GOP Vixen

Farewell, dear Vlad...

Oh, wait, Putin is still, for all intents and purposes, ruler supreme of Russia... Never mind!

I'm just saying...

Top search terms the past few days as indicated by my blog stats program:

"jimmy carter asshole"

"jimmy carter piece of shit"

The Reuters headline is "Carter, defying Israel, meets Hamas ex-minister." How about "Carter, defying all human decency, hugs and kisses official of the terrorist group Hamas"?

Back from S.F.: Torch protest roundup

There's a line in "Pulp Fiction" where Samuel L. Jackson's character, Jules, has a "moment of clarity" after several short-range bullets miss him: He decides to quit the hitman career, finally start living the Ezekiel passage he quoted to victims about the path of righteousness being beset on all sides by evil men, and even though totally unsure of his future he tells Vincent Vega (John Travolta) "I can't go back to sleep."

After this week's protests against the Olympic torch in San Francisco, one can't help but think -- and hope -- that many spectators now have that feeling about the myriad grievances brought against China: Tibet, the PRC's support for Sudan and Burma, press freedom (or lack of it, as the situation is), even the crackdowns on China's Uighur community (which showed up waving Eastern Turkistan flags). Media reports tend to leap to the loony protesters -- like the trio of nude guys I interviewed (and photographed, providing a scary surprise for my mother in her e-mail) -- but a strong message was sent by a passionate mass of protesters who generally heeded the call for nonviolence yet blocked the path for the torch to enter the closing ceremonies.

I was there for it. Protest events actually began Tuesday, with a Tibet-centric rally at U.N. Plaza, marching to San Francisco City Hall and the Chinese consulate after that. Many in the crowd were ethnic Tibetans, waving Tibet and American flags, but many were supporters from other walks of life. One speaker -- described as the only Tibetan in Appalachia -- eloquently compared this fight against communism to Eastern Europe's efforts, and hoped that Rangzen ("independence") would reach the same one-word movement recognition as Solidarność in 1980s Poland. One organizer handed me a sobering list -- names, ages, gender, town of those Tibetans thus far confirmed killed by the Chinese government since March 14. The elected North American representative for the Tibetan government in exile had sobering news: Some of those monks who were arrested and tortured for defying protest bans have committed suicide upon their release from Chinese custody. As it is, monasteries are under siege without access to food or water.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, of course, cowered inside City Hall and didn't come out when the protesters massed on the steps and spilled across the street. Marching up Van Ness Avenue (and yes, I did get new running shoes for the week) toward the consulate, cars driving the opposite way stopped in lanes to take pictures of the monks, the activists, and the plain ol' concerned citizens; drivers honked and flashed peace signs.

On Wednesday I got to the Embarcadero long before the torch relay was to start, sipping the best ever clam chowder on the patio of the Waterfront Restaurant as helicopters buzzed overhead and a plane flew a "Free Burma" banner. As Newsom decided to play hide-and-seek with the torch at the last minute, protesters made the wise decision to gather near the closing ceremonies site rather than spread out among the supposed waterfront route. Before long, the police barricades were null and the Chinese nationalists who had lined up to watch the missing torch were treated to a parade of demonstrators. I was in the middle of the protesters, dashing over to watch the latest shouting match or flag wrestling with China supporters who had wandered into the protest crowd.

At about 2:30 p.m. -- the relay was supposed to start at 1 p.m. -- Tibetan organizers told protesters to go through the Embarcadero Center building to get around police barricades branching far from the stage setup. “Block all the entrances!” a protest leader shouted. “Do not let the torch enter the closing ceremony!” Demonstrators streamed through the doors of the shopping center, chanting slogans as shopkeepers peered from windows.

Once close to the ceremony site, protesters pressed against another set of barricades that kept the public out of reserved seating. “Bring down the barriers!” demonstrators shouted as police lined up and a band played covers of tunes such as David Bowie and Queen’s “Under Pressure.” A couple of protesters asked me -- I was smushed in, close to the front of the pack -- if I would push in on the barrier: "You have a press pass, so you won't get in trouble!" they theorized. Uh-huh.

I find it interesting that so many stories are painting the day as a victory for Newsom when it was the strong protest efforts that made the torch run and hide.

This, I think, is one of the saddest stories of relay day:

"At least one torchbearer decided to show her support for Tibetan independence during her moment in the spotlight. After being passed the Olympic flame, Majora Carter pulled out a small Tibetan flag that she had hidden in her shirt sleeve.

'The Chinese security and cops were on me like white on rice, it was no joke,' said Carter, 41, who runs a nonprofit organization in New York. 'They pulled me out of the race, and then San Francisco police officers pushed me back into the crowd on the side of the street.'"

I'm so glad that, here in America, Chinese authorities are allowed to decide what's acceptable speech, and then our law enforcement officers go along with it, acting like her peaceful display of a Tibetan flag is a crime. Shame on the city of San Francisco!!

But major, major props to the people of San Francisco, who are unlikely to continue to be silent about the policies of communist China. Once you learn the truth, it's hard to go back to sleep. (Unless, of course, you're President Bush, who unfortunately refuses to ditch the opening ceremonies in Beijing.)

Here's the coverage roundup thus far from my trip:

MY VIDEO:

April 8 Tibet protests

April 9 torch relay protests

MY STORIES:

Round One of Anti-China Protests in San Francisco

San Francisco alters Olympic torch route to avoid protests

Olympic Protesters Run Torch Out of Town

And coming very soon, my Daily News column on an interesting angle of the whole torch protest affair...

Putin's sexiness analyzed

I know it's wrong to still lust for a ruthless autocrat (who fishes shirtless, I must add), but there was just such a stark difference in these two guys. Take these two images of German Chancellor Angela Merkel (aka Honorary Vixen for boycotting the Olympic opener!) being greeted on her trip to Russia last month:

First we have president-elect Dmitry Medvedev, looking rather smurfish with that too-bright blue suit on his 5'4" frame. He looks like a 16-year-old giving flowers that he just bought at the 101-Melrose offramp to his prom date. Merkel's reaction looks decidedly lukewarm.

But then...

Das Put steps up to the plate with a beautiful, exotic bouquet (not a baby's breath in sight) plus some cozy hand touches at the floral handover. Confident smile, not goofy chuckle. Merkel's got a bit of swoon going on. Vlad's got it going on.

Mugabe prepares for Run Off, or to Run Off?

Although all the election results have yet to be released, it’s clear that Robert Mugabe lost Zimbabwe's presidential election. Of course, since Mugabe has destroyed the economy, looting has become too much like work for an aging dictator. Although Mugabe might seem to be a man that has everything, he finds himself lacking what every smart despot really needs; a good set of luggage. The election results will probably not be released until Mugabe can throw together enough luggage to pack away what little wealth there is left in the country.

Mugabe supporters are not deterred and claim that they are preparing for a runoff. According to the deputy information minister, Bright Matonga, graduate of the Bagdad Bob institute of information, Mugabe’s party only applied 25% of their energy to the campaign and they are going to “unleash” the remaining 75% in the runoff. Translation: Four times as much cheating will be required to keep Mugabe in office.

Dith Pran: A true hero

Very, very sad news about the passing yesterday of Dith Pran, the "Killing Fields" survivor who became a photographer for The New York Times -- and strove to ensure that Pol Pot's genocide would not be forgotten:

"I'm a one-person crusade. I must speak for those who did not survive and for those who still suffer. Since coming to America, I have visited Cambodia three times to evaluate the ongoing Cambodian crisis. The problems Cambodia faces are not only political but also economical and social. The Khmer Rouge have brought Cambodia back to year zero and that's why I'm trying to bring the Khmer Rouge leaders to the World Court. Like one of my heroes, Elie Wiesel, who alerts the world to the horrors of the Jewish holocaust, I try to awaken the world to the holocaust of Cambodia, for all tragedies have universal implications."

"Part of my life is saving life. I don't consider myself a politician or a hero. I'm a messenger. If Cambodia is to survive, she needs many voices."

Merkel boycotting Olympic opener: Way to go!!!!

We already know that Bush and Gordon Brown have no cojones when it comes to standing up for China and boycotting the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. But German Chancellor Angela Merkel -- Forbes' most powerful woman in the world and now Honorary Vixen -- has become the first leader to put her foot down and do the right thing:

"As pressure built for concerted western protests to China over the crackdown in Tibet, EU leaders prepared to discuss the crisis for the first time today, amid a rift over whether to boycott the Olympics.

The disclosure that Germany is to stay away from the games' opening ceremonies in August could encourage President Nicolas Sarkozy of France to join in a gesture of defiance and complicate Gordon Brown's determination to attend the Olympics.

Donald Tusk, Poland's prime minister, became the first EU head of government to announce a boycott on Thursday and he was promptly joined by President Václav Klaus of the Czech Republic, who had previously promised to travel to Beijing.

'The presence of politicians at the inauguration of the Olympics seems inappropriate,' Tusk said. 'I do not intend to take part.'

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's foreign minister, confirmed that Merkel was staying away. He added that neither he nor Wolfgang Schäuble, the interior minister responsible for sport, would attend the opening ceremony.

Hans-Gert Pöttering, the politician from Merkel's Christian Democratic party who chairs the European parliament, encouraged talk of an Olympic boycott this week and invited the Dalai Lama to address the chamber in Strasbourg, while another senior German Christian Democrat, Ruprecht Polenz, said a boycott should remain on the table."

This is awesome news!! And I'm willing to bet that Sarko will take the boycott route.

Classic: Amnesty International's new poster playing off Beijing's Olympic slogan 'We Are Ready!'

How to get people to the polls?

Free saxophone for Russian voters in Moscow today!

Perhaps Bill can do this for Hillary in Ohio on Tuesday?

Tsar-gazing in Russia

Tomorrow is the presidential "election" in Russia, where Putin's Puppet stands to gain most of the vote and then declare Vlad prime minister upon taking office. (A more powerful PM post than before, if you haven't figured that out yet.)

Just keep this thought in mind when Russians go to the polls tomorrow, something said to me by Robert Amsterdam, counsel for imprisoned Yukos oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky:

"I agree with (Garry) Kasparov: Give Russia a couple weeks with a free media and there'll be a world difference (in polls)."