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Taylor Marsh has been writing on line since 1996, with the archives provided here a representation of that work.

Tag Archives | England

Ron Paul Calls Central Banks’ Action ‘a panicky-type reaction’

By on 30 November 2011

The Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, the Federal Reserve, and the Swiss National Bank are today announcing coordinated actions to enhance their capacity to provide liquidity support to the global financial system. The purpose of these actions is to ease strains in financial markets and thereby mitigate the effects of such strains on the supply of credit to households and businesses and so help foster economic activity. – Federal Reserve (links above added)

The Dow gained 490 points or 4.2% after the collective central banks’ action. It’s the largest gain since the spring of 2009.

Unsurprisingly, presidential hopeful Ron Paul wasn’t impressed:

“They must really be worried to get together like this, but it can’t be good in the long run,” Paul said on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street Wednesday. “All they are doing is a form of worldwide quantitative easing.”

Felix Salmon: “Think of it as a holiday greetings card from the banks to the market.”

From CNN Money:

The central banks’ coordinated market intervention gave investors hope that world leaders could take necessary steps to avoid a credit crunch or market paralysis stemming from Europe’s sovereign debt crisis. “It’s the first time we’ve seen this type of global coordination since November 2008,” said Michael James, a senior equity trader at Wedbush Morgan. “The degree of coordination sends a message to the markets that global leaders are going to do whatever they need to do to instill confidence in the markets.”

Naked Capitalism:

The open question is whether this increases confidence enough to get major European countries through critical bond auctions, not just this week, but most important, a series of major refundings Italy has in February.

Anyone betting on that one?

And just for fun, Freakonomics asks whether the euro can be saved. Buckle up before reading.

ADP also reported that 260,000 private-sector jobs were added in November, though we’ll hear more on unemployment numbers Friday.

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Vacationing in Tuscany While London Burns

By on 09 August 2011

Well, that’s come to an end.

For good reason, as the New York Times outlines the spectacle.

“Descent into hell,” said a front page headline in The Sun tabloid which, like other newspapers, published a dramatic photograph of a woman leaping to safety in the arms of police from a blazing building.

“Mob Rule,” said the page one headline in The Independent, showing a masked rioter in a hooded track-suit against a wall of flame.

On Tuesday, the violence seemed to be having a ripple effect beyond its immediate focal points: news reports spoke of a dramatic upsurge in household burglaries; sports authorities said at least two major soccer matches in London — including an international fixture between England and the Netherlands — had been postponed because the police could not spare officers to guarantee crowd safety. The postponements offered dramatic testimony to the pressures on Mr. Cameron and his colleagues to confront the dark shadow that the rioting has cast on plans for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

[...] For a society already under severe economic strain, the rioting raised new questions about the political sustainability of the Cameron government’s spending cuts, particularly the deep cutbacks in social programs. These have hit the country’s poor especially hard, including large numbers of the minority youths who have been at the forefront of the unrest.

The New Yorker has the genesis of what caused it.

Austerity in Tottenham isn’t going down well at all.

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Norway Domestic Terrorist Reportedly Influenced by Pamela Geller, Robert Spencer, U.S. Right-Wing

By on 25 July 2011

Oh, the inconvenience of facts when met with ugly reality. Pamela Geller and Jihad Watch’s Robert Spencer are cited in today’s New York Times story:

Anders Behring Breivik

Marc Sageman, a former C.I.A. officer and a consultant on terrorism, said it would be unfair to attribute Mr. Breivik’s violence to the writers who helped shape his world view. But at the same time, he said the counterjihad writers do argue that the fundamentalist Salafi branch of Islam “is the infrastructure from which Al Qaeda emerged. Well, they and their writings are the infrastructure from which Breivik emerged.”

“This rhetoric,” he added, “is not cost-free.”

[...] Mr. Breivik frequently cited another blog, Atlas Shrugs, and recommended the Gates of Vienna among Web sites. Pamela Geller, an outspoken critic of Islam who runs Atlas Shrugs, wrote on her blog Sunday that any assertion that she or other antijihad writers bore any responsibility for Mr. Breivik’s actions was “ridiculous.”

“If anyone incited him to violence, it was Islamic supremacists,” she wrote.

The tragedy of the scores murdered can only be mitigated, however slightly, if we attempt to understand the fueling of people, including lone wolf domestic terrorists, though Breivik may have had accomplices, because it’s never just them in the picture.

All you have to do is take a look at the Republican party’s 2012 roster for examples of who’s fueling this stuff. William Saletan over at Slate did that today. Herman Cain comes to mind, but he’s by no means alone.

And the hypocrisy doesn’t end with Geller. It permeates the Republican presidential field. Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, and Newt Gingrich agree with Geller that no mosque should be built near Ground Zero. Herman Cain, in the style of George Wallace, just went to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to support local bigots who want to stop the construction of a mosque there. Rick Santorum told a Christian school audience: “The idea that the Crusades and the fight of Christendom against Islam is somehow an aggression on our part is absolutely anti-historical.” And Michele Bachmann defended a congressional inquiry into Muslim violence by pointing out that recently,

Two of our soldiers were gunned down in Germany, and the fellow who shot them shouted “Allah Akhbar” before he did that. And just the week before that, we had a 20-year-old from Saudi Arabia, here on a student visa in Dallas, who had accumulated all of the chemicals necessary to create a bomb on the order of the Oklahoma City federal building bombing. … If we don’t understand that there are Sharia-compliant terrorists in our midst … we will make ourselves more vulnerable.

Geller responds by calling anyone questioning her Islamaphobia and fearmongering “media assassins” against “voices of freedom.” People like Geller and others of her ilk simply think freedom is not for Muslims or anyone outside their wingnut hysteria club, with the impetus behind much of Geller’s invective style and hate speech her anti-Israeli paranoia, which is all consuming.

Charles Johnson over at Little Green Footballs has no problem writing the obvious:

There’s no doubt whatsoever that Anders Behring Breivik was seriously influenced by these people, and they know it. Their guilty consciences are showing.

But not to worry, there’s always someone willing to make excuses for these inciting wingnuts. Cue David Horowitz, writing under the title of “The Character Assassination of Robert Spencer,” which is as appalling as most of the wingnuttery from this man.

Hate is the driver, a reaction to what some right-wing fanatics see as all around them, which in Europe finds the numbers rising. From the Atlantic:

Over the last decade, the extreme right in Europe has become more palatable. The overt racism and chest-beating nationalism of previous years have been discarded. What characterizes the new far-right is a defiant, aggressive defence of national culture and history in the face of a changing world, of secularism, and even of democracy and liberty. While each has its idiosyncrasies, far-right parties are responding to genuine concerns of many voters: that modern globalization hasn’t benefitted them, that mass immigration — especially from Muslim-majority countries — is threatening local and national identity.

[...] Perhaps most important, these new far-right parties like Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party in the Netherlands or Marine Le Pen’s Front National in France expertly portray mainstream politicians as spineless, soft-boiled, venal, self-serving slaves to political correctness and orthodoxy. Recent events — such as banking bailouts, the Eurozone crisis, and the News International hacking scandal — certainly lend some credibility to the view that politicians are indeed out of touch with ordinary people.

[...] A significant chunk of European voters is clearly impressed. Le Pen is currently third in the polling for the 2012 French presidential election. Wilders’ Freedom Party is also the third-largest in the Netherlands. In Scandinavia, the True Finns, the Danish People’s Party, and the Swedish Democrats all secured their best-ever electoral results over the past 18 months. Germany and Austria’s far-right parties are resurgent, sparking atavistic European fears. Further east, the Jobbik Party is now the third largest political party in Hungary, having doubled its seats during the last election.

Right-wing “populism” is an oxymoron.

But as the Tea Party rose in America as a response to Barack Obama’s presidency, though the foundation was economic and born in the Bush era, the fuel has come from extremists questioning Pres. Obama’s Americanism. These individuals charge some bizarre otherness they feel about Obama, resembling the same paranoid fears of the Norway domestic terrorist, Anders Behring Breivik, a kinship of people who believe their future is being taken from them.

Right-wingers are having their day due to many things, including economic and cultural, but also because of feckless posturing from people who make false equivalencies under the guise of being “balanced.”

When you have someone like Donald Trump joining in on the rhetoric of birtherism it gives you the best example anywhere on earth at just how easy it is for this insidiously dangerous fearmongering to spread if even business tycoons feel comfortable repeating the most dangerous charges.

Poor Glenn Beck, he’s got to be really gnashing his teeth he doesn’t have his Fox megaphone anymore. But at least he was able to spew his “Hitler youth” invective on right-wing radio, so he shouldn’t feel he missed out.

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Because Dick Morris is a Jackass

By on 01 December 2010

The fact that this current State Department covert operation was initiated under Secretary Rice does not lessen Hillary’s guilt for having pursued it. Mrs. Clinton, not Miss Rice, has run for president and is presumed to continue to be interested in the job. Her addiction to spies, dumpster divers, sleuths, and negative research operatives has always been a cause for concern. – “Up to her old tricks,” Dick


Sect. Hillary Clinton is having a very rough week.

It’s a great thing she’s in Central Asia, with others handling the announcement of a security crackdown at State, because she’d be subjected to all manner of media inanity if she weren’t. Granted, the security tightening is a long time coming and should have been done under Pres. Bush, but it wasn’t.

Makes you wonder what kind of diabolical diplomacy Henry Kissinger was doing behind and before the technological barrier was broached, now doesn’t it?

Never mind that the State Dept. was more likely a “letter carrier for the intelligence community.”

No one should be shocked that it was Dr. Rice who initiated the diplomatic covert actions, at least as recent times goes. But as you see with Morris above, he doesn’t care what she did, because it’s all about Hillary and a possible, who knows and perhaps presidential run, circa 2016. Morris on Hannity Tuesday wouldn’t get off his Hillary talking points, dredging up absolute rubbish about his hallucinations about Hillary’s “secret (broad) police” during the ’90s, which remain a figment of Dick’s delusions.

There’s no doubt that the Wikileak diplomatic document dump has been a disaster for State all around. But mostly because it’s brought out Sect. Clinton’s enemies, beginning with the particularly loathsome foot fetishist, Dick Morris, Slate’s Jack Shafer, but also David Corn, one of the most obnoxious pissants on the Left side of the dial, who wants Hillary “grilled” on Capitol Hill. Bring it on, big boys, because she’d toy with the Republican rabble like a kitty cat playing with a big fat mouse.

After the Democratic midterm catastrophe everything is going to get tougher for Sect. Clinton. It began with Sen. Kyl’s nonsensical stalling on the new Start Treaty, but it won’t end there that’s for sure. As MJ Rosenberg writes, Wikileaks has also helped drive the neocon war with Iran meme.

The Wiki-revealed knowledge that the Israelis and the Saudis are tacitly working in concert against Iran would only make things worse, given that among most Arabs and Muslims, the Saudi regime is only a little more popular than the Netanyahu government. A US/Israeli/Saudi tripartite alliance against Iran could be America’s Suez, and could finish us off in the region the way the United Kingdom and France were finished by their anti-Egypt alliance with Israel in 1956.

In addition, of course, no one believes a strike on Iran would eliminate its nuclear facilities.

As for shutting down Wikileaks, the Pentagon could have used Cyber Command, which I brought up previously (also at Huffington Post), to do it a long time ago. They decided it wasn’t warranted.

Being Secretary of State under Pres. Obama is a hell of a lot of work and it just got a lot harder.

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My $0.02: It’s Saturday and Wonk sez, “Liberté, Egalité, Sororité”

By on 23 October 2010

Good morning, everyone. I’m going to go ahead and dive into the headlines coming out of France and Europe right now, and then bring this back to America at the end, with a Wonk rant of course.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNmsUWd1Wq4&w=300&showinfo=0]

France Pension Protest: One Family’s Perspective

(Associated Press)

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch reporting in Paris on Friday’s big and hotly contested pension reform vote — “French Senate passes pension overhaul raising retirement age to 62.” The increase, which is a gradual one from 60 to 62 by the year 2018, still has yet to get the green light by both a parliamentary committee and another vote by a joint session of parliament, steps which look likely to go through. According to the French Senate’s press office, the committee will begin meeting on Monday, meaning the measure could be voted into law as soon as Wednesday, though its final passage does not look like it will be doing anything to stop the protests.

Polling released yesterday from the BVA Institute indicates that nearly 70% of the French people support the strikes and street demonstrations. The Christian Science Monitor has more on what to expect next on that front — “New France strikes to follow Senate passage of pension law.” On the future of the protests: “Once the bill passes and the school holidays kick in, however, union leaders will have to walk a fine line between cadres who want to continue striking and those that do not. To this end, the two days of demonstrations called on Thursday are considered a compromise.” The two days being referred to are next Thursday and the first Saturday of November. The article also reports on how oil workers have taken to blocking the country’s refineries in addition to striking. Police force was used on Friday at the Grandpuits refinery near Paris. Three protesters were injured.

The BBC published a piece Friday called “Contrasting views on the age of austerity,” in which, as the BBC describes it, “people from three different countries – two of whom work in the public sector – share their contrasting views on their government’s action and the public response.”

The first person is Helen Stollery, age 23. She works in the public sector in Maidenhead, UK. Here is a taste of what she had to say:

I think people in Britain have a different culture to those in Europe – and I don’t think we’ll see the same level of strikes.

People here are more accepting of the changes that have to be made. Our state retirement age has been going up for some time and people have accepted the changes.

There’s no point in resisting something that is inevitable.

Next is Eleni Hondrou, age 38, from the public sector as well, in Athens, Greece. A sample of Hondrou’s remarks:

For now things are relatively quiet in Greece. Most people are trying to adapt and get on with their lives on a lower standard of living

Reductions in my allowances mean I have lost 20% of my annual income. I have had to cut many things out of my life.

We had no choice but to make those changes in May because things were so bad, we were on the verge of bankruptcy.

But we never know what will happen next. We rely on our external creditors. If we have to borrow more money at a higher rate – and if that means we have to take further reductions then I don’t think people will accept things peacefully.

Finally we hear from Brian Hind, a 40 year old American farmer from Kansas. Briefly from his comments:

The cuts in the UK and elsewhere in Europe are just something that the governments have to do. Things won’t be as bad as they will be for us in America – we’re making things worse by delaying cuts.

Also from the BBC a little later on Friday — “Pension reform vote: Views from France,” which highlights reactions to the passage of the pension bill from three residents of France.

The first reaction is from Heidi Garnier of Charenton-le-Pont. An excerpt:

France seems to be the only country in Europe where people want to retire as soon as they have left nursery school.

I am very satisfied with the result of the vote. I discussed it with my husband and we have the same opinion.

Georgina Thompson, a teacher from the suburbs of Rouen who is active in the national strikes, had this to say in her comments:

I’d probably say that I’m disappointed without being surprised by the outcome of the vote in the Senate. President Sarkozy has clearly shown that he’s unwilling to heed what the strikers and protesters have to say.

The decree of application hasn’t yet been published; there are already a number of demonstrations and strike actions planned in and around Rouen over the next few days and I’ll be taking part.

There does need to be some kind of pension reform, but I’m not convinced that this is the type of reform we need.

There are other problems with the French economy, for example many people being laid off before the age of 60 and not being able to make up their full pension.

The whole system really needs an overhaul – not these measures that are being proposed.

I am losing money by striking, and I was back at work today and will work tomorrow in order not to lose out on holiday pay.

And, this view from Alexandre Aba of Grenoble, an unemployed computer aided designer:

I’m really annoyed about this at the moment, because the strikes are preventing me from getting to job interviews. We can’t use the trains or drive anywhere because of the fuel shortage.

At this time of crisis, strikes are extremely disrespectful to the private sector, who are effectively paying for civil servants.

Going on strike is one thing, but messing up our economy is another and these strikes are so bad for France’s reputation.

Additionally, if you have a few minutes and haven’t done so already, check out the video up top from the Associated Press. It is one French family’s perspective on the importance of protesting.

Moving along to a couple editorials that caught my eye. I enjoyed this one from The Guardian — “French lessons: pension protests. As the welfare state is rolled back all over Europe, a cause is being fought in France which we would do well to watch.” Another op-ed, this one from the Financial Times — “France vents its fury as Britain takes a chilly dip.”

From Barbara Whelehan, on SS here in the US, via bankrate.com, with a title that piqued my interest, “Vive le Social Security,” until I read the first half of the entry, which was rather meh. It misses the point that the degradation of worker rights is what’s at stake at the broader level so quibbling over the best age to retire is neither here, nor there. The second half is more interesting, though, to say the least:

Tax the rich
There are other ways to save pension systems besides raising the retirement age. As I pointed out on two previous occasions, the Special Committee on Aging came up with 30-plus solutions to fix Social Security. My favorite solution is to eliminate the cap on Social Security taxes. Right now, only earnings up to $106,800 are taxed. If the cap is eliminated, high earners would get a smaller check (so what?), and Social Security would remain solvent over the next 75 years.

This solution can be taken a step further. In a recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece, Ken Langone, a co-founder of Home Depot, suggested that rich people shouldn’t get Social Security checks at all. “It makes little sense to send Treasury checks to high-net-worth people in the form of Social Security,” he writes. “I guarantee you that many millionaires and billionaires will gladly forgo it. …”

Continue Reading →

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Sect. Clinton Announces Middle East Talks

By on 20 August 2010

UPDATE via AP: Iranian and Russian engineers began loading nuclear fuel into Iran’s first atomic power plant Saturday amid international concern that the Islamic Republic is seeking a nuclear weapon. State television showed what appeared to be fuel rods being loaded into the core of the reactor, which is on the shores of the Persian Gulf near the town of Bushehr. The plant is one of the first tangible results of Iran’s controversial nuclear program, which has been the target of increasingly tough international sanctions….

Amidst a very hard push on the right about Israel striking Iran, which was forwarded by Jeffrey Goldberg’s recent ramblings, good news comes today that the Obama administration has pushed back hard, convincing Israel the Iran is still at least a year away from going nuclear. That’s a concrete plus as we sit here looking out on what is coming in September.

With the partnership of Pres. Obama and Sect. Clinton, which is unmatched, the much anticipated news on talks was announced, though it’s getting drowned out by mosque mania. But before you think this is huge news, as it stands now it is more theater than anything else, which isn’t bad either. The trouble is that everyone is coming to Washington for different reasons, with no common denominator on which to begin.

Regardless of the lack of good faith that may come from the Netanyahu government, with the PM already having rejected the language of the Quartet statement, which David Ignatius mentions also, or skepticism from Abbas and the Palestinians, forging ahead is what the Obama administration must do, because this long after his Cairo speech, Pres. Obama hasn’t accomplished much of anything.

Meanwhile, looming in the near distance is the settlement agreement expiration, with no one knowing what will happen afterward or if Netanyahu will agree to extend it (even as settlements continue). With Obama in a weakened position domestically, and elections on the horizon, it’s not the strongest hand.

Sect. Clinton’s remarks, excerpted (video):

Since the beginning of this Administration, we have worked with the Israelis and Palestinians and our international partners to advance the cause of comprehensive peace in the Middle East, including a two-state solution which ensures security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians. The President and I are encouraged by the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas and fully share their commitment to the goal of two states – Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

After proximity talks and consultations with both sides, on behalf of the United States Government, I’ve invited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Abbas to meet on September 2nd in Washington, D.C. to re-launch direct negotiations to resolve all final status issues, which we believe can be completed within one year.

President Obama has invited President Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan to attend in view of their critical role in this effort. Their continued leadership and commitment to peace will be essential to our success. The President will hold bilateral meetings with the four leaders followed by a dinner with them on September 1st. The Quartet Representative Tony Blair has also been invited to the dinner in view of his important work to help Palestinians build the institutions of their future state, an effort which must continue during the negotiations. I’ve invited Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas to join me here at the State Department on the following day for a trilateral meeting to re-launch direct negotiations.

As we move forward, it is important that actions by all sides help to advance our effort, not hinder it. There have been difficulties in the past; there will be difficulties ahead. Without a doubt, we will hit more obstacles. The enemies of peace will keep trying to defeat us and to derail these talks. But I ask the parties to persevere, to keep moving forward even through difficult times, and to continue working to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region.

As we have said before, these negotiations should take place without preconditions and be characterized by good faith and a commitment to their success, which will bring a better future to all of the people of the region.

Pres. Obama needs this theater, which will come as his speech to the United Nations General Assembly nears.

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Sunday News Round-Up

By on 23 May 2010

TM NOTE: I’m very pleased to welcome “secretary clinton blog” as a guest author at TM.com. She’s an insightful poster “In the News” and always has interesting comments to share, so I’m sure her Sunday posts will always be worth a read. I particularly like how she’s started today’s news round-up, as I’m one of the “frozen chosen” who so appreciate the arrogance of a king. Welcome, SCB!

It’s all about the coffee on Sunday morning, hence the photo.


Factoid: On this day in history, May 23rd, 1533, the marriage of England’s King Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon was declared null and void and as a result, my family are Episcopalians and not Roman Catholics.

Here are some links to go with your coffee:

~The Sunday talk shows will be a little less interesting without the wit and wisdom of Dr. Rand Paul, but here’s a list of who will be making appearances today.

~As most know by now the Hawaii special election held last night resulted in a loss for the Democrats, with Ed Case and Colleen Hanabusa seen as splitting the Democratic vote to the benefit of Republican Charles Djou. Prior to the election there was a decent amount of criticism leveled at Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye’s support of Hanabusa, which some said could backfire.

~Apparently, the heads of bailed-out banks didn’t already have enough perks at taxpayer expense, so at a time when they are under greater scrutiny, they’ve upped the ante.

~The White House has tapped James Cole, a veteran of the Clinton administration, to be Deputy AG at the Justice Department.

~BP has increased its lobbying presence in Washington D.C. and when you take a look at who it has on the bankroll, it’s hard to not wonder if BP’s access has anything to do with the Obama administration’s continued insistence on allowing BP to continue to call the shots. BP has also hired some very high-powered attorneys/law firms in preparation for the legal battles which will most certainly taking place in the coming months/years.

~Speaking of BP, President Obama has announced the creation of a commission to investigate the oil spill. Former Florida Senator Bob Graham and former EPA Administrator William K. Reilly will head up the commission.

~If you haven’t seen the live feed of the oil gushing out from the bottom of the ocean, you can see it here at BP’s website or here at CNN. People were having difficulty accessing the video on BP’s site and the company responded by saying it was because their website had been overloaded with people viewing the video.

~Corporate PAC’s are already hedging their bets in the area of political donations and they clearly believe (or hope?) that the GOP will regain control of Congress in the midterm elections.

~Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in China this week and yesterday she visited the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. She will be taking part in an economic dialogue over the next few days.

~Andrew Cuomo has tossed his hat into the ring for the New York Governor’s race.

~In a much-talked-about move, the Texas Board of Education has approved a social studies curriculum which, for lack of a better term, is arguably revisionist. It essentially provides a conservative slant on history and it has generated a lot of debate, a lot of criticism and a lot of concern since what appears in Texas textbooks often finds its way into those in other states.

~Yesterday, President Obama gave a graduation speech at West Point that seemed to be geared, in part, towards distancing his foreign policy from the Bush Doctrine. In the speech, Obama pledged to shape a new “international order” which focuses on diplomacy and engagement.

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‘Bigotgate’

By on 29 April 2010

Immigration is causing a nightmare for everyone.

Gallup’s out with the first polling numbers, which asks the question in a way that leaves a lot of pull for analysis: “Based on what you know or have read about the state of Arizona’s new immigration law, do you favor or oppose it?” Not surprisingly, 51% favor it, 39% oppose it. Ignorance is no excuse for bigotry. No wonder Pres. Obama doesn’t want to tackle it this year, which was utterly predictable, though that didn’t stop Senate Democrats, with Dana Bash having the story, which stars Sen. Harry Reid. Considering what he’s facing in November, no one is surprised by this development.

But it’s in Britain where immigration may have claimed it’s first political casualty.


The Telegraph has the details and the audio.

It’s a politician’s nightmare. That’s particularly true when you’re in a tough race and you have just started to pull away a bit.

Gillian Duffy, a 66-year-old widow, told Gordon Brown that she was concerned about immigration from Eastern Europe. [...] But as he got into his car and sped away with his microphone still on, he can be heard berating his staff for allowing the encounter.

[...] The aide asked what Mrs Duffy had said, and Mr Brown replied: “Everything. She’s just a sort of bigoted woman who says she used to be Labour.”

Tonight’s final debate, which will be on economics, was seen to be Brown’s big chance, but instead of thinking about the debate he’s been on damage control.

E.J. Dionne has a nice overview.

Steve Richards of the Independent has the best analysis of what’s now become “bigotgate.”

[...] The most dangerous element of this sequence for Labour was Ms Duffy’s parting words. She declared that she was not planning to vote Labour at the election. Of all the moods whirling around this election the anti-Labour one is strongest. Those who wallow in disillusionment suddenly have a heroine.

The real danger for Labour is not what Gordon Brown said to Gillian Duffy, but what she said to him. Fairly or not, Gillian Duffy speaks for many voters.

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Stuck at State: The Hillary Hole

By on 15 February 2010

palin_clinton

Joe the Plumber doesn’t like Sarah Palin anymore. Since the Tea Party blast directed at Palin, this is the second greatest news she’s gotten in a while. Having secured her outsider status, getting a little incoming from the right is not so bad for Sarah. As the attention on the former governor continues to rise, regardless of her electability status, which everyone keeps reporting is nil, Sarah is laughing all the way to the bank. That she’s filling the Hillary hole has not been discussed, but that’s part of her allure, even if nobody on the left, including Hillary’s former supporters, who remain in her camp regardless that she’s out of action, care one whit about Sarah Palin. The simple void of a female rock star since Hillary Rodham Clinton has been deployed to the State dept. has opened up a spot for Sarah, because there’s nobody else out there that can fill it. Though I’m still waiting for Liz Cheney’s entry. After enjoying a competent and eminently qualified female candidate on the national stage it’s clear the people want more, so some are settling for Sarah, especially since the rest of the politicians on the national scene are not only a snore but incompetent. Obama’s star having descended to earth. Just look at the state of the Congress and legislation, not to mention Pres. Obama’s agenda, which hardly resembles anything coherent. All eyes on the other side, waiting for the next election, because watching this vamping political nothingness is down right painful.

Meanwhile…

Clinton acknowledged that U.S. President Barack Obama’s approach to Iran had not borne fruit, blaming Iran for refusing to engage and suggesting that a fourth U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution was the only option. “I would like to figure out a way to handle it in as peaceful an approach possible, and I certainly welcome any meaningful engagement, but … we don’t want to be engaging while they are building their bomb,” Clinton said at the U.S.-Islamic World Forum conference. – Clinton tackles Mideast peace, Muslim ties in Gulf

Sect. Clinton is trying to cajole our allies in the Arab and Muslim world right now. It’s not going very well. In fact, the current state of Clinton’s job is to offer nothing but a bunch of words. Relegated to hand holding, asking for help on Iran, while the reality is that Iran is going to get weapons grade uranium to become a nuclear nation, which has always been the case, effective means of weaponization always the challenge. So, I’ve never understood all the international posturing about thinking otherwise. And even as this reality explains Israel’s and the right’s rumbling rhetoric, it was always a matter of when not if. But what this whole exercise from Clinton reveals is that over at State she’s got no juice to actually impact anything. The Middle East proving beyond the U.S. scope to mold once again. So, even as Clinton travels the globe, the most important representative Pres. Obama can deploy for our country, she’s powerless.

However, since her Senate colleagues weren’t exactly going to welcome her back and offer her the power she’d amassed as a presidential candidate, what else was a woman to do?

This reminds me of how different things are for women around the world. Even as they fight for basic human rights in some states, there are many nations around the world who have already elevated a woman to the top job. Not in the U.S. Why is that Latin America, a patriarchal culture if ever there was one, has had female presidents, but not the U.S.? Even after 2008, but also the continued rise of Sarah Palin, it’s clear the country hungers for it. Some women would rather have Sarah Palin than wait one minute longer. The Hillary hole one reason Palin enjoys such attention, coupled with the “it” factor that, regardless of her electoral challenges, Sarah Palin most assuredly has. So even as England had Thatcher, Israel had Golda Meir, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Liberia, even Ukraine’s heroine of the orange revolution, former PM Yulia Tymoshenko, the American presidency remains an elusive prize for American females. From the Oregonian editorial board, talking about President-elect Laura Chinchilla in Cartago, Costa Rica.

Isabel Perón became president of Argentina in 1974 and Cristina Fernandez Kirchner in 2007, but those roles come with asterisks. Isabel Perón was the third wife and running mate of President Juan Perón, replacing him when he died in 1974. After a tumultuous tenure, she was arrested and deposed. (Juan Perón’s second wife, Eva, was a political trailblazer because of her prominence as first lady, and a lively campaigner on his behalf.) And while Fernandez Kirchner won election in her own right, her husband and former president, Nestor Kirchner, gave her an advantage by placing her on the ticket when he ran successfully for president.

A woman was appointed interim president of Haiti in 1990. And in Brazil, two women, Dilma Rousseff and Marina Silva, are running for president in an election scheduled for this fall. Rousseff, who is chief of staff for term-limited President Luiz Lula da Silva, is considered a strong contender.

Why do women in the United States seem to face a higher hurdle to becoming president than women in Latin America? …

In Anne Kornblut’s book, someone I’ve pilloried for her part in helping create the negative national narrative on the Clintons, she talks about the difficulty of getting beyond the 18 million cracks in the ultimate glass ceiling. The “share of women in office in the United States is smaller than in more than 70 countries in the world, from Cuba to Rawanda to Norway,” writes Kornblut in “Notes from the Cracked Ceiling.” Kornblut going on to say if we don’t ask why the glass ceiling was cracked, but hasn’t been broken it might never happen.

This is a longer discussion than can be had in one single essay, as to why women aren’t poised to break through in the U.S. as has already happened around the world, because the subject is complex. In a country where women’s civil rights are enshrined in law, Democrats and Republicans are busy chipping away at these givens in health care legislation. Why modern women are letting it happen is part of the problem. Female leaders still apologizing for a woman’s right to self-determination in order to fit into the man’s paradigm. Not exactly inspiring. See Hillary’s falling to Mark Penn’s run like a man strategy. One can almost respect Palin’s strong stand against abortion, which amounts to a pro selective life stance as I’ve talked about before, even if it erodes women’s civil rights, because at least she’s un-apologetically wrong, you know, like Bush. (Again, wrong and strong, beats weak and right.) While female Democrats make deals like Pelosi did on health care posturing that they’re for women’s self-determination, which includes the right to have domain over her own body, but won’t fight for it, putting everyone’s needs above women. Beyond that you had Senate leaders like Reid and Ted Kennedy, but also Nancy Pelosi, saying they were neutral, but actually were always for Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton, even advising and pushing him on, something that obviously blindsided her team. I could go on, but you get the beginning of what is a larger problem for women, which begins with their own choices.

What’s clear is that nothing is the same since Hillary’s candidacy failed. The Hillary hole is real, palpable. More so when we continue to look outward. Even to watch the reaction to Hillary when she does get into the fire on her trips overseas. Like when she bristled in Africa at a question she was asked about her husband’s opinion, replying, “My husband is not the Secretary of State, I am.” Kornblut, typically, if ironically, chimed in with a schizophrenic analysis that reveals, at least one reason, why women rising to the top job in the U.S. is still so difficult:

KORNBLUT: [W]e reported out that there was no mistranslation. That she was asked about her husband. The reporters who were there said it was very hot. She was very tired. So maybe her demeanor is not the one she would have wanted, but that the underlining sentiment that she’s the secretary of state is one that she intended to convey, especially in a region of the world that is so male dominated.

But the incident is kind of bigger than that. It’s sort of the perfect encapsulation of the burden of being Hillary Clinton. That you are seen in relation to your husband wherever you go, not just by the media, but by the world and asked questions about him. And it reminded me a lot of the campaign, when she was seen in relation to him and having to respond and trying to be her own person. But it also raises the question of what kind of secretary of state she is going to be. And if she is going to be able to harness the celebrity, which of course is the reason we’re all talking about it, in a – to a larger purpose. Some people, when this whole incident happened said to me, you know, she looks kind of like a first lady on this trip. She’s out there. She’s been gone for 11 days, 7 countries. She’s away from the center of action here. So I expect we may see some shorter trips from her, ones where she’s not going to get as tired when she’s on the road. But at the end of the day, I think her, again the underlining sentiment is one that certainly the White House and she defend that she had the right to say that.

New media headlines doing a disservice to Hillary as well, ready to exalt her husband at the Secretary’s expense.

Maybe this explains, in part, why all the usual Hillary haters have been so complimentary of Sect. Clinton during her run at State. Because after all, it’s not like the Secretary of State can pick an open fight with Pres. Obama, or that Hillary ever would, at least not publicly, as that’s not her style. But she is effectively neutered at State, leaving her critics to mumble their total approval of Sect. Clinton, even Chris Matthews lauding her work. Since the election season and her diplomatic, a-political ascendance, a compliment for Sect. Clinton offered almost as a bridge over the competing sides of the 2008 election season. A wound that has still not healed, which has been proven recently when the Obama bubble burst, with his fans finally coming down to earth and swallowing the reality that he is simply another politician. Egads! Not that. Obama agnostics infuriated that warnings went unheeded.

Certainly, Hillary has given remarkable speeches, traveled to the Congo war zone, a first, continued talking about women, her work laudable by any standard of statecraft. Her latest warnings about an Iranian dictatorship, due to the Revolutionary Guard’s prowess, now making world headlines. Hillary Clinton always impressive, her travels and commitment to women’s issues unmatched. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as dynamic a diplomat as Obama could have hoped to have, even as John Kerry and others wait in the wings to possibly follow her. But last time I looked Afghanistan’s Pres. Karzai still supported the “rape law,” so what good it does for the U.S. to huff and puff is certainly in question, as we cannot change reality.

There is nothing that Clinton can actually do anywhere.

“I know people are disappointed that we have not yet achieved a breakthrough,” Clinton said of the six-decade Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “This is hard work.“

But who ever thought we’d hear Hillary Rodham Clinton reduced to quoting George W. Bush?

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World Newsbites, More Obama Promises Edition

By on 11 October 2009

“The international community will not wait indefinitely for evidence that Iran is prepared to live up to its international obligations,” Clinton said at a news conference. – Haaretz

According to people in the room, Obama’s big HRC speech wasn’t very big at all. Joe Subday says it all in his post:

According to Obama, “we are moving ahead on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” Obama said, “I will end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” But, there was no timeline. Nothing even approaching a timeline. No idea of how it will be done. [...] This speech offered less than the cocktail party speech for the A-listers back in June.…

Sullivan had even harsher words for the Human Rights Campaign:

HRC, of course, is putting no pressure on him; Joe Solmonese’s disgraceful email actually took all pressure off him by saying he’d be happy to wait till 2017 for HRC to hold Obama accountable. HRC are putting pressure, as they always have, on gay people to go to the back of the line and be grateful a president attends their fundraising event. The only word for this is a racket. And if gay people do not rise up and demand change from this organization and stop funding a group whose goal has always been to sell the Democrats to gay people rather than secure civil rights, then they will continue to suffer the discrimination they live under day after day.

I can’t speak to HRC pressure one way or the other, but on DADT talking about what he’s going to do is way past getting old. Read “I didn’t Tell. It Didn’t Matter” if you’re not yet convinced.

Looking around the world…

Someone has finally put a number on the bottom troop escalation needed. David Kilcullen says 25,000 troops at a minimum, with Obama needed to get moving on implementation. Again, I’ve said it before, but Obama’s taking too much time with this, with plenty already known and enough in to push forward.

CNN reports that three Iranian protesters have been “tentatively” sentenced to death, though they can appeal.

Three Iranians have been tentatively sentenced to death in connection with post-election protest activities, according to semi-official state media. …

The siege in Pakistan ended.

Recapping on the carnage in Guinea, which I tweeted when it happened, Clinton’s remarks still ring out after the atrocities:

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that Guinea’s military junta must recognize “they cannot remain in power” after she voiced outrage over killings and rapes. Her comments come as pressure mounts on the regime from both the Guinean opposition and the international community.

“We were appalled and outraged by the recent violence in Guinea,” the chief US diplomat told reporters when she appeared outside her offices in Washington with visiting Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

[...] “The indiscriminate killing and raping that took place under government control by government troops was a vile violation of the rights of the people of that country,” the chief US diplomat said. …

And there was some high drama at what was supposed to be a done deal between the Turks and Armenian, with Secretary Clinton doing her job and getting it done. (Thanks to reader HEP for sending this one my way.)

To round it out, David Milliband in news conference with Clinton:

“I think that Iran’s history of covert, secret programs … explains why the international community does not have confidence in the Iranian regime’s protestations about the purely peaceful aspects or purely peaceful purposes of their nuclear program,” he said.

Having met and spoken with both Milliband and Clinton, of course, seeing these two diplomats speaking strongly about Iran says something very good about the hands the world is in, especially compared to the last crew.

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Iran Tells IAEA of Second Secret Nuclear Facility

By on 25 September 2009

–updated–

Talk about an end of the week news dump of news dumps. Another inheritance marker from the Republicans.

This secret enrichment happened under George W. Bush’s nose, while he and his team were too busy ostracizing Iran into an “axis of evil”, instead of trying to actually engage them. Not that this would have changed the outcome, but let’s be clear that the Republican idea of sitting Iran in the world corner sure as hell didn’t work.

Pres. Obama is about to speak at the G20, directly confronting the news that surfaced last night that Iran has built a covert nuclear facility where it has enriched uranium, which the Iranians broke to the IAEA via a letter.

President Obama and the leaders of Britain and France will accuse Iran Friday of building a secret underground plant to manufacture nuclear fuel, saying the country has hidden the covert operation from international weapons inspectors for years, according to senior administration officials.

The revelation, which the three leaders will make before the opening of the Group of 20 economic summit here, appears bound to add urgency to the diplomatic confrontation with Iran over its suspected ambitions to build a nuclear weapons capacity. Mr. Obama, along with Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, will demand that Iran allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct an immediate inspection of the facility, which is said to be 100 miles southwest of Tehran. [...]

Reuters is also reporting on the Iran revelations:

“The agency also understands from Iran that no nuclear material has been introduced into the facility,” he said.

It’s not in the category of weaponization, but the dance music has started in Netanyahu‘s hotel room.

And when all this is done someone needs to explain to me why Mark I Never Met a Union I Wouldn’t Bust Penn was doing pontificating about Iran on “Morning Joe”? Someone at MSNBC has obviously lost their mind.

Read Gary Sick.

Marc Lynch says…

..I actually think that this public revelation makes war less rather than more likely. The timing of the announcement, immediately following the consultations at the UN and the G-20 and just before the Geneva meetings, makes it seem extremely likely that the Obama administration has been waiting for just the right moment to play this card. Now they have. It strengthens the P5+1 bargaining position ahead of October 1, changes Iranian calculations, and lays the foundations for a more serious kind of engagement. So now let’s see how it changes the game.

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New Poll Shows Joe ‘You Lie’ Wilson In Trouble

By on 11 September 2009

Wilson trails Democratic challenger Rob Miller 44-43 in a PPP survey conducted Thursday night and Friday morning. Last year Wilson defeated Miller 54-46. – Public Policy Polling

…and Rob Miller is now over $800,000 in donations and according to someone in the know, has also crushed every other candidate, bar none, for a 48-hour period on Act Blue.

Being South Carolina, people are starting to ask if former Marine Rob Miller might also be another Blue Dog Democrat? Well, compared to Joe Wilson, he’s a vast improvement, not only for South Carolinians, but for this country.

But it does raise the question of having candidates in these Republican strongholds who turn out to be conservative Democrats. Is it helping our cause or moving the Democratic party to the right? (Personally, I just want Wilson out, something that would certainly be better for Congress.)

Pres. Obama wasn’t speaking in front of the House of Commons at “Question Time.” But that does raise an interesting point, which Tina Brown talked about on “Morning Joe” early today. In a nutshell, should we have more “gladiator” politics, including during Obama’s speeches? “In Praise of Hecklers” makes the case:

The convention that Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of the President in His Presence elides the great difference known to every Briton—that between insulting the head of state and insulting the mere head of the executive branch of government.

Queen Elizabeth is one thing; insulting Gordon Brown is practically an obligation. Disrespecting the former is an act of treason; disrespecting the latter and his office, a necessity: Every Wednesday, Brown must endure Prime Minister’s Questions, during which his enemies in Parliament grill him. Prime Minister’s Questions may not be the be all and end all, but it affords an opportunity for “telling truth to power” that does not exist in the regal American system.

America’s problem is that it has combined the head of state and the head of the executive branch into a single office, and it can no longer distinguish between the two roles. Obama’s health-care address was not given in his role as head of state. It was, rather, a political speech made by—pinch yourselves—a mere politician seeking to advance his own political agenda.

The author gives himself away when he excuses the queen from heckling, while saying it’s obligatory to go after the prime minister. Our president is also the commander in chief and the holder of American honor; the closest thing we have to American royalty. When he (someday she) speaks in the well of the House to a joint session, it’s as grand a setting as we have, which doesn’t stop hecklers from making a mockery of the moment, but they’re going to have to pay the price.

Mark McKinnon, a Republican who refused to work against Obama, opines: Send Joe Wilson home. McKinnon also gave to Rob Miller.

I still contend a formal reprimand is in order. Write your Congressperson.

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C’est Dommage

By on 05 June 2009

–updated below–

TM.com’s official position on the French is that we love all things French, but especially the wine, the culture, the food, and yes, the people.

However, Pres. Sarkozy got on our bad side when he dared to diss the American President after the G-20. Evidently Mr. France didn’t understand what it means to be a politician from Chicago.

According to the UK Times, the President of France is paying for his bad manners. Now, we know how these rumors go, so maybe there’s more to the story than meets this web page (and the stories that are told within), but it sure makes for delicious Friday evening reading:

The Obamas turn up in Paris this evening, but have declined a dinner invitation from the couple next door: the Sarkozys.

President Obama’s reluctance to spend more than minimum time with the French leader on his visit for the D-Day anniversary has come as an embarrassment to the Elysée Palace.

America’s First Family will not be dining with President Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, even though they are staying at the residence of the US Ambassador, yards from the Elysée apartments where the Sarkozys spend their weekends. …

Not only did Sarkozy choose to gossip about Pres. Obama, but he had the bad manners to not invite the Queen of England to the D-Day remembrance ceremonies that are being held this weekend, which will include honoring the all-black battalion that landed in Normandy. Talk about gauche.

No matter how this turns out in the end, President Obama has sent a message to Mr. Sarkozy of France that certain things will not be tolerated. He is, after all, leader of the free world.

No doubt Sarkozy doesn’t like where he currently finds himself, ridiculed by his own countrymen.

Mr Sarkozy has been pilloried in France for his failure to invite the Queen to the events. “The palace is fearing a snub,” Le Parisien newspaper said yesterday after the news emerged of the Obamas’ plans to keep themselves to themselves.

Yesterday the popular comedian Nicolas Canteloup did an impression of Mr Sarkozy worrying that he had “only two days to become tall, handsome and elegant”. The French leader is 5½ inches shorter than Michelle Obama.

The French were also piqued after the White House said that it was working on an invitation to Normandy for the Royal Family. Face was saved when the Prince of Wales agreed to attend with Gordon Brown. “Sarkozy has pulled off a double hit: insulting Queen Elizabeth and exasperating Obama,” the weekly Canard Enchaîné said on Wednesday.

Tsk. Tsk. It’s a pity.

UPDATE: Of course, it’s the elections.

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Around the World, Plus Times Buries Netanyahu-Obama Lede

By on 19 May 2009

One would not guess, judging from yesterday’s press conference, that Gaza lies in ruins with the Israelis continuing to block the delivery of essentials. … USAID, which is the lead American agency working with the NGOs to supply relief, is so intimidated by Israel’s watchdogs in Congress that it won’t simply approve delivery of the sheeting. – MJ Rosenberg

First, Secretary Hillary Clinton announced aid to Pakistan, as 2 million refugees flee the Pakistan war against Taliban terrorism. But something really cool has been added so you can join in:

Now, Americans can use technology to help, as well. Using your cell phones, Americans can text the word “swat” — to the number 20222 and make a $5 contribution that will help the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees provide tents, clothing, food, and medicine to hundreds of thousands of affected people. And before I came over here, we did that in the State Department. So we are making some of the first donations to this fund.

The most important international news is the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, which ended up with their leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran (Ve-LU-pi-lay PRAH-bah-ka-ran), being killed. Reader “spincitysd” (here’s his blog), has been covering this development “In the News,” with a terrific diary that helps explain it all. Also see Huffington Post. The Tamil Tigers have been utilizing horrific terrorism tactics for decades to enact a separation from Sri Lanka so they could form an independent state. Where they could then harass the Sri Lankan government with more terrorism, war and carnage. As others have reported, the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran makes it less likely that the rebels can regroup, or if they try it will be harder to get it done. An historic moment for Sri Landa.

Middle East Pulse has the best round up of the uncomfortable presser on view yesterday, as Obama and Netanyahu sat for their obligatory meet the press teaser.

Nahum Barnea in Yediot Acharonoth: The visits paid by Israeli premiers to the Oval Office are usually like class reunions: everybody knows one another and likes one another. And even if the fondness is forced, contingent, it isn’t hard to do it for the media. After all, we’re all one big happy family. Not last night. Obama and Netanyahu were as grim looking and formal as politicians can be. (read on)

Ben Caspit in Ma’ariv: What happened there? Everything. There were those close to Netanyahu who promised him in recent weeks that Obama would not embarrass him in his first visit to Washington and would try to make light of their differences. Obama never heard that promise. He deluged Netanyahu with “two states” at least three times, he spoke about the road map, and even “Annapolis,” thanks to Avigdor Lieberman, got mentioned twice. He spoke about freezing settlements, of past commitments of the sides and the need to treat them seriously, about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, about everything. There wasn’t a single blister that Obama didn’t step on, and it didn’t seem to bother him. He left no stone unturned with Netanyahu sitting by his side and listening attentively. (read on)

But read the rest of their roundup, because it’s good.

The Obama meet with Netanyahu unfortunately produced a jaw dropping assessment in The New York Times that had me scratching my head. I looked around to see if I was having a nightmare or if anyone else saw what I read into the piece. I’m not alone, with David Bromwich over at HuffPo seeing the same delusion, compliments of Sheryl Gay Stolberg, who makes the entire story about Iran. As Bromwich also points out, what Stolberg writes about and what Obama actually said are two very different things, with headline writers going all Iran: Obama Tells Netanyahu He Has an Iran Timetable. This is not in any way what President Obama said. Obama:

My expectation would be that if we can begin discussions soon, shortly after the Iranian elections, we should have a fairly good sense by the end of the year as to whether they are moving in the right direction and whether the parties involved are making progress and that there’s a good faith effort to resolve differences. That doesn’t mean every issue would be resolved by that point, but it does mean that we’ll probably be able to gauge and do a reassessment by the end of the year of this approach.

Stolberg’s entire premise seems to ride on Obama channeling George W. Bush.

Mr. Obama wants time for his diplomatic overtures to work. Israel is rattled by those overtures and concerned that the president will not be as unwavering a supporter of Israel as was his predecessor, George W. Bush.

God help us.

Stolberg also buried the lede.

“Settlements have to be stopped in order for us to move forward,” Mr. Obama said. “That’s a difficult issue. I recognize that. But it’s an important one, and it has to be addressed.”

Read Marc Lynch.

So if you want reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian issue you’re not going to get a fair assessment from the New York Times. Though if you read Jeffrey Goldberg’s op-ed Sunday you’d already know that by now.

Juan Cole sees Netanyahu the loser, but he’s an ardent pro Palestinian expert, someone who rightly has called Israel out when it’s deserved.

The Obama-Netanyahu talks were clearly a train wreck for Israel’s far rightwing Likud Party. The talks went on nearly twice as long as scheduled, suggesting a lot of bumps in the road. The two seemed to me stiff in their body language afterward, and they clearly did not agree on virtually anything important. Both finessed the disagreement by appealing to vague generalities and invoking the long term. Obama wants to negotiate with Iran regarding its civilian nuclear enrichment research program, but stressed that his patience is not infinite. Netanyahu, of course, wants military action against Iran on a short timetable.

Netanyahu’s hysteria about Iran is a piece of misdirection intended to sidestep the issue of Israel’s own nuclear arsenal. Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty, and allows regular inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, even if the latter is not completely satisfied with Iran’s transparency. Israel just thumbed its nose at the NPT. Israel would only have the moral high ground in demanding that Iran cease enrichment research if it gave up its own some 150 warheads.

…and in Britain, we’ve got their speaker of the House of Commons resigning. Seriously, read why at the link. The first speaker to be forced out since 1695.

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Notes from Session with British Foreign Minister David Miliband

By on 12 May 2009
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The live Twitter feed during the event didn’t load to the blog today (though you could follow it on Facebook). Have no idea why. So, notes, with some expansion of Twitter liveblogging, is below. Steve Clemons has a post up on the event, including some of the new media attendees. (TM UPDATE: Talk about tech troubles; the Liveblogging Twitter feed just now appeared. Choose which you’d rather read. I give up on this weirdness, though the notes below have a few more data points.)

//NLB// Liveblogging Brit Foreign Minister Forum @ NAF

Sitting next to and chatting w/ George Stephanopoulos. Edwards bombshell topic. (TO ADD: Told him some pundits bellyaching that he didn’t put the staffer stuff on TV, instead only the blog. “I did,” he responded.)

FM Dave Miliband “out Obama’d Obama,” introduces Steve Clemons via Skype from Germany.

Align gov, biz @ citizens, says Miliband, you get surge that makes change.

Miliband: “Feeling a new America being built.”

Taboos (Obama is dealing with today, according to Miliband): Iran talks; 2-state in MidEast; NPT. Can’t “bring world to heel.”

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Nuke disarmament ? from Joe Cirincione, directs an attack at Stephanopoulos on SRice interview. (TO ADD: JC says even though GS one of the “best journalists” in America –cue the incoming– in his interview with SRice he ignored the NPT issue in the news, instead choosing to talk about North Korea. As an aside, NK had just launched a missile. Steve Coll chastised JC a bit for making it a personal back and forth, hoping, obviously, to keep this all on point.)

David Corn asks on global warming. “Econ/social justice ?” says DM. UK emissioins down (because of Kyoto), and because it’s demanded in budget; US, no.

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GSteph re: MidEast to MB, asks him to talk about situation and tensions as Netanyahu prepares to visit: not a 2-state solution, 22-state solution. Don’t “prejudge” Netanyahu. “Stakes are too high.” (TO ADD: Before his question GS pushed back on JCir. charge that he didn’t cover NPT issue, stating that covering NK was covering it, as well as the fact he addressed it in discussion.)

Clemons asks DM about new media. “Just getting started.” “My blogging isn’t so exciting.” Hard when you’re FM.

SColl asks about Sri Lanka, horror that’s getting no attention.

Question on torture didn’t log on Twitter, which had lots of problems for me today. DM refused to get involved in domestic US issue, which brought laughter after his I’m Not Touching That One response.

After the event I ran into David Corn. Talks briefly, said one of the places I post is on Huffington Post. He made a point to tell me he doesn’t read HuffPost. “Too many blogs.”

Terrific opportunity to hear Foreign Minister Brad Miliband. Thanks to Steve Clemons for the invite.

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Liveblogging Brit Foreign Minister Forum @ NAF

By on 12 May 2009

**The feed below didn’t post in real time, for whatever reason. Sorry ’bout that. More here.**

10:57:28 AM: Sitting next to and chatting w/ George Stephanopoulos. Edwards bombshell topic.

11:06:07 AM: FM Dave Miliband “out Obama’d Obama,” introduces Steve Clemons via Skype from Germany.

11:08:04 AM: Align gov, biz @ citizens, says Miliband, you get surge that makes change.

11:09:03 AM: Miliband: “Feeling a new America being built.”

11:12:04 AM: Taboos: Iran talks; 2-state in MidEast; NPT. Can’t “bring world to heel.”

11:16:44 AM: Nuke disarmament ? from Joe Cirincione (sp) directs an attack at Stephanopoulos on SRice interview.

11:19:58 AM: DCorn on global warming. “Econ/social justice ?” says DM. UK emis down (Kyoto), in budget; US, no.

11:28:14 AM: GSteph MidE to MB: not a 2-state solution, 22-state solution. Don’t “prejudge” Netanyahu. “Stakes are too high.”

11:33:36 AM: Clemons asks DM about new media. “Just getting started.” “My blogging isn’t so exciting.” Hard when you’re FM.

11:36:47 AM: SColl asks about Sri Lanka, horror that’s getting no attention.

11:54:14 AM: Short David Corn back and forth: Don’t read HuffPost blogs; too many. Okay.

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Michelle Obama Touches the Queen!

By on 02 April 2009
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Midday break brought to you by Time: “The rules are set in stone.” … (“Whatever you do, don’t touch the Queen!”) But not to worry, opines Time, “there is room for theological argument as to whether the American reciprocity of touch was allowable given the social dynamics of the situation.” According to them, everyone is a twitter over it. Segue to Eric Boehlert.

But the Daily Mail has the full story. When in England, let the Brits tell it.

‘As she did, she put her arm around Mrs Obama and rested her gloved hand on the small of her back.’

Almost simultaneously, Mrs Obama put her arm around the Queen’s shoulders rather more firmly.

‘The pair then looked at their feet and appeared to be discussing their shoes.

‘The Queen then dropped her arm and, a few seconds later, Michelle did the same. The entire exchange lasted around eight to ten seconds but was absolutely extraordinary.’

No-one – including the ladies-in-waiting standing nearby – could believe their eyes. In 57 years, the Queen has never been seen to make that kind of gesture and it is certainly against all protocol to touch her.

‘But she didn’t seem to mind a bit and was smiling and joking throughout,’ the eyewitness said.

At least neither of the Obamas winked, as George W. Bush reportedly did.

As for Mrs. Obama, see Gallup. She’s soaring.

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From ‘Family Photo’ to NATO Summit

By on 02 April 2009

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Name those leaders, and the missing one who was reportedly in the loo.

But underneath the pictures lurks international push back that puts Pres. Obama’s steel to the test.

… French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel answered just hours later with a combative appearance of their own, demanding fast and strict international regulation of the world financial system; Mr. Sarkozy called it “nonnegotiable.”

They warned against an empty conclusion of the conference despite many disputes over its direction. Chief among them are French and German calls for fast and far-reaching financial regulation, while the U.S. has stressed stimulus plans and argued for a lighter regulatory approach to some parts of the financial world, particularly hedge funds.

“We do not want results that have no impact in practice,” said Ms. Merkel. “Germany and France will speak with one and the same voice,” Mr. Sarkozy added, citing an on-and-off political alliance that has previously pitted the two countries against the U.S. or the U.K. over Europe’s direction. “As the chancellor rightly said, we demand results,” he said. “Regulation is not simply a word, an empty word… It is a major objective.” [...]

Martin Wolf, who I heard speak last week on “What will replace the American consumer?”, talks to Steve Clemons about the G-20. Any time Wolf is talking it’s worth listening. (Laura Tyson was present and the female financial voice at the symposium.)

But whatever you want to say about the photo ops, the Obamas meeting the Queen, as well as France and German’s “nonnegotiable” bluster, there will be nothing lasting out of the G-20. Yes, they will all commit to just say no to protectionism. However, the world is contracting into nationalistic self-interest for the short-term.

That said, President Obama’s produced quite a star turn, with NBC’s “First Read” calling it a “diplomatic decathlon.” A joint statement and commitment with Russia on nukes; handshakes and more with China; while Israel’s new prime minister rants.

Obama now looks on to NATO, which is where intentions meet manifestations. With the new ask for 10,000 more troops, Obama needs more help in Afghanistan than ever. Big week for the American boss, with what follows the G-20 mattering a whole lot more.

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Obama on the World Stage

By on 01 April 2009
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Tea with the Queen of England, getting ready for tomorrow’s one-day G-20 meeting, amidst protesters, and meetings with President Putin, and dialogue with China on economic development. A lot going on in the world, as President Obama has the most important trip of his presidency so far.

I’ll be out this afternoon, so consider this an April Fool free for all. Speaking of April Fool’s day, could the Republicans have chosen a more appropriate day to announce their tax cuts for the rich budget? Joke’s on them.

And guess what? Newt Gingrich is in again. Grand Old Party of the Past with another yesteryear message. Seems Newt is doing a preemptive political strike against Mrs. Palin. It’s priceless, because if you have to say she’s not the leader, maybe you’re actually worried she is. From The Hill:

“I think that she is going to be a significant player,” said Gingrich during an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation”. “But she’s going to be one of 20 or 30 significant players. She’s not going to be the de facto leader.”

Let the infighting continue.

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There Once Was A Girl Named Karma

By on 28 March 2009
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Well, I guess if the Congress of the United States doesn’t have the sense of purpose to honor the rule of law, we can always depend on… Spain?

Via Scott Horton:

Spain’s national newspapers, El País and Público reported that the Spanish national security court has opened a criminal probe focusing on Bush Administration lawyers who pioneered the descent into torture at the prison in Guantánamo. The criminal complaint can be examined here. Público identifies the targets as University of California law professor John Yoo, former Department of Defense general counsel William J. Haynes II (now a lawyer working for Chevron), former vice presidential chief-of-staff David Addington, former attorney general and White House counsel Alberto Gonzales, former Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee, now a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and former Undersecretary of Defense Doug Feith.

Majority leader Reid and Speaker Pelosi should really be ashamed that certain nations are applying their own laws, a sort of bank shot off of international jurisdiction, to hold the Bush Administration accountable. For a very long time I’ve been contending that Congress has become a generally spineless group on these sorts of issues, all of them more wedded to political party than doing what’s right or letting U.S. law be their guide. The Gerald Ford litmus test has never served us, so ignoring what happened during Bush-Cheney won’t either. The international community seems intent on proving my case, taking the lead as Congress yawns. It’s a horrible stain on one of the most venerable institutions in this country; a body that has a commission fetish instead of doing their jobs.

Spain follows a move by Britain that targets the C.I.A.

The attorney general, Lady Scotland, announced the unprecedented move in light of damning evidence that Britain’s security and intelligence agencies colluded with the CIA in Mohamed’s inhuman treatment and secret rendition.

She said the police inquiry would look into “possible criminal wrongdoing” in what the high court described as Mohamed’s unlawful questioning. [...]

Not being a lawyer I tend not to cover these things very often, so if you are of a legal mind it would be helpful that you weigh in.

It also seems to me that President Obama would do well to encourage A.G. Holder to pursue the truth and let that be his guide. The President does not have to get embroiled at all, but cleansing this country of what the Bush Administration let run amok would be the moral road to take.

Congress is obviously not interested.

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