Reason Morning Links

Radley Balko | June 23, 2009

• D.C. Metro crash kills at least seven.

• Iranian government trying to prevent Neda Soltan from becoming a martyr for the country's democracy movement.

• U.S. Supreme Court upholds but narrows Voting Rights Act.

• Obama signs bill allowing FDA regulation of tobacco, and that bans some types of tobacco products.

• Kodak retires Kodachrome. baby boomer editors rejoice at opportunity for Paul Simon references in headlines.

Comments

|6.23.09 @ 9:08AM|#

The Mullahs have a problem. Neda Soltan, God rest her soul, was really fucking hot. The Mullahs need to call the Burmese Juanta to find out how hot women give tin pot dictators fits. The last thing any thug regime wants is a photogenic martyr for the other side.

|6.23.09 @ 9:21AM|#

John,

yawp

guy in the back row|6.23.09 @ 9:37AM|#

Iranian government trying to prevent Neda Soltan from becoming a martyr for the country's democracy movement.

They are trying to bring her back to life? Now THAT would be a kewl trick!

|6.23.09 @ 9:59AM|#

Today it was reported that they had also told her family to take down the black mourning banners outside their home in the Tehran suburbs to prevent it becoming a place of pilgrimage. They were also told they could not hold a memorial service at a mosque.

I am soooo not surprised that religion takes a back seat to power in the Islamic Republic of Iran. I firmly believe the mullahs would embrace Judaism if they concluded it was necessary to remain in power. While true believers of all religions exist, they generally don't seek political power.

|6.23.09 @ 11:19AM|#

"I firmly believe the mullahs would embrace Judaism if they concluded it was necessary to remain in power. While true believers of all religions exist, they generally don't seek political power."


QFT. In Iraq the leaders of the "Al Quada" jihad were well known for their liking of booze and young women and boys. Everyone else of course had to live by the strict Sharia, but there are always exceptions for the powerful.

|6.23.09 @ 12:31PM|#

"""Iranian government trying to prevent Neda Soltan from becoming a martyr for the country's democracy movement."""

There's a democratic movement in Iran? I thought they were just protesting the other hardliner's electorial loss. ;-)

Ample Bosoms|6.23.09 @ 1:04PM|#

"There's a democratic movement in Iran? I thought they were just protesting the other hardliner's electorial loss. ;-)"

Does you brain always hurt? Perhaps it's a tumor. Better get it checked out.

|6.23.09 @ 2:19PM|#

Does you brain always hurt? Perhaps it's a tumor. Better get it checked out.

I think TrickyVic was taking a jab at Osama's "what's the difference" speech on day 2, or was it 1 or 3?

|6.23.09 @ 5:47PM|#

It's not a tumor.

Of course there are democratic movements in Iran, there are democratic movements here too, both are consider a form of terrorism in their respective country. I don't think that was in Obama's what's the difference" speech.

But I do think the democratic movement in Iran is hooking its buggy to the wrong horse. They are reacting to an election dispute, and the resolution thereof. The other guy would not bring about the kind of change they want, or need. I don't think it's a simple as "what's the difference", there are differences that matter. But Iran is a theocracy, and would stay so even if the other guy won. The President is just a figurehead. We are not looking at a revolution in any real sense of the word no matter what the pundits say. No need for false hope.

I stand with Ron Paul, the lone vote againt the resolution condeming Iran, for us to pass a resolution about it is as silly as France passing a resolution in support of Gore back in 2000. Imagine if the left started rioting because they disagreed with SCOTUS in Bush V Gore. We would have went Kent State on their asses. The right-wingers would have a field day on France if they passed a resolution of support for the rioters and an ever bigger field day on the stupid liberals rioting.

We went through a similar election dispute that had to make it's way to the highest national court. The difference between us and them is our losers were not sore enough to riot.