ABC1 is showing the VP debate. It seems as though it is likely to run into Dr Phil time. It also seems to be less of a debate than a chance for each candidate to stroll out their stump speeches. Instead of talking back to the television, I’ll do that here. It will probably benefit nobody to read this…
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Is it possible that this is actually Tina Fey? Please, tell me it is. The alternative is… too horrible to contemplate. Kathleen Parker, described by CNN as a “prominent conservative columnist“, initially supported Sarah Palin but now concedes that she is “out of her league” and suggests she step down.
Surely subeditors across the globe are setting the heading “Palin into insignificance” in anticipation… Gov. Sarah Palin lives by the maxim that all politics is local, not to mention personal. So when there was a vacancy at the top of the State Division of Agriculture, she appointed a high school classmate, Franci Havemeister, to the $95,000-a-year directorship. A former real estate agent, Ms. Havemeister cited her childhood love of cows as a qualification for running the roughly $2 million agency. Hey, I want that job. My love of cows is not just limited to my childhood! Does Ms Havemeister have a favourite cow? Can she recognise a Charolais at 100 paces? Oh, and then there are the implications for the US (and, by extension, the rest of us) if Palin becomes VP, I guess. And I think the sub responsible for the heading over Bob Herbert’s column (“She’s Not Ready“) was being kind. It seems clear to me that She’s Not Right. “They’re our next-door neighbors. And you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska. From an island in Alaska.”
In his column in today’s Guardian, Timothy Garton Ash suggests seven things that those of us outside Zimbabwe can do to support Zimbabweans in achieving a democratic government. Read the article here. One of the seven recommended actions is to sign the petition at avaaz.org. He notes that the number of signatories rose from around 90,000 to 111,000 whilst he was writing his column. When I signed, it was at around the 120,000 mark and it now sits at over 160,000. Please add your support! From the BBC News site, a video of Nelson Mandela’s comments regarding Zimbabwe. It’s probably too much to hope that this will pierce Mugabe’s conscience, but this should give heart to the opposition in Zimbabwe and all those who hope for a truly democratic government there. From BBC News: An aide to Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has said he regrets telling a reporter that a terror attack on the US would be “an advantage”. Charlie Black made the comments to a journalist from Fortune magazine. Mr McCain has distanced himself from Mr Black’s comments, saying he “strenuously disagreed” with him. When asked whether a terror attack on US soil would help Mr McCain’s campaign, Mr Black told the magazine: “Certainly it would be a big advantage to him.” In the article, Mr Black also said that the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was an “unfortunate event” that had “helped” Mr McCain’s presidential bid. The Zimbabwean election countdown has come to a premature, but sadly predictable, end. The Guardian has posted this timeline detailing recent events and it’s depressing reading. Christopher Hitchens recently asked the question “Why hasn’t Nelson Mandela spoken out against Robert Mugabe?”. It seems to be a fair question. A number of prominent African leaders, including Mandela’s wife and Thabo Mbeki’s brother, have given their support to a call to the end of violence in Zimbabwe. Madiba’s signature is notable for its absence. Certainly recent events have shown that Mugabe remains obstinate in the fact of international approbation, however Zimbabweans would doubtless be heartened by the support of one of the world’s truly respected leaders. From Mugabe urged to cancel run-off: “Business Day quoted unnamed sources as saying that Mbeki tried to set up a meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai — their first to date — but did not receive a firm commitment from Zimbabwe’s president. It said Mbeki attempted to convince Mugabe and Tsvangirai to form a government of national unity.” That’s likely to happen… Right now, there’s nothing coherent I can add by way of commentary on any of this. Choose Mugabe or you face a bullet Zimbabwe TV drops opposition ads Zimbabwe voters terrorised: ‘Abductions, murders and disappearances’ from The Guardian Audio – Chris McGreal |
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