The Obama Effect? Pro-Western Group Defeats Hezbollah In Lebanese Election...

[BlooInBloo]

That's an encouraging start. (Not to the nothing-is-ever-good-news folks, of course.)

I especially like it because it's another demonstration of Obama's M.O.: to peel off reasonable members of "the opposition", leaving behind only a small, hardcore group that nobody likes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/07/lebanon-election-results-_n_212359.html

"BEIRUT — Lebanon's pro-Western coalition declared victory early Monday, as local television stations reported the faction had successfully fended off a serious challenge by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and its allies to grab the majority in parliament.

Official results for Sunday's election were not expected until later Monday, but the winners were already celebrating by shooting in the air, setting off fireworks and driving around in honking motorcades.

The election was an early test of President Barack Obama's efforts to forge Middle East peace. A win by Hezbollah would have boosted the influence of its backers Iran and Syria and risked pushing one of the region's most volatile nations into international isolation and possibly into more conflict with Israel."

[MADem]

1. People flew in from all over the world to vote.

Such a great country, and Hezbollah is wiping their asses on it.

Good news.

[SpartanDem]

2. Nice

now let's cross our fingers and hope the same happens in Iran

[babylonsister]

3. I'll take some good news! I hope no one adjusts the votes. nt

[HopeOverFear]

4. Obama knew what he was doing when he gave that speech

[BlooInBloo]

6. I especially like how he stepped right up to the plate in his first few months....

Instead of waiting until the end of him term, as seems to be typical. It shows commitment, confidence, and sincerity.

[sandnsea]

9. Yes he did

Here's what gets me, I just got this in an email from somebody locally, bla bla bla, complain complain...

"I want to see him start to throw some punches."

Too many people are in the sandbox when he's giving lessons to the principal and the school board.

[ProSense]

8. What timing. n/t

[Cha]

24. Too good to be true..

but it IS:bounce:

[jenmito]

5. K&R. I think this is the start of something VERY good.

I'm shooting my gun in the air right now! :D

[jenmito]

7. Pat Buchanan's prediction on The Mclaughlin Group was that Hezbollah would win big...

and Monica Crowley agreed they'd win but not by a lot. Oh, well, they can always hope for the next one...

[BlooInBloo]

14. How typical was that prediction? Was it only the rightwingers saying that?

[jenmito]

15. They're the only people who predicted anything about that election. n/t

[BlooInBloo]

16. Ah - ok.

[Cha]

25. I saw an OP on DU earlier today

that I didn't link too..that asked what Obama's reaction to a Hezbollah's win that was favored.

So much for what pat buchanan knows.

Edit~pat was wishing Hezbollah would win.

[Clio the Leo]

10. IT'S WORKING!!!!!!! NT

[Kaleko]

35. You know, it is conceivable

that Obama has had some influence on the election results in Lebanon. The famous "hope effect" ripples across the pond.

Having spent some months living close to Beirut, I root for the Lebanese people who have suffered such unbelievable hardships with all my heart. I'm kinda shocked with happiness for them right now.

[mucifer]

11. I like the Lebanese hippie chick!

:)

[BlooInBloo]

12. (I was thinking how hot, and just generally cool looking she was too.)

:rofl:

[BlooInBloo]

18. Man - Lebanon is full of em!

Sully's Face Of The Day
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/06/face-of-the-day-3.html

[DrToast]

22. Yeah, Lebanon has beautiful women.

Definitely need to take a vacation there. ;)

[SamCooke]

13. interesting. nt

[jenmito]

17. Funny (but expected) that Yahoo's homepage has nothing about THIS but they DO have

an AP story titled, "Conservatives score wins in EU parliament voting." :eyes:

[BlooInBloo]

19. Actually, it is on their front page news....

Gotta work REALLY hard to find it tho, as you can see by how much I had to zoom out to fit it onto one screenshot.

[jenmito]

31. Thanks for posting that shot...

but I was talking about Yahoo's home page-not news page. But I'm glad to see it was somewhere on their front NEWS page, at least. :hi:

[camera obscura]

20. Excellent news, now if we can just get rid of Ahmadinejad

that'll be proof that even the wingnuts can't deny.

[Douglas Carpenter]

26. this from an NYT article about the Iranian elections

The presidential campaign, now in its final week, has reached a level of passion and acrimony almost unheard-of in Iran.

In part, that appears to be because of a surge of energy in the campaign of Mir Hussein Moussavi, a reformist who is the leading contender to defeat Mr. Ahmadinejad in the election, set for Friday. Rallies for Mr. Moussavi have drawn tens of thousands of people in recent days, and a new unofficial poll suggests his support has markedly increased, with 54 percent of respondents saying they would vote for him compared with 39 percent for Mr. Ahmadinejad.

But many Iranians say the campaign’s raucous tone is due largely to Mr. Ahmadinejad’s unexpectedly fierce rhetorical attacks, which have infuriated his rivals and their supporters, and drawn some blistering ripostes.

link to full article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/world/middleeast/08iran.html?hp

[LooseWilly]

28. My cousin says that there's fighting in the streets of Tehran over the election...

It's apparently pissing people off, and they're blaming Ahmadinejad. She's saying that she thinks that he is losing... but wait and see.

It should be interesting to see what happens.

[Douglas Carpenter]

21. this is VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD NEWS for the entire region!! - on Reuters now

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A U.S.-backed alliance of Lebanese factions successfully defended its parliamentary majority in an election on Sunday, defeating an alliance including the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah.

Led by Sunni politician Saad al-Hariri, the anti-Syrian "March 14" coalition won a majority in parliament, according to politicians in his alliance and the rival bloc. The new parliament convenes for the first time later this month.

According to Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, the parliament will elect a Shi'ite speaker. It is expected to extend the term of Hezbollah ally, Nabih Berri.

President Michel Suleiman, a Maronite Christian, will then consult lawmakers on their choice for the post of Sunni prime minister. He is obliged to go with the choice of the majority.


link to full article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSTRE55705720090608

[Cha]

23. WOW! I just saw an OP

today that asked What Obama's reaction would be if Hezbollah won and it sounded like they were favored!

This is great news for those who are interested in the reality of World Peace:loveya:

[drm604]

27. Great news. Hezbollah loses!

And Lebanon has hippie chicks. :D She looks like something straight out of the sixties.

Wouldn't it be something if that part of the world had a youth rebellion analogous to our sixties. I understand that Iran has a very young population on average.

[yodermon]

29. the lords of war will not be pleased...

[Tarheel_Dem]

30. This is very exciting and welcome news. Let's hope Iran follows their lead...(nt)

:kick:

[BlooInBloo]

33. Indeed. A fair hand, offered, should be accepted.

[Scurrilous]

32. K & R

:thumbsup:

[laugle]

34. Now if we can get rid of Ahmedineajad, we will

have a real opportunity for great accomplishments and real change in the middle east.

I remain cautiously optimistic. Of course we must end the wars as well, if we are to have lasting peace.....................

[Peacetrain]

36. Truly a double thumbs up!!! Great news

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: