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• Michael Hais and Morley Winograd: The Honeymoon Isn't Over Until the Public Sings
• Dutch Queen Target Of Car Attack At Parade (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
• Fort Worth Closes School System Over Swine Flu
• Lesley Stern: How to Live On $0 A Day: Know Your Healthcare Options
• Stroger Hiring Scandal: Dunnings Bailed Patronage Worker Cole Out Of Jail 4 Times
• Omid Memarian: Hostage Diplomacy: Roxana Saberi and the Three jailed Iranian Diplomats
• Liz Spikol: Tips From Real, Live, Breathing, Non-Professional People on Dealing With Stress
• Jay Glatfelter: On Lost "The Variable"
• Mark Kirk Eyes Senate Run, Republican Strong In New Poll
• Denial-istan
• ABC/WaPo Poll: For First Time, More Americans Back Gay Marriage Than Not
• 10 Worst Countries To Be A Blogger
• Flu Fears: Iraq To Kill Wild Boars At Zoo
• Steve Parker: Obama - "Ich bin ein Chrysler!"
• Letter From Those Who Voted No On Chrysler Deal

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Michael Hais and Morley Winograd: The Honeymoon Isn't Over Until the Public Sings	Top
While noting that President Barack Obama has higher job approval scores than any president in the past three decades, some in Washington also wonder how long this honeymoon can last and how much Obama can get done before it ends. The answer to those two questions lays in placing both Obama's performance and the questions themselves in historical context. As the late V.O. Key, the founder of modern political science research, pointed out in his masterful 1960 book, The Responsible Electorate, voters make their decisions in retrospect. Specifically, the public's judgment about how well a president is doing is based in part on how it evaluates his predecessors, especially the president who immediately preceded the current president. There is no doubt that at least a part of Obama's appeal is simply that he is NOT George W. Bush, the most poorly evaluated president in polling history. Similarly, President Jimmy Carter had slightly higher numbers than Obama at this point in his presidency, presumably because his style was so different than that of Richard Nixon, the only president forced to resign because of his malfeasance in office. But positive attitudes toward Barack Obama are based on far more than negative attitudes toward his Republican predecessor. Outside of Carter, President Obama's approval score is higher than for any president since Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, two Presidents who served toward the end of the last civic era in American history, a period that ended with the election of Nixon in 1968. In civic eras, Americans have much more positive attitudes toward political institutions than in politically divided and gridlocked idealist eras such as the Baby Boomer-dominated one we just left. In civic eras, the public wants and expects governmental action. By contrast, in idealist eras, presidential approval ratings tend to fall fairly quickly in a President's term, signaling the end of the honeymoon. This happens as soon as the President begins to take action that is bound to offend at least one half of the divided electorate. Civic eras begin when a generation, such as today's young Millennials, enters the electorate with an overwhelming preference for one party's presidential candidate and his policy agenda. This causes the President's popularity to go up or remain stable at a high level, not down, as the newly elected candidate takes steps to implement his campaign pledges. For example, Franklin Roosevelt, who kicked off America's last previous civic era in 1932, never really did see an end to his honeymoon in terms of decreasing popularity, at least not until well into his second term. FDR's Democrats even gained seats in both the House and Senate in 1934, the only time in U.S. history that the party of a newly elected president has ever gained seats in the mid-term elections that followed his winning the presidency. And, of course FDR won reelection to a second term in 1936 by an even larger margin than he did in 1932. As long as Democrats in Congress support Obama's blueprint for change, he should continue to accomplish big things, which will have the effect of reinforcing, not decreasing, his popularity. While many inside the beltway may not recognize that we have entered a new era in American politics, both the President and the public do. Barack Obama should have the popularity to prove it for some time to come. Cross-posted at the NDN Blog . More on GOP
Dutch Queen Target Of Car Attack At Parade (PHOTOS, VIDEO)	Top
The AP reports that five people died during a parade for Dutch Queen Beatrix when a car is reported to have crashed into the progression. No members of the royal family were hurt, but Dutch officials tell the BBC that they believe the crash was an intentional attack. From BBC: Cynthia Boll, a photographer at the scene, told the BBC the car was already badly damaged before it slammed into the crowds at high speed. ... The crowds were celebrating Queen's Day - a national holiday in the Netherlands when thousands of people take to the streets to celebrate the queen's official birthday. The New York Times echoes the statements of Dutch officials that the attack seems to have been an intentional, targeted strike at the royal family. Police arrested the man driving the car as soon as it crashed. He is reported to have been unarmed and acting alone, according to the Times : Dutch officials said the man had "acted deliberately" but they ruled out links with a terrorist group. "The driver is suspected of trying to attack the royal family," a spokesperson for the Dutch police said, not giving additional details as to a possible motive. Here is a video report of the incident: [WATCH:] Read the full BBC account here , or scroll down for photos. *** More on Europe
Fort Worth Closes School System Over Swine Flu	Top
WASHINGTON — Students aren't the only ones staying home as swine flu spreads through schools across the country. Parents are nursing their ailing kids while trying not to get sick themselves. Raquel Mooradian and her husband, Greg, have been holed up in their apartment in the New York borough of Queens since their daughter Felicia, 17, fell ill on Friday. Felicia is a senior at St. Francis Preparatory School, where hundreds of students got sick after a group returned from spring break in Mexico. Raquel has been skipping her classes at a local college, and Greg has called in sick at work. Raquel Mooradian said she covers her face when she goes into her daughter's bedroom to bring her soup, water or Gatorade. "She's able to talk but says, 'Let me sleep, let me sleep,'" Raquel said. As of midday Wednesday, the latest national accounting available, about 100 of the nation's 132,000 schools had closed and Texas authorities had suspended high school sports. But the number of closed schools more than doubled overnight, when the Fort Worth Independent School District in Texas announced it was closing its 140 schools, affecting about 80,000 students. On Thursday, 62 schools in Huntsville, Ala., and Madison, Ala., closed, affecting 31,000 students, and state officials suspended high school sports at least through Monday. Separately on Wednesday, a top official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised the urgency of the government's advice to schools. At a House hearing, Dr. Anne Schuchat said the recommendation that schools consider closing if they have a confirmed case should be a notch stronger now. "At this point we do think it's very prudent to close schools when a case has been confirmed or is highly suspect," Schuchat told the Energy and Commerce Committee. Preparation by schools is crucial because children every year play a major role in spreading influenza, and experts have said that would be no different during a pandemic. The nation's pandemic preparation plans assume child infection rates approaching about 40 percent. In a worldwide epidemic _ which the swine flu outbreak is not _ government planning documents say schools could be closed for up to 12 weeks. The consequences of having kids at home reach far beyond school walls. President Barack Obama said Wednesday parents everywhere should start preparing for the possibility that their kids may be sent home. "Our public health officials have recommended that schools with confirmed or suspected cases of this flu strongly consider temporarily closing," Obama said as he began a news conference Wednesday night. "And if more schools are forced to close, we've recommended that both parents and businesses think about contingency plans if their children do have to stay home." Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said employers need to plan too. "All of us should be dusting off our business contingency plans, looking at things such as telecommuting and the like so that operations keep on going," she said. "There is a large ripple effect," acknowledged Kathleen Sebelius, Obama's newly approved health secretary. "What happens to the parents? Where do those children go? Do you close the day care center if a younger sibling is there?" Local officials make the decisions on schools, after weighing conditions in their cities, towns and counties. So far, closings have affected at least 170,000 students, among the 56 million enrolled nationwide in K-12 education in public and private schools. Most of the closings are individual schools, not entire systems. Most are expected to be short-term, a week or so. Some of the children who got sick are already recovering. If the outbreak turns into a killer flu, classes could continue even if schools are shut. If they've planned for it, teachers could give their lessons by Internet, television, radio, telephone, mail or through their community newspapers. If a flu case is confirmed at a school, local district officials may close down that school alone. Clusters of cases at different schools could prompt the closing of an entire system. Closings in many communities may lead to a statewide shutdown. The decision to close a school is not to be taken lightly. "It's not just about the schools," explained Kim Elliott, deputy director of Trust for America's Health, an independent public health organization. "If a community is thinking about closing schools, they're also probably thinking about closing day care centers. And children also depend on schools for a lot of services other than education, including lunch programs and after-school care." In Mexico, where the illnesses have been more severe, the government closed schools nationwide. In the U.S., authorities will deal with the problem from the ground up, not from the top down. "It is the state and local role to plan what's going to happen, as far as day-to-day or hour-to-hour," said Brenda Greene, director of school health programs for the National School Boards Association. The federal government has taken a leading role in helping states and local communities plan for a public health disaster. Washington's concern grew from the anthrax attacks of 2001 and the 2005 bird flu scare that sparked fears of global infection. In Congress, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Democrat George Miller of California, said Wednesday he will hold a hearing next week on how schools and businesses are prepared to handle the swine flu virus. On a conference call Monday, officials from the Education Department and the CDC answered questions from more than 1,400 people from school districts, state education offices and education groups. Education officials said many asked what circumstances should prompt schools to close. They were encouraged to follow the CDC's recommendation that schools close if they have a confirmed case or if they have a suspected case that is linked to a confirmed case. In the end, making the decision is a balancing act, not an on-off switch, said Robert M. Pestronk, a former public health officer who heads the National Association of County and City Health Officials. "Because there is one case in one school, or 10 cases, doesn't lead to a decision to close a whole district," said Pestronk. "It's a case of balancing the risk that is potentially present against the need for communities to operate normally on a day-to-day basis. You're trying to protect people's health and not completely shut down communities." There may be alternatives to closing schools. Researchers at Georgia Tech modeled the effects of two options: a voluntary quarantine of affected households in a severe flu, and school closures. They found that both would work about as well. "It's information that boards of education should consider," said Julie Swann, a professor of industrial engineering who collaborated in the study. "In some cases, you might want to do both kinds of interventions." ___ Salazar reported from New York. Associated Press writer Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this report. ___ On the Net: http://www.pandemicflu.gov
Lesley Stern: How to Live On $0 A Day: Know Your Healthcare Options	Top
When you're broke and uninsured, the fear of needing a doctor can send a person into a spiral of depression that can only be cured with prescribed medication. I'm here to tell you, don't despair. With all the advances in healthcare, science and technology, these days you really don't need a doctor. Say you've got a sore throat. Google it. Thousands of of websites dealing with sore throats will come up. After hours of research and cross-referencing, you'll probably conclude you either have seasonal allergies or a lethal strain of swine flu. Google seasonal allergies and swine flu. Read everything you can about their causes, symptoms, prognosis and cures. Delve into the heartwarming stories about seasonal allergies and swine flu. Learn which celebrities have had seasonal allergies, swine flu or pet pigs. Find out who they're dating, their favorite designers and how they stay slim. Chances are by the time you've thoroughly researched the topic, your sore throat will be gone. If the ailment persists through the diagnostic process, or worsens, you might want the option of seeking medical attention. Not so easy without health insurance, money or a non-maxed out credit card. This is where the government steps in to protect you after all the years you've paid into the system. In some states, those in need can qualify for free health insurance for a specified period to be provided by the state or county of residence. The application procedure is relatively simple. 1) Stand in line for one hour to make an appointment at your county health services office. 2) Fill out pages of forms divulging your deepest darkest secrets. 3) Stand in line for two hours for an 8AM appointment along with 50 people who also have 8AM appointments. 4) Wait inside in a room with 50 other people for your 8AM appointment to start at 11AM. 5) Discuss your deepest darkest secrets with a stranger. 6) Wait six weeks. 7) Repeat the entire process one month later because they seem to have lost your paperwork. You could qualify for six months coverage. You might want to consider becoming blind or pregnant in order to increase your chances. The only catch with the state program is your plan will expire by the time a doctor will see you (if you haven't died by then). Try to plan your medical emergencies well in advance. Of course, there's always the emergency room. They're obligated by the law and Hippocratic oath to treat anyone who needs it. Just make sure not to bring any ID unless it belongs to someone else. And always act as though you have amnesia, even if your problem is a broken toe. This way, you won't be bothered by constant phone calls and threats from collectors that will make you wish your broken toe had been fatal. It's always wise to take preventative measures. Since you're not working, you don't have to go outside much and risk exposure. But for those rare trips outdoors, always wear gloves, a germ mask (free gloves and masks are available at your nearest hospital--try to get an insured person to pick them up for you, since hospitals are riddled with germs). Avoid dangerous activities like breathing, eating and crossing the street. Helpful generic replacement suggestions for costly prescription drugs: Xanax, Valium and other sedatives -- Vodka Antibiotic and antiviral drugs -- Vodka Prozac, Zoloft and other anti-depressants --Vodka Codeine, Vicodin and other pain relievers-- Vodka More on Satire
Stroger Hiring Scandal: Dunnings Bailed Patronage Worker Cole Out Of Jail 4 Times	Top
Former Cook County Chief Financial Officer Donna Dunnings bailed disgraced staffer Tony Cole out of jail twice more than originally reported, court documents say.
Omid Memarian: Hostage Diplomacy: Roxana Saberi and the Three jailed Iranian Diplomats	Top
In response to a piece in which I thoroughly criticized the Iranian Intelligence regarding the arrest of American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi, I was contacted by an Iranian diplomat who asked, me; if it's all about human rights, why isn't anybody talking about the three Iranian diplomats who have been taken hostage by the U.S. forces in Iraq since 2007 ? What was he implying? What is the connection with the arrest of a journalist in Tehran and those three Iranian diplomats in Iraq? And is that the reason why the United States has been tragically unsuccessful in helping to release Saberi or other American-Iranians in prison? There is a simple answer to this question; the Obama administration is not in a position to, directly, put pressure on the Iranian government to release it's imprisoned citizen. On the contrary, U.S. authorities' frequent demands from the Iranian government has changed the nature of Saberi's case from a domestic matter and elevated it to a U.S-Iran relation issue. Now, while Roxana Saberi is sitting in a cell at the notorious Evin prison , she likely understands that she is simply a pawn in the U.S-Iran cat and mouse game. On January 11, 2007, U.S. forces arrested five Iranian diplomats in Iran's Consulate. The U.S. forces say that those arrested were members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is a part of Iran's official army. The United States considers IRGC a terrorist organization. Two of these diplomats were released in November 2007 after 305 days in prison. The other three are still in the U.S. custody. No one expects teachers or fishermen to be sent to U.S. embassies around the world; U.S. embassies are filled with CIA agents, military associates and diplomats, as are the Iranian embassies. Therefore no one should be surprised that the arrested individuals are members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps; Iran is practically run by the Revolutionary Guard Corps. President Ahmadinejad himself was a midlevel officer of the Revolutionary Guard back in the 1980's. Several dozens of Iranian Members of Parliament are also former Revolutionary Guard commanders; add to this a long list of ministers and high-ranking officials. On the other hand, the Intelligence Service section of the Revolutionary Guard is in charge of finding spies and identifying other threats, rendering it a force that has been running the show for arresting Iranian-Americans over the last years. In an interview, Saberi's lawyer told me there is no evidence in her case that validates the claim that she had intention to spy for anybody in the U.S. This lack of solid evidence shows that the Iranian government cannot prove such charges. If they had any evidence, they would have officially publicized it to embarrass the U.S. government, something they thrive on. But, let us not forget that the United States has publically admitted to sending agents to Iran. American-Iranians who have dual nationality and travel with their Iranian passports are the easy targets. By arresting American-Iranians the Revolutionary Guard seeks two goals. First, fighting with the United States in a propaganda war and reminding them of their vulnerabilities, as well as sending a strong reminder about the three Iranian prisoners in US custody in Iraq. Secondly, sending an intimidating message to all Americans and American-Iranians who travel to Iran for business, journalistic assignments, or cultural tourism to shut their mouths and be careful of severe consequences of any attachment to the U.S. intelligence forces. In fact, Roxana Saberi might be the latest victim of the proxy hostage taking game between the two countries. On the other hand, while the arrest and imprisonment of Saberi, forcing her to write false confessions of her wrong-doings and sentencing her to eight years prison is unjustifiable (the Iranians do it on a regular basis with their own citizens), keeping three Iranian diplomats in prison for more than 2 years, with rumors of tortured and mistreatment, seems at odds with Obama's premise of mutual respect, which was beautifully formulated in his Nowruz message to Iranians last March . The United States has to come to the realization that it's impossible to take three Iranian diplomats hostage for almost two years, no matter what you call them, and then expect the Iranian government to release Roxana Saberi. Iranian government should be accountable in the case of Saberi's arrest, as should the U.S. government in the case of those three diplomats. When is comes to human rights the color of your passport really doesn't matter. More on Roxana Saberi
Liz Spikol: Tips From Real, Live, Breathing, Non-Professional People on Dealing With Stress	Top
You've seen them -- the lists, tips, tricks, tools telling you how to make your life better. Some are great. They're fun. And sometimes useful. And sometimes, not so much. They're especially prevalent in the context of mental health newsletters and websites, which is understandable. After all, those of us who suffer from mental illness often seek advice on how to make it through each day. I'm certainly open to any suggestions about how to grapple with my bipolar disorder -- because no matter how fabulous your meds are, it's still going to be rocky now and then. But a lot of these lists, well -- they suck. I mean, don't you already know you should exercise? Eat right? Get enough sleep? I could write this stuff in the sleep I don't even get enough of. So I put out a call to fellow sufferers who read my blog to come up with better tips for dealing with stress -- tips you haven't heard before. I present them to you, in no particular order. I urge you to add more of your own in the comments. 1. Squeeze your dog's snout while singing, "snoutie snoutie snoutie." (No dog is harmed during this procedure. Also works with cats and guinea pigs.) 2. Have sex. If you don't have a partner, take things into your own hands, so to speak. 3. Forgo pat, soothing music and listen to heavy metal instead. 4. Question authority. 5. Put your own air mask on first, then help others put theirs on. 6. Let the poop and piss out of your system. 7. Wear soft, luscious clothing that makes you feel like a cloud when it's next to your skin. 8. Sing out loud to your favorite music in the car. When others stare, smile and wave. 9. Yell "Poop!" anytime you're frustrated/depressed or feel dread due to anxiety. 10. Eat cheese, and lots of it. And here are Seven Steps to Bliss: 1. Buy new socks (nice thick expensive kind). 2. Throw on radiator. 3. Get good book (short stories of Bernard Malamud or maybe Paul Bowles). 4. Unplug communication devices. 5. Put toasty new socks on cold feet. 6. Drink champagne. 7. Ease (or leap) into bliss. What else, guys? More on Yoga
Jay Glatfelter: On Lost "The Variable"	Top
Wow. That was a rather intense episode. A mother sends her only son to be killed by herself in the past to save the world? And we thought Locke was the "Messiah" figure. Last night's 100th episode of the series, titled "The Variable," played out like a classic Greek tragedy. Eloise Hawking raised her son (Daniel Faraday) his whole life to be killed by her eventually. But is Faraday dead? As it happens with just about any character that is killed on the show, there is debate on whether or not that person is really dead. A good 98% of the time, the character ends up being dead. The one bit of evidence in the "Faraday's alive" camp that is making the Internet rounds is that Faraday seemed to be behind the camera during last year's Comic-Con video with Pierre Chang. In last night's episode, Chang would have none of Faraday's theories on time travel. So this would mean that Faraday is alive right? There is a lot of debate amongst "Lost" fans right now as to whether or not that was Faraday speaking in the video or if the video should even be considered canon. If you don't know about the video here it is now. It's from San Diego Comic Con 2008 and was shown during the "Lost" panel with Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse, and Matthew Fox. Give it a few moments for the character to get in the Dharma booth. Listen for the person behind the camera. Is that Faraday? Does that prove he is still alive? So is Faraday dead or alive? "The Variable" was really rich in foreshadowing. I have watched it twice and there was so much more information that I saw during the second viewing. If you watch it again, listen closely to Faraday's conversations with the other Losties, especially Miles. While some of the answers (such as Widmore planting the fake 815 plane and Widmore being Faraday's father) weren't too shocking, I believe the writers gave us an awful lot of clues about what is to come in this episode. You can only really see them with multiple viewings, so if you have the time watch it again and see what new things you discover. "The Variable" was a great example of tragic irony. The weight that must have been on Hawking's shoulders to know that she would train/raise her son to be shot by her must have been huge. As an episode it was a great one. I understand some of the complaints that the answers weren't that shocking, but that wasn't the point of the storyline. The point was to set up the events to come. The writers let Faraday slyly hint at what was to come so well that some of his hints are only caught on repeat viewings. So if you're on the fence about this episode, watch it again. You won't be disappointed. If you want even more Lost discussion check out my podcast here or on iTunes More on ABC
Mark Kirk Eyes Senate Run, Republican Strong In New Poll	Top
Illinois GOP congressman Mark Kirk would start off in solid position at winning in the Illinois Senate race, according to a new statewide poll. More on Senate Races
Denial-istan	Top
by Farrukh Rehan Every morning I roll out of bed and scan the papers on the net. Today, like most days, I find something distressing about Pakistan. As part of my new routine I call my younger brother in Lahore. The exchange is familiar to both of us: No, he wasn't near the suicide bombing/ commando attack/ mammoth demonstration/ drone fired missile. Yes, he will be careful and will not visit fancy restaurants where he may be targeted in an attack against "Western" establishments, and yes, he agreed, he will not go to pray at mosques either, which perplexingly also seem to be a favored target of the radical Islamic extremists who send the suicide bombers. It is a devastating failure of state for any country when its citizens have to think twice before going to their place of worship. But the biggest failure of all is the utter inability of the leadership of Pakistan, both civilian and military, to unite the Pakistani people against this grave and imminent threat, and to explain to them what is going on, who is attacking the very core of the republic and what needs to be done to defeat this threat. In the absence of national leadership or even basic coherence at the top, rumors and ideological punditry masquerade as reason. A television anchor insists that all the attacks are the handiwork of Indian intelligence agents. A talking head on another channel claims that the Taliban are misunderstood - all they want to do is to bring swift justice to the country. Another strategic expert assures viewers that everything happening in Pakistan is the U.S.'s fault. Drone attacks are creating anti-Americanism, and its only natural that those attacked will retaliate wherever they can. If the US were to simply stop the drone attacks on Pakistan, everything would be just fine. The fact that Pakistan was spinning out of control well before anyone had heard the term drone hamla, is left out of the conversation. Some though, have a more sinister explanation for Pakistan's rapid descent into chaos. They whisper that the Pakistani army is orchestrating the bombings and ceding territory in Swat to ensure continued US attention and funding. How else can you explain the total capitulation of the vaunted 500,000 strong Pak army, which can't seem to battle a rag-tag force of a few thousand militants? But a counter theory gaining currency is that it's actually the United States that is simultaneously supporting extremists on the one hand, and launching drone attacks with the other. The purpose of such dastardly duplicity? Well duh, to break up Pakistan into pieces so that the US can take over its precious nuclear weapons. The net result of this mass confusion is that the people of Pakistan can't seem to diagnose what is apparent to any objective observer: A) - that the process of acceding to Islamist demands that started in the 70's has reached its logical conclusion, where the Islamists are now simply demanding that the whole country be handed over to them. And B) - the cancer of extremism, once foolishly used by the State for its own purposes, has metastasized and is now spreading through the body of the nation. But admitting this would be tantamount to admitting that we have been on the wrong path for a very long time. It would mean admitting that we have been wrong in our blind pursuit of Kashmir to the detriment of Pakistan; that we have been wrong in our meddling in Afghanistan for the sake of strategic depth; wrong in neglecting our people's education and development in favor of purchasing F-16s. And most of all, it would mean admitting that we have been wrong in changing ourselves from our founder's vision - a progressive, Muslim majority but pluralistic Pakistan - to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. No one has the courage to face these bitter truths. It is far easier to be in denial than to examine the core beliefs that form our national mythology. It is far easier to be indignant about the infringement of our sovereignty by U.S. drones than to wonder how a nation could claim to be sovereign and yet be largely dependent on the generosity of other nations for paying its bills. It is far easier to keep blaming the U.S. for a thirty year old Afghan policy, rather than to ask why we chose to continue that policy once the Soviets had retreated. And so it continues; every horrific incident, every injustice, every new low is justified and explained away. Mumbai attacks that trace back to Pakistan? Can't be Pakistanis because the attackers seemed to know their way around Mumbai too well. What about the daily bombings across Pakistan? Of course it's the work of India, perhaps the U.S., or maybe even Israel. What about the killings and beheadings in FATA areas? Well, those are unsettled areas, so what happens there doesn't really affect the rest of the country. And the handing over of Swat valley to the Taliban? It's what the people of Swat wanted - the Taliban will bring peace in exchange for territory. What about the flogging of a 17 year old girl in Swat captured on video? The first response; That was shameful, no ifs and / or buts. A few hours later; Maybe the video was a hoax to defame Pakistan? A further few hours later; It's definitely a hoax. How could the girl take 34 lashes and then be able to walk home? A few days later; People have forgotten about it and moved on. As the body of the patient convulses on the operating table, and the doctors squabble over both the diagnosis and the treatment, the seeds sowed in past decades - seeds of extremism, seeds of disenfranchisement, seeds of misgovernance - have come to bear their deadly fruit. I can only surmise that this fruit is so bitter, the picture in the mirror so ghastly, the fate so clearly written on walls, that our minds cannot accept it and denial is the only refuge for us. After all, if Amerindia is responsible for all this, we are responsible for nothing. Not for creating it, nor for fixing it. I place another call, this time to my sister in law. She laughs at my concerns. "My dear brother, the media exaggerates everything," she tells me. "You people living abroad become paranoid. We're used to it. This is Pakistan. This is how it's always been. People are going about their business and life goes on. It will all blow over in time." "I gotta go now, we're going out to dinner," she tells me, and hangs up. If our leaders and our people continue to keep their eyes wide shut, I'm afraid no amount of aid or drone strikes can prevent the coming calamity that will likely dwarf Iraq and Afghanistan. Farrukh Rehan is a Pakistani writer living in Montreal. He writes on the Blogzine www.pakteahouse.wordpress.com This is part of HuffPost World's Spotlight On Pakistan. We are looking to build our network of people living in Pakistan who can help us understand what is happening there. These people will send us reports -- either snippets of information or full-length stories -- about how the political crisis affects life in Pakistan. If you are interested, this is an opportunity to have a continued conversation with Americans about what's happening in your country. If you would like to participate, please sign up here . Please follow HuffPost World on Facebook and Twitter. More on Pakistan
ABC/WaPo Poll: For First Time, More Americans Back Gay Marriage Than Not	Top
Support for gay marriage, legalizing illegal immigrants and decriminalizing marijuana all are at new highs. Three-quarters of Americans favor federal regulation of greenhouse gases. Two-thirds support establishing relations with Cuba. More on Gay Marriage
10 Worst Countries To Be A Blogger	Top
New York, April 30, 2009--With a military government that severely restricts Internet access and imprisons people for years for posting critical material, Burma is the worst place in the world to be a blogger, the Committee to Protect Journalists says in a new report. CPJ's "10 Worst Countries to be a Blogger" also identifies a number of countries in the Middle East and Asia where Internet penetration has blossomed and government repression has grown in response. More on Burma
Flu Fears: Iraq To Kill Wild Boars At Zoo	Top
BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government decided Thursday to kill three wild boars at the Baghdad Zoo amid worldwide fears of swine flu, officials said. No cases of swine flu have been reported in Iraq, and global health officials have said there is no evidence that people have contracted swine flu by eating pork or handling pigs. But Iraqi officials say they don't want to take any chances. Iraq has few, if any, pigs used as livestock because its dominant religion, Islam, considers the animals impure. Wild boars roam the countryside in some areas. "The ministry of agriculture made a decision today to kill the three pigs in Baghdad Zoo as a precautionary measure," Dr. Sabah Jassim Mozan, the head of the ministry's veterinarian department, told The Associated Press. No date has been set for their killing, according to Dr. Ihssan Jaafar Ahmed, who heads Iraq's swine flu committee. Zoo officials could not be reached for comment. Earlier Thursday, the mud-covered boars grazed quietly inside their large pen at the zoo. Iraq's decision is among several drastic measures governments have taken to combat swine flu. Egypt began slaughtering the roughly 300,000 pigs in the country even though no cases have been reported there. World health experts say many of these measures may not stop the disease from spreading. The World Health Organization, which has stressed it has not found any association between pigs and the disease in humans, said Thursday it would stop using the term "swine flu." The fast-spreading virus has been blamed for more than 160 deaths in Mexico and one in the United States and has been detected in several other countries, including Israel. More on Iraq
Steve Parker: Obama - "Ich bin ein Chrysler!"	Top
And so it begins: Making bankruptcy sound like a fun thing to do on a slow spring afternoon, Barack Obama today "congratulated" Chrysler on the "opportunity" of Chapter 11 and if I were GM, I wouldn't be getting too friendly with this guy and his staff at the next White House cocktail party. I mean, look at what happens to companies he likes. Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection Thursday in New York under Section 363(b) of Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code -- and officials hope Chrysler will stay in bankruptcy for just 30- to-60 days. The company's merger with Italian giant Fiat has also been approved by the White House, and former Chrysler owner Daimler is giving-up their 20% stake in the Highland Park, MI, car-maker. Fiat will shut-down their Euro car-making operations for as long as two months over the summer to prepare for the Chrysler deal; the first Fiat-Chrysler made-in-USA cars might not appear for at least two years. In a 15-minute speech announcing these moves this morning at the White House, President Barack Obama praised those who have made shared sacrifice to try and save the iconic American company, including Chrysler management, the UAW, creditors which agreed to accept as little as 33% on the dollar for their securitized Chrysler debt holdings, new Chrysler partner Fiat and old partner Daimler. Obama speaks before the 2008 US elections in Berlin in front of an estimated 300,000; the speech was reminiscent of JFK's famous June, 1963 "Ich bin ein Berliner" ("I am a Berliner") speech. Today, Obama told us, like it or not, that we are all Chrysler, with important stakes in the company, from our shared national and institutional memories of it to the US middle-class which the company helped in great part to create He also blasted in plain and no uncertain terms "hedge funds," "speculators" and other investors and creditors who refused to support the government's efforts to have them cut the amount of Chrysler debt they hold. "I stand with the Chrysler employees and their families, dealers and communities. I do not stand with those who won't help out when everyone else is supporting," Obama said. Chrysler will also idle most of its plants during its time in bankruptcy. The shutdown begins Monday and will stretch through the 30 to 60 days it is expected to take to restructure in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company said in a statement today, according to industry journal Automotive News. Chrysler has 12 assembly plants, including eight in the United States. It also owns and operates five North American engine plants, six stamping plants and seven transmission and parts plants. Chrysler has 26,000 UAW workers and 10,000 represented by the Canadian Auto Workers. Obama said Fiat is planning to bring "billions" in technology and car-making ability to the US quickly, and that the Canadian government and the Canadian Auto Workers have also approved the deal (Chrysler has extensive facilities in Canada). Apparently, Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli was among those who didn't wholly support the White House's plan. "We would have preferred not to use this 'surgical bankruptcy,' Nardelli was quoted as saying by CNBC, "An inordinate amount of time went into creating this plan. This is a bittersweet moment for me." Incumbent Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli introduces some Chrysler EV concepts at a 2008 press conference; the dream cars weren't enough to catch public - or investor - interest, and Nardelli will leave his Chrysler post, at the latest, when the company emerges from bankruptcy As if he had some better idea. "Bittersweet?" He'll work his way through it while spending some of his pension with his buddies on country club golf courses like those at La Quinta or Doral, the natural and recommended habitat for failed US auto executives. But the corporate fate of his second-in-command, Jim Press, who ran Toyota in this country for many years and was the first and still-only American on Toyota's board of directors in Japan, hasn't been announced as yet, and is frankly much more interesting than anything having to do with Nardelli. Press brings the goods; he knows how to run a successful car company. Chrysler should keep Press on as president, running day-to-day-operations and reporting only to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne. Obama said that the US government will be backing all Chrysler warranties; that the "full force" of Washington is behind this entire plan. The government also announced that it is loaning GMAC additional money so it can take over financing of Chrysler vehicles from Chrysler Financial. The government already has infused nearly $6 billion into GMAC. The Treasury will provide Chrysler with $4.5 billion in exit financing. The company will not now cancel any of its retiree contracts (covering some 173,000 UAW members), reduce current benefits or lay-off any workers (Obama says today's plan "saves 30,000 Chrysler jobs"). But a question remains, as we've noted in this space before, concerning what Chrysler plans on doing with their 3,300-strong US dealer network. No doubt they want to cut it to some extent, though Fiat would like as many as possible to remain open so they can sell their Euro-made cars there, but whether the company will use their bankruptcy filing to avoid compensating lost dealers isn't yet known. Only a bankruptcy judge can break the powerful and protective state franchise laws which dealers use to establish their relationships with car-makers. Chrysler will have a new board of directors and the government will take a role in helping to select the board. A UAW health care trust will own 55 percent of Chrysler's stock, but won't have voting rights control. The trust will, however, appoint a member to the company's board of directors. Fiat will start with a 20 percent stake in Chrysler and as it meets three different milestones -- including building a 40 mpg vehicle in the United States -- it will get a total of a 35 percent stake in the company. Fiat will be allowed to increase that stake only after US taxpayers are fully paid back by Chrysler for the various loans and loan guarantees Chrysler has received since late last year. Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in his custom-made Alfa-Romeo 6C 2300 Pescara; Fiat makes Alfa, Lancia, Ferrari and Maserati in addition to their own epynomous brand, and now Chrysler, too. Heady company, no? The automaker -- which between 1936 and 1949 was the second-largest U.S. auto company -- narrowly avoided bankruptcy in 1980, when it won a $1.5 billion government loan guarantee, which it paid off in 1983, ahead of schedule, in part on the strength of the K-Car and the sale of its defense unit. Even during its near-failure in 1979/1980, this company founded by an engineer who built locomotives and then cars and trucks, Walter P. Chrysler, was still the tenth largest corporation in America. In 1998, it was sold for $some $40 billion to Daimler-Benz -- a troubled tie-up that ended in 2007, when the German automaker sold Chrysler to wall Street's Cerberus Capital Management in a $7 billion deal. Cerberus will relinquish all equity and Daimler has agreed to give up their remaining 20% of Chrysler ownership and pay into the Chrysler health care fund. The company hopes to auction its good assets -- likely purchased by the U.S. Treasury -- while the bad assets would be left behind in bankruptcy court to be liquidated. Last night I finished re-reading Lee Iacocca's 1984 autobiography which details his march on congress in 1979 for $1.5 billion in loan guarantees to keep Chrysler alive. America's greatest-ever car salesman, Lido A. Iacocca. He saved Chrysler from the B-word the last time all this happened, in 1979 Iacocca was determined to do anything and everything to keep Chrysler from filing bankruptcy, believing the public would lose all confidence in the company and never again buy a Chrysler vehicle if they entered Chapter 11. President Obama talked his usual great game of absolute confidence at the end of his announcement this morning, yet one has to wonder why (and if) the American public would be anymore or less worried today about a car-maker bankruptcy than they were 25 years ago. But I have to admit it was exciting to hear the president tell the country, "If you're going to buy a new car, buy an American car." Shades of Lee Iacocca's most-famous TV advertising spot for Chrysler; "If you can find a better car, buy one." More on Barack Obama
Letter From Those Who Voted No On Chrysler Deal	Top
April 30, 2009 -- As of last night's deadline, we were part of a group of approximately 20 relatively small organizations; we represent many of the country's teachers unions, major pension and retirement plans and school endowments who have invested through us in senior secured loans to Chrysler. Combined, these loans total about $1 billion. None of us have taken a dime in TARP money. As much as anyone, we want to see Chrysler emerge from its current situation as a viable American company, and we are committed to doing what we can to help. Indeed, we have made significant concessions toward this end -- although we have been systematically precluded from engaging in direct discussions or negotiations with the government; instead, we have been forced to communicate through an obviously conflicted intermediary: a group of banks that have received billions of TARP funds.

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