Friday, June 26, 2009
Call me a heartless bastard...
But I DON'T CARE THAT MICHAEL JACKSON IS DEAD, THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS GOING ON IN THE WORLD NOW. Most notably North Korea threatening to nuke us. Mark Sanford is scum, although I will say that the timing of the release of this info is curious at best and suspicious at worst. Also protests continue in Iran but no the "King of Pop" is dead so the cable news and MSM will spend the next week jacking off to his death. I was never impressed with the creepy singer but he was ok I guess. Will this death change the world we live in? No, not in the least. So to the media I say fuck you and the next time I hear "ABC, 1,2,3" I might just snap.
Monday, June 22, 2009
finding humor in the Iranian revolution...
This has probably been one of the toughest weeks you could imagine for a political cartoonist. Nonetheless we have amazing writers in this country and here are a dozen or so gems...
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The Death of Neda...
Like I said this is how revolution starts. No putting this Genie back in the bottle...
Iran's leaders be fucked
Seriously when you have a face a name and a message as a rallying cry for a revolution thats all you need. Neda was a young Iranaian student and apparently she was taken out by a Basjj sniper earlier today or yesterday possibly (its all starting to blur together honestly now). Here's a picture that's probably NSFW, children, or the weak-stomached.
and here's the caption for the picture from http://apnews.myway.com :
Undated image from a video being widely circulated on the internet via YouTube and Twitter Sunday June 21 2009 reportedly showing a badly injured girl identified as Neda. Like most of the information coming out of Tehran, it is impossible to verify her name or the circumstances of her injuries, captured close-up on a bystander's camera, but the gory images are fast becoming iconic in the on-going story from which mainstream international media have mostly been excluded . Iranian state media reported on Sunday 13 more deaths in confrontations between protesters and security forces and the government condemned key European powers for expressing concern about the disputed presidential election.
Here's why it's already over. Lines have been crossed. 70% of Iranians are under 30, in other words they weren't even born during the revolution of 1979 that brought the Shah down. They are Westernized. They don't view us or Israel as the "Great Satan" they kinda say live and let live to a certain extent. They have also gone to the rooftops all last week and even tonight I believe chanting "Allhu Ackbar" which means "God is Great" and they don't care if they die protesting, they would rather die than continue to live under this repressive Theocracy (people think we have one here, yeah, right...) and thats exactly what happened over every revolution that took place in the 20th century (this would be #1 for the 21st century, obviously). Since I am a student of history lets draw parallels to the revolutions last century.
1917, Russia: The Tsars/Czars have been in power for the last 4-5 centuries and have been, well, exteremely oppressive to the people and they finally have a leader (Lenin) that can wield enough power to overthrow the monarchy. They do and kill the families and put Lenin in charge. That works well for about 70 years until Boris Yeltsin comes around but lets look at some others first...
1949, China: With the Nationalists reeling still from WWII Mao Zedong is able to caputre more territory and declare China a People's Republic. Still stands to this day, for now that is.
1959, Cuba: Batista is a puppet of the US and the average Cuban has had it, they find a leader in Fidel Castro and have been fighting a Guerilla war for 18 months Batista bails and the Cubans still have communism. But it's better than Batista right?
1989/1992 Soviet Union: It's hard to say when exactly the revolution started and ended but amazing its the only revolution to date that has been done peacefully and through the ballot box not bullets and murder. The Berlin Wall is teared down by average German citizens when the police decide they cannot open fire on their fellow countrymen. Slowly but surely as states in the USSR are allowed to vote for the Party or the opposition an amazing thing happens. Parties that were form in 6 weeks (yes WEEKS not MONTHS even) started to beat the Communist Party. They get crushed, and one final attempt by the Politburo to regain control fails even after tanks storm the center when Boris Yeltsin reaches out to the soldiers and asks them who are they with.
1994, South Africa: A similar situation to the tanks being put into the politburo happens after Nelson Mandela is elected president after spending a quarter century in jail. There was violence in this because of the violent oppression of the blacks for so long but Mandela prevented a similar slaughter of the whites by telling them in essence a Ghandi like saying, "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" and relative peace is restored to South Africa. They're even getting the World Cup next year which is a very big deal for still what many consider a 3rd World country.
All I ask you is do you see similarities between these situations above and the one in Iran? I do. And if I was anyone close to the Supreme Leader I would be fueling a jet now to get the fuck out of there. Because if they don't sometime this or next week you will see them strung up on street posts dead or dying. I would bet my life savings on that.
and here's the caption for the picture from http://apnews.myway.com :
Undated image from a video being widely circulated on the internet via YouTube and Twitter Sunday June 21 2009 reportedly showing a badly injured girl identified as Neda. Like most of the information coming out of Tehran, it is impossible to verify her name or the circumstances of her injuries, captured close-up on a bystander's camera, but the gory images are fast becoming iconic in the on-going story from which mainstream international media have mostly been excluded . Iranian state media reported on Sunday 13 more deaths in confrontations between protesters and security forces and the government condemned key European powers for expressing concern about the disputed presidential election.
Here's why it's already over. Lines have been crossed. 70% of Iranians are under 30, in other words they weren't even born during the revolution of 1979 that brought the Shah down. They are Westernized. They don't view us or Israel as the "Great Satan" they kinda say live and let live to a certain extent. They have also gone to the rooftops all last week and even tonight I believe chanting "Allhu Ackbar" which means "God is Great" and they don't care if they die protesting, they would rather die than continue to live under this repressive Theocracy (people think we have one here, yeah, right...) and thats exactly what happened over every revolution that took place in the 20th century (this would be #1 for the 21st century, obviously). Since I am a student of history lets draw parallels to the revolutions last century.
1917, Russia: The Tsars/Czars have been in power for the last 4-5 centuries and have been, well, exteremely oppressive to the people and they finally have a leader (Lenin) that can wield enough power to overthrow the monarchy. They do and kill the families and put Lenin in charge. That works well for about 70 years until Boris Yeltsin comes around but lets look at some others first...
1949, China: With the Nationalists reeling still from WWII Mao Zedong is able to caputre more territory and declare China a People's Republic. Still stands to this day, for now that is.
1959, Cuba: Batista is a puppet of the US and the average Cuban has had it, they find a leader in Fidel Castro and have been fighting a Guerilla war for 18 months Batista bails and the Cubans still have communism. But it's better than Batista right?
1989/1992 Soviet Union: It's hard to say when exactly the revolution started and ended but amazing its the only revolution to date that has been done peacefully and through the ballot box not bullets and murder. The Berlin Wall is teared down by average German citizens when the police decide they cannot open fire on their fellow countrymen. Slowly but surely as states in the USSR are allowed to vote for the Party or the opposition an amazing thing happens. Parties that were form in 6 weeks (yes WEEKS not MONTHS even) started to beat the Communist Party. They get crushed, and one final attempt by the Politburo to regain control fails even after tanks storm the center when Boris Yeltsin reaches out to the soldiers and asks them who are they with.
1994, South Africa: A similar situation to the tanks being put into the politburo happens after Nelson Mandela is elected president after spending a quarter century in jail. There was violence in this because of the violent oppression of the blacks for so long but Mandela prevented a similar slaughter of the whites by telling them in essence a Ghandi like saying, "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" and relative peace is restored to South Africa. They're even getting the World Cup next year which is a very big deal for still what many consider a 3rd World country.
All I ask you is do you see similarities between these situations above and the one in Iran? I do. And if I was anyone close to the Supreme Leader I would be fueling a jet now to get the fuck out of there. Because if they don't sometime this or next week you will see them strung up on street posts dead or dying. I would bet my life savings on that.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
where I've been...
No, no Failblog/FML friday. Not when revolution is oh so close to happening in Iran. Here's a protest (yes you read that right, my second protest. The Tea Party was my first) location for tomorrow for all of you in the MSP/Twin Cities area.
Hennipen Ave&Lake St. in Upton 6/20/09 at high noon.
Big difference between me and the protesters I will be with. I support a potential violent overthrow of the government. Peaceful demonstrations are fine but when you get assulted for gathering freely I believe violence is justified in retaliation. I will take a camera and hopefully I'll get some good pics to post on here tomorrow afternoon.
Update... Found a killer post from my new favorite conservative site (Pajama's Media) that shows how Iran's tyrannical leaders are doomed... Read the article at Pajama's Media
There are two deciding factors in whether the Green Revolution will reverse the travesty of the Islamic Revolution of 1979: the emotion of the Revolutionary Guards personnel that are the regime’s last line of defense, and the people’s willingness to march onto the government buildings that the regime operates from. For the most part, the demonstrations have been limited to public squares and universities. There have been reports of protesters overtaking police stations and attacking Basiji outposts, but if they march closer to government offices, forcing the regime’s leaders to flee or fill the streets with blood, what will the Revolutionary Guards do? Will they be able to hold their ranks together and massacre innocents who look like their sons and daughters for the sake of a regime that has brought nothing but misery and isolation to them?
This elite security force consists of some highly devoted operatives who have engaged in terrorism and torture again and again, yet there are also those who joined for the job security and benefits it provides when most are in despair because of the dire economic situation. Others surely have joined and have had a change of heart since being exposed to the inner workings of the brutality machine known as the state security forces. However, there will remain a portion who are attracted to that very brutality.
Should the Iranian regime launch a Tiananmen Square redux, there will undoubtedly be major defections from the Revolutionary Guards, but will there be enough discord to allow for forces to dissolve and for the masses to overwhelm their attackers? It doesn’t take many evil people with weapons to create an impenetrable wall of gunfire, especially if they shoot from inside and on top of buildings and behind large barricades, but cracks are starting to show in the regime that may prove fatal.
Recognizing that the local Basiji, Ansar Hezbollah, police, and army cannot be counted upon to stop the masses in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei has reportedly put the Revolutionary Guards in charge of security for the capital city. One member of the security forces was asked by the Los Angeles Times how he’d react to such orders. He said that he and many others at his base supported the demonstrators and stated, “I would never do it. … I would never fire on any of these people myself.”
There are believable rumors on Twitter, the main battleground in the information war right now, that local police have been seen arresting violent Basiji members — and some of the militiamen even laying down their arms. Others are fearfully covering their faces so they can’t be identified.
Faced with such potential disobedience, the regime is looking outside of the country for support. There have been consistent reports of protesters being attacked by Arabic-speaking thugs, possibly men connected to Muqtada al-Sadr and Iran’s “Special Groups” in Iraq or foreign terrorists like Hezbollah and Hamas. “President” Ahmadinejad is said to be consulting with Russian advisors about how to handle the situation, a clear sign of insecurity in the normally self-assured tyrant.
His insecurity is warranted. Iranians are taking note of the fact that the presence of local police, Basiji militiamen, and Ansar Hezbollah thugs that attacked them when the demonstrations first began has dramatically decreased, which they are interpreting as a sign of fear. I’ve received accounts from Iranians that the local police are being seen smiling and acting friendly overall with the demonstrators, while not conversing with the Basiji militia. One report even claimed that a police station was overtaken in Tajrish after the commander ordered his men to stand down. Another account described how the army special forces acted to protect the demonstrators from the Basiji and they privately expressed their disdain for the vicious militia.
There may have even been an attempt to launch a coup by top security officers. Sixteen top Revolutionary Guards officers were arrested after holding secret meetings with senior army officers about betraying the regime. This occurred in the beginning of the unrest and so it is safe to say that this anti-government sentiment has increased as the crackdown has become harsher and more violent.
The regime’s political leadership is plagued with infighting as well. Michael Ledeen points out that over two dozen former prominent members of the regime are now in prison. Former presidents Khatami, Bani-Sadr, and Rafsanjani are putting severe pressure on Supreme Leader Khamenei, who is suffering from public criticism he has never had to face before. Khatami is planning his own demonstration over the weekend and the son of the shah, Reza Pahlavi, has also been sending messages to Iran advocating nationwide, peaceful resistance to overthrow the regime. It’s almost as if the democratic contest for the next leader of Iran has already begun.
The Iranians sending me news, photos, and videos, most of which have been posted at WorldThreats.com, are certain that the death toll is now in the hundreds and that tens of thousands have been injured. The crowds are growing and the uprising is now nationwide. The increased pace of beatings, shootings, stabbings, and torture is a sign that the regime is growing desperate. Hundreds of mobile prisons have reportedly been dispatched that can be used to detain and torture people for up to ten days. Tear gas is being used indiscriminately, including in hospitals, resulting in the deaths of babies. The regime’s thugs are raiding and destroying student dorms one by one and are entering private homes looking for satellite dishes and any other means of transmitting information. I’ve been informed that four female students were killed by axe-wielding agents on Thursday and that the government is secretly burying their victims without their families present.
These acts are causing the protests and reprisals to grow, not dissipate. Several Basiji bases have been lit on fire and recent raids on homes and dorms in Kermanshah provoked the protesters into setting an Ansar Hezbollah base ablaze.
But the two questions remain: How will the Revolutionary Guards act when they are inevitably told to massacre their fellow countrymen in a desperate bid to save the power of failed mullahs. And will the Iranian people march forward towards danger in the hopes of emptying the government’s offices?
We will probably know the answers to these questions in the coming days. And with those answers, the future of Iran and the Middle East will be decided.
Hennipen Ave&Lake St. in Upton 6/20/09 at high noon.
Big difference between me and the protesters I will be with. I support a potential violent overthrow of the government. Peaceful demonstrations are fine but when you get assulted for gathering freely I believe violence is justified in retaliation. I will take a camera and hopefully I'll get some good pics to post on here tomorrow afternoon.
Update... Found a killer post from my new favorite conservative site (Pajama's Media) that shows how Iran's tyrannical leaders are doomed... Read the article at Pajama's Media
There are two deciding factors in whether the Green Revolution will reverse the travesty of the Islamic Revolution of 1979: the emotion of the Revolutionary Guards personnel that are the regime’s last line of defense, and the people’s willingness to march onto the government buildings that the regime operates from. For the most part, the demonstrations have been limited to public squares and universities. There have been reports of protesters overtaking police stations and attacking Basiji outposts, but if they march closer to government offices, forcing the regime’s leaders to flee or fill the streets with blood, what will the Revolutionary Guards do? Will they be able to hold their ranks together and massacre innocents who look like their sons and daughters for the sake of a regime that has brought nothing but misery and isolation to them?
This elite security force consists of some highly devoted operatives who have engaged in terrorism and torture again and again, yet there are also those who joined for the job security and benefits it provides when most are in despair because of the dire economic situation. Others surely have joined and have had a change of heart since being exposed to the inner workings of the brutality machine known as the state security forces. However, there will remain a portion who are attracted to that very brutality.
Should the Iranian regime launch a Tiananmen Square redux, there will undoubtedly be major defections from the Revolutionary Guards, but will there be enough discord to allow for forces to dissolve and for the masses to overwhelm their attackers? It doesn’t take many evil people with weapons to create an impenetrable wall of gunfire, especially if they shoot from inside and on top of buildings and behind large barricades, but cracks are starting to show in the regime that may prove fatal.
Recognizing that the local Basiji, Ansar Hezbollah, police, and army cannot be counted upon to stop the masses in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei has reportedly put the Revolutionary Guards in charge of security for the capital city. One member of the security forces was asked by the Los Angeles Times how he’d react to such orders. He said that he and many others at his base supported the demonstrators and stated, “I would never do it. … I would never fire on any of these people myself.”
There are believable rumors on Twitter, the main battleground in the information war right now, that local police have been seen arresting violent Basiji members — and some of the militiamen even laying down their arms. Others are fearfully covering their faces so they can’t be identified.
Faced with such potential disobedience, the regime is looking outside of the country for support. There have been consistent reports of protesters being attacked by Arabic-speaking thugs, possibly men connected to Muqtada al-Sadr and Iran’s “Special Groups” in Iraq or foreign terrorists like Hezbollah and Hamas. “President” Ahmadinejad is said to be consulting with Russian advisors about how to handle the situation, a clear sign of insecurity in the normally self-assured tyrant.
His insecurity is warranted. Iranians are taking note of the fact that the presence of local police, Basiji militiamen, and Ansar Hezbollah thugs that attacked them when the demonstrations first began has dramatically decreased, which they are interpreting as a sign of fear. I’ve received accounts from Iranians that the local police are being seen smiling and acting friendly overall with the demonstrators, while not conversing with the Basiji militia. One report even claimed that a police station was overtaken in Tajrish after the commander ordered his men to stand down. Another account described how the army special forces acted to protect the demonstrators from the Basiji and they privately expressed their disdain for the vicious militia.
There may have even been an attempt to launch a coup by top security officers. Sixteen top Revolutionary Guards officers were arrested after holding secret meetings with senior army officers about betraying the regime. This occurred in the beginning of the unrest and so it is safe to say that this anti-government sentiment has increased as the crackdown has become harsher and more violent.
The regime’s political leadership is plagued with infighting as well. Michael Ledeen points out that over two dozen former prominent members of the regime are now in prison. Former presidents Khatami, Bani-Sadr, and Rafsanjani are putting severe pressure on Supreme Leader Khamenei, who is suffering from public criticism he has never had to face before. Khatami is planning his own demonstration over the weekend and the son of the shah, Reza Pahlavi, has also been sending messages to Iran advocating nationwide, peaceful resistance to overthrow the regime. It’s almost as if the democratic contest for the next leader of Iran has already begun.
The Iranians sending me news, photos, and videos, most of which have been posted at WorldThreats.com, are certain that the death toll is now in the hundreds and that tens of thousands have been injured. The crowds are growing and the uprising is now nationwide. The increased pace of beatings, shootings, stabbings, and torture is a sign that the regime is growing desperate. Hundreds of mobile prisons have reportedly been dispatched that can be used to detain and torture people for up to ten days. Tear gas is being used indiscriminately, including in hospitals, resulting in the deaths of babies. The regime’s thugs are raiding and destroying student dorms one by one and are entering private homes looking for satellite dishes and any other means of transmitting information. I’ve been informed that four female students were killed by axe-wielding agents on Thursday and that the government is secretly burying their victims without their families present.
These acts are causing the protests and reprisals to grow, not dissipate. Several Basiji bases have been lit on fire and recent raids on homes and dorms in Kermanshah provoked the protesters into setting an Ansar Hezbollah base ablaze.
But the two questions remain: How will the Revolutionary Guards act when they are inevitably told to massacre their fellow countrymen in a desperate bid to save the power of failed mullahs. And will the Iranian people march forward towards danger in the hopes of emptying the government’s offices?
We will probably know the answers to these questions in the coming days. And with those answers, the future of Iran and the Middle East will be decided.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Iran and Obama
I will dedicate as much time to the Iran situation as possible in the upcoming days, weeks and months but first lets look at why Obama is already screwed no matter what he does... (still think that reaching out to Iran was a good idea Barry? Because I don't, in fact I never did in the first place you naive sociopath)
The Obama administration faces a dilemma over how to respond to Iran's disputed election. Strong criticism could backfire but a muted response leaves an impression of weakness. So far senior U.S. officials have given a guarded response to the disputed vote, which sparked violent protests after hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's was declared the easy victor over ex-prime minister Mirhossein Mousavi. Several analysts said on Monday the White House was in a no-win situation but the best option was to stand back rather than inject U.S. views into the Iranian political debate. "The U.S. ability to do harm in Iranian politics is much greater than doing good," said Middle East expert Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Alterman said the U.S. message delivered by Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday was the right one: Washington wants more information about the election before casting judgment and the path of engagement is still open. Domestically, President Barack Obama is under pressure from conservatives who want a more forceful response like that of the European Union which has demanded immediate clarification of the official outcome. Republican Senator John McCain, Obama's opponent in last year's U.S. presidential election, called the reelection of Ahmadinejad "corrupt" and urged the United States to "speak out strongly." Representative Mike Pence, the third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives, criticized Obama for not speaking more forcefully. "It is appropriate for the leader of the free world at this time to speak a word of encouragement to those dissidents in the street," Pence said.But Suzanne Maloney, an Iran expert at the Brookings Institution said publicly siding with pro-democracy protesters could undermine them and work against U.S. interests.
STILL WANT TALKS
"The only option is to sit back and let them play it out," she said. "I think that concern being expressed is perfectly appropriate but you don't want Washington on its high horse." At the State Department on Monday, spokesman Ian Kelly said the United States was troubled by "reports" of violence and voting irregularities but was still assessing the situation. The United States still wanted to look for opportunities to speak to Iran, particularly about the nuclear program the West believes is aimed at building a bomb and Tehran says is for peaceful purposes, he said. But Iran's election turmoil complicates Obama's engagement plans, which reversed decades of trying to isolate Tehran. "An Iran in which the government is seen to be illegitimate will be more difficult to engage with," said former CIA analyst Bruce Riedel. The disputed election and subsequent violence has firmed the resolve of opponents of Obama's outreach policy. Danielle Pletka, an analyst with the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said the United States needed to be even more circumspect over how it dealt with Iran, particularly when the legitimacy of its government was being questioned. "We will need even more proof of their bona fides. Surely a government willing to cheat its own people is more willing to cheat the United States," she said. In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Biden said regardless of the outcome, the Obama administration still wanted to talk. "Talks with Iran are not a reward for good behavior," Biden said. Former Bush administration official Elliott Abrams said that for now the United States should support the Iranian people rather than trying to reach out to its government."In the longer run, I think we take a lesson from Ronald Reagan who both engaged with the Soviets and said publicly that they would end up on the ash-heap of history," said Abrams, referring to former U.S. President Reagan.
Frankly I hope he tries to continue dialouge with them because that will only confirm my suspicion that he is putting "world interest" above the US (the EU, surprisingly, has already come out harsher than the OA and is actually showing balls, who knew). Too bad the oath of the presidency says that the president is supposed to "preserve, protect, and defend the constitution" Not to "Negociate with dictators and despots while constantly apologizing for everything America has done in the 50 years."
Back to Iran, this IS 1979 people. Revolution is coming, if not already here. And is being led by, get this,twitter. Yes TWITTER, you know that annoying text thing you can do on your phone if your a middle-aged man to update his day, a glorified mini-facebook basically, is helping overthrow a regime in Iran. What a world we live in, can't make this shit up.
Andrew Sullivan has this as an update
What's going on in Iran is very hard to understand from the distance we are at. And interpretations of the dizzying events of the last few weeks have varied widely - and still do. In fact, it's hard to remember an event like this on which there is still such a debate. Some today have argued that Ahmadinejad won and that what we are seeing is some sore losers. Others have seen this as a turning point in the history of Iran. Others still think it may be somewhere in between. And the truth is: we do not know. At this point in time, I do not know. We may be misjudging this, over-reading it, misunderstanding it. All we can do is assemble as many facts and test as many theses as possible in real time.
And then you realize: the Iranian people do not know either. So many feel so robbed; others perhaps stay loyal to the regime. There are a dizzying array of actors and institutions now interacting in ways we have absolutely no way of knowing and are beyond the ken of all but a few Westerners. But that too makes an act of faith necessary.
On that blog a few posts down you will find a boy killed by the Iran "security forces" and a lists that states:
This list was being passed around among the resistance in Iran today:
1. Remove Khamenei from supreme leader because he doesn't qualify as a fair supreme leader
2. Remove Ahmadinejad from president because he took it forcefully and unlawfully
3. Put Ayatollah Montazeri as supreme leader until a review group for the ghanooneh asasi ( "constitution" ) is set up
4. Recognize Mousavi as the official president
5. A goverment by Mousavi and start a reform of the constitution
6. Free all political prisoners without any ifs ands or buts, right away
7. Call off any secret organization such as "gasht ershad"
And to continue to support the Iranian people in anyway I can I am changing my facebook profile picture to this as a sign of support from the great plains of the USA
The Obama administration faces a dilemma over how to respond to Iran's disputed election. Strong criticism could backfire but a muted response leaves an impression of weakness. So far senior U.S. officials have given a guarded response to the disputed vote, which sparked violent protests after hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's was declared the easy victor over ex-prime minister Mirhossein Mousavi. Several analysts said on Monday the White House was in a no-win situation but the best option was to stand back rather than inject U.S. views into the Iranian political debate. "The U.S. ability to do harm in Iranian politics is much greater than doing good," said Middle East expert Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Alterman said the U.S. message delivered by Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday was the right one: Washington wants more information about the election before casting judgment and the path of engagement is still open. Domestically, President Barack Obama is under pressure from conservatives who want a more forceful response like that of the European Union which has demanded immediate clarification of the official outcome. Republican Senator John McCain, Obama's opponent in last year's U.S. presidential election, called the reelection of Ahmadinejad "corrupt" and urged the United States to "speak out strongly." Representative Mike Pence, the third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives, criticized Obama for not speaking more forcefully. "It is appropriate for the leader of the free world at this time to speak a word of encouragement to those dissidents in the street," Pence said.But Suzanne Maloney, an Iran expert at the Brookings Institution said publicly siding with pro-democracy protesters could undermine them and work against U.S. interests.
STILL WANT TALKS
"The only option is to sit back and let them play it out," she said. "I think that concern being expressed is perfectly appropriate but you don't want Washington on its high horse." At the State Department on Monday, spokesman Ian Kelly said the United States was troubled by "reports" of violence and voting irregularities but was still assessing the situation. The United States still wanted to look for opportunities to speak to Iran, particularly about the nuclear program the West believes is aimed at building a bomb and Tehran says is for peaceful purposes, he said. But Iran's election turmoil complicates Obama's engagement plans, which reversed decades of trying to isolate Tehran. "An Iran in which the government is seen to be illegitimate will be more difficult to engage with," said former CIA analyst Bruce Riedel. The disputed election and subsequent violence has firmed the resolve of opponents of Obama's outreach policy. Danielle Pletka, an analyst with the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said the United States needed to be even more circumspect over how it dealt with Iran, particularly when the legitimacy of its government was being questioned. "We will need even more proof of their bona fides. Surely a government willing to cheat its own people is more willing to cheat the United States," she said. In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Biden said regardless of the outcome, the Obama administration still wanted to talk. "Talks with Iran are not a reward for good behavior," Biden said. Former Bush administration official Elliott Abrams said that for now the United States should support the Iranian people rather than trying to reach out to its government."In the longer run, I think we take a lesson from Ronald Reagan who both engaged with the Soviets and said publicly that they would end up on the ash-heap of history," said Abrams, referring to former U.S. President Reagan.
Frankly I hope he tries to continue dialouge with them because that will only confirm my suspicion that he is putting "world interest" above the US (the EU, surprisingly, has already come out harsher than the OA and is actually showing balls, who knew). Too bad the oath of the presidency says that the president is supposed to "preserve, protect, and defend the constitution" Not to "Negociate with dictators and despots while constantly apologizing for everything America has done in the 50 years."
Back to Iran, this IS 1979 people. Revolution is coming, if not already here. And is being led by, get this,twitter. Yes TWITTER, you know that annoying text thing you can do on your phone if your a middle-aged man to update his day, a glorified mini-facebook basically, is helping overthrow a regime in Iran. What a world we live in, can't make this shit up.
Andrew Sullivan has this as an update
What's going on in Iran is very hard to understand from the distance we are at. And interpretations of the dizzying events of the last few weeks have varied widely - and still do. In fact, it's hard to remember an event like this on which there is still such a debate. Some today have argued that Ahmadinejad won and that what we are seeing is some sore losers. Others have seen this as a turning point in the history of Iran. Others still think it may be somewhere in between. And the truth is: we do not know. At this point in time, I do not know. We may be misjudging this, over-reading it, misunderstanding it. All we can do is assemble as many facts and test as many theses as possible in real time.
And then you realize: the Iranian people do not know either. So many feel so robbed; others perhaps stay loyal to the regime. There are a dizzying array of actors and institutions now interacting in ways we have absolutely no way of knowing and are beyond the ken of all but a few Westerners. But that too makes an act of faith necessary.
On that blog a few posts down you will find a boy killed by the Iran "security forces" and a lists that states:
This list was being passed around among the resistance in Iran today:
1. Remove Khamenei from supreme leader because he doesn't qualify as a fair supreme leader
2. Remove Ahmadinejad from president because he took it forcefully and unlawfully
3. Put Ayatollah Montazeri as supreme leader until a review group for the ghanooneh asasi ( "constitution" ) is set up
4. Recognize Mousavi as the official president
5. A goverment by Mousavi and start a reform of the constitution
6. Free all political prisoners without any ifs ands or buts, right away
7. Call off any secret organization such as "gasht ershad"
And to continue to support the Iranian people in anyway I can I am changing my facebook profile picture to this as a sign of support from the great plains of the USA
Transformers trailers...
The two that have been released so far along with the soon to be (if not already) hit single by, my favorite band, Linkin Park, "New Divide" June 24th can't get here quickly enough...
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Failblog/fml friday
yep here we go again...
now fml...
Today, my mom found a condom in my pocket while doing my laundry. Instead of having the subsequent discussion about the birds and the bees my mother simply asked "Who would have sex with you?" FML
Today, I was looking down at my paper in class and my spanish teacher asked if I was sleeping or not. I'm Asian. My eyes were open. FML
Today, during a text conversation with a girl I've been trying to get with, she complained about how crummy of a day she was having. I told her it couldn't be as bad as she thought, and she would probably get it over it soon. Then she told me she had found out her cousin had been murdered. FML
Today, My mom walked in on me and my 2 year crush about to have sex. When she saw us she said "oh I'll just wait outside, I know it wont be long anyway." FML
Today, my parents met my boyfriends parents for the first time. Bailing us out of jail. FML
Today, my mom walked in on me looking at a 1978 playboy. She asked if I found it in the basement. I said yes. Then I realized she was the centerfold. FML
Today, I had to tell my super-conservative parents that I had just gone to visit the boyfriend I'm not supposed to have so that I could tell him I am pregnant. FML
Today, I just studied for 13.5 hours completely outlining a book for history. Thirty minutes before the test, I realized I had been reading the wrong book. FML
Today, I drove into my school. Literally drove into my school. FML
now fml...
Today, my mom found a condom in my pocket while doing my laundry. Instead of having the subsequent discussion about the birds and the bees my mother simply asked "Who would have sex with you?" FML
Today, I was looking down at my paper in class and my spanish teacher asked if I was sleeping or not. I'm Asian. My eyes were open. FML
Today, during a text conversation with a girl I've been trying to get with, she complained about how crummy of a day she was having. I told her it couldn't be as bad as she thought, and she would probably get it over it soon. Then she told me she had found out her cousin had been murdered. FML
Today, My mom walked in on me and my 2 year crush about to have sex. When she saw us she said "oh I'll just wait outside, I know it wont be long anyway." FML
Today, my parents met my boyfriends parents for the first time. Bailing us out of jail. FML
Today, my mom walked in on me looking at a 1978 playboy. She asked if I found it in the basement. I said yes. Then I realized she was the centerfold. FML
Today, I had to tell my super-conservative parents that I had just gone to visit the boyfriend I'm not supposed to have so that I could tell him I am pregnant. FML
Today, I just studied for 13.5 hours completely outlining a book for history. Thirty minutes before the test, I realized I had been reading the wrong book. FML
Today, I drove into my school. Literally drove into my school. FML
Thursday, June 11, 2009
And now the rest of the story
In case you haven't noticed over the past weeks, months, years, decades, the mainstream media(MSM) has selective outrage, coverage and bias (remember that shooting of 2 army recruiters 2 weeks ago by a muslim convert? Of course you don't, because the media DIDN'T FUCKING COVER IT, but I digress) here is just another case of that. Of course I'm not drawing a hard link between these two people I'm going to mention other than the fact they are both raging anti-semites. From Politico about Von Braunn
FBI agents visited the offices of the conservative Weekly Standard magazine yesterday after a shooting at the Holocaust Memorial Museum and told employees they'd found the magazine's address
A senior Standard staffer confirmed the visit but declined to discuss it in detail. An FBI spokeswoman, Katherine Schweit , also declined to comment on the investigation.
Two other sources said two FBI agents arrived shortly after 5:00 p.m. Thursday at the 17th Street offices of the magazine. They told staffers that they had found the address of the magazine on a piece of paper associated with the shooter, James von Brunn, and asked whether the Standard had received any threats.
The magazine is about a mile north of the Holocaust Museum, and there's no other indication that von Brunn had targeted it. Von Brunn's published rants included attacks on "neocons," and the Standard has been at the heart of the neoconservative movement.
The suggestion that the Standard may have been a target complicates any view of the racist shooter in contemporary left-right terms. Von Brunn's white supremacist roots put him under the rubric of a "right-wing extremist," but the substance of his views -- which included everything from believing that President Bush may have been in on the September 11 attacks to denying that President Obama is an American citizen -- are too far on the fringe to fit into conventional political classification.
The focus on the Standard, though, appears to be of a piece with his central motivation: Anti-Semitism. In one essay, Von Brunn attacked "JEWS-NEOCONS-BILL O’REILLY," and the suggestion that neoconservatism is a specifically Jewish conspiracy is common on the racist fringe.
But... but... he hates Jews he MUST be a "right-wing extremist". Really, now lets take a look at this everyone...
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright is looking to calm this week's firestorm over remarks termed anti-Semitic by critics, saying Thursday he meant to say "Zionists" instead of "them Jews" when referring to people in Washington who do not want President Obama speaking with him.
"Let me say, like Hillary, I misspoke. Let me just say 'Zionists,'" Wright told SIRIUS radio host Mark Thompson.
Earlier this week, the former Chicago pastor told Virginia newspaper The Daily Press he no longer speaks with Obama — a former congregant of his Trinity United Church — because "Them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me."
hmmm... connection? Not as long as the media continues to suck Obama's dick.
FBI agents visited the offices of the conservative Weekly Standard magazine yesterday after a shooting at the Holocaust Memorial Museum and told employees they'd found the magazine's address
A senior Standard staffer confirmed the visit but declined to discuss it in detail. An FBI spokeswoman, Katherine Schweit , also declined to comment on the investigation.
Two other sources said two FBI agents arrived shortly after 5:00 p.m. Thursday at the 17th Street offices of the magazine. They told staffers that they had found the address of the magazine on a piece of paper associated with the shooter, James von Brunn, and asked whether the Standard had received any threats.
The magazine is about a mile north of the Holocaust Museum, and there's no other indication that von Brunn had targeted it. Von Brunn's published rants included attacks on "neocons," and the Standard has been at the heart of the neoconservative movement.
The suggestion that the Standard may have been a target complicates any view of the racist shooter in contemporary left-right terms. Von Brunn's white supremacist roots put him under the rubric of a "right-wing extremist," but the substance of his views -- which included everything from believing that President Bush may have been in on the September 11 attacks to denying that President Obama is an American citizen -- are too far on the fringe to fit into conventional political classification.
The focus on the Standard, though, appears to be of a piece with his central motivation: Anti-Semitism. In one essay, Von Brunn attacked "JEWS-NEOCONS-BILL O’REILLY," and the suggestion that neoconservatism is a specifically Jewish conspiracy is common on the racist fringe.
But... but... he hates Jews he MUST be a "right-wing extremist". Really, now lets take a look at this everyone...
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright is looking to calm this week's firestorm over remarks termed anti-Semitic by critics, saying Thursday he meant to say "Zionists" instead of "them Jews" when referring to people in Washington who do not want President Obama speaking with him.
"Let me say, like Hillary, I misspoke. Let me just say 'Zionists,'" Wright told SIRIUS radio host Mark Thompson.
Earlier this week, the former Chicago pastor told Virginia newspaper The Daily Press he no longer speaks with Obama — a former congregant of his Trinity United Church — because "Them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me."
hmmm... connection? Not as long as the media continues to suck Obama's dick.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
The last honest voice on the left...
Has to be Camille Paglia and her bi-monthly column in Salon. She is still an ardent Obama supporter but here's what makes her different from 90% of the rest of the media. She critiques and outright criticizes him as noted in this paragraph below.
Within the U.S., the Obama presidency will be mainly measured by the success or failure of his economic policies. And here, I fear, the monstrous stimulus package with which this administration stumbled out of the gate will prove to be Obama's Waterloo. All the backtracking and spin doctoring in the world will not erase that major blunder, which made the new president seem reckless, naive and out of control of his own party, which was in effect dictating to him from Capitol Hill. The GOP has failed thus far to gain traction only because it is trudging through a severe talent drought. But the moment is ripe for an experienced businessman to talk practical, prudent economics to the electorate -- which is why Mitt Romney's political fortunes are steadily being resurrected from the grave.
I couldn't agree more. During the campaign season I nearly threw my weight behind Romney but I was a Rudy supporter early on and stayed with him until the bitter end. I didn't like Romney for one reason and one reason only, the sterotype factor. Face it, in a election about "change" why would our party nominate a sterotypical (albeit also Mormon) business man and run him up against Obama? We wouldn't have won a fucking state probably, although with the economy playing a factor towards the end who knows. All I know is that I do like Romney in 2012 because we have gone from needing a general in office to a honest to goodness businessman. If the primary was held today I'd probably vote for Romney. As it stand now he has my support, not to mention I do think he could destroy Obama in a debate because he is smart and very articulate.
Within the U.S., the Obama presidency will be mainly measured by the success or failure of his economic policies. And here, I fear, the monstrous stimulus package with which this administration stumbled out of the gate will prove to be Obama's Waterloo. All the backtracking and spin doctoring in the world will not erase that major blunder, which made the new president seem reckless, naive and out of control of his own party, which was in effect dictating to him from Capitol Hill. The GOP has failed thus far to gain traction only because it is trudging through a severe talent drought. But the moment is ripe for an experienced businessman to talk practical, prudent economics to the electorate -- which is why Mitt Romney's political fortunes are steadily being resurrected from the grave.
I couldn't agree more. During the campaign season I nearly threw my weight behind Romney but I was a Rudy supporter early on and stayed with him until the bitter end. I didn't like Romney for one reason and one reason only, the sterotype factor. Face it, in a election about "change" why would our party nominate a sterotypical (albeit also Mormon) business man and run him up against Obama? We wouldn't have won a fucking state probably, although with the economy playing a factor towards the end who knows. All I know is that I do like Romney in 2012 because we have gone from needing a general in office to a honest to goodness businessman. If the primary was held today I'd probably vote for Romney. As it stand now he has my support, not to mention I do think he could destroy Obama in a debate because he is smart and very articulate.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Europe gets it...
In a major international story that, lets face it, the "MSM" in this country are flat out ignoring Europe has shifted to the right almost as hard as this country has shifted to the left these past two elections. Of course this is the EU parlimant were talking about here and in reality they hold about as much political clout in Europe as the UN does in the USA (best comparison I could come up with). The big test will be whenever the UK's Labour calls elections (due to crazy UK rules, the latest they can be called is May 2010, look for Conservatives to try and push for earlier elections and public pressure may cause Labour to cave in because most likely any way they cut it they could be dead, gone the way of the whigs in the US). And in the rest of the continent many of the left/center-left parties got their asses handed to them. From AP Yahoo (link in title)
The European Union said center-right parties were expected to take the most seats — 267 —(36.3%) in the 736-member parliament. Center-left parties were headed for 159 (26.1%)seats. The remainder were expected to go to smaller groupings.
+10% advatange, ouch. With how many fringe parties actually get votes in Europe thats similar to Reagan's beating of Carter and Mondale back in the 80's, not even close. Note to Americans, even Europe thinks were too far left, HELLO!!! Wake up people!
The European Union said center-right parties were expected to take the most seats — 267 —(36.3%) in the 736-member parliament. Center-left parties were headed for 159 (26.1%)seats. The remainder were expected to go to smaller groupings.
+10% advatange, ouch. With how many fringe parties actually get votes in Europe thats similar to Reagan's beating of Carter and Mondale back in the 80's, not even close. Note to Americans, even Europe thinks were too far left, HELLO!!! Wake up people!
Friday, June 05, 2009
It's that time again...
Failblog and FML friday!
now some FML
Today, I cut myself with child-proof scissors. FML
Today, someone in class was making a point about premarital sex - "90% of teen virgins aren't saving it for marriage, they just can't get any." Another classmate pointed me out specifically. FML
Today, my mother and I got into a huge fight about me being a lesbian. It ended with me saying "Fuck you!" to which she responded: "I bet you'd probably like to." FML
Today, while in our communal showers in the highschool football locker room, I started to swing my penis around because it feels good and I was alone. Two minutes later the rest of the team hops into the shower with me. 30 dudes, one self-induced boner. FML.
Today, I received a random packet of papers in the mail by the state suing me for child support. I am 22 and still a virgin. FML
Today, campus security called to inform me that my car had been in an accident. I rushed down to the security office to find most of the officers laughing. A portable john blew over on to my car and smashed my rear window. Now, security calls me "Port-A-Potty Guy," and my car smells like shit. FML
Today, I was volunteering at a nursing home and I was calling bingo numbers. And one woman stood up and started making noises, I asusmed she had won and I started clapping. She then fell on the floor and died of a heart attack. I essentially applauded her death. FML
Today, I was at the airport trying to help a man get to the right terminal. When he finished he turned to tell me "Don't worry, your English is pretty good, considering you're not American". English is my only language. FML
now some FML
Today, I cut myself with child-proof scissors. FML
Today, someone in class was making a point about premarital sex - "90% of teen virgins aren't saving it for marriage, they just can't get any." Another classmate pointed me out specifically. FML
Today, my mother and I got into a huge fight about me being a lesbian. It ended with me saying "Fuck you!" to which she responded: "I bet you'd probably like to." FML
Today, while in our communal showers in the highschool football locker room, I started to swing my penis around because it feels good and I was alone. Two minutes later the rest of the team hops into the shower with me. 30 dudes, one self-induced boner. FML.
Today, I received a random packet of papers in the mail by the state suing me for child support. I am 22 and still a virgin. FML
Today, campus security called to inform me that my car had been in an accident. I rushed down to the security office to find most of the officers laughing. A portable john blew over on to my car and smashed my rear window. Now, security calls me "Port-A-Potty Guy," and my car smells like shit. FML
Today, I was volunteering at a nursing home and I was calling bingo numbers. And one woman stood up and started making noises, I asusmed she had won and I started clapping. She then fell on the floor and died of a heart attack. I essentially applauded her death. FML
Today, I was at the airport trying to help a man get to the right terminal. When he finished he turned to tell me "Don't worry, your English is pretty good, considering you're not American". English is my only language. FML
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Gordon Brown officially doomed
Gordon Brown(link to story in his name) is pretty much dead, politically that is (although with what's gone down I'm sure he's probably had his share of death threats though) according to The Sun in Britian (think the UK version of the National Enquirer with slightly more credibility) has this story...
GORDON Brown was dealt a potentially mortal blow late tonight when James Purnell sensationally QUIT the Cabinet - and publicly called on the Prime Minister to resign to save the Labour Party.
Work and pensions supremo Mr Purnell dropped his bombshell at 10pm tonight. (~4pm CST). He telephoned the PM and sent him a letter which has been seen by The Sun. Blairite Mr Purnell, 39, told Mr Brown the Labour Party was bigger than both of them. And he insisted the party could not survive under Mr Brown's leadership. Crucially, Mr Purnell made it clear he is NOT interested in challenging Mr Brown for the Premiership. He made it clear he was resigning as an act of personal belief and would happily serve him as a backbencher if he refuses to step down. Mr Purnell wrote: "We both love the Labour Party. "I have worked for it for twenty years and you for far longer. We know we owe it everything and it owes us nothing. "I owe it to our Party to say what I believe no matter how hard that may be. I now believe your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more not less likely "That would be disastrous for our country. This moment calls for stronger regulation, an active state, better public services, an open democracy. "It calls for a government that measures itself by how it treats the poorest in society. Those are our values, not David Cameron's. "We therefore owe it to our country to give it a real choice. We need to show that we are prepared to fight to be a credible government and have the courage to offer an alternative future. "I am therefore calling on you to stand aside to give our Party a fighting chance of winning. And as such I am resigning from Government. "The Party was here long before us, and we want it to be here long after we have gone. We must do the right thing by it. "I am not seeking the leadership, nor acting with anyone else. My actions are my own considered view, nothing more. "If the consensus is that you should continue, then I will support the government loyally from the backbenches. But I do believe that this question now needs to be put. "Thank you for giving me the privilege of serving." Mr Purnell did NOT share details of his resignation plans with any other Cabinet member. But his resignation is almost certain to increase the chances of others breaking Cabinet ranks and stepping down. A number of key Cabinet figures are known to be on the brink of walking out in protest at Mr Brown's leadership. They believe making Ed Balls Chancellor of the Exchequer would be a disaster for the government. And they are convinced Mr Brown cannot win them the next election. Mr Purnell was a rising star tipped for promotion in Monday's forthcoming reshuffle. He has impressed the PM and even the Tories with his handling of the work and pensions brief. He has brought in measures to tackle Britain's sicknote culture and get one million claimants off incapacity benefit. The minister is extremely close to Tony Blair and served as his adviser on culture, media and sport in Downing Street before becoming an MP. He won his Stalybridge and Hyde seat in Greater Manchester in 2001 and worked his way through the ministerial ranks swiftly. Many in the Labour Party have talked about him as a future leader and possible Prime Minister. But in recent months he has grown disillusioned with Mr Brown's leadership. News of his resignation will send shockwaves through the Labour Party ranks. It is certain to increase the numbers of backbenchers willing to sign the email coup letter circulating in the Commons. Mr Brown is planning his reshuffle for Monday but last night's political earthquake could force him to act on Friday. Mr Purnell's resignation came just 24 hours after communities secretary Hazel Blears quit. A day before that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith led a walkout from government by stepping down. And children's minister Beverley Hughes as well as Cabinet office minister Tom Watson also quit. Chancellor Alistair Darling is a vital piece of the reshuffle jigsaw. Mr Darling was last night fighting to save his Cabinet job despite it being made clear he will be moved. The PM wants to instal Children's Secretary Ed Balls as Chancellor. But Mr Darling has made it clear he will not go without a fight. And friends insisted he would NOT accept another job in Cabinet. His decision to walk out of Cabinet would be another hammer blow to Mr Brown. The PM was tonight in Downing Street waiting for news of the county council and European election results. Labour is braced for a hammering in the polls. It could lose control of its four remaining county councils in England. And the PM could be left with a rump of just 50councillors anywhere in the country. The party is also on course to come FOURTH in the European elections when results emerge on Sunday night.
Ouch... more to come folks, it may not be news here yet but it sure is fun as hell to watch. I mean who doesn't like a good political scandle?
GORDON Brown was dealt a potentially mortal blow late tonight when James Purnell sensationally QUIT the Cabinet - and publicly called on the Prime Minister to resign to save the Labour Party.
Work and pensions supremo Mr Purnell dropped his bombshell at 10pm tonight. (~4pm CST). He telephoned the PM and sent him a letter which has been seen by The Sun. Blairite Mr Purnell, 39, told Mr Brown the Labour Party was bigger than both of them. And he insisted the party could not survive under Mr Brown's leadership. Crucially, Mr Purnell made it clear he is NOT interested in challenging Mr Brown for the Premiership. He made it clear he was resigning as an act of personal belief and would happily serve him as a backbencher if he refuses to step down. Mr Purnell wrote: "We both love the Labour Party. "I have worked for it for twenty years and you for far longer. We know we owe it everything and it owes us nothing. "I owe it to our Party to say what I believe no matter how hard that may be. I now believe your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more not less likely "That would be disastrous for our country. This moment calls for stronger regulation, an active state, better public services, an open democracy. "It calls for a government that measures itself by how it treats the poorest in society. Those are our values, not David Cameron's. "We therefore owe it to our country to give it a real choice. We need to show that we are prepared to fight to be a credible government and have the courage to offer an alternative future. "I am therefore calling on you to stand aside to give our Party a fighting chance of winning. And as such I am resigning from Government. "The Party was here long before us, and we want it to be here long after we have gone. We must do the right thing by it. "I am not seeking the leadership, nor acting with anyone else. My actions are my own considered view, nothing more. "If the consensus is that you should continue, then I will support the government loyally from the backbenches. But I do believe that this question now needs to be put. "Thank you for giving me the privilege of serving." Mr Purnell did NOT share details of his resignation plans with any other Cabinet member. But his resignation is almost certain to increase the chances of others breaking Cabinet ranks and stepping down. A number of key Cabinet figures are known to be on the brink of walking out in protest at Mr Brown's leadership. They believe making Ed Balls Chancellor of the Exchequer would be a disaster for the government. And they are convinced Mr Brown cannot win them the next election. Mr Purnell was a rising star tipped for promotion in Monday's forthcoming reshuffle. He has impressed the PM and even the Tories with his handling of the work and pensions brief. He has brought in measures to tackle Britain's sicknote culture and get one million claimants off incapacity benefit. The minister is extremely close to Tony Blair and served as his adviser on culture, media and sport in Downing Street before becoming an MP. He won his Stalybridge and Hyde seat in Greater Manchester in 2001 and worked his way through the ministerial ranks swiftly. Many in the Labour Party have talked about him as a future leader and possible Prime Minister. But in recent months he has grown disillusioned with Mr Brown's leadership. News of his resignation will send shockwaves through the Labour Party ranks. It is certain to increase the numbers of backbenchers willing to sign the email coup letter circulating in the Commons. Mr Brown is planning his reshuffle for Monday but last night's political earthquake could force him to act on Friday. Mr Purnell's resignation came just 24 hours after communities secretary Hazel Blears quit. A day before that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith led a walkout from government by stepping down. And children's minister Beverley Hughes as well as Cabinet office minister Tom Watson also quit. Chancellor Alistair Darling is a vital piece of the reshuffle jigsaw. Mr Darling was last night fighting to save his Cabinet job despite it being made clear he will be moved. The PM wants to instal Children's Secretary Ed Balls as Chancellor. But Mr Darling has made it clear he will not go without a fight. And friends insisted he would NOT accept another job in Cabinet. His decision to walk out of Cabinet would be another hammer blow to Mr Brown. The PM was tonight in Downing Street waiting for news of the county council and European election results. Labour is braced for a hammering in the polls. It could lose control of its four remaining county councils in England. And the PM could be left with a rump of just 50councillors anywhere in the country. The party is also on course to come FOURTH in the European elections when results emerge on Sunday night.
Ouch... more to come folks, it may not be news here yet but it sure is fun as hell to watch. I mean who doesn't like a good political scandle?
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Crazy Tuesday Vol 1.
In today's world everything is so damn depressing sometimes you just need to laugh. In debuting this new idea I hope to bring a little laughter to my readers day because God knows we need it more than ever now. This story is legit, I found it thanks to an email my Dad got and showed me and the link in the title is from snopes.com verfying the accuracy of it.
Summing it up, the owner of “Cactus House” was forced by his uphill neighbors to pay for some soil tests and construction delays that he deemed harassment. His house’s roof is also taller than any surrounding homes and takes away a large chunk of the view enjoyed by his neighbors. Bonus: they get to see a big bird flipping them off every time they look out their window. Now, there’s two sides to the story, and maybe they could have been nicer in dealing with the guy earlier and avoided this.
Looks to me like the city screwed up letting him build that high and that close to the fence. I’d be angry if someone did that to my view. See for yourself:
And here's the picture...
Summing it up, the owner of “Cactus House” was forced by his uphill neighbors to pay for some soil tests and construction delays that he deemed harassment. His house’s roof is also taller than any surrounding homes and takes away a large chunk of the view enjoyed by his neighbors. Bonus: they get to see a big bird flipping them off every time they look out their window. Now, there’s two sides to the story, and maybe they could have been nicer in dealing with the guy earlier and avoided this.
Looks to me like the city screwed up letting him build that high and that close to the fence. I’d be angry if someone did that to my view. See for yourself:
And here's the picture...
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