Five years ago, there was much bellyaching in the media about how the callousness of the President of the United States for not making a public statement about the tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands, displaced an equal number (if not more) and causes untold damage to property and the landscape, even changing the coastline in some regions.  When then-president Bush did not speak out, it was deemed a sign of his indifference, evidence that the recently reelected president was out of touch.

Now, it’s conservatives gnashing their teeth about the silence of a different president in the wake of an attempted terrorist attack on a U.S. Jetliner and an uprising against a government which has made thumbing its nose at his overtures its favorite past time.

Wonder if those on the left and in the media who faulted George W. Bush for his “callous” reaction to the tsunami five years ago will level similar criticisms against his similarly silent successor.

*and brutal suppressions thereof.

**UPDATE:  er, sorry, meant “man-caused disasters.”

Via CNN’s iReport website:

Again, there are constant live updates from the people of Iran themselves on Twitter. Much violence and bloodshed. Today looks to be a turning point in the Green Revolution. Hopefully.

Meanwhile, Barry is golfing and taking the kids for ice cream in Hawaii.  Has the President EVER used the words “Freedom” or “Liberty”?  Just curious. 

UPDATED MUSING:  When did Barry and American Democrats stop caring about human rights?  Was that another casualty of the 2008 Election?

UPDATE: From “Iran1st” on Twitter: In over 1300 years no ruler or invader has ever shed blood on Ashura [Shia mourning holiday] - The Islamic Republic has.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

The Iranian People are rising up against their repressive regime again today.  Let’s hope this time that President Obama doesn’t ignore them again in favor of kissing the dictator’s ass.

Iranian security forces on Sunday killed at least four people, including a nephew of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, during the fiercest clashes with anti-government protesters in months, opposition Web sites and witnesses said.

Amateur video footage purportedly from the center of Tehran showed an enraged crowd carrying away one of the casualties, chanting, “I’ll kill, I’ll kill the one who killed my brother.” In several locations in the center of the capital, demonstrators fought back furiously against security forces, hurling stones and setting their motorcycles, cars and vans ablaze, according to video footage and pro-reform Web sites.

Photos from Tehran fighting today (via dissidents on Twitter and Facebook):

It would be nice if these images would cause our President to get angry or something….

FOLLOW BREAKING DEVELOPMENTS FROM IRANIAN PEOPLE via TWITTER

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

After typing out my piece wondering whether any MSM outlet will list Tea Parties as one of the political phenomena of 2009, I considered what those big stories might be.  So, about an hour ago, I scribbled out a list of what I thought were the big issues of this year about to conclude.  In no particular order:

• Obama’s inauguration and his pushing of a great variety of big government initiatives and regulatory schemes at the legislative and administrative level.  Focus on health care in the second half of the year even as fewer Americans see health care reform as most pressing issue.
• His blaming Bush for the problems he “inherited” as deficit skyrockets and unemployment increases.
• Increased poltical polarization in Washington.
• Stabilization of financial markets.
• Obama’s “smart” diplomacy, apologizing abroad, but achieving few results.
• Continued decline of MSM.
• Climategate and increased skepticism about anthropogenic global warming.
• Iranian uprising and its brutal suppression.
• Revival of the conservative movement/energy of Tea Party protesters.

Did I miss any? What do you guys think were the big political stories of 2009?

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Execs Get Up to $6 Million in Pay

Hey, didn’t the federal government take over these out-of-control (and running out-of-money) Government Sponsored-Enterprises (GSEs) last fall?  And Freddie and Fannie have a history of handing out hefty bonuses to their executives, many of whom have had an extensive business background in Democratic politics.

Wonder what the unhappy Barney Frank, who regularly inveighs against corporate greed, even trying to limit executive compensation even at enterprises which are not on the federal dole, has to say about these salaries at the GSEs he so regularly defended in the 1990s and early 2000s.