Friday, April 16
100 By-elections
The National Electoral Commission has announced that due to electoral law violations by 130 candidates- many of them elected yesterday, that there would be up to 100 by-elections held soon. These are to replace those newly-elected members who the NEC is barring from taking their seats.
Perhaps it is too early for Uri to be celebrating yet.
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Perhaps it is too early for Uri to be celebrating yet.
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Thursday, April 15
South Korean election results
Results are coming in for the election today. According to the media exit polls the Uri Party (President Roh) is the clear winner, heading towards a majority in the assembly.
KBS has Uri on 152 seats (in a chamber of 299 seats- 243 contested seats, and 56 seats under proportional representation), the GNP on 123, the MDP of former President Kim Dae-jung on 10 seats, and newcomer the Democratic Labor Party also on 10.
Electoral commission counting as of one hour ago the GNP had 103 seats and Uri had 124.
Turnout was 59.9%, a 2.8% increase from elections four years ago.
Overall a disappointment for the conservative GNP, though thanks to the gaffe by the Chairman of the Uri party last week, it wasn't the wipeout first expected.
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KBS has Uri on 152 seats (in a chamber of 299 seats- 243 contested seats, and 56 seats under proportional representation), the GNP on 123, the MDP of former President Kim Dae-jung on 10 seats, and newcomer the Democratic Labor Party also on 10.
Electoral commission counting as of one hour ago the GNP had 103 seats and Uri had 124.
Turnout was 59.9%, a 2.8% increase from elections four years ago.
Overall a disappointment for the conservative GNP, though thanks to the gaffe by the Chairman of the Uri party last week, it wasn't the wipeout first expected.
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He's bad, he's bad- we know it, and she's not much better
As we all know, the Prince of Pop is facing charges of child molestation, and there was a media frenzy over the case a few months ago, then little sister, Janet flashed at the Super Bowl, and all of the media attention moved away from the strangest Jackson.
This week more allegations were made against Jackson.
Janet appeared on Saturday Night Live and flashed her right breast again- this time it was covered by pixels.
Spoofing Dr Rice hasn't stopped the negative publicity over poor record sales for her new album- or the renewed media attention in her brother.
Maybe Janet better flash her left breast somewhere and help out her brother again- though if she does, what will she flash if he is convicted?
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This week more allegations were made against Jackson.
Janet appeared on Saturday Night Live and flashed her right breast again- this time it was covered by pixels.
Spoofing Dr Rice hasn't stopped the negative publicity over poor record sales for her new album- or the renewed media attention in her brother.
Maybe Janet better flash her left breast somewhere and help out her brother again- though if she does, what will she flash if he is convicted?
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Wednesday, April 14
Axis of evil-North Korea, Syria and New Zealand?
The Korean Central Newsagency of the DPRK (North Korea) is site well worth looking at for a laugh- all of those words we thought were dead are still being recycled there.
Two interesting stories there grabbed my attention- the first was the kind words of the Syrian PM Muhammad Nazi Otri, when meeting the new North Korean ambassador Kim Pyong Nam. He said Kim Jong Il was wisely leading the struggle of the Korean people against imperialism and for the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation, and that Syria would make every possible effort to further develop friendly and cooperative relations with the DPRK.
The North Koreans are running out of friends Libya, Pakistan and China (though they are still the closest allies the North have, they are a lot less willing to carry the can for the North these days.). Syria seems to one of the few countries left where a senior member of the government is willing to declare friendship.
One other country that wants to create socialist utopia is New Zealand. It seems that they are going to start with children and animals with the DPRK-New Zealand Friendship Association starting a sister school programme. Taesong Middle School No. 1 has been selected as the first school in this programme in the North.
This is obviously the school where the children get food! Perhaps the idea is that the New Zealander kiddies will send their school lunches to the kids in the North.
This is the kind of plan that Helen Clark should be ashamed by- what could she possibly think that the teachers in Taesong Middle School could share with the children of New Zealand?
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Two interesting stories there grabbed my attention- the first was the kind words of the Syrian PM Muhammad Nazi Otri, when meeting the new North Korean ambassador Kim Pyong Nam. He said Kim Jong Il was wisely leading the struggle of the Korean people against imperialism and for the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation, and that Syria would make every possible effort to further develop friendly and cooperative relations with the DPRK.
The North Koreans are running out of friends Libya, Pakistan and China (though they are still the closest allies the North have, they are a lot less willing to carry the can for the North these days.). Syria seems to one of the few countries left where a senior member of the government is willing to declare friendship.
One other country that wants to create socialist utopia is New Zealand. It seems that they are going to start with children and animals with the DPRK-New Zealand Friendship Association starting a sister school programme. Taesong Middle School No. 1 has been selected as the first school in this programme in the North.
This is obviously the school where the children get food! Perhaps the idea is that the New Zealander kiddies will send their school lunches to the kids in the North.
This is the kind of plan that Helen Clark should be ashamed by- what could she possibly think that the teachers in Taesong Middle School could share with the children of New Zealand?
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North Koreans escape- briefly
A 23 year old North Korean soldier managed to get over the fence of the South Korean embassy in Beijing- to seek asylum.
The Chinese police however managed to reach him and take him away.
Due to an agreement between the PRC and the DPRK, on refugees from North Korea, he will probably be returned to Pyongyang very soon, where you can just imagine the welcoming party they will have planned for a soldier who went AWOL to escape to the capitalist South.
In another attempt to escape the largest prison in the world, 24 North Koreans attempting to enter Mongolia, to claim asylum at the South Korean embassy, were shot at by Chinese border guards. This left one dead, six missing and resulted in the arrest of the other 17.
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The Chinese police however managed to reach him and take him away.
Due to an agreement between the PRC and the DPRK, on refugees from North Korea, he will probably be returned to Pyongyang very soon, where you can just imagine the welcoming party they will have planned for a soldier who went AWOL to escape to the capitalist South.
In another attempt to escape the largest prison in the world, 24 North Koreans attempting to enter Mongolia, to claim asylum at the South Korean embassy, were shot at by Chinese border guards. This left one dead, six missing and resulted in the arrest of the other 17.
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13 year old OK'd for sex change by Australian Family Court
The Australian Family Court has just astounded me! They have ruled in favor of a 13 year old girl having a sex change operation to become a boy!
CNN is reporting that Chief Justice Alastair Nicholson has said that it is in the best interests of the girl, because she was raised as a boy by her father! What was wrong with him? (Both the father and the judge)
'Alex'- the girl- is a ward of the state, and it appears that a NSW government department supported the case for the change. This once again proves that the Children's Services Dep't in NSW needs to have a radical overhaul.
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CNN is reporting that Chief Justice Alastair Nicholson has said that it is in the best interests of the girl, because she was raised as a boy by her father! What was wrong with him? (Both the father and the judge)
'Alex'- the girl- is a ward of the state, and it appears that a NSW government department supported the case for the change. This once again proves that the Children's Services Dep't in NSW needs to have a radical overhaul.
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US Presidential Candidates
Take a look a look at this: the 'President Match' feature of the AOL Election2004 site allows you to input your opinions on a sliding scale on issues, and then it ranks the candidates- no independents yet, according to how closely they match with your beliefs.
Sadly, it seems that I rate closer to Kerry, with a 57% rating, compared to 47% for Bush.
I have the distinct feeling that some of the social issues (and there are a lot of them in the 'quiz'), are more heavily weighted than the economic ones...
In AOL Time-Warner's opinion, which question has a higher value-"Oppose or favor increasing the minimum wage" (I oppose it) or "Oppose or favor a Constitutional ban on gay marriage"(I oppose this also)?
Is Kerry the favored candidate of the media group? Watching CNN, it is apparent that there wouldn't be any tears shed if Bush was to lose in November.
Try it out and let me know how you rate.
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Sadly, it seems that I rate closer to Kerry, with a 57% rating, compared to 47% for Bush.
I have the distinct feeling that some of the social issues (and there are a lot of them in the 'quiz'), are more heavily weighted than the economic ones...
In AOL Time-Warner's opinion, which question has a higher value-"Oppose or favor increasing the minimum wage" (I oppose it) or "Oppose or favor a Constitutional ban on gay marriage"(I oppose this also)?
Is Kerry the favored candidate of the media group? Watching CNN, it is apparent that there wouldn't be any tears shed if Bush was to lose in November.
Try it out and let me know how you rate.
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Tuesday, April 13
Foot-in-mouth disease
The chairman of the Uri Party, Chung Dong-young, has resigned both as chairman and candidate, just three days before the election. The Uri Party is backing President Roh.
He has been forced to resign over what I think is one of the most amazing cases of foot-in-mouth disease- he told elderly voters to stay at home, and not bother turning up to vote on Thursday!
The Uri Party gains the majority of its support from the under 30's in Korea, while the biggest supporters of the conservative GNP are those over 60.
With optional voting in place, all parties are also pushing a get out the vote campaign, as well as there message and candidates, however in an interview just over a week ago, Chung said that the elderly should take a rest on Thursday, and leave the decisions up to the youth of the country, because they are the future!
In a country where Confucian values are still strong, this was an amazingly miscalculated statement. There have been calls for his resignation from within the Uri Party since he made the remarks, and the voters seem to have turned against the Party since last week.
In polling before the interview, Uri had a commanding lead over the other parties, with over 50% support. In the latest polls taken, that support has dropped, so as to leave Uri and the GNP neck-and-neck.
While a drop in popularity was inevitable, given the support for the party over the impeachment process, to drop a lead like that in a week is just amazing.
When I read the interview and original story a week ago in the paper, I thought that he would either be out before the election, or that Uri would suffer at the polls. Now it looks like both may well happen.
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He has been forced to resign over what I think is one of the most amazing cases of foot-in-mouth disease- he told elderly voters to stay at home, and not bother turning up to vote on Thursday!
The Uri Party gains the majority of its support from the under 30's in Korea, while the biggest supporters of the conservative GNP are those over 60.
With optional voting in place, all parties are also pushing a get out the vote campaign, as well as there message and candidates, however in an interview just over a week ago, Chung said that the elderly should take a rest on Thursday, and leave the decisions up to the youth of the country, because they are the future!
In a country where Confucian values are still strong, this was an amazingly miscalculated statement. There have been calls for his resignation from within the Uri Party since he made the remarks, and the voters seem to have turned against the Party since last week.
In polling before the interview, Uri had a commanding lead over the other parties, with over 50% support. In the latest polls taken, that support has dropped, so as to leave Uri and the GNP neck-and-neck.
While a drop in popularity was inevitable, given the support for the party over the impeachment process, to drop a lead like that in a week is just amazing.
When I read the interview and original story a week ago in the paper, I thought that he would either be out before the election, or that Uri would suffer at the polls. Now it looks like both may well happen.
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Monday, April 12
Indonesian Travel Warning
The Indonesian Government has issued a travel warning advising Indonesian to avoid non-essential travel to Britain, due to the threat of terrorist attacks!
Three words spring to mind on reading this- 'pot', 'kettle' and 'black'.
This is the same Indonesian government who has complained about the travel warnings issued by a number of countries including Australia, the US and Britain following the Bali bombings.
The Indonesians claim that following the arrest of terrorist suspects in London last week, and the Madrid bombings in March, that a serious risk is present to its citizens.
They are probably more at risk working in Indonesia, at say a nightclub or 5 star hotel...
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Three words spring to mind on reading this- 'pot', 'kettle' and 'black'.
This is the same Indonesian government who has complained about the travel warnings issued by a number of countries including Australia, the US and Britain following the Bali bombings.
The Indonesians claim that following the arrest of terrorist suspects in London last week, and the Madrid bombings in March, that a serious risk is present to its citizens.
They are probably more at risk working in Indonesia, at say a nightclub or 5 star hotel...
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Sunday, April 11
Dancing candidates
On my way home this evening, I saw the funniest thing- a dancing candidate!
A candidate for the National Assembly, for my district, Ulsan, was campaigning in front of a major supermarket, on a very busy intersection. Behind him was a huge poster of himself, and next to him were four dancing girls! That's right he was dancing and waving in time to the music (coming from the giant speakers hooked up on top of his van) with attractive young girls- but only four, so as to follow the law in regards to volunteers on the hustings.
Would seeing a 60 year old man dancing on the street with 4 twenty-something girls ensure he got your vote? At least we know he'll have the energy for the job if he wins a seat!
Will this campaign tool take off in the west? Can you imagine John Howard dancing in the street with young girls in an effort to snare your vote? We all know that Peter Costello could (remember the Macarena on the Midday Show a few years back?), but Howard? Or for that matter almost any other member of parliament...
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A candidate for the National Assembly, for my district, Ulsan, was campaigning in front of a major supermarket, on a very busy intersection. Behind him was a huge poster of himself, and next to him were four dancing girls! That's right he was dancing and waving in time to the music (coming from the giant speakers hooked up on top of his van) with attractive young girls- but only four, so as to follow the law in regards to volunteers on the hustings.
Would seeing a 60 year old man dancing on the street with 4 twenty-something girls ensure he got your vote? At least we know he'll have the energy for the job if he wins a seat!
Will this campaign tool take off in the west? Can you imagine John Howard dancing in the street with young girls in an effort to snare your vote? We all know that Peter Costello could (remember the Macarena on the Midday Show a few years back?), but Howard? Or for that matter almost any other member of parliament...
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Against All Enemies- the movie!
It appears that Richard Clarke's book against the Bush White House is to be made into a movie.
Sony Pictures have purchased the movie rights to the book- we can imagine how Bush, Cheney and others are going to come across.
John Calley, who worked on the 1976 Watergate drama "All the President's Men" at Warner Brothers, will make the movie.
Is a cinema protest in order? "Sony is anti-GOP"...
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Sony Pictures have purchased the movie rights to the book- we can imagine how Bush, Cheney and others are going to come across.
John Calley, who worked on the 1976 Watergate drama "All the President's Men" at Warner Brothers, will make the movie.
Is a cinema protest in order? "Sony is anti-GOP"...
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August 6 PDB and Rice's 9/11 Commission Appearance
Well, the White House has now released a censored version of the Presidential Daily Briefing Memo of August 6 2001 that was called for by members of the 9/11 Commission.
If the Democrats were expecting the PDB to announce that it was known that there would be an attack using airliners in New York and Washington, then they will be sorely disappointed.
There is really only a compilation of facts from the intelligence community, most of which were already known, such as there were some al-Qaeda members who were American citizens, and that there were attempts to recruit Muslim-Americans to the cause of al-Qaeda.
The mention of hijackings which had some Democratic members of the 9/11 panel salivating when interrogating Dr Rice was of possible hijackings in the traditional, pre-9/11 sense- hijacking the plane, and holding the passengers hostage until demands were met. In the case of al-Qaeda this was thought to be the release of those jailed for the 1993 WTC bombings, including Omar Abdel Rahman, the blind cleric.
It is true that Condoleezza Rice's appearance before the commission didn't set the world on fire. She was polite, well spoken and answered most questions well.
As I was watching her appearance live on CNN at 1 in the morning here in Korea, I was struck by the was she held herself against sometimes very rough treatment, especially by Kerrey. Answering sometimes hostile questions for about 3 hours straight has to be tough.
Overall then, while she didn't sink, she didn't really swim either- she was treading water for three hours.
However, I think that she is a great asset to Bush, and I believe that, as some other people have said to me, she would make a great replacement for Cheney as the VP candidate on the 2004 ticket. What a trump card for the Republicans- the first African-American and the first woman candidate for the VP's office on a major party ticket. Democrats would be in lather- they can attack Cheney for his ties to Halliburton, but what could they use against Rice? There would be many members uncomfortable in attacking an African-American woman, for fear of turning off traditionally Democratic blocs.
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If the Democrats were expecting the PDB to announce that it was known that there would be an attack using airliners in New York and Washington, then they will be sorely disappointed.
There is really only a compilation of facts from the intelligence community, most of which were already known, such as there were some al-Qaeda members who were American citizens, and that there were attempts to recruit Muslim-Americans to the cause of al-Qaeda.
The mention of hijackings which had some Democratic members of the 9/11 panel salivating when interrogating Dr Rice was of possible hijackings in the traditional, pre-9/11 sense- hijacking the plane, and holding the passengers hostage until demands were met. In the case of al-Qaeda this was thought to be the release of those jailed for the 1993 WTC bombings, including Omar Abdel Rahman, the blind cleric.
It is true that Condoleezza Rice's appearance before the commission didn't set the world on fire. She was polite, well spoken and answered most questions well.
As I was watching her appearance live on CNN at 1 in the morning here in Korea, I was struck by the was she held herself against sometimes very rough treatment, especially by Kerrey. Answering sometimes hostile questions for about 3 hours straight has to be tough.
Overall then, while she didn't sink, she didn't really swim either- she was treading water for three hours.
However, I think that she is a great asset to Bush, and I believe that, as some other people have said to me, she would make a great replacement for Cheney as the VP candidate on the 2004 ticket. What a trump card for the Republicans- the first African-American and the first woman candidate for the VP's office on a major party ticket. Democrats would be in lather- they can attack Cheney for his ties to Halliburton, but what could they use against Rice? There would be many members uncomfortable in attacking an African-American woman, for fear of turning off traditionally Democratic blocs.
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