Earlier Thursday, CIA Director Leon Panetta told Congress that "there is a strong likelihood that Mubarak may step down this evening." In an afternoon speech to university students in Michigan, Obama gave no indication that he expected otherwise, calling the events in Egypt "a moment of transformation that's taking place because the people of Egypt are calling for change."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/10/AR2011021003134.html

Mubarak's response (part of it)

The allusion to outside intervention echoed a warning from Mubarak, whose advisers have expressed anger with the United States, Egypt's longtime ally, for sternly urging the Cairo regime to repeal its state-of-emergency law and to embrace democratic reforms.

"We will prove that we are not followers or puppets of anybody, nor we are receiving orders or dictations from anybody," Mubarak said. "No one is making the decision for us."

I don't really know exactly what Mubarak is. I know very little about Egypt, other than what I learned from Ben-Hur and Cleopatra. But we're learning. He appears to be a right wing despot in the mold of the Shah of Iran and other right-wing dictators (especially in S. America) that the United States has chosen to prop up in the name of "stability". The United States has even gone out of its way to help overthrow democratically elected governments in these countries. It's really too early to have a good, comprehensive view of this situation.

NBC seemed to think he would listen to bHo and step down.

And, bHo seemed pretty sure Mr.Mubarak would do as he was ordered to.

Hey, if Rangel told bHo to screw off when told to step aside.........

I don't know what this means.

I dont either

As the Egypt thing develops, it is starting to look like Mubarak may be wanting to pull a Putin. Stepping down from his office, but effectively staying in power.

So, now I just heard on the news that Mubarak intends to stay in office until the next "election". Things could get very ugly in the streets, very quickly.

I wonder how Uncle Joe Stalin or Mao would have handled this...

I'm guessing they would have turned the tanks on them by now and you would have thousands dead..

Oh for the days of the leftist autocrats..

Getting a little far afield here, aren't we?

It means, Rangel told bHusseino to kiss his asss. He ain't steppin' down.

Murbarak did the same.

(I guess bHusseino must be President Obama) Why? Did anybody think they would? Neither of these people work for the President. Why would they be expected to comply with his wishes.

It's similar to the Ronald Reagan myth. Gorbachov (sp?) dismantled the wall because Reagan ordered him to in a speech?

Reagan: Mr. Gorbachov. Tear down this wall!

Gorbachov: Yessuh! Yessuh, Massa!

I am having a hard time trying to figure out where the Republicans are coming from on the Egypt uprising. They were very quiet at the start but they now seem to be criticizing President Obama for his handling of the situation.

They seem to be talking in circles...do they really think we should be propping up Hosni Mubarak? They say that President Obama's message is confusing but I think he has been very clear. If anything, the Republicans are confusing with their message and what they think should be the course of action.

Here was what Sarah Palin had to say: “And nobody yet has, nobody yet has explained to the American public what they know, and surely they know more than the rest of us know who it is who will be taking the place of Mubarak and no, not, not real enthused about what it is that that’s being done on a national level and from DC in regards to understanding all the situation there in Egypt. And, in these areas that are so volatile right now, because obviously it’s not just Egypt but the other countries too where we are seeing uprisings, we know that now more than ever, we need strength and sound mind there in the White House. We need to know what it is that America stands for so we know who it is that America will stand with. And, we do not have all that information yet.”


And there are many who think she would make a good President??? She clearly doesn't have a clue.

I think we need to stay the hell out of the middle east affairs. Let the Egyptian people sort it out.

That was a puzzlement to me, too. Then I noticed that the right-wing opinion makers in the media weren't saying much, either. Could it be that the righties out here in the world have been waiting to be told what they should be thinking? I don't know.

Mubarak left Cairo today.

I forgot to ask. Did President Obama tell Charlie Rangel to step down? When did this happen? Did it make it into the news? I must have missed it. Maybe you can help me find out more about that.

Well Willing, it appears that Mr. Mubarak has done what President Obama told him to do....he has resigned.

I guess this thread is done now.

I doubt it had anything to do with what bHusseino said.

I doubt it , too. What's your point? As I pointed out, Mubarak doesn't work for Buh-who-sane-oh. (Clever nickname)

After having checked the Egyptian state run communications I have a differing take than that of OUR media on what Mubarak aluded to.

I find it quite interesting that he should pick this day to do what he had intended to do the day before.

Namely ... step down.

Strange that he should do it on the anniversary of the overthrow of the Shaw of Iran...

Kinda looks like a feather to the Iraninans (who are facing a growing upheaval of their own).