News Nuggets 199

A starry night in Arches National Monument in Utah.

New Showdown in Iran? (Robert Dreyfuss) from the Nation

"Thursday could be the start of a new street confrontation, if reports of a planned march that day are true. The Los Angeles Times reports that the opposition has called for a protest march on Thursday, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 1999 regime crackdown on student protestors."

Obama's Eloquent Moscow Speech (Katrina Vanden Heuval) from the Nation

"In this one speech, Obama did as much as any recent US leader to address -- and begin to overcome -- Russian's resentment about the US's misguided triumphalist mindset, which has dominated relations since the end of the Cold War."

I don't know what speech she was watching.  As an aficionado of Obama speeches, I found this one to be one of his most leaden, forgettable efforts.  I hope Vanden Heuval is correct though.

Obama in Russia: Symbolism Between Unequal Partners (Editorial) from Gazeta [of Russia in English]

"The first visit to Moscow of President Barack Hussein Obama was saturated to the limit with symbolic events. Because essentially, the Russia and United States of today have nothing to talk about. In terms of global politics, the two countries are in different leagues."

Obama to World: We're Back and Ready to Ratify from Politics Daily

"In Russia and Italy this week, President Obama is taking steps on nuclear weapons and climate change that are in line with his pledge to rebuild U.S. alliances around the world. It's a window on what we could see in the next four to eight years: The birth of new treaties and the revival of old ones that have long been stalled, some for decades."

Barack Obama Offers to Scrap Missile Shield from the Times [of London]

"President Obama put the Kremlin to the test yesterday by offering to scrap a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe if it helped to stop Iran building a nuclear bomb."

An Obama Doctrine Emerges in Moscow from the Huffington Post

"Just as significant as the nuclear accords and the reset of US-Russian relations may be the worldview that Obama elaborated in his Moscow speeches. He deftly buried the deeply flawed strategic doctrine that launched an unnecessary war with Iraq and posited military force as the chief tool of US statecraft."

In Russia, Obama's Star Power Does Not Translate from the New York Times

"In the background is the question of race, which Russians view through a complicated prism. For decades, Soviet propaganda hammered home the idea that the United States was an irredeemably racist country, as opposed to the Communist bloc nations. But Russia in recent years has been plagued by racist violence against people from the Caucasus region and Central Asia, as well as other immigrants."

Obama Gives Africa Tough Love from Politico

"Ahead of a historic visit to Africa later this week, President Barack Obama is warning government officials there that it's time for "African leadership to take responsibility and be held accountable" for the performance of their governments. "

Palin's Peculiar Family Values (Sally Quinn) from the Washington Post

"Sarah Palin should live up to her self-proclaimed Christian "family values" and do what she says is the moral thing to do: put her family first and help those who cannot help themselves."

Gold Rush in Alaska (Kathleen Parker) from the Washington Post

"When you're up to your waders in barracuda, blame the media.  And quit your job.  And say you did it for the people.  And hire an agent.  And try to keep a straight face.  On your way to the bank."

Republicans: A Threat to the Republic? (Robert Parry) from In These Times

"As Palin's bizarre resignation made clear, the GOP was excited over possibly handing the reins of power to someone clearly unstable and unfit for high office."

Gov. Palin, Welcome to the Club (Cynthia Tucker) from the Atlanta Journal Constitution

"She’s angry that so many — TV comedians, feuding political consultants, unnamed media “sources” — have taken aim at her and her family. How dare they?  How, indeed? Where was the governor when conservatives spent eight years ripping Hillary Clinton to shreds, even making foul jokes about her young daughter? Where was she when the right-wing attack machine went after Michelle Obama, blasting her as angry, unpatriotic and anti-white?"

An Obama Family Portrait, Courtesy of J. Crew from the Washington Post

"The media have managed to work themselves into a tizzy because the clothing company J. Crew issued a press release in which it noted that Malia and Sasha Obama were wearing clothes bearing its label and that of its children's line, Crewcuts, when the first family arrived in Moscow on Monday."

News Nuggets 198

A newborn elephant at a zoo in Sydney, Australia.  The little guy weighs in at 265 lbs.!

Obama Strikes Right Cord in Russia from Der Spiegel

"US President Barack Obama is taking pains to massage Russian egos during his visit to Moscow. The charismatic US leader is trying not to overshadow his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev -- even if he is also meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin."

Obama's Russia Gamble from the New Republic

"Perhaps the single greatest fault line between the Putin and Medvedev that has been suggested has been a belief that Medvedev may ultimately be more of a true believer in the rule of law than Putin, and therefore more receptive of the idea of restrained (e.g., liberal) state as a means to fostering prosperity in Russia.  Intriguingly, several of President Obama's actions related to his current trip to Moscow suggest that he may share this view of Medvedev--and is conducting his Russia outreach accordingly."

A Good Start on Restarting US-Russian Engagement from the Los Angeles Times

"At the first U.S.-Russian summit in seven years, President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to agree. This is a far greater accomplishment than it might seem, given the sorry state of bilateral relations that the two leaders inherited and the high costs of discord. "

Pearls of Wisdom from Barack Obama from the Ghana Graphic [of Ghana in English]

"In “Dreams from My Father”, Obama echoes the following themes: Self-Discovery and Reflection, Imagination, Fear, Passion for Community Work, Mother and Father, Children, and Religion. To improve one’s life is to improve one’s thought. With that in mind, let’s peruse these pearls as we prepare the “Akwaaba” for this maverick who believed that “Yes, we can.” And, “Yes, we did!”"

In Search of Dignity (David Brooks) from the New York Times

Here, here!!

"Whatever policy differences people may have with him, we can all agree that he exemplifies reticence, dispassion and the other traits associated with dignity. The cultural effects of his presidency are not yet clear, but they may surpass his policy impact. He may revitalize the concept of dignity for a new generation and embody a new set of rules for self-mastery."

Russians Intrigued by Michelle Obama's Gardening from the Washington Post

"First lady Michelle Obama arrived here Monday afternoon to an audience more intrigued by and enamored of her gardening skills than of anything else on her résumé."

In Moscow, Sasha Obama Wakes Parents to Chat (Lynn Sweet) from Politics Daily

"President Obama reports that daughters Sasha and Malia are having a great time in Moscow during the second international swing of their summer vacation. Sasha was so excited that she woke her folks up at 4 a.m. to talk about the trip."

Grading Obama's Performance in Russia from Politico

"Joseph S. Nye: "I would give him an A-...To award a straight A, I would have liked to have seen more progress on proliferation in Iran and North Korea ...""

Specter is a Loyal Democrat Since Party Switch, Study Shows from Congressional Quarterly

Surprise, surprise!!  Thank you, Joe Sestack!

"Specter, who faces a serious challenge in a 2010 Democratic primary, has demonstrated a higher level of party unity during his brief time as a Democrat than he did as a Republican."

The Republicans and the Politics of Self Destruction (Paul Begala) from CNN

"The Republican Party was once a solid, serious, stable group of people. It was the party of Eisenhower, of Ford -- and not too long ago, the party of Colin Powell. Now it's got more flakes than Post Toasties."

GOP Pols Losing Control of Tea Party Movement? from TalkingPointsMemo

WHO CALLED IT!! I KNEW that the teabaggers were not safe Republicans!  These folks are much more in the vein of Huey Long's radical populism than traditional Conservatism.

"On the one hand are the hard-line activists who attend these things, versus the more mainstream politicians who want to win elections and are looking for their votes -- and are running into all manner of conflicts as a result."

The Sins of Sarah Palin (Roger Simon) from Politico

"Sarah Palin is a sinner. She has violated several commandments and thoroughly deserves the savage beating that she is now getting from political mandarins and media elites. "

Simon's on-the-money here.

Palin's Puzzling Move Again Roils 2012 Field from Politics Daily

"It's like a game of Republican dominoes, falling one by one."

Dodging an Alaskan Bullet (Richard Cohen) from the Washington Post

"Naming Palin to the GOP ticket -- a top-down choice by McCain -- was the most reckless decision any national politician has made in the longest time, and while it certainly says something about McCain, it says even more about his party. It has lost its mind."

A Starter, Not a Finisher (Eugene Robinson) from the Washington Post

"There are basically two reasons the political class and the commentariat continue to speak and write about Palin as if she were a substantial figure whose presence on the national stage is anything but a cruel, unfunny joke. The first is fear -- not of Palin and her know-nothing legions, but of being painted as elitist and sexist."

News Nuggets 197

The Obamas -- off to Russia!  Image from the Huffington Post.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Takes Command from the Los Angeles Times

Ominous news from Iran.

"The top leaders of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard publicly acknowledged they had taken over the nation's security and warned late Sunday that there was no middle ground in the ongoing dispute over the reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a threat against a reformist wave led by Mir-Hossein Mousavi."

As Obama Visits, Russian TV Alters Take on US from the New York Times

"Opinion polls show a slight thaw in Russian perceptions of the United States, which have been in a long decline. The departure of George W. Bush, who was loathed here, does not fully account for this; it is an expression of hope, or curiosity, about what Mr. Obama will offer."

Obama, Russia and the Question of Color from Time Magazine

"When Obama first entered the race for President, many Russians could not get past his skin color. Prior to his win, tabloids constantly referred to him as "the black-skinned candidate" and the Russian public, not overly concerned with political correctness, seemed happy with the label. But as Obama prepares to visit Moscow on Monday, there are bigger issues at hand, and Russians are starting to warm to the American President as they look beyond his pigmentation and turn their focus to his policies."

Ghana Prepares for Obama Visit from Vibe Ghana [of Ghana in English]

"U.S. President Barack Obama makes his first trip to Sub-Saharan Africa as president this week. He is going to Ghana after stops in Russia and Italy. Our correspondent reports on preparations for this historic visit."

In Ghana, Obama Will Cry for Africa from My Joy Ghana [of Ghana in English]

"One of the greatest historical events to take place in Ghana will be the august visit of US President Barrack Obama. Already on the airwaves and the newspapers one can discern the warm and rousing welcome that awaits him to depict the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality"

Ghana, But Not Forgotten from Politico

"President Barack Obama, ..., is not scheduled to deliver a speech to the general public when he visits Ghana next week. ... Some suspect the reason has its roots in an event that holds a storied place in White House lore"

This story makes a lot of sense to me.

HELP is on the Way (Paul Krugman) from New York Times

Woo, woo!!  GOOD NEWS!

"The Congressional Budget Office has looked at the future of American health insurance, and it works. ...  Last week the budget office scored the full proposed legislation from the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). And the news ... was very, very good. Yes, we can reform health care."

In Historic Fashion, Votes Mostly Go Obama's Way from Congressional Quarterly

More woo, woo! Check this out!!

"As his presidency approaches the half-year mark, Barack Obama is on pace to be the most successful Oval Office occupant in more than half a century when measured by his ability to get Congress to vote his way — even though he shows signs of carefully picking his fights on Capitol Hill."

TV and Obama: Mutual Love Affair from the Los Angeles Times

"There's no denying that broadcast networks and the president have occasionally worked for their mutual benefit: Obama gets public platforms for his ideas and the networks get programming that delivers strong ratings at a time when that's hard to come by."

In a similar vein:

Obama Coverage Pays for Networks from Politico

I had thought that this was the case for some time now.

"For all the talk of liberal media bias, there may be a more prosaic reason for all the airtime the networks shower on President Barack Obama: He’s good for their bottom line. "

Tea Party Movement Loses Steam from the Washington Independent

“I think of the Tea Party Movement as a play in three acts,” said Michael Patrick Leahy, a Nashville activist who has clashed with other Tea Party organizers, but who is speaking at the Dallas event. “Act one was to protest the socialist statism that we don’t believe in. The second act is happening on Saturday when we celebrate the Constitution that we do believe in. The third act will be taking actions to restore limited government.”

Ooooh! I just can't wait for that THIRD ACT!

Palin's Prospects (Fred Barnes) from the Weekly Standard

This is a FIRST -- the first time I have posted a link to the Weekly Standard, a conservative rag of the first order -- but this was an important pronouncement by the editor there.

"Forget about Sarah Palin as the Republican presidential candidate in 2012 and probably ever. She may have no interest in seeking the GOP nomination. But if she does, her chances of winning the nomination have been minimized by her decision to resign as governor of Alaska. She's knocked out one of three legs of the presidential stool and a second one is wobbly."

Palin Resignation Leaves GOP Weaker from the Bloomsberg News Service

"Palin’s decision to resign “just leaves you weaker,” said Eddie Mahe, a Republican strategist who said the party needs to find new political stars. “The hope has to be that there’s some folks out there somewhere who are contemplating getting involved in public life.”"

Palin and Her Enemies (Ross Douthat) from the New York Times

"Now, seemingly, it’s over. Oh, maybe not forever: she’s only 45, young enough (and, yes, talented enough) to have a second act. But last Friday’s bizarre, rambling resignation speech should take her off the political map for the duration of the Obama era."

Palin's Parting Shot (Anne Applebaum) from the Washington Post

"She smugly asserts the right to decide who is a patriot and who is not. It's not about "country," in other words, it's about hypocrisy. And Sarah Palin is full of it."

Odd Palin Lawyer Letter Follows Odd Palin Speech (Joan Walsh) from Salon

"I think Sarah Barracuda has actually been Sarah Barraquitta, as a friend quips, for most of her life, moving through five stays at four different colleges to get her degree, leaving her oil and gas commission post after just more than a year, and now stepping down as Alaska governor because it's no longer fun."

Mama Sarah's Mission to Kick Misery through Football from the Daily Nation [of Kenya in English]

"A lot of people have faith in that the good old lady can move mountains. They are from across the religious divide. They have been seeking her intercession since she assumed celebrity status courtesy of her grandson to highest administrative job on earth. Some of the latest moves have grabbed more international attention."

HISTORY ANALYSIS NUGGET!!

A wide-ranging conversation between Henry Kissinger and Der Spiegel with interesting insight on Obama and contemporary politics.

"Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, 86, discusses the painful lessons of the Treaty of Versailles, idealism in politics and Obama's opportunity to forge a peaceful American foreign policy."

MIDDLE-EASTERN NUGGET!!

Middle-East Views of Obama's Cairo Speech from the BBC

Interesting compilation of M-E opinions on Obama's Cairo Speech from about a month ago.

News Nuggets 196

A rare Northern Wombat from the Queensland Zoo in Australia from the Independent of London.  See the Nature Nugget at the bottom! 

UP-FRONT VIDEO NUGGET!!

The Welcome Song for Obama to Ghana from the Ghana Tourist Board

This is REALLY impressive! African cultural goes to the US via slavery, gets transformed in the US, gets transplanted back to Africa via hip-hop -- and now being used to communicate back to America and America's president.  A multi-cultural, multi-national explosion!

Here's ANOTHER ONE from Uganda.

Iran Uprising Live-Blogging (Nico Pitney) from Huffington Post

Good time to check in on Nico Pitney's live-blogging -- important developments there.

Saudis Give Nod to Israeli Raid on Iran from the Times [of London]

"The head of Mossad, Israel’s overseas intelligence service, has assured Benjamin Netanyahu, its prime minister, that Saudi Arabia would turn a blind eye to Israeli jets flying over the kingdom during any future raid on Iran’s nuclear sites."

Disconcerting news -- I hope saner heads prevail in Israel AND Iran.  By the way, did the US media cover this story anywhere?  Too busy covering Mr. Jackson and Ms. Palin I guess.  A pontificating aside: This is why (in general) I try to stay away from Ensign/Sanford/Palin kinds of stories.  Soon, the Palin uptick will subside -- "GOP Presidential Hopefuls" meltdown stories are just becoming too blase. 

New British and US Strategy to Break Taliban from the Times [of London]

"About 3,000 British, Danish, Estonian and Afghan soldiers from Task Force Helmand are taking part in the operation north of Lashkar Gah while 4,000 men from the US-led Task Force Leatherneck are conducting Operation Khanjar – Strike of the Sword – around the Garmsir and Nawa districts. The arrival of US marines – part of an American surge that will involve pouring 17,000 US troops into southern Afghanistan – has relieved some of the pressure. ... It’s all part of a strategic change. In future, American and British troops will be expected to hold their ground, providing security for local people while denying the insurgents access to vital supplies, funding and recruits."

Now, where did all these Danes, Estonians and Brits come from?  Oh -- yes, there is a new guy in the White House!  The Alliance of the Willing is a little more willing these days with Bush gone.

Can I Clean Your Clock? (Thomas Friedman) from the New York Times

"To China: Grow as dirty as you want. Take your time. Because I think America just needs five years to invent all the clean-power technologies you Chinese are going to need as you choke to death on pollution."

When Benedict Meets Barack from Time Magazine

"To paint the Obama-meets-Benedict dossier in broad strokes, says one senior Vatican diplomat, "It's basically the reverse of Bush.""

Obama Fever Grips Accra from the Ghana Graphic Magazine [of Ghana in English]

"A wide range of Obama merchandise namely cloths, T-shirts,  jerseys, paintings and bags are crowding out other items on some of the major streets of Accra ahead of the visit of the US President, Barack Obama.  ... Interestingly, according to the traders, the American and European tourists are competing with Ghanaians in the purchase of the Obama cloth."

GOP Establishment Stays Away from Latest Tea Parties from RawStory

"The Tea Parties held at some 600 locations across the country appear to have drawn considerably fewer participants than the much-ballyhooed Tax Freedom Day protests on April 15. ... Unlike with the April protests, the Republican party’s establishment didn’t throw its weight behind this latest round of rallies."

As some of you know, I have long viewed these tea-bag folks as raging, inchoate populists -- not your traditional conservatives!  There is an angry, anti-government radicalism that underlies much of their rhetoric, and I'm confident that this was one of the reasons the GOP establishment stayed away.  Many Republican law-makers were booed back in April when they showed up at these events.  A rare show of group sanity this time on the GOP's part -- but then yesterday Gov. Perry of Texas did go to one of these events in Austin.  It really does mark out the lunatic fringe OF THE LUNATIC FRINGE. 

Another Example of the GOP Split from the New York Times

"Grant the Republicans this much at least: they’re no longer boring."

Boehner Reaches into Bag of Tricks to Disrupt Democrats from the New York Times

An unusually catty and partisan headline from the Grey Lady today!

"Representative John A. Boehner came to Washington in 1991 as a rabble-rousing Republican willing to disrupt the House to score points against powerful Democrats. Now, as the House Republican leader in a town again dominated by Democrats, the Ohioan is back to his old tricks."

Bailout Palin-Style (Ruth Marcus) from the Washington Post

I am not usually a fan of Ruth Marcus -- but she really nails Palin on multiple fronts here.

"Note to soon-to-be-former Gov. Sarah Palin: Big girls don't quit.  Just ask Hillary Clinton. Crying -- or at least misting up a little -- you can get away with these days. But quitting? Not until you absolutely have to, and even then you might hold on for a few extra weeks. ... But Palin didn't just quit. She quit -- and proceeded to praise herself for doing so"

"Just ask Hillary Clinton ..."  When I read this line, it suddenly occurred to me that I was annoyed that Palin was even being discussed in the same conversation with Clinton.  My gut reaction: Palin isn't fit to lick Hillary's boots!!  As many of you know, I was not a fan of Hillary during the elections.  And yet Clinton, for all of her faults, is towering, tenacious strength and intelligence personified compared to what we were witness to up at Lake Lucille.  Indeed, in this light, whether it's Hillary, Bill, or Barack, I can suddenly appreciate what political strength looks like and how much is required to simply look like you know what you're doing.  Need I say it?  I am a Hillary fan now!

Foot-Shooting Season Opens in Alaska (Editorial) from the Independent [of London]

"The fast-emerging view of Republican Party operatives and commentators – including some of those that have championed her national career since before the beginning – was that Palin just shot her political moose, completing one of the most spectacular flameouts in the modern era."

Sarah's Straight Talk (Gail Collins) from the New York Times

"Truly, Sarah Palin has come a long way. When she ran for vice president, she frequently became disjointed and garbled when she departed from her prepared remarks. Now the prepared remarks are incoherent, too."

Palin Opens Herself Up to Criticism from the Washington Post

"Neither Romney nor Pawlenty quit as Palin did, midstream. And Palin's explanation for stepping down was even more inexplicable. She described the abandonment of her duties almost in noble terms, saying that by leaving now she would avoid the temptation that she ascribed to others who have not run again."

Iceberg? (Andrew Sullivan) from the Atlantic

An interesting roundup of opinion of Sarah's latest antics.

Palin Move Raises Big Questions from the Associated Press via Huffington Post

"Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's abrupt and unscripted holiday resignation is an odd way to launch a potential presidential bid and no help for a party battered by scandal and fighting for relevancy.  From a folksy figure who catapulted from obscure governor to conservative darling and vice presidential nominee, it's merely the latest move in a political drama that has left Republican elders scratching their heads."

Social Justice and the First Lady (Eleanor Clift) from Newsweek

"With Congress on recess and many of the city's swells attending the Aspen Ideas Festival, it's a good time to check in on the Washington that is mostly invisible to the lawmakers, lobbyists and assorted elites that define the nation's capital. It's the Washington that Michelle Obama is determined to make part of her White House neighborhood."

GOP GOVERNOR HUMOR NUGGET!!

No -- this item relates to LAST WEEK'S Funny-GOP-Governor-Who-Was-Thinking-About-Running-For-President!

Shut Up, Mark Sanford! from the Daily Show

NATURE NUGGET!!

The Wombat [no -- this isn't more about Palin]: Back from the Brink from the Independent [of London]

"One of the world's most threatened mammals manages to go forth into the forest – and multiply"

News Nuggets 195

Foggy and cloudy dawn off the coast of New Zealand from the Daily Telegraph [of London]

UP-FRONT IRAN NUGGET!!

Clerical Group Defies Leader on Disputed Iran Election from the New York Times

"The most important group of religious leaders in Iran has called the disputed presidential election and the new government illegitimate, an act of defiance against the country’s supreme leader and the most public sign of a major split in the country’s clerical establishment."

Why Iran's Hard-liners are Inviting Isolation from the Christian Science Monitor

"A senior cleric called Friday for British Embassy employees to be tried for allegedly inciting mass protests. The move signals a heightened effort to portray recent unrest as a foreign plot."

Tehran Dispatch: Basijis Hang Around, Do Nothing from Salon

"It is the people, the mellat, that have taken on the most creative and unexpected role in this drama. "

Is the Worst Over?  Most Economists Says Yes from Weekend Edition Sunday on NPR

"As the year's second half begins, most economists are saying the worst of the recession is over, and that slow growth will begin in the fall."

Obama's 'Common Ground': Slogan or Substance? from Politics Daily

Title aside, this article provides interesting analysis of the tough media environment Obama confronts.

"As polarization rooted itself more deeply in Washington, explicitly political media (cable news, radio talk programs, blogs and other outlets) mushroomed and stole viewers, listeners and readers from mainstream sources.  One consequence of this new politically charged media environment is the decline in a mutually shared pool of information that existed before the cable, satellite and Internet explosion."

Sarah Palin 'Out of Politics, Period' from the Huffington Post

"Reporters are beginning to piece together an explanation for Sarah Palin's abrupt resignation announcement that stands in stark contrast to the reasoning Palin offered in her speech."

Major Blowback on Palin Decision from Conservative Blogs from Hot Air [a conservative blog]

"No one leads by quitting.  No one leads by quitting.  Palin’s abandoning  her post, and at least from her own description, doing it because she doesn’t want to deal with the issues of being a “lame duck,” a status all politicians have to handle at some point."

Palin Resignation Splits GOP from Politico

"Many establishment GOP operatives and political commentators of various stripes were withering, both about the decision and the way she announced it — in a jittery, hyperkinetic news conference that rambled between self-congratulation and bitter accusations at the foes she says are eager to destroy her. ... But her defenders believed an unorthodox move, even if risky, has a clear logic and may only further increase her standing with conservatives who don’t care what establishment figures in or out of the GOP think."

Alaska GOP Senator Blasts Palin: You Abandoned Our State from the Huffington Post

"Alaska's Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski issued a surprisingly harsh statement late on Friday, ripping Gov. Sarah Palin's decision to leave office at the end of the month. "I am deeply disappointed that the Governor has decided to abandon the State and her constituents before her term has concluded," Murkowski wrote."

Why Sarah Palin is No Richard Nixon (Op-Ed) from the Congressional Quarterly

I love this analogy!!

"Running from the governorship -- rather than for it -- is hardly a recommendation for the presidency. It's like walking into a job interview as an air traffic controller and telling the hiring authority that you quit your last job as a crossing guard because the pressure was getting to be too much."

Other interesting analysis of Palin HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and especially HERE.

Michelle Obama Bringing Glamor to Moscow This Weekend from the Huffington Post

"In a country where a presidential candidate once quipped he'd sooner pack his wife off to a convent than allow her to dabble in politics, Russia still has trouble with the concept of an empowered woman behind the throne."

INDEPENDENCE DAY NUGGET!!

Reading of the Declaration of Independence on Morning Edition from NPR

A WONDERFUL tradition on National Public Radio!

News Nuggets 194

Courthouse Rock in the Arches National Monument in Utah from National Geographic

The Tasks of Change Ahead (Editorial) from The Hindu [of India]

"Mr. Obama is no mere President but a constitutional wonder. He is an epic event. He is also an omen of great portent to the world order. Not belonging to the poor white, not belonging to the upper classes, not enjoying aristocratic grandeur, he symbolises the humblest of the American have-not humanity."

A Turning Point in Afghanistan from the Times [of London]

"The US surge has all the elements of force, speed and surprise for military success. But to win, the allies must prepare for long-term deployment"

Iran's Ahmadinejad Faces Diplomatic Isolation from the Los Angeles Times

"After a disputed election and crackdown on protesters, the Iranian president may be feted in some anti-U.S. corners, but he faces slights and snubs from other nations."

Repression in Tehran is a Sign of Hope (Op-Ed) from the Globe and Mail [of Toronto]

Yes ... and those latest jobless numbers are a sign of recovery.  Kidding aside, I agree with where this author ends up and quibble with some of the logic that gets him there.

"What can be confusing is that aiding the growth of democracy elsewhere isn't about meddling in elections the way Western governments and foundations did during the “colour revolutions” in Ukraine or Georgia. It's about respecting the right and ability of local people to sort out their choices without the distractions created by outside interference, well-meaning or not."

Obama, Welcome to Moscow from the Economist [of London]

"Paranoid, mischievous and heading in the wrong direction, Russia is an awkward prospect for Barack Obama."

Israel Struggles to Adapt to a Changing Picture of Iran from the Financial Times [of London]

"The apparent fixing of the poll result and the subsequent crushing of dissent has also made the case for more rather than less engagement by the west."

That '30s Show (Paul Krugman) from the New York Times

"O.K., Thursday’s jobs report settles it. We’re going to need a bigger stimulus. But does the president know that?"

Semi-Encouraging Climate-Change News (James Fallows) from the Atlantic

"On Wednesday morning, before a chaos of other obligations, I heard yet another panel on impending climate-change disasters, but this one left me strangely less despondent than some of the others."

Grand Jury Inquiry on Destruction of CIA Tapes from the New York Times

"CIA officers have appeared before a federal grand jury in Virginia as part of an 18-month investigation into the agency’s destruction of 92 videotapes depicting the brutal interrogations of two Qaeda detainees."

HISTORY NUGGET #1!!

Frederick Douglass' July 4 Challenge Answered by Obama's Election (Carl Cannon) from Politics Daily

"A century and a half ago, the logic and morality of that great struggle for equality was framed indelibly by a black man who asked a haunting question that challenged a nation's conscience, and rang through the decades. Frederick Douglass spoke on July 5, 1852."

HISTORY NUGGET #2!!

Making History (Peggy Noonan) from the Wall Street Journal

"An appreciation of our country's founders and its greatest living historian."

News Nuggets 193

I'm not sure really what to make of this image from Berlin taken by Der Spiegel.  Is the water really THAT polluted?  It strikes me as rather odd.

Fool Me Twice (Jacob Heilbrunn) from the National Interest

"On Iraq, the Bush administration and the neoconservatives and liberal hawks who supported the invasion didn’t just get it wrong. They got it exactly backwards. In every way possible and then some, they invented a threat that simply did not exist."

Iran Awash in Mistrust and Despair from the Asia Times

"A feeling of anger, despair and mistrust of government prevails among Iranian citizens, which has only deepened after the Guardians Council's announcement."

In Iran, Conspiracy Theories Flourish as Regime Tries to Win Back Legitimacy from Time Magazine

"The Islamic Republic has been busy in three main ways since the presidential elections of June 12."

Most Americans Back Obama on Iran Election, CNN Poll Finds from the Times [of London]

"John McCain may have tried to cast Iran as Barack Obama’s first foreign policy failure, but America remains overwhelmingly behind the President, rejecting the pressure to weigh in further on the post-election crisis."

Let the Usurpers Writhe (Roger Cohen) from the New York Times

"Think of normalized relations with the United States as the big prize. Who gets to deliver it? One thing is certain: Iran’s ruthless usurpers are determined to ensure reformists are never in a position to claim the breakthrough."

Iran Presents Obama a Quandary fit for Chicago (Al Hunt) from the Bloomberg News Service

"Barack Obama in dealing with Iran, brings some expertise as important as his lack of foreign policy experience: a background in Chicago politics."

Russia's Grand Inquisitor (David Ignatius) from the Washington Post

"Human beings would happily trade their freedom for food and security, Dostoyevsky wrote in the novel's famous chapter, "The Grand Inquisitor." In place of this anarchic freedom, the Inquisitor offered the people "miracle, mystery and authority. ... There's a palpable sense here that Putin has brought "miracle, mystery and authority" to a Russia that was severely traumatized by the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s."

Obama's Trip to Russia (Editorial) from RealClearPolitics

"While Russia under Putin (and his not-quite-elected successor, Dmitry Medvedev) eschews communism, it does have a semi-formal state ideology revolving around its self-image as a "great power.""

The New Energy Politics (E.J. Dionne) from the Washington Post

"That some highly vulnerable Democrats in the House were willing to face tens of thousands of dollars worth of Republican attack ads as the price of supporting a bill to curb global warming is the untold story of what, so far, is the year's most dramatic legislative showdown."

White House Plans Flu Summit Next Week from CNN

"CNN has learned that the Obama administration is planning to convene a "flu summit" next week to make preparations for the fall, as officials in Argentina declare a health emergency because 35 people have died in the Latin American nation from swine flu."

WHY is he WASTING his time on this when he could so easily PROCRASTINATE until the Fall when ... when ... it'll be too late?  After all, that's the way politicians USUALLY operate.  All kidding aside, such a rare demonstration of foresight.

Majority Leader Shines in the Shadows from Congressional Quarterly

This is like the FIRST somewhat positive article I've read concerning Reid's leadership.

"Other majority leaders have relished the spotlight — working to shape the party agenda from a television studio or a desk in the front row on the Senate floor — but Reid is most in his element when he roams the shadows in the rear of the chamber, homing in on fellow Democrats who are wavering on the question of the moment."

The GOP: Poised for Another Comeback? from the VA Center for Politics

"The current state of the Republican Party is a good-news, bad-news situation. The good news is that the GOP has gone through several debilitating elections over the last generation and each time has recovered quickly.

The bad news is that the conditions may not be as ripe this time for a fast Republican comeback as they were after the elections of 1964, 1976 and 1992."

House of Pain: GOP's Class of '94 from Politico

"As it turns out, the pressures and demands of political life have inflicted devastating damage not only on the Ensign and Sanford families, but on the families of many of the 71 other freshmen who formed the vanguard of the Republican Revolution."

The Sarah Palin Chronicles Mask Deeper GOP Troubles from the Washington Post

OH GOOD!  More troubles!

"The Palin controversy highlights personal enmities and strategic disagreements among Republicans. The victory by Democrat Al Franken over Republican Norm Coleman for a U.S. Senate seat representing Minnesota, though long anticipated, drives home the degree to which Republicans are now a true minority party. Together, the controversies are another double blow to the weakened party."

Michelle Obama to Russia, Ghana, and Italy (Lynn Sweet) from Politics Daily

"First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia, along with her mother, Marian Robinson, will join President Obama when he travels to Russia, Italy and Ghana next week."

RARE BIRD NUGGET!!

A CBS News Exclusive!  When was the last time you saw one of those?

Palin E-Mails Show Infighting with Staff from CBS News

"CBS News' Scott Conroy and special contributor Shushannah Walshe, who are writing a book about Palin, reveal just one example of how the mutual frustrations went even further than what has been disclosed so far."

News Nuggets 192

Snoqualmie Falls in Washington State from National Geographic

UP-FRONT "PROBABLY-DON'T-WANT-TO-HEAR-ABOUT-IT" NUGGET!!

The Suppressed Fact: Deaths by US Torture (Glenn Greenwald) from Salon

"The interrogation and detention regime implemented by the U.S. resulted in the deaths of over 100 detainees in U.S. custody -- at least."

No Time for Amadinejad to Relax from the Financial Times [of London]

"Having all but put down a popular uprising in support of Mr Moussavi, the Iranian regime will not – and should not – relax. For it knows that it faces a crisis of legitimacy, with large parts of society refusing to recognise Mr Ahmadi-Nejad as president."

Iran Becomes a Different Country (Editorial) from the Financial Times [of London]

"It was as if I had landed in a different country when I arrived in Iran four days after the presidential election."

Obama's Stance Deflects Chavez's Finger-Pointing from the New York Times

"Instead of engaging in tit-for-tat accusations, Mr. Obama calmly described the coup as “illegal” and called for Mr. Zelaya’s return to office. While Mr. Chávez continued to portray Washington as the coup’s possible orchestrator, others in Latin America failed to see it that way."

Cap-and-Traitors and Global Warming (Michael Gerson) from the Washington Post

"It is typical that we praise independent judgment and political nerve in our elected officials -- until they show those qualities."

Just Pass the Climate Bill (Thomas Friedman) from the New York Times

"For all its flaws, this bill is the first comprehensive attempt by America to mitigate climate change by putting a price on carbon emissions. Rejecting this bill would have been read in the world as America voting against the reality and urgency of climate change and would have undermined clean energy initiatives everywhere."

Palin Story Sparks Republican Family Feud from Politico

"A hard-hitting piece on Sarah Palin in the new Vanity Fair has touched off a blistering exchange of insults among high-profile Republicans over last year’s GOP ticket – tearing open fresh wounds about leaks surrounding Palin."

How Will Al Franken Make a Difference in the Senate? from Time Magazine

"Here are five key areas where Franken's vote could have a decisive impact."

Senate Republicans Brace for Ominous 2010 from CNN

"The 111th Congress has just barely begun as Senate Republicans brace for more grueling elections in 2010 that threaten to further weaken the party's influence in Congress."

http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/print_friendly.php?ID=ol_20090630_9191

How Dysfunction Helps the GOP (Thomas Frank) from the Wall Street Journal

"Where the conservative mythologists show their hand is when they use their own monumental screw-ups, committed during conservatism's long years in charge of the government, to prove that government in general is a futile proceeding, and that Democratic health-care plans, in particular, can't possibly succeed."

Chaos and Arm-Twisting Gave Pelosi the Win with Climate Change from Politico

"After lawmakers had devoured the last of the Kalua Pig at last Thursday night’s White House Luau, Nancy Pelosi summoned her team back to the Capitol — to ensure the climate change bill wasn’t the next thing roasted on the spit. "

FLORIDA POLITICS NUGGET!!

FL-Sen: Another Potential Republican Defection (kos) from Daily Kos

"All those Dems and Independents who love Crist won't have a say in the matter in the Republican contest. And I predict that by the end of the year (or end of Q1 2010 at the latest), the polls in that Republican primary will be tied.  So the question will then be -- at what point will Crist realize that he's in deep shit?"

I think kos is WAY ahead of himself here -- but I do agree that Rubio is going to make Crist's primary battle VERY ugly.

PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS NUGGET!!

The Sestak Factor (Amy Walter) from the National Journal

"Even so, can we really assume that Sestak, who's never had a real race, will be a strong general election candidate? Sestak's win in 2006 had as much to do with incumbent Curt Weldon's implosion as Sestak's strengths."