Town Hall in Saudi Arabia Let’s have some fun. (After all, it’s Mardi Gras!) Clinton sure did when the question about Sarah Palin came out of the blue. And as expected, a few Tea Party activists will meet with Michael Steele. Speaking of the Tea Party, they got a big write up in the New York [...] [...more]
expanded edition cross-posted at Huffington Post The Nobel Committee announced Friday that the annual peace prize was awarded to Barack Obama, just nine months into his presidency, “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” The award cited in particular Mr. Obama’s effort to reduce the world’s nuclear arsenal. “He has created [...] [...more]
Mr. Obama said he noted the trend. “I am concerned that if the direction of the news is all blogosphere, all opinions, with no serious fact-checking, no serious attempts to put stories in context, that what you will end up getting is people shouting at each other across the void but not a lot of [...] [...more]
If you read one thing today this is it, “The Women’s Crusade.” No, it’s not about U.S. health care reform. It’s about something even more important, which is close to blasphemy to say these days but it’s true, because it’s about saving the world. …Yet if the injustices that women in poor countries suffer are of [...] [...more]
via The First Post The constant drumbeat in the American press is that Israelis don’t like Obama, don’t trust him. They want him to speak to them and tell them his plan. According to the New York Times, a media campaign is about to begin. … In coming weeks, senior administration officials said, the White House will [...] [...more]
A woman is threatened with death, but the UK won’t openly acknowledge the claims for asylum, because after all we wouldn’t want to openly criticize the House of Saud. What kind of rubbish is this? The human rights abuse kind. A Saudi Arabian princess who had an illegitimate child with a British man has secretly been granted [...] [...more]
“Whether we agree or not. They’re (Israel) entitled to do that. Any sovereign nation is entitled to do that. But there is no pressure from any nation that’s going to alter our behavior as to how to proceed. What we believe is in the national interest of the United States, which we, coincidentally, believe is [...] [...more]
–updated– An eerie stillness has settled over this normally frenetic city. … “People are depressed, and they feel they have been lied to, robbed of their rights and now are being insulted,” said Nassim, a 56-year-old hairdresser. “It is not just a lie; it’s a huge one. And it doesn’t end.” – In Tehran, a Mood [...] [...more]
The fundraiser is going great. But I still haven’t met the goal. We’re stuck on $300 still needed in order for me to break even up to this point in 2009. Thanks to the amazing people who have jumped in, many first time financial supporters. The last inch is always the hardest. But I need [...] [...more]
–updated below– “Culturally sensitive” is how Bob Shrum judged Pres. Obama’s historic speech in Cairo, as he pronounced “a new beginning,” which was the foundation of his speech. I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one [...] [...more]
On the wings of ABC’s article on Obama’s Muslim roots, we get an idea of what this week will be like for the Obama White House. No matter how successful his outreach is received in the Arab world, the juvenile center of the Republican right intends to run Robert Gibbs around the track. Segue [...] [...more]
Marty Peretz needs to hear Thomas Friedman’s joke, even though I doubt he’ll get it. There is this very pious Jew named Goldberg who always dreamed of winning the lottery. Every Sabbath, he’d go to synagogue and pray: “God, I have been such a pious Jew all my life. What would be so bad if I [...] [...more]
Being “honest” with Israel, how revolutionary. And as Michael D. Shearer notes, Pres. Obama even gives Dick Cheney grace. On the eve of his visit to Saudi Arabia, then Egypt, where he will give his outreach speech to Muslims and Arabs, Obama reiterates his Israeli policy regarding settlements. Via NPR, which has the transcript and the [...] [...more]
–TM NOTE: Scherer has an update at the link below– From Michael Scherer of Time: The Saudi government is permitting journalists accompanying President Obama entry into the country without a visa or the usual customs procedures. While in Saudi Arabia, therefore, journalists are expressly prohibited from leaving the hotel or engaging in any journalistic activities outside [...] [...more]
New podcast is up. Features include: Hot Topics (Susan Boyle, McAuliffe); Hunting Sotmayor; Petreaus on Gitmo – Torture; Israel, Obama, Saudis, Egypt. In other news today, Newt keeps pushing, now calling Judge Sotomayor “un-American” in an email blast. Michael Scherer at Time has the whole email. Not even reading it is believing. You read that right — [...] [...more]
