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Archive for March, 2008

Who you are, what you are

By: psr, 2008-03-13

Geraldine Ferraro, campaign adviser to Hillary Clinton, has resigned in the face of accusations of racism from the other democratic candidate, Barak Obama.

Ferraro’s comment in dispute was that part of the support that Obama has is due to the fact he is black.

This is not racism. This is a fact. It is entirely true that many people do base their vote on issues absolutely unrelated to the political program of the candidate they are voting. If the candidate is too short, too fat or too bald, he/she will be at a disadvantage over a candidate who is taller, slimmer and has hair. The same goes for other factors, such as the sex or race of the candidate.

If someone is voted because …

2008-03-13 | Braindead - General - World | Trackback | No Comments »

The curse of short-term memory

By: psr, 2008-03-12

Short term memory is the worst problem and enemy of the people of Spain, and it is also the best ally of indecent politicians. In the wake of the assassination last week of an ex-councillor of the Basque Country town of MondragÃ³n, several politicians claimed yesterday that alliances of their parties with ETA political brand “ANV” in several town halls should come to an end.

That’s strange… isn’t it? Why do they want to end such a relationship just now? Do they know now something they did not know earlier? Oh wait… don’t say that last week’s killing is related in any way. Is it because ANV refuses to denounce the assassination? Yes, this is why. …

2008-03-12 | Spain | Trackback | No Comments »

Political interpretation of assassinations

By: psr, 2008-03-09

Yesterday (March 8th 2008), the daughter of the slain former town councilor (IsaÃas Carrasco, killed by ETA last Friday), called for high turnout at today’s general elections in Spain, asked his father’s killing not to be used politically, and ended her speech cursing the assassins.

Her wish of high turnout is elemental and necessary, and it is also desirable in this general election, regardless of whether it is advantageous for one political party or another, as some say. The curse directed at the assassins is natural, understandable, and I fully back her in expressing it.

However, unfortunately, the very killing of her father, like every other terrorist killing (ETA’s or not), is a political act. Those killers intend to do politics by killing, and precisely for this reason, it …

2008-03-09 | Spain | Trackback | No Comments »

Terrorism in Elections

By: psr, 2008-03-08

Tomorrow, March 9th 2008, Spain goes to the polls to elect a new government. Yesterday, March 7th, 2008, criminal band ETA killed a person, IsaÃas Carrasco, who had served as a Mondragon town councilor with the socialist party (PSE).

This latest victim of ETA had no bodyguards, for his term as councilor had ended some time ago. He was an easy target of the assassins, as could be any of us.

The timing of this killing is significant. They picked precisely a time two days before the general election in Spain to commit their latest crime. Some analysts suggest this is because ETA wants to state “here we are, and we have the capability to kill”. Some say that ETA did this simply because it’s all …