Iran Update – Government Attempts to Shut Down Communications, yet Nationwide Student Protests documented – Students Demand Government Overthrow

Student Protestors Dec. 7th Iran - image: LA Times

Although the Iranian Government apparently did its best to shut down communications from within Iran, videos from students have made it to media outlets worldwide. Previously, protests were confined to Tehran and a few outlying larger cities, the protestors keen on noting their disgust over election fraud which had elevated Ahmadinejad to office. Yesterday, students across the country protested, from universities to high schools (see YouTube video below), and the protests had changed from one against a fraudulent election to one of government overthrow. An excellent article from ABC Australia outlines the current round of protests and the reason why the government may be powerless in the face what is deemed “revolution by proxy”, referring to the use of electronic media to both communicate and strategize, despite the best efforts of the regime.

The bravery of the Persian protestors is impressive, a groups of students from Mahsad Universality have trapped government forces (see video below), as the second day of unrest continues. Forces are reported to have surrounded schools and universities, while emergency executions and arrests are taking place. Although it is the youth that have shown a fearless opposition to the theocratic and corrupt regimes in place in Iran, there are 70 million people living under the hard lined theocratic rule of the Mullahs gone mad with Nuclear power. The protests that began months ago, and brutally halted by the ruling elites hired Arab forces, has failed to squelch the fire within the Persian heart that years for freedom.

As reports and condemnations against this latest round of repression, imprisonment and murder by execution of students comes from media worldwide, one wonders how long it will be before those currently in power, once again, board planes for exile in Europe. The brutality of the regime, and its denial of loss of power, are furthering the flames of revolution – the protestors of Tir, not beaten, rather seething and seeking the second, third and forth chance to effect change in Iran. It is only a matter of time before the Persian nation rises.

Students trap government forces inside University


Students trap government forces inside University

High School Students Protest

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Sarah Palin – Iowa Book Tour Stop Significance – Rock Stars and the Media

Palin Draws large crowds in economically stressed Michigan - blog Adoring Palin

From Politico Jonathan Martin offers an analysis of Sarah Palin’s latest stop on her book tour: Sioux City, Iowa. Martin is one of the hundreds of news articles questioning the former GOP Vice Presidential nominees visit to the state and the implied “significance” that her visit (or Pawlenty’s or Huckabee’s) must mean a run at the White House in 2012. What is missing from these articles is the fact that Iowa has bookstores, and Palin is on a book tour – nothing more and nothing less – on the face of it.

One thing is certain, on Palin, she is one of those individuals who inspires, either admiration or scorn, depending upon which end of the political spectrum one is based. That said, in recent months, Palin, as a conservative, has apparently added to her popularity as those pesky pollsters continue to print findings on that nations political ideology and Palin herself. CNN headlines: “Polls Show Sarah Palin Still Viable for 2012”, while, Rasmussen Polling shows that Republicans are currently holding a 7 point lead in the generic congressional ballot.

For the politically minded, there is a great deal of fun to be had in speculating on who might run in 2012, that said, Palin’s popularity, or, more to the point, the obsession over Palin, by the media and those who may not care for her (often one in the same), is becoming more palpable by the day. A stop in Iowa may be just that – a stop at a bookstore, to sign copies of a book, because the book store is simply – there. The fact that people are standing in line, in conservative districts, to purchase her book (and as noted in the Politico piece) and have never involved themselves before in Iowa politics, coming from Republican and Independent designations, speaks volumes, not about Palin’s intentions necessarily, but about the direction of political think in this country and the need to find someone who people “trust”.

Should the Palin book tour stopped in Massachusetts, (Not on the Schedule) and hundreds or more had lined up to get a signed copy of her book, that would have been significant. That said the book is getting harder to find in Massachusetts, a run into a local Borders found one copy left on the shelf – the books are on backorder.

This is reminiscent of the popularity of one much dismissed (by the media years in advance of his presidental run) Ronald Reagan, who in the end won the State of Massachusetts, not once, but twice in his presidential bids.

Palin may have been in Iowa (and most likely was) to support her book tour, nothing more, nothing less. However, the attention she is generating is, to say the least, intense. Palin, based on the Politico analysis, has the ability to appeal to men, women, independents, republicans, and a few former Democrats who view her as a role model. Even shock rapper, Eminem included Palin in the lyrics of his song “We Made You (RockStar)”. Inclusion in an Eminem “rap” hardly seems significant on the fact of it; however, he has taken pains to lampoon political figures of significance in the past: specifically the Clintons.

No one person knows the intentions of Sarah Palin at this point, when the clock winds down in November of 2010, and additional, non-book tour forays begin in the states of Iowa and New Hampshire then speculation can begin in earnest. In the meantime, the media is sure to keep her in the spotlight, with good or ill intent, which will only strengthen her “base” and introduce her to those independents filled with buyers remorse that have begun to take a second look at Palin as President.

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Coakley Appears to Lead Field of Democrats for Senate Seat - The Question Remains: Will Massachusetts Elect a Woman to the Senate? Analysis

Martha Coakely - Will Feminism Play a Role in the MA Senate Race? image speakout.com

The Assocatied Press, in reporting on the special election to fill Massachusetts vacant senate seat, headlined: “Insider, centerfold lead in race for Kennedy seat”. The “Insider” they refer to is State Attorney General, Martha Coakley, who, according to the last polls, maintains a 15 point lead (Rasmussen), over her male counterparts going into next Tuesdays primary. As to the “Centerfold”, Republican Scott Brown, had posed for Cosmopolitan Magazine over thirty years ago, in order to pay his way through law school . A match-up between the left-of-center Coakley (pro-abortion, pro-universal health care, and most likely to vote along party lines) and Republican Scott Brown (a moderate, who, is one of the few Republican State Senators in the Commonwealth) is considered a safe bet for Coakley. Or is it?

Enter the debate on Women and Feminism

Nancy Hopkins, a Biology Professor at MIT, wrote an article on Huffington Postwhich asked: “Will Women Vote for a Women”? That is the pivotal question Ms. Hopkins is asking, as she outlines the pros of a vote for Coakley: She’s pro-abortion.

That said, the feminist theory that a woman should vote for a woman based on gender alone, is ridiculous. Women should vote for the most qualified candidate, and it would be hoped that said candidate would be – a woman. That is not always the case. Hillary Clinton is an example, she was the most qualified candidate in the 2008 Democrat primary, and she, therefore, won the Massachusetts popular vote, so, in that respect women do vote for qualified candidates for public office.
Martha Coakley was also elected to office, the office of Attorney General. That said one has to take a harder look at Massachusetts in general, the bluest state, with the fewest women holding top jobs via the electorate. To date: not one woman, Republican or Democrat, has held the Governor’s Seat or a State Senate Seat by popular election. There is something hypocritical about this very liberal state: the make-up appears sexist.

Additionally, Ms. Hopkins is not factoring in political ideology and the makeup of the State’s electorate. Although most of the voting bloc in Massachusetts that is affiliated with a political party, are Democrats, that accounts for approximately thirty percent of the vote, Republican’s fare less well in this state, with approximately 11% of the electorate – the balance: unenrolleds or those choosing to belong to either party.

Should Coakley succeed on Tuesday in besting the three male contenders she faces; regardless of her valiant fund-raising efforts, she must, as a Democrat and a woman, in favor of abortion, cap and trade and health care reform (all three issues not as popular in Massachusetts as one would think)run against the fiscally conservative Scott Brown, whose opponent in the State Primary, Jack E. Robinson, has been running ads all over the Commonwealth accusing Scott Brown of being a Republican in Name Only. This message will resonate well with those unenrolled voters who are enthralled by moderates. (Note to Brown, don’t forget to send Robinson that “Thank You” card.)

Coakely will Face Republican Scott Brown in MA Senate Race - image: kennedyseat.com

Therefore, the outcome will be based on several factors, should Coakley sail through the primary, she will face sexism on the State Level, she is running as a Democrat at a time when the brand is somewhat damaged due to the economy. She will also face a charismatic, experienced and qualified Senator, and moderate Scott Brown, who has been identified by his opponent as being too moderate. Although one cannot pretend to have a crystal ball, one would hazard to guess that at this point, should this scenario play out, Coakley may end up being yet another woman who has been done wrong by the Massachusetts electorate.

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