The Political Pubs of Westminster
Iain links to a post on the best and makes his own choices. I agree with his points and it will shock no one to hear I have been known to frequent some of them. Not only are these places where you wish the walls could talk, they are places where the walls (or those near them) have ears. Many a slip of the tongue in these places have hurt people politically. They are a great place to create a rumour as well…not that I ever have of course.
Comments are off for this postCuban vote not a certainty for Republicans
A group of Cuban-American members of the Florida legislature recently issued an ultimatum to President Bush — either take a tougher line against Fidel Castro or Florida’s Cuban-American community might well abandon the Republican party in 2004. Given the importance of the Florida vote to Mr. Bush’s reelection and the unwavering support Florida’s Cuban-Americans traditionally give Republicans, the warning received serious attention from the White House as well as from Democratic contenders for the presidency, who are scrambling to curry the favor of disenchanted Cuban-Americans. (09/17/03)
It may be an idle threat because there are not suitable Democrats, however it should give the Bush administration pause. It would be incredibly stupid if Bush lost the Cuban vote for the Republicans.
Via: Rational Review
Comments are off for this postIt may be free, but its rubbish
It’s totally unsuitable for human consumption,’ said Jim Wakeford, 58, an AIDS patient in Gibsons, B.C. ‘It gave me a slight buzziness for about three to five minutes, and that was it. I got no other effect from it.’ Barrie Dalley, a 52-year-old Toronto man who uses marijuana to combat the nausea associated with AIDS, said the Health Canada dope actually made him sick to his stomach. ‘I threw up,’ Dalley said Monday. ‘It made me nauseous because I had to use so much of it. It was so weak in potency that I really threw up.’” (09/16/03)
Another bit of bureaucratic buffonery found via Rational Review.
Comments are off for this postDissidents on Cuba
Re: Time for action
Date: 18 September 2003
News: Cold War dissidents take on Castro
Sir – Earlier this year, Fidel Castro’s regime imprisoned 75 representatives of the Cuban opposition. More than 40 co-ordinators of the Varela project – which draws on the current Cuban constitution and calls for the holding of a referendum on the freedom of speech and assembly, the release of political prisoners, free enterprise and free elections – and more than 20 journalists, together with other representatives of various pro-democracy movements, were sentenced in mock trials to prison terms ranging from six to 28 years, merely for daring to express an opinion other than the official one.
Yet the voice of free-thinking Cubans is growing louder, and that is precisely what Castro and his government are justifiably worried about. Despite the omnipresent secret police and government propaganda, thousands of Cubans have already demonstrated their courage by signing project Varela. The regime’s response to project Varela, and similar initiatives, is at best disregard and at worst persecution.
The latest wave of confrontations, accompanied by anti-European diatribes from the Cuban political leadership, is an expression of weakness and desperation. The regime is running short of breath, just as the party rulers in the Iron Curtain countries did at the end of the 1980s.
Internal opposition is growing in strength; even the police raids in March failed to bring it to its knees. The times are changing, the revolution is ageing with its leaders, the regime is nervous. Castro knows only too well that there will come a day when his revolution will perish with himself.
No one knows exactly what will happen then, but it is clear in Brussels, Washington, Mexico, among the exiles as well as Cuban residents themselves, that freedom, democracy and prosperity in Cuba depend on support for Cuban dissidents, and that such support will increase the chances of Cuba’s peaceful transition to democracy.
Today, it is the responsibility of the democratic world to support representatives of the Cuban opposition, irrespective of how long the Cuban Stalinists manage to cling to power. The Cuban opposition must enjoy the same international support as political dissidents did in divided Europe.
It cannot be claimed that the American embargo of Cuba has brought about the desired result. Neither can this be said of the European policy, which has so far been considerably more forthcoming towards the Cuban regime.
It is time to put aside transatlantic disputes about the embargo of Cuba and to concentrate on direct support for Cuban dissidents, prisoners of conscience and their families.
Europe ought to make it unambiguously clear that Castro is a dictator, and that for democratic countries a dictatorship cannot become a partner until it commences a process of political liberalisation.
At the same time, European countries should establish a “Cuban Democracy Fund” to support the emergence of a civil society in Cuba. Such a fund would be ready for instant use in the case of political changes on the island.
Europe’s peaceful transitions from dictatorship to democracy, first in Spain and later in the East, have been an inspiration for the Cuban opposition, so Europe should not hesitate now. Its own history obliges it to act.
From:
Vaclav Havel, Former President of the Czech Republic, Arpad Gncz, Former President of Hungary, Lech Walesa, Former President of Poland
Update: Jenny McCartney coshes those who are enamored by Cuba and Castro.
1 commentStrip mining my archives yet again
I’m in the middle of a mini-Instalaunch. My ersatz nude Wendy Mesley post seems to have caught the attention of Metafilter, a message board, which is directing a steady stream of traffic my way.
It’s a nailbiter, folks. Can I get eight more hits in the next half hour to surpass my previous daily record?
This might seem like a petty little achievement to you; but then, I have sort of a petty little life. And I wouldn’t trade it for all the tea in China.
Or maybe I would. Anyone got any idea as to how much tea there is in China?
Woohoo! Another hit!
Update: Two hits short. I have failed. I am a rotting heap of garbage along the silver rails of the Success Express. Stupid, stupid, you BIG STUPID!
All I want for my birthday (which is coming up in a couple of weeks, hint, hint) is a set of those fancy Ginsu knives that you see advertised on TV.
So that I can RITUALLY DISEMBOWEL myself!!!
God, I’m such a loser. Maybe I’ll feel better tomorrow.
G’night!
Comments are off for this postHigh Winds, Roofs Lifting, Roads Closed, Trucks Blown Over…
no it isnt Isabel, this is just Wellington on a breezy day. Yes our antipodean weather has gone out in support of things up north and were having a little fun down this way too. The house has been rocking but the roof is still on and none of the windows have blown in. But my raft did head off for a tour of the neighbours garden.
I personally have no knowledge five trucks having been blown over, dozens of roofs having been blown off houses or indeed anything else going on outside.
I would however like to take this opportunity to say Wellington is not a windy place and we deny this has us ruffled in the least. Its just a bit breezy… kay. I have to go fill some sandbags now.
1 commentI am particle to Quarks
Quark — You are subtle and mysterious and people
know very little about you. You like hanging
out with small groups of friends (usually 3)
who you are very close to. You are usually
friends with other quarks like yourself.
What kind of subatomic particle are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Thanks to Sasha for the link.
1 comment
