Comments on: “Neda”: Iran’s rallying cry

By: DJ

DJ — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:36:35 +0000

By: SteveG

SteveG — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:05:56 +0000

On the other hand, the kind of joke you’re talking about would probably have helped Obama with his PR problem here, even if it did nothing whatsoever over there.

Nah. The same people complaining that he didn’t use humor would be complaining that he did.

If he had used more tough-talk, the same people complaining that he was too soft would be complaining that he was too firm.

For some people, if Obama says or does it, it’s wrong. No matter what it is.

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By: DJ

DJ — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:56:37 +0000

Bob,
Humor is hard enough to pull off with some humorless English-speaking folks. I’m afraid much would be lost in translation. On the other hand, the kind of joke you’re talking about would probably have helped Obama with his PR problem here, even if it did nothing whatsoever over there.

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By: Bob Buckles

Bob Buckles — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:16:39 +0000

#11 NJ Lawyer

“…what do you really want Obama to do?”

I heard that the government of Iran announced that Ahmadinejad had won by 65% before the polls were closed. If this was so, I would have hoped that Obama would have answered a reporter’s question with a nicely phrased quip about counting your votes before they’ve hatched or some such.

I think that a joke at the expense of the Iranian election would have been a good way to handle it. It would have been repeated and the USA would have looked good. The kind of humor would have been extremely effective. Further questions should have been met with a a smile and a wave of the hand as the President walked away. (Can’t you see Reagan waving and walking?)

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By: NJLawyer

NJLawyer — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:22:58 +0000

I’m thinking somewhere in between Obama and McCain.

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By: DJ

DJ — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:53:11 +0000

KardKid 74,
I supported Bush. He still has 10x the class that his VP ever had.

I think you’re wrong about Obama. As far as I can tell, his response is strategic. If he just wanted to please people, nothing could be easier; he’d have roundly condemned Iran and would have used much firmer rhetoric before now. He’s been trashed as ignorant, naïve, a secret supporter of extremism and a coward all because he has chosen to make very specific and restrained responses based on what’s happening on the ground in Iran, rather than some outburst of self aggrandizing support.

By contrast, John McCain shows up on tv regularly now urging strongly worded. unequivocal support for people he would have cheerfully bombed just months ago (remember “bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran”). The man has no shame. And Obama need not take advice from him or anyone like him. Nor does he have to please them.

I think slow and steady wins the day on this one.

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By: kardkid74

kardkid74 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:25:47 +0000

hey dj,
While people bleed in the streets of Iran, people like Monty capitalize on their suffering by whining and complaining about Obama–showing yet again how utterly impotent Conservatism in general has become, and Christian Conservatism in particular. Impotent to offer anything of real value. Just a sickly whining sound.

Pathetic.

how quickly we forget how bush was slammed for what happend that couple minutes during 911. its not exactly the same but you get it. I think obama’s to afriad of people not liking him to do anything.

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By: CCC

CCC — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:56:03 +0000

38: And does anyone think Iran will be any different with either man in power …

Of course not, if you look at their worldviews. So, who do Americans associate with the “good guys,” Ahmadinejad or Mousavi?

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By: metanoia

metanoia — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:00:52 +0000

The crackdown continues. Guns, tanks, batons and tear gas are winning over tweets, youtube and rocks. The gatherings are getting smaller, the military, police and Basiji presence is getting bigger. This uprising will be relegated the the inner depths of seeting anger until someone courageous enough (and it probably won’t be a politician, or well known individual) becomes the rallying point for the population.

Let’s not forget that although the cities favor some greater measure of “democracy” the countryside of Iran is firmly siding with the Islamic fundamentalists, Khameini and Ahmadinejad.

You don’t have a revolution without a focal point of personality or ideology. There has been no mention in today’s tweets about Neda. A poor young girl who seemed to have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.

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By: Sawgunner

Sawgunner — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:18:28 +0000

And does anyone think Iran will be any different with either man in power if you are Baha’i, Jewish or Christian? Islam is written into that nation’s constitution (sadly just as it is in the Iraqi and Afghan constitutions)

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