I watched several news shows today. The topics were pretty much the same across the shows that I watched. (1) Health Care reform; (2) Iran; (3) Michael Jackson, and (4) Mark Sanford.

The McLaughlin Group had an interesting twist on the health care issue. McLaughlin asked whether or not Obama represented a "realignment" in U.S. politics. He defined realignment as a significant shift in party control over the politics with major changes that last at least 25 years. McLaughlin himself said that Obama does represent a realignment. He compared it to LBJ. I guess I was too young to understand the major changes that LBJ brought to U.S. politics. I think it's too soon to say about Obama.

Chris Matthews had the most interesting discussion about Iran. They actually got down to discussing whether or not Iran was heading for war with the West. Wow! I mean, that's the 800 lb.
gorilla in the room, but no one is wanting to talk about it. And, no one on Matthews panel wanted to admit this might happen. But the fact that Matthews brought it up means it is being talked about. Scary stuff.

Of course Israel took out Iraq's nuclear facility a couple decades ago, but this is a horse of a different color. Most analysts that I have heard talk about this say that it is going to be difficult if not impossible to take out Iran's facilities because they are underground and no one knows for sure exactly where they are.

If we or anyone aligned with us attacks Iran, we can expect terrorist attacks and whatever for the foreseeable future. They are a powerful nation and have a lot of resources. And, as they say, "all's fair in love in war." They will do whatever they think they can accomplish and will hurt us.

But Obama has staked some political capital on talking to Iraq. But now he's faced with talking to an administration that the major western media has now defined as oppressive and anti-democratic, regardless of what the real outcome of the election was - and I sure can't answer that question. A number of mainstream U.S. media have conceded that Ahmadinajad had actually won the election. And lets not kid ourselves. U.S. police have cracked down on much lesser protests in the U.S. using
violence.

But Obama is a bit boxed in here. If he meets with Iran, he's supporting oppression. But if he doesn't meet with them, he's going back on a campaign promise, and not talking isn't working.

As far as Michael Jackson goes, I wrote a piece on his death on my MySpace page www.myspace.com/markdonhammusic . And Sanford...what can you say? He's a nutcase. How do people like him get to be governor?