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| Username | Post |
| ashu | Posted
on 14-Jun-04 07:08 PM
On one hand, American politics is brutally nasty. On the other hand, it has its lofty, civil and inspiring moments (see below). In constrast -- and I am generalising here based on my observations -- in Nepal and among Nepali communities, emotions get easily frayed, confidence is so easily shattered, and hurt go so deep that few have nice things to say about their real or imagined adversaries. Imagine, to cite one example, Girija saying: "Our differences with Sher Bdr Deuba are there, of course. But our LARGER collective goal for Nepal is to put aside our differences for now to move the country forward. And so, let's recognise that Deuba has a difficult task ahead of him, a task that would have been equally difficult for any of us had we been in charge. Let's help Deuba conduct the polls, and let us all seek a fresh mandate from the people so that we can renew our right to govern this country." Alas, for Girija and his super-rigid cronies, Sher Bdr will always remain a persona non grata even while the country sinks further into a morass. That is why, it's refreshing to read G W Bush putting politics aside for the moment to publicly praise Bill Clinton. ***** From the New York Times: "Mr. Bush said of [Bill Clinton]: "As chief executive, he showed a deep and far-ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need, and the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president." And Mr. Clinton returned the compliment: "This president, by his generous words to Hillary and me today, has proved once again that in the end, we are held together by this grand system of ours that permits us to debate and struggle and fight for what we believe is right." MORE: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/14/politics/14CND-CLIN.html?hp oohi ashu |
| NK | Posted
on 14-Jun-04 07:48 PM
I see politics in everything when W is involved. It was a perfect opportunity for Bush to show how he is above politics when in fact politics is what it is all about. This is an election year (election is only four months away) and he is doing badly in polls (from what I hear from here), his Iraq ivasion is faliure through and through, his environment policy has left the US cities more polluted, and if he has his away there will be no Alaskan wilderness. So what should a man of Bush's integrity do?? That is a 160 million dollars question. -Bring Clinton, and thus Clinton's success, closer to him! Very subtly associate himself with Clinton's policy by priasing his policy. The policy he started to dismantle one by one right after he was elected. Bravo! You must him give him and his "handlers" some credit, don't you think so? Besides what else is Bush going to say when the occasion is such? Bad mouth Clinton and his wife?? And yeah let's not even start to compare Girija with any of those politicians. (hey ashu, where are you? i am in your town. shall we meet?) |
| ashu | Posted
on 14-Jun-04 08:21 PM
NK, Those thoughts did cross my mind too. Still, I thought: Hey, why be cynical, and decided to celebrate this one occasion anyway. On another note, welcome to CatManDo. Since you have my mobile number, please make use of it, and let's plan accordingly to sit down for a meal or so and to discuss Bush, Kerry, Girija, poetry, and life in general. oohi ashu |
| novice_guru | Posted
on 14-Jun-04 09:00 PM
However cynical we become we cannot disagree that there are many examples of clean politics here in the United States. One such example was how Al Gore stepped out of the whole thing after the presidential debate went to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court decided in George W Bush's favour. Had a similar situation been in Nepal then the lost party would have said that the supreme court was biased and then gone to the streets breaking the railing and all that kind of thing. I cannot even visualize how the leaders would be jumping on the streets. However this is what AL Gore said," There is more that unites us than divides us" Man that was impressive. By the way I am not a fan of George W Bush, just to clarify myself. I think that George Bush's America(the America) right now is the biggest threat to world peace and stability. Kerry is not much better than Bush in terms of policies but is certainly a lesser evil. Everyone hates Girija and that is right considering how bad his hindi movie style politics has affected the country. But guys all the other politicians are no God either. For example consider Mashav Kumar Nepal. --> He chickened out of the palace investigation just because he could not later protest over the investigation if he was a part of it. --> He and his party were jumping like monkeys and breaking everything around when Girija was PM asking for his resignation for the Lauda case. Now later the same supposedly corrupt Girija suddenly becomes a staunch ally in the 'Five Party alliance'. -->Madhav Kumar Nepal left the five party alliance just because they did not name him as the consensus candidate. There are no principles involved in any of Nepali politician's act. All of the tainted ones should be publicly flogged right in the middle of tundikhel and then be banned from any kind of public life. Their illegal property must be nationalized. We need to act soon. |
| novice_guru | Posted
on 14-Jun-04 09:15 PM
Errata "I cannot even visualize how the leaders would be jumping on the streets." should be read as " I can even visualize how the leaders would be jumping on the streets." sorry guys for the blunder. Stumbling young man |
| ýFýF | Posted
on 14-Jun-04 09:58 PM
In politics--there are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends. Girijia was Enemy #1 then, and then he was friend. Its not about who slept with whom when, its about when their ideology's are aligned. Girija and Makune said they could give the names in seconds if asked, but when asked, Girjia the hard-headed bugger didn't allow ANY name to be given. He said he was humiliated. Should the whole Nepal pay now for his humiliation?? What about his secret plans to suppot Surya Bdr Thapa all along. Two-timer freaking old guy. He wants to sleep with everyone and yet he is the one who is humiliated. Its time for Girija to lay down his "topi" and retire for good. Lets not make him hero out of this. He has no agenda right now-- he is still asking for reinstatement of the parliament, that's it. If this thing drags on for another 10 years, he would still not name anyone except himself and or ask for reinstatement of the parliament. If he has the guts why doesn't he march towards Narayanhiti with his WELL PROTECTED CORRUPT croonies. |
| ýFýF | Posted
on 14-Jun-04 10:02 PM
Would Bush say the same things if they were fighting for the same presidency? If you visit some UML's homes, which I have, they have BP's potrait in their living room. JN Khanal's home for example. If you talk to some Congressi, they will say real good things about MKB as well. Politics is politics everywhere. I remember while Congress and UML were arguing on the streets, MKB and Girija were sipping chiya and sharing a laugh together. Things like these are not uncommon. |
| nsshrestha | Posted
on 14-Jun-04 10:07 PM
Is it anything new? No. Truman invited Hoover and JFK invited Eisenhower. |
| boston_dude | Posted
on 15-Jun-04 06:22 AM
Chris Mathews of Hardball (CNBC) said (in not so many words), and I kind of agree with him, that it seemed Clinton wasn't particularly pleased with the portrait. In 50 years time, the painting will still be there, but no one will remember the kind words that W extended to him yesterday. Which is perhaps the reason W extended the pleasantries. In fact if you watched the "speech" given by W, he had difficulty going through it. Now, whether it was because W is just being W and has difficulty with the English language or it is because he quite can't bring himself to praising Clinton.... who knows? B_D. |