Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Poll: Giuliani holds solid lead in 'vital' Florida

That's great and all, but I have some problems with him. While I like the way he cleaned up New York and his public persona was great during 9/11, there are still nagging questions in my mind about exactly what happened on 9/11.

O.k., I'll admit that the conspiracy theory seems a tad bit bizzare as outlined in "9/11 mysteries... But there's also the fact that they let people into the area early and they got exposed to nasty stuff. Just put it this way - I have a tad bit of doubt on Guiliani being 100% above board.

Let's see. What else? His stance on health care is rather laze faire and something REALLY needs to be done there - even if the prez is just at the bully pulpit. Immigration - so so... Social issues? This year I officialy want to go on record: I COULD CARE LESS! However it will probably sink him if the religio-conservative-evangelical crowd don't thump their Bibles for him!!!!

Still, what ever we get, it will set a precident: an ex mayor, a woman, or a Mormon. Or, maybe even something more interesting... an independant President.

If I were a bettin' man out to make some money, I'd bet on Romney as he is soooo smooth! A bit more smooth for me to vote for, but he does speak well and dresses well. I'll bet the religio-cons will forgive the Mormonism for his anti gay marriage stance and his anti abortion stance.

On the Dem side, I still put my money on Hillary.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

WOW, the 70's!!!! Iran's pop diva Googoosh!!!!!

Monday, November 05, 2007

Negotiating with the Islamic Republic: Reza Pahlavi

Editor's note: This guy seems to know what he's talking about in this speech from his website...

Prior to concluding my remarks, let me say a few words about dialogue and engagement with the clerical regime. While such an approach is, as I just said, being advocated by a main current of opinion, there is another extreme who argue for the military option in the shape of military strikes, even all-out war. I have time and again expressed my firm opposition to any military solution. Moreover, the current talk of war could alienate public opinion inside my country and even unite it behind a much despised regime. Iranians in their great majority have friendly feelings towards the United States and the West. Therefore, it is important that they should not be let down.There is no doubt that dialogue must be privileged in all circumstances. But those who confuse the process with purpose and view negotiations as a panacea are in for disappointment. Henry Kissinger once rightly pointed out that "diplomacy never operates in a vacuum;" it succeeds when the parties arrive at a frame of mind or at a realization that the risks involved in non-negotiation outweigh benefits of preserving one's original position. The process of give-and-take that results from negotiation is incidental to that paramount realization. Have the ruling mullahs reached that mental threshold? The answer in my judgment is negative, although a resolute global strategy – short of resort to military action – could transform the current mindset. A few years ago we saw such a transformation in the attitude of Colonel Muamar Qaddafi in Libya.But here, I want to emphasize the following: I should like to strongly point out that no durable settlement of dispute with the Islamic Republic can ever be achieved, should that settlement be reached at the expense of the Iranian people. In clarifying this point even further, I must stress that while Iran’s nuclear ambitions are at present, the focus of international attention and scrutiny, most Iranians are hoping that the current level of unprecedented pressures will not only help end the current threat which the clerical regime is posing to regional and international security, but to also usher in a new era where notions such as freedom, democracy and human rights are all fully adhered to by a responsible government that is both of the people and committed to the future welfare of the people.My country, Iran, is youthful in its demographic properties, rich with a multi millennia culture and an alive and vibrant society. In our defiance of the ruling theocracy, my compatriots need and deserve all the moral help and support they can get in order to bring about fundamental change by establishing a system of governance that is in keeping with the imperatives of our time: a secular democracy in place of the current ruling theocracy. I thank you for your patience.