vsbabu.org : politics http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/categories/politics/ Gluing passing thoughts to foregone conclusions en-us vsbabu@gmail.com Copyright 2008 2004-01-17T16:15:16+05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 No spin; or only spin? http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2004/01/17/no_spin_or_only_spin.html The opinion shows on American TV is probably the cause of high blood pressure. 975@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Last thursday I watched The O'Reilly Factor. This is the first time I watched the guy; there was an interesting topic in which he asked questions to a lady -- I can't recall what her role was. The topic is below:

And later, it's time for "Gay Family Days" at Disney's U.S. theme parks. And thousands are expected to join in the festivities. But is a family theme park the appropriate place for a sexual stand?

His questions went like this:

]]> politics 2004-01-17T16:15:16+05:00 Must remember this http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2003/11/04/must_remember_this.html Very amusing when the major proponent of war on Iraq quotes one of the most famous advocates of non-violence. 934@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Adopt ways of Gandhi: Wolfowitz to Palestinians: United States Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz has suggested that Palestinians adopt Gandhian ways to bring 'enormous changes' quickly. He claimed the greatest obstacle to Palestinian statehood was 'Palestinian terrorism'.

Huh?

]]> politics 2003-11-04T20:09:59+05:00 Sigh http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2003/09/20/sigh.html After drunken party, US soldier kills tiger in a Baghdad zoo. 895@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Google News: Apparently, a drunk soldier tried to be cute with a rare Royal Bengal Tiger --an endangered species. It bit him and a fellow soldier put three bullets between the tiger's eyes.

]]> nature 2003-09-20T17:30:52+05:00 Thursday Sarcasm http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2003/06/26/thursday_sarcasm.html Just a little bit of random thoughts after watching news today. 821@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ What a day to end the day! Came back from work and checked the news. Quite a bit going around, some good enough to opine.

  • Supreme courts strikes down Texas Sodomy Law
  • Bush committed to ending Kashmir conflict
  • Army blows money on Windows
]]> politics 2003-06-26T18:33:57+05:00 Who will clean up the mess? http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2003/03/26/who_will_clean_up_the_mess.html "It's like having someone defecate on your doorstep and then ringing the bell and asking for a toilet roll." 747@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Ramanand Sengupta on Iraq after the war: Suppose, France and Germany refuse to reach for their chequebooks to help rebuild Iraq. Russia is unlikely to offer more than promises... anyway

I don't agree with his sentiments entirely, but it is an article well worth reading for his cynicism.

]]> politics 2003-03-26T05:45:31+05:00 Situps for Government http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2003/01/29/situps_for_government.html For once, I fealt sympathy for politicians. 703@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Yesterday, I watched President Bush's State of the Union Address, when ads were on while Smallville was going on. I couldn't help but notice the following fact:

The President speaks for a minute. The audience applause for 5 seconds. Then they all getup and continue applause for a minute. Then they sit down. This whole thing repeated whenever I watched.

]]> politics 2003-01-29T06:17:59+05:00 Tax cuts http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2003/01/14/tax_cuts.html A columnist finds it hard to understand the latest economic stimulus package. 690@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ William Raspberry is struggling to understand latest tax cuts. An excellent op-ed piece.

Bush's first tax-cut measure, if you recall, was proposed as a way of redistributing the huge budget surplus he inherited from Bill Clinton. You know, give the people their money back.

When the surplus evaporated (I won't get into whose fault that was), he proposed tax cuts as a way to stop the economy from deteriorating. Now he's proposing tax cuts as a way to turn the economy around. Does he really believe tax cuts can, like penicillin, find their healing way to wherever the infection happens to be?

]]> politics 2003-01-14T18:28:09+05:00 Uncivil commision http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/10/30/uncivil_commision.html This is great journalism! 596@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ The Washington Post: The Commissioners Have a Job to Do. But First, They Have to Agree to Meet.

A great and well written article about the political infighting in the United States Civil Rights Commision. Apparently there is a significant lack of Unity, Civility and Rights.

]]> politics 2002-10-30T13:20:37+05:00 War on common sense http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/10/08/war_on_common_sense.html Is it only me, or does any one else think that there is some intelligence missing with intelligence agencies? 560@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Today's Washington Post Article - Reflecting the view of the U.S. intelligence community, (U.S. Secretary of Defence, Donald) Rumsfeld said he had "not seen anything since last December that one can with certainty say that he (Osama bin Laden)'s alive or functioning. So he's therefore either alive and well, or alive and not too well, or not alive."

]]> politics 2002-10-08T07:52:45+05:00 Blair blames Indian Firms? http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/09/24/blair_blames_indian_firms.html For Queen, Country and Uncle Sam, no doubt. Pathetic. 529@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Indian firms helped Iraqi missile programme: Blair Stating that Iraq has "military plans" for the use of chemical and biological weapons even against its own population and that it is able and willing to deploy some of its deadliest weapons in under an hour from the order, Britain on Tuesday alleged that Baghdad had obtained some key ingredients from some Indian companies.

]]> politics 2002-09-24T18:25:22+05:00 France: Right is not so wrong any more! http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/04/22/france_right_is_not_so_wrong_any_more.html The morning news had interesting stuff happening in France. Jean-Marie Le Pen, the far right politician won enough votes to... 282@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ The morning news had interesting stuff happening in France. Jean-Marie Le Pen, the far right politician won enough votes to challenge Jacques Chirac in the upcoming presidential elections. If he gets more than 10% of votes in that election, that will be hard on the collective conscience of the wonderful people of a beautiful country that gave the world notions of equality and liberty.

Here's a story about this on CNN.

Just think of a world where the spot light is on Le Pen, Aariel Sharon, John Ashcroft, Yasser Arafat...

- Every one of them champions the notion "I'm OK, you are not".
- Every one of them considers themselves to be on the side of God.
- All are judgemental of their morality - which is fine - and others' morality too - which is not fine.

]]> politics 2002-04-22T07:21:24+05:00 World threatens retaliation over US steel tariffs http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/03/06/world_threatens_retaliation_over_us_steel_tariffs.html Rediff.com - "Major steel producing nations threatened the United States with lawsuits and trade reprisals as President George W Bush... 163@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Rediff.com - "Major steel producing nations threatened the United States with lawsuits and trade reprisals as President George W Bush prepared to slap tariffs of upto 30 per cent on steel imports."

So much for "globalization" and US being champion of free market economy.

]]> politics 2002-03-06T08:08:51+05:00 Column: The True Verdict http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/02/25/column_the_true_verdict.html Column: The True Verdict. "The politician needs to scrawl 'You suck!' in large letters on his bathroom mirror, so that... 121@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Column: The True Verdict. "The politician needs to scrawl 'You suck!' in large letters on his bathroom mirror, so that he can see it first thing every morning. It will remind him of what the electorate thinks of him today", says Prem Panicker.

]]> politics 2002-02-25T06:27:55+05:00 Arun Jaitley about Indian economy http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/02/23/arun_jaitley_about_indian_economy.html Indian law minister talks about our nation. Though I'm not much of a fan of BJP's politics, I think Vajpayee... 118@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Indian law minister talks about our nation. Though I'm not much of a fan of BJP's politics, I think Vajpayee and Jaitley are the best India can get now. I do agree that Nehruvian policies and 3 generations of Nehru family managed to completely devastate a nation in 40 years - must be a remarkable feeling. Worst part is that Congress(I) which can be called as the largest remaining faction of Indian National Congress has become such a spineless entity that it still has no leaders who can win elections unless draped in the sarees of the current Nehru family members.

]]> politics 2002-02-23T18:44:10+05:00 Puppets on a star-spangled spring http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/02/19/puppets_on_a_starspangled_spring.html Varsha Bhosle writes about where India is at, post Operation Enduring Freedom. I do agree with her on the lack... 86@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Varsha Bhosle writes about where India is at, post Operation Enduring Freedom. I do agree with her on the lack of decisiveness on the Indian government's part, with each minister having their own public opinion - Gen. Musharaff, being a dictator has an advantage here because he don't have to let any other voice be heard. I think her rhetoric about going to war with Pakistan is a bit off-mark, mainly because such matters are better left to professionals in the defense department and the defence forces, rather than to emotions.

]]> politics 2002-02-19T06:52:05+05:00