Obama Gets Backing from Iran

From The Guardian:

A top Iranian official has said Barack Obama is the favoured candidate of Tehran, calling him more “rational” than John McCain in remarks that could be used against the Democratic US presidential hopeful.

Well, maybe its not the best possible endorsement for Middle American nuts who still think he’s a Muslim, but doesn’t just further suggest that all this lack of foreign policy experience that McCain wants to play us is just sheer bull.

Political Weekend

UK

Racial discrimation in the police force rears its ugly head once more

Wendy Alexander, an ally of Brown, has quit.

The Guardian has a piece on Henley and the now dominant Tories in the area.

Donors are turning on Brown too.

Tony Benn puts in his support for David Davis.

US

So Obama and Clinton have publicly made friends this week.

McCain and Obama are courting Latin American voters.

Obama is planning to hit the road.

Jeff Greenfield discusses how Obama can lessen the impact of the Republicans.

Could he get the endorsement of Colin Powell? The ‘Obamacons’ pose a serious threat to McCain.

Political Weekend (a day late, sorry)

US

So Obama won last week, officially. Plus Hillary’s getting right behind him.

But what will it take for her people to really get behind Obama?

Maureen Dowd praises her acting skills.

Why did her campaign go wrong though?

For the Clinton clan, this is a pretty huge change for their lives to take.

Peggy Noonan thinks the American people dodged a bullet.

Here’s an interesting thought, could she be predicating a future run on a failure this year for Obama?

Frank Rich concentrates more on the enormous gap in political philosophy between Obama and McCain.

Jesse Jackson thinks Hillary’s a strong candidate for vice-president.

Obama’s received the endorsement of Kurt Beck, the leader of Germany’s Social Democrats Party. The move represents a key break from tradition of German politics.

Obama has much to do however, and little time to do it in.

Andrew Sullivan and Marc Ambinder consider an Obama presidency.

Political Weekend

Just a reminder for those who do enjoy the political linkage, check out the Slate Political Gabfest and KCRW’s Left, Right and Center podcasts. Both are excellent. For the British politics, try the BBC’s Weekly Political Review.

UK

Gordon Brown is being put under pressure appoint a viable successor as deputy.

Allegedly, ‘Blair-ite’ left-wing figures are plotting and have approached someone to consider taking the job.

The leading candidate at the moment is Miliband.

What about Alan Johnson though?

John Rentoul says only Labour can really be blamed for this.

It should also be noted this week that our government rejected restrictions on IVF (which really pissed off The Daily Mail and therefore must be good) which would have discriminated against lesbian and gay couples seeking adoption and we voted to keep the current upper abortion limit at 24 weeks.

US

One must-read this week, George Packer’s excellent piece from The New Yorker on the fall of conservatism in America.

He’s been getting a few responses since publishing the essay.

Link Machine

I had to change the puns. The Copolla thing was proper rubbish. So, we’ve gone to a trusted source… Girls Aloud.

Sasha Frere-Jones on popular music videos.

Offence = Condemnation from Obama?

Porn versus Prostitution. When is paying for sex okay?

I missed this a few days ago, Obama on his faith and controversial church.

Obama gained gained some Iowa delegates.

E chronicles his time on the road for The Observer.

The Ritter’s doc has been cleared.

Should we be taking cheerleaders more seriously?

Eddie Izzard is profiled on The NY Times.

Obama’s just biding his time.

Time lists its best and worst covers.

Salon comments on the spate of teen shows over the past week.

Laughing Len is back on tour. The Independent profiles.

Christian Slater is coming to a TV screen near us all.

Hash Link

Air is releasing a ten-year anniversary edition of Moon Safari.

The Shins, Rilo Kiley and a host of others are designing T-shirts for charity.

Jamie Lidell has announced a world tour.

The AV Club pays tribute to Morvern Callar.

How much has Iraq truly cost?

Barack is using the insults to gain further in his lead.

Slate has a feature of Jeff Mangum, ‘The Salinger of Indie Rock’. It also has the application form for American Gladiators.

Diablo Cody is going to tell another part of her story.

Coldplay new record is allegedly going to be ‘more experimental’. Which wouldn’t really be tough would it?

Sasha Frere Jones wasn’t too happy about Once winning an Oscar.

Deschanel and Dano are to be in Gigantic.

Here’s a list of the most mysoginistic films ever.

Goldfrapp contribute a guest list to Pitchfork.

A Heroes soundtrack with Wilco and Dylan is coming. Hopefully no dialogue snippets.

Bill Maher discusses Nader running on The Huffington Post.

Prince Harry is fighting the Taliban. Yeah, he’ll be chuffed that one’s leaked.

A top debater deconstructs Obama versus Hillary in Cleveland.

Crazy Mahmoud said today that Iran is number one.

The Dodos do a session for Daytrotter.

Bush has endorsed the Democratic candidates… by criticising them.

Check out the new Get Smart trailer.

The Real Link Shady

Oh my GOD!!! PopSugar UK launched yesterday and it is UK-tastic!!!!! Look and see.

Here’s the Valentine’s Day AV Club Comics Panel.

The Guardian film podcast celebrates the genius of This Is England.

Thom Yorke DJ’d on NPR yesterday. Stream that mutha right here.

Spinner has a new joint from The B-52s.

The Indiana Jones trailer has arrived.

Mary-Louise Parker may be engaged…

An actor’s strike? Come on! For flip’s sake.

Why is Mike Huckabee still running? Salon investigates a lost cause.

Could Obama take the Catholic vote if he gets the nomination? Let’s get him there and find out America!

But more important that all of this is that it’s Bethy’s Birthday!!!! She’s in San Francisco at the moment (back on Saturday!!!) but we should all send our nicest possible wishes to her as she is quite wonderful. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETTY!!!!!!!!!!!

Link ‘n’ Juice

The strike is over. Pick you your mighty pens and write-on and damn, will someone tell the writers on Heroes/Desperate Housewives/Grey’s Anatomy/a whole host of other shows to start earning their money.

Check out this video for ‘Myriad Harbour’ by the New Pornographers.

I have no idea why, but I just love Achewood. Today’s is especially odd.

Knight Rider clips. I guess, Yay?

Who would like to own one of Shakira’s bras? No-one? Oh.

The Guardian investigates whether we’ve lost the art of putting together a great music magazine cover.

Also from the above, Obama swept past Clinton last night. Come on, America!!

The AV Club interview zombie king George Romero.

Slate, in defence of Winehouse.

Entertainment Weekly lists fourteen great movies about writers.

Joel Surnow has left 24. Also on the Hollywood Reporter, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton and Gael Garcia Bernal are in the new Jim Jarmusch movie.

Gary Coleman got married. Secretly. Which is a shame. Because I would love to have gone just for that one moment when the catchphrase could’ve come out. ‘Do you take this woman?’. ‘What you talkin’ ’bout Reverend?’.

Billboard has the track listing for Scarlett Johansson’s Tom Waits covers record. It also has news that the first trio of records by The Replacements (plus and EP) are being reissued.