• Iran,  Iraq,  Iraq War,  Michael Ramirez

    Michael Ramirez on Iran Helping Iraq

    November 27, 2006 /

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    Like a Fox in the Hen House

    Reuters: Iran says will do all it can to help Iraq

    President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday Iran would do whatever it could to help provide security to Iraq amid warnings the country was on the brink of civil war.

    Ahmadinejad made his pledge to help Iraq at the start of a visit to Iran by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, whose trip was delayed because of a curfew imposed after Thursday’s bombing in a Shi’ite Muslim stronghold of Baghdad which killed 202 people. The curfew was lifted on Monday.

    “The Iranian nation and government will definitely stand beside their brother, Iraq, and any help the government and nation of Iran can give to strengthen security in Iraq will be given,” Ahmadinejad said, Iran’s ISNA news agency reported.

    “We have no limitation for cooperation in any field,

    Political analysts said Iran may try to use the talks Talabani to show off its influence to Washington and bolster its position ahead of any dialogue with its old enemy. They also said Iran’s ability to stem the bloodshed in Iraq was limited.

    U.S. officials say the violence is fueled by Iran’s backing for Shi’ite groups and its weapons exports. Iran denies the charge.

    Right, Iran will help Iraq as they take over the country as the regional hegemon.

    Flap doesn’t look for much Iranian HELP any time soon.

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  • Hamas,  Hezbollah,  Israel,  Lebanon,  Politics

    Cox & Forkum: Deal Breaker

    November 27, 2006 /

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    Cox & Forkum: Deal Breaker

    CNN: 13,000 Palestinian security forces maintain cease-fire

    Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday ordered 13,000 security forces to deploy near the border to enforce a cease-fire agreement with Israel, sources in Abbas’ office told CNN.

    The move came hours after Palestinian militants in Gaza apparently launched nearly a dozen rockets toward Israel.

    Abbas also called on the Palestinian factions who previously negotiated the cease-fire to meet again to ensure the agreement holds, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told reporters Sunday.

    The Israeli leader said his country will not take immediate action in the wake of the violations.

    “Israel is a powerful country that can allow itself to show restraint and to give the cease-fire a chance to be fully implemented,” Olmert said.

    Hamas’ militant wing and the Islamic Jihad militant group claimed responsibility for firing several rockets into Israel after the cease-fire took effect at 6 a.m. (11 p.m. ET Sunday).

    In its leaflet, Islamic Jihad said it will “hold our right for resistance as long as Israel continues its aggression.”

    And the cease-fire with Hezbollah is tenuous with the recent assassination of Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel.

    Two war fronts for Israel and also Iran. The Israelis have their plate full.

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  • Arnold Schwarzenegger,  California,  California Republican Party,  Politics

    Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Schwarzenegger Has Problems with the GOP

    November 27, 2006 /

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    In this photograph provided by ‘Meet the Press,’ California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appears on ‘Meet the Press’’ Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006, at the NBC studios in Washington.

    AP: Schwarzenegger could have problems with restless GOP in Legislature

    RepublicanGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won re-election by courting independents and Democrats, but his biggest problem in 2007 may be finding common purpose with his own party.

    Although Republicans are the minority in the Legislature, party leaders do not plan to be passive partners as Schwarzenegger contends with a projected $5.5 billion budget gap and a dangerously crowded prison system while planning to extend health coverage to millions of uninsured Californians.

    With the election behind them, Assembly Republicans have installed a new leader, Mike Villines, R-Clovis, a conservative known to be unafraid of confrontation.

    In the Senate, Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, R-Tustin, said members are going to be skeptical of any new, big-ticket programs – health-care included.

    “The biggest thing is going to be the budget,” Ackerman said, citing the looming deficit. When it comes to holding spending in check, “We are going to be taking a much stronger position on that.”

    The Governator will have more problems than the California state budget. There are a number of reasons for California GOP angst:

    1. Susan Kennedy – A Lesbian ultra-lib Gray Davis staffer says it all

    2. Justice Carol Corrigan – A moderate GOP California Supreme Court Justice appointed to replace conservative Janice Rogers Brown

    3. Global Warming

    4. Democrat Party staff appointments

    5. Failure to help other GOP candidates in the last election particularly McClintock and McPherson

    6. The “Hot Blood” FLAP where Schwarzenegger ridiculed conservative GOP legislators

    And more here:

    • Signed AB 1835, Minimum Wage Increase
    • Signed AB 2911, California Discount Prescription Drug Program
    • Signed AB 32, Greenhouse Gases
    • Signed SB 1368, Electricity: emissions of greenhouse gases. (Out of state purchases)
    • Signed SB 1, Million Solar Roofs
    • Signed SB 201, Sustainable Oceans Act
    • Signed SB 107, Renewable energy
    • Signed AB 2560, Public School Health Center Support Program.
    • Signed SB 437, Health care coverage (expected to cover 94,000 additional children)
    • Signed SB 1534, Public benefits (for illegal aliens)
    • Signed AB 680, English language learners.
    • Signed AB 2600, Vehicles: HOV lanes
    • Signed AB 1613, Vehicles: wireless telephones (Nanny State)\
    • Signed SB 1827, Taxation: domestic partners (homosexual agenda)
    • Signed AB 2251, Reproductive Health Care Svcs – Confidentiality of Personal Info
    • Signed AB 2583, Dispensing prescription drugs and devices; refusal to dispense
    • Signed SB 1441, Discrimination: state programs and activities: sexual orientation (homosexual agenda)
    • Signed SB 1654, Voting: absentee ballot (homosexual agenda)
    • Signed AB 1160, Crime – Gay Panic Defense – Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act (homosexual agenda)
    • Signed AB 1207, Code of Fair Campaign Practices (homosexual agenda)

    Bill Whalen of the Weekly Standard Weighs in with True Lies

    The Schwarzenegger model of success isn’t coming to Washington any time soon.

    If anything, California’s vaunted bipartisanship will soon be put to the test–make that, a series of tests. The state faces a $5 billion deficit. A strong economy may produce enough revenue to fill the hole, which is what happened this year. If not, the choices are spending cuts or higher taxes. Both the governor and the Legislature want to enact healthcare reform, yet neither side can agree on its scope or the means of financing. Other headaches loom: overcrowded prisons and overflowing pension costs being but two problems that were conveniently sidestepped this past year.

    Can bipartisanship continue to reign supreme? Time will tell which climate is the real California: a summer of love or a winter of discontent.

    The Governor won his election but a huge margin but has spelled nothing but disaster for the California Republican Party.

    Why should GOP legislators nestled in their gerrymandered and safe districts vote to help Arnold?

    If Arnold thinks he can run over the HARD-ASSED new group of GOP Assembly members he better switch parties tomorrow. Cooperation will be NIL.

    And Schwarzenegger REALLY thinks he can run in a GOP primary election again and win?

    Stay tuned…….

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