PadminiArhant.com
Session – Elections And Electorate Dilemma
March 30, 2014
From: Padmini Arhant
Dear Global Citizens,
You are invited to the session on Elections and Electorate Dilemma scheduled in 30 mins to your local time.
Your participation is critical and much appreciated.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Thailand Election Results 2011
July 4, 2011
By Padmini Arhant
Congratulations! To Thailand citizens and the first female Prime Minister elect Yingluck Shinawatra of Pheu Thai Party.
Thailand faced many challenges in 2010 with the outgoing government under the leadership of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva representing the Democrat Party.
The government’s violent crackdown against pro-Democracy supporters (United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship) of the exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra resulted in civilian casualties prompting public demand for the then Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjijiva’s resignation.
The people’s request for political reform was slighted and the national election stalled until July 3, 2011.
Election outcome on July 4, 2011 reveals Thai electorate rejection of the military backed government run as constitutional monarchy believed to benefit the elitists at the vast majority’s plight.
The newly elected Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has the electoral mandate having secured a landslide victory to strengthen democracy preventing any form of intervention either through military coup as often seen in Thai politics or re-emergence of the monarchy.
People power evidently delivered the desirable political change.
The national unity message from the incoming Prime Minister serves as the beginning to end political turmoil encouraging foreign investor confidence and accelerate economic growth.
The political dissidents’ sacrifice in 2010 proved to be not in vain and Thailand could be a model for nations seeking meaningful democratic system.
Thailand peaceful protesters call for transformation initiated through ballots confirms the people holding key to power.
Nonetheless there are many tasks ahead for the elected government in addressing economic disparity and social issues.
The new government’s initial pledge to raise minimum wages to US $10 is a positive step considering the economic viability and regional potential to boost upward trend on exports such as rice currently proposed for price adjustment.
These economic and social measures would be hopefully implemented upon the administration assuming office.
Thailand is bracing for a bright future with the major political development and the leaders have unique opportunity to safeguard republic interests in adopting transparency and accountability in governance.
Good Luck! To the citizens of Thailand and Prime Minister elect Yingluck Shinawatra for a successful term with political stability and economic prosperity.
Peace to all.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
http://youtu.be/dqqw27GFVfg http://youtu.be/jZtTdy9VPN8 http://youtu.be/u06R167jueIDemocrat Candidate U.S. Senator Russ Feingold – State of Wisconsin
September 30, 2010
By Padmini Arhant
Democrat Senator Russ Feingold from the great State of Wisconsin needs no introduction.
Senator Feingold is a true democrat with a distinguished record in the United States Senate.
Senator Feingold has always been in the forefront to serve not only the Wisconsin constituents but also the entire nation.
The Senator’s record will be elaborated on this website shortly.
Meanwhile, please visit http://www.russfeingold.com and,
Kindly help the campaign in reaching the $300,000 fund in the next hour.
Today is the deadline and the campaign needs your assistance by midnight EST.
The campaign is just $2,679 away from reaching the $300,000 goal.
With 270 supporters donating as much as $10 or more would easily assist the Senator’s campaign in achieving the target.
Please cast your vote for Senator Russ Feingold earlier if possible and secure your future.
Senator Russ Feingold has never hesitated to stand up for the American electorate throughout his outstanding service to the State of Wisconsin and the people across the nation.
Your passion, enthusiasm and cooperation are much appreciated.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Congressional Elections 2010 – Prognosis
September 15, 2010
By Padmini Arhant
The recent primaries indicate a strong surge among the Republican base compared to the Democrats and the independent voters.
There is urgency for the Democrats and the independents to get back into action similar to the tidal wave witnessed in 2008 to accomplish their goals.
Grievances on some issues among both groups are justified. However, they cannot be addressed without effective representation in the House and the Senate. Abstinence or the eleventh hour effort could only lead to more frustration allowing the conservative blockade to continue.
Both democrats and independents need candidates with high quality performance reflecting solid commitment to the people and environment. Candidates willing to stand up to the entities against public and national interest from corporate affair to military warfare, the two predominant factors contributing to the alarming national deficit and myriad of social-economic disparities deserve voter approval.
The Republican members are not the choice whether they are tea party candidate or establishment nominee for they represent the big industries and not the average citizens. It is confirmed in the ‘Nay’ votes on legislation concerning the economy and host of other issues since January 2009.
Likewise, the democratic establishment instrumental in opposing single payer system or public option in health care reform, closing loopholes in finance legislation and swaying to the energy behemoths’ call to adhere to fossil fuel, nuclear energy despite the misgivings and horrific mining accidents in the United States and around the world,
Last but not the least against troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere – owe valid explanation to the democratic base and independents for rejecting their voices in all these issues.
Democrats have struggled with legislative process in both Houses of Congress, more in the Senate than the House, even while being a majority in 2009 as seen during the contentious health care bill and economic issues.
It’s paramount for the industry, union or any special interest backed candidates to be transparent and clarify their true representations on all things related to the American electorate in addition to providing legitimate reasons for not demonstrating them in action.
The voters have an obligation to identify their requirements and choose the candidate with proven record or having demonstrated the will to challenge the forces undermining democracy on all issues.
Essentially pragmatism over ideology enhanced by inclusive rather than divisive positions would yield bipartisan solutions to the problems confronting the nation.
Republican legislators have absolved themselves from constitutional duty to work with the Democrat majority in legislative matter throughout Obama Presidency letting partisanship prevail in life threatening issues such as jobless benefit extension, small business lending and 9/11 rescue workers health care assistance.
Unfortunately, the persisting Republican opposition on legislation to benefit average Americans fails to recognize the social and economic cost ultimately affecting all in the interdependent society with the irony being the national deficit used as a pretext in this context.
Democrats, independents and disenchanted republicans have a great opportunity to come together this election in electing the officials pledging allegiance to the American people and not the oligarchy responsible for the Washington status quo.
The electability criteria in consistent with the constitutional oath is the real test for the new contenders and the incumbents alike.
They could precisely be the following:
Disavow partisanship, declining special interests influence and,
Above all maintain ethical standards through accountability with corruption in politics being a worldwide epidemic denying progress to a substantial population living in abject poverty and lifelong miseries.
Honesty and integrity determines human character, yet it’s not an integral element in the quest for public office.
In fact, the systemic abuse of power is the fundamental cause of the contemporary social and economic inequality.
American electorates hold the power to implement these changes in Washington through the electoral process that could restore the broken system and renew the tarnished image.
Voting is no longer an option but an absolute necessity to rescue the nation from the repeat catastrophe experienced at the dawn of twenty first century under President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Besides, voting is a constitutional right granted to citizens in a democracy to protect their civil liberties and freedom from internal or external threats.
American electorates have awesome responsibility to elect the hard working, diligent and trustworthy officials not only to represent them in the United States but also the fellow citizens across the globe.
Congressional decisions made in Washington impact the approximate 6.5 billion people destiny.
Therefore, it is imperative to ensure the massive voter turnout in November 2010 or earlier in states like Ohio facilitating mail-in ballots.
First time voters may register in their local districts and join the other electorates to cast their votes on or before the election date provided it is permissible.
Democrats, independents and disillusioned republicans – please contribute to
Democracy for America (DFA) dedicated to the positive change in Washington and across the United States at:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com
Also, Please help Senator Barbara Boxer in raising $200,000 by September 18, 2010 for media fund. It’s a daunting task. Nonetheless, the Senator’s campaign is grassroots funded unlike her opponent Carly Fiorina – financed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce apart from the contestant’s personal campaign investment.
Please visit www.barbaraboxer.com for your affordable and generous donations.
Most importantly, please secure your future and the dependents prospects by casting your vote as early as possible.
Please rally America via email, texting or visiting DFA to energize voters.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
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Midterm Election 2010 – An Opportunity to Rebuild the Great Nation
September 13, 2010
By Padmini Arhant
Midterm Election 2010 is an opportunity to rebuild the great nation – the United States of America.
From the latest developments it’s clear that Washington is broken and desperately requires citizens’ involvement in governance to restore the renowned American values that remains the basis in attracting many across the globe.
United States is resilient, resourceful and admirably courageous in dealing with any crisis.
It is evident in this great nation’s history for it has weathered the fierce storms and survived even the “Great Depression.”
The people representing the stars and stripes have come forward as one nation and contributed their unique skills in building the United States as the economic engine and a model democracy.
United States is the beacon of light for the entire world and the leadership will continue to provide the necessary guidance to those seeking political, economic and social progress in their domain.
The fall election is crucial to implement the changes that Washington has been deprived due to partisanship and special interests dominance in the legislation.
The political majority and the minority that prioritizes public interest and delivers the campaign promise are worth re-electing.
It predominantly rests with the American electorate in their choice of candidates as their representatives in Washington.
The combined forces such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce influencing the Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited cash flow in the election campaign together with the political architects determined to distract the electorate through distortion and negative attacks render the democratic elections irrelevant.
Whenever a candidate with no established record or substantive policies to move the nation forward is dependent upon the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and smear campaign, that candidate is unequivocally pledged to the sources behind them and not their constituents.
Their name might be on the ballot but only in theory for the real candidates are the big industries devising the policy and the strategists with the political ideology.
Voter discernment in electing the candidates with proven record and service against those without solutions to any problems could make the desirable change possible.
Congressional Democrats in the House and the Senate have worked extremely hard and are committed to improve the American lives. The selective few Republican members share the credit for their bipartisanship that enabled the recent reforms.
The policies related to ongoing wars contributing to the brave armed forces’ death toll and, the national deficit from the disproportionate defense expenditure with no accountability and transparency have been largely accepted without subjecting the claims to due process.
Public concern and views are disregarded and democracy undermined through propaganda subverting facts to promote the specific agenda.
The abuse of power with little or no respect for the constitutional law and democracy, reckless decisions that led to a bankrupt economy, chaos, death and destruction are minor details as compared to the serious ramifications on the office of Presidency – setting a dangerous precedence for history to repeat itself citing the predecessor’s exemption from law in the land of justice.
Ignoring the warnings on 9/11 attacks and conspicuously neglecting the constitutional duty to protect American lives is a colossal Presidential failure.
Above all, granting immunity to the status is rejecting the constitution set up to safeguard the national interest and the democratic principles that guarantees equal justice.
Accordingly, the nation particularly the United States Congress is obligatory to the 9/11 victims and their families in initiating a thorough investigation in public view with appropriate findings against all those implicated regardless of stature.
Democracy is threatened when the lawmakers become the lawbreakers and decline action against unethical conduct exemplifying discriminatory practice with law being applicable only to the law abiding ordinary citizens but not the powerful absconding the law.
These are truly the trying times for democracy and their representatives in presenting unwavering justice to preserve national security and the rule of law reflecting the fact that no one is above the law.
Massive voter turnout exceeding the 2008 statistics is paramount to overhaul Washington.
Please vote for the democrats so that they can cast their vote in return on legislation addressing the average citizens’ plight.
At the same time, the Republican members have invariably cast ‘Nay’ votes on ‘regular citizens’ issues while some of their colleagues choose abstinence to facilitate special interests victory.
Voting is the basic right denied to a significant population in some parts of the world and the citizens in a democratic society have tremendous chance to reshape the political landscape.
Hence ‘rally America’ to the midterm elections is an important call for all citizens.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Iraq’s Election Results Favor Secular Government by leader Ayad Allawi
May 23, 2010
By Padmini Arhant
On May 16, 2010, Iraq’s electoral commission affirmation of a Sunni backed bloc led by the secular, Shiite leader, Ayad Allawi victory over the former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is a clear public mandate in the democratic election held on March 7, 2010.
Further, the election commission ruled out the voter fraud charges by the Shiite leader and the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after recount in the districts suspected of the alleged inaccuracy.
Hence, the new government with the Prime Minister Ayad Allawi to resume power in office is the electorates’ final decision in the prolonged electoral process that has contributed to sectarian violence due to partisanship sought by the homogenous Shiite party under the then Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The political standoff by the previous administration refusing to accept the democratic will has claimed many innocent lives of the Shiites and Sunni population through militants’ orchestrated bombings and explosions until now.
People of Iraq deserve peace and normal existence in a secular society.
The new government representing the diverse political factions in the coalition is the electorates’ choice and the sooner the government is formed, the better for national security.
Any unnecessary delay would exacerbate the situation exploited currently by the militants and the terror network affiliated to Al-Qaida.
Besides, it would allow the timely U.S. troop withdrawal per agreement between the two nations.
And,
Save the United States from the economic liability attributed to the alarming national deficit since the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Unified Iraq is the strength to overcome the prevalent political and social discord.
The people of Iraq could reach out to one another in recognition of the millions of lives lost on all sides and lead their country towards political stability, economic and social progress to benefit all.
Prime Minister Ayad Allawi’s inclusive rather than exclusive coalition government is promising.
Perhaps, it could deliver the desirable outcome in liberating Iraq from cyclical violence.
Good Luck! And Best Wishes to the Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and the people of Iraq in their solidarity pledged to nation building.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Afghanistan War, the Additional Troops Request and the Election
September 28, 2009
By Padmini Arhant
There has been additional troops request from the U.S. and NATO Commander, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal accompanied by the endorsements of the other highest commands. The request made with a sense of urgency within the military ranks based on variable assessments and conflicting reports from different sources that if the troops request delayed or denied; “it could perhaps lead to the mission failure” in the prolonged war that had continued to deploy troops on that strategy.
According to reputable news sources, the U.S. force in Afghanistan estimated to reach 68,000 by the year’s end. Now, the fact remains to be carefully examined on the U.S. and NATO defense policy implemented in the Afghanistan war prompting the current administration to inflate the defense budget disproportionately to $651.2 billion excluding the various non-itemized expenditures by the other departments in the nucleus.
The following materials are extremely important in ascertaining the real purpose of the persistent war nearing almost a decade with incessant violence, lawlessness and horrendous loss of lives on all sides that could have been contained considering the interjection of enormous resources in terms of funding and troops supply possibly restoring a democratic rule in Afghanistan conforming with the metaphor –
“Where there is a will, there is a way.”
The sequel with a detailed analysis will follow in due course of time.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
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Advisers split over Afghan troop request:
Military divided over force levels required for plan
By Peter Baker and Elisabeth Bumiller – New York Times
Provided through The San Jose Mercury News, Sunday September 27, 2009 – Thank you.
“Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal’s troop request, which was submitted to the Pentagon on Friday, has reignited a longstanding debate within the military about the virtues of the counterinsurgency strategy popularized by Gen. David H. Petraeus in Iraq and embraced by McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan.
McChrystal is expected to ask for as many as 40,000 additional troops for the eight-year old war, a number that has generated concern among top officers like Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the Army chief of staff, who worry about the capacity to provide more soldiers at a time of stress on the force, officials said.
While Obama is hearing from more hawkish voices, including Hillary Rodham Clinton, the secretary of state, and Richard C. Holbrooke, the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, some outside advisers relied on by Obama have voiced doubts.
But other officers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and say they admire McChrystal nonetheless have privately expressed doubt that additional troops will make a difference.
“If a request for more forces comes to the Army, we’ll have to assess what that will do in terms of stress on the force,” said a senior Army officer, who asked not to be identified speaking before McChrystal’s troop request became public.”
Casey, whose institutional role as Army chief is to protect his force, has a stated goal by 2012 to increase a soldier’s time at home from the current one year for every year of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan to two years at home for every year served.”
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_the_United_States – Thank you.
U.S. Defense Budget for the Fiscal Year 2009:
For the 2009 fiscal year, the base budget rose to $515.4 billion. Adding emergency discretionary spending and supplemental spending brings the sum to $651.2 billion. Not included in the DoD budget is $23.4 billion to be spent by the Department of Energy to develop and maintain nuclear warheads.
NON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEFENSE RELATED EXPENDITURES
This does not include many military-related items that are outside of the Defense Department budget, such as nuclear weapons research, maintenance, cleanup, and production (about $16.4 billion, which is in the Department of Energy budget), Veterans Affairs (about $53.0 billion), defense spending by the Department of Homeland Security (about $41.4 billion),
Interest on debt incurred in past wars, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (about $83.4 billion in 2009, funded through extra-budgetary supplemental bills), or State Department financing of foreign arms sales (about $5.3 billion) and militarily-related development assistance.
The U.S. Department of Defense budget accounted in fiscal year 2008 for about 21% of the United States federal budgeted expenditures. Including spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Homeland Security, and Veteran’s Affairs, defense spending was approximately $800 billion, or 32% of 2008 tax receipts of $2.5 trillion.[5]
Because of constitutional limitations, military funding is appropriated in a discretionary spending account. (Such accounts permit government planners to have more flexibility to change spending each year, as opposed to mandatory spending accounts that mandate spending on programs outside of the budgetary process.) In recent years, discretionary spending as a whole has amounted to about one-third of total federal outlays. Military funding’s share of discretionary funding was 50.5% in 2003, and has risen steadily ever since.
The 2005 U.S. military budget is almost as much as the rest of the world’s defense spending combined and is over eight times larger than the military budget of China (compared at the nominal US dollar / Renminbi rate, not the PPP rate). The United States and its close allies are responsible for about two-thirds of the world’s military spending (of which, in turn, the U.S. is responsible for the majority). In 2007, US military spending was above 1/4 of combined industrial and agricultural production in the USA.
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Focus on the Afghanistan war and the Operational Deficiency:
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)
TOTAL CASUALTIES FOR THE YEAR:
By January 2009, the Taliban claimed that they had killed 5,220 foreign troops, downed 31 aircraft, destroyed 2,818 NATO and Afghan vehicles and killed 7,552 Afghan soldiers and police in 2008 alone. The Associated Press estimated that a total of 286 foreign military personnel were killed in Afghanistan in 2008.[130] Icasualties puts the total number of coalition soldiers killed in 2008 at 294.
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2009: U.S. Surge :
Main article: Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2009
JOINT INTELLIGENCE CENTER –
The Khyber Border Coordination Center between the U.S., Pakistan, and Afghanistan, at Torkham on the Afghan side of the Khyber Pass, has been in operation for nine months. But U.S. officials at the Khyber Center say language barriers, border disputes between Pakistani and Afghan field officers, and longstanding mistrust among all three militaries have impeded progress.
In January, about 3,000 U.S. soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division moved into the provinces of Logar and Wardak. The troops were the first wave of an expected surge of reinforcements originally ordered by George W. Bush and increased by Barack Obama.
In mid-February, it was announced that 17,000 additional troops would be deployed to the country in two brigades and additional support troops; the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade of about 3,500 from the 7,000 Marines, and the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, a Stryker Brigade with about 4,000 of the 7,000 US Army soldiers. The U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General McKiernan, had called for as many as 30,000 additional troops, effectively doubling the number of troops currently in the country.
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TALIBAN’S GAINS
On August 10, 2009, Stanley McChrystal, the newly appointed U.S. commander in Afghanistan, said that the Taliban has presently gained the upper hand and that the ISAF is not winning in the 8 year-old war.
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Possible long-term U.S. role & military presence:
Many of the thousands of U.S. troops in Afghanistan are positioned in what experts say are large, permanent bases.
In February 2005, U.S. Senator John McCain called for the establishment of permanent U.S. military bases in Afghanistan, saying such bases would be “for the good of the American people, because of the long-term security interests we have in the region”.
He made the remarks while visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul as part of a five-member, bi-partisan Senate delegation travelling through the region for talks on security issues.
The same delegation also included then-Senator Hillary Clinton, now U.S. Secretary of State.
In mid-March, 2005, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Richard Myers told reporters in Kabul that the U.S. Defense Department was studying the feasibility of such permanent military bases. At the end of March, the U.S. military announced that it was spending $83-million on its two main air bases in Afghanistan, Bagram Air Base north of Kabul and Kandahar Air Field in the south of the country.
A few weeks after this series of U.S. statements, in April 2005, during a surprise visit to Kabul by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Afghan President Hamid Karzai hinted at a possible permanent U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, saying he had also discussed the matter with President Bush. Rumsfeld refused to say whether or not the U.S. wanted permanent American military bases in Afghanistan, saying the final decision would come from the White House.
As of July 2008, hundreds of millions of dollars were being spent on permanent infrastructure for foreign military bases in Afghanistan, including a budget of $780-million to further develop the infrastructure at just the Kandahar Air Field base, described as “a walled, multicultural military city that houses some 13,000 troops from 17 different countries – the kind of place where you can eat at a Dutch chain restaurant alongside soldiers from the Royal Netherlands Army.” The Bagram Air Base, run by the U.S. military, was also expanding according to military officials, with the U.S military buying land from Afghan locals in different places for further expansion of the base.
As of January 2009, the U.S. had begun work on $1.6 billion of new, permanent military installations at Kandahar.
In February 2009, The Times reported that the U.S. will build two huge new military bases in southern Afghanistan. One will be built in Kandahar province near the Helmand border, at Maiwand – a place famous as the site of the destruction of a British army during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The other new U.S. military base will be built in Zabul, a province now largely controlled by the Taliban and criminal gangs.
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AFGHAN RESISTANCE TO PERMANENT U.S. MILITARY BASES
The idea of permanent U.S. military bases vexes many people in Afghanistan, which has a long history of resisting foreign invaders.
In May 2005, riots and protests that had started over a false report in Newsweek of U.S. interrogators desecrating the Koran and turned into the biggest anti-U.S. protests in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion included demands that the Kabul government reject U.S. intentions to create a permanent military presence in Afghanistan.
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Public opinion
Main article: International public opinion on the war in Afghanistan
Although the war was supported by most Americans, most people in the world oppose the war.
In a 47-nation June 2007 survey of global public opinion, the Pew Global Attitudes Project found considerable opposition to war.
In 41 of the 47 countries, pluralities want U.S. and NATO troops out of Afghanistan as soon as possible. In 32 out of 47 countries, clear majorities want this war over as soon as possible.
Majorities in 7 out of 12 NATO member countries say troops should be withdrawn as soon as possible.
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Afghan Election:
After Karzai’s alleged win of 54 per cent, which would prevent a run off with his rival, Abdullah Abdullah, over 400,000 votes had to be discounted for Karzai, and many more with hundreds of thousands of votes and polling ballots being accused of fraud.
Making the real turnout of the elections much lower than the official numbers, many nations criticizing the elections as Free but not fair.
Coalition in Afghanistan backs Karzai’s Strategy:
By Karen DeYoung, Washington Post , provided by San Jose Mercury News, Monday September 28, 2009.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other NATO foreign ministers, meeting Friday in New York with their Afghan counterpart, reached “consensus” that Karzai would probably “continue to be president,” whether through a runoff or as the legitimate winner of more than 50 percent of votes cast in disputed Aug.20 elections, an Obama administration official said.”
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International Politics – India’s General Election Results
May 16, 2009
By Padmini Arhant
Heartfelt Congratulations! to DR. Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi on the impressive victory and re-election of the Congress Party to lead the world’s largest democracy towards further progress and prosperity.
India is at the crossroads in the peace process particularly with the nuclear neighbor Pakistan, currently dealing with challenges threatening the national and international security. There is an opportunity for the nuclear nations to develop peaceful bilateral relationship and revive mutual trust as the foundation to promote trade, economic and cultural exchanges beneficial for the entire sub-continent.
Now is the time to lay the historic discord to rest and begin a new chapter by guiding the younger generations on both sides to coexist in harmony. The best strategy for prolonged peace in the region and global security is nuclear disarmament. Perhaps, it could begin in the Indian sub-continent leading other nuclear nations to follow suit. Such unprecedented move would be symbolic for the nation set free by the renowned pioneer of peace and non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi.
Indian leadership desperately required in the peaceful resolution of the Sri Lankan crisis. The escalating violence and the recent death toll among the minority Tamil civilian population are unacceptable. Again, there is no justification whatsoever in the ongoing military action by the Sri Lankan government focused on the minority Tamils’ displacement and replacing them with the Sinhalese settlement.
It’s incumbent on India to refrain from aiding the Sri Lankan government anyhow in the hostility and persecution of the minority Tamils. Sri Lanka well armed with ammunitions supplied by nations prioritizing profit over people needs no further assistance in the crime against humanity. History is testimony that when all things fail in securing equality and justice, uprising by marginalized population is a natural course of action against oppressive power.
However, violent means by the minority representatives are worthy of condemnation and India could play a decisive role in the peaceful negotiations between the two sides. Indian involvement would be legitimate considering the significant representation of Tamils in the southern Indian state of Tamilnadu.
It’s equally important for India to remain vigilant on the recent developments in the northern side of the border concerning Nepal and China’s unnecessary influence. In the other international matter, India should renounce any ties with the repressive regime, Burma. India’s continuous trade relationship with the nation in defiance of humanitarian laws and suppression of democracy raises credibility issue and potentially controversial for the world largest democracy.
Finally, the Congress government should expand attention to the poorest groups apart from the farmers in the society. Again, it’s imperative to provide housing, education, jobs and health care to those at the bottom of the socio-economic strata. India’s progress will truly be reflected when prosperity shared among all rather than the privileged few.
Best Wishes to DR. Manmohan Singh, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and the Congress Party in all endeavors.
Padmini Arhant
International Politics – India’s General Elections
May 7, 2009
The world’s largest democracy goes to the polls to elect a Parliamentary government that would govern the nation regarded as the other emerging economic power in Asia. India being the multilingual, multi-ethnic and diverse society is complex in political nature because of the multi-political factions representing a wide range of social, economic, political and environmental issues.
Further, such complexity diminishes the prospects for any major party to form a government. In the absence of absolute majority, the winning party often forced to forge alliance with their enemy’s enemy and earn the title Coalition government resembling the democratic outcome in Israel, Germany and Australia to name a few around the world.
Indian election like any other electoral process is not devoid of controversies and the highly decorated stage performances by political figures. In addition, the involvement of celebrities as surrogates is all too familiar for political enthusiasts. The interesting feature of the Indian election is the massive participation of the rural and the impoverished segment of the population prominently left behind in the rising economic prosperity prevalent among the society’s middle class. Obviously, the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots is the topic for many contenders to deal with during any political debates and public appearances.
Do the electorate buy what the political candidates and the representatives offer while seeking their votes?
Even though, the literacy rate among the rural and the poor electorate may not meet the international standard, one should never underestimate the political knowledge of the struggling class in the society. Unfortunately, the plight of this populace also exploited for political reasons by many aspiring rookie and experienced political rivals alike, in concurrence with the regular politics found anywhere.
India has come a long way and dealt with great many challenges since independence. In the past decade, the tremendous economic and social progress is transparent in the lower income and middle class population. The achievements in science and technology has been instrumental in the impressive economic growth despite the politics related to outsourcing and the growing , well educated youth population form a valuable asset in strengthening the present and future economic security.
The country is experiencing revolutionary demographic shifts among the rural and urban population creating opportunities for continuous productivity. Nevertheless, prosperity accompanied by problems is a common phenomenon for developing nations in a competitive global economy. With the steady economic growth, the inflationary rate requires constant monitoring in correlation with the free market demand and supply factor. Besides, the sustainable population growth strategy would ease the burden on urban development, industrial expansion and ultimately the environmental goals.
The rural population has been disadvantaged in the globalization trend directly affecting the farming community and served a platform for the ruling party to win the previous election. Most states prioritized commercial sector over agriculture and abandoned the farmers forcing many to commit suicide, while others moved to industrial towns and urban areas in search of jobs.
Meanwhile, the aggressive promotion of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by the multinational corporations proved harmful to the crops apart from being an environmental hazard. Organic food producers are in strife due to produce grown with chemical fertilizers arriving from the Chinese border and sold in the Indian fruit and vegetable markets at an unbeatable price. Above that, the global warming has taken toll with extreme weather conditions varying from severe drought to flooding caused by monsoon rain damaging the crops and vegetation.
Social and economic disparities are visibly widespread among the poorest in both rural and urban parts of the country. It is important for the new government to address abject poverty, disease, lack of education, medical facilities and provide better living conditions starting with the supply of pure drinking water and decent dwellings.
There is an urgent requirement for investments in infrastructure and environmental friendly energy programs that would minimize oil dependency while promoting efficient transportation. It would be beneficial to the overall economy.
In the geopolitical sphere, India is grappling with tensions all around the borders particularly with the nuclear neighbor Pakistan and the rising instability within that nation from Taliban insurgency and other terror networks. The Indian side of Kashmir is relatively calm and reflected in the recent democratic state election.
On the northern side, the political turmoil in Nepal is a matter of concern due to the successful influence of China on the existing power, The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). Moreover, China’s illegal invasion and occupation of Tibet has led to the fleeing of Tibetan refugees to India. India has responded well to the humanitarian call in accepting and providing asylum to the Tibetan population.
Across the Indian Ocean, the escalating ethnic cleansing by Sri Lankan government is a contentious issue for the people in TamilNadu, South India.
Amidst the election excitement, the political candidates capitalized on the Mumbai terror attack and were extravagant in the divisive politics with some of them exclusively targeting the Muslim population in the society, regardless of India being the second largest Muslim nation in the world.
If the fundamentalists in BJP and other political parties indulge in polarization, it would be detrimental for national security upon their election. Likewise, the incumbent Congress Party must refrain from aiding Sri Lankan government in their hostility and persecution of the ethnic Tamil population to settle past political scores. Such action could similarly lead to the disintegration of the society with a significant representation of Tamils in the southern Indian state of Tamilnadu.
Indian politics deserve a breath of fresh air with young intellectuals in leadership role to guide the nation utilizing modern and innovative concepts in all aspects. Perhaps, it’s time for the Indian society to renounce dynasty, nepotism and seniority based politics.
India sought freedom on the premise of non-violence and relentless peace process initiated by the founding father and leader Mahatma Gandhi. Any effort by the political factions to dismantle the unity and peace foundation would be disastrous for the country with enormous potential. India is a secular nation and remains so now and in the future.
Every vote counts and matter in a democracy. The citizens of democratic nations privileged with the power to elect a government of the people, for the people and by the people should never discard the exclusive right.
On that note, I wish the world’s largest democracy everlasting peace, progress and prosperity.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
The Oscillating Pendulum
November 16, 2008
The historic election is over and the new administration is in the process of recruiting members for key positions.
It is still important to reflect on the role of media and news organization in this electoral process.
Extreme media bias towards one candidate and overwhelmingly condescending against another caused a great deal of frustration, anger and disappointment among the electorate.
The anti-media sentiments reverberated all over the cyberspace.
Media hype was intense during the Democratic Primary election.
Since I was vigorously involved during that time, I have great memories that will remain part of me for a long time.
There were several incidents but some of them have a greater impact on individuals, more severely than others do.
Mainly due to the smear tactics and negative attacks hurled on people like me entering the political campaign for the first time as surrogates, representatives or grass root supporters.
One particular incident is worth the spotlight because it is about the media personalities conducting themselves as the world authority in all matter especially the political race such as the Presidential election.
Ironically, in this Presidential election they were repeatedly wrong with both Democratic and Republican nominees.
Why?
They followed the conventional wisdom and failed to see or accept new possibilities and developments.
Only to steer course once the tide turned in a different direction sweeping anything and everything on the way.
The spotlight is precisely on MSNBC.
The network that took lot of heat from the public and rightfully so, for being excessively in favor of Obama Campaign in an unprecedented appeasement of the candidate then, Senator Barack Obama.
It is noteworthy that MSNBC initially rejected the candidate Senator Barack Obama against their preferred candidate, Senator Hillary Clinton.
Likewise, the venerable New York Times endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton way back on January 25, 2008 as the “IDEAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.” and
Emphasizing that President-elect Barack Obama was not qualified in that respect,
Quoted by the recent Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman through national and international telecast on CNN.
I was devastated to note the hasty decision by a leading and the most respectable news organization such as New York Times.
Immediately, I made my first and only contact with the cable media outlet, Free Speech and World Link Television expressing my emotion on the endorsement.
Here is extract of the email titled The Moment of Truth sent to Amy Goodman of Free Speech Television on January 25, 2008, 12.22P.M PST , in that context:
“This morning the endorsement by New York Times is another way of indicating that Senator Clinton will be the future President of the United States.
Senator Clinton made many overtures in her recent T.V talk show appearances that I should go away and abandon the Obama campaign to suppress the Iraq war issue finally.
The impression I have is,
If Senator Obama becomes the nominee, there is absolutely no turning back for him as he would win the general election.”
———————————————-
In reality, what exactly happened prior to our President-elect Barack Obama establishing himself as a formidable candidate in the election is attention worthy.
First, my personal experience with MSNBC goes back to the days when the incumbent administration laid out the strategy to sell the unpopular Iraq war to the public and the United Nations.
I happened to be one of the unfortunate victims of mandatory public opinion survey superficially conducted by the administration to gain public support for the illegal invasion of Iraq.
This matter verified and confirmed truthful by the Institute for Public Policy, a non-profit organization, following the claim in my blog post during the Democratic Primary election.
With the relentless pro-Iraq war rally from networks such as MSNBC and FOX, the administration successfully launched their mission.
Although, there were other major networks equally involved in drumming their support for the Iraq war…
MSNBC displayed no qualms in abruptly eliminating dissent like the popular and visibly democratic, none other than their own talk show host, Mr. Phil Donahue.
My first unpleasant experience with MSNBC is regarding the anti-Iraq war message conveyed to the administration in response to the mandatory survey.
In my statement, I clearly emphasized the blunder by the administration on their commitment to wage war against Iraq and,
The consequences ensuing in terms of loss of lives, economic costs, national reputation and everything else that followed the disastrous war.
The born again liberal MSNBC demonized and targeted me as anti-patriotic with spam mail flooding my Inbox.
Further, the obscene materials via virus corrupted my database, forcing me to abandon the hard disk for a new one.
It was nothing short of homegrown terrorism for my anti-war position.
It is important to cite the article by Victor Davis Hanson, A senior fellow at the Hoover Institution,
Ref. San Jose Mercury News, November 13, 2008.
The article quotes “Most polls reveal that American voters believed that their media was biased in favor of Obama.
The popular journalist Chris Matthews even bragged that it was his job responsibility to see that Obama succeeds.”
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Chris Matthews brags about his support to Obama during the election.
It might be the case but the evidence is against such claim.
Chris Matthews threw his weight not until the candidate Barack Obama proven the Democratic nominee against all odds.
Mr. Chris Matthews clearly knows about what this is.
During the fiercely battled Democratic Primary election, Nevada Primary & Caucus held on Saturday, January 19, 2008.
I published the following blog post that morning 4.19 am EST, my time 1.19am PST causing fury and anger among the Clinton campaign and their surrogates in the media, especially Chris Matthews of MSNBC.
Post from Padmini Arhant’s Blog: – www.my.barackobama.com
Electability Factor
By "Voice behind the movement" – Jan 19th, 2008 at 4:19 am EST
Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content
Electability Factor:
The voters should focus on the electability factor when casting the vote in the primaries for their respective candidates.
The candidate, who can eventually lead the Democratic Party to victory in the general election in November 2008, will be the ideal nominee.
There will be various issues discussed and debated between the two parties during the general election.
Given the track record of the Republican Party in the general election, the Democratic Party would be well positioned with a candidate voting against the Iraq war.
Senator Barack Obama had consistently opposed the Iraq war.
He voted for the funding of the Iraq war to protect the interest and security of our brave young men and women in harm’s way and enable Iraq stabilize as a sovereign nation ultimately leading to the withdrawal of our troops.
The illegitimate Iraq war has been a major catastrophe for our national economy, security, credibility to deal with International crisis, and our image as the leader of the new world.
The Republican Party nominee voting for the Iraq war could be challenged and held accountable by the Democratic Party nominee voting against the war.
The victory strategy for the Democratic Party in the general election should be on the premise of Iraq war to honor the sacrifice by brave young men and women who lost their lives and all those currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The victory for Democratic Party would then truly represent the ‘real change’ against the ‘status quo’ or the establishment.
Padmini Arhant – Copyrights reserved
OBAMA SUPPORTER
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To emphasize again, the blog post created enormous outrage with the Clinton campaign bitterly complaining about my attempt to influence the election negatively on that date.
As usual, mainstream media lend support to the power and establishment expresses their reaction in a manner to warn a private citizen like myself to stay off the campaign trail.
Like the BET CEO, Mr. Robert Thompson a close Clinton surrogate, with his exclusive appearance on–
The Situation Room, hosted by Mr. Wolf Blitzer, on CNN specifically advised me by referring to me as,
The “woman of color” to cease my campaigning for the candidate then, Senator Barack Obama.
The Nevada Primary was won by Senator Hillary Clinton.
President-elect Barack Obama had the caucus victory.
The MSNBC coverage on Saturday, January 19, 2008, the day Nevada results was declared, is evidence to the outburst of a media commentator against a private citizen.
Chris Matthews, in particular admonished me directly by wagging his finger and in uttermost condemnation of my interference in the Presidential election.
He said, “This is not a horse race for betting. It is a serious Presidential race.
Individuals with no knowledge or experience should stay out of political campaigns.”
It was a clear indication that individuals like me have no place in politics or public forum.
The sentiment was shared by another MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell who initially tried to remain objective during the discussion with Clinton aid about that particular blog post that morning.
However, she later on made a bizarre remark about a possible substance abuse by me because of my daring attempts to envision a future with an African American Presidency.
Only, if Andrea Mitchell would have played a similar role in critiquing her spouse and the ex-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan,
Equally responsible for neglecting the warnings of the economic turmoil that nearly brought the domestic and international financial markets on the brink of collapse,
The recent bailouts may not have been necessary.
Thankfully, we are living in a technology driven age, where such incidents cannot possibly be buried in a time capsule with a hope of never being found until it becomes irrelevant.
All these blatant attacks and innuendoes were to demoralize me and debilitate my effort in spreading the message of our movement.
I owe my passion, commitment and drive to get further involved in the campaign to my children especially my eleven-year-old child.
He encouraged me to stand up to partisan politics and send a strong message to commentators like Chris Matthews, Andrea Mitchell and the likes,
That, ordinary people can do extraordinary things in life.
In fact, he was targeted as well with a nickname sidekick by the President-elect Barack Obama’s opponents for his exceptional role in exploiting the web technology with the publication of my blog posts.
My son’s advice to me was, not to rest until Senator Barack Obama is elected "The President" Barack Obama.
I am glad and proud of my son’s advice to fight against the odds given the extreme stressful situation at that time.
Surely, children have a better sense of rationality enabling them to behold a different vision for the world.
They realize the burden on them with respect to the national debt, credibility and financial security as future taxpayers of the economy.
Prior to the election coverage, MSNBC’s show —
The Countdown by Keith Olbermann targeted the American idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar and
Sadistically mocked him almost on a daily basis to survive competition with condescending remarks through critic like Maria Melito.
Maria Melito in her brutal attack against Sanjaya Malakar claimed that the reason for Sanjaya to gain unprecedented votes was because…
“The people of his ethnicity i.e. India, voting for him never had anyone rise to the hall of fame in history.”
Sadly, such comment reflected ignorance as anyone born on Planet Earth, should know the ancient Indus valley civilization which is India is not new to fame and wisdom.
The land in South East Asia is the origin and birth place of celestial beings like the Holy Lord Krishna, Holy and Graceful Gautama Buddha and sentient beings of the twentieth century such as Mahatma Gandhi —
The noble soul, the light of the world, the mentor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Nelson Mandela, preached and practiced non-violence, peace and unity that are oxy-moron in the contemporary world.
Not excluding other notable scholars like Nobel laureates…
The Poet Rabindra Nath Tagore for literature in 1913 and DR. Har Gobind Khorana for Physiology or Medicine in 1968 to name a few.
Besides, Sanjaya Malakar fan base sprawled across the social spectrum as demonstrated by his young admirer, Ashley Ferl awestruck during his performance.
Young Ashley Ferl, was in return summoned to the Senate for rigorous interrogation by the elected officials…
Prioritizing investigation of genuine admiration for a young performer on the national stage over serious issues like Abu Ghraib, Katrina and deliberate exposure of CIA overt operative Mrs. Valerie Plaim.
To revert to the article by Victor Davis Hanson, ref. San Jose Mercury News, Nov 13, 2008, titled — “The kind of real ‘hope and change’ we can believe in for next year”
“The media, meanwhile should be careful not to abandon fairness and discretion for short-term political advantage.
When the wheel turns – and it too, always does – what you did or said will come back to haunt you.”
I could not agree more with the affirmation.
I hope Chris Matthews and others learned a lesson or two from this historic political event.
When Change occurs, it happens all around much to the dismay of those consumed with fallacy and egocentrism regardless of the empire they reign.
The mainstream, far left and right media as well as some news organization with an exception of cable network like —
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”, “The Colbert Report” and “The Late Night Shows”,
Failed to meet the journalistic standards of objectivity and professionalism required in the presentation of views and analysis of any events particularly a Presidential election or for that matter, serious missions like the war.
The role of MSNBC and FOX in their relentless bashing of the candidates from both political aisles successfully drove the viewers to the cyberspace in search of…
Truth and Transparency desperately sought by people of the human race.
Whether it is young Sanjaya Malakar reaching for the stars or young Senator from the State of Illinois, President-elect Barack Obama successfully taking a shot at the highest office on land,
Their audacity of hope was challenged with rhetoric filled with racial slur, negative attacks and divisive politics to deny them the spotlight.
It is admirable that both individuals displayed a decorum signifying unity and poise seen unlike before in dealing with excessive criticism from the entities exhibiting power in the corporate media and Public office.
United States is a nation of immigrants from all over the world.
Any social progress to the satisfaction of all those feeling disfranchised is attainable only if the media and the elected officials recognize their share of responsibility in the service to democracy.
Further, the author of the cited article, Mr. Victor Davis Hanson, concluded with the following passage:
“Obama and his giddy Democratic majority sound like they think they will now be novel exceptions to these iron laws of politics, as if they really believe their hype that they are the “change” we have been waiting for, with cosmic power to stop the planet from heating and the seas from rising.
But the only real difference from the past old politics is that the present avatars of “hope and change” apparently don’t believe that the age-old adage – “The more things change, the more they remain the same” – will really apply to them as well.”
————————————————————–
It does not require the cosmic power to stop the planet form heating and the seas from rising.
It is doable by the ordinary human power to respect life in general and act responsibly for their survival now and in the future.
Failing that,
Perhaps the cosmic power could influence the resisting human nature to preserve and protect the ecological balance necessary for the sustenance of the planet.
As for the age-old adage referenced above applying to the present avatars of ‘Hope and Change”,
It entirely depends on the agents of change and their target.
The age-old adage applies to those involved in cosmetic change rather than fundamental change, the ultimate goal and mission of the present avatars of “Hope and Change.”
Cosmetic change is delusional and beneficial for short-term gains affecting a selective few, hence it yields “more of the same” result.
Whereas, fundamental change target the philosophy of the institution as the sovereign power and,
Therefore, it is real, long lasting and universal.
As per the Hindu mythology, Almighty God Shiva is depicted the
“Lord of Destruction.”
Destruction is Deliverance for a New beginning with a divine commitment to depart from the age-old adage towards new-era prophecy, a divergence from
“The Oscillating Pendulum.” —
The significance and the sole purpose of the avatars of “Hope and Change.”
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Padmini Arhant – PadminiArhant.online
Padmini Arhant – Gaza War and Rafah Air Strike
Independent Free Palestine – Jan 2024 Speech
Celebration – Bright, Beautiful & Picturesque
Bright, Beautiful & Picturesque
Swastika – The Sacred Symbol – All is Well
Organic Intelligence Erring!
The ones flaunting the so-called organic intelligence with constant jibes at the allegedly artificial intelligence could perhaps seek assistance from the latter in spelling adjectives correctly to make sense of the message. Even basic spell check feature would serve the requirement.
The country is indeed precious not prescious than any individual, entity, political party, institution and organization.
Needless to say, it is applicable all around without exception.
Unlike the trend, smothered in hypocrisy beckoning others to do what is apparently unacceptable to selves to the extent of blasphemy.
Padmini Arhant
Get over the 🤚🏽✋✌🏼✌️✌🏿 🙏🏽🙏🏻🙏🏽🙏🙏🏿 mania!
Get over the mania!
🙏🏽🙏🏻🙏🏽🙏🙏🏿
mania as that is not going to deliver what is aimed at and desired in vain except confirming your asinine indulgence.Besides in politics such as Indian corrupt criminal signature trait is exclusively yours and no monkey see monkey do act can change it for it is attached to you like skin and bone.
Padmini Arhant
Padmini Arhant with Divinity Shiva
Celebration of Lord Krishna
Message to Humanity – Padmini Arhant
Spread peace and engage in non-violence. Speak truth with courage. Heed your conscience. Respect life. Serve your nation and people with honesty and integrity. Espouse human values and exemplify in deeds with care and compassion. Voice concern over injustice. Be part of the solution and not the problem. Love mankind and environment for universal harmony.
Peace is Eternal Bliss.Padmini Arhant
தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு 2022 நல் வாழ்த்துக்கள்! Tamil New Year 2022 Greetings!
Padmini Arhant and Roshni Greeted by the Brilliant Light in the Horizon
Words of Wisdom from Venerable Gautam Buddha
Words of Wisdom from Venerable Gautam Buddha
Tamil OM Symbol & Pranava Manthiram
Absolute Truth
Reunion with Divinity God Shiva at Holy Mt.Kailash 2019
Padmini Arhant interaction with God Shiva during Parikrama of Mt.Kailash
Padmini Arhant Kailash Lake Manasarovar Pilgrimage 2019
Padmini Arhant on Parikrama or Circumambulation of Mt. Kailash
ARHANT Family at Famous Taj Mahal
Gautam Buddha’s Words of Wisdom
Peace Pledge
