http://www.vidpk.com/view_video.php?viewkey=286785161

Not “recycling,” but “spreading the word.” Spread the word!!!!!!!!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2115356.ece

There’s plenty in the article that suggests she’s keeping all options open… her loyalists are now even suggesting a “Chaudhry Conspiracy” against the party… lest we assume that it means the Brothers Chaudhry of Gujrat Sharif, they mean a completely different pair of Chaudhries:

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20077\22\story_22-7-2007_pg3_3

(Aside: “King” Zahir Shah’s dead… what an eventful life he’s had… RIP I guess…)

****

Umar:

“Then again, she says she might come to an arrangement if such an arrangement is necessary for ensuring fair polls… confusing?”

Not confusing, just very middle of the road. I think she is less interested in a robust, democratically active citizenry than she is in her gaining political power. Hence, the odd stance. So she’s “bit of an opportunist.”

But now I am not in a generous mood anymore, so I say she is TOTALLY A HYPOCRITICAL OPPORTUNIST. :)

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=52217

And speaking of this deal, here’s what Nawaz Sharif had to say:

“Referring to the PPP’s deal with President Musharraf for the upcoming elections, he said: “It is not a matter of elections, but the restoration of democracy without the army’s involvement.”

“Freedom cannot be begged, but one should struggle for it,” he added.

He expressed his reservations about the recent growing contacts between the PPP and the government. He said the PPP had violated the CoD, as the accord “prohibits any deal with a dictator”.”

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C07%5C23%5Cstory_23-7-2007_pg7_19

On PPP’s own website, in May this was published. Who’s scared of the deal? Why, no one who’s interested in “democracy”! And anyway, you can’t bring democracy through “street protests” and of course, “President Musharraf is not averse to political deals if they bring stability and promote democracy.”

http://www.ppp.org.pk/Party/Party%20Issues/P_articles61.htm

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20077\23\story_23-7-2007_pg1_1

Then again, she says she might come to an arrangement if such an arrangement is necessary for ensuring fair polls… confusing?

“i had to smile at the understatement.”

Yeah, I know… but I am in a generous mood. Only for today, though ;)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/weekinreview/22mazzetti.html?ref=world

the newspaper of record, getting me down.

hmmm… never thought of it like that.
have to admit ol’ mushy’s stance has often seemed a lot more “liberal/left” than any political party’s.

The trouble with the Bhutto clan is that they’ve always taken the loyalty of their voters for granted, as if its their divine right… I remember reading “The Terrorist Prince” last year, and Raja Anwar was of the opinion that this tendency afflicted not just BB but her brother too… when Bhutto pere was overthrown, some of their workers set themselves on fire to protest… the Bhuttos just took this for granted… similar examples abound…

Going by their past record, the best the PPP workers/voters will do is to stay away from the polls if they’re angry at BB for her deal with Musharraf… more likely, they’ll come up with some sort of justification for the deal… in either case, the combined opposition, featuring the MMA will gain from this, not to mention the PML-N and the Tehrik-e-Insaf… lest we forget, they’re enough to the right to be more comfortable with the MMA than with the PPP anyway…

That leaves the liberal/left “represented” by a dictator and an opportunist…

and yes, i hope the feudally-minded PPP and its feudally-spirited voters can finally grow the b*lls (there’s a request here to “keep it clean”) to ditch the b*tch, so to speak. (i doubt it though)

Speaking of Ahsan, he called the reference against the CJ “the mother of all evils…”

“BB has a history of giving in to the generals… it is said that she was ready to cut a deal with the man who hanged her father.”

I may be wrong, but she has always struck me as someone who doesn’t really have a clear and consistent platform of her own; her positions are often whatever the overriding popular sentiment at the time is. She’s a bit of an opportunist, in my opinion.

And in reference to what you have said about Bhutto, Comment is free published this speculation that Bhutto and Mush are discussing a “power sharing agreement:”

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/simon_tisdall/2007/05/_pakistans_odd_couple_eye.html

Ugh. One victory (CJ one), but several setbacks- Bhutto, the PPP’s reported solidarity with Mush, and the US’ unwavering support of Mush in light of the National Intelligence Estimate.

BB has a history of giving in to the generals… it is said that she was ready to cut a deal with the man who hanged her father, no less… luckily for her, he died… this time too, she wants to go against the will of her voters by supporting Musharraf… I just hope her voters finally see the light of day…