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Cox & Forkum: Runaway
Cox & Forkum: Runaway
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – Iran Won’t End Nuke Program
AP: Ahmadinejad: Iran Won’t End Nuke Program
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday his country would proceed with its disputed nuclear program, comparing its nuclear drive to a train that has no reverse gear or brakes.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, however, said what Iran needed was “a stop button.â€
Ahmadinejad also repeated his call for negotiations, saying the time for “bullying†had expired. International leaders have demanded that Iran halt uranium enrichment.
“The train of the Iranian nation is without brakes and a rear gear,†the radio quoted Ahmadinejad as telling a gathering of Islamic clerics. “We dismantled the rear gear and brakes of the train and threw them away sometime ago.â€
The International Atomic Energy Agency last week reported that Iran had ignored a U.N. Security Council ultimatum to freeze its uranium enrichment program and instead had expanded the program by setting up hundreds of centrifuges.
Iran has refused to halt uranium enrichment despite United Nations Resolution 1737.
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Technorati Tags: Cox&Forkum, Iran, Ahmadinejad
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Rudy Giuliani Watch: Democrats Should Go After Rudy NOW
Republican presidential hopeful, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani shakes hands with Thomas Lindsey during a campaign rally with first responders at the North Spartanburg Fire Department Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, in Spartanburg, S.C.
Detroit News (Via New West Notes): Democrats should go after Giuliani — now
So who is really the darling of the GOP? Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
He might be a liberal Republican when it comes to social issues — he has long stood for gay rights and pro-choice laws — but he is Mr. Law and Order, and that plays right to the ideologue troops in Georgia, South Carolina and other Republican strongholds.It has been five years since Sept. 11, 2001, and Giuliani is still bequeathed hero status for his role in leading the Big Apple during those horrendous months after the destruction of the World Trade Center. He’s clearly seen as the man to beat.
Roland S. Martin has it RIGHT about Rudy’s good characteristics and reads the mood of the voters well.
Giuliani is the FRONT RUNNER.
But, his notion that Hillary or DNC surrogates should NOW go negative on the Mayor are ridiculous. They simply can’t.
Should they beat up on Rudy they could so completely turn off independent voters that the party could never recovery and win the White House. Or…..
They could give the nomination to John McCain and lose the White House in the same manner.
Moroever, Hillary has problems of her own. She must first win the Democrat nomination and after weeks like the last one whe may be scraping for every vote she can get.
Remember negative campaigns can have consequences and can backfire.
Howard Dean?
The Clinton cabal are now in control of the party apparatus. He is a non-player.
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President 2008 Watch: Christian Right Labors for Redemptive ‘08 Conservative
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy vs. Hillary by the Electoral Numbers
Rudy Giuliani Watch: New York Times Tells Rudy How to Campaign
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Visits with South Carolina Firefighters
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Opts Out of Religious Broadcasters Meeting
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Evangelical Richard Land Strikes Back at Rudy
Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani
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Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – Iran Won’t End Nuke Program
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney (R) gestures during a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Sydney February 24, 2007. Cheney said on Saturday that the United States and its allies must not allow Iran to become a nuclear power and raised concerns about Tehran’s actions and ‘inflammatory’ rhetoric.
AP: Ahmadinejad: Iran Won’t End Nuke Program
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday his country would proceed with its disputed nuclear program, comparing its nuclear drive to a train that has no reverse gear or brakes.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, however, said what Iran needed was “a stop button.”
Ahmadinejad also repeated his call for negotiations, saying the time for “bullying” had expired. International leaders have demanded that Iran halt uranium enrichment.
“The train of the Iranian nation is without brakes and a rear gear,” the radio quoted Ahmadinejad as telling a gathering of Islamic clerics. “We dismantled the rear gear and brakes of the train and threw them away sometime ago.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency last week reported that Iran had ignored a U.N. Security Council ultimatum to freeze its uranium enrichment program and instead had expanded the program by setting up hundreds of centrifuges.
Iran has refused to halt uranium enrichment despite United Nations Resolution 1737.
So, this move by Iran will further isolate the country and lead the United Nations Security Council to consider further economic and political sanctions. But, will this be enough to stop Iran’s quest for a nuclear weapon?
Probably not….
Flap foresees a couple of scenarios:
1. Israel learns that Iran is further along in its nuclear weapons development program and decides its survival is predicated on taking out this capability militarily.
2. Iran attacks a Gulf State, oil transport, or mines the Strait of Hormuz in retailiation for United Nations sanctions or Israel/American military movements.
In either case the World oil supply particularly to Europe wil be disrupted. There will be economic hardships until oil transport is restored.
But, Flap asks the question: Does the world confront Iran now or wait until it is closer to possessing a nuclear bomb?Others are concerned and predict dire consequences should the United States attack Iran. Perhaps the Europeans and Brits do not completely understand President Bush and the American government. President Bush will take measured steps (as he did prior to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq) against Iran. A diplomatic track is always preferable to military action.
However, the American government and the United Nations Security Council have stated that it is not in the world’s interest to have a nuclear weapon possessing Iran. And, thus, all options are on the table, including military action.
Flap thinks that EU and United Nations negotiations have been feckless, fruitless FAILED efforts and that a “NUCLEAR POINT OF NO RETURN” is at hand. Now is the time for decisions.
Tick Tock Tick Tock
Iran Nuclear Watch: IAEA – Iran Has Expanded Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Refuses to Halt United Nations Demand to Halt Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Attack Plans Revealed
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will NOT Suspend Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Too Late to Halt Iran’s Nuclear Bomb?
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, Ahmadinejad AliLarijani, Israel
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Giuliani Notes: Rudy Sitting Pretty
AP: Early 2008 polls offer important clues
Hillary Rodham Clinton’s lead in the early polls may not be that reassuring if history is any guide. Republican hopeful Rudy Giuliani, however, is sitting pretty.
For at least three decades, Republicans have been far better than Democrats in early polls at getting behind the candidates who end up winning the party’s presidential nomination.
Republicans have picked the early front-runner in seven of the past 10 elections, according to Gallup polling. In the other three elections, Republican incumbents cruised to re-election.
Why?
The major GOP donors and voters soon realize that “beating a dead horse” i.e. supporting a long-shot candidate is fruitless and drains away resources that can be used against the Democrats in a general election.
It is in the GOP’s best interests to rally around one candidate EARLY and raise the campaign funds necessary to take or retain the White House.
Are we reaching this point in the 2008 race?
Perhaps, especially with most of the major states moving their primaries up to February 2008.
When the polls don’t look favorable, the campaign money dries up and the campaign is over.
By the way, the betting money has shifted from McCain to Rudy.
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Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani
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Day By Day by Chris Muir February 25, 2007
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Daily Kos Watch: Supporting the Iraqi Resistance
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Giuliani Notes: California Dreamin’ and Campaign Cash
Mayor Rudy Giuliani addressing the press after speaking before the California GOP, February 10, 2007. Photo by Flap.
The Politico: Rudy Woos K St, Sets Major DC Funder
As I reported earlier this week, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani met with a few hundred Washington movers and shakers yesterday to make his pitch. There were actually two events, both at the Hotel Washington. The first, I’m told by a lobbyist who attended, was for major donors. The second was filled with “members of the PAC community,” as my source put it. Some who showed were already on board, others wanted to kick the tires.
Giuliani gave a stump speech, but did weave in some politics. He talked about Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, but also mentioned the prospect that other, larger states could move up their primaries — something Hizzoner’s advisers think would aid his candidacy. Having spent considerable time in California recently, Giuliani noted that it’s been 40 years since the mega-state had a primary that mattered (RFK vs. Clean for Gene in ’68).
Giuliani also put in a plug for what will be one of his first major Beltway fundraising events. I’m told that Peter Terpulek will host the soiree at his Chevy Chase home on March 22. A top lobbyist with the American Continental Group, Turpulek was a Bush Pioneer in 2000 who was rewarded with the ambassadorship to Luxembourg.
California Dreamin’ and fifty-five electoral votes in play for the GOP.
Rudy will be in California frequently.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani gestures during his address at the California Republican Party convention in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007. Giuliani’s remarks touched topics from health care, to crime, to terrorism to Iraq, in a speech laden with references to a possible bid for president.
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Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani
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Giuliani Notes: CPAC – Rudy Will Speak on Friday
Mayor Giuliani will be addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday according to the Politico.
It had previously been reported that Rudy and McCain would be skipping the meeting.
Flap doesn’t know about McCain.
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Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani
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Giuliani Notes: Elon University Poll Has Rudy Leading GOP Field
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani hold an edge among prospective candidates for the White House in five southeastern states, where most voters remain undecided, according to a poll released Saturday by Elon University.
In the GOP field, 31 percent of respondents who identified themselves as Republicans said it was too early to tell, while 25 percent said they didn’t know who they would vote for.
Giuliani had the support of 21 percent of those polled, while Sen. John McCain of Arizona had 16 percent and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts got 3 percent.
Bacot said the GOP race seemed more open “since none of the candidates has a commanding lead.”
The poll was conducted Feb. 18-22 by the Elon University Institute for Politics and Public Affairs, which surveyed 719 residents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.7 percent.
Rudy leads McCain by 5 and Mitt Romney is at 3 per cent.
Romney’s strategy to appeal to southern conservative voters seems to have had little effect.
And McCain’s organization in South Carolina does not provide a lead.
Stay tuned……..Flap will post more of the poll’s details when they are released.
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Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani
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Dentistry Today: The Ultreo – Ultrasound Toothbrush
Ultreo – the ultrasound toothbrush (via Engadget)
Flap saw some studies recently (at the ADA in October 2006) that suggest better cleaning with ultrasound toothbrushes.
Will they be clinically significant? And worth the bucks?
Flap says save the money for a dental check-up, watch your sugar intake, brush regularly (yes, with the manual brush) and use dental floss.
But, if yo have the $$$$ to try……why not?
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Technorati Tags: toothbrush, Ultreo, dentistry, dental