Obama and Health Care Reform

The New York Times: Reports on a make or break week for the Obama Presidency, President Obama will give a speech to Joint session of Congress on his Health Care Reform Package. The NYT writes the following, " ( Obama )...has elevated health care to such a singular priority, advisers said he must force through a credible plan or risk crippling his presidency. " My best advice to President Obama is to think what LBJ and Reagan would do when it comes to getting their agenda through Congress, in the case of LBJ he would cut deals, a Congressman/woman wants a Naval Base in his or her land locked state, why not, green is nice, Reagan would ask for a 100% of his agenda and be happy to get 70%, be pragmatic and come back later for what you want, when the Congress wants something and you want a favour. Its that simple Mr President dealing and being pragmatic, but have the appearance of winning, its not if you win or lose its how it looks to the voter.

A Soft or Hard Trigger for a Public Option

Fox News: Reports on the partisan divided when it comes to a trigger for a public option in the health care reform package. The Liberal Democrats see it a subtle way to kill the public option while the Republicans see it as way to get to a public option. If both the left and right have a problem with it there must be something good about it, the question what will cause a public option to come in to effect, if President Obama goes down this road he will have to define a trigger that brings in Democrats and Republicans and makes them both happy, if either side thinks its being conned he could get a revolt on his hands. Lets hope the Obama White House is as good at the English Language as Bill Clinton, depends how you define Is is, well Obama has to define what is public, good luck Mr President.

Vote Dr Who

NTA: Its that time of year folks, yes its the National Television Awards, remember to vote for Dr Who, its your duty.

Talking to the Taliban ?

The Times: Reports that President Karzai of Afghanistan wants to start talks with moderate Taliban after the election is finally over in Afghanistan. This could be a warning to the Obama Administration and to UK PM Gordon Brown not to cause to much of a fuzz over the election process. Lets be fair the vote in Afghanistan was never going to be a Western version of Democracy, lets recall the dubious elections in the USA, 1960 and 2000, thus Obama is also from Chicago, the ex Governor it is alleged tried to sell the Senate seat of President Elect Obama, also one or two Governors from that state have done time in the big house, so hardly a clean state when it come to Democracy. Thus the West should keep out of the Afghan election process and allow Karzai to win, no second round, we don't need another Diem, Karzai is our man for good or bad, the Western problem is winning in Afghanistan, its not stuffing ballot boxes.

Iran and the Bomb

The New York Times: Reports on the stonewalling by Iran on its nuclear ambitions, the NYT states the views of the UN agency, IAEA that deals with this thorny issue, " Iran had not stopped enriching uranium or answered lingering questions about its nuclear program. " Thus with Afghanistan, President Obama has to deal with Iran by the end of the month, it is clear now that Iran will never give up the bomb, it has seen how the USA has cow towed to North Korea since it has the bomb. Also it is still holding three American tourists who walked over the border between Iran and Iraq. It can be argued that it was foolish to expect Iran to give up the bomb, the bomb makes it a major player in the region, thus a threat to Israel. As Iran has not meet Obama half way he will have to place more sanctions on Iran, the question will this be enough for Israel. If and this is a big If, Iran ever gets the bomb, then all military strikes are off the table, the West would have to talk to the totalitarian regime in Iran. The question is will Obama be tough enough for Israel, if they think President Obama is weak they will strike Iran. Lets recall the USA has a major military force in Iraq still, they would be a target for Iran. Thus Obama has to play his cards well or he could have another War on his hands, Iran vs Israel, with the USA in the middle of the War.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the soldier killed on the 3/9/09, the soldier was " Private Gavin Elliott of 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment " Our thoughts are with Private Elliott's Family.