| Issue 27 Vol II, November 15, 2006 | Archive |
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Democrats Gain in America as Bush Tastes Defeat Democrats completed their sweep to power in Congress, winning the last Senate seat and moving quickly from bitter campaign rhetoric to settle down to hard work on Iraq, Afghanistan and economic issues. Faced with a changed political landscape and limited choices, Bush signaled a more conciliatory approach on Iraq as he and the new leaders in Congress vowed to work together but conceded they would have differences.
Bush sounded willing to consider ideas for a shift in course in Iraq during remarks he made after meeting with his Cabinet. "I'm open to any idea or suggestion that will help us achieve our goals of defeating the terrorists and ensuring that Iraq's democratic government succeeds," he said. The conciliatory tone of administration officials followed Bush's announcement on Wednesday of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. The nominee to replace Rumsfeld, former CIA Director Robert Gates, is expected to have a more open mind on Iraq. But his confirmation would be tough. Democrats have made clear they will exert strong pressure on Bush for a policy shift in Iraq amid rising U.S. casualties and increasing violence. Elections American style The lower house of the U.S. Congress (equivalent to Parliament) goes to the polls every two years. It may be a too frequent an exercise, but the Americans are used to it. The presidential term is four years and the lower house goes to the polls along with the president. But two years after the presidential election the lower house goes again for reelection. The term of each of the U.S. Senators (equivalent to the members of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament) is six years. One third of the senators complete their terms every two years and are up for reelection. Thirty three senatorial seats were up for elections in 2006. Considering the ground realities in the Iraqi theatre of war, there was a mood of despondency in America. Those who voted for George W. Bush and his Republican Party in 2000 and 2004 elections were a disillusioned lot. Things did not turn out the way they were planned. As of this moment, America appears to be bogged down in an unending war in Iraq. The casualties are a daily occurrence. Americans by culture value the lives of their soldiers immensely. Any unnecessary casualty pains the man on the street. The Iraq war is not going according to the plan. First there was a Sunni uprising in Central Iraq and now the Shia death squads are also massacring their Sunni adversaries. There is a civil war like situation in Iraq. The power is in the hands of the Shiite faction, which America never wanted in the first place. In the run up to the Iraq War, America’s European friends most notably France, Germany and Russia as well as the non-aligned nations like India had tried to dissuade America from invading and destabilizing Iraq, but the American President brushed every advice aside and went ahead with a full scale invasion. America’s friends knew the pitfalls of such an adventure. They knew that Saddam Hussain was a tyrant, but the post-Saddam scenario was even worse. Shiite Iran is no friend of America and Iraq’s 60% majority population is also Shiite and as such has more affinity with Iran than with America. If President Bush’s goal is to establish a democracy in Iraq, that will result in transfer of power to the pro-Iranian Shiites. The man on the street in America could not contemplate this scenario prior to the invasion of Iraq. They are waking up to the situation now. That is the reason, why the man on the street in America is so bitter at the Bush Administration. Had they known about this bungling earlier on, they might have defeated the Republicans way back in 2002. It took an unusually long time to the common man in America to grasp the stark realities of the War in Iraq. The Democratic Party clearly saw the coming change in the mind set of the American public and took full advantage from it. Hillary Clinton had predicted a month ago that a pro-Democratic Party wave is sweeping the nation. Her forecast proved right on the money and in her State of New York the Democratic Party did win every statewide office that went to the polls including that of the Governor and the attorney general. Hillary Clinton’s coat-tails were so long and wide that she carried with her more than 40 other Democratic candidates to the podium. In true sense of the word, the Mid Term Election in America held on November 7, 2006 was a landslide victory for the Democratic Party. In the U.S. House of Representatives, the roles were completely reversed. The Democrats have retained all of their previously held seats and snatched at least 30 seats from the Republicans. This Democratic advantage would have been a lot more, if recent Republican engineered electoral redistricting had not been done in almost all the states. This was blatant in the president’s home state of Texas. In India the assembly and parliamentary constituencies are rarely altered, but in America, the electoral districts can be changed at any time with the mutual consent between the elected representatives. For example in America candidate “A” of one party has won by 1000 votes and in the neighbouring constituency candidate “B” of the other party has won by 500 votes. It means both have barely won and both are vulnerable in the next election. By mutual consent they can agree on redistricting. Each candidate can offer strongholds of the other party to the neighbouring winner of the other party and get his favourite areas into his constituency from the neighbouring candidate. That way both can be safe when the next round of elections is due. Such redistricting was done on an extensive scale all over the country when the Republicans had a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Considering the groundswell of resentment of the American people against the Bush Administration and the Republican Party, the Democratic gains would have been substantially more, especially on the East Coast and Industrial North. The traditional base of the Republican Party is the church going white population, the so called soccer moms and the business and financial community. These neo conservatives got maximum financial gain from the bush administration during the last six years. On the contrary the Democratic base consists of the blue collar workers, the unionized salaried people, the poor, the students, the senior citizens and the minorities. The Hindus and the Muslims of the Indian Sub-continent used to cancel each other out, but this time they voted mostly for the Democrats. This played an important role in the Indian dominated states like New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and California. The Democrats made deep inroads into the Republican strongholds in all these states. The Democrats not only took control of the House of Representatives after 12 years, they now have more elected governors than the Republicans. The control of the U.S. Senate makes a complete control over the Congress. In the State of New Jersey, where I live, the Democrats have established deep roots. We have an Indian born Upendra Chivukula as one of the elected Assemblymen. He is very hardworking campaigner. He worked untiringly for the electoral success of a Cuban American Democratic Senatorial Candidate Bob Menendez. Mr. Menendez was up against Tom Kean Jr. the son of a very popular former Republican Governor Tom Kean Sr. In the end Bob Menendez prevailed by eight percent against his better known opponent. Mr. Chivukula deserves a lot of credit for the success of Bob Menendez. Seema Singh, also hailing from India, is the government appointed Rate Payer’s Advocate of the State of New Jersey. She worked hard on the election campaign of an underdog Democratic candidate Linda Stender, who was pitted in an uphill battle against a deeply entrenched three term Republican Congressman Mike Ferguson. During last two campaigns, Mr. Ferguson had registered a plurality of 58% and 57% respectively. But this time he could barely defeat Linda Stender by a 49% to 48% margin. Seema deserves a lot of credit for this tough fight. Some people are predicting a virtual demise for the long delayed Indo-U.S. Civilian Nuclear Deal. But that is not going to be so. Several elected Democrats owe a lot of credit to their Asian Indian voters. All this overt and covert support is going to weigh heavily on the minds of these freshmen. I think the deal will be passed and soon. A lot of them will visit India and develop a better understanding of its rich culture and traditions. |
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New Indo Americans Law Makers
But there are others among the U.S. politicians of Indian origin who have made history in the recent polls. The election of another Punjabi, Nikki Randhawa Haley, to the South Carolina assembly has added to the good news. Haley, 32, a Republican from District 87, will become the first U.S. politician of Indian roots to hold elected office in South Carolina.
Swati Dandekar, a Democrat who won an upset victory over her Republican contender two years ago to make it to the Iowa state assembly, was the first Indian-born U.S. citizen to win a seat in the state legislature. Dandekar defeated her opponent, Cory Crowley, by 10 percentage points. “I feel good. It was a tight race in the sense that Sen. (Charles) Grassley (a Republican) had poured lots of money into my opponent's campaign. I'm glad I had a good war chest to have radio and TV ads,'' Dandekar said after her victory.
Raj Goyle was a Senior Policy Analyst for Domestic Policy at the Center for American Progress. He recently left the ACLU of Maryland, where he focused on post-9/11 immigration issues, voting rights, and civil liberties. Prior to that, he worked on election reform on the national level and with community groups in Florida, and helped lead a project on juvenile justice reform in Mississippi. Raj has also worked for Public Citizen and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and served as a researcher for South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, contributing to the Commission's Final Report released in 1998.
But it is the victory of former Rhodes Scholar Jindal that has evoked keen interest. Piyush is the son of Amar and Raj Jindal, residents of Malerkotla in Punjab who moved to the United States in the late 1960s to search greener pastures. A young Piyush adopted the name ‘Bobby' from a television serial and converted to Christianity. He chose political career over law and medicine. He was appointed secretary of the Louisiana department of health and hospitals when 25, and became assistant secretary of health in the Bush administration at 27. He resigned from the position in Washington last year to run for governor of Louisiana, but lost to win for the Congress.
As one commentator wrote, “The Indian Americans, though numbering close to 1.8 million and with an average annual income that is significantly higher than the American national average, had so far not emerged as a “voting bloc” which could use its numbers and money to influence policy that impacted them. They were, in this respect, quite unlike the Jewish community, which used its considerable wealth to influence policy that mattered to the community.” |
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THE architects of American hegemony and war mongering are eating dust one by one. While they are falling victim to conflict they engineered, yet to expect any major shift in the hegemonic agenda may be too premature. Bush and Blair who still remain for now will be gone soon. Would the democrats stop American attacks worldwide? Yet here is the roll call of these architects of war on Afghanistan and Iraq that has killed lakhs and brought untold misery.
John Bolton, the neocons' darling as ambassador to the UN, infuriated Powell and Armitage will be no where soon. Paul Bremer is seen as a big failure. He ran Iraq’s civilian affairs after war. George Bush: Iraq buck stops here. He has two lame duck years in office with hostile Congress to placate. After 2008 elections, he would neither here nor there and count his old pals and the money they had made. Alastair Campbell that PR reputation man lost in row over 'sexing up' dossier on case for war. He later quit. Ahmed Chalabi, the stooge and CIA adviser behind 'evidence' of weapons of mass destruction, failed to win Iraq seat. DICK CHENEY, the arch neocon, and key foreign policy voice and despite war fiasco still remains Vice-President. But with no future to mouth slogans. Iain Duncan Smith, the big backer of war with limited scope to criticize was dumped as leader in 2004. Jay Garner, a US general supposed to lead the occupation is no where. He was replaced after a month as violence flared. Lord Goldsmith, Friend of Blair, despite doubts, eventually ruled war legal. He is Still Attorney General. Sir Jeremy Greenstock, As UK ambassador to the UN, tried to build coalition for war now works for think-tank. Geoff Hoon, Loyal Defence Secretary demoted to be Leader of Commons is now Europe minister.
Condoleezza Rice replaced Powell. She is no fan of Cheney-Rumsfeld agenda but has never objected. She too would be toothless tigress. Donald Rumsfeld, the ruthless US Defence Secretary with small mind and focus on deals who tried to redefine US Army has paid with job for war fiasco. Other the other hand, John Scarlett who allowed 'sexing up' of dossier making case for war has been promoted as head of MI6. Jack Straw, as Foreign Secretary, loyally backed Blair's Iraq strategy. His payback was demotion. George Tenet CIA chief called case for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction "a slam dunk" was sacked. John Williams, Foreign Office spin doctor who wrote a draft of the WMD dossier is now a freelance journalist. Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy at Defence and a Neo-con and intellectual force behind war has gone to World Bank to mess up further. |
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Raj Goyle, new member of the House of Representatives in Kansas State is believes in hard work for the community and love of family. Here is what this young law maker says: “I learned these simple values from my parents growing up in Wichita--and they are the same values that guide me every day in my career as a lecturer at Wichita State University, attorney, and active member of the Wichita community. More than 30 years ago my parents moved to East Wichita with the hope that the American Dream was available to anyone who worked hard and played by the rules. And thanks to Wichita, that dream came true. My parents still operate a medical clinic that has created over 50 jobs and provides top-quality care for the community.
I attended Duke University where I was a member of a fraternity and led a coalition of faculty and students to improve working conditions on campus. I then went to Harvard Law School where in addition to my legal studies; I founded a small technology company with two classmates that taught me the importance of entrepreneurship. Law school not only honed my advocacy skills and deepened my commitment to helping others, but it is also where I met the love of my life--my wife Monica, a fellow attorney born and raised in a small town in upstate New York. We were married in July 2004 and she is now a successful corporate attorney. Her parents live in Middletown, New York" Raj adds, "In my career, I have worked for a federal judge, as an advocate for better schools and expanded voting rights for all citizens, and as a researcher on homeland security and constitutional issues in Washington, DC. I am proud, happy and excited to be in Wichita, near my family and the community I love. In teaching at Wichita State I am helping to educate and shape our city's youth while maintaining a deep commitment to public service and civic involvement." |
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The
Democrats sealed control of both houses of Congress by taking a 51-49
majority in the Senate with former Navy Secretary Jim Webb's defeat of
Republican Sen. George Allen in Virginia -- a race so close it almost
required a recount. Democrats easily seized control of the House, gaining
about 30 seats. But wresting the Senate from Republicans hung on the outcome
of the Webb-Allen race.
AS
immigrants Indians, particularly Punjabis have a knack for public life.
It was way back in 1956 that Dalip Singh Saund entered American
Congress from California. Now this is Piyush “Bobby” Jindal, a
Louisiana Republican who has won the race as member of the House of
Representatives. But he is not alone. Among U.S. citizens of Indian
origin who won in the elections are Raj Goyle in Kansas, Nikki
Randhawa Haley in South Carolina, Swati Dandekar in Iowa, Kumar Barve in
Maryland, Satveer Chaudhary in Minnesota and Upendra Chivukula in New
Jersey.
As the
Wichita Eagle, a Kansas newspaper put it, "Raj Goyle is the standout
pick in the district of Wichita. Goyle as Democrat defeated Bonnie Huy,
the three-term GOP incumbent. A native Wichitan, Goyle left to earn
prestigious degrees from Duke University and Harvard Law School, but to
his credit, he chose to return to Wichita to make a difference in his
community and state.” His parents, Krishan and Vimal Goyle are both
doctors hail from Bhatinda. They have indeed done a service to their
native Punjab by raising a conscientious son. 31 year old Raj is well
read, sober and committed to basic human freedoms. What is remarkable
about him is that he does not shy away from a good fight whether as a
leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union or as part of the
think tank, the American Progress. His wife Monica, also an established
lawyer in Washington DC has proved as a big support.
Jindal,
33, received 78 percent of the votes in defeating his nearest rival,
Democrat Roy Armstrong, n the first Congressional district of
Louisiana. It is remarkable when many big time Republicans were
sinking, Jindal made to the House.
She also
becomes the first woman politician of Indian descent in the United
States to do so, and the second to make it to a state assembly. The
other is Swati Dandekar in Iowa, who was re-elected. In Ohio, Jay Goyal,
26, scion of a local business house has won a seat in the state House of
Representatives.
Satveer
Chaudhury, 37, one of the youngest Indian origin persons to be elected
to an American state legislature when he won a seat in the Minnesota
state House of Representatives 10 years ago. Chaudhury moved to the
state Senate in 2000, becoming the first Indian-American state Senator.
Haley,
whose parents hail from Amritsar and whose family members still live in
the holy city of the Punjab, was born and brought up in North Carolina.
She has lived in Iowa for 30 years and has worked on education,
children's welfare and immigrant issues. Haley credits her victory to
supporters from her community, saying the campaign poses a special
challenge to a member of a minority group. Haley feels “You really find
yourself to be a dartboard for all things, and when you put yourself out
there to do service for your district and country, it's something
everyone should be appreciative about regardless of party.''
Regarded as a rising
star among young Republican politicians, Jindal however has seldom
expressed any India-specific interest. Back home in Malerkotla, though
his relatives were in celebrating mood, yet the disconnection with
India, Punjab and above all with his home town left many a bit sour.
Richard
Armitage who was Colin Powell's number two quit at the same time as his
boss after the 2004 election. Jose Maria Aznar, Spanish PM was ousted
after Madrid bombs. Silvio Berlusconi, Big backer of the war, sending
2,000 Italian troops. It Cost him his job as PM this April. Tony Blair
in the last year of premiership, who still insists war was right, is
floundering and has the inglorious and unwanted legacy to defend as
commoner next year.
Sir
Christopher Meyer was UK ambassador in US. Currently heads PCC, press
watchdog and has become war critic. Colin Powell, Secretary of State's
February 2003 speech to UN making case for war was untrue. He has
retired.
My life
in Wichita began at the tender age of nine months old and it wasn't long
before I was bringing people together to help improve our community.
When I was 15, I helped organize a community-wide recycling program that
saved hundreds of pounds of garbage from the county landfill and led to
a large cleanup of the Arkansas River downtown. As a reporter for the
Wichita Eagle, I worked with U.S.D. 259 to produce the annual
'back-to-school' issue and wrote a column on each high school in the
city. In high
school, I was active in sports, debate, and newspaper, and was honoured
to graduate as both valedictorian and student body president.