Paul Krugman
E J Dionne
Rasool Nafisi
"If Ahmadinejad is not on the Israeli payroll, he should be." - Anonymous General
Good news from the NY Times: "An Iranian-American journalist who was sentenced to eight years of jail on spying charges for Washington will be released Monday after an appeal court reduced the sentence, her lawyer said.
Saleh Nikbakht, one of the two lawyers who defended Roxana Saberi in an appeal hearing on Sunday, said the court turned down the original jail term and issued a two-year suspended prison term in its place.
“The verdict was given to me in person today,” Mr. Nikbakht said. “The appeals court has accepted ou
r defense.”
Mr. Nikbakht said that he was waiting for Ms. Saberi outside Evin prison, where she has been held since January, and that Ms. Saberi can leave the country immediately. With him were Ms. Saberi’s parents, who live in Fargo, North Dakota, another lawyer for Ms. Saberi, and a crowd of journalists and photographers. They expected her release in about an hour.
Her father, Reza Saberi, told journalists that Ms. Saberi was “exhausted but in good condition.” “Her release was a big surprise,” he said.
Mr. Nikbakht gave no further details about her release or her plans. But her father told The Associated Press: “In the next few days, we will make travel plans to return home.” Her whereabouts after her release were not immediately known." Sometimes politics can interfere for the best, as in this case. The lesson to be learned is, beware those who you think are your friends, because the secret police will use them to set you up every time... Now Iran can get down to the business of considering the 475 candidates running for President against Ahmadinejad, about 470 which will be disqualified before the election in one month...
Chris Cillizza in the Washington Post on Wanda Sykes' performance last night: "Sykes was funny, toeing the line with her comedy the entire time until she brought up Rush," said Matt Mackowiak, a GOP consultant who attended the dinner. "It's one thing to say he is guilty of treason, another to say that he sounds like Osama Bin Laden, was the 20th hijacker on 9/11, and that you hope his kidneys fail. I thought it was over the line and marred her otherwise good performance."
Another GOP strategist who spoke only on the condition of anonymity said that Sykes's remarks about Limbaugh were "way beyond the pale" adding: "In essence she was saying, 'He's an anti-American terrorist and I hope he dies.' It's hard to see how that's in good fun."
Limbaugh himself did not return an email from the Fix seeking comment but it's hard to imagine that he won't address the issue in some way, shape or form on his radio show today. (Limbaugh may also want to take note of the fact that former vice president Dick Cheney said Sunday he'd rather have El Rushbo in the GOP than former Secretary of State Colin Powell. OUCH.) I watched the whole affair on C-SPAN, where it can get boring because of the unedited camera work. The people on the dais were enjoying Wanda's jokes until she mentioned the 800 pound gorilla not in the room, then eyes began to flutter, and facial expressions shut down, almost wincing, knowing what was to come next...
Saleh Nikbakht, one of the two lawyers who defended Roxana Saberi in an appeal hearing on Sunday, said the court turned down the original jail term and issued a two-year suspended prison term in its place.
“The verdict was given to me in person today,” Mr. Nikbakht said. “The appeals court has accepted ou
r defense.”Mr. Nikbakht said that he was waiting for Ms. Saberi outside Evin prison, where she has been held since January, and that Ms. Saberi can leave the country immediately. With him were Ms. Saberi’s parents, who live in Fargo, North Dakota, another lawyer for Ms. Saberi, and a crowd of journalists and photographers. They expected her release in about an hour.
Her father, Reza Saberi, told journalists that Ms. Saberi was “exhausted but in good condition.” “Her release was a big surprise,” he said.
Mr. Nikbakht gave no further details about her release or her plans. But her father told The Associated Press: “In the next few days, we will make travel plans to return home.” Her whereabouts after her release were not immediately known." Sometimes politics can interfere for the best, as in this case. The lesson to be learned is, beware those who you think are your friends, because the secret police will use them to set you up every time... Now Iran can get down to the business of considering the 475 candidates running for President against Ahmadinejad, about 470 which will be disqualified before the election in one month...
Chris Cillizza in the Washington Post on Wanda Sykes' performance last night: "Sykes was funny, toeing the line with her comedy the entire time until she brought up Rush," said Matt Mackowiak, a GOP consultant who attended the dinner. "It's one thing to say he is guilty of treason, another to say that he sounds like Osama Bin Laden, was the 20th hijacker on 9/11, and that you hope his kidneys fail. I thought it was over the line and marred her otherwise good performance."
Another GOP strategist who spoke only on the condition of anonymity said that Sykes's remarks about Limbaugh were "way beyond the pale" adding: "In essence she was saying, 'He's an anti-American terrorist and I hope he dies.' It's hard to see how that's in good fun."
Limbaugh himself did not return an email from the Fix seeking comment but it's hard to imagine that he won't address the issue in some way, shape or form on his radio show today. (Limbaugh may also want to take note of the fact that former vice president Dick Cheney said Sunday he'd rather have El Rushbo in the GOP than former Secretary of State Colin Powell. OUCH.) I watched the whole affair on C-SPAN, where it can get boring because of the unedited camera work. The people on the dais were enjoying Wanda's jokes until she mentioned the 800 pound gorilla not in the room, then eyes began to flutter, and facial expressions shut down, almost wincing, knowing what was to come next...
I enjoy comedy, and do not think that any subject or person is off limits. Rush is out there 4 hours per day riffing and saying mean and outrageous stuff. The question is, can he take it, or will he devote most of today's show making black lesbian comic jokes? I never expect anything insightful from Rush, and over the years his sense of humor has eroded, so I pretty much have stopped listening to him on the radio. That he is considered a major voice in the Republican Party tells me that too many people never pick up a book or have an introspective thought after they finish with schooling. Rush is a brain-dead common denominator who cannot love a fellow human being much less his country. I could not be a ditto-head if I tried...
Dick Cheney is angling for a radio or television show of his own, count the number of times he's been in the media these last few weeks. Always saying the same predictable thing: Obama is destroying our national security. Dude, Obama is not listening to you, get over it. He seems to be working more in the area of foreign policy than you ever did, and that's in just over 100 days so far... People are reacting more favorably to his openness and ability to listen than your rampant paranoia and secrecy, so who will accomplish more and give America a better standing in the world?
Now Cheney is dissing Colin Powell. It was obvious that Mr Powell had sold his soul to the devil in order to be in the Bush administration, put his ethics, pride, and sense of honesty in the basket before walking through the x-ray machine; too bad they never gave them back. Cheney should be apologizing to Mr Powell for the false weapons of mass destruction evidence that Powell gave before the United Nations. He was quickly discredited and made to look a fool, and Mr Cheney was chuckling to himself the whole time...
Barbara Serra reports on the Pope's visit to Jordan in al Jazeera: "Benedict XVI has stressed that he's on a pilgrimage and not a political trip, but this is the Middle East and his comments will invariably acquire a political dimension, especially so soon after the war in Gaza.
On the plane he was asked what role he could play in any lasting peace between Israelis and the Palestinians. He said that the Church was not a political power but a spiritual force, one that was a reality that can contribute to progress. Certainly a noble sentiment, but one which lacks the detail anyone on the front line of the conflict would want to hear.
It's no coincidence that the pope kicked off his trip in Jordan, which is seen as a success story of religious tolerance. In Jordan, the Christian minority holds up to five per cent of the population, enjoying a high status in society along with peaceful relations with their Muslim neighbours.
The first place the pope chose to visit on Friday was a Catholic run educational centre for the disabled, which is open to people of all faiths - a symbol perhaps of the religious harmony he speaks of.
The pope will head to Israel and the occupied territories of Palestine on Monday, a region where religious harmony is in short supply - that is when the real challenges of his trip will begin." What I never understood, is why the Pope lives in Rome. If the Holyland is so Holy, why isn't the Pope living in Bethlehem or Jerusalem?
As soon as Benedict XVI arrived Monday in Israel, he immediately called for a solution to the conflict that would yield a “homeland of their own” for both Palestinians and Israelis. Notice that he doesn't mention the words "Palestinian state."
Benjamin Netanyahu is now saying that he is willing to continue peace talks, but is still against a Palestinian state. Of course his method of choice is to use bulldozers and clear out all ethnic holdings, including African and Palestinian Jews...
Late night jokes from Friday:
"Ooh, the big story, earlier today -- I can't wait to see the ratings on this -- Elizabeth Edwards was discussing her marriage on 'Oprah.' And this weekend, John Edwards will discuss his marriage on 'Cheaters.'" --Jay Leno
"There were signs that John Edwards was not the most faithful guy in the world, you know. Like, Elizabeth told Oprah that she asked John for one gift before their wedding, to be faithful. But after Elizabeth made this request, John stopped looking in the mirror and said, 'Huh? I'm sorry. Did you say something?'" --Jay Leno
"Actually, The New York Daily News is reporting that John Edwards' mistress is mad about all this publicity, and she is now demanding a paternity test. Well, good luck getting John Edwards to give up a strand of hair. Never happen." --Jay Leno
"President Obama announced today plans to either trim or eliminate 121 programs. The programs he wants to eliminate -- Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly." --Jay Leno
"Here is something that's causing a huge controversy here in California. Our governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, says it's time to start the debate on legalizing marijuana. Yeah. He says he 'wants some pot in every pot.'" --Jay Leno
"Of course, people in Los Angeles are split on this. Half want it legalized, the other half think it's already legal." --Jay Leno
"Actually, the University of California says they may start a marijuana research center. Really? I thought the University of California was a marijuana research center." --Jay Leno
"And government bureaucrats in China have been ordered to smoke more locally produced cigarettes in order to set an example for citizens and stimulate the Chinese cigarette industry. And health officials are worried that smoking could become the number one cause of death now because of this government mandate. But do you know what the number one cause of death is in China now? Disobeying a government mandate. So, you're kind of stuck." --Jay Leno
"And a Georgia man is recovering in Pittsburgh after becoming the first U.S. recipient of a double hand transplant. Got two hands transplanted from another guy. He used them for the first time today to grab his heart when he saw the bill." --Jay Leno
"In Tennessee, lawmakers are planning to build a statue of Al Gore on the grounds of the state capitol. They say that the new statue will look just like Al Gore, except a little more lifelike." --Jimmy Fallon
"The gay agenda put another notch in its thick leather crotch harness yesterday. Maine has legalized gay marriage." --Jon Stewart
On the plane he was asked what role he could play in any lasting peace between Israelis and the Palestinians. He said that the Church was not a political power but a spiritual force, one that was a reality that can contribute to progress. Certainly a noble sentiment, but one which lacks the detail anyone on the front line of the conflict would want to hear.
It's no coincidence that the pope kicked off his trip in Jordan, which is seen as a success story of religious tolerance. In Jordan, the Christian minority holds up to five per cent of the population, enjoying a high status in society along with peaceful relations with their Muslim neighbours.
The first place the pope chose to visit on Friday was a Catholic run educational centre for the disabled, which is open to people of all faiths - a symbol perhaps of the religious harmony he speaks of.
The pope will head to Israel and the occupied territories of Palestine on Monday, a region where religious harmony is in short supply - that is when the real challenges of his trip will begin." What I never understood, is why the Pope lives in Rome. If the Holyland is so Holy, why isn't the Pope living in Bethlehem or Jerusalem?
As soon as Benedict XVI arrived Monday in Israel, he immediately called for a solution to the conflict that would yield a “homeland of their own” for both Palestinians and Israelis. Notice that he doesn't mention the words "Palestinian state."
Benjamin Netanyahu is now saying that he is willing to continue peace talks, but is still against a Palestinian state. Of course his method of choice is to use bulldozers and clear out all ethnic holdings, including African and Palestinian Jews...
Late night jokes from Friday:
"Ooh, the big story, earlier today -- I can't wait to see the ratings on this -- Elizabeth Edwards was discussing her marriage on 'Oprah.' And this weekend, John Edwards will discuss his marriage on 'Cheaters.'" --Jay Leno
"There were signs that John Edwards was not the most faithful guy in the world, you know. Like, Elizabeth told Oprah that she asked John for one gift before their wedding, to be faithful. But after Elizabeth made this request, John stopped looking in the mirror and said, 'Huh? I'm sorry. Did you say something?'" --Jay Leno
"Actually, The New York Daily News is reporting that John Edwards' mistress is mad about all this publicity, and she is now demanding a paternity test. Well, good luck getting John Edwards to give up a strand of hair. Never happen." --Jay Leno
"President Obama announced today plans to either trim or eliminate 121 programs. The programs he wants to eliminate -- Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly." --Jay Leno
"Here is something that's causing a huge controversy here in California. Our governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, says it's time to start the debate on legalizing marijuana. Yeah. He says he 'wants some pot in every pot.'" --Jay Leno
"Of course, people in Los Angeles are split on this. Half want it legalized, the other half think it's already legal." --Jay Leno
"Actually, the University of California says they may start a marijuana research center. Really? I thought the University of California was a marijuana research center." --Jay Leno
"And government bureaucrats in China have been ordered to smoke more locally produced cigarettes in order to set an example for citizens and stimulate the Chinese cigarette industry. And health officials are worried that smoking could become the number one cause of death now because of this government mandate. But do you know what the number one cause of death is in China now? Disobeying a government mandate. So, you're kind of stuck." --Jay Leno
"And a Georgia man is recovering in Pittsburgh after becoming the first U.S. recipient of a double hand transplant. Got two hands transplanted from another guy. He used them for the first time today to grab his heart when he saw the bill." --Jay Leno
"In Tennessee, lawmakers are planning to build a statue of Al Gore on the grounds of the state capitol. They say that the new statue will look just like Al Gore, except a little more lifelike." --Jimmy Fallon
"The gay agenda put another notch in its thick leather crotch harness yesterday. Maine has legalized gay marriage." --Jon Stewart
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