Oh boy. 3 current wives, 5th marriage (one divorce, one suicide) a Swazi princess fiancée waiting in the wings and 20th kid from a friend’s daughter (not one of his wives. Or fiancée).
So I thought people would simply say wgaff (not even ask rhetorically) and move on like they have for all the other transgressions this guy has done (and I mean the really serious ones, not philandering). But not this time.
This time South Africans seem really miffed at their new president’s stray from the marital beds.
Why only now, you frigging idiots? And why at 20? Why not at the serious fraud & corruption allegations before you voted him into office? (‘cos you see, prosecution muffed it and the court “had” to throw the case(s) out)
“Father of the Nation” indeed.
sigh
Zapiro’s cartoon on this is funny ;-) But it has a history behind it if one is to catch it.
Hmmm, how can I reply without betraying the fact I dislike the man so much my answer will be extremely difficult to be impartial.
I bumped into a couple South Africans last week and there was some praise. One had voted for him and was still gushing about how he is one the people (I managed not to roll my eyes) However, the other’s favourable opinion was in the sense that he is not Mbeki despite initially thinking, like me, he was just a populist fool. I even said at the time he was going to be SA’s Dubya. Totally different to Mbeki’s style of governance. So I asked more about policy rather than appearance & charisma and that’s where they weren’t sure…
Mbeki was a hands on president, always poking his finger in everything. Zuma delegates. I suppose that might be the sign of a good leader… (argh! what have I just said!?)
To give him credit, when he was elected, SA was already into its recession and there were many strikes and some civil unrest (15 years since the 1st free elections and the poor were still very poor). His populist touch did help perhaps sooth the people. But I’m not so sure much really come of it.
With regards Zimbabwe & Mugabe, yes, I think he has shown to be a better than Mbeki who was more interested in protecting his old friend. I did expect more judging from his pre-election criticism of Mugabe so I was still a little disappointed. But what else has he managed to achieve since May? I think I have been surprised by the improved international relations. Before Mbeki was prominent in SA’s foreign affairs and that probably wasn’t such a good idea (he tended to rub some folks the wrong way, not only on the continent). Zuma has delegated this somewhat to his diplomats but the change in SA’s foreign relations focus has been Zuma’s doing. I think he’s doing a much better job (because he isn’t at its forefront! And neither is Mbeki anymore who seemed to want to have some sort of “legacy”).
Domestically, nah, populism can only go so far. Results matter and in these times, that’s going to be even more difficult to pull off even if folks were inclined to be a little forgiving.
With the latest scandal, less forgiving.
At least he doesn’t get stains on dresses. :) Really, it’s a bit of a comfort to know corruption is universal from Huey Long who hated a skin tone to someone with that skin tone. Any consolation, we’d likely have voted Clinton back in if we could have.
OmqR-IV.0 about 14 years ago
Oh boy. 3 current wives, 5th marriage (one divorce, one suicide) a Swazi princess fiancée waiting in the wings and 20th kid from a friend’s daughter (not one of his wives. Or fiancée). So I thought people would simply say wgaff (not even ask rhetorically) and move on like they have for all the other transgressions this guy has done (and I mean the really serious ones, not philandering). But not this time. This time South Africans seem really miffed at their new president’s stray from the marital beds.
Why only now, you frigging idiots? And why at 20? Why not at the serious fraud & corruption allegations before you voted him into office? (‘cos you see, prosecution muffed it and the court “had” to throw the case(s) out)
“Father of the Nation” indeed. sigh
Zapiro’s cartoon on this is funny ;-) But it has a history behind it if one is to catch it.
mhenriday about 14 years ago
OmQ R, I get the impression that, in fact, he’s doing a rather better job as SA president than his predecessor. Am I deceived ?…
Henri
OmqR-IV.0 about 14 years ago
Hmmm, how can I reply without betraying the fact I dislike the man so much my answer will be extremely difficult to be impartial. I bumped into a couple South Africans last week and there was some praise. One had voted for him and was still gushing about how he is one the people (I managed not to roll my eyes) However, the other’s favourable opinion was in the sense that he is not Mbeki despite initially thinking, like me, he was just a populist fool. I even said at the time he was going to be SA’s Dubya. Totally different to Mbeki’s style of governance. So I asked more about policy rather than appearance & charisma and that’s where they weren’t sure… Mbeki was a hands on president, always poking his finger in everything. Zuma delegates. I suppose that might be the sign of a good leader… (argh! what have I just said!?) To give him credit, when he was elected, SA was already into its recession and there were many strikes and some civil unrest (15 years since the 1st free elections and the poor were still very poor). His populist touch did help perhaps sooth the people. But I’m not so sure much really come of it. With regards Zimbabwe & Mugabe, yes, I think he has shown to be a better than Mbeki who was more interested in protecting his old friend. I did expect more judging from his pre-election criticism of Mugabe so I was still a little disappointed. But what else has he managed to achieve since May? I think I have been surprised by the improved international relations. Before Mbeki was prominent in SA’s foreign affairs and that probably wasn’t such a good idea (he tended to rub some folks the wrong way, not only on the continent). Zuma has delegated this somewhat to his diplomats but the change in SA’s foreign relations focus has been Zuma’s doing. I think he’s doing a much better job (because he isn’t at its forefront! And neither is Mbeki anymore who seemed to want to have some sort of “legacy”). Domestically, nah, populism can only go so far. Results matter and in these times, that’s going to be even more difficult to pull off even if folks were inclined to be a little forgiving. With the latest scandal, less forgiving.
freeholder1 about 14 years ago
At least he doesn’t get stains on dresses. :) Really, it’s a bit of a comfort to know corruption is universal from Huey Long who hated a skin tone to someone with that skin tone. Any consolation, we’d likely have voted Clinton back in if we could have.