Man vs Movement

I have been intently following the US presidential elections since Joe Biden, being the first to do so, announced his intentions to seek the Dems nomination. Since then the kamuthonjo (a clique) has congregated many a time and because the polls are in favor of my predictions i'm due to collect from Kangethe and Co. come November 5th.

My accurate (i can claim that now) forcast has not just been based on luck and a nag for making a quick buck, it is the ability to identify a force much larger than the usual politico that has shaped my ideas and opened my views.

Why will Barack Obama gain the title of POTUS over John McCain?

John McCain /Sarah Palin campaign does not realize that they are not running against a presidential candidate but rather a movement that seeks to vote in its leader as president.  

Obama is not just your usual presidential candidate person, he has taken a totally new identity; a brand,  a true representative of the people's day to day needs, wants and aspirations. 

He has identified with the core of every american living in this day and time and has addressed much of what we don't openly admit to the fear of being called weak. 

I can imagine telling my kids of a fella with a funny name who run for the highest office in the land by offering Hope to its great citizen. 

I don't condemn those who don't buy it, come to think of it, on paper this does seem to be straight out of the snake-oil salesman's handbook, then again he must be a really good salesman because not one iota of slander seems to stick. I don't know if i should give credit to the citizen who seem to have figured out the ridiculous claims or to John McCain who for his age should be very wise and should not have made some very puzzling decisions during the phase of the campaign.

With that I foresee a few new dictionary entries not too far from now: 

Obama: verb  the act of a true underdogs ability to achieve success with great measure without the use of fear mongering and deception

Bush: noun one who influences others by use of fear and wmd's ..or wait that is also known as a scarecrow.

now let me go collect

South Africans Just Sacked their President @#$@%#^%#^

There are times when certain occurrences hit you in the face and others take time before you realize their magnitude,and it just occurred to me, that South Africans, just fired their president. WHAT???? They just gave him the sack, the pink slip, terminated HAKUNA KAZI HAPA. So where is the loud report, accompanied with the wailing of women and children, or the shirtless youth wielding his machete with disastrous consequences? Shouldn't some community south of the Limpopo be arming itself under the claim that one of their own has been robbed of his rightful claim. I mean, this is Mbeki, Thabo Mbeki, the same guy who by the power of his presence, brought the primal foes Mugabe and Tsvangirai together in one government, the guy who dares challenge that HIV is the cause of AIDS. His economic record has been good and would win another elections in South Africa. So why is everything so calm, it looks like Mbeki packed his things in a box, left the key with the security guard and caught the bus home. No drama.

After my initial shock I realized that this phenomenon was not unique to South Africa. Our brothers in TZ have had changes in government without the accompanying hullabaloo. That is the power of precedent. These countries have had iconic leaders who stepped down while there political careers were still viable. Madiba left his thrown and Mwalimu was humble enough to retire. Just think, what would Africa look like if Jomo Kenyatta and Moi had served one or two terms and passed the baton to the next generation. Or Mugabe left the presidency when he was still relevant and an African hero.

George Washington was a leader who was keenly aware of this role as founder and father of a nation. At the height of his popularity he forsaw the need for precedent and said in his farewell speech "I beg you at the same time to do me the justice to be assured that this resolution has not been taken without a strict regard to all the considerations appertaining to the relation which binds a dutiful citizen to his country; and that in withdrawing the tender of service, which silence in my situation might imply, I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future interest, no deficiency of grateful respect for your past kindness, but am supported by a full conviction that the step is compatible with both". Africa has had its share of good leaders who have turned bad, heros who end up villains. They were unaware of their true roles as founders of nations.The key purpose of a founding father is to lay a foundation and Thabo's exist is an example of a well laid foundation. Well done Madiba once again you make us proud.