Iran Dealing & ‘The Economist’ For Sale

From Via Media-Keeping An Eye On That Iran Deal:

So the initial statements by the President and his team on July 14, when the deal was announced, and in its immediate aftermath, represent the best case for the deal—the most favorable mix of details and positive spin that’s likely possible. The White House can still point to bright and/or famous supporters to make the case for the JPOA, make promises or threats to cajole reluctant lawmakers not to override its veto, and in short utilize the full powers of the Presidency to sell the deal.

Original Josh Rogin piece here at Bloomberg.  The Obama administration is putting on the ‘hard-sell,’ which comes as no surprise.  The objective (for which there were few, if any good choices) is preventing a deliverable-nuke-having-mullah-ocracy.

Below is a variation on the old make Obama the good cop argument and let the Iranian regime know the threat of force isn’t off the table, and that he will probably soon just be giving Jimmy-Carter-on steroid speeches:

‘If, as he clearly hopes, President Obama manages to leave office without Iran having taken the final steps to the bomb, the responsibility for conducting a policy of effective deterrence will fall on his successor. In the meantime, however, Congress can make the task of doing so somewhat easier. By passing a resolution of disapproval of the agreement, even if they cannot override the promised presidential veto, the House and the Senate can signal their support for more robust opposition to an Iranian bomb than the current administration has mounted.’

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This blog has recognized ‘The Economist’ magazine as often neo-liberal in tone. Written as though from a rather lofty tower for people who’d love to get a view from the tower and maybe a short guided tour.

It’s now for sale in this big, competitive global marketplace.  Information will still matter, of course, just maybe not the old publications that promise such a view:

Theodore Dalrymple takes it down a peg or two:

‘Nikkei has not bought the FT’s sister publication, The Economist, which, however, is also for sale. When I was living in a very remote part of the world I used to read The Economist from cover to cover, though it arrived two months late (communications in those days were not yet instantaneous). It made me feel that I was well-informed, if only in retrospect, despite my isolation. It was my window on the world.’

I saw ‘The New Yorker’ in the Business/Finance section of an airport bookstore this week, and let out a chuckle.  How could you possibly marry business/finance with a post-60’s NYC politically Left activism and postmodern collectivist cause-seeking?

I suppose you can try, but you still have to appeal to the suburbs and offer a good view.

I won’t make any predictions.