Pakistan's Musharraf To Be...Impeached!?
From Avedon Carol comes this little gem of irony which our national press somehow missed (can't imagine how).
Pakistan’s embattled president Musharraf has abruptly cancelled his planned visit to China, as opponents in the ruling coalition move to impeach him.
He was to attend opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics and meet Chinese leaders during his two day visit.
Mohammed Sadiq, a Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that the visit was called off, but did not give any reason. The announcement came as the president's opponents met in Islamabad to decide on his impeachment.
The twin issues of President Musharraf's removal and the restoration of Supreme Court judges who were dismissed by the president last November during a brief period of emergency rule have over-shadowed the four month old coalition government .
(emphasis added)
I had a lot to say about this but Avedon's pithy summation is probably the best we're going to get.
The guy is a military dictator, for godssakes, and he can be threatened with impeachment while our own so-called democratically elected Congress acts all helpless in the face of our White House being occupied by the criminal government of BushCheney? Jeez.
Well, that's the way it is now - even the dictators have more (effective) opposition than Bush. And whose fault is that? (Nancy? Harry? Yes, I'm looking at you.)
- Original article
- FILED UNDER: Guest Blogger
- August 6, 2008
Aren't these
guys concerned about "political backlash", and doesn't that take the priority over the rule of law, a nation's constitution and justice?
Wait, maybe their government actually represents the best interests of the people they represent. Maybe they place some value of rule of law and their Constitution over a specific political party's aspiration for increased power for the sake of the party only in order to claim the lion's share of corporate bribes.
Maybe their party's majority leadership was not an accomplice to obvious crimes against their people and constitution and have no reason to cover it up.
I am glad Pakistan is setting the moral example for America, or at least our government, to aspire to one of these days.
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By AntillectualAugust 6, 2008 - 10:12pmFor a minute I read "Bush" for "Musharraf"
So why is George Bush in Beijing? He should be in jail for the evil deeds he has committed here and abroad. Instead he's gonna act like the "prezident" of the Disunited States in a Communist (C.o.m.m.u.n.i.s.t.) country. Ain't predatory Capitalism great?
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By NamaimoAugust 6, 2008 - 10:25pmI thought it rather amusing that Chimpy McFlightsuit
wagged his finger at China for its treatment of its people, as well as its lack of "freedoms" ... this coming from the tool who has managed to turn our country from one that the world respected and admired to one that is considered the armpit of the world. He still talks like he's relevant, like his words mean something. And, China rightfully told him, and I paraphrase, "that's rich coming from you!"
Good job, Monkey Boy, good job.
"I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death."
George Carlin
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By Pookie2112August 7, 2008 - 9:31amI'm surprised neither Bush nor the Chinese president
burst out laughing! I certainly found it to be hilarious. It's the sort of stuff you normally only find on The Daily Show. What's next? China accusing us of making unsafe products??
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By UffdaguyAugust 7, 2008 - 10:09amI wouldn't have expected Monkey Boy to laugh ...
that dumb fuck actually believes what he says. And, it wouldn't surprise me if, once the Chinese president heard this 'tongue lashing' from Monkey that he did bust a gut laughing but I do dig how he basically told Monkey to 'mind his own fucking business.' Monkey should be careful of what he says .... China may call in those notes they're holding ...
Speaking of The Daily Show, or a similar show ... The Colbert Report, I hear O'LIElly's quite proud of the fact that his viewers are, on average, a WHOPPING 4% 'smarter' than those who watch The Colbert Report ... he's actually puffing out that deflated chest of his over it! I know for a fact that not too long ago, viewers of The Daily Show were more likely to have not only completed four years of college compared to O'LIElly's viewers, but more in tune with current events. Oh, and he's also proud that he's got a corner on the 'walking corpse' demographic ...
"I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death."
George Carlin
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By Pookie2112August 7, 2008 - 10:43amIIRC, those figures Bill-O crowed about were from 2005
I guess "current" is a relative thing for Oloofah.
China is laughing because they know they have the upper hand. We're gonna keep buying the cheap crap they make with the money they lend us, helping us dig a hole so deep, it will reach to.....China!
Repubs are so "concerned" about sending hundreds of billions of dollars each year to Middle Eastern countries to feed our oil addiction, but they are strangely silent about the hundreds of billions of dollars and thousand of jobs shipped to China each year in order to buy substandard and dangerous toys, medicine and who knows what else. I guess they're finally starting to say they're sick of taking it up the ass from the Arabs, but they still like getting their butts slammed by the Chinese. Larry Craig would be proud!
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By UffdaguyAugust 7, 2008 - 11:00amI have to wonder though
how many of those Daily Show watchers haven't finished college because they are still in college. Sort of skews the results.
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By gt6August 7, 2008 - 11:12amGood point - I didn't think of that.
It still gives me joy in knowing that O'LIElly's such a moron that he's proudly comparing the audience of his 'legitimate' news show to those of shows that are clearly meant for entertainment purposes only.
"I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death."
George Carlin
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By Pookie2112August 7, 2008 - 11:42amThat is the great thing
That is the great thing (well ok, there are many great things) about the Daily Show and the Colbert Report. They appeal to a wide range of ages. Enough "fart joke" type humor for the pre-18 crowd, enough talk of issues that matter to young adults, but still able to pull off heavy hitting reporting on the really critical issues that effect us all.
-- McCain = Four more years of the same --
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By dtaylo75August 7, 2008 - 12:17pmAnother great part of both shows is that they
ridicule anyone - Dem or Repug - for their fuck-ups, they are 'equal opportunity" in that respect. And, I LOVE how they skewer the MSM, especially in its kid gloves handling of McSame, and points out its raging hypocrisy.
"I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death."
George Carlin
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By Pookie2112August 7, 2008 - 12:21pmBy gt6August 7, 2008 - 11:12am
It doesn't count when they've been "working on their degree" for more than 8 years.
Think Chris Farley in Tommy Boy or John Belushi in Animal House.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
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By Kill-WhiteyAugust 7, 2008 - 12:26pmFair enough
But, with a college age daughter, I know these shows are HUGE with active students.
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By gt6August 7, 2008 - 12:34pmBy gt6August 7, 2008 - 12:34pm
True enough. And I will grudgingly admit the shows are pretty damn funny sometimes.
I do have one big issue with these shows though. And that is that, much like critics (be it art, food, wine, whatever) Stephen Colbert and John Stewart (sp?) put forth very little original work (be it journalism, political ideas, community activism, etc.) but spend their time verbally abusing those who do. And by doing so they and their audience get to pretend they're smarter or somehow better because they've pointed out the flaws in someone else's work. What if some of those people devoted their time and energy to dreaming up and proposing something better?
Imagine the world if a patent clerk named Einstein had contented himself with pointing out flaw in the scientific theories of others. Imagine the world if Martin Luther King Jr. had decided to just do a comedy routine about the place of blacks in the South.
In my opinion the guy that comes up with the most ridiculous idea for a political platform and gets out there and pushes his agenda has still contributed more to society than these guys. Just my two bits.
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By Kill-WhiteyAugust 7, 2008 - 12:58pmThw shows parody current events
The do not pretend to be high minded (OK Stephen Colbert does, but that is part of the shtick) A large part of Stewat's humor is the self deprecation stemming form the fact that he is doing "fake news".
The shame of it all is that they often do a better job at getting to the heart of the matter than the so called real news.
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By gt6August 7, 2008 - 1:05pmthey often do a better job
Duh, they're the best fucking news team ever.
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By Dr_BillionaireAugust 7, 2008 - 5:13pmBy Kill-WhiteyAugust 7, 2008 - 12:58pm
"Just my two bits."
and both bits are dumb.
Did someone came up with pituitary ferns before Colbert?
"Imagine the world if" idiots didn't vote for Bush - twice.
John Stewart often does comment on how individuals employed in the news business should do their jobs. He doesn't need to spend a great deal of time coming up with ideas on how those individuals could do a better job. It's simple and it is obvious. News shows need to get out of the entertainment business and back into journalism.
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By Dr_BillionaireAugust 7, 2008 - 5:11pmBy Dr_BillionaireAugust 7, 2008 - 5:11pm
"and both bits are dumb"
"He doesn't need to spend a great deal of time coming up with ideas on how those individuals could do a better job. It's simple and it is obvious"
So, your argument is that my opinion is stupid and the majority of the news business is stupid because the answer is right there, is that correct?
Sounds suspicously like someone who watches the show, believes it proves they're smarter and is coming off as a smarmy, know-it-all ass. Interesting.
As for news shows and entertainment, check out the McNeil Lehrer News Hour, not heavy on slick production values, but decent journalism, not so hot on the ratings though. So apparently the majority aren't interested in news shows that get out of the entertainment realm.
Now I'm sure you'll have some self-important (aka smarmy ass) remark about the majority being stupid uninformed mouth breathers. Maybe that's true, maybe not, but you're definitely proving my point.
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By Kill-WhiteyAugust 8, 2008 - 12:04pmBy Kill-WhiteyAugust 8, 2008 - 12:04pm
"So apparently the majority aren't interested in news shows that get out of the entertainment realm"
Hammer, meet nail. That what I find so damned pitiful these days. If it isn't summed up in a 30 second soundbyte, the attention span goes right out the window. Unfortunately, the MSM feeds the masses with newsertainment and the masses eat it up like Jesus at the last supper, completely taking the soundbyte as the full statement and not bothering to investigate further.
"I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death."
George Carlin
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By Pookie2112August 8, 2008 - 12:31pmBy Pookie2112August 8, 2008 - 12:31pm
"Unfortunately, the MSM feeds the masses with newsertainment and the masses eat it up like Jesus at the last supper"
I agree completely. But I don't think the solution is to declare the masses stupid and force feed them a diet of boring news only tv. The solution is to find new ways to inject information and stimulate some degree of critical thinking. Personally I think there's a ton of potential with pod casts and the like.
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By Kill-WhiteyAugust 8, 2008 - 12:50pmBy Kill-WhiteyAugust 8, 2008 - 12:50pm
Nor would I classify the masses as stupid. In my humble opinion, it's plain laziness and the need to be entertained, and not yesterday, but now. Think about it - today's kids need instant gratification, i.e. tv, video games, etc. When I was a kid, I had to make my own fun - make a game out of just climbing a tree or riding a bike. Do you think today's kids are that imaginative? I think not - why bother when they've got a person or electronics to be imaginative FOR them?
No one has patience anymore - it's "I want it and I want it now." Therefore, the MSM puts it all out there, in as little time as possible, but as entertaining as possible in order to feed the need to be entertained right at this moment. Would Obama's lack of wearing a flag pin been such a big to-do if the MSM didn't sensationalize it? Highly doubtful. But, since they put things out there like, say, a 'Star Magazine', they make the non-issues into huge ones, sensationalizing the shit out of said non-issue, yet they have no qualms about by-passing the old, boring - the IMPORTANT - issues because they just aren't 'entertaining' enough.
This is the mindset people have now - not that they're stupid but they've been dumbed down enough to eat what's fed them, no questions asked because ... it's instant, yet entertaining, gratification. What does it tell you when more American's vote for 'American Idol' than for president? Maybe if the MSM put news in that type of format for newscasters, people will pay attention ... but I doubt it!
"I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death."
George Carlin
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By Pookie2112August 8, 2008 - 1:23pmBy Kill-WhiteyAugust 8, 2008 - 12:04pm
Ever notice how McNeil Lehrer News Hour never really shows up on the Daily Show? I don't see the BBC on there either. And oldly I don't recall ever seeing programming from CNN International on the Daily Show. Although, perhaps that's a conspiracy produced by CNN International's broadcasting of the Daily show. Yes, it is simple and it is obvious. If you're going to call it news, do it let the show that is now called The Newshour with Jim Lehrer. It's all about what the cable "news shows" and the Sunday political programs (e.g., MTP, This Week, Face the Nation) need to stop doing and start doing again.
"So, your argument is that my opinion is stupid and the majority of the news business is stupid because the answer is right there, is that correct?"
Nope and that's why the suspicious inference that follows is false. Not good with the "if, thens" are you? If suspect you don't understand the daily show because it contains sarcasm and irony and you are a right wing dimwit. But I don't really know you. You could be a leftist.
It's not that the stupid and uninformed make up a majority necessarily, it's that they seem to comprise something close to a majority.
I get the sense you don't know what constitutes proof.
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By Dr_BillionaireAugust 8, 2008 - 12:48pm