Usiku wa kuamkia tarehe 20.12.2011 Maeneo mbalimbali ya Jiji la Dar Es Salaam, Mbeya na Dodoma yamekumbwa na maafa makubwa ya mafuriko ambayo yamesababishwa na mvua kubwa ambazo zimeendelea kunyesha mfululizo katika maeneo hayo.CHAMA CHA DEMOKRASIA NA MAENDELEO (CHADEMA)
TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI
SALAAM ZA RAMBIRAMBI NA POLE KWA WANAFAMILIA NA WANANCHI KUHUSIANA NA JANGA LA MAFURIKO YALIYOKUMBA JIJI LA DAR ES SALAAM, MBEYA NA DODOMA .
Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) kinapenda kutoa pole za dhati kwa wanafamilia na wananchi wote ambao wamekumbwa na janga hili kubwa , kwani limesababisha maafa makubwa sana ya vifo, kupoteza mali na miundombinu mbalimbali kuharibiwa vibaya kwenye maeneo husika. Tunapenda kuwahakikishia wananchi hawa kuwa tutakuwa nao pamoja katika kipindi hiki kigumu katika maisha yao kutokana na madhara waliyopata yaliyosababishwa na maafa haya.
Kutokana na janga hili limetukumbusha jambo moja kuwa kama Taifa hatujajiandaa kikamilifu kuweza kukabiliana na majanga kama haya pindi yanapotokea na hata vyombo vyetu vya ulinzi na usalama vimeonyesha dhahiri kuwa havijaandaliwa kimfumo na kinyenzo katika kuweza kukabiliana na majanga kama haya na huu ni udhaifu mkubwa sana kwa taifa lenye miaka 50 baada ya uhuru wake .
Mathalani mpaka sasa hatujaona jitihada zozote ambazo zimechukuliwa na Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu Kitengo cha Maafa katika kuonyesha juhudi za kukabiliana na janga hili kubwa kwa taifa letu,hii inaonyesha wazi kuwa kitengo hiki hakijaandaliwa kuweza kukabiliana na maafa kama ambavyo majukumu yake yanavyopaswa kuwa . Na hii ni hatari kwani kama chombo cha kukabiliana na maafa hakiwezi kufanya hivyo kwa wakati ni kuendelea kuwaacha wananchi waendelee kupata madhara makubwa zaidi. Na haswa ikizingatiwa kuwa idara ya hali ya hewa ilishatahadharisha kuhusiana na mvua hizi.
CHADEMA tunapenda kuikumbusha serikali kuhusiana na ilani yetu ya uchaguzi ya mwaka 2010 ambayo ilieleza wazi kuhusiana na kukosekana kwa mifumo thabiti ya kujulisha umma kuhusiana na majanga mbalimbali katika miji yetu (Early Warning Systems) kama ambavyo ipo katika nchi nyingi , mfumo huu ni muhimu sana katika kuweza kuufanya umma uwe na elimu ya jinsi ya kuweza kujikinga na majanga haya kwa lengo la kupunguza madhara yasiwe makubwa kama ambavyo taifa hivi sasa linashuhudia.
CHADEMA inapendekeza hatua zifuatazo ziweze kuchukuliwa haraka na serikali ili kuweza kukabiliana na majanga/maafa mbalimbali hapa nchini yanapojitokeza;
I) Kuandaa mfumo wa awali wa kutahadharisha umma juu ya ujio wa majanga (Early Warning Systems) kwa kutumia vyombo na nyenzo mbalimbali ili kuepusha madhara makubwa kwa watu na mali zao.
II) Kutunga sheria mpya ya ujenzi na kuweka viwango vya ujenzi viwe vyenye hadhi ya kimataifa na haswa ujenzi wa kuta mbalimbali na majengo marefu na kuhakikisha kuwa ujenzi holela haujitokezi kwenye miji na majiji yetu hapa nchini.
III) Kuhakikisha kuwa kwenye miji yote mikubwa mtandao wa mabomba ya maji ya dharura unawekwa ili kuweza kukabiliana na majanga ya moto pindi yanapotokea.
IV) Serikali ijiandae mara moja kukabiliana na magonjwa ya milipuko kama vile kuhara ,kipindupindu na mengineyo ambayo yatajitokeza kutokana na mafuriko haya kuharibu miundombinu ya kusambaza maji, makazi ya watu n.k.
V) Kitengo cha maafa kiwe na vifaa wakati wote , na haswa vifaa kwa ajili ya uokoaji na wawe na utaratibu wa kutoa elimu kwa umma jinsi ya kuweza kutumia vifaa hivyo kuweza kujiokoa na sio kuacha hali iwe kama ambavyo imejionyesha Dar Es Salaam jana baada ya baadhi ya majaketi okozi kufikishwa kwa wahanga na kushindwa kuyatumia kikamilifu.
VI) Serikali itoe elimu ya jinsi ya kujikinga na magonjwa ya milipuko kwa wananchi waliokumbwa na mafuriko haya ili kuepusha wananchi wengi kukumbwa na magonjwa hayo pindi yakijitokeza.
Mwisho tunapenda kuendelea kutoa pole kwa wanafamilia wote na wananchi kwa ujumla kutokana na madhara makubwa waliyoyapata , Mungu awajaze nguvu katika kipindi hiki kigumu.Tamko hili limetolewa na Ofisi ya Katibu Mkuu CHADEMA .
……………….
DR. Willbroad P. Slaa.
Katibu Mkuu –CHADEMA.
22/12/2011.
24 Dec 2011
23 Dec 2011
23.12.11
Evarist Chahali
JK, LUBUVA
No comments
Leon Bahati
RAIS Jakaya Kikwete amemteua Jaji Mstaafu Damian Lubuva kuwa Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Taifa ya Uchaguzi (NEC) kuchukua nafasi iliyoachwa wazi na Jaji Lewis Makame, ambaye uitumishi wake kwa umma ulimalizika Julai, mwaka huu.
Amemteua pia Julius Mallaba kuwa Mkurugenzi wa NEC ili kuchukua nafasi ya Rajabu Kiravu ambaye naye amestaafu.Taarifa iliyotolewa na Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi, Phillemon Luhanjo Jijini Dar es Salaam jana, ilieleza kwamba walioteuliwa walianza kazi tangu Jumatatu iliyopita.
Katika uteuzi huo, Rais Kikwete alimteua Jaji Mstaafu Hamid Mahmoud Hamid kuwa Makamu Mwenyekiti wa NEC.
Kabla ya uteuzi wake, Lubuva alikuwa Jaji katika Mahakama ya Rufani Tanzania na baada ya kustaafu aliteuliwa kuwa Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Maadili ya Viongozi.
Naye Hamid alikuwa Jaji wa Mahakama Kuu ya Zanzibar kabla ya kustaafu na anachukua nafasi iliyokuwa inashikiliwa na Jaji Omari Makungu.
Kwa mujibu wa Luhanjo, Jaji Makungu aliwahi pia kuteuliwa na Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar kuwa Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali na baadaye akateuliwa kuwa Jaji Mkuu.
Luhanjo alisema Mallaba kabla ya uteuzi huo, alikuwa Mkurugenzi wa Sehemu ya Mikataba katika Ofisi ya Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali.
CHANZO: Mwananchi
NAOMBA KUMPONGEZA JK KWA UTEUZI HUU MAKINI.JAJI LUBUVA NI MIONGNI MWWA WATANZANIA WACHACHE WAZALENDO WALIOSALIA.HONGERA SANA MZEE LUBUVA
23.12.11
Evarist Chahali
CHADEMA, Mafuriko Dar
No comments
22 Dec 2011
22.12.11
Evarist Chahali
SPORAH SHOW
No comments
Hello,
The Sporah Show Team Would Like To Wish You a Joyous Season and a most Prosperous and Healthy New Year.
Thanks For The Support Through The Years and Keep Watching The Show.
May the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow.
Thank You.
Kind Regards
THE SPORAH SHOW
0044 (0) 7932911205
Off: 0044 (0) 2075360382
Email: [email protected]
St Andrews Way
Devons Road
Bow, London
E3 3PA.
Facebook/Twitter
18 Dec 2011
15 Dec 2011
15.12.11
Evarist Chahali
RAIA MWEMA
No comments
Makaburu hawakufurukuta, kwa nini mnalea mafisadi?
Usalama wa Taifa
Uskochi
KATIKA kubainisha baadhi ya changamoto zinazolikabili taifa letu baada ya miaka 50 tangu tupate uhuru, nilielezea katika makala yangu ya wiki iliyopita kuhusu ulegevu wa kiusalama na kutoa mfano hai wa namna akaunti ya twitter ya mke wa Rais, Salma Kikwete, ilivyohujumiwa (ilikuwa hacked).
Katika kipengele hicho nilihoji watendaji wa kitengo cha Idara ya Usalama wa Taifa kinachohusika na teknolojia ya habari na mawasiliano walikuwa wapi kwa takriban saa 24 za kushuhudia akaunti ya twitter ya Mama Salma, ikiwekwa habari zisizoandikika gazetini.
Kuashiria kuwa wahusika waliguswa na nilichoandika, hatimaye kasoro hiyo ilirekebishwa na siku hiyo hiyo kuliwekwa taarifa ifuatayo;
“Angalizo: Kwa muda wa takribani siku 10 handle hii ya Twitter ilipata tatizo lililosababisha urushwaji wa taarifa zisizo sahihi na za kukanganya. Tatizo hili limekuwa likishughulikiwa na kufikia leo usiku lilikuwa tayari limetatuliwa. Tunatoa pole kwa usumbufu uliojitokeza na tunashukuru wote waliokuwa nasi wakati wa kutatua tatizo hili kuanzia utoaji taarifa. Tuendelee kutumia mitandao hii ya kijamii kujenga jamii zetu zaidi na zaidi hasa katika harakati za kumkomboa mtoto wa kike kielimu na kiuchumi."(WAMA Foundation - Kitengo cha Mawasiliano)”
Taarifa hii ilinisaidia kufahamu kuwa kumbe kasoro hiyo ilidumu kwa takriban siku 10, na si saa 24 kama nilivyoelewa mwanzoni. Na hii inazidisha wasiwasi kuhusu uwajibikaji wa watendaji wenye jukumu la kuhakikisha usalama wa viongozi wetu na watu mashuhuri(VIPs).
Haingii akilini kuona watendaji wanaolipwa vizuri kufuatilia taarifa mbalimbali zinazohusu usalama wa taifa letu (sambamba na usalama wa viongozi wetu na VIPswengine) wanashindwa kubaini tatizo jepesi kama hilo (lakini lenye madhara makubwa).
Kwa kuzingatia mwenendo wa namna “taarifa za kiintelijensia” zinavyopatikana na kufanyiwa kazi, ni wazi kwamba laiti hacking ya akaunti ya Mama Salma ingekuwa ni wito wa CHADEMA kuhamasisha maandamano basi suala hilo lingeshughulikiwa haraka sana.
Haya ndio madhara ya kutanguliza zaidi siasa na kuweka kando utaalamu na taaluma. Laiti nguvu inayotumiwa na vyombo vya usalama kufuatilia mienendo ya majukwaa ya mtandaoni yanayoelemea kwenye mijadala ya mambo muhimu ya taifa letu (hususan Jamii Forums) ingeelekezwa pia katika kuhakikisha usalama wa mtandaoni wa VIPs wetu basi fedheha iliyosababishwa na hacking ya akaunti yaTwitter ya mke wa Rais ingedhibitiwa mapema badala ya kuachwa idumu kwa takriban siku 10.
Na huenda hadi muda huu hali ingeendelea kuwa hivyo hivyo laiti kasoro hiyo isingezungumzwa nami katika makala ya wiki iliyopita.
Ninatambua kuwa huenda waliozembea katika suala hilo wanakerwa na jinsi “ninavyowashikia bango” lakini lengo langu si kubainisha uzembe wao bali kuwasaidia katika utendaji kazi wao.
Kama nilivyoeleza katika makala iliyopita, suala hili linaweza kuonekana dogo na lisilohitaji kujadiliwa kwa undani. Lakini kimsingi, kasoro ndogo kama hiyo inaweza kutufumbua macho na kuanza kujiuliza maswali muhimu hasa tukizingatia kuwa baada ya uhuru wetu kutimiza miaka 50, ni jukumu la kila mmoja wetu kuhakikisha taifa letu sio tu linasonga mbele bali pia lina uhakika wa usalama katika safari hiyo.
Kutokana na asili ya kufanya kazi zake kwa usiri, ilikuwa vigumu kwa Idara ya Usalama wa Taifa kuadhimisha miaka 50 ya Uhuru wetu kwa kuueleza umma mafanikio yake katika kipindi hicho.
Lakini kama inavyofundishwa kwenye stadi za usalama (security studies), moja ya vipimo vya ufanisi katika utendaji kazi wa idara yoyote ile ya usalama duniani ni kiwango cha amani-iwe amani kamili (absolute peace) au ile ya kuridhisha (relative peace).
Tukiweka kando matukio ya kusikitisha ya ubabe wa polisi dhidi ya raia wema (ambao mara nyingi kosa lao kubwa ni kutumia haki yao ya kidemokrasia kuandamana), maelfu ya vifo vinavyotokana na ajali (huku nyingi ya ajali hizo zikiwa zinazoweza kuepukika laiti sheria za usafiri zingezingatiwa na wenye mamlaka ya kuzisimamia) na matukio mengine yanayoashiria mmomonyoko wa amani yetu (kwa mfano mauaji dhidi ya maalbino, migongano ya hapa na pale kati ya waumini wa dini mbalimbali), kwa ujumla tumeendelea kuwa na amani ya kuridhisha (hasa tukijilinganisha na jirani zetu).
Lakini unaweza kujiuliza inawezekanaje watu waliomudu kuliwezesha taifa kuwa na amani ya kuridhisha katika kipindi chote cha miaka 50 tangu tupate uhuru wanashindwa kubaini kwa takriban siku 10 kuwa akaunti ya Twitter ya mke wa Rais imekuwa hacked, na kibaya zaidi, aliyei-hack anachapisha mambo yanayodhalilisha utendaji kazi wa Rais na kuaibisha familia yake.
Unaweza kwenda mbali zaidi ya tukio hilo la hacking na kuhoji matukio mbalimbali yanayoendelea kulisumbua taifa hususan skandali lukuki za kifisadi. Je, inawezekana kuwa kinyume cha kanuni za stadi za usalama kuwa uwepo wa amani (japo ya kuridhisha) ni uthibitisho wa ufanisi wa utendaji kazi wa Idara ya Usalama wa Taifa, wanaostahili sifa ni Watanzania wanaosifika kwa upole hata pale wanapopelekeshwa mrama?
Je, inawezekana taasisi hiyo muhimu kwa ustawi wa taifa lolote lile duniani ni dhaifu kuliko tunavyodhani na ndio maana mafisadi wanaligeuza taifa letu kuwa “shamba la bibi” na kulihujumu watakavyo bila uoga wowote ule?
Je, inawezekana kuwa ukaribu wa Idara hiyo na chama tawala umewawezesha mafisadi kufahamu udhaifu wake na hivyo kuwa na jeuri ya kufanya uharamia wao bila hofu?
Nayumkinisha hivyo kwa vile inafahamika kuwa chama tawala kimekuwa kama kimbilio kuu la mafisadi, na uwepo wao ndani ya chama hicho si tu unawatengenezea kinga dhidi ya kuchukuliwa hatua za kisheria bali pia unawasaidia kuwaweka karibu na taasisi za serikali zinazoundwa na chama hicho (ikiwa ni pamoja na Idara ya Usalama wa Taifa).
Kwa uelewa wangu, taasisi hiyo kama haina tatizo basi kinachoikwamisha katika kutekeleza wajibu wake ipasavyo ni kuruhusu nguvu za kisiasa zifunike taaluma na utaalamu ya usalama.
Tatizo hilo la kuruhusu siasa ikwaze matumizi ya taaluma na utaalamu limechangia sana mengi ya matatizo yanayolikabili taifa muda huu. Laiti viongozi wa Idara ya Usalama wangeamua kuweka mbele maslahi ya taifa (au kuzingatia taaluma na utaalamu wao) wangeweza kabisa kuusambaratisha mtandao uliokuwa ukihangaika huku na kule kuingiza mtu wao Ikulu mwaka 2005.
Ni wazi kuwa maofisa usalama wetu walifahamu jinsi fedha za umma zilivyokuwa zinaibiwa na kuingizwa kwenye kampeni za uchaguzi (na nyingine zikiishia kwenye akaunti za wapambe) lakini kwa vile ndani ya Idara hiyo nako kulikuwa na migongano wa kimaslahi (ya nani aingie Ikulu), hakuna kilichofanyika na sasa tunavuna matunda ya uzembe huo.
Kama alivyotuasa Baba wa Taifa, Mwalimu Nyerere, kiongozi anayeingia madarakani kwa fadhila za watu fulani ni lazima ataendelea kuwa mtumwa wa watu hao. Wasifu usiopendeza wa wengi wa wanamtandao ulipaswa kuwa kigezo kinachojitosheleza kwa Idara hiyo kutangaza vita dhidi ya kundi hilo, si tu kwa vile ushindi kwa kundi hilo ungekuwa sawa na tishio kwa usalama wa taifa kwa ujumla bali pia ungeiongezea Idara hiyo mzigo wa majukumu (kwa maana ya mhalifu wa leo akiwa kiongozi kesho basi vyombo vya dola vinalazimika kuwa macho zaidi kuhakikisha kuwa uongozi huo hautumiki kuendeleza uhalifu aliokuwa akifanya kiongozi huyo kabla ya kukwaa uongozi).
Nimalizie makala hii kwa kurejea ushauri wangu kwa Idara yetu ya Usalama wa Taifa kuhakikisha inabaki kuwa taasisi inayozingatia utaalamu na taaluma ya usalama hasa kwa kupinga kwa nguvu zote siasa kuingilia utendaji kazi wao.
Kuna sauti chache nje ya Idara hiyo zinazodiriki kuwanyooshea kidole maofisa wake pale wanapoboronga. Sauti hizo zisitafsiriwe kuwa zina lengo la kuichafua taasisi hiyo muhimu bali cha muhimu ni mantiki ya hoja zinazotolewa.
Na kwa vile Idara ya Usalama wa Taifa legelege hupelekea taifa husika nalo kuwa legelege basi jukumu la kila mzalendo anayeitakia mema nchi yetu kuchangia kwa hali na mali kuhakikisha taasisi hiyo inafanya kazi zake kwa ufanisi kama ilivyokuwa katika zama za “kuhesabu visoda vya bia kwenye mabaa” (uvumi uliozoeleka lakini usio na chembe ya ukweli) na kufanikiwa kuwazuia kabisa makaburu kutekeleza azma yao ya kuiangamiza Tanzania yetu.
Kama Idara iliweza kuwamudu makaburu ambao licha ya uwezo wao mkubwa kiujasusi walikuwa wakisaidiwa pia na mataifa makubwa duniani, kwa nini basi ishindwe kuwamudu mafisadi ambao silaha yao kubwa ni fedha wanazotuibia kila siku?
15.12.11
Evarist Chahali
LIFE
No comments
Call off the search, Mr Perfect does not exist: Poll of 2,000 women failed to find ONE woman who was completely happy with her man
Ladies searching for Mr Right, look away now. The ‘perfect man’, it seems, does not exist.
While many chaps have positive attributes, the majority are deeply flawed.
In fact, in a study of 2,000 women, most ranked their partner as only 69 per cent perfect.
Included in a list of 20 common shortfalls are failing to make an effort with their partner’s friends, criticising their driving and the inability to multi-task.
Other male failings include leaving the toilet door open, watching too much sport and poor personal grooming.
Nikki McReynolds, marketing director for Remington, which commissioned the study, said: ‘It seems women are quite realistic on what they look for from their partner.
‘While they might happily overlook a few common flaws, there are certain behaviours that men just won’t get away with.’
The research found a third of women will turn a blind eye to their man watching too much sport – as long as they listen to them when it counts.

But one in five women is convinced her mischievous partner only pretends to listen to them, while others believe it’s ‘in one ear and out the other’.
Thankfully, one in five would forgive leaving the toilet seat up, while the leniency also stretches to those who don’t help with the cooking.
A quarter of women said dodgy dancing was forgivable, but bugbears such as clothes being left on the bedroom floor and snoring can count against men.
And guys beware: Leaving the toilet dirty, not making an effort with their partner’s family and using her toothbrush are definitely big no-nos.
Leaving out nail clippings, growing a scruffy beard or being too much of a mummy’s boy are other sure fire ways to guarantee ‘imperfection’.
When asked what would make the perfect man, a good personality came top, followed by a sense of humour and looks.
Miss McReynolds said: ‘The average guy may not be able to compete with the image of a David Beckham, but there are still a number of small changes they can do to make a big difference.’
TOP 20 IMPERFECTIONS IN MEN...
1. Not getting on with her family
2. Using her toothbrush
3. Leaving the toilet dirty
4. Hating her friends
5. Not being good with children
6. Being lazy
7. Having a big bushy beard that you never shave
8. Leaves nail clippings out
9. Driving like a boy racer
10. Being grumpy
11. Being a mummy's boy
12. Using the toilet with the door open
13. Leaving dirty washing on the floor
14. Unkempt facial hair
15. Criticising her driving
16. Burping or farting
17. Not liking dogs
18. Not helping with washing up
19. Watching too much sport
20. Not helping with the cooking
SOURCE: Daily Mail
14 Dec 2011

How to explain such a turnaround? In the United States, at least, there is one compellingly simple, two-word answer: Fox News.
By any normal standards, Obama should be extremely vulnerable. Not only is the economy in bad shape, he has proved to be a much more hesitant, less commanding White House presence than his supporters longed for. And yet, most surveys put him comfortably ahead of his would-be rivals. That's not a positive judgment on the president – whose approval rating stands at a meagre 44% – but an indictment of the dire quality of a Republican field almost comically packed with the scandal-plagued, gaffe-prone and downright flaky. And the finger of blame for this state of affairs points squarely at the studios of Fox News.
It's not just usual-suspect lefties and professional Murdoch-haters who say it, mischievously exaggerating the cable TV network's influence. Dick Morris, veteran political operative and Fox regular, noted the phenomenon himself the other day while sitting on the Fox sofa. "This is a phenomenon of this year's election," he said. "You don't win Iowa in Iowa. You win it on this couch. You win it on Fox News." In other words, it is Fox – with the largest cable news audience, representing a huge chunk of the Republican base – that is, in effect, picking the party's nominee to face Obama next November.
This doesn't work crudely – not that crudely, anyway. Roger Ailes, the Fox boss, does not deliver a newspaper-style endorsement of a single, anointed candidate. Rather, some are put in the sunlight, and others left to moulder in the shade. The Media Matters organisation keeps tabs on what it calls the Fox Primary, measuring by the minute who gets the most airtime. It has charted a striking correlation, with an increase in a candidate's Fox appearances regularly followed by a surge in the opinion polls. Herman Cain and Rick Perry both benefited from that Fox effect, with Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker, the latest: in the days before he broke from the pack, Gingrich topped the Fox airtime chart. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney cannot seem to break through a 20-to-25% ceiling in the polls – hardly surprising considering, as the league table shows, he has never been a Fox favourite.
But it works in a subtler way than the mere degree of exposure. Fox, serving up constant outrage and fury, favours bluster over policy coherence. Its ideal contributor is a motormouth not a wonk, someone who makes good TV rather than good policy. Little wonder it fell for Cain and is swooning now for Gingrich – one of whom has never held elected office while the other messed up when he did, but who can talk and talk – while it has little interest in Romney and even less in Jon Huntsman, even though both have impressive records as state governors. The self-described conservative journalist Andrew Sullivan says that the dominant public figures on the right are no longer serving politicians, but "provocative, polarising media stars" who serve up enough controversy and conflict to keep the ratings high. "In that atmosphere, you need talk-show hosts as president, not governors or legislators."
Fox News and what Sullivan calls the wider "Media Industrial Complex" have not only determined the style of the viable Republican presidential candidate, but the content too. If one is to flourish rather than wither in the Fox spotlight, there are several articles of faith to which one must subscribe – from refusing to believe in human-made climate change, and insisting that Christians are an embattled minority in the US, persecuted by a liberal, secular, bi-coastal elite, to believing that government regulation is always wrong, and that any attempt to tax the wealthiest people is immoral. Those who deviate are rapidly branded foreign, socialist or otherwise un-American.
Some wonder if it was fear of this ultra-conservative catechism that pushed a series of Republican heavyweights to sit out 2012. "The talent pool got constricted," says David Frum, the former George W Bush speechwriter who has been boldest in speaking out against the Foxification of his party. Fox sets a series of litmus tests that not every Republican can or wants to pass.
This affects those who run as well as those who step aside, setting the parameters within which a Republican candidate must operate. What troubles Frum is that it pushes Republicans to adopt positions that will make them far less appealing to the national electorate in November, with Romney's forced march rightward typical. Even if Romney somehow wins the nomination, he won't be "the pragmatic, problem-solving Mitt Romney" of yore, says Frum, but a new Foxified version. It was this process that led the former speechwriter to declare last year: "Republicans originally thought that Fox worked for us – and now we're discovering we work for Fox."
So far, so bad for the Republicans. Why should anyone else care? Because the Fox insistence on unbending ideological correctness turns every compromise – a necessary staple of governance – into an act of treachery. The Republican refusal, cheered on by a Fox News chorus, to raise the US debt ceiling this summer, thereby prompting the downgrading of America's credit rating, is only the most vivid example. The larger pattern is one of stubborn, forced gridlock, paralysing the republic even now, at a moment of global economic crisis.
The problem is compounded by a wilful blindness towards the facts. Ari Rabin-Havt of Media Matters says Fox has created a "post-truth politics", which is happy to ignore and distort basic empirical evidence. To take one example, Fox pundits constantly repeat that "53% of Americans pay all the tax". In fact, 53% pay all the federal income tax – but many, many more pay so-called payroll taxes. It's hard for a nation to make the right policy decisions if the public is misled on the basic facts. And misled they certainly are. A series of surveys has proven that Fox viewers are woefully ignorant of current affairs, the latest study revealing that it is actually better to consume no news than to watch Fox: you end up better informed.
The extremism, anger, paranoia and sense of victimhood that Fox incubates are all unhealthy for the United States. But it's inflicting particular damage on the Republican party, which could well lose a winnable election because of its supine relationship to a TV network. It turns out it is not liberals who should fear the Fox – it's conservatives.
SOURCE: The Guardian
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)






