Musharraf's graph

While the PPP and the PML(N) continue their dance routine, looks like Musharraf is still an honored invitee of sort at some wedding functions. I understand that now that he has turned the country upside down he is anxious, available and free to attend any and all functions (aren't there any Colonel's left whose kids are getting married - someone please invite him).

Even Bush retains 30% or so support amongst those who believe that he believes, and thus he can do no wrong, and so it is not surprising that Musharraf still has a cadre of sorts that welcomes him to Weddings.

While he is a guest of honor at these weddings it appears that the other guests are no longer motivated to rise from their chair when the former Commander of the World's 5th largest Army, and now just a sorry figure of a President, walks in with his escorts. Either these guests are upset at the additional security that they have had to go through (traffic jams, barred from parking in the hotel parking lots, metal detectors, frisking, empty your pockets, give up your cell phones, cameras, might as well be bend down and touch your toes) or they are just plain tired of this gentle soul and this tiredness prevents them from standing up and greeting this President. It is also possible that after all this is Pakistan, a country where one is loath to give up one's chair in the fear that someone else grab it. Isn't that what brought Mush to this?

While Mush may be contriving an honorable exit, his continued occupation of his throne may prove more tortious than its giving uppance.

Musharraf's party was routed at the polls. An apparent manifestation of a sea of change sweeping the world and a confirmation of a reversal of the trend that swept the world when religious parties dominated: Christian Fundamentalist helping Bush, Islamist gaining power in Pakistan, BJP dominating India and Jewish right wingers controlling Israel.

The lawyers and the civil movement sought a resignation of Musharraf. Zardari and Nawaz, propelled into the heights of powers, on the backs of the sacrifice of the civil movement and the murder of Benazir, boldly proclaimed that the dawn of freedom had arrived in Pakistan, and while Musharraf's ouster may not be imminent, restoration of the Judiciary was certainly in the cards.

For the people of Pakistan the concern was not so much as to whether the opposition could work with each other. The concern was, that given their history of corruption, whether they will sell out to Musharraf and seek to form a government with Musharraf's support. While the ruling coalition proclaimed that this would not happen, their coalition has split on the very subject that led to Musharraf's defeat. If Zardari believes he can now ignore, a la Musharraf, the anguish of the civil movement, he does so at his peril. If he believes he can rule with the blessings of Mush and Bush, this would not just be naive it would also be a betrayal of the movement that brought him into power and will undoubtedly lead to another round of chaos and pandemonium.

Is America Broke?

From the consumer, to the city, to the county, to the State to the Federal Government every one is in debt and tinkering with bankruptcy.

Some believe sending tax rebates or suspending gas taxes will provide relief. I guess they spell Relief "R-o-l-a-i-d-s".

Even though the stock market is down, US Corporations are loaded with money (some 1/2 trillion dollars in the bank).

What is needed is a way to getting this money to fix some other things that are broke - our infrastructure and our educational institutions.This could get us a double bang for the buck as people get jobs, pay taxes and prevent the erosion in the quality of life in these United States.