I could not believe what John Bohner said at his republican news conference today. When asked about the immagration reform, he had the nerve to complain about how much work it adds to their agenda. Guess it is just one more thing he has to make excuses for not supporting. Think they should get paid by what they accomplish, and not for the office they hold.

Obama can do little more.He needs to await developments in Iran by Iranians. Let other UN Nations stand up for a change.

Tell Gov. Sanford to walk all the way to Maine and go on into Canada and stay there. Is he pouting because the courts and legislature forced him to take the stimules package?

Dan
Hilton Head Island, SC

At last, a president with real common sense!! taske care of USA first, mind our own business!!!

Pres Obama is looking a two gasoline soaked "bridges" with Iran, and the short term "posturers" want him to throw their match onto one of them – when the best move is not to have any flames near either one lest we need them both for the longterm.

There is a great deal of power in remaining still, I agree with President Obama is taking 100%.

Thank you, Rick, for all of the coverage on the human rights' violations taking place in Iran. I just watched Hamid Dibashi talking to Ali Velshi. Oh how wrong he is. He says this is only about civil rights. No, This IS about a regime change, a regime that supports terror across the world and of its own people as evidenced from the footage sent from Iran by the people. If Mr. Dibashi does not know the actual desire of the Iranian people, he should stop speaking on their behalf. If he does not recognize the human rights violations occurring in Iran, then he is only a representative of the government that the people are trying to overthrow in their attempt to reach DEMOCRACY. This IS about regime change. Shame on you, Mr, Dibashi, shame on you.

I believe the negative comments in regard to President Obama's handling of the Iran election are coming from folks who are not used to a president and his staff carefully considering and measuring an appropriate response. In the past, we have been conditioned and forced to accept knee jerk responses from our leadership that did not necessarily reflect our best interests or the interests of other countries. Now we have a president that is setting a metered pace and we somehow have digressed to the point that many do not have the patients for it. I find it refreshing that we are now allowing cooler heads to prevail.
It seems like the wise thing to do.

Please bring up the EB-Visa Issue. we are waiting for over a decade now for my/fellow green card.

Due to work in-efficiency or other factors USCIS let go almost half a million green cards since 1999 due to back logs. If they re-use those visa's we will all be greened and buy houses/start businesses and much more. We will stop sending money to foreign home accounts and make this our permanent home. .

Perhaps Mr. Bauer is not qualified to be Lt. Gov. if he gets this frustrated when the Governor is unavailable, that he feels compelled to go on tv and say, "we don't know what to do..." step aside and find someone who would step up and take charge.

Where was the republicans outrage and anger in 2000 when G. W. Bush stole an election?Hmm.The President's speech about Iran was precisely the correct stance.McCain & republicans don't have the responsibility of every U.S. citizen and their safety to consider, just their constituents.They can make such statements, it plays up to their party's base.Just shows how partisanship can play into something as tragic as the death of a young lady.Despicable and shame on McCain and those who would use her death to further political agendas. That's exactly why McCain and republicans have been voted out by we the people.
Joyce
Las Vegas, Nv.

On Obama and Iran: In 1997 and 2003 steam blew out of the Iranian pressure cooker, and American presidents immediately threw their "support" being "regime change" and "revolution" — and this reckless rhetoric immediately became the excuse used by Ali Khomene'i to brutalize the Iranian people. Protesters then begged the United States to stay out of it, because it is deadly for them to be perceived as the pawns of the West, which THEY ARE NOT. They are their own brilliant and beautiful people, and they can do this. They only need to know that we support their inalienable rights to freedom, equality, equitable rule of law, and self-determination — that we support their not being effectively incarcerated, dehumanized, and assaulted by their own government. Obama has made that point in the best of terms. And that's coming from an registered Independent, not a Democrat. Dissent is welcome, but be careful: The people who will pay for inflamed rhetoric now are the people of Iran, and American politicians should be careful to take their welfare into consideration when advocating more radical speech.

Hi Ali,

President Obama made a wise choice by taking the humane stance on violence against the Iranian people while not interfering with the internal affairs of a sovereign nation. We went down that road before and we are still paying a high price. His actions as well as demonstration of restraint reflect the the kids of policies will erode injustice from within the Iranian nation. That's without spending money or shooting off guns.

Julie

I like to know what the poeple want obama to do? Do they think that he should send in troops, like Bush did in Iraq. Or is the friends of the big oil companys see a way to get their hands on Iran oil fields! When Bush stolen the vote in 2000. The poeple wanted a recount and did not receive one. So What is the big deal if Iran do the same?????

I have been so impressed by the Iranian people and their courage in the protest of this false election. But I wonder, if they obviously have an amazing ability to organize themselves, why don't they facilitate a recount themselves? Everyone wants to know numbers, so all they would have to do is create a petition in each region and count the votes against Amadinijad. With these numbers, it would allow for the leaders of other countries to legitimately pressure him to step down. This wouldn't have to be completely public during it facilitation so the police won't stop them; but after this is done, through secretly sending results to other media sources it would definitely be more than useful in support of the protest.

Rick/Ali Chris Brown is a young airhead but he is not more at fault than Rihanna who allowed this millionnaire to beat her and get away with it. Wow, Rick, when will women stand up to these bullys and leave them. I guess that its all about image and Rihanna, feeling sorry and that she may have played a part. No woman deserves to be beaten in the face the way Chris beat her.

Obama vs McCain IRA is old cold – war foreign policy strategy used when presidents cannot say what they really feel.

The president did the right thing by not interfering with Iran's election. We have to learn to mind our own business and let the Iranian people handle their problem. America is not the police of the world and as for the Republicans, quit crying.

I am grateful for Pres BO's approach, he did the right thing. Rick/Ali it is what it is and we cannot afford to get tied up in a 3rd conflict we need to back off and wait and see.. Good job B.O.

ali or rick ...so the arizona minutemen which is to be considered from this point on a vigilante terrorist organization thinks it is good to gun down 10 yr. children in their own home (including the father and attempted to gun down the mother) because according to their most excellent information he the father was adrug dealer. maybe but the girl. america had better stop pretending to be some higher moral authority and judge no one but yourselves. america the sick.

I find it hard to believe that an acting governor can disappear for any length of time without SOMEone knowing where he is...wouldn't someone file a missing person report? I simply do not buy that we are getting the whole story. I have no issue with anyone going on vacation, (Bush certainly took his fair share), but something here does not add up...if he were my husband, I would have filed a missing persons report. A person in the public eye such as he is does not just go "missing" without people going into panic mode...it will be interesting to watch this story evolve.

Why is there so little discussion about the Laura Ling and Euna Lee story? Since the Iran story, I haven't seen anything regarding these women. Please keep their story going. I think they and their families deserve it.

Rick/Ali the Gov should pay back the security for his wayward actions. How can a Gov just walk away from his responsibility? He is a disgrace.. what is something had happened to the family? Also, if a father can leave on fathers day what does this say about his marriage? I would not be surprised if there was another woman

I guess that his motto is FIGHT LOSE and FLIGHT>.

Ali, You're probably the smartest guy in the world so tell me, Why do the American people keep letting these powerful corporations buy and sell our representatives. The only power they have is money.
Michael Allison

President Obama's response to the beginning of a revolution in Iran seems right. I am certain that if a leader presents himself (or herself) to the Iranian people, they will follow and continue to make their voices be heard, and when that happens, I am just as certain that our President will voice support on the right side of human rights and justice. CNN played a phone call with an Iranian woman a few days ago and when she was asked about having a leader, her response was "we have no leader" right now, I believe. Our president certainly can't get involved until the Iranians fully invest themselves. The fight for human rights, freedom and democracy has been fought by many, and my heart is with the Iranians.

I don't understand why the United States needs to make a stand regarding Iran. We're between a rock and a hard place. Obama is doing the right thing. Where is the United Nations regarding this? What are they doing? Nothing? It's a problem for the world, not just the United States. Our hearts go out to the protesters for their passion! The question we should have is " Why would they put their lives at risk if there had been a fair and honest election?"

Sure it has me concerned but you know what? We should already have a surplus on hand of oil in case the Strait of Hormuz is restricted so there would not be a shock of increased oil and gas prices. Let Iran settle their differences internally. If the unrest spills outside their confines, then I'll get more concerned. Right now, I have more concerns about North Korea and a potential missile launch towards Hawaii. Since this regime already has "the Bomb", it will not take them much longer before it is weaponized and placed on one of their missiles. Remember, all you have to do is launch the missile and have it detonate high up in the atmosphere. Then the EMP will wipe out or severely disable unprotected electronics for up to 2000 miles. Think of what that can do to our economy if we can't use electricity or computers!

I agree with Amy...we need to keep the story alive of those two young women in North Korea...as well as the Sean Goldman story. I don't understand why there is not more outrage that another country has essentially kidnapped an American child from his American father. Does anyone remember Elian Gonzalez? Where is the state department in these two cases? And why hasn't the President spoken about either? Media coverage is the key.

How come, when President Bush first got elected if you dare say anything against any of his foriegn policy decisions, you were un-patriotic, but President Obama is take a free shot, bad mouth away, it's OK!!

This country has put to rest the Kent State massacre and the police brutality at the LA riots, but think the rest of the world is disgraceful in their handling of unrest!

Gov. Sanford is apparently whacked in the head, and he's not alone. So are many of these Repubs these days; urging some nasty response of American punishment to Iran (as if that would work), harping on the impossibility of fixing Health Care while offering absolutely nothing in the way of solutions, blaming Obama for everything this side of the weather itself, and then going AWOL with news-show mouthiness, or just AWOL period like Gov. Sanford did.
It's like the notion of "responsibility" is not their responsibility, and yet their professional job is that of "lawmakers". Very inspiring all of this, but thankfully there is Obama on the other side. One guy that I actually believe. Hmmm.. Talk about responsibility.

I was just watching an interview that Lou Dobbs made with Hillary Mann Leverete about Iran. She was saying," Iran is not in Crisis"!! and "there is no evidence of fraud in the election!!! and "there is no recession in Iran"!!! How dares she talk about Iran like that? Apparently she hasn't seen any of the horrible videos from Iran. If she doesn't call killing innocent people on the streets and beating men and women to death just because they want a just election, a crisis, what does she call it? No recession in Iran?? fyI lady, Iran has been in recession for the past 30 years.Look at the high unemployment rate in Iran. Honestly, I started to doubt my English. Apparently, some English words have a reversed meaning that I did not know about!!! Her appalling comments made me(and a lot of Iranians) so angry that I'm asking on behalf of all of them to please not interview people who have no idea what they're talking about. I love CNN and all of its news anchors and journalists and I thank them all for their wonderful job about Iran, so please do not make us disappointed in you.

I love Ali he is the Michael Jordan of economic news.

Americans are lucky that McCain is not the President. He will bring WWIII.

Is this Islam? The Iranian leadership, political and religious, have shown how they are rats wearing elephant costumes. Every quality which the Koran establishes for the faithful has been corrupted and broken to the point where the world sees their use of the Islamic religion for the pure maintenance of power. Killing the faithful, killing women, killing children, recruiting children as suicide bombers, crushing the real voice of the Iranian people……..is this Islam or Hitler’s Germany? Is this how the faithful wish the world to see their faith?

Rick,

Individuals don't have to wait for our government and must not be silent. I wear a green ribbon every day to mourn for Neda and for Iranians suffering at the hands of their own government. I know that there are economic sanctions already in place. But are there particular oil companies that do business with Iran? Perhaps they could be targeted for a world wide boycott?

Sometimes citizens around the world can accomplish things where governments cannot.

Why is there so much media on Iran? Is it the media prepairing us for war. Is it oil? I just don't recall anywhere near this much media coverage or congressional uprising when millions were being killed in Darfur.

What is it about these men in Power, especially Republicans? I say this because they claim to be so spiritually righteous and the next time what do we have–? Unfaithful men who lie to their wives, children and those they are to lead. Shame!

Whats it say when I served my country honorably in the U.S. Navy during the Gulf War and paid into the Montgomery G.I. Bill for college to have that same government write me a few years later after I got discharged to tell be I had to forfeit my college money because I didnt use in the timely manner that suited them? It only amounted to $10,800 but still, this is another example of how the government treats its vets!

I’ve always said when people proclaim too loudly in a sanctimonious, self-righteous and holier-than-thou tone, they have something they’re hiding. Behold, those pious Republican politicians have proven me right every time...Mark Sanford has just added his name to that list.

Ali
we hear the gasps of the American public over the atrocities the bandits of Iran are doing but we do not know what each European country and their populations think about the outrageous behavior of the thugs in Iran and what they think of their leadership.

We have an armada of ships in the gulf and 150 thousand troops that are right next door trying to build up a baby democracy that is doomed to fail after we leave because of the hatred of the Sunni and Shia sects of Islam. We should use all of our forces to stop and kill the regime in power in Iran that supports terrorism around the world and is building nukes to stay in power and killing true freedom fighters there! They are asking for the free world's help to free Iran from these radical rulers and we need to do just that!

Reminds me of Johnny Carson's & Ed McMahon's version of the turkish guru or whatever he was hehehee I'm having a vison, The Great Supreme Idiot from Iran, will be overthrown ....now here's the real kicker......by Iranian Women ! ha ha

it doesnt make sense with whats going on in the world today

In Tehran, why don't these people fight back with anything they can get their hands on? Freedom is worth fighting for.

The sincerity of Sr. Pastor Patricia McKinney's statements about her church's treatment of the young man who "wanted to not live his homosexual lifestyle" is respected. I am the mother of a gay son, who would also not want to live a lifestyle that showered him with hatred, abuse, and other hypocritical judgments. That does not mean that he can change his innate attraction to people of his own gender, any more than she can. She has encouraged self-hatred which is the opposite of the teachings of Jesus. Homosexuality is a gender-issue which is predominantly genetic-based. It is not not an addiction at all, and is certainly not comparable to alcohol, crack cocaine, or adultery. No one should dispute freedom of religion. Similarly no one should dispute another person's sexual preference if that preference does not harm others. Homosexual behavior has nothing to do with choice when it is genetic. I knew my son was gay when he was two years old, and have loved and supported him on his difficult path.

I've been on Twitter today, and see nothing but topics on MJ's death. Yes, it was newsworthy, but all night????? What about Iran??? They are tweeting that America has forgotten them so easily. What a shame.

Rick, please go back to coverage of the Iranians on your show on Friday. So many people tune in to you.

Thanks, and God bless.....Patty

I beleive that MIchael Jackson was a one of a kind music icon, who will always LiVE ON! i aske myself, on the 911 tape he was feeling ill since the night before,if the doctor came either that night or in the morning, there was more than enough time to have called 911 right when he became unconcious. ALso, on the tape it stated he was on the bed, well if hthe doctor had been there, and had tried to rescucitate him, he should have been on the floor not on the bed, if he was trying to give effective CPR.why did he wait for Michael to be fully unconcious before calling 911? He was my life long idols, ALWAYS WILL BE MISSED! God bless You!

First of all Ali, I think you are one of the best reporters on the air these days !

Second, Joe Jackson is disgusting – he comes out with a big SMILE
on his face? He doesn't look like he is grieving for his son. I don't think he deserves to benefit one cent from Michael Jackson's death. He is doing nothing but promoting himself. I feel sad for Michael's siblings, but Joe Jackson looks like he is relishing all this attention.
That is SO SAD and totally shameful and disgusting.

Hi Ali...did you know that the state of South Carolina has the most archaic marital laws in this country. According to my friend who resided in this state, if a couple are legally separated, the man is allowed to date, but not the woman! Imagine that. Does that mean that Gov. Sanford has to amend the laws for women's lib?

Hey America lets clean out Congress. get rid of those owned by special interests and put in anyone who is not Big Business or Lawyers.

It is interesting that the media is still very enthralled by Iran while giving the cold shoulder to those killed in the on going unrest in China that took 156 lives. Why do you look at these two hot spots differently Rick?

All of these at this weekend march for teabaggers, (Ones with degrading signs) forgot thier sheets. Come on people your telling everybody your honest and up front, show the true you. YOU DO NOT represent most Americans, just a very small percentage. Why doesn't someone go into a RNC headquarter with a donation from the KKK and film it, you know they would take it, then you could run it with the ACORN B.S. How racist was it for that film maker to be wearing that 1960's furcoat to represent a pimp!!!

We all shrug our shoulders saying 'they are so far out' ... i look at it like Nancy Pelosi ... it takes one person, one bullet to change everything!...