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�Discussion:

Tuesday, April 01, 2008 James Meeks:

Obama�s Other Bigoted Spiritual Leader (With A Special Appearance By Tony Rezko) By Rob on April 1, 2008 at 07:28 am 5

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Just when the Obama apologists thought the Jeremiah �God Damn America� Wright controversy was winding down, along comes Reverend James Meeks: Described in a 2004 Chicago Sun Times article as someone Barack Obama regularly seeks out for �spiritual counsel�, James Meeks, who will serve as an Obama delegate at the 2008 Democratic convention in Denver, is a long-time political ally to the democratic frontrunner. When Obama ran for the U.S. Senate in 2003, he frequently campaigned at Salem Baptist Church while Rev. Meeks appeared in television ads supporting the Illinois senator�s campaign� Since that time, not only has Meeks himself served on Obama�s exploratory committee for the presidency and been listed on the Obama�s campaign website as one of the senator�s �influential black supporters�, but his church choir was called on to raise their voices in praise at a rally the night Obama announced his run for the White House back in 2007. Interestingly, the Chicago Sun Times has also reported that both Meeks and Obama share a history of substantial campaign contributions from indicted real estate magnate Tony Rezko. A taste of Rev. Meeks� style of spiritual leadership. The kind Obama sought out. �We don�t have slave masters. We got mayors. But they still the same white people who are presiding over systems where black people are not able, or to be educated.� �You got some preachers that are house ni…rs You got some elected officials that are house n…..rs. And rather than them trying to break this up, they gonna fight you to protect this white man.� This man appeared in Obama campaign commercials. He served on Obama campaign committees. Obama campaigned at his church. Obama sought him out for �spiritual counsel� and political support. Is Obama going to tell us, again, that he had all this interaction with Meeks but didn�t know the man was a bigoted, race-baiting homophobe? Is the media going to give Obama another pass for associating, closely and repeatedly, with a cretin like this? How many hateful �crazy uncles� have to come out of Obama�s closet before we can say that there�s a reason why Obama sought these people out? And that reason is he agrees with them? Comments Just remember. A vote for Hillary Clinton means never having to say you�re sorry.

P Graber on April 1, 2008 at 09:02 am

Someone needs to purchase all the videos from these two racist churches and watch them frame by frame to see if BHO is sitting in the pews. Then they will evidence that he was there listening and praising hallelujah everytime a racist comment was made by these so-called upstanding reverend�s. Then they can finally nail him on this big lie he try to cover up. He wasn�t present when these words were spoken, hard to believe.

A. Smith on April 1, 2008 at 10:07 am

Could someone verify with the good Rev Meeks that if I drive through the low income, predominanetly African American community shouting �house ni**er� if those who regard this as a �term of endearment� will come to my assistance when those who understand it instead as a racial insult proceed to beat the s**t out of me? <>_<>

renaldo on April 1, 2008 at 10:46 am

The kids he is talking about aren�t made to go to school anyway, so no matter how great and/or race free they make it, they wouldn�t benefit. Too bad he doesn�t use all of that �energy� to promote stable two parent households that put a value on education. When I was a kid, in public schools I might add, I went daily and got decent grades or my parents would kick my a**…THAT is where the real responsibility lies.

JPGR on April 1, 2008 at 01:25 pm

I would like to know when the msm is going to address of OBAMA�s involvement and support of RAILA ODINGA -the co-President of Kenya? ODINGA was set up in the oil business by Muammar Quaddafi (no, I�m not kidding), was educated in Communist East Germany, named his first child �Fidel� (yeah, really) and when he and his followers disputed the election they torched a church with 100 christian woman & children inside–burning them alive. Odinga�s followers continued to engage in �clear ethnic cleansing� according to US Envoy Jendayi Frazer. Perhaps most troubling is Odinga�s links to Islamic extremists. On 8/29/07 Odinga signed a secret agreement (exposed 11/27) with Sheikh Abdullah Abdi in which he agreed to institute Islamic law in exchange for Abdi�s support–thereby potentially enslaving millions of Kenyan women. OBAMA campaigned for ODINGA (“your agent for change”-sound familiar) in August 2006–to such a degree that the Opposition called him Odinga�s �stooge�

Read for yourself: http://eakenya.org/newsevents/article.htm?id=8 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7176683.stm http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/290390 http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=57363 http://africanpress.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/how-rich-is-raila-the-odm-kenya-presidential-aspirant/ WONDER WHAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL MAKE OUT OF THAT? SURELY THAT”s BETTER THAN NOT WEARING A LAPEL PIN? YA THINK? Phllip Spellman on April 2, 2008 at 12:39 am Page 1 of 1 .

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African Press International – api

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President Robert Mugabe�seen here yesterdays for the first time after the elections took place last Saturday. It is said he was busy in consultation with the country’s�security forces and his ZANU PF politburo.

Mugabe (middle) on the photo above is here together with the head of election observers (AU), Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (left). He is the former president of Sierra Leone. The man to the right has not been identified.

�Yes, now we get it from the man himself. From Harare presidential palace, Mugabe has spoken. He has confirmed to API that he will not surrender power to anyone.

Making it clear that the power in Zimbabwe is not his but the Veteran’s, he says he must keep his promise to the veterans who brought freedom to the Zimbabwean people.

When asked why he does not want to share power with MDC leader, he quips and angrily accuses MDC leader of being a stooch of the west and especially the UK and the US.

He believes the re-run will make retain power but adds, that the re-run is a west of time because he is not going to hand over power anyway even if re-run results were to go against him.

Saying that he is an old man who must be respected for bringing independence to the country, he demonises the MDC leader calling him a man of no vision.

This now indicates that Zimbabwe will be led by Mugabe for a number of years to come.

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African Press International – API

Published by Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.apa

Ugandan legislators on Friday urged the government to consider putting restrictions on the importation of used cars which are not only environmentally harmful but are also responsible for many accidents on Ugandan roads.

The legislators made the call while they were on Friday debating a statement by the Prime Minister Professor Apollo Nsibambi concerning increasing tragic accidents on the country�s highways.

Many parliamentarians expressed concern that the used cars that are imported into the country do not have speed-governors which is a requirement to set speed limit for vehicles. According to the report presented to parliament, accidents are caused by over speeding among others.

The Prime Minister revealed that government investigations had shown that the accidents are mainly attributed to reckless driving and over speeding, poor mechanical conditions of vehicles, overloading of passengers and goods, absence of speed governors, violation of traffic rules especially by taxi/mini bus drivers and motor cycle operators driving while they are drunk and failure to use seat belts by passengers.

He said that the government was undertaking systematic steps to curb the increasing tragic accidents on the roads and loss of life.

The PM informed the House that the Inspector General of Police has deployed more traffic police officers on the roads in the city and on the highways and that they are enforcing the traffic laws and regulations and also helping to reduce traffic jams.

The police in Kampala have this week been carrying operations that netted many vehicles without seatbelts, speed governors, as well as those in questionable mechanical conditions.

The Prime Minister appealed to the drivers to respect the traffic rules and regulations. He also called upon those traveling by public transport, such as buses and taxis to report to the police violators of traffic laws if the rate of accidents is to be reduced drastically.

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African Press International – api

Published by Korir, api, africanpress@getmail.no source.nation.ke

ODM was not able to wait until Sunday, no they are very impatient! They waited until today Friday evening and could not manage any longer, so they came out with the list. It now seems clear what ministries will go to who in the struggle for power in Kenya. There is hope that Kenya will enjoy stability after all things are brought to order and both parties satisfied.

The leaders seem to have put the interest of the Kenyan people at heart, a deflection from the personal pride we have been witnessing to date.

The interesting thing that remains now is who of the party supporters will be rewarded with ministerial positions and who will be left out in the cold.

Now that assistant ministers will total 50 plus the 40 ministers the number is 90. There is the president, vice president, Prime minister, and two deputies as well. The number is reallly large enough to accommodate all the comrades. In parliament, everybody will be on the government seats ……….. and few sitting on the opposition benches. Impressive….? API

Story by ANTHONY KARIUKI
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has released its own version of shared ministries.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga shake hands after agreeing on Cabinet size. ODM released a list of shared ministries on Friday evening. Photo/PPS

With the Cabinet set to be named on Sunday by President Kibaki, the party has made available to the media a breakdown of the 40 ministries to be shared with the Government coalition.

In a statement the party’s Director of Communications Salim Lone says this is necessary especially in light of differing lists carried by the media.

“Media…..carried differing lists of these ministries and their allocation to the parties, obtained informally from unofficial sources, but none of the lists was in fact accurate. I am therefore attaching the list of ministries and the party to which each was assigned.”

The ministries are lumped in three categories: Coordination, Infrastructure and Services and reflect portfolio balance, according to ODM.

With each side set to get 20 ministries, Mr Lone says that ODM has suggested four new ministries.

“In view of the fact that four new ministries needed to be created above the 36 that had been agreed upon by PNU and ODM earlier, ODM suggested that these be the ministries of Provincial Administration, Cabinet Affairs, Housing and Fisheries.”

New ministries have also been carved out of existing ones: Trade and Industry has been split into two, so has Livestock Development and Fisheries.

According to the ODM list, Roads and Public Works will be two distinct ministries

Under coordination, ODM takes Local Government, Planning and National Development, Public Service, Foreign Affairs. The Party of National Unity (PNU) gets East African cooperation, Finance, Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Nairobi Metropolitan Development.

ODM will get Transport, Energy, Roads, Water and Irrigation, Tourism and Wildlife, Agriculture, Development of Northern Kenya and Semi Arid lands, Fisheries and Immigration and Registration of Persons under infrastructure while PNU takes Public Works, Information and Communications, Lands and Settlement, Trade, Livestock Development, Defence, Home Affairs, Internal Security and Provincial Administration.

In the Services category, ODM gets Health, Housing, Youth and Sports, Special Programmes and Labour and Human Resource Development. PNU’s share includes: Regional Development Authorities, Gender and Social Services, Basic Education, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Cooperative Development and Marketing and National Heritage and Culture.

Mr Lone also revealed that the two principals- President Kibaki and Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga agreed that “assistant ministers be limited to 50 with the assistant minister in each ministry coming from a party other than the minister�s.”

He said that the location and organisational strict of the office of prime minister� and other formalities were yet to be concluded.

“A number of additional steps still needed to be taken to complete all the formalities for Sunday�s planned announcement of the cabinet.�

“These formalities, as agreed, include the organisational structure and physical location of the Office of the Prime Minister, the finalisation of the functions and responsibilities of each ministry, the appointment of Permanent Secretaries and redefining the role of the Head of the Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet.”

To this end a planned meeting between the Head of the Civil Service Francis Muthaura and ODM’s representative Mohammed Isahakia to iron out these issues had not taken off at the time of going to press.

The meeting was also expected to put in place arrangements for Sunday’s� announcement of the cabinet.

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African Press International – api

Published by Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.aftenposteneng

Norway has the highest percentage of overweight men in Europe, according to a new report by the World Health Organizaiton (WHO). The report indicates that more than half of all Norwegian men are too fat.

Fast-food, like fries from McDonalds, should cost even more than they do now, argues an Oslo nutritionist. PHOTO: R. KARECKAS/AP

The study, reported Friday in newspaper Dagsavisen, examined results from measures taken of body mass in 30 countries. If the so-called “body mass index” is between 25 and 30, the person being measured is regarded as overweight.

If it’s over 30, the person is considered fat.

Less than 30 percent of men measured in Kazakhstan were deemed overweight, while in Norway, more than 50 percent were.

Norwegian women scored better, with around 30 percent falling into the “overweight” category. That compares to a low of 20 percent in Uzbekistan to more than 40 percent in Great Britain.

Experts blame the increasingly widespread consumption of so-called “junk food,” from hamburgers and french fries to potato chips and sweets, especially in Norway.

“It’s well known that there’s been an increase in weight among both Norwegian men and women in recent years,” nutritionist Mette Helvik Morken told Dagsavisen. She worries that this will lead to a jump in health-related problems.

Helvik Morken advocates a typically Norwegian approach to the problem: Impose heavy taxes on food with high fat content.

“People aren’t able to fend off the temptation, and we have too much food available in portions that are too large,” Helvik Morken claimed.

She thinks Norwegian politicians should impose taxes that would at least double the price of potato chips, chocolate, cakes and fast-food.

“Snacks and fast-food should be so much more expensive that people will think twice before buying it,” she argues.

Chocolate and fast food already is much more expensive in Norway than other countries, however, because of special sugar taxes that already exist and allegedly high costs. A standard menu for a cheeseburger, fries and soft drink at Burger King in Oslo, for example, currently costs NOK 79, or about USD 11.

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African Press International – api

Published by Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.aftenposteneng

Norwegians have bad “traffic manners”, concludes a new survey.

Norwegian drivers are not very polite behind the wheel, reveals a recent poll. PHOTO: Magnus Knutsen Bj�rke

When Norwegians get behind the wheel, they seem to go through a personality change, flouting the law and snubbing common courtesy in favour of an aggressive driving manner, according to insurance company TrygVesta’s research.

The survey concludes that Norwegians take on a “nearly latin traffic temperament” when driving, which can make them think irrationally.

Six percent of drivers said they don’t stop at crosswalks for pedestrians preparing to cross the road, while 39 percent disclosed that they won’t let cars into line in front of them. Almost 60 percent of drivers in the western part of the country don’t allow other vehicles into line.

Around one-fifth of the drivers admitted to parking illegally in handicapped spaces and almost as many said they don’t always wait for busses pulling out into traffic.

The insurance company warns that this aggressive attitude could lead to more accidents, injuries and fatalities.

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African Press International – api

Published by Korir, API africanpress@getmail.no source.standard.ke

By Standard Team

Cabinet of 40: What ODM, PNU will get

President Kibaki and Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga finally agreed on the size of the Cabinet � a bloated 40 � with PNU running away with key ministries.

It would seem the party may have finally won the weeks of brinkmanship and mind games between it and rivals ODM. The standoff, which threatened to push the country to the brink again, was over a desire by the rivals to equally share lucrative and high profile ministries.

Even though the issue of portfolio balance remained a guarded secret between the two principals, The Standard reliably learnt last night that PNU will retain Finance, Internal Security, Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Information and Communications.

On its part, ODM will take Local Government, Foreign Affairs, Transport, Energy and Roads. Also understood to be in its bag is Agriculture and Immigration and Registration of Persons.

However, there are immediate political implications for PNU in this arrangement: Five of its top politicians could be jobless. The party will, therefore, have to find a way of accommodating Mr Uhuru Kenyatta (Local Government), Mr Moses Wetangula (Foreign Affairs), Mr John Michuki (Roads), Mr Chirau Mwakwere (Transport) and Mr Kiraitu Murungi (Energy) in a reshuffle to be announced when the coalition Cabinet is named.

PNU now has the option of relegating them to low-profile ministries or risk a political fallout they were to be jobless.

Details of how other key ministries will be shared out remained scanty. However, new ministries will be carved out of existing ones to create room for the 40 ministers.

Already, PNU was being linked to Public Works to be hived off Roads. It will also take charge of Water and Irrigation.

Act of political expediency

Even though the announcement on Thursday ended weeks of national anxiety, it was greeted with outrage from church leaders, civil society and trade unions, which have been pushing for a Cabinet of 24 members.

Their argument was that by settling on a Cabinet of 40 ministers, the two leaders were driven by political expediency at the expense of Kenyans.

Special Programmes Minister, Dr Naomi Shaban, Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Moses Wetangula and a senior Government official leave Harambee House after meeting President Kibaki on Thursday. Picture by Govedi Asutsa Foreign minister looks worried? Is he loosing the job now? deals can reaaly destroy people’s happiness in politics.

They charged that President Kibaki and Raila had become hostage to ethnic and regional interests that had propelled them to power.For the Cabinet to be named on Sunday and sworn-in a week later, critics say it is bloated because Kibaki and Raila had to “reward loyalists and foot-soldiers”.

Over time, the Cabinet has been growing. In 1974, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the founding father, had a 20-member Cabinet. In 1988, his successor, former President Moi, had a 23-member Cabinet and 24 in 2001 as he served his last term.

In 2003, President Kibaki had a 25-member Cabinet that rose to 35 in 2004. In 2006, as he headed into an election year he had 32. Forty is the highest the country has ever had.

Owing to its sheer size, it means that about 50 per cent of MPs would be on the front benches, because each ministry will have an assistant minister if not two.

The bloated Cabinet was also condemned by analysts who warned that it could lead to more taxation of an already over-burdened citizenry, trigger huge price increases, over-reliance on donors and jeopardise the reconstruction agenda.

PNU was initially haggling for a Cabinet of between 38 and 44 members, while ODM insisted on 34. They both settled for 40.

The compromise Cabinet was announced after a two-hour meeting between Kibaki and Raila, and followed several engagements between the two leaders that failed to bear fruit.

On Wednesday, President Kibaki worked at Harambee House late into the night apparently after efforts to use Prof George Saitoti, the Internal Security minister, as an emissary to Raila on Tuesday failed to produce the expected outcome.

Although Raila was the first to break the news of the compromise Cabinet, a statement from the Presidential Press Service confirmed that the 40-ministry Cabinet was reached in a spirit of give and take.

Information from the meeting was, however, scanty on portfolio balance, but a call from Finance minister, Mr Amos Kimunya, from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he is attending an official function, suggested that ODM may have “given up” its demands on his docket.

Said he: ” I am out of the country, working as usual. I will be back tomorrow (today) and I am not in a state of panic at all.”

It was not immediately clear what compromises ODM had made to surrender the lucrative docket or the other portfolio it had traded the Finance ministry with.

But sources in the Kibaki-Raila meeting said the leaders were keeping the ministerial lists close to their chests to tame undue lobbying.

Earlier in the day, Wetangula had told a Press conference that none of the 17-member (half) Cabinet already in place would lose their jobs.

Kibaki named the “half” Cabinet immediately he was controversially sworn in for a second term following the disputed December 27 presidential election that touched off unprecedented bloodletting and destruction of property.

Civil society groups and church leaders said the cost of the bloated Cabinet was likely to hurt ordinary Kenyans who already moaning under an all time high 21 per cent inflation and recovering from the effects of post-election violence.

Besides, it was likely to make nonsense of donor confidence in the Government�s reconstruction agenda, they added.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya) described the Cabinet as “terribly ridiculous”, adding that the political class could not be expected to revive the economy because the cost of running the many ministerial dockets would take the largest chunk of resources.

“How could they collude to hurt the already ruined economy by agreeing to create a bloated Cabinet?” Mr George Kegoro, the ICJ-Kenya executive director, asked.

The National Convention Executive Council said the Cabinet was not only “politically scandalous”, but against the will of the people.

Mr Cyprian Nyamwamu of the NCEC, said: “It�s unbelievable, it is totally scandalous. The politicians are acting against the will of the people and serving their own interests. We will re-evaluate our support for the coalition.”

Africog Director, Ms Gladwell Otieno, and Mars Group Director, Mr Mwalimu Mati, termed the bloated Cabinet as “wasteful” and threatened to mobilise Kenyans to protest against the appointments.

The Institute of Policy Analysis and Research expressed fear that the 40 ministers would put the country in an odd position with donors who are likely to view Kenya as a country spending money on salaries rather than development.

“Donors support Kenyans and they listen to their cries. Kenyans wanted a lean Cabinet and donors will listen to their plight,” said Mr Tiberius Barasa, a research fellow in governance and development Programme at Ipar.

“This Cabinet is a disadvantage to donors and some will not give aid to Kenya to pay people salaries at the expense of development programmes,” he said.

The Federation of Kenya Employers� (FKE) opposed the large Cabinet, saying 40 ministers were too many and would undermine economic growth.

Nobel Peace Prize winner, Prof Wangari Maathai, said she was surprised, disappointed and amazed that Kibaki and Raila could agree on such huge Cabinet.

Reports by Abiya Ocholla, Ayub Savula, Beuttah Omanga, Edith Fortunate, Alex Ndegwa, Susan Anyangu, Caroline Mango and Evelyne Ogutu

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African Press International – api