Moody’s drops Malema
The day after credit rating agency Moody’s downgraded South Africa to negative from stable the ANC Youth League’s corrupt leader Julius Malema is suspended. Moody’s cited South Africa’s political risk.
The South African Rand took a heavy knock on the Moody’s downgrade and it obviously became clear to the ruling ANC party that the problem for the political risk had to be removed. Read more…
The weather in Cannes
Today, it is 64°F (18°C) in Cannes, France where the G-20 heads of governments are stuffing their faces, contemplating the offers of corrupt institutions, ogling the French girls and smirking at the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou.
Normally, Cannes is a great place to visit whatever the weather. It is a beautiful seaside town with long lazy beaches, grand hotels and fantastic restaurants. This is the place where pretty actresses, handsome actors and great directors rub shoulders during the annual Cannes Film Festival Read more…
Osama 0 : Obama 1
Barack Obama got a 9 point poll boost on the news that Osama bin Laden has been shot dead on May 1 in Abbottabad, Pakistan by Seal Team Six of the US Navy Seals. Osama 0 : Obama 1.
Half the world considers it an amazing feat because … half the world had thought that Osama is dead already. But they too can now celebrate the “Obama got Osama” occasion with special commemorative T-shirts, ties, mugs, buttons, etc. Bin Laden Dead gifts are selling like hot cakes.
The name of the Seal who shot Osama in the head (reportedly above the left eye) and chest is… well, nobody knows. The US Navy Seals is a highly secretive unit with about 2 500 members – chosen from the 8 500 hardy men that serve in the Naval Special Warfare Command – and they’re not exactly the kind that will be walking the streets with placards naming the hero of their finest hour. Read more…
The only constant
“The only constant is change.” Thankfully. And no more so than in American elections, known for its wide swings between the left and right. It is, of course, a common trend in almost any two-party system.
When Greek philosopher Heraclitus wrote – at around 500 BC – that famous line about change he could not have had the 2010 US Mid Term elections in mind but explaining change as “cold things warm up, hot things cool down” certainly sums up political moods. You are guaranteed to hear “We’ve come to take our government back!” every two years. And that would have pleased Thomas Jefferson, who insisted that “Every generation needs a new revolution.” A revolution every two years should be even better, one presumes. Read more…
Live TV debate UK politics
The second live television debate by the leaders of three leading UK political parties turned out even more interesting than most US presidential TV debates. The UK debate format is more free in flow, thus appears less rehearsed and with less closing theatrics.
In the first debate (April 15), Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democratic Party beat the pants off David Cameron (Conservative Party) and Prime Minister Gordon Brown (Labour Party) by a country mile. The second debate (April 22) was a closer call, with initial newspaper polls giving Clegg the thumbs up but putting Brown strong on detail. The independent YouGov poll declared Cameron the winner, much to media’s surprise, as I could tell from their live blogging. Read more…
Tempest in a coffeepot
There just absolutely, definitely and ultimately had to be an alternative to the Tea Party Patriots. Obviously it had to be a Coffee Party. What else? The Milkshake Makeovers? The Ginseng Gang? The Cucumber Club? Alas, any organization with serious intentions should be able to trace its name – and its cause – back to roots in history. Like the Kit Kat Club, the Knickerbockers, or any other hetaireiai, for that matter.
Aha! You say. But what roots did those clubs have? They were originators. And that, of course, is the root of the issue. It does not matter what a club or organization wants to call itself, here is one situation in life where the cause will be judged not by its actions but by its results… or it could be just another Ancient Order of Froth Blowers – rather sociable but not quite influential. Read more…
Three sugars please
It’s easy to find the flavor of the national Tea Party movement. And if you can’t stomach it, add some sugar because it looks like they’ll be stirring up the political scene for some time to come. If you doubt it, look what happened last time. Then, as now, in essence it was much about the misuse of public money (commonly referred to as tax). And this time, too, the teabaggers – as they are known – are calling for a revolution.
The first recorded revolution in history, at around 2800 BC, took place when people from the Sumerian city of Lagash overthrew bureaucrats who also were lining their own pockets and those of their friends but kept raising taxes. The reason for revolution has not changed much. Read more…
Dumb Dumber Davos
The world’s brightest have been meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The measurement of brightest, in this case, comes from the reflection of the shiny bald heads. Same faces, same sins. The list of attendees looked like the Who’s Who from the Land of Duh.
It is not that the members of the World Economic Forum do not have good intentions. Their intentions are perfect. For themselves. Their slogan for this year included “Improve the State of the World.” They obviously live in a different world.
The slogan continues: Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild. Of course, if they had thought, designed and built properly in the first place they wouldn’t have needed this line. Last year the idea was to move from “Ego capitalism” to “Eco capitalism.” Well, you know what happened last year. (By the way, have you found a job yet?)
“Davos” has become the symbol for “Them against Us.” And, to quote an old friend: “There we were, two against two thousand – but, boy, did we f* those two up!” It’s time to saddle up.
Obama makes 1 billion new friends in 8 minutes
“If these folks want a fight, it’s a fight I’m ready to have,” Obama said today when he announced new proposals to curb the recklessness of the bankers. In a speech that lasted only 8 minutes, Obama probably made one billion new friends worldwide. Admittedly, they are mostly poor friends… but their little cross on a voting form is worth just as much as anyone else’s.
“You show people what you’re willing to fight for when you fight your friends,” I quoted Hillary Clinton just yesterday. Well, the proof is in the eating. As for Obama’s (now ex) buddies: we’ll have our cake – let them eat crack. Read more…
Hillary Clinton wins Massachusetts
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. Unless you’re running in a senatorial race. When Democrat Martha Coakley misspelled the name of her state, Massachusetts, in a TV ad gunning Republican Scott Brown the writing was on the wall.
Scott Brown might have won the local election but the winner in Massachusetts was Hillary Clinton. She is starting to make Obama look pale as he struggles for traction.
Not that any of the pair makes a pretty picture. For, in politics, as in life, when you choose your friends you also choose your enemies. Read more…
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