Barkha Dutt Again

I just watched the NDTV program with Barkha Dutt trying to defend herself. In the panel were some journalists including the one who published the tapes.

I can't believe the charade that is going on!! The dynamics between the other lady from NDTV and Barkha is that of one sister helping another to confront a brother-in-law after a fight. I cannot understand how the other journalists in the panel agreed to come in this program.

I also cannot understand the naivette of the NDTV management. To air such a show on TV shows that these guys are green horns or they are so arrogant that they don't care. If they are trying to defend her reputation, that is un-defendable. Any moron knows that. Ir is it Barkha's ego. Is it that big?

Et Tu Barkha Dutt

The chinks in your armour started showing a long time back. Like the phone call on your mobile from Varun Gandhi, right in the middle of Live TV, during previous elections - you sounded like friends. We were left wondering - Where is your otherwise strong sense of propriety?

Over a long period of time, we thought - "wow this lady can really ask some tough questions". To politicians, bureaucrats, army men, sportsmen/women... Alas, there is someone out there looking out for us. Atleast asking asking the questions we want to ask.

Now we get it. It was all a show. A damn good one. I am sure you conscience would have been long dead - since the first time you crossed the line between propriety and impropriety. Now, the shame of public embarassment.

I know you will get through this. I think you are a fighter. Next time I see you ask a tough question to anybody, I will be chuckling, so will be the person answering you.

Obama and American Naivette

For many in America, Obama is a hero and can do no wrong. The first black ( actually, half-white) president is a thoughtful, mature and smart individual who has mesmerized Americans with his message of hope and change.

However, there are chinks now in the Obama armour. The nation has begun to doubt him. The unemployment is crippling for the poor and the middle class. The rich bankers are awarding themselves record bonuses. Obama is the modern day Robin Hood who steals from the poor and hands it over to the rich. Health care reform is almost dead.

The above is the public narrative. A Hero to Villain story befitting a Hollywood production.

Who is Obama? Is this question even relevant? Should'nt the question be "What has Obama done?" I think this is a big problem in America. Individuals here worry about form and not about content. The debate is not about issues, but values. Right vs Left, Conservative vs. Liberal. The attachment to an idealogy and viewing everything through that lens. People live in a bubble.

Obama and the like understand this succintly. They even plan strategies on this.

One clear illustration of this American naivette is "Joe the Plumber". Here is a guy who is struggling to make both ends meet, supporting the very party that promotes policies that caused his problems.