Morning Must Reads

In Tehran, the man behind the curtain stepped out to announce a partial recount in addition to the inquest already underway into Friday’s elections. Despite state radio admitting that six Iranians were shot trying to burn down a military station, protesters seem to be getting results in the form of concessions from the clerics who run the country.

In fact, a recount that found mischief by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or his supporters and allowed a new vote, might strengthen the position of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ahmadinejad’s would-be successor, Mir Moussavi, is acceptable to the regime and supports it in return. It might be enough to keep the clerics in charge. 

Writers Nazila Fathi and Michael Slackman explain–

“‘These people are not seeking a revolution,’ said Ali Reza, a young actor in a brown T-shirt who stood for a moment watching on the rally’s sidelines. ‘We don’t want this regime to fall. We want our votes to be counted, because we want reforms, we want kindness, we want friendship with the world.’”

Wall Street Journal — Iraq Troop Pullout on Track

The withdrawal of most U.S. troops from Iraq’s cities is on pace to be completed within the next two weeks, says American commander Gen. Ray Odierno. Writer Gina Chon looks at how it’s going, and finds Odierno hugely optimistic despite a recent spike in violence.

Not mentioned, but evident, is that the upheaval in Iran comes at a crucial moment in Iraq, where fighters equipped and trained in Iran are among the most pernicious problems. Distraction or moderation in Iran helps Iraq.

“In Iraq, Gen. Odierno said security conditions had improved enough to allow him to meet the timetable set by a bilateral security agreement that went into effect at the first of this year. That agreement, which also stipulates that all U.S. troops should be out of Iraq by the end of 2011, provides some wiggle room if security worsens and Iraqi officials want American forces to stay.

U.S. troops remaining in urban areas after June 30 are to focus on noncombat-related roles, such as training and advising. Gen. Odierno declined to give the specific numbers of those troops.

He said there are about 130,000 coalition troops in Iraq now, compared with 160,000 forces this past September. U.S. President Barack Obama sped up the withdrawal timetable after he took office, saying American combat troops would leave Iraq by August 2010.”
 
New York Times – As Obama Pushes Health Issue, New Cost Concerns Arise
 
Health care reform increasingly seems to be getting waylaid as President Obama’s pitch – long-term cost savings confronts increasingly staggering estimates of short-term spending to uncertain results.

Writers Robert Pear and Jackie Calmes explain that as the president was giving the American Medical Association a little bit of the old Regret-and-Redemption Roadshow in Chicago, Washington was getting the news that the lead plan in the Senate would cost more and do less than expected.

Worse still for the president’s pitch to doctors and moderate Democrats, the plan was found to do exactly what he said it wouldn’t – start shutting down employer-provided healthcare and private insurance.

“The practical problem for Mr. Obama is that by all accounts, the savings and efficiencies he envisions will not occur quickly, certainly not in the 10-year time frame of budget scorekeeping for purposes of passing legislation.

The budget office estimated that 39 million people would get coverage through new ‘insurance exchanges.’ But at the same time, it said, the number of people with employer-provided health insurance would decline by 15 million, or about 10 percent, and coverage from other sources would fall by 8 million.”
 
Washington Post — Calif. Aid Request Spurned By U.S.

California’s is moving closer each day to being out so broke that it can’t borrow and can’t spend, leaving only spending cuts and tax increases. But even though the state will be more broke than General Motors by July 30, writers David Cho, Brady Dennis and Karl Vick, say that appeals to the Obama administration has turned down final pleas for a bailout. The rejection is not absolute and is regretfully tendered on the grounds that other states would want bailouts too, not that it’s no business of the federal government.
The Treasury may soon step in and subsidize Michigan businesses other than Chrysler and General Motors, so some aid package for California employers that depend on state business may be in the offing.

With unions and others militating against the deep cuts necessary to close a $22 billion shortfall, Californians are likely to soon be socked with income tax assessments and other instruments of fiscal torture.

“‘Tom Dresslar, a spokesman for [State Treasurer Bill Lockyer], said California will not default on its general obligation debts. But by late July, the state conceivably could run out of money to operate, as revenue continues to deteriorate while costs keep mounting. ‘The problem is getting worse, certainly not getting better,’ he said.

In testimony before Congress, Geithner did not rule out aiding California. But he was far from enthusiastic about such a proposal, instead suggesting that Congress was better positioned to help the states — and that states should balance their budgets.”
 
Wall Street Journal — Gay Group Slams Policies of President
 
Liberal groups mollified by the appointment of Judge Sonia Sotomayor and other recent moves by the Obama administration are getting grouchy again. Recent rants by liberal commentators about the administration’s foreign policy and moves toward a system of cartels rather than a command economy are telling, but the big issue where Obama arouses suspicion on the Left is on homosexuality. Obama made promises to gay groups, but understood that the McCain-Palin ticket wasn’t going to draw much gay support. With yet another move to slip past gay marriage, Obama has folks fired up. The White House says it’s just following procedures, but defending the Defense of Marriage Act has shocked gay Democrats.

It doesn’t mean the president is more conservative than he promised, just that he will face more pressure to keep moving Left on social issues. If this keeps up, Obama may have to deliver a speech on how straight and gay Americans are both responsible for the problem and call for shared sacrifice in order to reach the common goal of equality.

“But on Friday, the Obama administration filed a brief seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Arthur Smelt and Christopher Hammer, a California couple married during the brief period when gay marriage was legal in the state, who are challenging the 1996 federal act.
The letter Monday from Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese included a detailed critique of the administration’s filing. “This brief would not have seen the light of day if someone in your administration who truly recognized our humanity and equality had weighed in with you,” he wrote.”