Poll: Iranians Desire Democracy and Reform

By Joseph Russell- Talk Radio News Service
The majority of Iranians say they will vote to reelect  incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to a nationwide poll conducted across Iran before the June 12, 2009 Iranian Presidential elections. The poll conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow also says that Iranians overwhelmingly continue to favor better relations with the United States and would like to directly elect their Supreme Leader in a free vote. 

Iranians envision their country’s future as being more Democratic and having better trade relations, said Ken Ballen, President of Terror Free Tomorrow. Even if Ahmadinejad is re-elected it “doesn’t mean they don’t support these goals... If he is re-elected its not on his policies...its on a new mandate.”  

According to the poll report: "Over the past two years, 77 percent of Iranians back 
normal relations and trade with the United States. 68 percent also favor Iran 
working with the United States to help resolve the Iraq war, while 60 percent 
back unconditional negotiations with the U.S. For more than six in ten Iranians, the most important steps the U.S. could take that would improve opinions of America are: a free trade treaty between Iran and the U.S.; the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, and increasing visas for 
Iranians to study and work in the United States."  

The poll also says that 62 percent of Iranians oppose any peace treaty recognizing the State of Israel. The majority Iranians also support Muslims continuing "to fight until there is no State of Israel in the Middle East," the poll said.

And positive diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran may come at a price. "Iranians also continue to support the idea of Western investment and aid to Iran. Seventy percent favor Western investment; 80 percent medical, education and humanitarian assistance from Western countries," the poll report said. However, "60 percent of Iranians also support the government of Iran providing military and financial assistance to Iraqi Shiite militias (33 percent oppose), while 62 
percent back such assistance to Hezbollah in Lebanon (31 percent oppose). Again, however, as part of a deal with the United States, 54 percent of Iranians would endorse the Iranian government ending support for Iraqi militias,"the report said.  
  
This is Terror Free Tomorrow's third poll in a series over the past two years. It was conducted by telephone inside Iran over May 11 to May 20, 2009, with 1,001 interviews proportionally distributed and covering all 30 provinces of Iran, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

GOP: No Third Party For Health Care Decisions

By Celia Canon- Talk Radio News Service

The House Republicans announced their official, common-ground position on the health care reform debate today, rejecting bureaucratic participation in their decision-making process.

House Minority Leader John Boehner said the GOP wants “A system (where) everyone has access to coverage, and a system that people can afford, and a system that focuses on quality.”

In order to achieve this, Republicans believe that there should be no third party involvement, Boehner announced.

“We want to make sure that health care decisions remain between a patient and a physician, not a bureaucrat,” said Boehner.

The debate over health care reform has intensified since the election of President Barack Obama. Health care reform has been one of the primary concerns of his campaign.

Tom Price, Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, said that market forces and the competition were a better alternative than the public plan.

“If the government's defining what qualifies as health insurance, that means that the bureaucrats are deciding what individuals are going to receive in their health package,” said Price.

Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz) said that “This idea of having choice for individuals actually helps bring down the costs because they know that in a year they might choice another plan”, referring to the advantages of Medicare’s Plan D.

Rep. Ginni Brown-Waite (R-Fla) said: “The health care insurance as we know it would cease to exist because the government would price its product less.”

Boehner called for the Democrats’ attention on cooperating for the reform, saying “ We continue to be here, we continue to reach out to you we want this to be a bipartisan effort but in order for it to be a bipartisan effort, you need to talk to us, but that isn’t happening”

McCain and Feingold tackle pork reform

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Today Senator John McCain (R-Ariz), Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis) and Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wis) spoke of their plans to reintroduce their version of the line item veto bill. Feingold said that the bill would allow the President to mark certain earmarks for reconsideration, have it sent back to Congress, and have each marked spending allocation voted on individually. If either chamber votes against rescinding the money by a simple majority vote, then the project would be funded.

The Supreme Court had previously struck down as unconstitutional McCain’s previous attempt to introduce a line item veto. McCain said that he wants to “get around” that decision by the Court through a new legislative effort, which McCain said would be fully constitutional.

All three members of Congress felt that this would be an important step towards reforming wasteful pork. Ryan said that this would bring accountability and common sense to the earmark process. McCain said that he anticipates it being difficult to pass, but Feingold said that this bill is important, because earmark money is “real money” that comes out of taxpayers pockets. Ryan went on to say that this is not a Republican or Democratic issue, but a “good government issue”.

China: "Hope to increase economic growth by 8%" in 2009

Minister Counsellor and Head of the Political Section for the Embassy of China, Weilin Kuang discussed "China's Development and its Role in the World," today at a Humanity Peace and Security meeting for the Korean Peninsula Issues in Washington D.C.

Weilin Kuang said in his opening remarks: "Over the last 30 years the economic progress China has made is truly remarkable…over 200 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty."

However, despite China's progress in the economic market, Kuang noted some challenges facing China: "Although we are the third largest economy in the world our GEP is behind the 100th largest economy in the world."

Talking about the current economic crisis, Kuang said: "China is faced with very serious economic difficulties and challenges."

Talking about China's relations with the world, Kuang said: “After 30 years of reform China's relations with the world has changed. China needs the world, and the world needs China."

Kuang stated that maintaining and building on external relations is vitally important to help China get through this economically demanding period.

Speaking of hope for China, Kuang said: “I am confident that a rising, confident and more prosperous China will make positive contributions to the world…China hopes to increase its economic growth by 8 per cent this year and I am very hopeful."

In regard to US-China relations, with the new Obama administration, he said: "We hope to see a continuation of these two dialogues…we have put our ideas to the US side, now its their turn, the ball is in their court…I am confident a formula can be formed to allow these two dialogues to continue…it is up to the United States to make a position."

"We have seen positive signs from President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton…I hope more can be done to move forward and expand talks…face-to-face talks could be very helpful to help express mutual understanding," he concluded.

Obama Administration’s ethics are the topic of debate

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

President and CEO of Democracy 21, Fred Wertheimer gave a talk today at the Washington Foreign Media Center to discuss "Ethics in the Obama Administration - Are Washington' Rules Changing?"

According to Democracy 21, they are a non-profit and nonpartisan organization which aims to provide the public with information on campaigns and campaign financing. Democracy 21 wants to ensure campaign financing laws are adhered to and modernized.

Talking specifically about Obama, Wertheimer commented on how the
President had been a a key figure while in the Senate by fighting for ethical reform.

Wertheimer said: “We have a new President who comes from a different culture in terms of his own career with a long track record on government integrity reform issues. In the state where he comes from there are two strands of politicians. There is one strand that creates the scandals, of which have led to four governors being indicted and many other problems. There is another reform strand, that goes back to Senator John Douglas...and now Senator Obama.”

President Obama has a long track record on these issues. It did not start on his first day of office,” Wertheimer added.

However, Wertheimer noted that recent set-backs in Obama’s new administration may have led critics to question the President’s performance on ethic related matters.

Speaking specifically about the Daschle nomination withdrawl, Wertheimer said: “Senator Daschle from my personal experience’s of dealing with him, was a terrific public servant for many years in the Congress and I had during the time I worked with him the highest regard for him. He kind of, was a product of the rules of Washington. This kind of Washington culture, he fell into like others have, and he got caught up in this clash, between what has been a normal Washington culture, which Washington accepts, and a set of circumstances created by Obama’s campaign which led to expectations of a change in this culture. He got caught in the middle of that.”

Wertheimer said: “It is an interesting question, whether Washington can change. What we are seeing here is a potential clash between a culture that has developed in recent decades, in Washington, which is a lobbyist special interest, money and politics culture.”

Campaign 21 is a supporter of the Executive Reform legislation that prohibits former serving members from becoming lobbyist after serving their term. The legislation also tackles, what Wertheimer described as the “reverse revolving door” scenario where lobbyist enter the Executive Branch.