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Foreign AffairsRe: Zimbabwe Minister Outraged At Saharareporters And Nigeria (pics) - Cramjones by johnie: 4:16am On Jun 02, 2015
Walexey:
That was plain stupid and childish imagine towards d end " where's that Zuma sef" if SR is truly a professional body they could lose their jobs.
Lose their jobs?

The founder of SR was the main culprit at the event. He was the one shouting and harrassing Mugabe when he entered the car.

He chose a female reporter to gain access and then piggyback to Mugabe. A male reporter would not have been allowed to get that far.

When SR founder harassed a Nigerian minister at a townhall meeting in US, he was hailed.

Now he's taken his "home bad behaviour" outside people are beginning to notice.

He had better be called to order before it gets out of hand (I doubt that though).
PoliticsRe: Aisha Buhari’s Inauguration Wristwatch Cost £34,500 (N10, 453,000)-BreakingTimes by johnie: 5:45pm On Jun 01, 2015
Can someone tell me how much her ring costs?

Abi dat one na knock-off too?

shebi na the watch una still dey talk?
PoliticsRe: Photos From Osinbajo's Thanksgiving Service With Amaechi,others In Attendance by johnie: 5:08pm On Jun 01, 2015
FastShipping:
Imagine no single person with cowboy hat with black regalia in the crowd. grin grin grin
PYO and this his black regalia!
PoliticsRe: This Is Wickedness! See Amaechi In Dustbin(pix) by johnie: 3:16pm On Jun 01, 2015
iphanyiuma:
I don't know who is more stupiid between the op and amechi... You were busy giving the portrait different positions and taking pictures inside that filth... More grease to your elbow
I thought I was the only one who noticed this.
PoliticsRe: Senate President: Tinubu Frustrated As Saraki Emerges Front-runner by johnie: 9:18am On Jun 01, 2015
Caseless:
See the crumbs these guys serve us in the name of journalism. So AKUME is no more Tinubu's candidate like they have made us to believe, it is now Lawan.
Kontinu!
Lawan and Akume are running a joint ticket- Lawan for president and Akume Deputy.
PoliticsRe: Old Mama Who Donated N1m To Buhari, Pictured With Tinubu, Atiku And Buhari by johnie: 2:42am On May 31, 2015
Abeg, na only that wrapper she get?
PoliticsRe: Check Out This Epic Old School Photo Of Tinubu, Abacha And MKO Abiola by johnie: 2:07am On May 31, 2015
I wonder when exactly this picture was taken.

What is just after Abacha became HOS?
PoliticsRe: Photo: Imoke, Okorocha And Ngige Spotted Together by johnie: 1:38am On May 31, 2015
That was at Ojukwu's burial.
SportsRe: Is Nta Sport24 On Startimes Showing The U20 World Cup Live? by johnie: 10:00am On May 30, 2015
NTA sports (270) and ST Sports 2 (251) just showed Ghana VS Austria Live!

Match ended 1-1.

Ghana escaped by the skin of their teeth scoiring a penalty at the 90 mins!
PoliticsRe: Abubakar Sani Bello Sworn In By Mother-In-Law (photos) by johnie: 6:31pm On May 29, 2015
Is she crying?
PoliticsRe: Osibanjo's Daughter Denied Access To The Inauguration VIP Stage. by johnie: 11:36am On May 29, 2015
Why?

They should have arrived and taken their seats before the arrival of the dignitaries.

Mrs Osinbajo had to intervene before the children were allowed to follow them up the stairs.

Did Buhari's children arrive with him?
No, I believe they were seated long before their parents.

Osinbajo and his wife need to brush up quick!

Last night Osinbnajo had his GCON medal hanging (or if you like, hidden). under his sash.

I expected his wife to adjust this for him but she did not.

Protocol and etiquette!
TV/MoviesRe: Startimes Bouquet Adjustment And New Channels Announcement by johnie: 8:09pm On May 27, 2015
Did they remove DaVinci Learning?
PoliticsRe: What Foreigners Think About Nigeria's Fuel Crisis by johnie: 9:34am On May 25, 2015
JudismphD:
see the criminals putting us in this mess
Why are Tinubu and Otedola smiling while GMB is not?

huh

I guess this is a metaphor for the state of the country where GMB represents Nigeria which is currently being squezzed by the smiling-to-the-bank oil merchants.
PoliticsRe: 35 APC Senator-elect Endorse Saraki Senate President Candidacy by johnie: 6:00pm On May 23, 2015
ketiy77:
Bukola saraki is a northerner who only immigrated to the Independent country of the Kingdom of Western Nigeria. but for many years, the nigeria newspapers (osibanjo) have been telling lies about a stupid war. they are from Nigeria. they only cross over to Independent country of the Kingdom of Western Nigeria.


That why they dont know the history of the Independent country of the Kingdom of Western Nigeria.

They are just people who cross over the river niger. and they think, it is part of Nigeria.. because most people are illiterate in africa. When some of them cross over to places like ilorin, they think it is part of Nigeria.

And Osibanjo father inlaw was funny of telling lies in his newspapers. And making up fake story...

All of this are in the place... they migrate too..


They are people who went to another country, claiming it is part of their country.

https://oduuk.org.uk/Aafin_Olofa.jpg
https://www.erinilecommunity.com/wp-content/gallery/Exec/the%20elerin%20palace0001.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/11/Afin_Oba_Ajasse_Ipo.jpg
Aare Musiawa, is that you?
PoliticsRe: 35 APC Senator-elect Endorse Saraki Senate President Candidacy by johnie: 4:33pm On May 23, 2015
Is that Twitter.handle authentic?

The grammar is suspect.
The handle name (why include APC?) is suspect.
The picture is suspect.
PoliticsRe: Currency Tumbles As Venezuelans Look To Offload Bolivars by johnie: 3:55am On May 23, 2015
This is one of the countries Nigerians are quick to point to when removal or reduction of oil subsidy is suggested.

The scarcity of basic needs in that country is phenomenal!

They have even introduced a '666-like' smartcards to track citizens' purchase of these lacking essentials.

If only Nigerians could see and appreciate the full picture.
PoliticsRe: Top 10 'dodgy' Contracts Awarded Under Brf In Lagos State by johnie: 3:40am On May 23, 2015
How many of these projects were actually executed and completed?

NLanders living in the areas the projects are located should please confirm.
PoliticsRe: Fashola Praises Jonathan, Says He Saved Nigeria by johnie: 8:03am On May 22, 2015
illiad:
The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has again commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat at the March 28 polls.

Mr. Buhari, who gave the commendation in Abuja on Thursday when he received Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou, said Mr. Jonathan’s action turned around Nigeria’s nervous political process.
He said: “The Nigerien president purposely came to congratulate me on my victory and President Jonathan for the maturity and statesmanship that he exhibited by accepting that he had lost the election.

“His action actually doused tensions and averted crisis in Nigeria.

“Not only Africa but the world has commended the president for that because if he had disputed the elections, there would have been crisis in the country.

“That is what people don’t want, not only Nigerians but other countries. So, he came to commend President Jonathan for his courage and statesmanship.’’


www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/183439-nigeria-wouldve-been-in-crisis-if-jonathan-disputed-elections-buhari.html
Yesterday it was Fashola.

Today it is Buhari.

Tommorow?
PoliticsRe: Fashola Praises Jonathan, Says He Saved Nigeria by johnie: 6:35pm On May 21, 2015
shocked

Lobatan!

Wonderment!

So Fashola can say this?

The truth is gradually being revealed.

I expect to hear more after May 29.
PoliticsRe: Wanted:Yinka Odumakin, Publicity Secretary, Afenifere & Buhari Former Spokes man by johnie: 6:30pm On May 21, 2015
cirmuell:
The guy said he can't work with people surrounding Buhari, that's why he jumped ship.grin
You are right.

There are some people from the days of AD and Afenifere that Odumakin, Agbaje and some others will find it difficult to work with.

You know them now!
PoliticsRe: Breaking: Muazu Resigns As PDP Chairman by johnie: 3:16pm On May 20, 2015
Fayose responding on Channels TV.

... Welcomes resignationn say its normaal practice across the world.
PoliticsRe: Construction Work Begins On N325bn Lekki Seaport by johnie: 8:06am On May 20, 2015
stevecantrell:
Usually the rail line to all these projects are mapped out before the sites are commissioned. Lagos has serious problems on the way and many can't see that yet.
You and Grandstar are right.

That's the problem I have with the Lekki exp way expansion.

No BRT Lane!
No rail line!
Oversized roundabouts instead of bridges!

Looks like proper planning was not done.

I fear we are heading for a major traffic disaster on the road - that's if it is not here yet!
PoliticsRe: The World's Infamous Dictators… And How They Met Their Violent Ends by johnie(op): 5:38pm On May 07, 2015
CultureRe: Not Too Long Ago, Pupils Went To School Unclad In Some Parts Of Nigeria (photo) by johnie: 11:14am On May 07, 2015
Isn't the man arrowed in the picture Chief Obafemi Awolowo?
PoliticsRe: Buhari Social Program: Laudable, Laughable Or Dead On Arrival? by johnie: 4:43am On Apr 20, 2015
19naia:
The cost of feeding 300k students is not simply multiplied to match the bulk of 25million student..
Buying bulk for 25million can reduce the cost to much less per unit than was the cost oer unit for 300k students

You can reduce the total cost by half or more if you are feeding 25million...
Dont forget that a new demand for food to feed 25million students, will send the farms and food service sector into a boom which will in turn benefit the communities by giving them work.. More people will be certain that if they grow a crop, they will be sure to see income from selling it because of the demand to feed so many...
Imagine the poor students who have parents at home with no money or work.. All of a sudden there is a demand and money to pay for food service workers and farmers to produce... The child's father goes to farm a crop knowing he will be paid for every last peice of produce... The child's mother goes to work in food processing and/or food service to prepare the food.... Father gets paid, mother gets paid and then child eats at school and when he returns home, his father and mother can spend their earned money to buy the child other needed things.

And thus it is that the benefits will extend throughout the wider community... When more people are employed, they will have money and spend that money and every part of the market will see an increase in their business.. Even the people collecting rent, selling petrol, medicine, clothes, and all... The whole nation will experience better..

The end result will also bring more revenue to government as people will have more money to pay taxes or fees at governemt service outlets... Social service expenses make quite a huge positive effect on the entire economy.. Even the rich people benefit when the poor people see more money to spend at the rich people's big businesses...
The richest Shopping center business in USA, is the one that sells cheap items to the poorest people.. The customer base is huge because no shortage of poor people in the world needing cheap items to buy at Walmart..
When Telecommunications industry started setting up service to sell air time to the poorest people in small quantities for cheap with no need to buy a contract, their business swelled and the mogul for one of those companies rivaled the wealth of Bill Gates for a year or two...
Amazing economic advantage when money is spent to benefit the poorest people and make services accesible and affordable to them...
Interesting.

Persuasive.
PoliticsRe: Buhari Social Program: Laudable, Laughable Or Dead On Arrival? by johnie: 4:25am On Apr 20, 2015
anonimi:
Please go and find out how Jakande started IMPLEMENTING his campaign promises in 1979 of UPN's four cardinal programmes IMMEDIATELY after inauguration and even went over & above them.

That was the ACTION progressive governor who started BUILDING the metro rail before Buhari CANCELLED it and jailed the innocent yorubs man sad

That same rail project Thief'nuibu cabal's poster boy Fashola has been unable to implement after spending $1 billion to buy aloku metal scrap Toronto trains since 2011 shocked

What a bunch of 419ers!!!
I listened to the LAMATA CEO saying that testing of the Iganmu-Orile line will begin in 2016.

I am sure couldn't have made that statement publicly about a month ago (I.e before the elections)

When will the trains actually begin running fully?

The Lekki Expressway is still a nightmare. When will the people get a respite?
PoliticsNow That Lagos And FG Are Aligned... by johnie(op): 7:56am On Apr 13, 2015
One of the campaign planks of the APC in the 2015 election particularly in Lagos has been the need for the state to be aligned with the centre.

Over the years, Governor Fashola has blamed the incompetence or political tricks of PDP for some of the problems of Lagos State.

Now that Lagos and the FG would be in the hands of APC, the following issues require immediate attention:

1. Special Status for Lagos

"Advancing reasons why Lagos voters should reject the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Fashola, who noted that the state once served as the Federal Capital Territory, recalled the promise made by a former Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, that Lagos would remain the nation’s commercial capital and one of its nerve centres.

According to the Governor, the Head of State noted that “in terms of servicing the present infrastructure alone the committed amount of money and effort required will be such that Lagos State will not be ready to cope.” Fashola added however, “But we coped at great sacrifice”.

Governor Fashola also quoted the late Head of State as saying, “It will even be unfair to expect the state to bear this heavy burden on its own. It is therefore necessary for the Federal Government to continue to sustain the substantial investment in the area. The port facilities and other economic activities in the Lagos area have to be expanded”.

Other commitments which the former Head of State made concerning Lagos, Governor Fashola said, included that the need for the Federal Government “to maintain a special defence and security arrangement in Lagos which would henceforth be designated a special area”, adding that “the arrangements would be carefully worked out and written into the new constitution. Kaduna and Port Harcourt are to be accorded similar status and designated as Special Areas”

He noted with dismay, “Remember that since the capital of Nigeria was moved from Lagos 24 years ago in December 1991, Lagos has been abandoned by the Federal Government. Ask yourself when the last major new road in Lagos was built by the Federal Government. It was the 3rd Mainland Bridge completed in 1990”, adding, “This is not in accord with the spirit of the promise made to Lagos when the Federal Government first declared Abuja as the capital in 1976.

http://nigershowbiz.com/constitution-amendment-fashola-canvasses-state-police-special-status-for-lagos/

2. Lagos indigenes should get senior ministerial posts not junior minister positions

"The Lagos State Chapter of PDP has described the reaction of Governor Fashola to ministerial appointees in the State as a step taken in bad faith and as an attempt to divert attention away from his inadequacies.

The Governor was reported during his unpopular celebration of days in Office to have criticised the appointment of Mr. Aganga as a minister representing Lagos State and also that Senator Obanikoro has got merely a junior ministerial portfolio. The Governor particularly accussed the President of not giving enough support to the State. The party notes that it has become convenient for Governor Fashola to always attack PDP or Federal Government at such functions.

According to the Lagos PDP "Governor Fashola is bringing up this issue of indigeneship in the State Politics to divert attention away from his inadequacies in Government. Indeed a substantial part of the so-called celebration was used on raising the petty issue of indigeneship instead of the Governor to showcase his administration's actual scorecard in the last 2500 days.

Unfortunately for the Governor, he has only re echoed his hatred for non indigenes living in the State. We are not quick to forget the unprovoked humiliation of Ibos and Hausas on the Streets of Lagos. Ironically, the same Governor is silent on the Proprietary of Remi Tinubu representing Lagos State at the Senate. Remi Tinubu is not a Lagos indigene.

It is thus wise for Governor Fashola to jettisson this Unilateral and infamous pursuit of non-indigenes in the State"

http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/142828/1/dont-blame-fg-for-your-failure-lagos-pdp-tells-gov.html

3. State Police

Speaking on "Options and Strategies for Restructuring the Nigeria Police Force," at a public hearing on Police Reform in Nigeria, in Lagos, Fashola said: "The opposition to the establishment of state police structures in Nigeria has largely been driven by an exaggerated, misleading and unfounded precedent focusing on the abuse of state police through political interference and manipulation."

He noted, however, that "upgrading the existing police system as the central law enforcement institution in the country cannot occur in isolation. It must be part of an overarching restructuring of the total law enforcement infrastructure, including a reform of the criminal-justice system insulated from politics.

"It is, therefore, with total conviction that I believe that there is a need for the establishment of state police. If we say we are practising true federalism, then each constituent part of the federation such as the states, municipalities and federal government all have their autonomy for their daily affairs, while issues like international affairs, common currency, defence and other unifying interests are vested in the Federal Government."

- http://odili.net/news/source/2012/may/18/338.html
- http://nigershowbiz.com/constitution-amendment-fashola-canvasses-state-police-special-status-for-lagos/

4. Repairs of Airport Road

"The Lagos State Government, Friday, blamed the deplorable state of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road on politics.

The State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, stated this at an interactive session with media executives and editors late Friday, in Lagos.

The airport is the busiest in Nigeria accounting for more than half of her foreign flights. The road leading to it is, however, in a very bad state.

Both the road and the airport belong to the Federal Government.

Mr. Fashola blamed the state government’s failure to either rehabilitate or reconstruct the road on politics. He noted that the issue had been politicised, adding that “all sorts of things are going on.”

The governor regretted his decision not to modernise the 4.2 km road when the idea first struck him, recalling that his plan was to expand the road, provide service lanes and introduce tolls for motorists who opted to use the fast lanes.
Lagos roads."

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/119454-lagos-airport-road-bad-because-of-politics-fashola.html

5. Repair of Lagos-Apapa Expressway

http://www.tundefashola.com/archives/news/2015/01/16/20150116N01.html

6. Return Apapa To Commercial, Industrial, Resid- ential Hub

"Blaming the Federal Government for the continued traffic snarl that have been a source of great stress to residents and workers in Apapa, the Governor promised that when elected, the incoming Governor, Akin Ambode, would continue with the work "so that life can return here and Apapa can become the commercial, industrial and residential hub that it used to be".

He appealed for patience among the people of Apapa saying all of the problems that they have in hours of traffic, "caused by a government that prefers to import instead of produce fuel, will soon stop when Buhari is elected into office by you", adding that the transfer of the tank farms would change a situation where thousands of tankers currently cause the traffic holdup in Apapa while trying to load fuel."-

http://www.tundefashola.com/archives/news/2015/01/16/20150116N01.html

7. Piracy of creative works (movies, music, etc)

"It must be clear to everyone that the greatest problem that people in the entertainment industry have is that their intellectual property rights are not being protected.

This is a law enforcement issue, rather than a cash solution that the PDP and its government has continued to proffer.

It is simple copyright law enforcement and the PDP simply does not get it."-

http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=167098

8. Lagosians should have greater access to mortgage loans at around 9% p.a.

"“What this means, is that every Nigerian must first buy a house with a mortgage loan, and then apply for his share of the $300 million as a refinancing facility. That is the PDP model for Housing”."-

http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=167098

9. End to fuel queues

“Please ask them why smaller economies could get petrol easily for their people and why we have to queue for hours and days to get petrol in a biggest economy in Africa."-

http://www.punchng.com/news/fashola-blames-pdp-for-nigerias-woes/

10. Power sector reforms

“When people come and say that there is no power, they only speak of their inefficiency and incapacity to deliver power. Electricity, as an invention, is over 100 years old; so there is no excuse for Nigerians to continue to live in darkness.”-

http://www.punchng.com/news/fashola-blames-pdp-for-nigerias-woes/


11. More and working Federal Fire Service Stations in Lagos

Governor Fashola, who also reminded Lagosians that the men and women of the state Fire Service have taken over admirably from the inept and non-performing Federal Fire Service, noted that although the Federal Government has the constitutional obligation to support the Nigerian Police Force it was the Lagos State Government that was actually doing so.

http://www.thegazellenews.com/2015/04/09/gov-poll-fashola-advises-lagosians-to-vote-for-apc-candidates-put-lagos-at-the-centre/


According to Fashola:

"In 2011, President Jonathan made a total of 91 (Ninety One) electoral promises around power, security and the economy.

Majority of them remain unfulfilled."

Now that FG and Lagos are aligned, we would not accept any excuses.

You can add yours.
PoliticsAre Americans Comfortable With Political Dynasties? by johnie(op): 6:48am On Apr 13, 2015
Are Americans comfortable with political dynasties?

BY NANCY BENAC, ASSOCIATED PRESS December 25, 2014 at 12:52 PM EDT

The Bush and Clinton families keep popping up when it comes to picking a president. It turns out that even though Americans profess to reject dynasties, in politics they’re quite comfortable with familiar names.

WASHINGTON — Again? Really?

There are more than 300 million people in America, yet the same two families keep popping up when it comes to picking a president.

The possibility of a Bush-Clinton matchup in 2016 is increasingly plausible.

After months of hints and speculation, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says he’s actively exploring a bid for the Republican nomination.

And while Hillary Rodham Clinton hasn’t revealed her intentions, she’s seen as the odds-on favorite for the Democratic nomination.

Between them, the two potential rivals have three presidents and a U.S. senator in the branches of their family trees. And three governors, as well.

Why are these two families so dominant in modern politics?

It turns out that even though Americans profess to reject dynasties, in politics they’re quite comfortable with familiar names.

And a famous name can bring a candidate instant brand recognition, important fund-raising connections and a ready network of political contacts. It may also suggest competence at a time of dysfunction — like now.

“Power begets power,” says Dartmouth College political scientist Brendan Nyhan. “Dynasties can self-perpetuate.”

A political pedigree can have its negatives, though. A prominent surname sometimes carries unsavory associations and the risk of a fatigue factor.

Both sides of that equation were evident after Bush, 61, the son and brother of a president and the grandson of a senator, made his announcement.

Party activists said the Bush name would help Jeb attract early money, talent and supporters around the country.

But Bush’s brother, George W. Bush, was hugely unpopular at the end of his presidency six years ago. And while people seem to think more of him now, the recent release of a Senate report on Bush-era torture practices was a ready reminder of past controversies.

Clinton, 67, a former secretary of state, senator and first lady, will face the same competing dynamics of familiarity vs. fatigue if she enters the race.

Former President Bill Clinton is enormously popular now, and would be sure to campaign for his wife as he did in the 2008 race, but there is still plenty of lingering unwanted baggage from his White House years.

After Bush edged closer to a run last week, the liberal RootsAction group quickly set up a NoBushesorClintons website and began collecting signatures on a “declaration of independence” that pledges to “reject future domination of government by the Bushes and Clintons and by Bush/Clinton-like policies.”

But Princeton historian Julian Zelizer thinks the comfort element might be more important to 2016 voters than any same-old, same-old worries.

“Washington’s broken, and voters and campaign donors are looking for people who seem to know what they’re doing,” he said. “The familiarity of these names becomes a big benefit and counteracts any sense that, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe these are going to be the candidates again.’ ”

Despite some groaning about a possible Bush-Clinton sequel, there’s plenty of reason to think voters will simply take a breath and size up the primary election candidates on their merits.

“It’s all about alternatives,” Zelizer says. “If that’s the best choice available, people will get over it.”

Dynastic politics, in which multiple family members hold elected office, are more common than people might think in the U.S.

The U.S. has had 44 presidents, and eight of them came from four families (two each of Adams, Harrison, Roosevelt and Bush).

Nyhan points to a 2010 study published in Legislative Studies Quarterly that found that over the previous two centuries, nearly 9 percent of members of Congress were closely related to someone who had served in a previous Congress. It concluded that such politicians “enjoy ‘brand name advantages,’ giving them a significant edge over comparable nondynastic opponents.”

That kind of talk makes Jeff Cohen’s skin crawl.

Cohen, a co-founder of the RootsAction group, said even his non-political friends frequently complain about the dominance of the Bushes and Clintons.

“It’s a source of frustration and it’s broad,” he says, calling the Bushes and Clintons “symbols of a corrupt system and a permanent governing class.”

Even Bush’s mother has suggested a third President Bush could be one too many.

“If we can’t find more than two or three families to run for high office, that’s silly,” she said earlier this year.

(Mom supposedly has since come around to the idea of another Bush candidacy.)

Clinton, for her part, may have to worry as much about Obama fatigue as she does about Clinton fatigue.

“She served in Obama’s Cabinet, she’s been around a long time, and she’s quite old for a presidential candidate,” says Nyhan. “So the Republicans have an opportunity to run a turning-the-page campaign against her.”

Of course, if she’s running against a Bush, that’s a harder case for Republicans to make.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/americans-comfortable-political-dynasties/
PoliticsAmerica Doesn't Need A Bush Or Clinton Dynasty by johnie(op): 6:32am On Apr 13, 2015
Martin O'Malley Is Absolutely Correct: America Doesn't Need a Bush or Clinton Dynasty
Posted: 03/30/2015 10:49 am EDT Updated: 03/30/2015 10:59 am EDT

Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley echoed the sentiment of millions of Americans, especially Democrats, when he made the following statement about "crowns" and political dynasties:

"Let's be honest here, the presidency is not some crown to be passed between two families. It is an awesome and sacred trust to be earned and exercised on behalf of the American people," O'Malley said in an interview on ABC's "This Week."

With these words, O'Malley is the first Democrat to openly challenge a deep-seated paradigm within the Democratic Party and unfortunately within American politics. If you're a liberal, and you were asked why Hillary Clinton deserves to be president, how would you answer?

Similarly, if you're a conservative, why does Jeb Bush deserve to be commander in chief?

Asked differently, if Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush were not related to former presidents, would they still be viewed as worthy of the presidency?

To answer this question in an honest manner, let's look at how each politician ended their previous post as public servant. Also, it's important
to evaluate the legacy each politician has left their country.

As Governor of Florida from 1999-2007, Bush's impact on his state isn't necessarily what most Americans would want for their country. In a 2007 Washington Post article titled The Jeb Bush Era Ends In Florida, the former governor's tenure is summarized in less than admirable terms:

In the ensuing eight years, Bush sent shivers through Florida's status quo as he gathered more power than any previous governor and reshaped state government to fit his vision.

Nicknamed "King Jeb," the Republican transformed what he saw as a tangle of red tape and squanderer of public money into a smaller, business-friendly administration needing fewer tax dollars to run.

... Yet, while his tenure coincided with a sizzling economy and an overflowing treasury, Bush's back-to-back terms were marred by frequent ethics scandals, official bungling and the inability of the government he downsized to meet growing demands for state services, including education and aid for the infirm and the elderly.

In 2007, a Washington Post article referred to Bush as "King Jeb" (a reference to Bush amassing more power than any previous Florida governor) and cited "frequent ethics scandals" during his tenure. Therefore, how does this bode well for the rest of America? Bush's conservative "business friendly" policies had the usual economic consequences; education, the elderly, and others paid the price.

Regarding Jeb's ethical scandals, a Newsweek article by Lou Dubose titled Tricky Ethical Questions Jeb Bush Must Answer highlights one of several scandals during Bush's tenure:

Bush was both a director on the corporate board and a marketing consultant for InnoVida Holdings LLC while it was the subject of a criminal investigation that sent its two top executives to jail.

..."A Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit filed against InnoVida alleges that Bush was brought on 'to add an air of legitimacy to InnoVida.'"

...Why didn't Bush or someone on his staff look deeper?

...And Jeb Bush either had a front-row seat to a corporate scam or he ignored his duty to the shareholders he represented on a corporate board.

If Jeb Bush had a different last name, would conservatives inquire as to why he was both a director and consultant for a corporation that was "the subject of a criminal investigation" and lost investors millions? The fact is that Jeb isn't that far removed from his brother George in regards to his economic philosophy. Unfortunately, this also means that another 2008 financial collapse (that resulted in $19.2 trillion in lost American wealth) could be on the horizon with a future Bush administration in 2016.

As for Hillary Clinton, the former New York Senator and Secretary of State has accomplished a great deal, however Democrats should engage in a more sober assessment of her tenure as public servant. According to a Foreign Affairs article by Michael Hirsh titled The Clinton Legacy, Hillary's tenure as America's top diplomat wasn't groundbreaking:

At other times when Obama's foreign policy team was forced to act on its feet, the results were not as impressive. The administration failed to anticipate the increasingly Islamist bent of the countries whose regimes were ousted in the Arab Spring, and it has been slow in formulating a coordinated response to the abuses against democracy by Morsi and other Islamist leaders.

... In her final testimony before the Senate, commenting on the new wave of jihadism in the region, Clinton said, "We've got to get our act together." It was a helpless remark that recalled former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's notorious lament from a decade ago: "We lack the metrics to know if we are winning or losing the global war on terror."

... The post-Qaddafi chaos in Libya, the civil war in Syria, the emergence of a terrorist sanctuary in northern Mali -- all these developments have taken the Obama administration by surprise.

True, both Obama and Clinton were forced to deal with two wars (started by Jeb's brother) that never had a true definition of "winning." However, her decisions can rationally be linked to the chaos in Libya, the failure to provide Egypt with a credible alternative to a former American ally in Mubarak, and the "helpless remark" she made that essentially was an admission of frustration.

Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton must be judged by their accomplishments, not by their family tree. Martin O'Malley is absolutely correct in stating that the presidency must be earned; not simply handed down to relatives as if it were a crown. Interestingly, the man who made these profound statements is a prime example of an American politician who deserves the presidency.

According to a 2013 Washington Monthly article, O'Malley successfully addressed issues important to all Americans as Maryland's governor:

Halfway through his second term as governor, O'Malley has a handful of big legislative victories to be proud of, as well as some managerial ones.

...Maryland school system has been ranked first in the nation for five years running, up from third place in 2008; that his administration was able to hold down the cost of tuition at state colleges and universities; and that crime rates, following trends across the country, are the lowest ever recorded in the state.

He can also brag about incremental but important progress on issues like pollution in the Chesapeake and eliminating the DNA backlog from Maryland's criminal justice sector.

While Bush was linked to bankrupt corporations as governor, and Clinton's tenure can be linked to chaos in Libya and elswhere, Martin O'Malley made "big legislative victories." O'Malley championed issues like education, government backlogs, and crime; all topics that are important to the majority of Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

Finally, it's important to note that recent polls stating Hillary Clinton enjoys advantages over the competition were taken before "Emailgate" evolved into a contentious issue. For example, a Gallup Poll titled Clinton Favorability Among Dems Better Than Last Campaign reads, "Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted March 2-4, 2015." Since March 2, the scandal mushroomed, so perhaps it's time for a paradigm shift within the Democratic Party. People like Martin O'Malley, Elizabeth Warren, Jim Webb, and Tim Kaine are just as capable of getting 270 Electoral Votes in 2016, and none of them own their own server.

As for another Bush or Clinton in the White House, America needs new blood; literally. Martin O'Malley was wise to make this topic an issue since it allows others in the Democratic Party to challenge the belief that only two surnames will compete for the presidency in 2016. The fact is that only Martin O'Malley, not Clinton or Bush, has been compared to JFK by people in Iowa. This alone, in addition to his tremendous success as Maryland's governor, should warrant greater attention to O'Malley in 2016.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-a-goodman/martin-omalley-is-absolutely-correct_b_6967144.html
PoliticsRe: Lagos Governorship Election Result by johnie: 6:27pm On Apr 11, 2015
SOUNDKING:
Pdp got 95 percent of total vote in surulere,, confirmed.
Just Kidding?
PoliticsRe: Lagos Governorship Election Result by johnie: 5:14pm On Apr 11, 2015
How come you are reporting only PUs where PDP allegedly won?
PoliticsRe: Army Tells Amaechi “parade Has Changed Gear” by johnie: 8:12pm On Apr 10, 2015
itetemi:
so its true that politicians now use the army as a tool,apc pls don't do same with the army
Isn't that what amaechi did here calling an army officer?

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