In a recent appeal to seat the delegates of Michigan and Florida, Clinton argued, with a straight face, that the situation stateside is akin to what is going on in Zimbabwe.
Obviously, she meant to compare the Democratic nomination process to the recent flawed election in Zimbabwe. Woe is her, as the party machine (Democratic Party/ZANU-PF) does everything in its power to suppress the will of the people. Hillary is the victim, again.
A closer inspection of the facts and dynamics in the U.S. and Zimbabwe reveals that the analogy is not so far off. Except for one thing. Clinton is not the victim. She is Robert Mugabe.
For decades, Mugabe worked hard and made sacrifices to free his fellow people from the yoke of oppression that was white rule in Rhodesia. He was awarded with leadership of his country. When, in recent years, his rule became more despotic and outright nutty, fellow heads of state around Africa failed to intervene or even criticize out of respect for one of the elder statesmen of Africa.
For decades, Hillary Clinton worked tirelessly and made many personal sacrifices to improve the lot of working Americans. She was first awarded with a seat in the Senate and later, as the presumptive nominee for the 2008 presidency. But as the campaign dragged on, she and her surrogates committed a number of wrongs, both negligently and intentionally. Unfounded charges of sexism, race baiting, exploiting fear, mentioning assassination, ignoring caucus states. She's done it all. But because of the respect and goodwill she has garnered over the years, party elders and leaders have refused to intervene or prematurely end the nomination process. They have allowed Clinton to sink deeper and deeper into madness and self-destruction.
Mugabe is blind and delusional because of his ego. As the father of Zimbabwe, he believes that he is entitled to rule Zimbabwe forever. He dismisses the power and popular appeal of his opponents, even when they receive more popular votes. In the face of an election defeat, Mugabe and his goons used his power to declare, against the facts and raw numbers, that there was no defeat. There will be a run-off and he will win by a landslide.
Clinton is delusional because of her ego and blind ambition. She believes that the presidency is rightfully hers. After all, she lived through the shame of the Lewinsky scandal and voted for war against Iraq. She did not do these things out of a respect for the sanctity of marriage or because it was the right thing to do. She did these things to position herself for the presidency. Now, despite Obama's lead in pledged delegates, superdelegates, the popular vote, the number of contest wins, and polls showing his lead over her, she believes she is a better candidate. And once we go to Puerto Rico, Montana, and South Dakota, she and her minions (I'm looking at you, Terry McAuliffe) assert, she will win the nomination.
Mugabe has destroyed Zimbabwe. Nobody-- not the Zimbabwean people, not African leaders, not the U.N. or Britain-- has stepped in to help and stop the madness. Hillary Clinton will destroy the Democratic Party if she continues. The superdelegates, the only people with the power to step in and stop the madness, need to act. Now. For the good of the Party, and for the good of the nation.
CKY
Here is an iconic image of a Sentinelese man aiming his bow and arrow at an Indian Coast Guard helicopter surveying tsunami damage in the Andaman Islands. There are 40 to 500 Sentinelese left in this world.
Here is an informative piece put out by Survival International about the plight of uncontacted people around the world.
For decades, Mugabe worked hard and made sacrifices to free his fellow people from the yoke of oppression that was white rule in Rhodesia. He was awarded with leadership of his country. When, in recent years, his rule became more despotic and outright nutty, fellow heads of state around Africa failed to intervene or even criticize out of respect for one of the elder statesmen of Africa.
For decades, Hillary Clinton worked tirelessly and made many personal sacrifices to improve the lot of working Americans. She was first awarded with a seat in the Senate and later, as the presumptive nominee for the 2008 presidency. But as the campaign dragged on, she and her surrogates committed a number of wrongs, both negligently and intentionally. Unfounded charges of sexism, race baiting, exploiting fear, mentioning assassination, ignoring caucus states. She's done it all. But because of the respect and goodwill she has garnered over the years, party elders and leaders have refused to intervene or prematurely end the nomination process. They have allowed Clinton to sink deeper and deeper into madness and self-destruction.
Mugabe is blind and delusional because of his ego. As the father of Zimbabwe, he believes that he is entitled to rule Zimbabwe forever. He dismisses the power and popular appeal of his opponents, even when they receive more popular votes. In the face of an election defeat, Mugabe and his goons used his power to declare, against the facts and raw numbers, that there was no defeat. There will be a run-off and he will win by a landslide.
Clinton is delusional because of her ego and blind ambition. She believes that the presidency is rightfully hers. After all, she lived through the shame of the Lewinsky scandal and voted for war against Iraq. She did not do these things out of a respect for the sanctity of marriage or because it was the right thing to do. She did these things to position herself for the presidency. Now, despite Obama's lead in pledged delegates, superdelegates, the popular vote, the number of contest wins, and polls showing his lead over her, she believes she is a better candidate. And once we go to Puerto Rico, Montana, and South Dakota, she and her minions (I'm looking at you, Terry McAuliffe) assert, she will win the nomination.
CKY
The first ad showed a mummy-like figure toasting to his thinner and weaker competitors. With a glass full of road hazards, Bib said, obtusely in Latin: Now is the time to drink-- The Michelin tire drinks up obstacles. "Bibendum" means to drink in Latin and the name stuck, although not in the less worldly U.S. of A.
Note the horseshoe garnish in the drink. The two gentlemen on the sides are Dunlop and Continental.
For much of its life, Bib was portly, wore specs, and smoked a big stogie.
In the last quarter of the 20th century, Bib looked more like an animated cartoon character, with simple lines and a child-friendly face.
As the century came to a close, Bib slimmed down quite a bit. Obesity was becoming an epidemic in industrialized countries and it did not fit Michelin's sporty image.
Where did that spare tire go? Now and then.
Flight attendants with cossack costumes, serving tea out of golden samovars
After the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Alaska Airlines eyed the Russian Far East as a new and possibly lucrative market. Alaska MD-80s first started regular service to Magadan and Khabarovsk in 1991. This was followed by flights to Vladivostok in 1993, Petropavlovsk in 1995, and finally, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Unfortunately, the Russian Far East was not quite ready for prime time. In Magadan, a lack of de-icers forced one Alaska pilot to round up much of the vodka in town. He de-iced his plane's wings with the vodka and a garden hose. By the time of the Russian economic collapse in 1998, all Alaskan Russia flights were axed.
Smirnoff (De)Ice
In Russia, (insert Yakov joke here).
This way to Magadan International Airport.
