Blogging on Meds

Today, August 14th, Pakistan turned 61. The country faces a number of significant challenges, including a record high 24% year-over-year inflation rate, militant activities in the Frontier provinces, at pathetic national education system and rampant illiteracy. Right now, though, the country is riveted by the prospect of impeachment!

The noose has been closing in on Musharraf for the last couple of weeks, with the coalition government threatening to begin impeachment proceedings against the President. Reports out of Pakistan indicate that the governing coalition is now in talks with Musharraf’s representatives to broker a deal that would result in the President’s resignation. Why would Musharraf agree to this? Because three out of the four provincial assemblies passed non-binding resolutions in the last few days asking the President to face a vote of confidence in the National Assembly (the fourth province is expected to pass such a resolution on Friday). If he were to lose that vote, as it seems he almost certainly would, the National Assembly would begin impeachment proceedings. Meanwhile, the Army, Musharraf’s strongest card to play in his personal crisis, has been silent. It is thought that the Army, which would be deeply embarrased if its former boss were removed and if allegations against him saw the light of day, is quietly encouraging Musharraf to resign in exchange for immunity for any crimes committed during his rule. That’s exactly what Musharraf’s representatives are pushing, according to the country’s defence minister, who is a member of the ruling coalition.

In the long-run, I think this could be a positive for Pakistan. It would be the first time in the country’s 61-year history, during which dictators ruled for about 33 years, that civic society finally decided that one-man rule was enough. However, the danger in the short-run is that Musharraf will try to hold on to power, and the process will drag on for weeks or even months. The last thing that Pakistan needs right now, when it’s facing a number of economic and military crises, is drawn out political theater that distracts the politicians from confronting Pakistan’s problems. If a deal is struck, it needs to be struck very, very quickly.

Update: According to the Daily Times, it’s done.

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OMG Kayani, are these guys for real?

I asked our beloved Pakistani commentator Hassan Chop what to make of Pakistan’s Musharraf impeachment measure.

By Hassan Chop
I’m not sure where this impeachment thing is going. As is usual in Pakistan, all kinds of crazy shit happened before we got to Zardari and Sharif saying that Musharraf would be impeached under Article 47 of the constitution. In fact, talks almost broke down last night.

It seemed like they’d reached an understanding over the impeachment issue. They were going to hold a vote of confidence in the lower house of parliament, which would almost certainly have resulted in a vote of no confidence in Musharraf, and then they would start official impeachment proceedings. Well, nothing ever goes according to plan in Pakistan, and everything is not as it seems.

Zardari and Sharif were supposed to hold a joint press conference to discuss their plan, when it was suddenly canceled. Around the same time, private news channels reported that Musharraf had re-appointed eight deposed judges of the Sindh High Court after the request had been sent to him by the law ministry, which is run by the PPP. So, on the one hand, the PPP apparently reached agreement with the PML(N) on the issues of impeachment and the restoration of the deposed judges, but on the other hand, the PPP asked Musharraf to reinstate eight deposed judges without consulting the PML(N) on the issue. Obviously, that gave Musharraf a bit of a lifeline and was essentially a slap in the face of the PML(N), and that may be why the joint press conference was initially cancelled. Musharraf had already vowed to fight the impeachment, and this was obviously a good start for him. Then, the PPP withdrew the order to restore the judges, presumably as a sign of goodwill toward the PML(N). According to the Pakistani press, the PPP convinced the PML(N) to restart negotiations (”I cheated, but I still love you baby. Let’s work this out.”).

So, here we are: Musharraf will face a vote of confidence, and if he loses, the government will start impeachment proceedings in the next few days, after which they’ll restore the deposed judges. Musharraf can still dissolve the parliament, but I think that would be suicide for him. I’m not sure that the Army would support such a move, because it would create a huge public backlash.

I’m hopeful, but then again, I was hopeful many months ago and this whole thing turned into a s*it-show, so I’m going to take a wait-and-see approach. Whatever happens, they need to move fast. In case anyone forgot, there’s a small war going on in FATA.

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In the video, (borrowed from crooksandliars.com) just before he takes the podium you can faintly hear him say “I’m gonna go for it”.

Dennis Kucinich indeed goes for “it” and by “it” I mean 35 articles of impeachment against George Bush. This is the carefully crafted case against the two criminals who have nearly destroyed our country (and a few other in the process, but I guess I don’t need to explain it to this crowd).

He begins to state his intent… “the form of the resolution is as follows…” as the sounds of pasty white grey haired grown babies mumble and grumble behind him… “THE HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER!” he demands. And with a few clacks of the gavel, they quiet down momentarily.

He read them all to a pretty much empty and mostly hostile house… all 35 reasons (even though there’s at least a hundred) to impeach the bastard. The blogosphere is alive and mainstream news is sleeping as usual so… Watch the video - cspan_kucinich_impeachment_articles_080609a.mov

Here’s to you Dennis! The tofu is on us.

Denny and the blogger that I stole this photo from (”I like the guy” he says)

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John Harris has been covering the Clintons for 14 years, first at the Washington Post and now at his successful web start-up Politico. Harris’ book The Survivor is maybe the best single volume on Bill’s presidency. Today, Harris looks back on the rise and fall of the Clintons’ presidential fortunes.

For Clintons, an old dream finally fades
By: John F. Harris
June 9, 2008 07:10 AM EST

This is not the end of the Clinton story. If we know anything about Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton it is that there is always another chapter, and it will not fail to be interesting.

But her departure from the presidential race Saturday almost certainly does mark the end of the longest and most important thread of the Clinton story.

For nearly 40 years, the presidency has been the organizing principle of their lives together. Her appearance at the National Building Museum to thank supporters and endorse Barack Obama represents the final, fading light of a shared dream.

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Pakistan’s National Assembly elected its first female speaker ever today, as Fehmida Mirza, a Bhutto loyalist, got the nod. I’m sure that the Pakistani Taliban will be thrilled. The three-time parliamentarian won 249 of the 324 votes cast, and will lead the lower house. While this is good news in many ways, the new ruling coalition has a lot of work to do.

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Can somebody explain to me how a criminal president who started a criminal war based on lies has the balls to sing a funny happy song in which he confesses to high crimes and misdemeanors that have caused the death and despair of millions of people in a room full of journalists and impeachment is still off the table?

From WJNO

To the tune of country song “Green Green Grass of Home,” Bush sang of longing for his ranch in Crawford, Texas and his dog Barney.

“And there to meet me is my mama and my papa, down the lane I look and here comes Barney, heart of gold and breath like honey; it’s good to touch the brown brown grass of home.”

Bush, singing only slightly off key, then turned to some of the long-term members of his team including Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

“For there’s Condi and Dick, my old compadre, talking to me about some oil rich Saudi, but soon I’ll touch the brown brown grass of home.”

“That old White house is behind me, I am once again carefree, don’t have to worry ’bout a crisis in Pyongyang. Down the lane I look, Dick Cheney is strolling with documents he’d been withholding, it’s good to touch the brown brown grass of home.”

It’s so much worse when you actually listen to it and hear those assholes laughing along with him. SCUMBAGS.

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