Republicans stage a comebackOn the one-year anniversary of Barack Obama’s landslide win, the winds of change appear to have shifted, with two Republican candidates winning seats in this year’s state elections. Is this a sign that voters are becoming increasingly disaffected with the new President and his party?
Politics
revealed 
Iran steps up uranium production
Satellite images obtained by Bloomberg show Iran has increased its production of uranium, according to nuclear analysts. The country now has enough to build two atomic bombs a year. It this further evidence of a covert nuclear weapons program?
Sheridan: Being hypocritical appears to be the Australian Solution
So, Indonesia did Australia a favour by agreeing to take boat people and house them in their detention centres and all they’ve got from it is a bunch of bad publicity? Time for the lefties to get over the fanatical hypocrisy and stop supporting people smugglers, writes Greg Sheridan.
Bob Ellis: Newspoll is the Bill O’Reilly of statistics
Why do we believe Newspoll’s latest results? asks Bob Ellis. The pollster has been clearly inconsistent, isn’t forthcoming with its methodology and has no checks — yet we view it as an independent authority?
Kerr: Rattled Rudd stops tweeting, starts talking
That crappy Newspoll rating must have really scared Kevin Rudd, because he’s gone on a media rampage. But none of that normal tweeting stuff for our PM 2.0, it’s back to traditional media and a television interview blitz, notes Christian Kerr.
Dowd: Rush Limbaugh is immature and narcissistic
Shock jock Rush Limbaugh is one of the key media mouths of the Republican Party and he loves to insult at Obama. Too bad he forgets the actions of his good mate Dubya, because it wasn’t Obama who stuffed the economy or brought about the war in Iraq, notes Maureen Dowd.
Iran’s opposition protests return: a live blog
Iranian opposition protesters are again taking to the streets, as officials mark the 30th anniversary of the US embassy in Tehran being taken hostage. Protesters are being reportedly beaten, injured and arrested. The Guardian live blogs the uprising.
weird The most bizarre CIA programs of all time
The CIA has funded some odd programs throughout its history. Like, luring men with prostitutes and then drugging them to observe the effects of acid and LSD. And implementing cats with microphones to spy on the Russians. Fun!
Karzai vs. Abdullah: a 30-year saga of alliance and betrayal
The recent electoral stand-off between Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai and Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah is just the latest — and perhaps final — chapter in a conflict that has been going on between the two men for 30 years.
Was the fall of the Berlin Wall a planned government plot?
Was the iconic fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago not due to the accepted story of a stuff up at a press conference and then a spontaneous protest, but rather a well orchestrated political plan between both governments?
leaked Crikey Says: The ATO’s business needs: lest we forget
The ATO has asked tax office managers to balance their “business needs” against a minute of silence for Remembrance Day next week.
Tough new restrictions on visits to detention centres
Serco — the company behind troubled UK immigration detention centres and prisons and now the contractor in Australia — has introduced a tough new regime to inhibit visitors to Australian detention centres, writes Trish and John Highfield.
Don’t kid yourself Kev, it’s not just the refugees
Yesterday’s damning Newspoll result wasn’t just because of the government’s “tough but humane” rhetoric on asylum seekers. What about all the other stuff ups by the Rudd government like climate change, Timor Sea oil spill and supporting a corrupt Afghan government?
The growing force of Barnaby Joyce
Queensland is critical to federal politics, with a growing population and influential seats, but its parties are a mess. The Nationals criticise the Liberals, the Libs fear the power of the LNP and Barnaby Joyce is just looking after himself, writes Scott Prasser.
Clinton and Bush to face-off
Billed as “The Hottest Ticket in Political History”, former US Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will face-off in a public debate in February next year. A ringside ticket will set you back US$1250, but the slugfest promises to be worth every penny.
Sweet sixteen and never been polled
It’s absurd to claim 16 year olds are not capable of having political opinions and voting on them, says Hugh Jorgensen
What would Candidate Obama think of President Obama?
It’s been a year since Barack Obama won the US election, and the man who once shouted “Yes we can!” has had to grapple with the reality that, quite often, no we can’t. How would the Obama of a year ago view himself today? muses Arianna Huffington.
Carney: Can the real Kevin Rudd please stand up?
For all his tweeting, Kevin Rudd is still a mystery to most Australians, says Shaun Carney. Political leadership isn’t just about setting policy and a workaholic attitude, it’s also about leading the national mood.
Kelly: How next year will unfold for Wayne and Kevin
Avoiding a recession has become both a gift and a burden to the Rudd government, writes Paul Kelly. Expect a battle between managing the economy recovery and spending on big ticket election issues — climate change, health and households. Can Swan reign in spending?
Costello: I agree with Rudd on refugees, stand tough
It’s easy to criticise government policy on asylum seekers from the comfort of your middle class life, which will never see the inside of a leaky boat. We need to take a clear stand against people smugglers, says Peter Costello.
leaked The lost Sarah Palin speeches
Read the concession speech the Republican Party wouldn’t let Sarah Palin make after the 2008 US Presidential election, plus the victory speech she never got to make.
Drugs vs. booze
Debate is heating up in the UK after the government’s former chief drugs adviser, Dr David Nutt, was sacked over his views that cannabis is less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol. Now the scientific community is coming to his defence.
In defence of people smugglers
Kevin Rudd may deride people smugglers as the “scum of the Earth”, but for Andrew Casey, they’re the people who gave him the opportunity for a better life.
What really happened during the Gaza War
