TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's president on Tuesday dismissed a year-end deadline set by the Obama administration and the West for Tehran to accept a U.N.-drafted deal to swap enriched uranium for nuclear fuel, and claimed his government is now "10 times stronger" than a year ago.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's remarks underscored Tehran's defiance amid the nuclear standoff — and also sought to send a message that his government had not been weakened by the protest movement sparked by June's disputed presidential election. His comments came a day after the latest opposition protest by tens of thousands mourning a dissident cleric who died over the weekend.
President Barack Obama has set a rough deadline of the end of this year for Iran to respond to an offer of dialogue and show that it will allay fears of weapons development. Washington and its allies are warning of new, tougher sanctions on Iran if it doesn't respond.
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
At least Chavez is honest about it...do you agree, Mr. President?
Listen for the applause. Chavez speaks of the real purpose of the climate change movement: the death of capitalism.
Interesting that he calls for a change of the system first in order to help the climate; a change I presume to socialism. Ironic considering the environmental devastation brought to the Soviet Union by the same system. We've heard it before: those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.
Does anyone read these bills?
Earlier this week, Congress sent the president a massive spending bill that funded dozens of federal departments. Tucked into the transportation section of the legislation are safety requirements for AMTRAK customers who carry firearms on board the government-backed train system. The bill Congress passed mandates that passengers with firearms declare they have weapons with them in advance and stow them in locked boxes while on the train.
The bill text was correct when the House approved the legislation last week and the Senate followed suit Sunday. But somewhere in between, the language that referred to putting the guns in locked boxes morphed into stuffing “passengers” into locked boxes.
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The bill text was correct when the House approved the legislation last week and the Senate followed suit Sunday. But somewhere in between, the language that referred to putting the guns in locked boxes morphed into stuffing “passengers” into locked boxes.
Full Story
Thursday, December 17, 2009
When we're in the hole $12 trillion, why not throw away a few billion more
The United States extended a $100 billion carrot to the rest of world Thursday, when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters in Copenhagen the United States is willing to commit up to $10 billion a year by 2012, and would support a global fund of $100 billion a year to help developing nations deal with climate change, provided the nations here are willing live up to the 'transparency' demanded by the U.S.
Clinton said the money was "conditional." Clinton's words were directed at China, which has refused to meet the monitoring and verification requirements requested by the U.S. when it comes to promises of carbon reductions.
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Clinton said the money was "conditional." Clinton's words were directed at China, which has refused to meet the monitoring and verification requirements requested by the U.S. when it comes to promises of carbon reductions.
Full Story
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Not sure this is exactly what Christmas is about
President Obama's speech upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize is getting a lot of attention for its (ironic for the occasion) defense of war.
But religion pundits are weighing in on what was a very religion-heavy speech.
There have been a number of these from the President lately: At the lighting of the White House Christmas tree, Obama spoke of the Christmas story as "a story that is as beautiful as it is simple. The story of a child born far from home to parents guided only by faith, but who would ultimately spread a message that has endured for more than 2,000 years—that no matter who we are or where we are from, we are each called to love one another as brother and sister." Then, as Ed Stetzer noted, the President's first words at his first state dinner were to point out that he was the first President to celebrate Diwali (the Hindu Festival of Lights) and the birth of the founder of Sikhism.
Full Story
But religion pundits are weighing in on what was a very religion-heavy speech.
There have been a number of these from the President lately: At the lighting of the White House Christmas tree, Obama spoke of the Christmas story as "a story that is as beautiful as it is simple. The story of a child born far from home to parents guided only by faith, but who would ultimately spread a message that has endured for more than 2,000 years—that no matter who we are or where we are from, we are each called to love one another as brother and sister." Then, as Ed Stetzer noted, the President's first words at his first state dinner were to point out that he was the first President to celebrate Diwali (the Hindu Festival of Lights) and the birth of the founder of Sikhism.
Full Story
Friday, December 11, 2009
More family values
President Obama's controversial nominee for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Chai Feldblum, has not been shy about her plans to fight for gay rights -- a position that is now is drawing sharp criticism.
"She's been an aggressive advocate for some of the most radical views that have ever been expressed," said Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America.
Yet the Senate health Committee on Thursday approved Feldblum for the EEOC, sending her nomination to the full Senate for a vote.
In 2004, Feldblum outlined her strategy for strengthening gay rights.
"There is a war that needs to be fought and it's not a war overseas where we're killing people in the name of liberating them," she said. "It is a war right here at home where we need to convince people that morality demands full equality for gay people.
But during the Senate committee hearing, Feldblum backed away from a document she signed in 2006 advocating government recognition of various kinds of sexual relationships, including those with multiple partners and unorthodox situations.
She now calls it a mistake.
"She's been an aggressive advocate for some of the most radical views that have ever been expressed," said Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America.
Yet the Senate health Committee on Thursday approved Feldblum for the EEOC, sending her nomination to the full Senate for a vote.
In 2004, Feldblum outlined her strategy for strengthening gay rights.
"There is a war that needs to be fought and it's not a war overseas where we're killing people in the name of liberating them," she said. "It is a war right here at home where we need to convince people that morality demands full equality for gay people.
But during the Senate committee hearing, Feldblum backed away from a document she signed in 2006 advocating government recognition of various kinds of sexual relationships, including those with multiple partners and unorthodox situations.
She now calls it a mistake.
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