The Hollywood Liberal

McCain complains that the United States has yet to ?pull the trigger? on Iran.
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, former GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) complained that United States policy towards Iran is not tough enough. McCain reportedly said that while the United States keeps pointing a loaded gun at Iran, it has yet “pull the trigger”: Senator John McCain says the United States […]

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, former GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) complained that United States policy towards Iran is not tough enough. McCain reportedly said that while the United States keeps pointing a loaded gun at Iran, it has yet “pull the trigger”:

Senator John McCain says the United States has been backing away from a brewing fight with Iran, while that country moves ever closer to having nuclear weapons.

McCain opened a Senate hearing Wednesday by saying that Iran will get the bomb unless the United States acts more boldly.

Speaking figuratively, the Arizona Republican says the U.S. keeps pointing a loaded gun at Iran but failing to “pull the trigger.”

After famously singing the words “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran” to the tune of the Beach Boys’ song Barbara Ann in 2007, McCain later said he was joking, telling his critics to “lighten up and get a life.”

Deputy Director Kappes to leave CIA
CIA Deputy Director Stephen R. Kappes, a veteran spy who has played a major role in overseeing the agency’s counterterrorism operations since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, will retire in May and be replaced by the service’s top analyst, CIA officials said Wednesday.

West Virginia governor asks underground coal mines to halt production for a day
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III (D) asked all underground coal mines in his state on Wednesday to halt production for one day, so that workers can review safety issues in the wake of the April 5 explosion that killed 29 miners south of Charleston.

Massachusetts moving money out of 3 big banks to protest credit card rates
Massachusetts officials on Wednesday announced plans to move millions of dollars in state investments out of some of the nation’s biggest banks to protest credit card interest rates.

Stern: A Union Maverick Clocks Out
Harold Meyerson, Washington Post
“The special gift of this union has been its ability to do things differently,” Andy Stern told me on Tuesday as he looked back on his 14-year tenure as president of the Service Employees International Union in the wake of his reported decision to resign, which shocked Washington after it leaked out Monday.Stern's resignation could be Exhibit A in the SEIU's Doing Things Differently file. It comes at the height of his power, not just as the leader of America's most dynamic union but also as the leader of liberalism's most effective political organization; one…

Court Battle is a Whole New Ball Game
Gloria Borger, CNN
Washington (CNN) — It was no surprise over at the White House that Justice John Paul Stevens has decided to retire from the court after nearly 35 years. And they're clearly ready with a list of names — some fully vetted and even interviewed by the president — after the Sonia Sotomayor choice last spring.

Promoting Democracy in Afghanistan
Thomas Friedman, New York Times
There are many differences between Iraq and Afghanistan, but they do resemble each other in one critical way. In both countries, the “bad guys,” the violent jihadists, are losing. And in both countries, it still is not clear if the “good guys” will really turn out to be good.And the big question the Obama team is facing in both countries is: Should we care? Should we care if these countries are run by decent leaders or by drug-dealing, oil-stealing extras from “The Sopranos” — as long as we can just get out? At this…