PALIN A NEOCON?

Came accross this interesting examination of Sarah Palin

The Palin Doctrine: Why the Neocons Are So Excited

Sarah Palin may not have known what the Bush Doctrine was, but we're getting a pretty good idea of what the Palin Doctrine is. Or will be -- because it's still currently under construction. And what is it going to look like? Let's just say, it's going to seem familiar.

According to London's Daily Telegraph, the architects of the Palin Doctrine are a group of people who have been singularly wrong about virtually everything in the last decade -- the neocons, who have been briefing Palin for weeks.

As predicted, the fact that she didn't know anything wasn't a bug, it was a feature. She's perfect for the neocons: likeable on the outside, a blank slate on the inside. To borrow from an old cliché, if Sarah Palin didn't exist, the neocons would have had to invent her.

In fact, this is how one former White House aide describes her: "She's bright and she's a blank page. She's going places and it's worth going there with her."

Of course, the place her neocon mentors hope she's going is the White House. Given their dismal track record, they're smart enough to figure that the American public wouldn't be too keen on letting them in the front door again, so they are trying to sneak in hidden behind Palin's skirt. The Trojan Moose approaches.

The Daily Telegraph details how the neocon talent scouts spotted their political Eliza Doolittle back in the summer of '07. The love connection began, appropriately enough, on a love boat:

"Sources in the McCain camp, the Republican Party and Washington think tanks say Mrs. Palin was identified as a potential future leader of the neoconservative cause in June 2007. That was when the annual summer cruise organised by the right-of-centre Weekly Standardmagazine docked in Juneau, the Alaskan state capital, and the pundits on board took tea with Governor Palin."

So nice to meet you, Governor. And don't forget, cucumber sandwiches and preemptive invasions on the Lido Deck at four!

Not surprisingly, Palin's biggest fan is Bill Kristol, who describes her as the "specter of a young, attractive, unapologetic conservatism" that "is haunting the liberal elites."

Among her other Henry Higginses is neo-neocon Joe Lieberman, who is reportedly helping prep Palin for the big ball -- her debate with Joe Biden.

She's already passed her first test with flying colors: being willing to link 9/11 with Iraq, something not even the president is still willing to do. Last week, she told a group of Iraq-bound soldiers that they were going to "defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans."

By George (Bush), I think she's got it! Congratulations, Professor Kristol, your student is coming along just fine.

Of course, the neocons know they already have an ally at the top of the GOP ticket. McCain may have been a reformer on campaign finance, but when it comes to foreign policy, he has always been solidly in the neocon club. He loves to burnish his foreign policy bona fides by talking about how he wanted to fire Donald Rumsfeld months before Bush did. But he doesn't talk a lot about how, in the days immediately after 9/11, he was part of the neocon crowd itching to get into Iraq.

Just a few days after the attack, McCain was already talking about "some other countries" that helped Bin Laden. Countries like Syria, Iran, and...Iraq. And a few weeks later, during an October 18, 2001 appearance on David Letterman, McCain answered a question about how the war in Afghanistan was going by announcing that the invasion of Iraq would be "the second phase" of the war on terror (how prescient of him to know that Saddam wouldn't give up those nonexistent WMD). What's more, he tried to buttress the case for attacking Iraq by claiming that the recent spate of anthrax attacks "may have come from Iraq." Or Fort Detrick.

Six years later, demonstrating how little he's learned from the debacle in Iraq, McCain hired Randy Scheunemann, a neocon darling who helped form The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq in 2002, as his campaign's chief foreign policy advisor.

As TPMMuckraker noted in July, "Of all the hawkish Washington foreign-policy types pushing both before and after 9/11 for war with Iraq -- a war that an overwhelming majority of Americans now considers a mistake -- Scheunemann, though not a marquee name, was among the most energetic and influential. And in the invasion's aftermath, he consistently opposed steps that might have helped stabilize the country."

And now, according to the Daily Telegraph, Scheunemann is briefing Sarah Palin.

McCain's selection of Palin may have been reckless, but it was anything but random. The neocons' view of the world may be disastrous, dangerous, discredited, and deadly -- but it's far from dead. Their patron saint, Dick Cheney, the scowling embodiment of the Neocon Doctrine, had way too much baggage -- and way too low approval ratings -- to mount a run for the White House.

That's why the Palin pick was so brilliant. On the outside, she's exponentially more likable and talented at connecting with people than Cheney ever was. But on the inside, once she graduates from the neocon finishing school, she'll be a complete and total Dick. Cheney. With lipstick.

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THE PITFALLS OF OPPOSITION POLITICS IN TANZANIA

Some political analysts argue that ruling parties in Africa never lose elections,and if they do,which is rarely,it is likely not because they failed to deliver to the people who put the parties in power but rather either due to their internal conflicts or laxity.One could easily blame majority of opposition parties in Africa for their failures in organizing themselves in quest to remove ruling parties from power.But the fact is,in most African countries,the idea of an opposition party coming into power spells inexplicable uncertainty to the rulers,largely due to their "sins" during their terms of leadership.

In Tanzania,opposition parties have consistently cried foul during elections accusing the ruling party,CCM,of sabotaging them by either inciting conflicts in the parties or "bribing" their leaders to defect.CCM has also been accused of reluctance to reform the electoral system,which the opposition parties,see as unfair and biased.

I strongly believe that our nation's interest should come first,mainly because political parties may come and go but the nation should always remain intact,peacefully and flourishing.Had every Tanzanian looked beyond partisan politics,it is fair to conclude that those who criticize the ruling party for its perceived failure to deals with mafisadi (economic saboteurs),for instance,would not be considered as giving ammunitions to opposition parties but instead they would be given enormous support.

A while ago,I came across this story which in my view would stir trouble in Tanzania's opposition politics.

Mtikila atamka mazito kifo cha Wangwe

Na Waandishi Wetu  WAKATI mazingira ya kifo cha aliyekuwa Mbunge wa Tarime marehemu Chacha Wangwe yakiendelea kuwa tete, Mwenyekiti wa Democratic Party (DP) Mchungaji Christopher Mtikila, ameibuka na kile alichodai, taarifa za mpango kamili hadi mauaji ya mwanasiasa huyo.  Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari Dar es Salaam jana, Mchungaji Mtikila alidai mipango ya kumuua marehemu Wangwe ilianza kusukwa mkoani Dodoma na baadaye vikao vya kukamilisha mkakati huo, vilifanyika jijini Dar es Salaam wilayani Kinondoni.  Aliongeza kuwa wahusika baada ya kukamilisha mpango huo na jinsi utakavyotekelezwa, walikwenda nchini Kenya kukodi watu wawili ambao alidai walilipwa sh. milioni 120 kama ujira wa 'kazi' hiyo.  Mchungaji Mtikila alidai kuwa wauaji hao, ndio walioshirikiana na Bw.Deus Mallya ambaye anadaiwa wakati huo alikuwa amejenga uhusiano mzuri na marehemu Wangwe.  Alidai siku ya tukio, marehemu Wangwe hakutaka kusafiri lakini alishinikizwa zaidi ya mara tatu na Bw. Mallya ambaye hadi sasa anashitakiwa kwa kosa la kusababisha ajali na kuendesha gari bila leseni. "Baada ya kushinikizwa sana, marehemu Wangwe alikubali kuanza safari ambapo Bw. Mallya aliwasiliana na washirika wake ambao muda huo walikuwa eneo la tukio wakiwasubiri," alidai Mchungaji Mtikila na kuongeza kuwa;  "Wakati huo ilikuwa bado mapema hivyo walimshauri apoteze muda japo wa nusu saa, ndipo alipozusha hitilafu ndani ya gari na kurudi gereji na baada ya muda huo kupita ndipo walianza safari kuelekea jijini Dar es Salaam."  Huku akidai kuwa ana ushahidi wa tukio hilo na yupo tayari kutoa ushirikiano kwa Rais Jakaya Kikwete, Mchungaji Mtikila alizidi kueleza kuwa Bw. Mallya aliendelea kuwasiliana na washirika wake hadi walipofika eneo Pandambili, wilayani Kongwa na kusimamisha gari.  "Baada ya kusimamisha gari, washirika wa Mallya walipanda na kumpulizia dawa ya usingizi usoni mara nne na hapo hapo alipoteza fahamu," alieleza Mchungaji Mtikila na kuongeza kuwa baada ya hapo ndipo alipigwa kwa kitu cha ncha kali kisogoni.  "Kwa kuwa Mungu alimpenda sana hakukata roho, aliendelea kuhema ndipo alipopigwa na nyundo na kummalizia kabisa," alidai. Aliongeza kuwa baada ya kutimiza hilo waliweka jiwe kwenye kiongeza mwendo gari likaondoka kwa kasi na lilipindua ili kuonesha kuwa marehemu alikufa kwa ajali lakini muda huo Mallya alikuwa hayuko kwenye gari,"  Alidai kuwa kabla ya kupindua gari hilo, walimfunga marehemu mkanda na kumwibia sh. milioni tisa alizokuwa nazo pamoja na kompyuta yake ndogo 'Lap top' ambayo ilikuwa na nyaraka zake za siri.  Alidai kuwa baada ya kufanikisha mauaji hayo, Bw. Mallya alitoa 'line' yake ya simu ambayo alikuwa akiitumia kuwasiliana na washirika wake na kuitupa. Alidai kuwa hadi anakamatwa simu yake haikuwa na 'line' yoyote.  Kwa mujibu wa Mchungaji Mtikila mauaji hayo yalifanyika kati ya 1.30 hadi saa 2.00 usiku, muda mfupi baada ya kumaliza kuwasiliana na familia yake saa 1.27.  Huku akijata majina ya watu wanaodaiwa kuhusika kwenye mpango huo, alieleza kuwa kipindi cha mchakato wa mpango wa kumuua, Bw. Wangwe, walikuwa wakisafiri kwenda nchini Kenya kusuka mpango huo.  Mchungaji Mtikila alielekeza lawama zake kwa askari wote waliohusika na uchunguzi wa mauaji hayo kwa akidai kuwa hawakusema ukweli hivyo nao wanastahili kuunganishwa kwenye kesi hiyo.  Kutokana na mazingira ya kifo cha marehemu Wangwe kugubikwa na maswali mengi, Mchungaji Mtikila amemuomba Rais Kikwete kuunda tume ya kuchunguza mazingira ya kifo chake kama alivyofanya kwa wafanyabiashara wa madini wa Mahenge, Morogoro ambao wanadaiwa kuuawa na Polisi.  Alidai kwa wadhifa aliokuwa nao marehemu Wangwe katika jamii akiwa Mbunge wa Tarime, Rais ana nafasi ya kuunda tume. "Naupongeza uamuzi wake wa kuunda tume ya kuchunguza vifo vya wafanyabiashara lakini na kwa hili aunde tume na mimi nitakuwa tayari kutoa ushirikiano,"alisisitiza.  Aliongeza kuwa kama Rais hatafanya hivyo, yeye ataleta wataalam wake kutoka nje kufanya uchunguzi kwani ameishafanya mazungumzo na ubalozi wa nchi moja ambao hakuutaja.  Mchungaji Mtikila alidai kuwa atakwenda jimboni Tarime wakati huu wa kampeni ili kuwaeleza wananchi ukweli kuhusu kifo cha marehemu Wangwe. Alisema amesimamisha mgombea kupitia chama chake, Bw. Benson Makanya, ili apate jukwaa la kueleza ukweli kuhusiana na kifo hicho.  Marehemu Wangwe alikufa kwa ajali ya gari iliyotokea eneo la Pandambili mkoani Dodoma Julai 28 mwaka huu lakini tangu kifo chake, yameibuka maswali mengi huku baadhi ya watu wakidai kuwa aliuawa.  Hata hivyo uchunguzi uliofanywa na madaktari wawili kwa nyakati tofauti ulionesha kuwa hakupigwa risasi bali kifo chake kilisababishwa na ajali ya gari.

According to one local paper,the suspects are Freeman Mbowe,Dr Wilbroad Slaa and Tindu Lissu.This is how I look at the picture:If the accused trio decide to ignore Mtikila,it goes without saying that the public would buy the story,and it could bring their political careers to an abrupt end.Going to the court might be the only option left on their table,but Mtikila has a long history of winning charges brought against him in various courts.It should be all smiles in the ruling party's quarters as a Swahili saying goes "adui yako mwombee mabaya" (wish evil things to your enemy)

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IS THE "SURGE" REALLY WORKING IN IRAQ?

John McCain would definitely say "Yes it Does",and so would Sarah Palin,and most,if not all,of the Republicans.However,it is claimed that violence is down in Iraq,not because of the surge,but rather the domination of the Shia and Iran in the country.HERE is the story.

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SWIFTBOATING OBAMA?

Let me make a confession:Until when Hillary Clinton withdrew from the Democrat presidential campaign,and eventually endorse Barack Obama,I strongly believed that the latter's nomination could lead to another 4 yrs of a Republican in the White House ie a win for John McCain.It's not that I didnt want to see Obama making history by becoming the first Black president of the US of A,but I was rather scared of  the Republican dirty tricks (known in Bongo as "Siasa za Majitaka") on an easy target as Obama.I imagined how the GOP smear machine would assassinate Obama's character,bearing in mind how they successfully made John Kerry's bid to the White House a nightmare.

Perhaps I was wrong.Obama is now on the verge of making history.Given the unpopularity of Bush's presidency,the Dem's road to victory should have been easier.Unfortunately,the Republicans certainly know the odds against them.As I have always suspected,when the going gets tough in politics,any option on the table could be usefull.Of recent,McCain has been accussed of lies and deception,a possible sign that all might not be going well for the GOP candidate.And it seems he will soon receive support from same old groups that focuses on producing emotional rather than rational responses from voters.

HERE they come! (CLICK TO READ THE STORY)

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UFAFANUZI KUHUSU "MAISHA BORA KWA KILA MTANZANIA"

Rais Jakaya Kikwete amewataka Watanzania kutambua kuwa njia pekee itakayowakwamua kiuchumi na kuwaletea maisha bora ni kujishughulisha na shughuli mbalimbali za maendeleo na si kukaa tu vijiweni na kulalamika. 

Kauli hiyo aliitoa jana wakati akijibu malalamiko ya wananchi wa kijiji cha Nyumba ya Mungu, kilichopo katika kata ya Lang`ata, tarafa Msitu wa Tembo, wilayani Simanjiro, ikiwa ni siku yake ya kwanza ya ziara yake ya kikazi mkoani Manyara. 

Wananchi hao waliokuwa na mabango yenye ujumbe mbalimbali, walimweleza Rais Kikwete kuwa bado wanashindwa kuishi maisha bora kama walivyokuwa wametarajia na badala yake wanakabiliwa na matatizo sugu ya kupata huduma bora ya afya na mitaji ya biashara na ukosefu wa ajira. 

Rais Kikwete alielezwa hayo na wananchi wa kijiji cha Lemkuna, muda mfupi kabla ya kuzindua bonde la umwagiliaji la kijiji hicho, ambapo pia walilalamikia bei kubwa ya pembejeo za kilimo na umbali wa upatikanaji wake, hasa mbolea. 

Akizungumza mara baada ya kuwasikiliza wananchi hao, Rais Kikwete, aliwaeleza kuwa wanapaswa kujiajiri wenyewe kupitia utaratibu wa kupata mikopo na kujiunga kwenye vikundi vya kuweka na kukopa (SACCOS) ili waweze kuanzisha miradi ya maendeleo. 

``Jamani msitarajie maisha bora kama yatadondoka kutoka juu, utaratibu uliopo ni wa mikopo tuliyoianzisha ili muweze kufanya shughuli za maendeleo, awamu ya kwanza imekwishapita wengine wamepata wengine hawajapata ila tutaendelea kuhakikisha kuwa mikopo zaidi inatatolewa ili wale ambao hawajapata waweze kupata`` alisema. SOURCE:ippmedia.com

Kauli hiyo inashabihiana na hii iliyotolewa na Waziri Mkuu wa zamani,Edward Lowassa

2007-05-10 15:55:28 
Na Radio One Habari

Waziri Mkuu, Mheshimiwa Edward Lowassa amesema maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania hayawezi kuja kwa kukaa vijiweni na kunywa kahawa bali kwa kufanyakazi kwa bidii na hasa kuendeleza kilimo. 

Amefafanua kuwa maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania yanayosemwa kwenye Ilani ya Uchaguzi ya Chama cha Mapinduzi ni matokeo ya kazi na hayaji kwa kukaa vijiweni kutwa nzima kunywa Kahawa na kutaka wananchi wa Pwani wafanye kazi kwa bidii kujiletea maendeleo. 

Akihutubia mkutano wa hadhara kijijini Maneromango Wilayani Kisarawe Mkoani Pwani Waziri Mkuu amesema watu wa mkoa huo lazima wabadili pato la mwaka la kila mtu ili liwe kubwa kama katika mikoa mingine. 

Aidha ameagiza mashambapori yaliyopo Kisarawe na wilaya nyingine Mkoani Pwani yaorodheshwe, yapelekwe Wizara ya Ardhi ili hatimaye yafikishwe kwa Rais yatwaliwe na kuwagawia vijana wafanye kazi za kilimo. 
Waziri Mkuu anakamilisha ziara yake ya siku sita ya Mkoa wa Pwani leo kwa kutembelea Wilaya ya Bagamoyo. 
SOURCE: Radio One

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HII INASIKITISHA SANA JAPO BONGO IMETAPAKAA SANA

Moja ya mambo hatari sana ambayo kwa kiasi kikubwa ni kama yamefumbiwa macho huko nyumbani ni matangazo yaliyotapakaa kwenye magazeti na mitaani kuhusu tiba ya Ukimwi.Waganga wengi wa jadi,wa kweli na "wasanii",wamekuwa wakijitangaza kuwa wanatibu ugonjwa huo hatari.Ni vigumu kupata takwimu sahihi za watu wanaopoteza maisha kwa kufuata tiba hizo badala ya ARVs,lakini yayumkinika kuamini kuwa utapeli wa aina hii inagharimu maisha ya waathirika wengi.Nimekutana na habari ya usanii kama huo uliokuwa ukiendelea nchini Afrika ya Kusini.Kibaya zaidi ni kwamba mtu aliyesimamia shughuli hiyo,Matthias Rath, alikuwa akijigamba kuwa mkombozi wa Afrika na dunia dhidi ya Ukimwi.Simulizi kamili ya video iko HAPA

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HEALTH AND SAFETY,LONDON STYLE

Suala la Health and Safety ni miongoni mwa vipaumbele vikubwa kwa hawa wenzetu wa nchi zilizoendelea.Lakini inapofikia hatua ya kung'oa kwa makaburi in the name of health and safety,yayumkinika kuamini kuwa hawa wenzetu nao wakati mwingine wana maamuzi as if vichwani mwao kuna mapovu badala ya ubongo.Hebu soma KIOJA HIKI CHA HAPO LONDON

Kama kioja hicho hakijakuchekesha,vipi kuhusu hiki cha Mmasai aleyekwenda Mombasa kwa matarajio ya kudaka mwanamama mtalii mzungu amuoe lakini akajikuta akiishia kuwa msusi!Bingirika na kioja hiki HAPA

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WAZIRI MKUU THAILAND ANG'OLEWA KWA KUTOKEA KWENYE KIPINDI CHA MAPISHI

Ama kweli wenzetu wako serious na siasa zao.Kama kutokea kwenye kipindi cha televisheni cha mapishi kumemng'oa madarakani aliyekuwa Waziri Mkuu wa Thailand,Samak Sundarajev,sijui ingekuwa ishu kama ya Richmond huyu mwanasiasa angeepuka kitanzi.In a bigger picture,effectiveness ya Mahakama za Katiba ingeweza kuwa nyenzo muhimu sana kwa uwajibikaji wa viongozi wetu na maamuzi/matendo yao.Habari kamili kuhusu mkasa huu BONYEZA HAPA

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ALEWESHWA FUTARI NA KUPORWA PIKIPIKI MSIKITINI

Nani kasema vibaka na wezi wanaenda likizo mwezi wa toba?Hebu cheki kituko hiki kilichojiri ndani ya msikiti.Kwa mujibu wa gazeti la Dar Leo,JESHI la Polisi (huko nyumbaniTanzania) linamsaka mwanaume mmoja ambaye hakuweza kufahamika jina lake mara moja kwa tuhuma za kumpa Baraka Rwambow (22), futari yenye dawa za kulevya kisha kumpora pikipiki yake katika msikiti wa Tambaza. Kamanda wa Polisi Mkoa wa Kinondoni Kanda Maalum Dar es Salaam, Jamal Rwambow amesema kuwa tukio hilo limetokea jana saa 11 jioni, msikiti wa Tambaza. 

Amesema kijana huyo alikodiwa Kimara Temboni na mtu anayemfahamu kwa sura ili ampeleke msikiti wa Tambaza kwa ajili ya kuswali swala ya magharibi. Amesema kuwa baada ya kufika msikitini hapo mtu huyo aliingia ndani kuswali na baada ya kutoka alimpa dereva wa pikipiki futari hiyo ambapo alikataa na alimbembeleza akaamua kula. Baada ya kula mtu huyo alianza kulegea na mwishowe alimuomba mteja wake huyo amuendeshe ili waweze kurejea nyumbani ambapo mteja huyo aling'oa pikipiki na kwenda moja kwa moja Salender Club na kumtupa kijana huyo akiwa hajitambui. 

Walinzi waliokuwepo jirani walimuokota mtu huyo na kwenda kutoa taarifa kituo cha polisi.Polisi wanaendelea kumsaka mtu huyo na pikipiki hiyo aina ya Royck.

Ama kweli dunia haijaishiwa vituko.Hebu tumwangalie na huyu nae.Jana dunia iliungana na Wamarekani kuadhimisha mwaka wa saba wa mashambulizi ya kigaidi ya September 11,2001.Licha ya kusababisha majonzi na kubadili mwenendo wa mambo ulimwenguni,tukio hilo lilizaa mashujaa kadhaa:kwa mfano watu waliojitolea mhanga kuokoa maisha ya wenzao na wale walionusurika kufa katika majengo yaliyoshambuliwa.Kumbe kuna "wasanii" walioona nafasi ya kujichukulia ujiko wa kuwa mashujaa wa September 11 hata kama hawakuwepo mahala pa tukio.Mfano ni HUYU SHUJAA FEKI WA 9/11.

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WHAT'S WRONG WITH KANYE WEST!????

Sidhani kama kuna ubishi kwamba Kanye West ana kipaji cha hali ya juu katika muziki,both as a rapper and a producer.Sasa sijui ni yale ya mgema akisifiwa tembo hulitia maji au ni matokeo ya ile ajali ambayo almanusura ichukue uhai wake,lakini something is wrong with Kanye.Hebu angalia HAPA kasheshe aliyoizua leo huko Los Angeles Airport.

Hapa chini kuna kazi mbili za msanii huyo.Ya kwanza ni wimbo wake mwenyewe wa Through The Wire na ya pili ya ni production yake kwa The Game katika wimbo Dreams.

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