- ‹ previous
- 839 of 2794
- next ›
Quote of the Day
From Barack Obama, asked why he won't spell out the consequences of further violence in Iran right now:
"I know everybody here is on a 24-hour news cycle. I'm not. OK?"
Good for him. Obama was noticeably tougher toward the Iranian regime in his press conference today ("The United States and the international community have been appalled and outraged by the threats, the beatings and imprisonments of the last few days"), but he remained firm in his refusal to say anything that would allow the regime to pretend that the protesters are in any way tools of Western powers:
The Iranian people are trying to have a debate about their future. Some in Iran — some in the Iranian government, in particular, are trying to avoid that debate by accusing the United States and others in the West of instigating protests over the elections.
These accusations are patently false. They're an obvious attempt to distract people from what is truly taking place within Iran's borders.
This tired strategy of using old tensions to scapegoat other countries won't work anymore in Iran. This is not about the United States or the West; this is about the people of Iran and the future that they — and only they — will choose.
This is obviously becoming a harder line to walk as events progress in Iran, and I expect it to become harder still over the next few days. So far, though, Obama has done pretty well.
Obama has been brilliant and
Obama has been brilliant and the chorus led by McCain is frighteningly stupid. The last few days, more than ever, I have thanked the stars that Obama/Biden were elected.
Did you see the look on that McClatchy reporter's face?
When Obama chided her saying "I know you need your human interests story" "but the bill was not about me." or something to that effect - referring to her question trying to tie him personally(his smoking) to the new tobacco regulations?
It was priceless!!!
"The Iranian people are
"The Iranian people are trying to have a debate about their future."
Is that what Obama thinks is happening in Iran? A debate? I guess Chicago politics is rougher and tougher than I thought. Debate usually means two sides or people talking through a matter, not squashing any dissent with brute force.
"some in the Iranian government, in particular, are trying to avoid that debate by accusing the United States and others in the West of instigating protests over the elections."
No, they are avoiding the debate by beating and killing their fellow countrymen who are protesting.
"this is about the people of Iran and the future that they — and only they — will choose."
It's quite obvious that only one side in Iran does the choosing and it's not the people on the streets.
Sack up, Mr. President. Start calling a spade a spade. Heck, even the French are calling it the way they (and the rest of the world) sees it.
it's called diplomacy
Nothing MacGruber says is entirely untrue, but...
It's called diplomacy.
It's why we elected a grown-up to be president, not the drooling moron who sang "bomb bomb bomb..."
If you think this isn't
If you think this isn't about the people of Iran and the future that they — and only they — will choose then listen to the likes of MacGruber. The rest of us aren't as stupid or selfish.
"If you think this isn't
"If you think this isn't about the people of Iran and the future that they — and only they — will choose then listen to the likes of MacGruber. The rest of us aren't as stupid or selfish."
The people of Iran cannot choose - that much is for certain. They wanted to choose and were denied. They are protesting this and are being silenced, in many cases quite brutally.
To stand back and calmly "let this happen" without choosing a side is moronic and cowardly.
Sack up Mr. Obama. You can't have it both ways.
Sack up?
Is that before or after he puts on the flightsuit?
sacking up
Why don't you get into your magic flight suit, fly over there and show those Immams who's boss ? Then the rest of us can have some peace.
"Is that before or after he
"Is that before or after he puts on the flightsuit?"
After he invites the Iranian government diplomats to July 4th BBQs to be held at U.S. Embassies around the world.
MacGruber
What next? You want Obama to talk tough, right? Well, what happens when Khamanei ignores him and uses strong US rhetoric against the protesters? Do we back up our words with actions? Sack up, MacGruber - get specific. Don't cop out - what are you prepared to do next? Do you want us to bomb? Invade? Lets hear your brilliant strategy. Will you be signing up for duty on the invasion force? Sack up!
The GOP &/or Conservative reax to Obama.
This really puts the lie to libertarian conservatism. Isn't this non-intervention -- or at least very limited one -- a principle tenet of the Fortress America right?
"You leave us alone", they say, "& we'll leave you alone... We're all grown-ups, we can determine our own affairs".
Yes, indeed. Who would think a Dem-rat would be more lib than the Randroid freak-show of the right?
Whether Obama criticizes
Whether Obama criticizes Iran or not, the bigger issue is nuclear weapons. I don't care if they embrace democracy or not. It would be devastating if Obama were to isolate Iran over this election and miss the admittedly small chance to undo the Iranian nuclear program. Why do we need to repeat the North Korea mistake?