WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Maybe it's because 2010 is the Chinese year of the tiger and not the year of the ox, the rabbit or some more placid beast but so far this year, it seems everybody here is growling.
Republicans are slagging Republicans, Democrats are retracting and apologizing and clarifying stuff said about other Democrats from the sly to the ridiculous.
The level of public discourse, which had been coasting noisily around the level of a schoolyard girl fight, has been jolted into a whole other realm of belligerency, possibly by the political and territorial brawl set off by the Christmas Day underwear bomber.
As Republican Party chairman Michael Steele warned on Meet the Press yesterday, "The mood of the country now is sour. People are angry, they're frustrated, they're scared."
There may have been more projection than poetry in that observation, coming as it did from the guy who publicly told critics in his own party last week, "If you don't want me in the job, then fire me. But until then, shut up."
Shocked and appalled Republicans had been adding their voices to the vortex of churl over Steele's newly published manifesto, "Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda," whose existence came as a total surprise to the party with which he is now locked in a "No, YOU shut up" routine.
For a few days last week, it seemed an actual girl fight over Clark Kent-ish sex symbol and White House Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag would drown out the political girl fight as Orszag's engagement to one Bond girly TV reporter came so soon after the delivery of his "love child" with another Bond girly Greek shipping heiress ex-girlfriend.
Then came the leaked dog ears from the long-awaited 2008 campaign tell-all book Game Change by Time's Mark Halperin and New York magazine's John Heilemann and suddenly Orszag's love life was yesterday's what-now-passes-for-news.
The book's highlights include former president Bill Clinton undercutting Barack Obama to Sen. Ted Kennedy in aid of an endorsement for his wife (Kennedy famously endorsed Obama instead), of Hillary Clinton expressing concern over her husband as a potential problem for her if she took the secretary of state job, and of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid providing an early entry for the head-shaker quote of 2010 with the words "negro dialect." None of which brought any calm to the ruckus.
Maybe the slow but sure spiral into the mud since summer (the slope got truly slippery around the time the town hall bellowing started and now even the tea partiers are arguing with each other) was a predictable action/reaction response to a new president who had campaigned on post-partisan civility and cool inclusiveness.
Perhaps it's some skewed political manifestation of Newton's third law of motion whereby Barack Obama's unifying political movement has been met with an equal and opposite force of belligerence and discord.
The president himself has expressed some anger lately, which seems overdue but maybe that's just because everyone else was already ranting.
Chances are though that action is the only thing that will speak louder than words, especially these days and even when they're his words.
Source:torontosun.com/
Showing posts with label chose freedom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chose freedom. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Real World DC: Premiere Party & Episode 1 Breakdown
don’t really watch The Real World.
When I was in college my roommate and I would head on over to the female side of the floor of my dorm to hang out and watch episodes of Real World Philadelphia, but besides that I haven’t watched a whole lot of the granddaddy of Reality TV. My inexperience with the show doesn’t make me feel too alienated since many Washingtonians tuned in for the first episode of The Real World DC, some for the first time ever or first time in a long time. Having a reality show filmed in your urban backyard kind of has that effect. The show did slightly better in the ratings compared to the previous season, Real World Cancun, no undoubtedly thanks to many locals who wanted to see how the 23rd season of the Real World would profile DC.
I caught the first episode at the Metromix Premiere Party over at BlackFinn. There I met up with Suburban Sweetheart and Emily Goodstein and watched the first episode with members cast and other members of the media. Party organizers Elizabethany and Chris Wiggins were pleased to see the small downtown bar packed with fans.
It was really interesting to see the cast react to their first glimpses of themselves on television. Ashley shed a few tears while watching an emotional heart-to-heart between her and Ty. The cast must also be stuck in Real World mode, many Tequila shots were taken while watching the season premiere.
Just hanging out with the RWDC cast (Photo: Alfredo Flores)
After the episode the cast stuck around BlackFinn to watch the after show, mingle with bar patrons, and of course- take more Tequila shots. The cast then high tailed it to Halo to meet up with fellow cast member Mike Manning who was hosting an after-party to the premiere party.
After talking with the cast in earlier, it looked as if this latest season of The Real World is going to attempt to go back to its roots of less hot tub, more issues. This is Washington DC- where people greet each other with a handshake and political affiliation; wouldn’t a DC reality show be all about the serious issues of our Nation’s capital? So did the first episode live up to those claims? Almost. The show introduces us to eight strangers who say the right things (Ty: “I’m one of those people that wants to put their foot in every door.”) but reveals themselves with typical reality show ambitions. Cast member Erica can be seen in an interview talking about expanding her music career and Andrew’s top goal in DC: get laid.
The cast was quick to introduce drama with a dinner-time argument over religion, but in reality it was just a stubborn shouting match between Ty (who doesn’t believe in God) and Mike (a devout Christian.) Was there any breakthrough moments that explored the issue? Not really, the tense moment resembled two sports fans arguing over who’s football team was better.
The first episode succeeded in introducing us to this year’s slate of characters- but the jury is still out on if Real World DC will be a a stand-out amongst forgettable season in recent years or a feeble attempt to go against the Jersey Shore standard reality drama.
The Drama In DC
So with the first episode of the show we meet the eight roommates, let’s scope them out.
Andrew Woods
21 – Denver, CO
You either think he’s funny or obnoxious, nevertheless he comes off as the biggest personality on the show. He’s funny in a complete weirdo kind of way and will do or say anything to be funny/get attention. Viewers saw him lie to Emily and Callie about his hobbies and background- but did anyone catch the very subtle “Oh! A lesbian!” line he said when Erika and Josh were walking up to the house? At least we don’t have to worry about him being racist- since he thinks that anyone that enjoys basketball can’t be a racist. His main objective on the show is to get laid, a very noble goal for someone on The Real World, however we’ve already seen his game and while the cast members brush it off as lame I think he has a good chance to get women with the whole funny guy/complete geek act he has going as he doesn’t go overboard with it. Plus having cameras around will help him too. Drama level: Low – He’ll walk around DC in that Panda hat, try and make funny jokes, and perhaps say something inappropriate to a cast member or woman- but he’s a wannabe lover- not a fighter.
Ashley Lindley
22 – Houston, TX
The first cast member to be introduced, we are told that she’s a big fan of Barack Obama and was a delegate in the 2008 election. However her big mouth and tendency to snoop on the other cast mates puts her in line to be the house drama queen, not house politico. In the first episode she reveals a past where she physically abused by her father and has a very contentious rapport with Ty. However those that watched the after show saw a different rapport between the two, perhaps a sign of things to come later this season. Drama level: High – She has all the makings to start or get involved with every situation in the house.
Callie Walker
21 – Huntsville, TX
What I’ve noticed about Callie is that she prefers her left side in photos. She also often does this raised eyebrow, chin up kind of pose in a lot of pictures. The shutterbug from San Houston State not only looks good in front of the camera but loves to take photos behind the lens as well. She’s a vegan and we are led to believe that she’s somewhat conservative (even though she’s told me that she’s socially liberal.) Drama level: Low - Her personality doesn’t really stand out too much and I have a bad feeling that she’ll be easily overshadowed by the bigger egos in the house.
Emily Schromm
20 – Columbia, MO
Wait she’s only 20? Unless she turned 21 over the course of the season does this mean she didn’t partake in the many trips to the DC bars? It’s not like she doesn’t want to drink. Now a former member of a fundamentalist Christian cult she’s all about rebelling and living the life she didn’t have in her earlier years. She’s all about adrenaline and dating both women and men. She’s also got a nose piercing and a tattoo- both signs she’s a rebel. Like Callie she comes across as quiet but she conveys this real down to earth attitude that makes her one of the cooler heads in the house. Drama level: Low – I don’t think she’s going to be starting any fights but she’s already shown a liking to token hot black guy Ty.
Erika Lauren Wasilewski
21 – Chicago, IL
In her audition tape she describes herself as, “a little crazy, and a lot of rock and roll.” We also heard her sing- which I think is good but not great. In the first episode we saw her rock and roll side and her love for rock and roll people- like Josh. She also says she’s only cheated on a boyfriend once- and that was when she started dating her current boyfriend. Erika’s bf I got news for you- she’s probably going to make it two times. Drama level: High - we haven’t seen her crazy side yet but I know it’s going to come out and when it does, it’s going to be amazing. Also we know anybody that comes on the show dating somebody is just asking for infidelity.
Josh Conlon
23 – Philadelphia, PA
Andrew described him best, he’s a coolest guy in the room and he knows it. He hails from Philly where he worked at Pat’s King of Steaks. He’s an aspiring musician and just looks like he lives and breathes the rock and roll life style. It was great to see him in the confessional holding an entire bottle of Jack Daniels. Right now we don’t know a whole lot about him yet but we did see that he has a girlfriend. Good thing that the two cast members with significant others already have crushes on each other. That’s going to go over real well. Drama level: Medium - Maybe he’ll get in a fight but he seems too cool minded for that, but that girlfriend back home situation is looking mighty tempting for some drama.
Mike Manning
22- Thornton, CO
The big revelation at dinner on the first night was that he’s Bi. I have a feeling he’s definitely, “bi now, gay later.” He told me that he was a closet case before the show and you can see his slight uncomfort when he talks about it. He doesn’t want to be known for his bi-sexuality. Too bad you are on the show as the token bi/gay male. Besides that he comes off as a really nice guy, it makes you wonder how he got on the show in the first place. Drama level: Low - He’s somewhat naive when it comes to his sexuality and I see his awakening to the issues being the main storyline for him this season.
Ty Ruff
22 – Baltimore, MD
I enjoyed the fact the other cast mates were hoping for the “hot black guy” to arrive and he walks up to the house just in time to satisfy the quota. A lot of people are already making reference to Ty also fitting the, “angry black man” role and I have to say he does come off very cocky and very out spoken. He’s already picking fights and if this trend continues- I see him starting many, many fights this season. Drama level: High – He will have his share of words that will spark much drama.
Look I Know That Place!
For the first episode the locals were pretty lame. Mike and Ashley met at Reagan National Airport, Emily and Andrew met on The Mall (so cliche), and Josh and Erika met at Union Station. Callie and Ty traveled to the house solo: Ty is seen coming out of the Dupont Circle Metro while Callie gets lost getting to the house.
Their first dinner? Buca Di Beppo. Yes a chain restaurant. There’s been a lot of snarky remarks about the choice but it’s only the first night and as a video producer there’s only so many places that would of allowed MTV cameras inside. Also from a logistical standpoint there’s only so many places that could close off an entire area for the cast to eat privately.
Otherwise there were a good amount of B-roll shots including the Columbia and 18th section of Adams Morgan.
Final Word
The first episode did a lot of standard intros, nothing exciting, nothing really dramatic. Let’s hope the next few episodes can hold DC’s attention before we start waiting for The Real Housewives of DC.
Source:dc.metblogs.com/
CIA: Risk takers & not risk- seekers
(January 02, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) When Robert Gates, the present US Defence Secretary, was the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), George Bush, the then President (1988-92), had visited the CIA headquarters and addressed its officers. In his speech welcoming the President, Gates described the CIA officers as risk-takers and not risk-seekers. This quote from his welcome address is inscribed at the entrance to the CIA building to inspire and motivate future entrants to the CIA.
The Soviet, Russian and West European intelligence agencies too have the reputation of being risk-takers. A risk-taking external intelligence agency posts its officers for intelligence collection in remote areas and danger spots and the officers willingly go to such places. Risk-avoiding agencies keep their officers confined to the safe precincts of diplomatic and consular missions, where the risks faced are minimal.
The best professionals of the CIA are posted in areas of conflict and not in areas of comfort. There is never a shortage of volunteers to serve in areas of conflict. They are generally attached to US military units deployed in such areas and use the protection provided by such units to do their intelligence collection and special operations work. The CIA keeps rotating them frequently so that its officers are not required to serve in dangerous areas for a long time. The officers, who volunteer for such posts, also have the confidence that their Agency will look after their families during their absence from the US and will not keep them in dangerous areas for too long.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has published a collation of CIA officers who were known to have been killed since 1965 in the performance of their duty. A total of 35 were killed---two in Washington DC and the remaining 33 abroad. The two in Washington DC were killed outside the CIA headquarters in January,1993, by a disgruntled Pakistani Mir Aimal Kansi. He had allegedly worked for the CIA against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan in the 1980s and had some grievances relating to his rehabilitation after the Soviet withdrawal. He went to the entrance of the CIA headquarters and indiscriminately opened fire as the staff were coming to work in the morning and then managed to escape to Pakistan. He was arrested by the Pakistani authorities and extradited to the US. He was sentenced to death by a US court. The sentence was carried out in the US and the body returned to his relatives for burial. He was given a heroes’ burial in his home village by the local Pakistanis.
Of the 33 CIA personnel who were killed abroad while performing their duty since 1965, two were the staff of a contractor working for the CIA in Afghanistan and the remaining 31 were regular members of the staff of the Agency. Since 1965, the CIA has suffered the largest number of fatalities in Afghanistan---- a total of 11, nine of them regular members of its staff and the remaining two employees of a CIA contractor. The two deaths in Washington DC were also Afghanistan-related. Thus, the CIA’s role in Afghanistan has resulted in the deaths 13 of the 35 officers killed since 1965.
Next to Afghanistan, duties in the Lebanon resulted in the death of nine officers in the 1980s, including that of the then station chief of the CIA in Beirut. The war in Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s resulted in the deaths of seven officers. The remaining six officers were killed in a plane crash in Africa while allegedly helping the anti-communist insurgents in Angola. Surprisingly, there are no known fatalities incurred by the CIA in Iraq since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
7. The absence of CIA fatalities in Iraq and the large number of fatalities incurred by the CIA in Afghanistan could be attributed to the following reasons:
(a). The CIA personnel posted in Iraq totally depend on the US forces for their physical security while performing their duties. They do not depend on Iraqi personnel. In Afghanistan, they depend largely on American personnel, but there is also a limited involvement of Afghan personnel in protecting them.
(b).In Iraq, the intelligence agencies of the US Defence Department play a more active role in intelligence collection and special operations. The casualties incurred in Iraq are essentially those of the agencies of the Pentagon. In Afghanistan, CIA officers play a very active role in intelligence collection and in facilitating the unmanned Drone strikes in the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan.
( c ). Individual anti-US officers of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which has had a long history of co-operation with the CIA, know how to identify CIA officers working clandestinely under cover. They expose their identity to Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
The latest incident in the Khost area of Afghanistan involving the death of seven CIA officers at the hands of an Afghan suicide bomber would be a major loss to the CIA at a critical time in the “war” against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The CIA officers succeeding them would have to start literally from the scratch in building up a new network of contacts. The contacts of the officers, who have been killed, would now be under a question mark due to suspicion regarding the role of any of them in facilitating the suicide bombing.
Source:srilankaguardian.org
Top White House Twitters
1.
Sloan Bowman (sloanb)
White House
http://www.sloanbowman.com/blog/
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3,829
14 months ago
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Adam Rock (AdamTube)
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http://youtube.com/summerwizz
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Bacrock_Slobama (Bacrock_Slobama)
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D.Bates (BornWitSwag)
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(mr_obama)
White House
http://mrpresidentobama.com
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2
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Laura Love (obama_girl)
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Tyler Francis (tylerchristine)
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Sloan Bowman (sloanb)
White House
http://www.sloanbowman.com/blog/
292
192
3,829
14 months ago
2.
Adam Rock (AdamTube)
White House
http://youtube.com/summerwizz
182
140
2,271
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Bacrock_Slobama (Bacrock_Slobama)
White House
72
119
110
14 months ago
4.
D.Bates (BornWitSwag)
White House
38
44
198
5.
(mr_obama)
White House
http://mrpresidentobama.com
17
17
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487 months ago
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Laura Love (obama_girl)
White House
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Tyler Francis (tylerchristine)
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Saturday, December 26, 2009
D.C. may get free health clinic
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - A nonprofit group that offers free health clinics for the needy around the world said it is seeking to come to the District of Columbia early next year.
Get listed here Remote Area Medical had been planning to stage a dental, vision and medical clinic next month at the D.C. Armory in southeast Washington. But organizers said they were surprised by a five-figure fee they were quoted to rent the armory.
The nonprofit group has organized more than 500 clinics worldwide, and for a time, a D.C. visit was left up in the air. But organizers now tell the newspaper a three-day event is likely to be held in March on the grounds of the former D.C. General Hospital, home to a city-funded health center.
Source:hometownannapolis.com/
Get listed here Remote Area Medical had been planning to stage a dental, vision and medical clinic next month at the D.C. Armory in southeast Washington. But organizers said they were surprised by a five-figure fee they were quoted to rent the armory.
The nonprofit group has organized more than 500 clinics worldwide, and for a time, a D.C. visit was left up in the air. But organizers now tell the newspaper a three-day event is likely to be held in March on the grounds of the former D.C. General Hospital, home to a city-funded health center.
Source:hometownannapolis.com/
Friday, December 25, 2009
Woman knocks down pope at Christmas mass
Pope Benedict XVI is assisted as he leads the Christmas mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 24, 2009. A woman jumped over a barricade at the start of Pope Benedict's Christmas Eve mass on Thursday and lunged at the pope, who was knocked to the floor in the confusion but then resumed the service apparently unharmed.Photograph by: Max Rossi, ReutersVATICAN CITY — An apparently deranged woman knocked Pope Benedict XVI to the ground after vaulting over security barricades in a dramatic start to Christmas Eve mass at St Peter's Basilica.
Video footage showed the woman in a red sweatshirt leaping over the barricade and grabbing the 82-year-old pope as he began the traditional procession to the altar on Thursday.
The pontiff emerged unharmed and later delivered his homily undaunted, speaking out against selfishness as Christians across the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
"Conflict and lack of reconciliation in the world stem from the fact that we are locked into our own interests and opinions, into our own little private world," said the spiritual leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics.
The woman, described as "apparently unbalanced" by the Vatican spokesman, was arrested by Vatican police, the ANSA news agency reported.
In Bethlehem, thousands of pilgrims celebrated Christmas in the traditional birthplace of Jesus, with festivities on a scale unseen since the outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian fighting in 2001.
At midnight mass, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land called on the faithful to pray for peace in the troubled region.
"Its inhabitants are brothers who see each other as enemies," the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Twal told worshippers. "This land will deserve to be called holy when she breathes freedom, justice, love, reconciliation, peace and security."
Live rock music mingled with traditional carols in Manger Square as thousands of pilgrims and Palestinians joined the festivities, providing some respite for a town living in the shadow of a huge Israeli-built wall.
"This is the place where God gave us his son, so it is very special for me to be here, for me and my whole community," said Juan Cruz, 27, from Mexico.
In the United States, a huge winter storm forced scores of churches to cancel Christmas Eve services as blizzards and freezing rain brought treacherous holiday travel conditions for millions.
At least 19 deaths were attributed to the storm system spanning two thirds of the country.
"This is a holiday mess," said Chris Vaccaro, a spokesman for the National Weather Service. "Its effects run the gamut from severe thunderstorms in the Gulf Coast to ice in New England to really what is a raging blizzard in the lower plains."
The northern parts of the massive system were expected to drop up to two feet (60 centimetres) of snow by Christmas Day while blizzard warnings were issued from North Dakota to Texas.
U.S. President Barack Obama left the freeze far behind, starting a family holiday in his native state of Hawaii cheered by a major health reform victory.
Snow, ice and stormy weather also brought fresh misery to Christmas holiday travellers across Europe, causing disruption on roads, rail and air travel.
Icy temperatures blasted Britain, with Scotland bearing the brunt of the freezing weather as temperatures sank to minus 15 degrees Celsius (five Fahrenheit) in some parts of the country.
The Eurostar rail service linking mainland Europe and Britain, which suffered days of chaos this week when its trains were affected by snow, was running to a "modified timetable".
Russia's former imperial capital of St. Petersburg was covered in the heaviest snowfall since 1881, with 14 centimetres (5.5 inches) of snow snarling traffic.
In the Philippines, thousands of people displaced by an erupting volcano prepared for a "White Christmas" of a different kind as Mount Mayon sprayed ash and politicians bearing gifts trooped to crowded evacuation centres.
Local authorities warned residents not to venture to within eight kilometres (five miles) of the crater because of the hazards posed by scalding ash and red-hot lava.
Rescuers were combing waters off Manila for at least 23 people missing after a ferry smashed into a trawler Thursday, the latest in a spate of deadly disasters. At least four bodies have been found.
Iraq was hit by a string of attacks Thursday that killed 27 people ahead of Christmas and the Shiite ceremony of Ashura, which commemorates the death of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.
Venezuela's firebrand President Hugo Chavez sought to put a damper on festivities, telling countrymen to end the gift-giving "insanity" of Christmas and instead reading children stories about independence hero Simon Bolivar.
"For the love of God, let's halt this, let's put the brakes on this consumerist, capitalist insanity, that leads us to lose our spiritual values," he said.
And in the City of London, a restaurant asked diners to sign a legal waiver before tucking in to traditional Christmas pudding in case they hurt themselves on silver charms inside.
Source:calgaryherald.com/
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Nationals' 3B has excelled on field but is far from household name in nation's capital
Ryan Zimmerman walks into an Arlington, Va., restaurant on a cold December afternoon. Dressed in jeans, a checkered button-down shirt and brown loafers, the 6-foot-3 North Carolina native looks like one of the many young professionals who populate the Washington suburb.
"Don't I know you from somewhere?" the host asks after greeting him, pondering Zimmerman's face for several seconds. "You look so familiar. College, maybe?"
"No, I don't think so," Zimmerman says, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders.
"OK. I'll think of it," the host says as he leads the Nationals' All-Star third baseman to his table.
Brian Schneider/US PresswireRyan Zimmerman was in the top 10 in the National League in home runs (33) in 2009.
A few minutes later, he returns with menus. "I think I've got it," the host says. "You know Whitlow's [a nearby bar and restaurant]? Do you go there? I bet that's it -- I used to work there."
Zimmerman pauses for a moment. He could tell the host the truth -- that this past year he won the Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, Fielding Bible and "Baseball Tonight" Web Gem awards and held major league baseball's longest hitting streak (30 games) while being voted to his first-ever All-Star Game. Or, that since his arrival in Washington in September 2005, the 25-year-old third baseman has become one of the best players in baseball and the face of the franchise for the Nationals.
Chances are a New York City host wouldn't confuse Alex Rodriguez or David Wright with a college classmate. But this is Washington, D.C., and Zimmerman is the reserved, easygoing star of 2009's worst team in baseball.
"People in D.C. have a lot of other things going on," Zimmerman said in explaining why the Nats' fan base is sometimes criticized as less devoted than those of other major cities. "And when you win in this city, it's different."
The Nationals haven't had a winning season since his arrival. Yet Zimmerman showed his commitment to Washington last spring when he signed a five-year, $45 million deal through 2013.
"Few players stay in the same place their whole career," Zimmerman said. "It'd be a really cool accomplishment to have been here at our worst and see us through to our best. Hopefully, I can be that guy who's been here from the beginning and helped turn it all around."
Source:sports.espn.go.com/
"Don't I know you from somewhere?" the host asks after greeting him, pondering Zimmerman's face for several seconds. "You look so familiar. College, maybe?"
"No, I don't think so," Zimmerman says, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders.
"OK. I'll think of it," the host says as he leads the Nationals' All-Star third baseman to his table.
Brian Schneider/US PresswireRyan Zimmerman was in the top 10 in the National League in home runs (33) in 2009.
A few minutes later, he returns with menus. "I think I've got it," the host says. "You know Whitlow's [a nearby bar and restaurant]? Do you go there? I bet that's it -- I used to work there."
Zimmerman pauses for a moment. He could tell the host the truth -- that this past year he won the Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, Fielding Bible and "Baseball Tonight" Web Gem awards and held major league baseball's longest hitting streak (30 games) while being voted to his first-ever All-Star Game. Or, that since his arrival in Washington in September 2005, the 25-year-old third baseman has become one of the best players in baseball and the face of the franchise for the Nationals.
Chances are a New York City host wouldn't confuse Alex Rodriguez or David Wright with a college classmate. But this is Washington, D.C., and Zimmerman is the reserved, easygoing star of 2009's worst team in baseball.
"People in D.C. have a lot of other things going on," Zimmerman said in explaining why the Nats' fan base is sometimes criticized as less devoted than those of other major cities. "And when you win in this city, it's different."
The Nationals haven't had a winning season since his arrival. Yet Zimmerman showed his commitment to Washington last spring when he signed a five-year, $45 million deal through 2013.
"Few players stay in the same place their whole career," Zimmerman said. "It'd be a really cool accomplishment to have been here at our worst and see us through to our best. Hopefully, I can be that guy who's been here from the beginning and helped turn it all around."
Source:sports.espn.go.com/
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Redskins In The 2000's: A Decade of Disappointment
TIME magazine recently published an article contending that this decade has been the worst the United States has experienced since World War II. They make their case by pointing to events such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, two market crashes, and the financial crisis. The author revisits a famous Ronald Reagan campaign quote, asking the reader “Are you better off today than you were at the beginning of the decade?” If the same question was posed to the collective Washington, D.C. sports fanbase, the reply would be an unequivocal “no.”
In fact, upon close examination, this past decade has been unprecedentedly miserable for a sports town with a tradition of winning teams. No other North American city with more than two professional sports teams, including Toronto and Vancouver, has endured such futility when it comes to playoff “success.” Not a single Washington team has made it past the second round of their respective playoffs while every other comparable city has had at least one team reach the conference final. Some cities that aren’t usually considered great sports towns have enjoyed great success in several sports. For instance, Tampa Bay appeared in the World Series in 2008 and won both the Super Bowl in 2002 and the Stanley Cup in 2004. In just the last ten years the city of Phoenix made it to the Super Bowl, the NBA Western Conference Finals in ’05 and ‘06, and won a World Series title in 2001.
In addition to playoff misfortune, Washington, D.C. sports has seen unrivaled scandal and tragedy to make matters even worse. Between the death of an owner and player and off-the-field controversies, this city has experienced a lot in the last ten years. CSNwashington.com profiles each local major professional team’s respective struggles and explains why this past decade is one to be forgotten for fans of D.C. sports.
In setting a criterion for this analysis, we exclude D.C. United’s championship and the brief triumphs of local college basketball teams. While those postseason runs left indelible memories, they pale in comparison to the impact of a title in one of the four major professional leagues. Washington, D.C. hasn’t had the privilege of uniting over a world championship in far too long and if it is to happen soon, it won’t be in this decade.
We start with the region's most prestigious team, the Redskins. In the next few days, we will examine the decade that was for the Wizards, Nationals and Capitals.
Part 1: Redskins - A False Start
This decade for Washington fans didn’t exactly get off on the right foot. Just two weeks into the millennium, on January 15, 2000, the Daniel Snyder era was one regular season in and already a participant in the NFC Divisional Playoffs. In that game the Redskins squandered a 13-0 third quarter lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Redskins offense was held scoreless in the second half by the account of two key turnovers. Washington was unable to stop Mike Alstott on two pivotal plays, a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and a fourth down conversion late in the game. After the 4th-and-1, rookie quarterback Shaun King converted the touchdown and gave Tampa Bay a 14-13 lead. The Skins would get another chance, setting up for a 52-yard field goal for the win in the final seconds. Center Dan Turk botched the snap, floundering a Brett Conway attempt to put an end to a promising Redskins season.
Comcast SportsNet anchor Chick Hernandez vividly remembers the game and the letdown on the last play. He was standing under the goal post waiting to film a stand-up saying that Brett Conway had kicked the game-winner. With his back to the crowd he realized something had gone wrong when the Tampa crowd began to celebrate. The kick never happened, the Redskins lost and long snapper Turk was under scrutiny. Hernandez says that he “never saw a man more down after the game than Dan Turk. He didn't fly back with the team. He just walked the streets of Tampa that night.”
The next season a poor record led to the firing of head coach Norv Turner, commencing a ten year period in which the Redskins had five different head coaches. Interim coach Terry Robiskie was let go after finishing the season 1-2 and the Redskins hired Marty Schottenheimer as their 24th head coach. Schottenheimer’s team started slow in the 2001 season, losing their first five games. The team turned it around quickly and won their next five, the first team in NFL history to do so. They finished 8-8, good enough for second in the NFC East division.
Schottenheimer and the Redskins won eight out of their last eleven games but because of a clash of personalities, Daniel Snyder fired the head coach after just one season. It was the first of many controversial decisions Snyder would make during his tenure as owner of the Redskins. He was replaced with University of Florida coach Steve Spurrier. Snyder signed “The Old Ballcoach” to a five year, $25 million dollar contract, the largest coaching contract in NFL history at the time. High profile and expensive contracts in the offseason would become characteristic of Daniel Snyder’s reign.
It was Snyder’s hope that the “Fun and Gun” offense would translate to the professional game. Since Schottenheimer had struggled to get the offense going, it seemed that a more open offense would be the logical remedy. Spurrier was a popular figure at the time. He was coveted by other franchises and many believe Snyder fell victim to the hype and publicity of his jump to the NFL.
Steve Spurrier’s two years as coach of the Redskins began with a respectable 7-9 season. In his second season, Washington upset the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots, in week four. Overall his coaching stint was a disappointment. The Redskins finished 5-11 his second year and 12-20 overall under his lead. In his last three games the Redskins were outscored 85-31 including blow-out losses to the Eagles and Cowboys. Spurrier resigned from head coach of the Redskins on December 30, 2003, three days after the season had ended.
Spurrier’s successor would be the greatest coach in Washington, D.C. sports history. Joe Gibbs came out of retirement in 2004 to give head coaching in the NFL another shot. His hiring brought optimism to a franchise that had only made the playoffs once since his first retirement. The reaction from the fanbase quickly became what Comcast SportsNet anchor Russ Thaler describes as “a combination of shock and hysteria.” Gibbs’ return to the Redskins sidelines signaled the second coming of the franchise’s most iconic figure; he was quickly viewed as a potential savior from the plight that was still lingering from Norv Turner’s coaching years.
Though his second time around wasn’t nearly as decadent as the first, coach Gibbs did lead the team into the playoffs twice in four years. Those two playoff appearances are the best finishes a Redskins coach has achieved since Gibbs first left the game in 1992. In fact, he is the only Redskins coach of this decade to take the Redskins to the postseason.
Perhaps the best accomplishment of Gibbs’ second enlistment was the playoff berth in 2007. This was, of course, in light of the death of star safety Sean Taylor. Taylor’s passing shocked the Washington area and the nation alike. A fan favorite, Taylor was in the midst of his best season, establishing himself as one of the best defensive backs in the league. He was 24 years old and starting to become a true superstar. His pairing with fellow top pick LaRon Landry created a great safety tandem that would set the tone for the Redskins defense for a decade.
Chick Hernandez on Taylor’s passing:
“That along with the death of Len Bias are the two worst stories I've had to cover. With Taylor I remember going to bed one night thinking he would be alright because the reports said he squeezed the hand of the nurse that night and was coming out of it, when I woke up in the morning he was dead.”
“The look on the faces of the players still haunts me. I remember the blank sadness, the gray day that it was in every way. The strength of Sean's father Pete will stay with me forever. I said then, and believe it still, this team will not be the same until every one of Sean's teammates is no longer a Redskin. His death continues to have ramifications on the field.”
Taylor’s death left an entire fanbase grieving the loss of a player who thrilled many with his abilities and passion for the game. His life tragically ended at a young age, leaving fans to dream of “what if” and a daughter to grow up without her father. In the midst of this unfortunate event, coach Gibbs was able to rally a grief-stricken team and take them to the playoffs. Since that emotional winning streak, however, reasons to celebrate have been few and far between.
Shortly after that impressive run Joe Gibbs decided it was time to retire again. The Redskins brass spent a month searching for the next head coach, eventually settling on Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn. It was a surprising move considering that they had to first dismiss the fan-favorite “coach-in-waiting,” Gregg Williams. After moving on from Williams they hired Zorn as their offensive coordinator, before they had put a head coach in place. It was a confounding process that left the Skins with an undesirable head coaching vacancy. Their decision to then elect Zorn as head coach was a promotion that Jim Zorn himself even called “miraculous” in his introductory press conference. Zorn also said to the media that day that he was excited to represent the Redskins colors of “Maroon and Black.”
Despite much criticism of the decision and its timing, the Redskins were able to get out to a strong 6-2 start in coach Zorn’s first season, before reversing that mark in the second half and limping to an 8-8 finish. Since the midway mark of last season the Redskins are a miserable 6-16.
The anguish of a once proud franchise and its fans has been exacerbated by a ticket lawsuit scandal and this season’s inordinate amount of injuries. The Redskins currently hold nine players on Injured Reserve. While all of the injuries are significant, the losses of Clinton Portis and Chris Samuels are by far the most impactful. A concussion suffered against the Falcons ended Portis’ season and maybe his career as a Redskin. Portis has been one of the best running backs in franchise history and is currently ranked second on the Redskins all-time rushing leaders list. If he is indeed finished in Washington, his presence on and off the field will be tough to replace.
A severe neck injury has not only ended Chris Samuels’ season but probably his career as well. Drafting Chris Samuels in 2000 is one of the most notable accomplishments of the Daniel Snyder era. He has been the leader of the Redskins offensive line for the entirety of the decade, playing in 141 games in ten seasons. He also did not miss a start from 2004 through the 2007 season.
Comcast SportsNet managing editor Joe Yasharoff explains the loss of Chris Samuels as “devastating,” that he is the “type of player you expect to anchor your offensive line for another five, six, or seven years.” No other Redskins player has been as durable and consistent as Samuels in the past ten years. An anomaly on a team in which change has been an expected constant, Chris Samuels has been depended on and has delivered every year he has been in the league. In ten seasons Samuels has played for four head coaches and blocked for thirteen quarterbacks, but has only been to the playoffs two times.
The Redskins’ struggles in the last two years have been a microcosm for the team’s torment this decade. After a terrific start the team looked poised for a renaissance. What has transpired has been disappointment after disappointment. They currently sit at last place in the NFC East and will not be playing in the playoffs this year. As the Redskins play the rest of this season for pride, they will once again have a long offseason to muse about the draft and hopes for next year. The Redskins recently appointed Bruce Allen as their General Manager and are beginning to interview for the next head coach.
Source:csnwashington.com/
In fact, upon close examination, this past decade has been unprecedentedly miserable for a sports town with a tradition of winning teams. No other North American city with more than two professional sports teams, including Toronto and Vancouver, has endured such futility when it comes to playoff “success.” Not a single Washington team has made it past the second round of their respective playoffs while every other comparable city has had at least one team reach the conference final. Some cities that aren’t usually considered great sports towns have enjoyed great success in several sports. For instance, Tampa Bay appeared in the World Series in 2008 and won both the Super Bowl in 2002 and the Stanley Cup in 2004. In just the last ten years the city of Phoenix made it to the Super Bowl, the NBA Western Conference Finals in ’05 and ‘06, and won a World Series title in 2001.
In addition to playoff misfortune, Washington, D.C. sports has seen unrivaled scandal and tragedy to make matters even worse. Between the death of an owner and player and off-the-field controversies, this city has experienced a lot in the last ten years. CSNwashington.com profiles each local major professional team’s respective struggles and explains why this past decade is one to be forgotten for fans of D.C. sports.
In setting a criterion for this analysis, we exclude D.C. United’s championship and the brief triumphs of local college basketball teams. While those postseason runs left indelible memories, they pale in comparison to the impact of a title in one of the four major professional leagues. Washington, D.C. hasn’t had the privilege of uniting over a world championship in far too long and if it is to happen soon, it won’t be in this decade.
We start with the region's most prestigious team, the Redskins. In the next few days, we will examine the decade that was for the Wizards, Nationals and Capitals.
Part 1: Redskins - A False Start
This decade for Washington fans didn’t exactly get off on the right foot. Just two weeks into the millennium, on January 15, 2000, the Daniel Snyder era was one regular season in and already a participant in the NFC Divisional Playoffs. In that game the Redskins squandered a 13-0 third quarter lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Redskins offense was held scoreless in the second half by the account of two key turnovers. Washington was unable to stop Mike Alstott on two pivotal plays, a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and a fourth down conversion late in the game. After the 4th-and-1, rookie quarterback Shaun King converted the touchdown and gave Tampa Bay a 14-13 lead. The Skins would get another chance, setting up for a 52-yard field goal for the win in the final seconds. Center Dan Turk botched the snap, floundering a Brett Conway attempt to put an end to a promising Redskins season.
Comcast SportsNet anchor Chick Hernandez vividly remembers the game and the letdown on the last play. He was standing under the goal post waiting to film a stand-up saying that Brett Conway had kicked the game-winner. With his back to the crowd he realized something had gone wrong when the Tampa crowd began to celebrate. The kick never happened, the Redskins lost and long snapper Turk was under scrutiny. Hernandez says that he “never saw a man more down after the game than Dan Turk. He didn't fly back with the team. He just walked the streets of Tampa that night.”
The next season a poor record led to the firing of head coach Norv Turner, commencing a ten year period in which the Redskins had five different head coaches. Interim coach Terry Robiskie was let go after finishing the season 1-2 and the Redskins hired Marty Schottenheimer as their 24th head coach. Schottenheimer’s team started slow in the 2001 season, losing their first five games. The team turned it around quickly and won their next five, the first team in NFL history to do so. They finished 8-8, good enough for second in the NFC East division.
Schottenheimer and the Redskins won eight out of their last eleven games but because of a clash of personalities, Daniel Snyder fired the head coach after just one season. It was the first of many controversial decisions Snyder would make during his tenure as owner of the Redskins. He was replaced with University of Florida coach Steve Spurrier. Snyder signed “The Old Ballcoach” to a five year, $25 million dollar contract, the largest coaching contract in NFL history at the time. High profile and expensive contracts in the offseason would become characteristic of Daniel Snyder’s reign.
It was Snyder’s hope that the “Fun and Gun” offense would translate to the professional game. Since Schottenheimer had struggled to get the offense going, it seemed that a more open offense would be the logical remedy. Spurrier was a popular figure at the time. He was coveted by other franchises and many believe Snyder fell victim to the hype and publicity of his jump to the NFL.
Steve Spurrier’s two years as coach of the Redskins began with a respectable 7-9 season. In his second season, Washington upset the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots, in week four. Overall his coaching stint was a disappointment. The Redskins finished 5-11 his second year and 12-20 overall under his lead. In his last three games the Redskins were outscored 85-31 including blow-out losses to the Eagles and Cowboys. Spurrier resigned from head coach of the Redskins on December 30, 2003, three days after the season had ended.
Spurrier’s successor would be the greatest coach in Washington, D.C. sports history. Joe Gibbs came out of retirement in 2004 to give head coaching in the NFL another shot. His hiring brought optimism to a franchise that had only made the playoffs once since his first retirement. The reaction from the fanbase quickly became what Comcast SportsNet anchor Russ Thaler describes as “a combination of shock and hysteria.” Gibbs’ return to the Redskins sidelines signaled the second coming of the franchise’s most iconic figure; he was quickly viewed as a potential savior from the plight that was still lingering from Norv Turner’s coaching years.
Though his second time around wasn’t nearly as decadent as the first, coach Gibbs did lead the team into the playoffs twice in four years. Those two playoff appearances are the best finishes a Redskins coach has achieved since Gibbs first left the game in 1992. In fact, he is the only Redskins coach of this decade to take the Redskins to the postseason.
Perhaps the best accomplishment of Gibbs’ second enlistment was the playoff berth in 2007. This was, of course, in light of the death of star safety Sean Taylor. Taylor’s passing shocked the Washington area and the nation alike. A fan favorite, Taylor was in the midst of his best season, establishing himself as one of the best defensive backs in the league. He was 24 years old and starting to become a true superstar. His pairing with fellow top pick LaRon Landry created a great safety tandem that would set the tone for the Redskins defense for a decade.
Chick Hernandez on Taylor’s passing:
“That along with the death of Len Bias are the two worst stories I've had to cover. With Taylor I remember going to bed one night thinking he would be alright because the reports said he squeezed the hand of the nurse that night and was coming out of it, when I woke up in the morning he was dead.”
“The look on the faces of the players still haunts me. I remember the blank sadness, the gray day that it was in every way. The strength of Sean's father Pete will stay with me forever. I said then, and believe it still, this team will not be the same until every one of Sean's teammates is no longer a Redskin. His death continues to have ramifications on the field.”
Taylor’s death left an entire fanbase grieving the loss of a player who thrilled many with his abilities and passion for the game. His life tragically ended at a young age, leaving fans to dream of “what if” and a daughter to grow up without her father. In the midst of this unfortunate event, coach Gibbs was able to rally a grief-stricken team and take them to the playoffs. Since that emotional winning streak, however, reasons to celebrate have been few and far between.
Shortly after that impressive run Joe Gibbs decided it was time to retire again. The Redskins brass spent a month searching for the next head coach, eventually settling on Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn. It was a surprising move considering that they had to first dismiss the fan-favorite “coach-in-waiting,” Gregg Williams. After moving on from Williams they hired Zorn as their offensive coordinator, before they had put a head coach in place. It was a confounding process that left the Skins with an undesirable head coaching vacancy. Their decision to then elect Zorn as head coach was a promotion that Jim Zorn himself even called “miraculous” in his introductory press conference. Zorn also said to the media that day that he was excited to represent the Redskins colors of “Maroon and Black.”
Despite much criticism of the decision and its timing, the Redskins were able to get out to a strong 6-2 start in coach Zorn’s first season, before reversing that mark in the second half and limping to an 8-8 finish. Since the midway mark of last season the Redskins are a miserable 6-16.
The anguish of a once proud franchise and its fans has been exacerbated by a ticket lawsuit scandal and this season’s inordinate amount of injuries. The Redskins currently hold nine players on Injured Reserve. While all of the injuries are significant, the losses of Clinton Portis and Chris Samuels are by far the most impactful. A concussion suffered against the Falcons ended Portis’ season and maybe his career as a Redskin. Portis has been one of the best running backs in franchise history and is currently ranked second on the Redskins all-time rushing leaders list. If he is indeed finished in Washington, his presence on and off the field will be tough to replace.
A severe neck injury has not only ended Chris Samuels’ season but probably his career as well. Drafting Chris Samuels in 2000 is one of the most notable accomplishments of the Daniel Snyder era. He has been the leader of the Redskins offensive line for the entirety of the decade, playing in 141 games in ten seasons. He also did not miss a start from 2004 through the 2007 season.
Comcast SportsNet managing editor Joe Yasharoff explains the loss of Chris Samuels as “devastating,” that he is the “type of player you expect to anchor your offensive line for another five, six, or seven years.” No other Redskins player has been as durable and consistent as Samuels in the past ten years. An anomaly on a team in which change has been an expected constant, Chris Samuels has been depended on and has delivered every year he has been in the league. In ten seasons Samuels has played for four head coaches and blocked for thirteen quarterbacks, but has only been to the playoffs two times.
The Redskins’ struggles in the last two years have been a microcosm for the team’s torment this decade. After a terrific start the team looked poised for a renaissance. What has transpired has been disappointment after disappointment. They currently sit at last place in the NFC East and will not be playing in the playoffs this year. As the Redskins play the rest of this season for pride, they will once again have a long offseason to muse about the draft and hopes for next year. The Redskins recently appointed Bruce Allen as their General Manager and are beginning to interview for the next head coach.
Source:csnwashington.com/
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Washington, D.C. Mayor Signs Law Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage
(RTTNews) - Washington, D.C mayor Adrian Fenty signed a bill Friday that legalizes same-sex marriage in the district.
The bill now enters into a 30-day review period in Congress, though it is widely believed that the Democratic majority will not block the law. By law, Congress has the right to review and, if they wish, overturn any measure passed by the D.C. council.
"We knew this day would come," Fenty said at the signing, which took place at All Souls Church in Mount Pleasant.
He added, "I say to the world: An era of struggle ends for thousands in Washington, D.C. ... Our city is taking a leap forward."
The measure had already been passed by the city council on Tuesday, with the council voting overwhelmingly to send the measure to the mayor.
As expected, the council's decision and the signing drew mixed reactions. The Human Rights Campaign released a statement in which it called the decision "a victory for all D.C. residents."
"The legislation the council passed today reinforces the legal equality and religious freedoms to which all DC residents are entitled," the group said.
Meanwhile, the National Organization for Marriage, a group that opposes same-sex marriage, released a statement in which it said "the fight is not over."
"Politicians on the city council are acting as if they have the right through legislation to deprive citizens of DC of their core civil right to vote, but we will not let them get away with it," the group said in its statement.
Should Congress allow the measure to go through, Washington, D.C. would join Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Iowa as places in the U.S. where same-sex marriage is legal. Additionally, New Hampshire will also be joining the group when a law legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect January 1.
While same-sex marriage has seen its fair share of victories, it has also seen plenty of defeats. California and Maine both saw laws passed legalizing same-sex marriage, only to have residents of those states overturn the laws through popular vote. In every state where same-sex marriage has been put to popular vote, it has been defeated.
In addition, New York State and New Jersey lawmakers have recently blocked laws that would have legalized same-sex marriage in those states.
by RTT Staff Writer
Source:rttnews.com/
The bill now enters into a 30-day review period in Congress, though it is widely believed that the Democratic majority will not block the law. By law, Congress has the right to review and, if they wish, overturn any measure passed by the D.C. council.
"We knew this day would come," Fenty said at the signing, which took place at All Souls Church in Mount Pleasant.
He added, "I say to the world: An era of struggle ends for thousands in Washington, D.C. ... Our city is taking a leap forward."
The measure had already been passed by the city council on Tuesday, with the council voting overwhelmingly to send the measure to the mayor.
As expected, the council's decision and the signing drew mixed reactions. The Human Rights Campaign released a statement in which it called the decision "a victory for all D.C. residents."
"The legislation the council passed today reinforces the legal equality and religious freedoms to which all DC residents are entitled," the group said.
Meanwhile, the National Organization for Marriage, a group that opposes same-sex marriage, released a statement in which it said "the fight is not over."
"Politicians on the city council are acting as if they have the right through legislation to deprive citizens of DC of their core civil right to vote, but we will not let them get away with it," the group said in its statement.
Should Congress allow the measure to go through, Washington, D.C. would join Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Iowa as places in the U.S. where same-sex marriage is legal. Additionally, New Hampshire will also be joining the group when a law legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect January 1.
While same-sex marriage has seen its fair share of victories, it has also seen plenty of defeats. California and Maine both saw laws passed legalizing same-sex marriage, only to have residents of those states overturn the laws through popular vote. In every state where same-sex marriage has been put to popular vote, it has been defeated.
In addition, New York State and New Jersey lawmakers have recently blocked laws that would have legalized same-sex marriage in those states.
by RTT Staff Writer
Source:rttnews.com/
Thursday, November 26, 2009
With no freedom to chose within Pakistan, people of Sindh will chose freedom: Iqbal Tareen
Washington DC: November 26, 2009, (PCP) People of Sindh clearly see a Noora Kushty in conflict between PML (N) and MQM: Politically naive people couldn't get the drift of MQM at all. MQM excels in "Use and lose" game. In my book "Harvest will come" I had predicted that MQM will stab PPP in the back because Nawaz Sharrif and MQM have common family tree going all the way to Zia-ul-Haq. Combined with all other rightist parties this is another IJI, which is once again engaged against a party that was not manufactured in GHQ.
Many so-called "progressive and people friendly activists" have been taken for a ride.
Although many rightist organizations used PPP's reconciliation with MQM as a pretext to demean PPP but their real motive was an overthrow of a representative democracy to replace it with GHQ preferred and hand-picked gang of a few. Now that Nawaz Sharif and other pro-Uma parties are ready to baptize Altaf Hussain, the MQM will overnight turn from a Haraam party to a Halaal party.
The dating game between MQM and Muslim (N) actually started when Javed Hashmi came up with his weird idea of 12 provinces. Through him PML (N) actually extended an olive branch to MQM. The idea of 12 provinces and PPP-hate has placed all the bad eggs in one basket.
NRO and corruption issues are nothing less than a stunt pulled by these parties combined together. Nawaz Sharrif lived in Medina Sharrif for almost 8 years under the selective blessings of NRO midwife by the Saudis and granted by Musharraf.
Altaf Hussein and his party leaders including present governor of Sindh live scot free under amnesty from murder and felony cases granted to them by Musharraf government and his kangaroo courts.
As far as corruption and crime is concerned, it is embedded in Pakistani society from top to the bottom and sideways. From judiciary to Pakistani military brass, bureaucracy, politicians, Ulema, business leaders, and civil society members, and educators all are deep into corruption and favoritism.
None of the opposing political and religious parties are free from corruption and crime. Pakistani establishment thrives on systemic corruption and power abuse. Absolute majority of civil and military officers live imperial lives beyond their means. Many are directly and indirectly beneficiaries of drug business in Pakistan and have their hands stained with blood for assassinations and murders of innocent civilians and their political rivals. It is beyond me to see bunch of unscrupulous people preaching scruples.
The menace of corruption should be dealt with by a fair and open judicial process. You don’t overthrow a mandate because some of the members of ruling party are also corrupt.
To the people of small provinces the current hate movement is all about zero tolerance of their representative government by bunch of pro-establishment hate-driven parties, which are bent upon creating environment leading to an overthrow of a democratically elected government in Pakistan.
Baloch people have already lost faith in provincial autonomy or even talk about 1940 Resolution. They are clearly demanding freedom for Balochistan. People of Sindh are also pondering if Pakistan is a viable arrangement for the recourse of their decades old grievances. It is an overwhelming perception of people of Sindh that none of the small province based leadership is ever acceptable to Punjab-Muhajir dominated body of politics in Pakistan, which constitutes a core of Pakistani Establishment.
Many Sindhi and Baloch leaders and parties have worked on the premises that "Whenever Sindhis and Baloch participate in national politics, the Sindh and Baloch rights will are compromised" According to them thus "It is a futile exercise to waste any effort into a lost cause"
They raise a question that if moderate and pro-Pakistan Sindhi and Baloch leaders like ZA Bhutto, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Ghous Bux Bezenjo, Wali Khan, and Akbbar Bugti were not acceptable to Pakistani establishment, how can any Sindh or Balochistan rights party or leaders can find a sympathetic ear in the present setup.
A singled out onslaught on Asif Zardari is also perceived as a zero tolerance for a Sindhi leader in Pakistani national politics. PML (N), PML (Q), MQM, and all religious parties are united in bringing one man down. Entire media has issued a eulogy on Zardari's government already.
Just a friendly warning if you bring down a strong proponent of "Pakistan Khappay", you will be hard-pressed to find any soul in Sindh calling Pakistan Khappay again. A domino's effect in already in action grabbing Muslim world into its grip. Pakistan falling into the hands of pro-Taliban and spineless political forces will trigger downing of various South Asian Muslim states. The fall of representative democracy will give rise to total Talibanization in Pakistan.
Any overthrow of their elected representatives will force people of Sindh to vote with their feet. They will simply walk away from Pakistan. Sindh is nation of Latif, Sachal, Sami, and Lal Qalandar. People of Sindh are not in the business of hate and violence. But they will not allow spin doctors to undo their mandate.
People of Sindh have no part of establishment on its side. Sindhis have only ballot power to leverage. Majority of Sindhis believe that given peaceful and fair elections they hope to witness vanishing of politics of corruption, incompetence, and power abuse within a decade or two. If their mandate is stolen and their power of ballot is diminished Sindhi people will lose their right to choose.
With no freedom to choose within Pakistan, people of Sindh will likely choose their freedom without Pakistan.
Sourcepakistanchristianpost.com
Many so-called "progressive and people friendly activists" have been taken for a ride.
Although many rightist organizations used PPP's reconciliation with MQM as a pretext to demean PPP but their real motive was an overthrow of a representative democracy to replace it with GHQ preferred and hand-picked gang of a few. Now that Nawaz Sharif and other pro-Uma parties are ready to baptize Altaf Hussain, the MQM will overnight turn from a Haraam party to a Halaal party.
The dating game between MQM and Muslim (N) actually started when Javed Hashmi came up with his weird idea of 12 provinces. Through him PML (N) actually extended an olive branch to MQM. The idea of 12 provinces and PPP-hate has placed all the bad eggs in one basket.
NRO and corruption issues are nothing less than a stunt pulled by these parties combined together. Nawaz Sharrif lived in Medina Sharrif for almost 8 years under the selective blessings of NRO midwife by the Saudis and granted by Musharraf.
Altaf Hussein and his party leaders including present governor of Sindh live scot free under amnesty from murder and felony cases granted to them by Musharraf government and his kangaroo courts.
As far as corruption and crime is concerned, it is embedded in Pakistani society from top to the bottom and sideways. From judiciary to Pakistani military brass, bureaucracy, politicians, Ulema, business leaders, and civil society members, and educators all are deep into corruption and favoritism.
None of the opposing political and religious parties are free from corruption and crime. Pakistani establishment thrives on systemic corruption and power abuse. Absolute majority of civil and military officers live imperial lives beyond their means. Many are directly and indirectly beneficiaries of drug business in Pakistan and have their hands stained with blood for assassinations and murders of innocent civilians and their political rivals. It is beyond me to see bunch of unscrupulous people preaching scruples.
The menace of corruption should be dealt with by a fair and open judicial process. You don’t overthrow a mandate because some of the members of ruling party are also corrupt.
To the people of small provinces the current hate movement is all about zero tolerance of their representative government by bunch of pro-establishment hate-driven parties, which are bent upon creating environment leading to an overthrow of a democratically elected government in Pakistan.
Baloch people have already lost faith in provincial autonomy or even talk about 1940 Resolution. They are clearly demanding freedom for Balochistan. People of Sindh are also pondering if Pakistan is a viable arrangement for the recourse of their decades old grievances. It is an overwhelming perception of people of Sindh that none of the small province based leadership is ever acceptable to Punjab-Muhajir dominated body of politics in Pakistan, which constitutes a core of Pakistani Establishment.
Many Sindhi and Baloch leaders and parties have worked on the premises that "Whenever Sindhis and Baloch participate in national politics, the Sindh and Baloch rights will are compromised" According to them thus "It is a futile exercise to waste any effort into a lost cause"
They raise a question that if moderate and pro-Pakistan Sindhi and Baloch leaders like ZA Bhutto, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Ghous Bux Bezenjo, Wali Khan, and Akbbar Bugti were not acceptable to Pakistani establishment, how can any Sindh or Balochistan rights party or leaders can find a sympathetic ear in the present setup.
A singled out onslaught on Asif Zardari is also perceived as a zero tolerance for a Sindhi leader in Pakistani national politics. PML (N), PML (Q), MQM, and all religious parties are united in bringing one man down. Entire media has issued a eulogy on Zardari's government already.
Just a friendly warning if you bring down a strong proponent of "Pakistan Khappay", you will be hard-pressed to find any soul in Sindh calling Pakistan Khappay again. A domino's effect in already in action grabbing Muslim world into its grip. Pakistan falling into the hands of pro-Taliban and spineless political forces will trigger downing of various South Asian Muslim states. The fall of representative democracy will give rise to total Talibanization in Pakistan.
Any overthrow of their elected representatives will force people of Sindh to vote with their feet. They will simply walk away from Pakistan. Sindh is nation of Latif, Sachal, Sami, and Lal Qalandar. People of Sindh are not in the business of hate and violence. But they will not allow spin doctors to undo their mandate.
People of Sindh have no part of establishment on its side. Sindhis have only ballot power to leverage. Majority of Sindhis believe that given peaceful and fair elections they hope to witness vanishing of politics of corruption, incompetence, and power abuse within a decade or two. If their mandate is stolen and their power of ballot is diminished Sindhi people will lose their right to choose.
With no freedom to choose within Pakistan, people of Sindh will likely choose their freedom without Pakistan.
Sourcepakistanchristianpost.com
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