Zimbabwe Debacle

Is it just me, or do others have a feeling of deja vu??

Comments to come...

Excitement at Holyrood

Well, the past couple days have been EXTREMELY interesting! Especially for me, who is still a semi-outsider and trying to acclamate myself to the Parliamentary system.

So, the Scottish Government's budget was defeated yesterday - and the First Minister has threatened to call an election if the next budget is voted down as well.* Because of this here's quite a lot of pressure to get this budget passed! The Lib Dem leader and Finance Secretary are meeting with the FM and John Swinney today to negotiate and have already stepped down from their 2p income tax break demand. The Greens, who nearly got £33 bn for a home insulation program now may get nothing (which is a shame - because my flat holds about as much heat as my freezer and some new insulation would be really nice... honestly, I wouldn't mind paying the outrageous price for my electric bill if my flat were roasting hot - but that's a whole other issue!).

So what will happen? My prediction: it will pass. The Greens might be able to gain a few more concessions and if the Lib Dems are already withdrawing their 2p tax cut demand then there's a good chance they'll abstain from the vote. I think Labour will still vote it down, because (from my very limited vantage point) they're playing party politics in addition to not having some of their demands met. I guess we'll see.

All I know is that I'll be pulling for whatever situation will avoid an election - talk about job insecurity! Eeek! I haven't even been here a month!






*However, as I've learned today, the FM can't actually do this. If he steps down, then Parliament has 28 days to appoint a new FM (Labour has already thrown Ian Gray's name into the mix)... and if noone is appointed then it goes to an election.

LAME

A new pet peeve: the transformation of any and all scandals into ____-gate (but particularly non-political scandals).

For example:
Sachsgate
Bittergate
Erminegate

Or - god love wikipedia - all of these!!

Really? Seriously? Ridiculous. And lame.
Ridiculous and lame.

A good pick-me-up

I can consistently count on fail blog to give me a good laugh if ever I am in need... and this is why.

That's all!!

Prez Update #2

In continuation of my previous Prez O post...

Well, Mr. President you certainly didn't let me down with this one. The Mexico policy was a topic subject to harsh critique in my MSc dissertation, so I am very happy to see Obama deal with that swiftly (although I am still up in the air about him not doing it on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade).

Now, where was I when I ran out of time with that last post...
Ahh, right - Obama's speech. For the full text, please see here. Now, I thought it was... great, basically. He chose substance over style, which was a smart move considering the opposite was something he was so criticized for in his campaign. Despite the sober mood of it, I found parts of it inspiring, sometimes to my own disappointment. Like this:

We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and
for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering
innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken;
you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

While I do certainly think that there are major parts of the 'American way of life' that need to be apologized for and changed - namely our disgusting consumption, materialism and disregard for the environment (to start) - I couldn't help but be wowed by this statement and the confidence with which he made such a proclamation. How could anyone not believe him? Yet, in addition to parts that made me slightly squeamish, there were other parts that I just loved, like this:

The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

While I'm never crazy about god-mentioning from politicians, I suppose since he's in this instance referencing the Declaration of Independence I can let it slide. And he is completely right about choosing our better history - we must draw on that and let it inspire our future actions, rather than dwell on and follow in the same path that our not-so-good history has taken us. In fact, I think only by doing this will the US be able to restore its position in the world, and since Obama as the POTUS is basically the incarnation of our better history, what a perfect place to start!

Ok, back to the speech... this bit was also particularly lovely in its jarring admonishment of the Bush administration:

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and
our ideals [...] our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do
as we please.

Wa-bam, Shrub! How's that!? Well, I don't know what else can be said except that he's spot on and with this kind of resolve will finally (or at least hopefully) represent a foreign policy that 1) our European friends will be willing to support and 2) won't provide fuel to the fire for the recruitment of extremists. There is a lot to be said for the argument that the world is less safe since Shrub began his "war on terr'r" and hopefully Obama will be able to reverse this trend (although it will certainly take more than closing Guantanamo to do this).

In anycase, it's pretty good to at least have a leader who can properly pronounce the word 'nuclear'.

President Barack Obama... Bitches!!!

That's right, I said it!

<-- that right there, my friends, is MY president! Woohoo!

Well, that will basically be the gist of this update... I was saddened to not be in the US for such an occassion, but was watching it all live in the Parliament with my boss, some councillors from his constituency, and a few friends, which was cool in itself.

High points of the inauguration:

1. Obama is the President

2. Cheney in a wheel chair because he hurt his back lifting boxes in the move out of Washington (really, it's almost too good)

2. Aretha Franklin's hat - LOVE it!

3. Bush is back in Texas

4. I was warm while watching

5. Obama's speech was presidential, unlike the crap we've been seeing for the past eight years.

Low Points:

1. John Roberts is an idiot

2. Rick Warren (enough said)

3. People accusing Joseph Lowrey of being a racist afterward

4. No more 'Moments in Great Presidential Speeches' from David Letterman :(

Now for some elaboration...

It was really amazing to watch. I didn't tear up too much, but it was certainly emotional to witness what will (hopefully) be viewed in years to come as a redeeming chapter in the history of the United States. I get goosebumps still when I read or watch the news and see/hear 'President Barack Obama'... it's almost as though it's too good to be true. However, he seems to be off to a rip-roaring start with ordering the suspension of all Guantanamo trials and the prison to close completely within a year. And if he does this within the next week or so I'll be very pleased.

I'll write more about his speech (great!) and Rick Warren (detestable) later but for now this should be long enough!

Israel vs. Palestine

Well, it's been a while since I've posted... I'm not actually as good at this whole blogging thing as I'd hoped. However, I'm making it a 'new year's resolution' to get better (notice vague and unspecific qualifiers!).

A short post today but with links to a longer one! I've been keeping tabs on the situation in Gaza the past couple of weeks and can express nothing but disappointment in all of the actors involved (yes, this means you, U.S.A.!). While I was loathe to participate in the Gaza protest in Edinburgh (afterall, the Consulate IS my first port of call if ever I have a problem here!) that does not mean that I support or condone the slaughter that is Israel's 'right to protect.'

The situation is impossibly complicated and I find myself not being able to express the conflicting opinions that are a result of sympathy and outrage. Therefore, I will let Muriel Gary do it for me, as her reponse to this horror (and its immense complexity) is that best that I have come accross thus far.

The Holocaust is not a sufficient justification!


EDIT at 15:21 GMT: NOW will they do something?!



Next blog: Prez Obama!!! Woooo!!! asdhasldacmdsjaksdjldoierej!!!! Just seeing this thing gets me so excited!!