Obama Works the Phones on Iran
EmailABC News' Rachel Martin reports: President Obama reached out to two key allies in the effort to curtail Iran’s nuclear program. He made calls this morning to both French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. According to the White House, President Obama thanked Sarkozy for France’s “close cooperation” throughout the recent negotiations held in Vienna. Both Obama and Sarkozy affirmed their support for the IAEA agreement currently on the table – a deal crafted in response to Iran’s request for fuel for a major nuclear research center in Tehran. The President called President Medvedev to thank him for “his leadership in developing the IAEA proposal”, according to a White House statement. They also “underscored the need to maintain Russian and American unity in pursuing our mutual concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.” The P5+1 – the group of Western allies negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program – are considering yet another round of sanctions on Iran in the wake of the revelation that Iran had built a secret nuclear facility in the mountains near the city of Qom. Any sanctions would require the steadfast support of Russia and China – something both countries have been reluctant to endorse. -Rachel Martin
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They are going to mess up health care. They could go with a good American plan like John Mackey’s “funded” healthcare savings accounts and catastrophic insurance. Nope – not good looking enough.
Posted by: welldirected | October 24, 2009, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
I am getting tired of all this nonsense. Hopefully Iran gets nukes soon so we can drop the arrogance and start trading with them like we do China.
Posted by: Huh | October 24, 2009, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
“They could go with a good American plan like John Mackey’s “funded” healthcare savings accounts and catastrophic insurance. Nope – not good looking enough.”
welldirected | Oct 24, 2009 4:52:19 PM
His ideas wouldn’t solve the problem of the uninsured sucking up resources via the ER system. At all.
The Republicans had their years in power to address health care and did absolutely nothing because proposing these simplistic ideas would have made them look like idiots once the CBO and other numbers were in. Sorta like they look like idiots for insisting tax cuts are needed to create jobs after we just saw them implement 8 years of exactly these tax cuts add trillions to the debt and lead to our current economy.
Posted by: jhw539 | October 24, 2009, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
All of this hot air from Obama and Clinton and what have they accomplished? Nothing.Nothing.Nothing.Nothing.Nothing.
Posted by: Willie12345 | October 24, 2009, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
To “Huh,” who wrote, “I am getting tired of all this nonsense. Hopefully Iran gets nukes soon so we can drop the arrogance and start trading with them like we do China,” all I can say in response is that your ‘blog name’ of “Huh” is quite appropriate. That is my first response to what you wrote. My second response is “are you serious?”
Posted by: moderate | October 24, 2009, 10:18 pm 10:18 pm
I’m glad to see the president working the phones instead of the golf clubs this weekend (I know, Sunday is his day to golf, not saturday). Iran is backing away from agreeing to the proposal to send their fuel out to be reprocessed. Seems they were just buying time and stringing folks along, as per usual. Russia, who got some excited with that line about “sometimes sanctions are inevitable,” is now reverting to their usual no-new-sanctions-for-Iran stance. The hoped-for diplomatic breakthroughs are not materializing. Let’s hope Obama and Clinton can get some real progress or get agreement on a serious increase in sanctions very soon.
Posted by: moderate | October 24, 2009, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
So now at this point how many “deadlines” has Iran blown? All of them? Obama is such an idiot — he has no clue, and he’s going to destroy us all….
Posted by: beth in illinois | October 24, 2009, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm
Obama is a bad joke. The Iranians are really rubbing his face in it, another kick in the butt & he’s calling Russia for help, very clever, since Russia is helping Iran’s nuclear program for years already. I would call Obama a sucker but sadly, it’s America who was suckered into electing this dud, the Appeaser-in-Chief. Can anyone explain the sense of giving this clown a Nobel Peace Prize when he’s going to be the cause of a nuclear war?
Posted by: Terry | October 24, 2009, 10:56 pm 10:56 pm
The Iranians know they can get away with anything with no consequences from the Wimp-in-Chief. It looks like Obama & his team of amateur-hour advisers have tacitly accepted a nuclear-armed Iran regardless of the consequences to American interests & security.
Posted by: Terry | October 24, 2009, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm
An awful lot of folks in here who seem completely oblivious to the reality that the bluster, threaten and alienate half the world strategy is a PROVEN FAILURE. The majority of the country decided going from the gut and staying the course is a bad idea last November.
Posted by: jhw539 | October 24, 2009, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm
The Gallup poll has 54% of Americans approving the job Obama is doing. But of course, they don’t have the nifty “likely voter” proprietary number fudging that Rasmussen uses. Gee, I wonder if the daily Kos or Huffington Post have approval polls. I bet I can find one that even says Obama is popular with Republicans!
Actually, I don’t care. I kicked the poll habit back in 2004. The only polls that matter are the ones taken in Nov (and politicians private polling at times, but we don’t get those results).
Posted by: jhw539 | October 24, 2009, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
===An awful lot of folks in here who seem completely oblivious to the reality that the bluster, threaten and alienate half the world strategy is a PROVEN FAILURE.===
So why is Obama alienating key allies? Which half of the world are we shooting for?
Posted by: Axey | October 25, 2009, 12:03 am 12:03 am
when he’s going to be the cause of a nuclear war?
Posted by: Terry
where and when will your neo-con fantasy nuke war take place….. who will be involved..
inquiring minds want to know
Posted by: Oh Yeah | October 25, 2009, 12:37 am 12:37 am
So why is Obama alienating key allies?
Posted by: Axey
I guess you dont read the news
c’mon now, time for some new material
Posted by: Oh Yeah | October 25, 2009, 12:39 am 12:39 am
moderate – I am completely serious.
Posted by: Huh | October 25, 2009, 1:28 am 1:28 am
“I live in iran so sorry for Obama soon he will understand never trust Clerics rulers of iran”
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If the west trusted the clerics of Iran, we wouldn’t be sending in UN inspectors RIGHT NOW – nor would we be spying on Iraq like we are.
Posted by: julieterra | October 25, 2009, 4:26 am 4:26 am
*spying on Iran
Posted by: julieterra | October 25, 2009, 4:27 am 4:27 am
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 30% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty percent (40%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -10.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 25, 2009, 10:04 am 10:04 am
“If the west trusted the clerics of Iran, we wouldn’t be sending in UN inspectors…”
I love that one. Apparently the UN acts on behalf of the West and “us” now.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 25, 2009, 10:07 am 10:07 am
Overall, 48% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance. Fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 25, 2009, 10:10 am 10:10 am
Obama has already capitulated to both Iran and Russia and gotten nothing in return. Maybe he’s looking for the trifecta with France.
Posted by: drjohn | October 25, 2009, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
Overall, 48% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance. Fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Oct 25, 2009 10:10:10 AM
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Why do you always appear to be confused? Or maybe the question is; why do you always try to confuse others? The entire Rasmussen set of data is below after the analysis.
1) “somewhat approve” = 18%, Somewhat Disapprove = 11%
2) Total “disapprove” = 51%, Total Approve = 48%
3) Strongly Approve is up 4% in four days,
4) Polled people include 37.2% Democrats, 32.7% Republicans, and 30.1% unaffiliated
5) Washington Post poll –> 33% Democrat, 20% Republican, 42% unaffiliated
6) Rasmussen Republican Party Bias -> +8.5% more Republicans polled than currently exist
Date—Somewhat Approve / Somewhat Disapprove—Strongly Approve / Strongly Disapprove—Total Approve / Total Disapprove
22-Oct-09____21% / 13%____26% / 39%____47% / 52%
23-Oct-09____20% / 12%____29% / 38%____49% / 50%
24-Oct-09____17% / 11%____30% / 40%____47% / 51%
25-Oct-09____18% / 11%____30% / 40%____48% / 51%
Change______-3% / -2%_____4% / 1%_____ 1% / -1%
Posted by: ErnestNM | October 25, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
“Overall, 48% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance. Fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove.”
The words are quoted verbatim from Asmussen. Sorry if you’re confused. I’m certainly not.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 25, 2009, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
“The war in Afghanistan is over.”
–Nancy Pelosi, April 2005
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 25, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
“Overall, 48% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance. Fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove.”
The words are quoted verbatim from Asmussen. Sorry if you’re confused. I’m certainly not
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Oct 25, 2009 12:51:20 PM
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You are aware that they are lying.
And, you know that I am not confused, because their own data proves this as I demonstrated.
But, I’m glad you pointed that out for the readers here so they can see yet another example of how Rasmussen is Republican-biased.
Their ‘analysis’ seems to indicate that 48% ‘only’ “somewhat approve” whereas in reality ‘only’ 18% “somewhat approve”.
Posted by: ErnestNM | October 25, 2009, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
But don’t worry–when it comes to health care for every single American, they know exactly what they’re doing:
“Although officials had hoped at least 40 million doses of vaccine would be available by this time, production problems have delayed the federal government’s ambitious inoculation campaign. Only about 16 million doses have become available.”
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 25, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
Ahmadinejad must be shaking in his boots.
Obama’s war against Fox News has shown what a fierce Commander In Chief he really is.
Posted by: kyle | October 25, 2009, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
I cannot help you, Ernest–you have a problem with the meaning of words. I don’t.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 25, 2009, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
America is toast and so are our allies.
We are broke and in debt to China.
Our president is being rolled by powerful enemies as he throws our allies under the bus.
Those that want to destroy us/our allies see how weak in the knees Obama is with regard to Afghanistan, Iran, Honduras.
Obama’s soft/smart power is a joke.
Enemies don’t respect weakness.
Posted by: tyler | October 25, 2009, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
Obama is like a parent or a teacher that wants to be cool more than respected.
He has warned and set deadlines with Iran multiple times, all of them have been ignored.
Obama’s empty threats mean nothing.
The whole world is watching.
Earning that stupid Nobel Peace Prize?
Posted by: millie | October 25, 2009, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm
“The words are quoted verbatim from Asmussen.”
–Quoted verbatim from Fascist Hyena
Asmussen. How fitting. Think I’ll start using that name from now on.
Posted by: Numeros | October 25, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
“Overall, 48% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance. Fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove.”
The words are quoted verbatim from Asmussen. Sorry if you’re confused. I’m certainly not.
I cannot help you, Ernest–you have a problem with the meaning of words. I don’t.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Oct 25, 2009
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You know, I have to admit that Rasmussen is not ‘straight out lying’ as I noticed that they are using the phrase “at least somewhat approve”.
That does include the ‘Total Approved’…but in a negative way for Barack.
So, they put a ‘negative slant’ on the ‘Total Approved’ by calling it “at least somewhat approve”…the focus being on “somewhat” which implies soft approval.
And, they add even more negativity by using “disapprove” in the same sentence…implying strong disapproval.
So, let’s recap what the Rasmussen Republican-baised data (and Republican-baised analysis) really says.
1) “somewhat approve” = 18%, Somewhat Disapprove = 11%
2) Total “disapprove” = 51%, Total Approve = 48%
3) Strongly Approve is up 4% in four days,
4) Polled people include 37.2% Democrats, 32.7% Republicans, and 30.1% unaffiliated
5) Washington Post poll –> 33% Democrat, 20% Republican, 42% unaffiliated
6) Rasmussen Republican Party Bias -> +8.5% more Republicans polled than currently exist
Posted by: ErnestNM | October 25, 2009, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
“I love that one. Apparently the UN acts on behalf of the West and “us” now.”
_____________________________________
The UN inspectors were operating on our behalf when they went into IRAQ and were finding NO EVIDENCE of weapons of mass destruction, and no evidence of any worthwhile nuclear program.
Unfortunately Cheney, Bush and company ‘knew’ better. The result – tens of thousands of Iraqi deaths, tens of thousands more maimed, thousands of American deaths, thousands more maimed.
Yes, the UN inspectors are in Iran on our behalf. And we are also spying on our own behalf.
Posted by: julieterra | October 25, 2009, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
“Overall, 48% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance. Fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove.”
The words are quoted verbatim from Asmussen. Sorry if you’re confused. I’m certainly not.
I cannot help you, Ernest–you have a problem with the meaning of words. I don’t.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Oct 25, 2009
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I forgot to add a 7th summary item.
7) Rasmussen adds a negative bias to their data for the President by using negative-biased phrases in their analysis.
Posted by: ErnestNM | October 25, 2009, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
Wow. Even conservative commentator George Will isn’t buying Cheney’s crud . . .
“A bit of dithering might have been in order before we went into Iraq in pursuit of non-existent weapons of mass destruction,” Will said. ”
“For a representative of the Bush administration to accuse someone of taking too much time is missing the point.”
Posted by: julieterra | October 25, 2009, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan protesters burned an effigy of President Barack Obama Sunday in reaction to rumors, denied by U.S. officials, that U.S. troops desecrated the Koran. An estimated 1,000 demonstrators, mostly university students, gathered in Kabul, the Afghan capital, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 25, 2009, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm
“7) Rasmussen adds a negative bias to their data for the President by using negative-biased phrases in their analysis.”
That must accont for the difference in approval between Rasmussen’s poll of likely voters (48%) and USA Today/Gallup’s among all adults (50%).
On the other hand, the difference may be accounted for by the proportion of young, normally apolitical adults who kind of like Obama, but are not as likely as other grownups are to vote.
I report, you decide.
.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 25, 2009, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
“That must accont for the difference in approval between Rasmussen’s poll of likely voters (48%) and USA Today/Gallup’s among all adults (50%).
“I report, you decide.”
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Oct 25, 2009 9:47:49 PM
_____________________________________
Sure, except you can’t even report accurately.
Today’s Gallup has Obama’s approval rating at 55% and his disapproval at 38%.
Posted by: julieterra | October 25, 2009, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
He better start working the phone on Iraq things sure are getting messy there, but then again was he not told this would happen.
Posted by: SJ | October 26, 2009, 12:55 am 12:55 am
“7) Rasmussen adds a negative bias to their data for the President by using negative-biased phrases in their analysis.”
That must accont for the difference in approval between Rasmussen’s poll of likely voters (48%) and USA Today/Gallup’s among all adults (50%).
On the other hand, the difference may be accounted for by the proportion of young, normally apolitical adults who kind of like Obama, but are not as likely as other grownups are to vote.
I report, you decide.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Oct 25, 2009 9:47:49 PM
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No Fascist. Number 7 has no effect on the actual poll. It does, however, have a tremendous effect on the readers ‘perception’ of the poll. The intent is for that ‘perception’ to be driven into negative territory by the negative-biased phrases in Rasmussen’s analysis.
Let’s recap how Rasmussen does this:
1) Rasmussen imparts a ‘negative slant’ on the ‘Total Approved’ by calling it “at least somewhat approve”…the focus being on “somewhat” which implies soft (even questionable) approval.
2) And then, Rasmussen adds even more negativity by using “disapprove” in the same sentence…implying stronger (even solid) disapproval.
You see how that works? So, Rasmussen not only ‘biases’ the poll results by polling 8.5% more Republicans than actually exist relative to the number of Democrats (which DOES affect the poll results), but Rasmussen also subtly ‘biases’ the mind of the person reading the poll.
You report, I decide to clarify your report.
Posted by: ErnestNM | October 26, 2009, 2:17 am 2:17 am
Right-wing nation:
PRINCETON, NJ — Conservatives continue to outnumber moderates and liberals in the American populace in 2009, confirming a finding that Gallup first noted in June. Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal. This marks a shift from 2005 through 2008, when moderates were tied with conservatives as the most prevalent group.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 26, 2009, 10:53 am 10:53 am
…Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal…
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Oct 26, 2009 10:53:32 AM
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What percentage of that 46% conservative group do you think are Independent or Libertarian? Looks like we will have a 3 party run in 2012.
On the Republican side it will be Huckabee, Romney, and Gingrich.
For the Libertarians or Independents we have Ron Paul, and maybe Sarah Palin when she loses the Republican bid.
For the Democrats, we have Barack Obama.
I’m kind of excited about the prospects…aren’t you?
Posted by: ErnestNM | October 26, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm