An anonymously-designed poster depicting Barack Obama as The Joker, from Batman film The Dark Knight, has appeared in dozens of locations across Los Angeles. The word “socialism” is written underneath the menacingly painted face of the US President. It is thought the posters are a reaction to Obama’s recent policy announcements on health care and stimulus spending. Whatever the poster’s intention, the image has sparked debates, arguments and sheer bewilderment. Democrats are up in arms; Republicans are secretly (or not so secretly) smiling gleefully. Andrew Sullivan, in political blog the Daily Dish, states: “It’s graphically striking, but politically obtuse. The Joker is a wild man; Obama is no-drama; the Joker is an anarchist; Obama is a community organiser.” Jack Napier offers a great comment on the LA Times blog: “The Joker would have a field day turning both sides on the other while they eat themselves, that’s the whole point of the Joker…And maybe that’s the whole point of the joke; create a controversy, upset the apple cart, and watch people go!”

Whatever your opinion, the poster certainly is a great piece of political commentary – it’s ambiguous, controversial and has managed to incite the masses. Political satire is an important part of modern culture. It makes the ‘powers that be’ accountable in some small way. So here’s the thing: who created it? America is a free country – the right to freedom of expression is protected: so where is the architect of all this mayhem hiding out … and why? Mr Architect has the balls to challenge the US president but refuses to own up to it: it’s lameness personified. The fact that the poster is anonymous seems to undermine its effect rather than enhance it. It’s the work of a coward. Even The Joker declared his person – the sociopath laid claim to his acts of terror and intimidation. Come out and claim your comment Mr Architect!

Boy oh boy! Does the South African government face a mammoth task. Team ANC South Africa, captained by Jacob Zuma, will face the equivalent of the mighty Samoan giants on a quadruple steroid dosage which equals fifteen times The Thing from The Fantastic Four. The ANC opposition boasts the likes of Crime, AIDS, Unemployment and Corruption, and captained by (in the words of Roald Dahl) the infamous bonecrunching, fleshlumpeating, childchewing, meatdripping, gizzardgulping, manhugging, bloodbottling, maidmashing, bucherboying RECESSION. Built like trained assassins, team Recession will slaughter its opposition given an iota of a chance. The challenge is daunting but the ANC is left with no choice but to tackle its opposition head on. Of course chances of victory for Zuma’s men are hindered by a severe lack of loyalty (and scruples) within the team. On many occasions have ANC team members been known to coerce with the likes of Corruption and Crime, including captain Zuma himself. Captain Recession looms ominously in the background, carefully biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to claim his victims. Thus far, team Zuma’s game-plan in the impending challenge against Recession and his men is to “waste nearly R1-million of taxpayers’ money” as reported by the Star. Nkomo-Ralehoko, the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, purchased a R920 000 Mercedes-Benz without proper insurance and installation of tracking devices. The car was then stolen the same weekend, when the minister’s husband was hijacked in their driveway. A tad dubious perhaps. Fortunately the minister has consequently resigned from her position on team ANC – perhaps after the captain realised that management of a financial crisis is not best met with money laundering and corruption. So the shower remains above Captain Zuma’s head for the moment but team ANC’s enemies are not easily vanquished and there is no doubt that any false move against Aids, Unemployment, Crime, Corruption and the deadly Recession, will glue that nozzle firmly back to the captain’s noggin.

Did you know that the ANC has its own dictionary? It is used to define words and phrases used by party members. According to this very resourceful item of explanation, the definition of sleeping around is … sleeping around. Most profound. This definition is reiterated again and again … and again in Redi Direko’s live interview with ANC spokesman Floyd Shivambu. It is a wonderfully entertaining thing when a spokesperson – the person hired to articulate and express on behalf of an organisation, manages, so unskilfully, to dodge the simplest of questions. I certainly basked in the hilarity. (more…)

Mail & Guardian Wednesday May 13

Can a leopard change its spots? Not according to Zapiro. Zuma’s infamously familiar shower-head has embedded itself in the man’s brain and in so doing has formed an integral part of his character. The shower-nozzle is a symbol of the multitude of criminal charges, ranging from rape to fraud and racketeering, and from corruption to tax evasion, which Zuma has managed to evade with stealth-like ability. The nozzle is fixed to the man’s head and is unlikely to budge even with the help of a hacksaw, file, sledgehammer, blowtorch and chainsaw. So what can remove the stain of corruption that taints the reputation of South Africa’s newly elected president? Zapiro suggests that “being truly presidential” may help the nozzle to vanish. The cartoonist’s facetious tone is emphasised by the plaque on Zuma’s desk that reads “Prez”. The sacred principles of honour, dignity and respect that encompass the role of President have been undermined by the flippant reference to Zuma as “Prez”. Zuma’s resume falls far short of the required character and aptitude essential for the successful management of a country. Interestingly, the cartoon implies that Zuma is all too aware of the necessity to compensate for his less than worthy credentials. Judging by the plasters and cartoon-cacti sprouting from his melon, it is likely that Zuma will do more damage than good in his quest to rectify his reputation. To date, president Zuma has managed to avoid the radar of Lady Justice and it is thus most certain that in his newfound position of power, accountability will be avoided with the usual money under the table technique, at the expense of the citizens of South Africa. Corruption is the name of the game and its key player is the South-African president. (more…)

Official South African election results for 2009:

ANC – 11,650,748 votes (65.90 %)
DA – 2,945,829 votes (16.66%)
COPE – 1,311,027 votes (7.42%)
IFP – 804,260 votes (4.55%)
ID – 162,915 votes (0.92%)
OTHER – 805,950 votes (4.56%)
—————————————————–
Total valid votes counted: 17,680,729
Number of registered voters: 23.18 million
Total population: 48 million (including 10 million under voting age)
Voter turnout: 77.3% of registered voters
Spoiled votes: 239,237
—————————————————-
PARLIAMENTARY SEAT ALLOCATION

ANC – 264 seats
DA – 67 seats
COPE – 30 seats
IFP – 18 seats
ID – 4 seats
UDM – 4 seats
VF PLUS – 4 seats
ACDP – 3 seats
UCDP – 2 seats
PAC – 1 seat
APC – 1 seat
AZAPO – 1 seat
MF – 1 seat

Source:defenceWEB

Many South Africans are breathing a sigh of relief. The official election results, announced on Saturday 25 April, show that the ANC narrowly missed the dreaded two-thirds majority mark – a psychological victory for opposition parties and their supporters. It is precarious for a country to be in the hands of unbridled power, especially when the ruling government boasts a history of blatant nepotism and corruption and is fronted by the kingpin of injustice. Whether the constitution is practically and consistently applied as the cornerstone of South African democracy is another matter, the point here is: the ANC cannot unilaterally change it. That’s good news and a welcome check on the left wing ideals of new president Jacob Zuma. With the world recession finally dawning on South Africa and with foreign investors being forced to pull their cash out of the country, Zuma faces the immediate challenge of ensuring the maintenance of economic stability – another momentary power check. (more…)

So the ANC is well on its way to a two thirds majority. Zapiro’s latest suggests that voters have been duped by a long line of promises headed by a snake. Satan, a.k.a the great deceiver, appeared to Adam and Eve in serpent form to convince the couple to make a choice that he knew would destroy the human race by separating them from what is good and right. (more…)

As I queue outside South Africa House awaiting my turn to vote, my gaze falls upon Nelson’s Column and the proud Trafalgar lions, and I am forced to take cognisance of the moment’s significance. The magnificence of the great British Empire is made tangible by her symbols of might and power that rest just beyond my vision – Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament. Amidst this grandeur I wait to perform the seemingly menial task of placing a mark on a paper. Yet a collection of these marks will determine the future of a nation. A nation previously choked by the colonial rule of the very empire under whose authority I presently exist. (more…)

There is one thing that cannot be refuted when it comes to Zapiro: the man certainly pulls no punches. As I browsed the Mail & Guardian this morning, I was sickeningly elated to discover Zapiro’s latest comment. If there ever was a point to be made about last week’s announcement that the corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering charges brought against ANC leader Jacob Zuma have been dropped, it is boldly blasted in this week’s cartoon. Justice has been crucified by the very hands of those meant to uphold her values. (more…)

This morning’s Mail & Guardian headline reads NPA drops corruption charges against Zuma. Sadly, no surprises here. Eight years into the case and two weeks before the election (22 April), the corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering charges brought against ANC leader Jacob Zuma have been dropped. Subtlety is made redundant when one boasts the support of the masses. Corruption is the status quo. (more…)

Women’s Rights – a concept, even in the modern world of today, that is undervalued and ignored by the dictates of many religious and cultural institutions. Hazif Karzai’s latest attempt to win votes from conservative Muslims in the upcoming August presidential elections has served as a reminder of the happy western bubble in which I live. An article in The Guardian online, entitled ‘Worse than the Taliban’ – new law rolls back rights for Afghan women, describes a new law, reportedly signed by Karzai last month, containing articles proclaiming that women cannot leave the house without their husbands’ permission, that they can only seek work, education or visit the doctor with their husbands’ permission, that they cannot refuse their husband sex and that custody of children will be granted to fathers and grandfathers only. (more…)