The Arab Gyre (Roger Cohen) from the New York Times
"This year has seen a dramatic acceleration of history in the Arab world, the falling apart of a rotten order; an unraveling that has birthed the “rough beast” of new societies where people will have a say in how they are governed rather than being trampled by Paleolithic tyrants. Just what the embryonic beasts will turn into — whither they slouch — is impossible to say for now. But no foul volley of bullets from Syria’s Bashar al-Assad can stop the convulsive movement of the gyres"
The Epic Arab Battle Reaches Syria (Rami G. Khouri) from the Daily Star [of Lebanon in English]
"Syria is now the critical country to watch in the Arab world, after the homegrown regime changes in Tunisia and Egypt, and the imminent changes in Yemen and Libya. ... The next few weeks will be decisive for Assad..."
Iran: Authority Deficit (Ali Ansari) from The World Today via Chatham House [of the UK]
"People are no longer willing to accept or tolerate what they are being told. You simply cannot expect to fool all of the people all of the time. One might have thought that this message had come through loud and clear in the aftermath of the last elections: people were no longer willing to believe what they were being told and were fed upwith being treated as fools. This reall ywas the heart of the political crisis in authority facing the government. We may choose to label it 'democratic' or a 'Green movement', but at its core the problem was not complicated. It was about human dignity and the rights of the citizen, above all to be taken seriously by those who seek to govern them."
The Big Disconnect (David Brooks) from the New York Times
"Over the past months, we’ve seen a fascinating phenomenon. The public mood has detached from the economic cycle. In normal times, economic recoveries produce psychological recoveries. At least at the moment, that seems not to be happening."
A remarkable column by Mr. Brooks today! A actually like David Brooks quite a bit -- but this column captures in micro the pervasive myopia of most talking heads one reads or hears these days. The title of his piece is appropriate -- but not as he presents it. The "disconnect" is between those who say there is a meaningful economic recovery going on and the overwhelming majority of average Americans who see NO SIGN of this in their own lives. There remain few job opportunities out there; the housing market remains terrible; young people (many already tied down with enormous student loans and/or few marketable skills) are still being disproportionately hit by unemployment and underemployment; gas prices are only making matters worse; and, add to this that in virtually every state jobs, programs, mass transit, and other services (many of them quite basic) are being slashed. For many average Americans, this has been their life since 2008. In the face of this experience, what they get from DC and from state houses and from pundits and lawmakers alike is a lot of "recovery" happy talk mixed with heated budget debates that involve "further sacrifices". No matter whose plan "wins", these "sacrifices" will disproportionately hit this *same group of shell-shocked voters*. In the face of all this, who cares about "immigration, energy or tax reform"?! It speaks volumes about who runs Washington these days. There's a recovery when US corporations and businesses "recover". Earth to David: average workers have "recovered" virtually nothing -- and nobody in gov't or the media seems to give a damn.
Law Firm Won't Defend Marriage Act for GOP from The Hill
"The firm House Republicans hired to argue in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act has withdrawn from the case following a backlash from the gay and lesbian community. "
Wow, the GOP's lawsuit didn't get very far. More on the story HERE. I'm sure SOME other firm will pick it up.
Republicans in Swing Districts Take Heat for Supporting Ryan's Medicare Plan from National Journal
"Republicans who used seniors’ rage over health care changes to sweep into office last fall are now facing the same type of heat over the same issue: Modifications in Medicare and Medicaid."
With that comes this related story:
Pawlenty, Romney React to Ryan Budget from National Review
Here's Romney:
"I applaud Rep. Paul Ryan for recognizing the looming financial crisis that faces our nation and for the creative and bold thinking that he brings to the debate. He is setting the right tone for finally getting spending and entitlements under control. Anyone who has read my book knows that we are on the same page."
Now -- the wording here is too clever by half. On it's face, it looks like an endorsement of the Ryan plan. However, I'm confident that, if things go south on the Ryan plan (which we can already see from the previous article), Romney THINKS he has left himself some wiggle room here. He wants the Tea Partiers to hear "I categorically endorse the Ryan Plan" -- but he's enough of a political realist to know that he will need seniors to have any chance of winning. Sadly, the Ryan plan has simply exposed Romney (once again) as someone with few core convictions beyond his own self-regard. He has once more *set himself up* to be "Multiple Choice" Mitt.
What Barbour’s Decision Means (Robert Costa) from National Review
"The remaining contenders are breathing a sigh of relief — and eyeing his staff."
The Trump Backlash (Howard Kurtz) from Newsweek
"The Donald’s free ride is over. As the 2012 race begins, time for more reality, less reality TV."
In WI, Walker: Too Many Recalls 'Makes It Very Hard' To Get Things Done from Talking Points Memo
Walker says, "At some point if you have a recall after every vote, you could have those continuously, one-after-another-after-another and it makes it very hard in a Republic for things to get done."
In a REAL republic, there is this wonderful thing could "compromise." It's what the executive branch does in lieu of doing as it pleases. And when the executive tries to do as it pleases, SHOCKERS, governing can indeed get hard.
SUSAN BOYLE-LIKE TV NUGGET!!
Edward Reid: Nursery Rhymes Audition (VIDEO) from Britain's Got Talent via Utube
A wonderful, brave -- and hilarious -- performance on Britain's Got Talent! Check it out!
"In the words of the immortal David Hasselhoff, Jack and Jill will never be the same. And it's true: Edward Reid has put a whole new spin on age-old nursery rhymes."
ISLAMIC CULTURE NUGGET!!
It's Not Just the Veil (Joshua Keating) from Foreign Policy Magazine
"Technology and globalization have reinvented other traditional Muslim practices in some surprising ways."
PHOTOGRAPHY NUGGET!!
Imprint of a Tumultuous Century from Newsweek
"As far as luminaries go in the world of photography, John G. Morris is Olympian. As the London photo editor of Life magazine during World War II, Morris worked closely with the likes of Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson to publish now-iconic images of Europe besieged."
The samples they have at this site are WONDERFUL!!
SPRING FLOWERS NUGGET!!
The Stunning Tulip Fields that Look Like They Have Been Created with a Giant Pack of Crayons from the Daily Mail [of the UK
"The vibrant blues, reds, pinks and yellows sprawl as far as the eye can see in Lisse, western Netherlands, where farmers hope to make huge profits selling them to florists and supermarkets around the world."
The photographs with this article are truly spectacular!!
No comments:
Post a Comment