Benjamin Netanyahu, Mirek Topolanek are now Household Names...

Kathleen Parker
Evan Bayh, Tom Carper, Blanche Lincoln

The more moderate Labor Party has voted to join in forming an Israeli government behind Benjamin Netanyahu. It's hoped that this will temper the right wing wacko faction, which Mr Netanyahu is a leading proponent, and help towards solving the Palestinian problem.

The BBC reports: "He said his previously-stated intention to shore up the Palestinian economy would not be a substitute for peace talks. "Peace: It's not the last goal. It's a common and enduring goal for all Israelis and all Israeli governments - mine included.

"This means I will negotiate with the Palestinian Authority for peace," he said.

"I think that the Palestinians should understand that they have in our government a partner for peace, for security and for rapid economic development of the Palestinian economy," he added.
But Mr Netanyahu gave no hint of whether or not he would support the creation of an independent Palestinian state."  It's looking like some kind of Palestinian state will be the only solution, one that has been over 60 years in the making. Economically, it could only become a win/win situation that also could break down hostilities. I wonder, if Israelis and Arabs no longer hate each other, what prejudice will move in to take its place?

The seed that Barack Obama planted by giving Iran greetings during the Persian New Year is already producing fruit. The BBC reports: "The political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, has credited US President Barack Obama with using a "new language" for the Middle East.
Speaking to an Italian newspaper Mr Meshaal also said that an official opening to his Palestinian Islamist movement was only "a matter of time". The interview was published three days after President Obama called for a "new beginning" in relations with Iran."
Pretty incredible, isn't it?

What if the President of the United States was coming to visit your country and suddenly, you don't have a government? That was the present the Czech Republic gave its Prime Minister, Mirek Topolanek. Then, Mr Topolanek, who is also the head of the European Union, lashed out at Mr Obama and his stimulus plan, saying that it was the road to hell... The weird part is that the Czech Republic is actually pretty solvent, one of the more stable Eastern European countries, so the collapse of his government is taken as an attack on his right wing wacko political views. Think of Mr Topolanek as the Tom Tancredo of Europe... The EU had given him the title of President as an experiment, to see how well a former Soviet satellite leader could guide all of Europe. Guess that honor won't be repeated anytime soon.

From the BBC: "Analysts in Prague said that Mr. Topolanek was eager to show Europe that he was still politically relevant despite the collapse of the government. They noted that his railing against interventionism was consistent with the liberal economic ideology of his center-right Civic Democratic party.

In recent months, he has sparred with opposition Social Democrats over their calls for increased spending during the economic downturn. While Mr. Obama in recent weeks has pleaded with European partners to stimulate the economy, countries like the Czech Republic, which endured decades of Communism, are deeply suspicious of state intervention."

Here's a quick, snarky analysis on what can happen next: "In the short term: nothing." 

"But should anyone outside the country care? Well, the former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain once dismissed Czechoslovakia as a "small country about which we know nothing". The Czech Republic is even smaller than Czechoslovakia, but it is rather important at the moment. What happens in Prague could have far-reaching consequences beyond Czech borders."

The BBC's European editor, Mark Mardell, blogged his take on the situation:

"When the US president turns up for the EU summit in Prague whose hand will he shake? The Czech government, which holds the presidency of the European Council, has fallen. As I write it is uncertain what will happen next.

It seems it is now up to the profoundly Eurosceptic President Vaclav Klaus to appoint a new caretaker government. Parties opposed to the Lisbon Treaty are gleeful - they feel it is unlikely he will put anyone in place who would get the treaty through the senate.

Governments have fallen before during a presidency, so will it make any difference? It may make a difference to complex negotiations over subjects like the Working Time Directive if the ministers who chair the meeting change: it would be quite a job getting on top of the brief. Equally, if there was a big crisis involving the EU, it wouldn't be clear who was in charge. I expect President Sarkozy is standing by the phone awaiting the call."

Late night jokes:

"Beautiful day in New York City today. In fact, it was so nice, the AIG executives were counting their bonuses in the park."--David Letterman

"Maybe you noticed this already. If I seem in a bad mood tonight it's because CBS just declared me a toxic asset."--David Letterman

"Finally, a good day on Wall Street. Stock market went up 500 points today. Very exciting. Went up so high, even CNBC's Jim Cramer made money. Wow!" --Jay Leno

"After Barack Obama was on the show Thursday, I got a phone call from Joe Biden going, 'Wow, what was it like to talk to the President?'" --Jay Leno

"The Obama Administration today unveiled their plan to deal with the so-called toxic assets. Those are those mortgage-backed securities all the financial institutions are holding. Apparently, the plan is to flood the banks with money, make them as liquid as possible, and then sort of soak up all these bad loans and take them away. See, they got this idea from watching those 'ShamWow' commercials." --Jay Leno

"It turns out the bonus money that AIG got was actually $218 million and not the $165 million that was originally reported. AIG said they misplaced $53 million in bonuses. And today, Senator Chris Dodd said, 'You mean that wasn't a campaign contribution?'" --Jay Leno

"Congress is now investigating the special treatment that 'Senator Dodge,' as we're calling him now, received from Countrywide Mortgage for a couple of mortgages. Senator Dodd has contended he didn't know he was getting special rates on the mortgages. And, really, to be fair, how would the Senate chairman of the banking committee have any idea what the normal lending rate would be? He would have no idea!" --Jay Leno

"President Obama has filled out his NCAA tournament bracket. He picked 14 of the Sweet 16 right. That's pretty good. That's better than he did with his cabinet positions." --Jay Leno

"Former President George W. Bush is now writing a book about the 12 toughest decisions that he had to make as president. He said each decision had three options -- rock, paper and scissors." --Jay Leno

"This week eight tourists became the first Westerners to vacation in Iraq on an officially sanctioned tour. They're taking spring break in Iraq, which is kind of like spring break in Florida. Half get bombed. The other half get stoned." --Jay Leno

"In a move that will cost 300 Americans their jobs, the Federal government announced it will no longer buy American-made condoms made in Alabama. We're now going to buy cheaper condoms made in China. Does that make any sense? If Chinese condoms are so good, why are there over one billion Chinese people?" --Jay Leno

"Did you see this on '60 Minutes' last night? Michelle Obama is planting a vegetable garden on the White House lawn. You know the economy's bad when the Obamas are afraid of running out of food." --Jimmy Fallon