Politics
What the F-ck is Going on in the Ivory Coast with their Elections?
Two governments sworn in at the same time‘??! WTF??!?
“The two candidates in Ivory Coast’s disputed presidential election took duelling oaths of office Saturday after each claimed victory, as the political crisis spiralled out of control and renewed unrest in this country once split in two by civil war.
Incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo defied international pressure from the United States, France and the United Nations to concede defeat, wrapping himself in the Ivorian flag as he was sworn in for another term. Hours later, opposition candidate Alassane Ouattara announced that he too had taken his own oath.
Saturday’s developments leave Ivory Coast with two men who both claim to be president, furthering inflaming the deepening political crisis in a country whose once-prosperous economy was destroyed by the brief 2002-2003 civil war.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy say Ouattara is the rightful winner and that his victory must be acknowledged. The top UN official in Ivory Coast is also standing by results released Thursday by the country’s election commission that put Ouattara ahead.”
Like the US should talk though, right?
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article.
Someone needs to explain to me why some Alassane Ouattara supporters are wearing blackface though! Hit the jump to see what I’m talking about…. (more…)
Video of Hockey Commentator Don Cherry Attacking ‘Pinko’ Left Wing ‘Kooks’ and Media at Rob Ford’s Inauguration
For the uninitiated (i.e. all non-Canadians and non-hockey fans), Don Cherry is a TV personality and Hockey Night in Canada color commentator who’s kind of national institution up here, known both for his loud suits and his loud advocacy of full-contact, violent hockey (at all levels, from little kids on up) as embodied in his Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Hockey and Hard-Hitting Hockey video series.
Earlier this week he caused an uproar at the inauguration of newly-elected Tea Party-esque mayor, Rob Ford by attacking the Toronto media and liberal populace, repeatedly calling them ‘pinkos’ and ‘kooks.’ Of course, reaction was swift….
– Cherry’s comments spur city council pink brigade. [Toronto Star]
– Star Op-ed: New low in public discourse. [Toronto Star]
Read more about it here.
Sanity and Compassion Return to the Immigration Reform Debate
Fox News’ can try and equate this with Healthcare Reform which the Right lost on too but guess what: the DREAM Act bill passed the House. Too bad it probably won’t make it through the Senate though…..
Did President Obama Cave into the Republicans on the Tax Cut Issue?
Watch the video and judge for yourself:
Or read Obama Defends Tax-Cut Plan as ‘Good Deal’ for Americans from The New York Times for more.
Stephen Colbert seems to break down the core issue here pretty succinctly from my point of view: Colbert To Obama: ‘Republicans Just Aren’t That Into You.’
Now hit the jump for a video of Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) arguing against extending tax cuts for millionaires. LOVE that dude.
(more…)
Maybe Wyclef Jean Could Have Had a Shot at Being Haitian President After All?!
“When Mirlande Manigat arrived at Collège Frère Ladauceur on Nov. 28 to cast her vote in Haiti’s presidential election, no cheering mob was there to greet her. She pulled up in a bulletproof SUV, surrounded by police flourishing automatic weapons and slowly, ever so slowly, made her way to the entrance.
Short, with gold-rimmed glasses and hair tied back, the 70-year-old former first lady had a vague air of Miss Marple about her, which shouldn’t completely surprise, given Manigat’s outsized admiration for all things Agatha Christie.
Only an hour earlier, in Pétionville, Michel Martelly had similarly cast a ballot, but his arrival at a three-storey high school was all pop-star pandemonium, with mothers pushing their children forward for a glimpse of the politician formerly known as “Sweet Micky,” bad-boy singer of kompas, Haiti’s version of merengue.
In what once seemed the least likely result of a presidential campaign involving 19 candidates, Haiti’s electoral council is now widely expected to announce Tuesday that Manigat and Martelly will go head to head in a runoff slated for Jan. 16.”
CLICK to read the full article, “Unlikely pair seen as Haiti frontrunners.” [Toronto Star]
Sheeeiiiit, if ‘Sweet Mickey’ is in the running to win right now, imagine what woulda happened if the Preacher’s Son had made it onto the ballot?!! Hit the jump for Wyclef Jean‘s track, “Election Time” for his take on that: