REPLY

Kourosh

Why do I point to Dodd? Because he was the one who specifically placed the bonus provision in the package then played stupid about it on live TV. Dodd is the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. This arrogant ass had a below-market mortgage from Countrywide that he never disclosed in the required financial disclosures. He is also in the pocket of the insurance industry, receiving more political contributions from the insurance industry than any other politician. His wife was a director of a company AIG owns.

Even the newspapers in the Northeast, which are by and large extremely liberal, as are the voters, are fuming at this weasel. The voters in Connecticut are ready to throw his ass out next year and replace him with one of several Republicans. Can you imagine that? A Republican senator from Connecticut? Hell has frozen over! You think I'm "pointing a gun" at him? There's an entire firing squad trained on him.

I know you will continue to deny the major role Democrats have played in this fiasco with their policies. When the economy was growing, one of the things it was called was "a time of prosperity for America". Now, these two-faced bastards are calling it "greed". They have always been about having their cake and eating it too.

They pushed their legislation through so that people who wouldn't normally qualify for loans under traditional, recognized and accepted standards and practices of lending would now all of a sudden qualify for a loan. They forced banks into this, by making a bank's ability to open more branches, or acquire or merge with another bank conditional upon the number or Community Reinvestment Act "points" they have. The more points, the faster and easier they will approve such growth.

And how does a bank earn those CRA "points"? By the number of loans they made to otherwise unqualified applicants. Loans that  are now called "toxic paper" or "toxic mortgages".

And when Bush's people (yes, BUSH'S PEOPLE) went to Capitol Hill in April of 2001 to voice concerns about the lack of regulation and competent oversight of these loans, they were told to shove it. Bush's people went back again in 2003, seeking to create an administration specifically for the oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They were shot down. Then again in 2005, The Federal Housing Enterprise Reform Act, a bill sponsored by Republicans to increase Fannie and Freddie oversight, was killed again by Democrats, who were saying that it wasn't necessary, and that Fannie and Freddie were "fiscally and fundamentally sound".

Yeah, right.

Yes, it's very bad for the government to take that much control of a company. No matter whether you vote Democrat or Republican, you have to agree that this government cannot even run itself properly. Therefore how can anyone reasonably expect them to be any better in running a company in the private sector? It's a perfect example of the foxes guarding the henhouse or the inmates running the asylum.

As to the UAW, they wore out their usefulness years ago. They have been holding GM, Ford and Chrysler hostage with their increasingly aggressive labor demands that have resulted in significant increases in the per unit cost of prodcution. The only thing the UAW is an advocate for is the UAW.

The auto industry is global now. General Motors and Ford both operate fully functioning entities in the UK, Europe, and Australia, and have done so for decades. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Subaru, Hyundai, BMW, and Mercedes Benz all have manufacturing facilities here in the U.S. They also have research, design, engineering and development facilities here. And all of these companies have lower per unit costs than Detroit. All of these workers, even the Americans who work at the Japanese or European companies' U.S. plants have standards of living that are on par with or even greater than those of UAW workers. Can you explain that? If you believe them to be anything other than the parasitic vultures they are, probably not.

Also, don't make explaining away or justifying the UAW contingent upon an explanation of anyone else. Each stand on their own merits or shortcomings. It also looks very childish. "Everybody's doing it" is a worthless excuse.

As far as who has the final word, you need to understand the system of government here, including presidential vetoes, congressional overrides, and so forth.

And as far as HELPING EVERYONE, I leave you with this question to ponder:

Does the government have the right to determine how much of an income you are entitled to earn? Because that's what this administration is trying to do right now.

Kaveh. Those steps that

Kaveh.

Those steps that obama is taking even though they seem wrong and even so out of whack, it is a remedy that he can find to the even more wrong steps that were taken before him. So you tell me, whoes fault is it actually? Is it appropriate, to have hight expectations and blame him for not being able to carry out every single promise he made during his campaign, knowing full well that he has been confronted with more than he had expected to! I am not suggesting "over socialistic" steps, All i said was a little less opposition to such practices would have helped to stop the greed and lead us to a more reasonable economic path.

What "government" kaveh? Obama's Government had just barely taken shape when This mess and others occurred. Are you overlooking Bush's role in all this mess and laying the blame on a barely 6-month old not-so-formidable government? Was it a bad thing when they took that much control in the company? Something that, with a series of other new regulations, should have been done a long time ago.
Why are you pointing your gun at Dodd, what about republican senators?If You are so upset about the message they sent out, You must have puked your guts out in the past 8 years!!!

Why do you diminish the role that UAW has played in in its advocacy? Why does it bother you that UAW by setting tough standards is supposedly "bleeding" these companies? Isn't bleeding caused
by watchdogs better than having to force employees to retire early or having to pay them something to get the hell out?
The real reason why GM or any other american car company can not be an efficient operator is not the existence of UAWS aziz jan. All these companies need to worry about is having to overcome the technological challenges set forth by german and japanese companies. Foregin companies have obviously better standards, in treating their employees and their techniqual acheivements, that are kicking some serious american ass, that many consumers are willingly ignroing all the incentive they are offering to sell their products and rushing to buy japanese, korean, etc. they have more serious issues to worry about than UAW:)

I will be glad to explain and Justify why UAW did such extravagant spending, Just as soon as Our Republican buddies finish telling us why in the hell, and under their watch, all the bank and insurance executives were able to reap in tons and tons of million dolllars in bonuses and what have you, instead of taking care of their own pension funds and employees.

Republicans and Increased regulation?? LOL did you get this from "the Onion"?? No seriously.
Mr. NOURAEE, republicans are the masters of spreading and extending DE-REGULATION. what are you talking about??? besides,
Who was the Chief executive of the nation? who had the final word, kaveh? Who signed the bills and who had the authority to Veto, A democratic sentor or congressman or Mr. president?
Baba there is a limit to be delusional. LOL

This administration is cleaning the crap the other one left behind. It is HELPING everyone, and i mean EVERYONE.
Oh, I lost the contract with ABC. They said they did not get your recommendation letter:) so ...
Have a nice day:).

Kourosh

What happened? I thought you were promoting ABC's prime time schedule!  :-)

Yes, Bush started with the bailouts. But I didn't like it then, either. Because even then, with Bush pushing for the package now known as TARP, there was never a clear plan for the "whos, hows, whats, whens & whys" for distribution of these funds. The money was just tossed in the air and wherever it landed, it landed, so to speak.

And the same thing is happening again with the $787 billion that was passed after TARP. Money that was supposed to immediately create jobs, yet layoffs and unemployment claims continue. But where is it? You don't know, I don't know, and the people who signed off on it and should know don't know.

You won't get an argument from me about Henry Paulson, either, even though compared to Geitner he is a freaking genius, but that's not saying a lot.

Where we will always disagree is in the areas concerning causes of this mess, as well as the approach to fixing it.

The issue I have is not with the fact that Obama is taking steps, but the fact that these are the wrong steps.

The answer to what you categorize as "overly capitalistic" policies is not to implement overly socialist policies to counter them. 

We're not seeing an end to the layoffs, nor are we seeing credit flowing at even 50% of what it was.

In the case of AIG, the entire AIG Group is being scapegoated over these bonuses for a select group of people in one particular department in this huge conglomerate, when we all know that the government wasn't just aware of these bonuses, but that they had specifically addressed them and signed off on the compensation when they took over 80% of the company. The story changed so often, going from poltical fable to complete bullshit in a matter of days, with Christopher Dodd stuttering and sounding like a scratched CD on CNN when he got nailed. It's insulting. The message they sent was "we don't really give a shit about this, but we're going to pretend we do for the sake of appearances."

As to GM's problems, the root cause is that albatross called the UAW. They have been bleeding GM, Ford and Chrysler and their employees dry, long after the time where they actually served a positive purpose. When it was just those three companies building cars in the U.S.,  there was a need for a workers' rights to be protected, for an advocate to ensure fair wages and benefits for them. But now? The Japanese and the Germans have non-union factories in the U.S. that employ many of the same people who used to work at union plants. Neither GM, Ford or Chrysler can ever be expected to operate with any degree of efficiency so long as they have to answer to the UAW.

And before any of you liberal union lovers start attacking, explain why the UAW spent millions of dollars to purchase a plot of real estate, then build and operate an exclusive country club, one of the ritziest, most exlcusive country clubs in the U.S., while their pension fund is short by tens of millions of dollars.

Where you see that all the blame must be heaped upon Bush for what led to this, you fail to acknowledge the tremendous level of culpability that must be borne by the Democrats in Congress, who, motivated purely by partisan spite, refused to listen to Bush's people when they called for increased regulation. Regulation of programs that were implemented by Democrats who pushed for looser lending guidelines in order for unqualified home loan applicants to become homeowners.

What is happening now is far worse than what Ken Lay did. Ken Lay screwed over shareholders.

The government is screwing over EVERYBODY.

And that's no exaggeration.

The constrains on the

The constrains on the current lending policies of credit lines in general, are the consequence of free-flowing and unrestrained use of credit in the past 8 years. remember? on the way towards an "ownership" society? now, everyone is paying the price, including some Owners themselves.

So, on behalf of the entire nation and the administartion, accept our appologies, and be certain that in due time, you will be able to resume utilizing such generous credit lines and see them restored ever so efficiently,So some people will get yet another shot at "abusing" them.

KN: you love to live and exaggerate don't you?

Kaveh

Obama and this administration,would have never had to pass any stimulation packages, had it not been for the STINK that your republican buddies created. Have you forgotten that the very idea of Bailing out the private sector came to life by Bush joon and his buddies? You have so skillfully tiptoed your way around this huge reality, as if it never happened. And oh, the bald guy who promoted it, Took the title of Time's man of the year. What was his name? Oh yea. Paulson.
Very interesting that you should be upset as to why we do not see an end to layoffs and the restoration of the credit flow! Given the fact that, AGAIN, republicans were the one who initiated this move and it was under them that stock market started the "Tanking" buisness with no shame.

At least he is taking some bold steps to solve the problems. WHat did The previous goverment do, rather than to initiated the downward movement cascade? Is it so bad that somone at least is making the attempt To clean his Go... zadans? Chenan zad, ke No matter how much time and effort and money is spent on such matters, There will still be those who dare to Whine and takes ages to fix everything. You should be wise enough to remember that such layoffs continued to occur on a more massive scale while B was in power.

He is not following Bush's policies, he is stuck trying to figure out how to get out of this pile of Manor that bush created. do you blame him?

You are looking at having to compensate for 8 years of Wrongful policies, and bad decisions, and yet you Criticize and blame someone for not being good enough, just for not being able to stick to his campaign promises?

The styles of governance and government policies that gave rise to giants such as AIG and GM, were the s ame anti-socialism, overly capitalistic policies that somehow guaranteed our prosperity and allof a sudden are not bearing fruits anymore. Those
were created by the same people who would just utter a one-liner such as "he is doing a good job and is the right candidate" without elaborating much else.
Don't you realize that a president's performance should not be merely judged by how well he washes his predecessor's Gand-zadans away???????

HAd there been less whining and crying against SOCIALSM, we would not have been in this 20 feet deep Tovalet of economy and things would not have been so bad.

Very Hilarious and shallow, that you think Kenneth lays CRIMES were miniscule compared to this one. Coming up with various schemes to ruin a company and ruin lives all over... yeah. right, Shame on this obama admin. To try to be creative and find ways. He shoud have done what Ken lay did, Screw everyone indiscriminately and then go to a supermax facility and then hang himself or something, or do your time and come out and write a book and maybe a movie... You love to see that don't you?

Wow, You should be appointed as chief strategist for the next, inshalah Repulican candidate.

Dariush

With your continued blathering, you're demonstrating that NASA need not go into the depths of outer space to study the black hole.

So far, let's see what Obama has done.

Passed a stimulus package in the amount of $787 billion (principal only) with absolutely no clue as to how it will ever be paid back. Furthermore, there are no guarantees that this will be the only such package (the administration's own words). A package that was supposed to be for the immediate creation of jobs and the restoration of the flow of consumer credit, in order for the economy to grow again.

The result: more layoffs and first time unemployment claims. The stock market took yet ANOTHER crap. (STRIKE ONE)

What else has he done?

Faked surprise, shock and disgust over the AIG bonuses. when they were knowingly and specifically left intact when AIG was given bailout funds.

Fires the CEO of General Motors and tells Chrysler to form an alliance with FIAT, a company with equal if not greater financial issues of their own. But tells the American people that the U.S. Government will warranty your car.

The result: Stock markets continue to dive. GM, Chrysler, their suppliers, their vendors and ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES are no safer from financial ruin than they were prior to the election. (STRIKE TWO)

And:

Says before the election that he will end the war.

Result: Sends more troops to Afghanistan. (STRIKE THREE)

Obama will gain my respect not by following Bush's policies, but by putting an end to this practice of bullshitting the public into thinking that they have the answers and know what is best for you and me, when they don't.

The government has done a piss-poor job of running the government. How can anyone reasonably expect them to do any better in running a company like AIG or GM?

If the government were in fact a publicly traded corporation under the oversight of the SEC, they would all be thrown under the Supermax prison for embezzlement and corporate fraud.

Compared to what this administration is doing right now, Kenneth Lay of Enron just took some office supplies.

kaveh Nouraee

You say, "so far".
Obama has been in office for three months and has been more positive than Bush in his eight years. We shall see his foreign policies in action. I think he should pull out of Afghanistan as well, instead of increasing the troops. but still I am optimistic.
As I see it, If he follows the same policy as Bush, he looses my respect and gains your.

By the way, your eyes are popping out. Are you sure Obama is your only problem? I think you should see a doctor!

Dariush

Other than the usual small contingent of racist rednecks, the only one who I have heard bring up his race is you.

Your argument offers nothing beyond the usual ignorant and arrogant "I hate Israel" way of thinking.

As far as Obama's ideology, you're right. I have a huge problem with it. I gave him a chance to show that he has something positive to offer. So far, all he has shown is that he has absolutely no clue as to what he is doing.

Before you start blowing your horn about "justice, equal rights, mutual respect and peace for all", why don't you explain what you think those words actually mean.

kaveh Nouraee

You say, It is not about Obama's race and who cares.
For many Americans race is his number one problem. Perhaps for you the problem is his ideology.

I suppose the Israelis with their discrimination, apartheid, genocide or the criminal republicans have better ideology in your opinion than Obama who stands for justice, equal rights, mutual respect and peace for all.

You just can not complain about IRI's and yet defend Israeli's and west's crimes that are out in the open, as this unnamed writer is. world knows better and world is not the U.S.A. as Bush and his administration always claimed to be.

United State is blessed to have a president like Obama with sound judgment, wisdom and passion for bringing peace to the world that will also change U.S.A.'s image in the world. They should embrace this opportunity, but some think they have a better ideology and should change the world by force and war.

Mr Mani, you are so confused, why?

1. Mentioning Shimon Peres message for Norooz is outrageous. Iranians are not Zionists, so don't suggest a racist war criminal's message to have any value to Iranian people or Iranian Americans. Peres is pushing United States to bomb and destroy Iran and you expect us to read his message or recommend it to President Obama! Are you out of your freaking mind? Your dream and Zionists and warmongers' dream to turn Iran into another Iraq is not going to happen.

2. If you had 1/100 of President Obama's intelligent you would have seen the light instead of insulting him. You prefer somebody at your level like that village Idiot from Texas. But the Idiot is gone, get used to it. It's a new regime in Washington with an educated, peaceful and intelligent man at its helm.

3. Shah is gone and his son is living comfortably with the billions his daddy stole from Iranian nation. He doesn't have the motivations or the balls to return to Iran and why should he? He's just another millioner living a comfortable life abroad.

4. Iranians will march on regardless of who will rule them. They overthrew monarchy if you could have called it monarchy, since Reza shah was just a peasant who declared himself a Shah and Mohammad Reza was a playboy who had to rule by the orders of British and Americans after they overthrew the popular government of Dr Mosaddegh. Iranians will decide what to do with the present regime not Israel or Israeli Lobby. 

5. Iranians will never support the bombardment and destruction of Iran under any circumstance. So, take it easy, take a deep breath, times are changing. Deal with it.

Dariush

Your comment is utterly ridiculous.

This has nothing to do with the president's race. White/Black, who cares?

It's about ideology. Don't try and turn this into something that it's not.

To: Kaveh and Mammad::MUST READ

Iran: Carter's Habitat For Inhumanity
INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY

//www.investors.com/editorial/editorialconten...

Some Americans are so racist

Some Americans are so racist that they would rather to see a white man destroy their country than a colored man fixing it.

Some of the Zionists on this site like Zion, farhad Kashani and other seem to feel the same. They would rather Israel to be destroyed by a white man's ill actions than to be saved by a black man named Hussein.

Republicans and "shame on Peres" do not have peace on their mind. Peace is an obstacle for their plans. That is why they are so much against Obama and his peace plans. Feeling for Iranians is just an excuse. If they could destroy Iran and kill every single Iranian without any retaliation by Iran, they wouldn't waste a minute.

Great article.

Well done!

Mammad

Did I say that attacking Iraq was justified? No. I did not.

Going into Afghanistan was unjustified? Nothing could be further from the truth. The Taliban and Al Qaeda have been in bed together for years. Had military efforts been focused there rather than Iraq, there would likely have already been a resolution to this.

As far as "putting Afghanistan in a miserable state", are you seriously suggesting that conditions prior to the U.S. going there were anything less than miserable?

My knowledge that Carter was a minor bit player in Camp David came long before he ever wrote his book. A book that happens to be written from his perspective. The perspective of a man who understandably wishes to improve his legacy in his later years.

For the record, I grew up mostly in the U.S. My parents and I were educated here, not in Iran. Also for the record, I have never, nor will I ever threaten Iran. The degenerates of the IR, however, are a different matter. As far as I'm concerned they are not even worthy of being called Iranian.

The figures I mentioned that you claim to be inflated are in fact accurate. This is because, A) I am in the consumer finance industry and have studied my profession; B) My father also worked in consumer finance during Carter's term, and C) statistics exist all over the web that will corroborate what I told you.

I have no reason to lie or exaggerate to you or anyone else. Life is too short to waste it bullshitting people.

Don't you dare compare what's going on in Guantanamo to what is going on in Iran. Women who show a little hair, for example, or Baha'is who want to be treated as the human beings are not security threats and you know that. The fact that you would even raise this comparison raises a plethora of questions concerning your ability to reason. Not to mention that it's an insult to my intelligence.

You think Carter is a decent human being? Great. You met him? Wonderful. You contribute to his center and Habitat for Humanity? Bravo to you. Personally I couldn't care less. You want to impress me? Show me what YOU have done for poor people.

Don't try to justify Hugo Chavez either. He may be screwing over his own country, but that doesn't he has the right to do so with impunity. If there were a pedophile molesting his or her own child in their own home, are you going to do nothing because it constitutes interfering in their personal internal business?

Yes you are indeed expressing your opinion honestly and frankly. You want a medal?

Mammad

I think you are the one that got the point the other way around, it is Islam who is racism not the other way around, did you by any chance have the time to read the holly book ?? I think just Khare Mash Baghere ke nemidone Islam is against anyone who is not Muslim, have you heard "KAFAR" by any chance and do you know what you as a Muslim must do to "KAFAR"? Are you also gone reject the fact the Islam is the only religion that expanded with fighting and not peace and started with their own people ?? You should also know that Islam without fight in its first 10 years = 70 people, so please do not throw numbers here as achieving anything with force have no value. I think you know all of these but you are just ignorant.

Simple.

Kaveh

I do not mean to drah this on, so, I'll respond this time and move on.

My referral to Vietnam was meant to be about the consequences of the war on the U.S. War always creates a a lot of jobs in the U.S. Ending it always create bad conditions in this country. Go back and read about the state of affairs in this country at that time.

Invasion of Iraq had nothing to with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was an illegal criminal act of war. If the war was justified, then why did Bush not attack Saudi Arabia?

The war in Afghanistan was also unjustified. Attacking Al-Qaeda camps with, say US special forces, is one thing, attacking the whole nation and putting it in a misreable state - because in Donald Rumsfeld's words, "it does not have even large targets for bombing" - and moving on to Iraq without any justification whatsoever, was not, is not, and will never be justified.

When did you discover that Carter had little to do with Camp David? Before he wrote his book, "Peace, not Apartheid," or after? All one must do is reading about Carter by Israelis before the book to see how he was lionized then, and how things changed afterwards.

Yeah, you grew up in Iran, as did your parents, grandparents, etc.; your family made its money there, you probably got your education there, and now that you are here, you threaten Iran. I can understand it. Your loyalties are now with another nation, which is not even the U.S.

Your statistics about when Carter left office are inflated. I was here at that time, I do not know about you. But, even if they are not inflated, no one compared those conditions with the Great Depression. But, experts are saying the present conditions are more dire than the GD.

So, the Bushies decide whom they can torture. Fine. Then, why do we blame the IRI for doing the same? I am sure they also have "reasons" for themselves. I am sure that they also think that those people "threaten" Iran's national security. I put these words in "  " to indicate that I do not agree with it. The point is, torture is bad, no matter what the excuse. Disagree? Fine.

No, I have always thought that Carter is a descent human being. I told him so, when I met him in 2005 before his book. I have also been a contributor to the Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity for years, because I like what they do for poor people. 

I do not like many thing the Chavez does, and my Latin American friends tell me the same. That is not again the point. The point is, interference in other nation's internal affairs is, and must be, condemned.

I express my opinion as honestly and frankly as I can. People are free to interpret what I say in any way they wish. I am who I am. People can read "right through" me anything they wish. Have no problem with it.

Mammad

Sabzeh

Criticizing a religion is one thing, demonizing it and all of its adherents is completely different. Anybody can and should be able to criticize Islam, Judaism, Christinity, whatever. But, targetting 1.2 biilion Muslims with no exception is racism, pure and simple.

Mammad

Mammad: Do you think Imani

Mammad: Do you think Imani is the only one who has taken Islamic ideology to task?? I hate to break to you but almost all the non-muslim world is baffled by this so-called religion of peace.

Instead of personal attacks on him or other who criticize Islam, try to repudiate them through factual and substnatiated evidence and well-reasoned argument.

I can easily call most muslims as racists/bigots against others (Infidels vs. true believers)having lived in an Islamic society but are they all truly bigots or just misinformed??

It is incumbant upon good muslims such as yourself to defend your relgion instead of getting all emotional. It does not serve your religion.

Why don't you learn from this guy?

Ali Eteraz is a writer and free-lance journalist. Born into a nomadic family in Lahore, he was raised in the Middle East, Pakistan and the Caribbean, and has lived in ten American states. He studied philosophy in college, where he wrote his honors thesis on Nietzsche and Islam. Later he attended law school where he earned a fellowship in public service and interned on human rights cases. After graduation he worked in the area of corporate litigation. He is currently a regular contributor to The Guardian, UK, and Dawn, Pakistan’s largest and oldest English language daily.

The late philosopher and literary critic, Richard Rorty, stated he was “particularly impressed” by Ali’s “powerfully written” work.

Ali recently finished his first book, which has been scheduled for publication. More details will be available soon.

//alieteraz.com/left-brain/

Try to enlighten your critics instead of attacking their person.

Mammad

Bush's approval rating at the time of the 2008 election was indeed at 22%, but on January 20th, 2009 it was at 34%, as was Carter's.

U.S. troops had been slowly withdrawing from Vietnam since 1969. Direct involvement ended in January 1973. Carter played no role in the aftermath of Vietnam.

Bush started two wars? I think you need to get your facts straight. 19 Saudis hijacked those planes on the orders of another Saudi who is either dead or hiding in a mountain cave. And these people have been attacking since Bill Clinton was in the White House playing "hide the cigar in the fat chick".

I do believe that going into Iraq was ill-advised, horribly planned, and poorly executed.

Carter was nothing more than a bystander to Egyptian-Israeli peace. It was Anwar Sadat who initiated the whole thing, by realizing that the 1973 Geneva conference was nothing more than a show. He declared he would seek peace with Israel even if that meant going there. Menachem Begin extended an invitation and Sadat accepted. Credit for what everyone calls the "Camp David Accords" should go first to Sadat, then to Begin.

Jimmy Carter was nothing more than the caterer.

Bush threatened Iran...so what? Give me a forum to do so and i would threaten the IRI at every opportunity.

When Carter left office, unemployment was higher than it is now. Interest rates on mortgages were at 17% (if you had EXCELLENT CREDIT), and on car loans it was 18-20%. The prime rate was at 21.5% at the end of 1980.

All this BS about torture.....spare me, please. Do you understand that there is a war going on, whether you like it or not? Who is it that the U.S. has or is torturing? Law abiding people, or people who have proclaimed themselves to be enemies of the U.S. sent on a mission to kill Americans? Stop being so idealistic. Understand that this is the real world.

Carter and his "Christianity"...who cares? Did that save him from being the idiot who pulled the rug out from under an ally and rolling out the red carpet for an Indian sociopath whose expertise was in the field of bestiality?

Is your love for Carter based on the fact that he has criticized Israel? Are you so concerned about Hugo Chavez because he has criticized Israel?

C'mon, do you think people can't read right through you with this? 

Imani as the thinker?

Oh yeah, let's follow Amil Imani - now promoted to Dr. Imani - the bigot whose hatred of ALL Muslims is beyond dispute. Just read his past posts in this website, which is the "washed" and "cleansed" versions of his utterly bigotted, racist "articles" that he posts elsewhere. When a man targets an entire group of people, as Imani does, without a single exception, he is a bigot and racist. He has advocated expelling of ALL Muslims from the Western world, even if they, their parents, and their grandparents, etc. were born there.

In the last "article" that he posted here, he had "discovered" that the vast majority of Muslims are cultural Muslims, i.e., were born in a Muslim family. This claim, even if true, means that Islam is like any other religion. In every religion a large part of the adherents are cultural. But, Imani, who has devoted his life to demonizing Islam and ALL Muslims, does not see the contradiction in his "thinking!"

Then, since he has a sense of great grandiose about himself being a leader - pumped no doubt by people such as the person who recommends to us to read his "articles" - he appealed to the cultural Muslims to leave the religion! Yup! Every morning, when cultural Muslims wake up, they first check to see what the latest leakage from Imani's brain is, and immediately follow it!

Such nonsense is sold as "analysis," and apparently even fools some people.

Now, we are told to read his "article" and follow his lead! 

Mammad

Hope?

[I would like to suggest that you read the Norooz greeting of President Shimon Peres
to the Iranian people. Such message brings us hope in dark times like
this and reassures that our struggle is not left unnoticed. As history
is our witness Iranians will topple this regime to establish a secular
democracy.]

Message of hope from a genocidal war criminal, woooow that is a brand new concept.

That would be hope of bombing Iran right?

-YT

LEFTIES SHOULD READ THIS....

ALL the liberal apologists should read the following article by dr imani on americanthinker.com....maybe you guys can lear something!:

"It is worse than appeasement to negotiate a "deal" with the Islamists in Iran because any deal struck with these mullahs is only another ruse for them to further their plans. "The UN resolutions are nothing more than pieces of paper good for fire, they can pass them all they want," President Ahmadinejad proclaims, belligerently. These Islamists go by their 1400-year-old charter of Allah, the Quran, the same charter that they hold in one hand while slashing the throat of an innocent infidel and yelling joyously "Allah is the greatest" the whole time.

In return, the head of the hostage takers, the supreme leader Ali Khamenei uncompromising broadcast his own video address to a crowd in the northeastern city of Mashhad. Chants of "Death to America" broke out as he spoke. Khamenei said there will be no change between the two countries unless the American president puts an end to US hostilities toward Iran and brings "real changes" in foreign policy. In other words, allow us to continue butchering the Iranian people, developing our nuclear bomb, assassinate Persian bloggers, support any and all terrorist groups around the globe, hang under age children, rape virgin girls before their execution, lift all the sanctions on Iran and stay out of our family business. In return, we will give you what you deserve, nothing.

To the misguided President Obama who wants to make peace with the devil, "Supreme Guide," mullah Ali Khamenei, the civilized Iranians, who are descendants of Cyrus the Great, find mullah Ali Khamenei and his cabal of Islamists guilty of heinous crimes. A partial list of charges is given below.

Domestically:

*He does not represent the Iranian people. He is a usurper of power. He is guilty of transforming a noble nation into a world pariah. He is an Islamic terrorist.

*He is denying and violating a long-suffering people of all its human rights.

* He is guilty of beating, imprisoning and torturing a few dozen women who braved participating in a peaceful demonstration pleading for equal family rights at the International Day of Women.

* He systematically beats, imprisons, and tortures all manner of citizens, from schoolteachers to students to union workers, for daring to raise their voices against the plight to which they have been subjected.

* He has savagely beaten and hauled to his dungeons of torture and death over a thousand of the tens of thousands of teachers who gathered in front of the parliament, requesting nothing more than their back pay and living wage.

* He directs systematic genocidal measures against all non-Shi'a religious minorities, with Baha'is as the prime target.

* He arrests some Christians that even his holy book Quran calls "People of the Book," for observing Christmas.

* He implements barbaric practices of stoning, hanging and amputations for those who are convicted of crimes in his kangaroo courts without due process. He even imprisons those few lawyers who rise in the defense of the innocent.

* He has plundered, mismanaged and doled out Iran's national wealth with the result that the great majority of the people are living in poverty. Iranian women are forced into prostitution to survive or simply sold as sex slaves in Persian Gulf states.

* His fascist misrule of nearly three decades has driven millions of Iran's best children to the four corners of the world. Hundreds of thousands of educated Iranians are compelled to continue the exodus, depriving Iran of their sorely needed talents at home.

* He spends a fortune on the nuclear program that he claims is only aimed for peaceful purposes, while turning Iran into little more than a gas station nation, with its precious oil wealth squandered and its facilities on the verge of collapse through neglect.

* He has created a suffocating social atmosphere that has driven masses of the people to the use of hard drugs as a way of numbing their pain.

Internationally

* He looks far and wide to support any and all terrorists. His delusional theology mandates the creation of horrific conditions in the world so that the Hidden Imam is compelled to appear and establish his rule.

* He spares no efforts at sabotaging any settlement between the Palestinians and Israelis. He arms and trains all Palestinian factions such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and any and all that come.

* He directs similar criminal schemes on his eastern flank, in Afghanistan. He considers any democratic system as the enemy of Islamofascism, and rightfully so.

* He works ceaselessly, expands Iran's stolen funds, and does all he can in support of his Shi'a co-fascists Hezbollah in Lebanon.

* His hands are dripping with the blood of thousands of Iraqis, victims of his bloodthirsty kin mercenaries aiming to kill a budding democracy in Iraq next door.

* He supplied his mercenaries with armor-piercing projectiles for killing and maiming the coalition forces in Iraq. He, cowardly killing by proxy, using roadside-planted bombs, has taken the lives of nearly 200 Americans.

Mr. President, do you still want to make a deal with this mullah? Misguided advocates of negotiation with the mullahs, beware. The mullahs are on an Allah-mandated mission. They are intoxicated with Petrodollars and aim to settle for nothing less than complete domination of the world under the Islamic Ummah. It is precisely for this reason that they consider America and the West as "Ofooli," setting-dying system, while they believe their Islamism as "Tolooi," rising-living order. They are in no mood for negotiating for anything less than the total surrender of democracy, the very anathema to Islamism."

Congratulations Mr. Aryamand!

Mr. Aryamand, I like to congratulate you for your subtle and eloquent and well-articulated article!  I whole heartedly agree with every word of it. 

However, it is so unfortunate that so many of the BARKING DOGS (aka PAID PROSTITUTES) of the PUPPET MASTERS of different kinds (IslamoFascist Government in Iran, Repulicans, and Obamamaniacs) have no sense of reason or ability to debate other than rubbing their faces inundated propaganda all over this site.

IslamoFascists, as one of the commentators indicated, just set aside your weapons for one day and have OPEN elections.  You would be shaving your flea-infested beards, putting on lip stick on, and walking the streets in search of new masters in no time!

Confederate Flag waving, hee-haw howling, racist war-monger, greedy fascist REPUBLICANS, you don't need to try smearing Jimmy Carter's name, a Nobel Peace Price winner, in order to gain grounds for your world devouring Vampires who run the republican machinery.

Obamunists, I voted for Obama as well, but it doesn't mean he is a God!  We have every right to applaud him for his accomplishments and express our views and, right out, oppose him if we feel he is on the wrong track.  As Mr. Aryamand indicates here, calling Iranian people as the "People of Islamic Republic of Iran" is a huge insult to all those who were hanged publicly for opposing this plague, those writers who had their heads cut off like animals, and to those little girls who were raped before being hanged.

Oh God, the "New World

Oh God, the "New World Order" conspiracy theorists won't even spare us on Iranian.com!

JFK Assassination for being

Mr. Obama voter,

OBAMA is already ruining the sovereignty of this nation like John F. Kennedy. I want you to watch this documentary that he was teaming up with socialists. The Bush Connection is availabe on youtube. The same people are controlling this nation and if OBAMA does not follow the rules, he will be in trouble. REAGAN almost lost his life, too. The Islamic Republic of Iran believes he is a cancer. BUSH's father funded arms into IRAN secretly until there was FBI investigation. OBAMA is a puppet of the New World Order. I want you to rent OBAMA DECEPTION. Ayatollahs of IRAN see him as enemy of their state.

Difference Between Carter and Bush

First of all, Bush did not leave office with the same approval rating as Carter. Bush's was much lower, in the mid 20s.

Secondly, Carter inherited a nation that was just recovering from 12 years of Vietnam war. Bush, on the other hand, inherited a nation that was doing well economically, was producing record surplus, and was at peace. 

Third, Carter did not start any war, but Bush started two wars, tried to overthrow another one (in Venezuela), and threatened numerous other nations, including Iran. In fact, Carter was instrumental in the peace between Egypt and Israel. Jews, of all the people, should appreciate that.

Fourth, Bush left the nation in the worst possible financial and economical situation, the likes of which have not been seen since the Great Depression. I was here when Carter left office. I know what the nation was like. There was inflation, but the economic situation was nothing like what we have now.

Fifth, Carter did not break the law, Bush did and did so repeatedly. Carter did not order secret spying on the citizens, reading their e-mails, postal mails, etc. Bush did. Carter did not order torture, Bush did. Carter did not send prisoners to other nations to be tortured, Bush did. Carter did not try to set up an imperial presidency, Bush did. This can go on and on and on.

Finally, Carter was a devout Christian, and Bush also claims to be. One is a man of peace who has done an incredible amount of good work around the world since leaving office. Carter, a faithful Christian, and the same person who gave the world the peace between Egypt and Israel, criticized Israel for its treatment of the Palestinians, because he found it immoral and illegal. Bush, the other Christian, blindly supported Israel which, in my opinion, was not even in the long-term interest of Israel.

So, let's be fair. We can have our differences. But, let's not compare a red apple with a rotten orange.

Mammad

Jelez-o-veleze rightwingers, Republicans and Zionists

This jelez-o-velez is created by the message of my President Hossein Obama for the happy occation of Norooz to the people of Iran. More power to Obama. While we are celebrating this occation the Rightwingers/Zionists and warmongers such as the one who goes with the name of Fred and that clown face named Kaveh are in mourning. Eat your hearts out, the Idiot from Texas is out and people's power is back in the white house. Go chew on that for a while.

Dr. Strangelove's poison chalice

Whenever the Islamists/Anti-Semites and their likeminded lefty allies including their regional coordinator the Islamist nuke campaigner attack any messenger of peace, there must be a serious chance of it for them to panic and attack in droves. 

The triumvirate of doom and gloom thrives on the misery of others. Peace, Like it was with their idol, is their poison chalice.

Good analysis

As usual, IRI supporters are trying to present Iranians and the regime as one entity. NO! They aren't the same.

Those who are being opporessed are the Iranian people. Those who are brutally oppressing them are the elements of the regime and its supporters.

These two are NOT the same.

For instance, look at the regime supporter who talks about "the great nation of Iran" and beats his chest.

Oh yeah? Who do you think you are fooling? "The great nation of Iran" is completely against you and your regime.

Go ahead moderator, delete my comment.