balz) from the Washington Post

"Although they share some attitudes and attributes, the tea partiers are not natural descendants of the followers of the quirky billionaire from Texas. The differences between those attracted by Perot and those who have rallied in reaction to President Obama are as important as the similarities in gauging the impact of the tea party movement."

Gun-toting Marchers: US 'Faces Civil War' Over Health Reform from Agence France Presse

"On Monday, he warned that the United States could face a new civil war if the administration tries to force through health care reforms or any other laws the activists feel would erode their constitutional rights. "My call to break windows and all the work I do is to call attention to the fact that civil war could happen in the United States," he said."

Getting a Handle on the Tea Partiers (Clarence Page) from the Chicago Tribune

"Tea parties lack much in the way of formal structure, leadership or agendas because they are an orphan movement. If anything unifies them it is a shared sense of abandonment by Republicans and cluelessness by Democrats, most of whom feel the feeling is mutual."

RABBIT NUGGET!!

Is Your Rabbit Hopping Mad? Call the Rabbit Whisperer from the Daily Mail [of the UK]

"Cliff's gentle touch leaves boisterous bunnies flat on their back in a trance."

PROBABLE HOAX NUGGET!!

Your Move, Mr. Hitler: Sketch Said to Show Nazi Leader Playing Chess with Lenin is Up for Sale from the Daily Mail [of the UK]

"For decades historians have argued over the likelihood that two of the world's most notorious dictators pitted their wits against one another over an innocuous chessboard."

Get out!!! Did someone say this was up for sale?