If you happened to be focused on other things yesterday, say like the House passing health care legislation late on a Saturday night, you may have missed a semi-important story about the Iranian nuke saga.

Over the last several months the press, several governments, and pundits world wide have given Iran a lot of attention.  Specifically, what is the true intent of the nuclear program current underway.  Is it for energy, as Iran would have the world believe, or for something a bit more questionable?

World leaders gave Iran the  benefit of the doubt – or the appearance of the benefit of the doubt – and offered a solution to the country.  The basis such belief was this: If the Iranian government was truly interested in producing nuclear energy, let Russia enrich nuclear fuel rod for that purpose.

Iran gave an initial “yes” but that didn’t last for long.

“Iran is not to give any of its 1,200 kilograms (of) fuel to the other party to receive 20 percent (enriched) fuel and whether gradually or at once, this will not be done and is called off,” Boroujerdi reportedly told ISNA.

I fully believe Iranian government wants nuclear weapons – if they don’t have them already. This isn’t to “wipe Israel off the map” as the Iranian leadership has suggested, but to remove any government in the mid-east that does not share the same religious values the of the Iranian government; however, I also feel like there is a mild march to way that is being pushed by a number of world powers.

Over and over Iran has shown to the world they will not honor deals brokered by the UN, Russia or any other government.  They will act in the manner that best fits their wants and desires.  This only gives others (Israel and the US) the ability to push for war…  the balanced dance of mid-east politics may come to an explosive end if clear  minds do not prevail.

I love the internet.  In a single day people can get more information than what was available to people in a lifetime roughly thirty years ago, let alone 300 years ago.  Sure, that can lead to information overload if one is not careful; however, that also creates a situation where everyone can have access to news the mainstream press doesn’t seem to report on… like this: Israel seizes ship in Mediterranean carrying more than 3,000 rockets

More than 3,000 rockets were apparently being smuggled aboard the ship Francop, which was captured in the Mediterranean Sea by Israel Navy missile boats and naval commandos late Tuesday night in an operation dubbed Operation Four Species.

So where were the rockets heading?  It sounds like the end destination was Lebanon. The scary part of this story is the unspoken.  Just think about how many ships actually make it – to any port of call – that have items that can be used as weapons.

U.S. Politics

New Jersey, Virginia, and New York had elections for state governors yesterday. What is so special about this race?  Not much and everything.

In NJ and VA the Democrats lost the governor seats to Republican candidates.  NJ is a historically Democrat state and VA went to the Democrats in both the Presidential and Congress races.  This situation is causing political pundits to warn the current political climate is hostile to Democratic candidates in the 2010 mid-term elections.

Unlike some, I would not say that the results from yesterday were not referendums on President Obama and the Democrats as they were on the health-care debate.  That has really been the focus of the general public for the last several months.  One could make the case the health-care debate may carry forward and take down other Democrat candidates, but so many other things can between now and then as well.

However, what last night does show is the argument “Blame Bush” is no longer effective.  Both of the Democrats had a healthy does of Bush bashing and suffered because of it.  As the political defense of the last year has taken that approach, yesterday should serve as warning for political strategists to find another approach.

There are some that manage to have a positive view of what took place yesterday (why, I’m really not sure).

Turkey (the country, not the food)

Turkish Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan, gave a clear sign to the world as to where Turkey comes in on the Israeli belief that Iran should not have nuclear weapons.

“… those who criticize Iran’s nuclear program continue to possess the same weapons,” said Erdogan, according to an advance copy, carried by state-run Anatolian news agency, of a televised address he was scheduled to make at 8 p.m.

“I think that those who take this stance, who want these arrogant sanctions, need to first give these [weapons] up. We shared this opinion with our Iranian friends, our brothers.”

If there comes a time where Israel takes a military approach to Iran it is clear Turkey will not support such an event.  What will be interesting to watch is what will Turkey do when it comes down to oil pricing.  Will they support the Dollar? They Euro? A basket?

Pot (the drug, not the cooking type)

It’s about time a community stood up and took a stand – Breckenridge, Colorado legalized marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia.

Breckenridge voters passed Measure 2F, which removes criminal penalties from the town code for the private possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by adults 21 and older. The ordinance also removes criminal penalties for the possession of bongs, pipes and other drug paraphernalia.

It was an avalanche “yes” vote, passing 73 percent to 27 percent.

I have never once used Marijuana in my life. Ever. That said, I firmly believe that we cannot truly say we live in a free country if people cannot put whatever they want in their bodies.

Gay Love (not the good kind)

Much like I don’t feel we should be told what we can/cannot do with our bodies, I think it is morally unjustified for one to tell another who they can/cannot be wed to.  Unfortunately, that is once again what happened in the state of Maine yesterday as voters repealed they states gay marriage law.

Democracy has both positives and negatives, no?

And a cute cartoon (really, just a cute cartoon)

And let us end the day on a really cute add for the Belgian public transport company De Lijn.

Really, how cute was that!

Here are a few things in the news that caught my eye over the last 24 hours:

• October surprise from bank earnings? Some experts worry results may be much more negative than investors expect

Bank stocks surged during the third quarter, but as companies prepare to report results from the period, several industry experts remain concerned.

• Toxic commercial loans plague small banks

Toxic commercial real estate assets held by small U.S. banks are threatening their survival and the broader economy, analysts say.

• Israel, US to simulate response to war

Israel and the United States, amid growing tensions with Iran, will simulate interoperability between missile defense systems this week during the biennial Juniper Cobra missile defense exercise.

With the market going into earnings season, it will be interesting to see how things play out.

As the United States quickly moves toward the Presidential Elections many people are waiting for an “October Surprise” – an event that will drastically change the election in favor of one candidate.  The major event influencing the race today is the financial bailout currently working its way through Congress. Without a doubt the economic turmoil has favored Barack Obama, showing his lead in the polls growing as the uncertainty continues to grow, but will there be another event to swing the momentum in favor of McCain?

Maybe an Israeli attack on Iran?

Earlier in the year Israel apparently asked the United States for permission to attack Iranian nuclear facilities but was denied by the Bush administration.  As Iran progresses with the nuclear program Israel feels, more and more, their very existence is threatened.  As a result, the Israeli government will do what they feel is best for their safety – attack Iran.

Will they do so before the election?  Is so, will this be the “October Surprise” that swings the favor to McCain or will the US public move even closer to Obama?