Exactly

Yep, this is as close as you can get to put the finger on the pulse. This commentator has done exactly that. He has spelt out what's ailing the country right now. The 'ideologues'. And mind you, on both sides. (The word 'both' is significant)

[..], we tend to listen only to like-minded opinions as media fragmentation encourages us to filter out varying perspectives. If you're a liberal, you avoid FOX News. If you're a conservative you revile MSNBC. The dynamic is even more pronounced online, where a niche media source can be found for any outlook.

The fringe extremes on both ends has taken over the debate thus rendering any reasonable, moderate, centrist approach, impotent.

I like his second point in explanation.

Second, our lifestyles favor knee-jerk reactions. The way we think, work and live in the Digital Age demands we quickly categorize information without investing time into rich interaction, research and understanding.

Yep, perfect.

America is not a monolithic society like say Sweden or Switzerland. Moreover it is huge in size and population compared to other western puny little nation-states. Most of them having at most one big metropolis to 'brag' about. It's racially and socially diverse nation. To compare it with other puny ones is apple and oranges. Can't apply a readymade template and go for cut-copy-paste.

Hence it is all the more imperative for a ruling formation to tread a centrist path so as to accommodate maximum views. (Clinton was popular for a reason. He chose to become a centrist, reconciling figure) If one administration tries to push something down a vast majority people's throat, it risks loosing the goodwill of independents (and political agnostics)

When you are driving at full speed, it's dangerous to take a sharp left (or for that matter right) turn. Omaba's 'advisers' should have known better.

Wither BJP

Whats happening with BJP is slightly disappointing for me but not entirely surprising. After all nothing fails like failure.

BJP is in a tail spin after the Jaswant Singh episode. And Arun Shourie's latest interview, to NDTV is most depressing to say the least. I have had highest regards for Mr.Shourie and his work. But his outburst and that too to a channel like NDTV (which has a glee all over) is shocking.

Nevertheless, with BJP down and possibly out, Sonia madams monarchy has no serious challengers and is all set for a long haul. Monarchy is strong and kicking. Not that it had any serious challenge anyways, with national media firmly behind it all along.

It's sad for democracy in general that an alternative pole is diminished into irrelevance. And one party rule, with monopolistic mind-set at that, can only spell trouble.

Anyways, Indians are getting what they voted for. So no point ranting.. (this last note is for me).

Disappointing nevertheless.

Quote of the day

The quote of the day comes from Economist Bibek Debroy -

"If con is antithesis of pro, Congress is antithesis of Progress"

You see I never told you I was in a bad company :)

Sulking

I feel terrible. And my weekend is ruined by this Indian election results.

For me the dynastic politics of the Congress is the deal-breaker apart from a laundry list of issues I can go on and on. Nevertheless, the Indian voter has spoken and now there's no point cribbing about it.

Anyways, I think its not all bad. It's good that UPA got a major verdict in the sense that it now does not have to depend on the Left anymore. In fact the decimation of Communists is the best result of these elections IMO.

Rajasthan, Maharashtra to some extent Gujarat was disappointing for BJP. But I think Delhi,Uttarakhand, Punjab and Harayana cost them around 20 seats. Congress on the other hand gained quite a lot in the south. Andra Pradesh is now firmly in Congress umbrella. Kerela is the other state that voted overwhelmingly for the Congress this time. Both these states added 40 odd seats to Congress. That really made all the difference.

I strongly feel that for a nation to have an all round growth, a strong opposition is the key. A balance of left-of-the-center and a right-of-the-center policies are key to any nation's progress. And that's where BJP needs to position itself.

In final analysis I think few things worked for Congress.
1] Very strong media support all 5 years that conveniently over looked some key national issues.

2] Well crafted image of Gandhi family,MMS etc (again Media has a massive role here)

3]Complete and very successful demonization of BJP.

4] Reservations and loan pay offs of farmers

5] Mass transfer of muslim votes from Lalu,Paswan.Left etc to the Congress.

6] Apathy of the middle classes towards politics continues to help the Congress. The "All politicians are crooks" notion helps them win a lot of seats by default. But this is not specific to these elections.

For a non-Congress guy like me, it is easy to be cynical and pessimistic today. I think I am going to have some drinks and catch on the IPL to divert myself. That should be my Advil for a few days from this pain.

What a joke!

One should seriously question the wisdom of having elections in India anymore. I think we are better off just "handing over" the power of governance to the "first family". Actually we should not even have democracy. Let's just officially become a Monarchy instead of shying away from that term. At least the Monarchs are good at stacking up all the cash in Swiss banks, allowing the Talibanization of India, that allows more and more 26/11s (helps population control i guess) and making mockery of democracy at easy whims.

It is apparent that no one will get a enough seats to form the central government. But here's the best part, the same people who fought with Congress during the elections will come together to form the government with it to "keep the Devil BJP" away from power.

So the most likely government would be a combination of the following 1] Sonia Gandhi Inc (a.k.a Congress Party) 2] Communists 3] Mulayam and/or Mayawati 4]AIADMK 5]BJD 6]Chiranjeevi's party etc

And all these people were actually fighting Congress (and not BJP) during the elections. lol!

Boy!, were it not for the Mullah-Marxist-Media trio, Congress and the "secular ilk" would have been decimated. But then the media demonization of the "Hindu" party is so complete now, that half the nation does not even care and other half has been hoodwinked by the Barkhas and Somini Senguptas of the world that they can't even see through their agenda. (I wish we had more MJ Akbar's and Swapan Das Guptas. But alas!)

So again, why were the elections held at all? For one month so much of money was spent, so many resources were occupied, so many gallons of gas was used in campaigning.. all for what? So that all people who fight against each other finally come together to hold the power?

It's like Obama and McCain fighting for one long year and than finally when results are out, Obama makes Sarah Palin the Vice President and Mitt Romney the Treasury Secretary. It's almost like that in India now; only worse.

Such are things...

The current Indian government's partner in these elections the Samajwadi Party released it's manifesto..

The party says it is against computers..

"The use of computers in offices is creating unemployment problems. Our party feels that if work can be done by a person using hands there is no need to deploy machines,"

And add this one..

The party's manifesto also mentions that it will work to abolish schools providing expensive education in English medium..

But oh well, since "all parties are same" and we need to keep some "bad" parties away from power at any cost, we may as well vote for UPA in elections.

Elections

There's this quote I like - "You can fool all people sometimes, you can fool some people all the times, but you cannot fool all the people all the times"

Apparently this does not apply to Elections in India. From what I have read so far, looks like current rulers will be back in the saddle in 2009 General Elections. Only stronger. As there is, what is called as the, TINA factor. Meaning 'There Is No Alternative' factor.

Which also means UPA will come to power by default. And one of these days...I am gona throw up...

Jaya Ho

J.Jayalalitha has now discovered Gandhigiri; she is - Fasting to protest the Lankan cause.

If I had to take a guess, she could very well be masquerading her once-a-week strict diet plan, as "Fast". (Ek Teer Doh Nishaan)

Wonder if she has considered Weight Watchers!

Damp Squib!

What a pathetic response from Bobby Jindal yesterday. I mean come on.... People!

Here's a President, fresh from a massive win (his body language is showing), who's oratory was never in question, and one who makes an awesome speech. And then your response? A little boy called - Bobby!!

I mean Obama can carry Bobby in his pocket and no one would notice. OK, and by the by, Jindal needs a few things to get going. How about a speech writer for a start. We can work on making him look more 'presidential' in next 20 years or so. (Won't be easy though, given his performance yesterday)

I mean what a sorry reply to another remarkable speech by O. (I could see Nancy Pelosi getting orgasms sitting behind; At least it was refreshing to see her smile for a change)
I mean if Republicans think, that Jindal is the best they have got against a formidable guy like Obama; good luck to them really.

As Anderson Cooper of CNN said ... "Sarah Palin had a great night". U bet. Could not have said better.

Whats with him?

I had made a deal with myself of not writing about Obama (or news related to him) for a while because my wife made me realize that I have been rambling about Obama for long time in last one year or so. I needed an Obama-break. But looks like the world around me won't allow that to happen and I will need to dis-honor that self contract ...

So now this Chomsky guy; looks like he has some issues with O and his policies too.
Noam Chomsky, by the way, was one the leading lights of hate-Bush campaign for last 8 years and his quotes, thoughts and opinion were liberally (pun intended) quoted in blogosphere. He can be quite a polarizing figure.

And that is why I got a little surprised when he had to say this about Obama : "I think Obama looks more aggressive and violent than Bush."

... ugh!!

Hung!

So Israeli elections threw another Hung result today. This btw, is 5th Election in 10 years for Israeli parliament; that means, the election system over there has now stabilized into Chaos. A chaotic mix of popular opinion that is. With none really able to run first-past-the-post.

Not very dissimilar to what's happening in India. We have not had a single party majority since 1991. Actually if you look at it, since 1984! Coz for all practical purposes Narsimha Rao's 1992 government was a minority one too. And were it not for some suit cases making rounds of Delhi's corridors, it would have collapsed. So it's been around 20 years that we have had a single party rule.

I am not saying it's a bad thing. A coalition may be better option if the stake holders are responsible. One of the biggest problems with mixed election results is that too many buttons get pushed by the "kingmakers". For example there's a good chance that Mayawati would be our next PM; and not because of popular votes but because she has enough MPs to become the king maker.

It is being said that though Tzipi and Bibi won the same number of seats in Israel, the real winner is Liberman, head of the ultra-nationalist party Yisrael Beitenu. He would be calling the shots. Precisely my point.

Looks like both these nations need to think hard for coming up with a better system of electing.

Hmmm....

Friedman makes some interesting remarks in his new post. I am not sure I agree with all.

The idea, however brilliant and even correct it may be or sound, won't fly with the lawmakers. Specially Dems, who have been fighting *for* protectionism (of American jobs) for last eight years. Just because they sit on this side of the aisle won't make them turn coats all of a sudden. After all they have their local votes to cater.

Politics and administration is a tricky business and O and his team are just about getting a taste of it even as they find their footing in the hill.

Friedman also fears that Silicon Valley will be another Detroit. Well, there's some 'creative destruction' for you right there, Mr. Friedman. Go figure!

And why have the new Googles and Apples to come from the valley? Wouldn't it serve the argument of creative destruction better if the next Google comes from India,China or God damn Luxembourg even?

The Difference is Sharp

"For top executives to award themselves these kinds of compensation packages in the midst of this economic crisis isn't just bad taste -- it's a bad strategy -- and I will not tolerate it."

Well said Sir!

Obama also willfully acknowledged his wrong judgment in selecting Tom Daschle for the post of health and human services secretary. It takes a man of character.

Contrast this to what's happening in India. A fellow Election Commissioner keeps going to the Loo during the meetings passing all sensitive information to his bosses at 10 Janpath. His colleagues come out to the press and make some serious charges against Mr. Chawla, who btw, should be holding the institute to high standards.But neither Chawla nor the UPA bosses care a hoot about CEC's report.(It is common public knowledge that Chawla runs a trust which is funded by Gandhi family, by the way. Mere "coincidence" may be)

And here's the best part. The same media, that would have gone hammer and tong about this scandal if any other party was ruling currently, conveniently removes the news item (completely) from headlines. It's like it never happened. (Try looking for the Chawla scandal in any major news media website. It's gone. Whoosh.. just 48 hours into it being exposed). And then here's how NDTV spins such a serious issue and trivializes the institution..





Check what the so called "Poll" says. If you read between the lines, what it's really saying is - is opposition going to take advantage of rift between CECs? ("Oh we are so worried if our dear rulers get exposed. Shame on you, Opposition, for dwelling on this trivial matter" sob.sob.sob.)

Imagine this being a scandal during NDA. I bet the poll would have been -
"Should the Ruling party use CEC as a tool to promote their own agenda". I am willing to bet anything on that. And I am also willing to bet that NDTV would have great number of shows .... like "We the People".. the "State of The nations"...debates and documentaries and what have you, to keep this in the foreground all the time. But since "there own" people are running the show, it needs the spin doctors.

NDTV has now bought over India Today group (the power of money, you see), and the last remaining citadel of non-Monarchical news media house has fallen. With TOI,IBN,HT,The Hindu,NDTV (of course) all into it's pockets, its advantage UPA.

Oh well. Let's resign ourselves for another 5 years of the same. I have, already.

Although I must give this to NDTV. They really know what side is buttered. These meaningless polls they have on their website, can really take one's goat. Boy! the way they spin. If for nothing else, I will give them all the Bharat Ratnas and Padma Bhushans available in President's shelves. They have got *it*. (Padma Shrees are already going to them all the years. Why not raise the bar a bit)

We are still a long way to go before a vigilant media (with views from both sides) matures into a more balanced domain. But till then, bloggers like me with our limited minuscule power (actually non-existent one) can keep challenging the Barkha Dutts and the Vinod Mehtas of the world.

For now... I will toast to that! It's a start alright.

Freeze it!

Picture courtesy : CNN.com

Such moments don't come everyday or even every century. Freeze it! Freeze it because this picture symbolizes humanity's progress itself. This picture embodies empowerment, smooth transfer of power and Power itself.
Salut to Choice. Salut to Judgement.Salut to Democracy.Salut to you - U S A

Modi Phobia

A communist Member of Parliament A.P Abdulkutty recently praised Mr. Narendra Modi, the much reviled Chief Minister of Gujarat for the tremendous development work he has undertaken in his state.

The communists who consider themselves as the placard holders of Indian 'secularism' (whatever it is) just could not take it. Poor guy was rewarded with a suspension order from the party for crossing the line. After all how can you praise Narendra Modi !!! That's beyond sacrilege in India.

This incredible hatred for Modi, much of which is meticulously manufactured over the years, thanks to the 24X7 English speaking elite media houses single point agenda, has made it impossible to look at the positives of Modi for well meaning reasonable people. People who criticize him when required but also look at other side.

In a way most "blind haters" have pushed themselves in the corner and are either in denial or want to blind fold themselves and don't want to "see it".

It always surprises me that Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi who sat over India's biggest genocides (Assam and Delhi) got away so easily! Anyways, looks like most of India is ready to move on, including large number of Gujarati Muslims who voted for Modi, but messrs NDTV,IBN and their ilk are not. They are like Ostriches putting their sorry heads deep inside sand and always looking for that odd Arundati Roy and Pankaj Mishra and Somini Sengupta to bail them out with some nauseating article every few days to keep that hate agenda from going in back burner.

Sad guys all.

!!!

Tomorrow morning Chicago will wake up to it's biggest news ever, that is, if it sleeps at all tonight. Chicago's favorite boy, Barak Hussein Obama(BO) will have been declared USA's 44th President.

If I was Obama tonight, I would thank at least 2 Republicans. One, of course, Abraham Lincoln, the guy who laid grounds for a humane road to end slavery and two,George.W.Bush, who screwed up so bad, he helped create the biggest media movement ever against any incumbent President till date.

It would have been insane to even think just 7 years after 9/11 struck USA, that a Black man who's middle name would be Hussein would lead America someday. But that is America for you. More action, less blabber. Did you get it France? Don't just lecture others, make "affirmative action" work. This fairy tale journey of a son born to a Kenyan immigrant to become most powerful man in the world, could have possibly been scripted only in America.

From Martin Luther King to Mohammad Ali to Colin Powell to Condoleezza Rice to Barak Obama, it is only America that has given voice, platform and avenues to achieve greater and greater heights for these minority leaders. (I can't for my life think an equally important personality in entire Europe, the so called "Liberal" Mecca)

Obama Obama

The pictures coming out of Grant Park, Chicago are nothing short of spectacular. These pictures are saying loudly and clearly -Take that, World. Stop lecturing us. Set your own house in order if you have balls.

Obama has beaten an honorable man. And he beat him fair and square. Let us not take away anything from his well oiled and well managed campaign. This is a massive massive win for Democrats, who never forgot the "stolen election" of 2000. They have never forgiven Republicans for that. Today's massive win can only be sweet vindication of 8 years of relentless campaign.

This is clearly a watershed movement in America's life. A sustained campaign against Bush has finally come to it's fruitation. Obama was an idea who's time had come. And nothing explains it better than a huge, a huge surge in young voters coming out in unprecedented numbers. Obama had captured nation's imagination and more importantly tapped it's emotion. I have not seen what it was like to be in Reagan's America or Kennedy's America, but I can't imagine it being as electrifying as today.

If I was a numerologist, I would have looked at these figures. BO was born on *4th* of August, he assumed his first office as a senator on *4th* of January and he won the Presidential elections on *4th* of November, even as he is declared the *44th* President of USA. Interesting coincidence of number 4.

But beyond a doubt this is Obama's calling; this *is* America's calling.

What would the post-Election Obama look like? Will he move this country more towards Left with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid? Or will he take the Bill Clinton centrist path. More importantly how would this icy cool head, deal with enormous load of expectations. How will he deal with unpopular decisions? I am not sure. All I know for now is that, he is a smart guy with a grounded attitude. He is a good man for sure; whether he is the "right" man, only time will tell.

Presidential Election

This is such huge movement that it is easy to loose sight of the loosing candidate. I always thought that McCain was an honorable man, a war veteran with an impeccable integrity. I think he and his running mate got a raw deal from media. Specially Sarah Palin, a mother of 5 kids, one of whom will be deployed in Iraq and other a son with down syndrome. I thought she got the rap of her life on her knuckle. Some of the attacks on her were plain spiteful and tasteless. In the end they were not only running against Obama, but against a hugely unpopular incumbent President. In the end they could not beat Bush.

It's fair to say, this was a year for Democrats in the cycle of Elections and Obama was smart enough to sense that. And he hit the sweet spot with the American electorate. Truly a remarkable movement in history of the world. I am ending this post, even as Obama has started his speech at Grant Park.

Live well Sir!

*****

Post-Script : I could not come up with an appropriate title for this post. Should I have called it "Obama Wins" or "McCain Looses" or "Liberals Win" or "Conservatives Loose" ...
I think I should have called it "Bush Looses". But again, he was not running.. so I did not go with that..although I thought 'Bush Looses' came closest to what i was thinking, coz even though Bush Jr did not fight this election, he was looming large over it.

May be I should have called it America Wins... but I thought '!!!' said it all :)

Three Weeks to go...

And the race is more or less over as far as I can see. I mean the O vs Mc race. I think the economic crisis was the last nail in McCain's coffin who's campaign was living each day on borrowed oxygen, in any case. The mean and negative attacks launched by McCain campaign in last 2 weeks is clear indication of desperation and clinging somehow to last straw.

At 72, McCain was fighting too many odds. An economic crisis (widely perceived to be) perpetuated by his party, an unpopular regime, a light-weight-easy-to-target running mate. One too many mountains to climb I guess, in the end for McCain.

Hope this "change" is for the larger good. In the end whatever happens, I hope Democracy wins and the bitter and partisan temperature prevailing everywhere is brought down. A "swing of pendulum" is a sign of healthy democracy.

[It's not a coincidence that after about 3 terms of Labor party in UK, the Conservative party under a young dynamic leader is leading the opinion polls in Britain currently. Food for a thought!]

There you go!

More than half of country's businesses are owned by OBCs/SCs/STs now.

No comments, except - The timing of this article is suspect. With UPA government not really at the peak of it's popularity, it needs to reinforce some election gimmickry pretty soon. Such news items help it's pet "socialist" propaganda, alright.

Congratulations Manmohan Singh

Congratulations are in order for Singh and UPA. I never thought I would say those words to Singh or UPA who I have scant respect for; but congratulations to them for sticking with what they believed in. It is important to understand what the NSG Waiver means for India.

India has been isolated from the world nations since last 34 years after it went ahead with it's first nuclear blast in 1974 under Indira Gandhi. This isolation meant India could not trade any new ideas related to nuclear technology while the world moved ahead. With this NSG waiver, India has officially entered the Nuclear club. And we can now deal with France, Japan, USA etc to transfer technical know-how and develop our own technology if needed in future. Remember Nuclear energy is NOT ABOUT bombs. This nuclear energy we are talking of is actually about clean and alternative energy. (France for example has 70% of it's power coming from Nuclear technology).

In a competitive and globalised world order any sort of isolation is counter productive. And if for nothing else, India needs to congratulate itself for breaking that first glass ceiling.

But we should not celebrate blindly. Last week's leak of a letter sent by Bush to his people was a dampener in a lot of supporters enthusiasm about the deal. It is clear USA will pull out of this deal if India undertakes another nuclear test. But India should now be a more confident nation. In a situation where US and other countries do act "super smart", we should do what Vajpayee did, after Pokhran II blast - show them our middle finger.

We need to be smart and tough in this world order. We need to see our backs and look at what is good for 1 billion Indians before worrying about what others think of us. (learn something from our Red neighbor China)

Talking of China, not surprisingly it was playing dirty behind the scenes during negotiations. US was steadfast in it's support and played a very important role. But before we get too smitten kitten about USA we should know it's all about business baby. They are looking for that economic interest. And to be fair, thats alright. Everyone should and always will.

WTF

The secular elites obsession with Modi is beyond me. TOI,IBN and NDTV have reported that US government has "denied" Narendra Modi a US Visa.

First of all I am not sure what the big fuss about this whole Visa is? When I last checked, I thought you denied someone a Visa if and only if someone applied for it in the first place. The democratically elected Chief Minister of Gujarat has NOT APPLIED for USA's visa, so what are they denying at all?

A handful of Commies and Congress Non-resident Indians, who have formed forums in USA have been lobbying against Modi since last 5 years. And if you ask me, he cares a damn about USA or visiting it.

Modi has been duly elected as a leader, not by those handful elites, but by people of Gujarat. There have been allegations but no convictions against him personally. So I am not sure of the grounds of this so called denial. I always thought Rajiv Gandhi, one of the most popular leader of India, who's implicit and complicit involvement in killing of innocent Sikhs of New Delhi and Punjab and who clearly justified the killings of people should have been denied Visa if at all there was a case of such instance. (Although I would have opposed that too)

But anyways, barking dogs keep barking, and Elephants move on their path. Gujarat is moving at 15% GDP and it's people are happy with their efficient, resourceful and productive leader.

So sulkers and whiners can whine all they want to... no one really cares for your stupid Visa. Boooo to u.