Opinion: Cornel West going to be a goldmine for the People’s Party

“Come from a tradition where I care about you. I care about the quality of your life, I care about whether you have access to a job with a living wage, decent housing, women having control over their bodies, health care for all, the escalating of the destruction of the planet, the destruction of American democracy. Democracy creates disruption. It creates an eruption. It creates an interruption wide from below, the energies of everyday people is manifest” – Dr. Cornel West (05.06.2023)

With the launch of the Presidential Campaign of Dr. Cornel West for the People’s Party. The People’s Party itself can be giddy and happy. They have a name and a man who is recognized across the nation. This is a big name for a small fringe third-party that has struggled and haven’t been able to run grassroot organization.

The People’s Party itself and the founder Nick Brana has enough trouble as is. It will be easier for the founder and the ones in his circle to feel good. Now that they have a left-wing pundit and philosopher on their team.

Cornel West is legitimizing the party and giving it credibility. Brana has serious allegations on his name. The party itself haven’t established itself and seemed legit. His former Sanders staffer, but still the party haven’t released a manifesto, party program or anything sincere.

There was a hot minute when they even talked about comedian and former TYT host Jimmy Dore as a Presidential Candidate. The party have picked a better one now and someone who can collectively raise awareness about a cause.

Dr. West has been a pundit and vocal leftist for a long while. His now a third-party candidate in a race, which has been mostly a duopoly. The only one who had a name and was able cause misery was Ralph Nader as the Green Party candidate. A man who got the blame for the loss of Al Gore and letting George W. Bush win in Florida in 2000. However, Gore himself and the Democratic Party could have held a better campaign that year.

West must prove himself, but the party itself needs to show force too. It needs to be committed and be vocal. Now they got to show finesse and a little political maturity. Brana has gotten himself the golden goose and the man who controls the faucet. This is a wet dream for him, and he couldn’t feel luckier.

Dr. West on the other hand is trading his name and reputation to run. I know that West can say the right things and be a reasonable guy. That is not the problem here. The doctor and philosopher are a genuine candidate. However, the platform and the history of the People’s Party will linger on his head.

Just to tell how confusing the whole structure and ideals around the platform. Some says the People’s Party (PP) is the historical one and the one West is running on is the Movement for People’s Party (MPP). Brana is behind the MPP and that makes sense, but the logo’s are all PP-ish. Therefore, the confusion is there and that’s before you cannot find any manifesto, program or about on the web-page. The only thing you see is bumper-sticker ideals and quotations. It just shows how meek and lacking of substance the whole party have at this point.

Now they have a running candidate, but apparently as a former Bernie Staffer he doesn’t have a hold or a grip. Only fluff and a now a launching video. As well, as all the questions lingering about the foothold, the grass-root ideals, and the supposed party organization itself.

That isn’t Dr. West’s fault, but he must carry that now with his name on it. He decided to take this leap and stand. Now his part of the party and the history of Brana. Even if he doesn’t like it or acknowledge it. It doesn’t happen without a merit or a reason, board members doesn’t quit over nothing. Therefore, Dr. West must clean up shop too.

For the ones fundraising and getting political donations, getting Dr. West is a goldmine. It is a treasure and a unique selling point. A third party with that sort of candidature is rare and the PP or MPP can thrive on it. They will get backing and support. However, will it be worthwhile?

I doubt it. It is another Nader in the making. It will cause some chaos on the left and some questionable headlines. Nevertheless, it will not change the status of the Democratic Party just yet. Peace.

Opinion: Panyako isn’t wrong…

Embattled United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Vice Chairman Seth Panyako says the ruling party lied to Kenyans during the 2022 general election campaigns. In an interview with Spice FM on Wednesday, May 31, Panyako said President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration had failed to deliver on the promises made to Kenyans during the campaign period” (…) ““We deceived Kenyans. Politicians must stick to what they told the people. As Panyako I will not support (such).”” (Wycliffe Nyamasege – ‘‘We deceived Kenyans during campaigns’ – embattled UDA Vice-chair Panyako’ 31.05.2023).

What UDA VC Seth Panyako said in an interview on Wednesday this week is true. It is a brutal truth and an honest reflection of the state of affairs. Usually these things aren’t said or deliberately said in public. No, these things are said behind closed doors and dealt with confidants there.

The general public or the citizens of the nations isn’t hearing it. Especially not from someone who has such an office in the majority party of the government. He is practically dismissing his own party, boss and the platform, which is feeding him. That is brave and someone might also say it’s stupid.

Panyako is singing to the choir. He is speaking sincere and the public might enjoy those words. However, within the ranks of the party and government. They will be furious… his undermining their efforts and making them look bad.

Nevertheless, no one should be shocked that Ruto and Kenya Kwanza aren’t following up on promises or pledges during the campaigns. It wasn’t like Ruto and the Jubilee did it either. They promised computers for learns and stadiums. The Jubilee in their two election cycles promised lots of grandeur and greatness, but only delivered a debt-trap called the SGR. Therefore, who will believe or think Ruto would keep his promises now?

Ruto has been in the game for long. He is thinking the long-con and he knew what he was getting into. Him and his associates just followed procedure and calculated the risks. They made alliances and forged ahead. That’s why he can just continue on his path and not be worried.

The UDA VC should be concerned about his role and titles. They can go amiss very soon. If his to defiant and to vocal. He might even end up without a master and without a sponsor to keep his unga on the table.

The words he spoke on Spice FM is most likely true, but that doesn’t mean he should have said. The UDA VC is now a firebrand and a troublemaker. That’s not what Ruto or Kenya Kwanza needs. His speaking the truth and the honesty is a good thing. However, in politics those attributes can turn into a bad thing.

Panyako is lucky if he doesn’t loose his stripes or his position. He can pray to the almighty and hope he keeps his day-job. Nevertheless, Ruto has played this game a long time and know how to strategically get ahead. This is just another hurdle and it will be easy to pass.

Ruto and his allies has lied. They have promised lofty dreams, which they will not do or even consider doing. That’s because of constrains and the lack of funds. They will find any reason in the book not to do it. These reforms and pledges are what the people need, but they will not get. That’s why they are campaigning on it and telling people about what they are intended to do…

No one should be amazed by this. Like I previously said, Ruto and his associates are seasoned pros at this point. Ruto has his whole life campaigned and been a candidate for office. It is not like he has changed his stripes or taken a turn for the worse.

The President have learned his lessons and seen what he could get away with as a Deputy. Now he can do more of the same and maybe even less. As President he has more power and has the final say. Not like when he was the DP and was confined with the mandate the President gave him. Therefore, Panyako should understand this and he stood behind it all.

Panyako should have known this before he even accepted to become a UDA member or a UDA VC. He should have known this. Everyone could read the tea-leafs and see it coming. Ruto plays his games and knows how to get ahead. That’s what he does and you played your part.

It’s a bit too late to cry now. That seal of the bottle is already off and you should just pour the brew into a glass. No need to await another decision or change behaviour now. You accepted that when you tagged along. Peace.

RDC: ENVOL – Point de Presse No. 080 (02.06.2023)

Opinion: Electoral Reforms are pointless under the current regime…

“I reminded the meeting that we live under a military dictatorship that disregards the rule of law, undermines state institutions, and maintains power through family rule. Gatherings like this one are only tolerated because the regime does not perceive them as a serious threat to its ultimate goal of retaining power. I added that in terms of democracy, Uganda has regressed to 1973, with a more cunning and strategic version of Idi Amin now in control. Thus, discussions on democracy and reforms may occur, but they will likely remain confined to conference rooms and not translate into tangible change until we recognize that our primary duty is to remove the Museveni dictatorship” (Bobi Wine, 01.06.2023).

The push for Electoral Reforms by a Joint Opposition is without merits under the current regime. The elections and the polls are only done to legitimize its rule and the ballot will not have any value. The ballots and the elections are only done to make belief of a democracy, which isn’t there. A way of looking smart and brilliant, but behind the façade the truth is there.

Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine is clear in his stern message. After listening to the speech on YouTube. It was surely obvious the sentiment and the powerful words that was used. Everyone should know by now and there shouldn’t be any doubts either.

Bobi Wine and the Opposition should know by heart that they have “no say or ability” to change things. Even if they change the Electoral Laws… would the NRM and Museveni comply?

They do whatever it takes to retain power and grab it. The laws, the constitutional order or anything else comes second. The misuse of power and oppressive mechanisms are used to silence critics or get rid of dissidents. Therefore, the opposition is within rights to question the legitimacy of the proceedings.

We have seen before that the Opposition and Opposition Leaders has called for Electoral Reforms. The Electoral Reforms that have come in recent years has only benefited the President and his Party. That being the Age Limit or the massive gerrymandering to ensure a superior majority in Parliament.

The elections of 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 is a testament to this. We have seen different leaders who haven’t only challenged Museveni but has beaten him. Still, he has rigged it and ensured the pyrrhic victory every single time. If it Ssemogerere, Besigye or Bobi Wine winning. They all ended up losing because Museveni said so.

You could change the laws and the Electoral Commission at this very time, and it wouldn’t matter. Just like there been other chairpersons and people in-charge of the EC but it hasn’t really mattered. Just like there been other judges and other people in office in the judiciary, but the results or the verdicts are all the same.

No can be surprised in 2023 that there is no hope for victory against Museveni. There is no chance and especially not in his system. This is all incorporated and organized in his fashion. His words are the law and the others are just his servants. Therefore, believing amendments or repealing of laws would make a difference is naïve. The President would only allow that if it served his purpose or plans.

That’s why his allowing the conference and meetings of the Opposition. His not afraid of this and it’s just keeping them busy. They won’t achieve much and it’s only keeping them pre-occupied. Therefore, why bother right?

Well, the ideals are fine. The citizens should have a say and their votes should matter. However, right now it’s only one man who matters and the rest just must follow. Peace.

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