So is the Iranian government reacting today with even a bit more positive spirit in response to the Obama administration's recent overtures?????
Answer---no:
"An American journalist jailed in Iran has been convicted of spying and sentenced to eight years in prison just days after she was tried behind closed doors, her lawyer said Saturday, dashing any hopes for her quick release. The verdict was the first time Iran has found an American journalist guilty of spying, and it was unclear how the conviction would affect recent overtures by the Obama administration for better relations and engagement with Washington's longtime adversary."
Yes, I suppose it is "unclear"--but only because it appears the Obama administration might well continue to push its failing Iran policy...
BASEBALL DIARY: the Chicago Cubs won a high-scoring battle yesterday against the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-7. Keys: Alfonso Soriano continues his clutch, hot hitting with a game-winning 2 run HR in the 8th. He now has 5 homers on the season. Carlos Marmol was able to hold the lead in the 9th, despite letting the first two runners reach. The Cubs need to hope their pitching stabilizes.
Meanwhile, if only the Texas Rangers had any pitching at all. They got blasted again last night, 12-3 by the heretofore light-hitting KC Royals. A bad start for Matt Harrison. But the Royals' Gil Meche is a very tough and solid pitcher, and he showed that last night, limiting the Rangers to 6 hits.
The Detroit Tigers played in Seattle last night--a place that usually is a house of horrors for them, and it was again yesterday, as Seattle beat Justin Verlander 6-3. One very bad inning for Verlander, who otherwise pitched OK. Seems like he's beset by bad luck--something always sure to surface for the Tigers when they visit the state of Washington...
HE'S AT IT AGAIN: in his speech today to the Central/South American summit meeting, President Obama again apologizes for past U.S. policies:
"In an opening speech to the 34-nation gathering on Friday, the president promised a new agenda for the Americas, as well as a new style. "We have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms," Obama said to loud applause. "But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership. There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations."
Will he never stop? It's time he stood up for this country, instead of apologizing for it.
Our enemies won't be impressed with his endless apology tours.
GLOBAL WARMING UPDATE: the ice in Antarctica is NOT melting, contrary to the Al Gore faction's claims:
"Ice is expanding in much of Antarctica, contrary to the widespread public belief that global warming is melting the continental ice cap. The results of ice-core drilling and sea ice monitoring indicate there is no large-scale melting of ice over most of Antarctica, although experts are concerned at ice losses on the continent's western coast."
Good luck to those who keep claiming the "debate" is over.
The NY Times' reliably liberal columnist Charles Blow just as predictably defends the Homeland Security Department's report warning of the dangers of growing "right-wing extremism."
Just as predictably, he has nothing to say about the report's vague language, which could easily be used to tar all conservatives...and, even more importantly, he too can cite no concrete examples of active far-right groups and/or that they've actually recruited significant numbers of soldiers, other supposed crazies, etc. Evidence? None.
