Buck Naked Politics

Bill Maher Interviews Hooman Majd on the Current Situation in Iran

by Damozel | Translator Hooman Majd explains why we shouldn't be holding our breath for a change in Iran's religious leadership and how "Death to America" doesn't mean what it says. After the jump....

The Daily Show: Jon Interviews/Debates Mike Huckabee on Abortion (Unedited)

by Damozel | Mike Huckabee shares his views on abortion. None of the arguments are anything you haven't heard before, but I don't think Huck misses a single talking point.  Once more, JS shines as the voice of reason. 

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Mike Huckabee Extended Interview Pt. 1
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

Daschle Caves in on Public Health Insurance

by Deb Cupples |  Via Memeorandum, the Huffington Post reports:

"The man once slated to head Barack Obama's health care system overhaul is now coming out against one of the chief components of that effort.

"Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said on Wednesday that the Obama White House would likely have to scrap a federal public option for health insurance coverage if it wanted to get the votes needed to pass systematic change.

"'We've come too far and gained too much momentum for our efforts to fail over disagreement on one single issue,' the Senator and one-time HHS Secretary nominee said, according to ABC News."

Oh really?  How much ground have we actually gained in health care reform?  Drug makers, hospitals, doctors, and medical-supply companies are still charging exorbitant prices. Private contractors from the healthcare industrial complex are still routinely overcharging (some might say "defrauding") federal health-care programs -- i.e., us taxpayers -- and driving up costs.

If the Obama Administration and Congress drop the public-insurance option, what else would be left but our old, costly, corrupt health care system?

Does Olive Garden Need Boycotting?

Yesterday, the Politico reported that someone working for the Olive Garden restaurant chain had stated that the chain would pull all of its TV ads from the David Letterman show, simply because the late-night comic had made an arguably off-color joke about Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol (the one who ended up pregnant, despite her mother's public lectures about "family values" and "abstinence only" birth control).

Later, a different person working for Olive Garden said that the chain had simply finished its ad schedule.

TPMtv's The Day in 100 Seconds (June 18, 2009) -- Iran'sTwitter-Driven Revolt

The Iranians march and grieve; meanwhile, the government sends out fake Twitter propaganda to try to cool things down...after the jump:

Iran Clerics Call for Pro-Mousavi Rally; Mousavi Calls for Day of Morning & Protest

by Damozel | In Iran, a reformist body made up of influential clerics has asked permission to hold a pro-Mousavi rally in Tehran on Saturday, during which Mousavi himself will address protesters.  (PressTV.Ir)  Meanwhile, Mousavi himself has called for a day of mourning for protesters killed by Iranian security forces. (Juan Cole)  Mousavi has asked for a peaceful protest and for the release of pro-reform activists who have been arrested. (BBC News)

Mr Mousavi's call for further action on Thursday is in open defiance of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is due to deliver the sermon at Friday prayers and is expected to appeal for calm.(BBC News)

Juan Cole discusses the significance of today's protests.

Bush Emerges from His Lair to Criticize Obama's Policies to "Local Business Group" (with Illustrative Video on W's Deep Thoughts)

by Teh Nutroots | Give the man this:  he kept his mouth shut for five whole months.  Between them, Bush and Cheney are setting a whole new precedent for past administrations to abuse new ones -- just as they set new precedents for current administrations to abuse their power and to create an atmosphere of fear and represession.  

But give Bush this as well....he didn't go on national TV to do his blathering.  Yet. 

"I know it's going to be the private sector that leads this country out of the current economic times we're in," the former president said to applause from members of a local business group. "You can spend your money better than the government can spend your money."

Mike Madden: The Same GOPpers Who Wanted to Bomb Iran Now Want to Love Bomb It

by Damozel | Funnily enough, the GOP are now concerned that Obama isn't giving enough love to Iran.   

"We lead," McCain told NBC's David Gregory on the "Today" show when asked about a different vote altogether -- the one in Iran on Friday. "We condemn the sham, corrupt election. We do what we have done throughout the Cold War and afterwards ... We speak out forcefully, and we make sure that the world knows that America leads."...While President Obama and his advisors try to navigate the American response to a situation that's changing faster than anyone can Twitter about it, Republicans have decided the time is right for blunter rhetoric than anything coming out of the White House. And they're not shy about saying so....

[T]he notion that Republicans are suddenly the defenders of progressive Persia is a little hard to swallow. Just two years ago, McCain was joking -- and singing -- about bombing the very cities where the protests are now erupting. The neoconservative foreign policy establishment -- the folks who brought you such successful hits as the war in Iraq -- have been urging aggressive military action against Iran for years.  (Salon; more)

Poll Shows Public Support for Obama, with Increasing Public Doubt About Obama's Economic Plan & Continuing Lack of the GOP

by Damozel | While his overall job approval ratings remain high, a substantial number of Americans want Obama to do something about the deficit.  What?  They haven't a clue.  But something.  The poll reflects faith in Obama as a leader, but severe reservations about specific measures he's adopted, according to The New York Times.  

A distinct gulf exists between Mr. Obama’s overall standing and how some of his key initiatives are viewed, with fewer than half of Americans saying they approve of how he has handled health care and the effort to save General Motors and Chrysler. A majority of people said his policies have had either no effect yet on improving the economy or had made it worse, underscoring how his political strength still rests on faith in his leadership rather than concrete results.

TPMtv for June 17, 2009: Iranian Media Crackdown...

...highlighting the important of amateur journalism.  Are Iranians beginning to question the system? See more after the jump.

Conflicts of Interest at Florida's Public Service Commission?

by Deb Cupples | Florida's Public Service Commission is supposed to protect us consumers and keep utility companies in check -- not the other way around.  Unfortunately, some members of the PSC seem awfully chummy with the very utility company folks that the PSC is supposed to regulate.  The Buzz (a St. Pete Times blog) reports:

"[S]elf-described Public Service Commission investigator Steve Stewart reports that PSC Commissioner Katrina McMurrian has repeatedly raised conflict of interest questions with her attendance at both utility-sponsored events and private dinners. Both events were closed to the public and officials from the utility companies she regulates were in attendance. Take a look.

"We can't vouch for the balance of the report -- there is no obvious response from McMurrian -- but it's clear Stewart has solid documents and his timeline raises serious questions about McMurrian's judgment that the commissioner should answer."

Ms. McMurrian is one of three commissioners appointed to the five-member PSC by industry-friendly ex-governor Jeb Bush (yes, brother of our nation's industry-friendly ex-president George Bush).

In 2007, Florida Governor Charlie Crist appointed two consumer-friendly commissioners to the PSC: former state senator Nancy Argenziano and lawyer-engineer Nathan Skop.

Turn About Can be Fair Play: Creditors Negotiate with Debtors

by Deb Cupples |  Less than a year ago, big financial firms -- and the executives who ran them into the ground while pocketing huge sums of shareholder dollars -- got bailed out by us taxpayers, despite the fact that millions of taxpayers found the bailout downright outrageous.

Now, it seems, a bit of that tax money may come back to us hardworking taxpayers in the form of consumer creditors' making deals with credit-card holders.  The New York Times reports:

Finally, a Plan for Better Financial-System Regulation?

by Deb Cupples |  Apparently, the Obama Administration is seeking to reform our nation's financial system regulations so as to make them effective.  The Washington Post reports:

"The White House makes its case for this approach in an 85-page white paper that describes the roots of the [nation's massive financial] crisis. Gaps in regulation allowed companies to make loans many borrowers could not afford. Funding came from new kinds of investments that were poorly understood by regulators. Big firms paid employees massive bonuses, while setting aside little money to absorb potential losses."

I must interject: Yes!  The folks running some big firms (e.g., Merrill Lynch) paid themselves huge bonuses based on fake profits -- and such bonuses created terrible incentives for the folks running big firms to take huge risks and ignore fundamentals simply to create the (fake) appearance of profits.  Remember, these were shareholder-dollars being looted.  The Washington Post continues:

Turn to the Left: a Bloggerama

by Damozel | Demosthenes at Shadow of the Hegemon has published the letter of Grand Ayatollah Husein Ali Montazeri calling on the Iranian government to respect all views and to restore the people's confidence, and warning the instruments of oppression that "receiving orders will not excuse them before God."  Good commentary as well. 

Quiddity "agrees" with Jonah Goldberg:  Obama should do something about Iran.  But what?  "Let's start with bombing Tehran. That'll send the mullahs a message that can't be ignored and will no doubt lead to a satisfactory resolution of the issue."  At Alas, a Blog, Jeff Fecke explains exactly why meddling won't work.  Among other things, "Mousavi is not a liberal reformist who wants warm ties with America."

It's the Hypocrisy, Stupid Part ####: Clinton Critic Ensign (R-NV) Admits to Extramarital Affair with Married Staffer

by Damozel | Let it be said at the outset that Ensign was one of those baying for Clinton's resignation over Lewinsky because, said Ensign, Clinton "had no credibility left."(Think Progress)  He also called for Larry Craig to resign.  (Think Progress).  He also is among those who would protect the sanctity of marriage from the depredations of Teh Gays. (Think Progress).  In other words, he's another right-wing hypocrite.

Consider the following:

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) has acknowledged an extramarital affair with a campaign staffer in a statement released by his office. "I deeply regret and am very sorry for my actions," said Ensign. He is expected to announce the affair at a press conference at 6:30 pm tonight. The affair, which was with a woman who worked for both Ensign's re-election campaign and his Battle Born leadership political action committee, began in December 2007 and ended in August 2008. Ensign's wife, Darlene, said that the couple's "marriage has become stronger" and added: "I love my husband."  (Chris Cillizza & Paul Kane)

Colbert Interviews Obama Economic Adviser & Harry Potter Teacher, Austan Goolsbee

by Damozel | Goolsbee, economic adviser, wants you to know that we're going to end up in a happy place economically. Obama "has taken responsibility" and is "going to fix things." Yay!  Stephen just wants to know if Goolsbee's arm is tired from throwing money at problems.  After the jump....

Needful Diversions: Baby Porcupine Eats a Banana

That's it:  a baby porcupine eating a banana....after the jump.  You won't be sorry.  There will be squeaky little hiccups and smacking sounds.

TPMtv's "The Day in 100 Seconds" (June 16, 2009 Video): Obama on Meddling in Iran

by Damozel | Obama has "deep concerns"-- but thinks that ultimately, it's up to the Iranian people.  Is it enough?  Is it?  I think it's enough.  But some people want more.  What do they want?  What?  Name-calling, apparently.  And this will help the Iranians...how?  Seriously, how will that help anything at all?

After the jump....

Iran Ironies: An Observation

by Teh Nutroots | You've got to love it that the same right-wingers who bought into the whole "axis of evil" thing and who thought war with Iran might be a good idea are now cheering on the moderates, as if the moderates too weren't always part of Iran.   The moderates have been there all along, guys; and -- once more for the record -- you can't go to war against Iran without going to war against its moderates as well as Ahmadinejad and other "evildoers."

We all hope the moderates prevail, but that may be wishful thinking.  If they don't, we need to remember that Ahmadinejad and the current repressive regime is not Iran. 

What this guy says.

Recount Scheduled in Iran, but Protests Continue; Seven Now Reported Dead

by Damozel | According to the BBC, the Guardian Council has apparently agreed to a recount.  Meanwhile, events in Iran seem to be taking a violent turn.  The BBC says that several protesters have been killed.   At Huff Post, Nico Pitney summarizes some of the reports coming out of Iran:

- The Wall Street Journal: "a student-run news service reported that five students -- two women and three men -- were killed Sunday night in dormitory raids by Basij forces at Tehran University. That report couldn't be independently verified."

-- The UK Guardian: "A Farsi website, Balatarin, carried an unconfirmed report that seven people had been killed in the southern city of Shiraz following confrontations with riot police at the local university. Five busloads of plainclothes officers had been sent to confront the demonstrators during Sunday's protests, but were said to have been unable to prevent them from being joined by members of the public and marching to one of the city's main squares. It is unclear whether all those said to have died were students."