Blogging the democratic revolution
Today he would have been 94. I don’t think it’s hard to understand why I would idolize President Reagan, given the nature of this website. Like so many people, I need to pay my tribute to him for what he did in the name of freedom. Some of my favorite quotes: How do you tell a communist? Well, it’s someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-communist? It’s someone who understands Marx and Lenin. My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. The bombing begins in…
There keep being reasons to break my no blogging rule for today, and you are all one of them. Thanks for the publicity Glenn. If you’ve never been here before — and chances are, you haven’t — check out the rest of the site. If you like what you see, send an email my way, drop off a comment here, or add me to your blog roll. That last one would be especially cool.
I never thought that I’d see it on Instapundit before checking my blogroll, but Nathan has some pictures of demonstrators showing orange at protests in their respective countries. Alright, back to the game. I couldn’t wait to post that, but no more for today!
The Superbowl is on. I hope you will all forgive me!
Aussiegirl found this article reporting another suspicious death in Georgia: GEORGIA was yesterday plunged into crisis after it was revealed a political associate of dead prime minister Zurab Zhvania had apparently committed suicide. There were fears of a return to the old Soviet ways of dispensing with political foes by alleged accident or suicide after the third death in the government in as many days. Zhvania, a moderating force in the Georgian government, and a colleague died apparently of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a faulty heater last week. Georgy Khelashvili, 32, a political associate of Zhvania, was found dead…
I was starting to run out of things to post (just look below this one), but luckily, Discoshaman has made his Ukraine update for 02/06. Lots of stuff in there relevant to the new political situation.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said something funny today: “Obviously we have concerns … it is important that Russia make clear to the world that it is intent on strengthening the rule of law, strengthening the role of an independent judiciary, permitting a free and independent press,” Rice told a news conference in Warsaw, during a stopover en route to Turkey. “These are all the basics of democracy.” Drudge’s headline was even better: Rice: U.S., Europe Ready to Move On… Says Russia should respect democratic traditions… The comedy! The hilarity! Just take a look at the tradition of democracy in…
Pejman notes an article in the Washington Post that recognizes how Sunni groups are willing to participate in writing the new constitution of their country. Influential Sunni Arab leaders of a boycott of last Sunday’s elections expressed a new willingness Friday to engage the coming Iraqi government and play a role in writing the constitution, in what may represent a strategic shift in thinking among mainstream anti-occupation groups. The signs remain tentative, and even advocates of such change suggest that much will depend on the posture the new government takes toward the insurgency and the removal of former Baath Party…
Big Pharoah from Egypt posts why he hopes that the “Iraq tsunami” of democracy doesn’t hit Egypt just yet: Several people emailed me right after Iraq’s election telling me that they hope that Egypt would one day witness such a day. I too hope this but I have to be very cautious as to when I wish that to happen. A quick look at Egypt’s current opposition entities is enough to install tremendous fear within me. Today there is no viable attractive opposition in Egypt that could replace the rule of Mubarak. I am sure that my country has a…
John Burgess posts an article relating that the biggest threat to Arab countries is terrorism. If you read no other article today, read this one. … Do read it. And note that it????????s being published in a Saudi paper. I suggest you all do that.
i-Newswire, 2005-02-06 – Movements are afoot in both the House and Senate to pass legislation that would enable the U.S. government to support foreign and domestic pro-democracy groups opposed to the current Islamic republic of Iran. Aides for Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., said the senator is drafting legislation that would resemble a bill he introduced in the last congressional session, the “Iran Freedom and Support Act.” Though the language in the new bill is being worked out, it is expected to echo the prior bill in that it would include financial assistance for opposition groups. The original bill did not…
Fayrouz Hancock of Live From Dallas posts about over 100,000 villagers who did not receive voting materials in the elections this past Sunday. For fear of this post being way too long, just go to the link and check it out. There are several updates to the situation. During the last two days, I’ve been following the news of the Christian villages in Mosul that didn’t get the chance to vote. The real reason is still unclear. There are 100,000 eligible voters in those villages. Those voters are disappointed by not being able to vote. I don’t blame them. ……
One of the more interesting stories I have been reading lately is how a village of Iraqis fought back against insurgents threatening them with violence. MARK WILLACY: That’s right, Tony. The Iraqi police have investigated a case in the village of al-Mudhariya, which is just south of Baghdad. The villagers there say that before the election insurgents came and warned them that if they voted in last weekend’s election, they would pay. Now the people of this mixed village of Sunni and Shia Muslims, they ignored the threat and they did turn out to vote. We understand that last night…
Make sure to check out Nathan, who is posting a lot on the elections in Central Asia. Right now he has a post up covering what is going on in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Lots of thoughts on the odds of a Lemon Revolution as well.
Go to anyone on my blogroll from the nearby area and you’ll see a lot of speculation over the death of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania of Georgia. I’m sure the people of Georgia are actually a lot more speculative, so the FBI will help investigate the matter.
After a day or two of silent waiting, pacing, and sweating it out… I am pleased to see another Ukraine update from Discoshaman! UPDATE: It looks like they might know who poisoned Yushchenko! Newly-appointed Minister of Internal Affairs Yuriy Lutsenko believes that the solution to the crime against Viktor Yushchenko is “totally attainable.” “We know who brought the poison across the border, which Member of Parliament accompanied it, which official brought it to the scene of the crime, and who mixed it into the food,” stated Lutsenko in an interview with journalists on Friday. He emphasized that there will be…
Neeka has got some great photos over at her blog of people standing in support of Yulia. They’ve got snow all over them; just imagine them doing that for nearly two months!
SFGate put together a timeline of events for Nepal over the past 4 years, and The Independent put together a little biography of King Gyanendra. It gives you a pretty good idea of where this country has come from. UPDATE: Transition Trends has some detailed followup as well. Now, disturbing reports are leaking out of the central town of Pokhara, where on Tuesday evening a student protest was followed by a brutal attack by the army. From reports I’ve seen, the BBC’s account is only half the story. Apparently, when the army raided the student hostels in Pokhara, they went…
Yulia is a very popular woman today. Look at the last 20 search results that referred people here: 03 Feb, Thu, 14:58:00 Google: Publius Pundit 03 Feb, Thu, 15:40:36 Google: gyanendra dictator 04 Feb, Fri, 00:45:27 Google: Yulia Tymoshenko nude 04 Feb, Fri, 07:15:43 Google: tymoshenko pictures 04 Feb, Fri, 09:13:26 Google: ali shukri 04 Feb, Fri, 09:32:44 Google: tymoshenko pictures 04 Feb, Fri, 09:36:18 Google: Yulia Tymoshenko 04 Feb, Fri, 10:51:01 Google: Yulia Tymoshenko pictures 04 Feb, Fri, 10:54:39 Google: skarshevsky 04 Feb, Fri, 11:38:23 Yahoo: yulia tymoshenko nude 04 Feb, Fri, 11:43:55 Yahoo: Yulia Tymoshenko – photos 04…
John Burgess posts an interesting article relating the mixed attitude of the citizenry toward the upcoming municipal elections. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has an article entitled Election fever catches on in Saudi Arabia: Already there are unfamiliar scenes on Riyadh’s streets. For the first time there are forums – daily meetings at candidates’ headquarters – where people can discuss social issues away from the control of religious authorities. One woman even called a candidate praising his looks and offering to be a second wife. Candidate fliers are thrown into open car windows, and brochures are folded into newspapers. Carpeted tents have…
David McDuff has posted part eleven of his series Going Back.
This whole sleep thing made me miss the initial announcement. But yesterday, she was overwhelmingly elected to the spot, which definitely bodes well for her: (AP/Sergei Grits) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Parliament unanimously approved fiery opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister Friday, along with her government’s new program to raise living standards, tackle corruption and set Ukraine on a westward course. Lawmakers confirmed Tymoshenko in a 373-0 vote, far more than the 226 votes needed in the 450-seat Vekhovna Rada. They returned a few hours later to approve the broad outlines of her government program with a 357-0 vote.…
Alek Boyd also has several good items about Hugo Chavez’s CITGO scam. He’s pig stupid about oil, he’s economically ignorant and he’s up to no good. Pity Venezuela.
Jorge Arena takes a close look at the melting together of all power in Venezuela under one colossal dictator. How democracies die.
Alek Boyd has some footage from a Fox news show about Hugo Chavez’s Zimbabwe-style land confiscations. See it here.