Telecom Scandal Plunges India Into Crisis

By JIM YARDLEY and HEATHER TIMMONS, The New York Times

Published: December 13, 2010

NEW DELHI – Tycoons with friends in high places. Public tenders conducted by irregular rules. Tens of billions of dollars in potential losses for the national treasury. Allegations of government ministers on the take, and of a respected prime minister too aloof to notice.

Those are some of the ingredients of a telecommunications scandal that is growing into India’s equivalent of Teapot Dome, an almost daily flurry of revelations about bribery, abuse of power, and privatization of public wealth that paralyzed Parliament for more than three weeks before its winter session ended Monday and have plunged the governing Congress Party into its worst political crisis in years.

The issue is how a minister allied with Congress sold cellphone operators the airwaves to provide their service to in 2008. But the amounts involved – an independent auditor estimated that the government may have left almost $40 billion on the table by selling the rights too cheaply – and subsequent revelations of how some of India’s richest men sought to exercise influence over political appointments and regulatory decisions has surprised a nation seemingly inured to reports of corruption in politics.

“Open corruption and rising stark disparities in wealth are a volatile mix that could affect social stability if the benefits of growth don’t filter down.”

Some Premiers.

You only think I guessed wrong! That’s what’s so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders – The most famous of which is “never get involved in a land war in Asia” – but only slightly less well-known is this: “Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line”! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha…

• ABC Family– Christmas Cupid, Holiday in Handcuffs
• AMC– The Princess Bride, Prancer
• Discovery– Sr. v. Jr. (premier)
• ESPN– Ravens @ Texans (it’s hard to figure out how I could care less)
• Food– Triple D (premier)
• FX– 27 Dresses
• History– American Pickers, Pawn Stars (premiers)
• Lifetime– Marry Me x 2
• National Geographic– Turin, Rome x 2 (premiers)
• Sci Fi– Tin Man (actually pretty good)
• TBS– Family Guy night
• Turner Classic– Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
• TLC– Cake Boss (premier), and more Cakes (also a premier)
• TNT– The Closer (last week’s and new), Men of a Certain Age

(premier)

• Toon– Johnny Test
• TV Land– Jerry Maguire
• Vs.– Kings @ Red Wings

Later-

• AMC– Maverick
• Disney– Phineas and Ferb
• FX– Shaft (not the good 1971 version)
• Turner Classic– What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
• USA– Semi-Pro

Dave hosts Ricky Gervais, Hailee Steinfeld, and Diddy-Dirty Money.  Jon has Gordon Brown, Stephen Patti Smith.  Conan hosts Gwyneth Paltrow, T.J. Miller, and Jimmy Eat World.

Boondocks– Stinkmeaner 3: The Hateocracy

Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man. I conceive likewise a horrid idea in receiving mercy from a being, who at the last day shall be shrieking to the rocks and mountains to cover him, and fleeing with terror from the orphan, the widow, and the slain of America.

There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is one. There are persons, too, who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy, if he succeed, will be merciful. It is the madness of folly to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war.

It’s possible, Pig, I might be bluffing. It’s conceivable, you miserable, vomitous mass, that I’m only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. But, then again… perhaps I have the strength after all. DROP… YOUR… SWORD!

Evening Edition is an Open Thread

1 Berlusconi foes reject peace offer ahead of vote

by Dario Thuburn, AFP

1 hr 29 mins ago

Monday Business Edition

I hate repeating myself, and yet I feel people need to be reminded about… well… facts.

Archaeology is the search for fact… not truth. If it’s truth you’re looking for, Dr. Tyree’s philosophy class is right down the hall.

I woke up this morning convinced that someone, somewhere would be picking up on the fact that this “Tax Cut Stimulus Deal” is actually a A TAX HIKE for any Household in America making less than $40,000 a year (WHICH IS JUST ABOUT 50% OF THEM!) so your average Millionaire can pocket $70,000 a year.

And there’s the totally non-stimulative nature of continuing the Bush Tax Cuts for the Weathiest 2% to begin with.  Over 10 years it hasn’t contributed a single job AND people already have that money, they’re not going to be doing anything new with it.  Washington/Wall Street Economics just doesn’t add up in the ways (DID I MENTION A TAX HIKE ON 50% OF HOUSEHOLDS?) people understand.

And now Obama weighs effort to overhaul tax code.

I suppose I’m not surprised so much as appalled.

Tax Cuts don’t work.  Supply Side Trickle Down Voodoo Economics is a fraud.

But if you’re going to buy into that and get past your hefting bigotry and prejudice, then Mitt Romney is your boy and he’ll kick Obama’s ass.

Bloomberg denies interest, Dean and Feingold also, but blood is in the water.

One Term?  He’ll be lucky to make it to ’12 because he’ll be impeached over his corrupt deals on the Health Insurance Companies Welfare Mandate.

Can’t say I disagree.

The Why-Should-I-Get-Out-Of-My-Chair Gap in 2012

Robert Reich

Sunday, December 12, 2010

In the 2010 midterm elections Democrats suffered from a so-called “enthusiasm gap.”

If Dems agree to the tax plan just negotiated by the White House with Republican leaders, they’ll face a “why-should-I-get-up-out-of-my-chair” gap that will make 2010’s Dem enthusiasm seem like a pep rally by comparison.

It’s a $70,000 gift for every millionaire, financed by a gigantic hole in the federal budget that will put on the cutting board education, infrastructure, and everything else most other Americans need and want.

Business News below.

Iggles @ ‘Boys (yes, yes I do hate the ‘Boys more.  Thank you for asking.).  Amazing Race (three teams left).  Simpsons and American Dad (premiers), Family Guy (hour long Holiday Special premier).  Nutcracker.

Otherwise just premiers.

• AMC– White Christmas x 2 ( is this all we’re going to see between now and December 25th?)
• Animal Planet– Planet Earth marathon
• Bravo– Real Housewives marathon (with premier)
• Disney– Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation, Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up, Sonny with a Chance (premiers)
• Discovery– Mythbusters marathon
• ESPN– Bowl Mania Special
• ESPN2– Poker Stars x 2 (premiers)
• FX– Eagle Eye x 2 (again and again and again)
• History– Ax Men, Top Gear (premiers, not nearly as good as Swamp Loggers)
• Lifetime– James Patterson’s Sundays at Tiffany’s (again), Marry Me x 2 (World Premier)
• National Geographic– The Spear of Destiny and Rome x 2, all premiers
• Oxygen– Titanic
• Sci Fi– The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (still not as good)
• TBS– Fred Claus x 2 (another movie I’ve seen enough of, again and again)
• Turner Classic– Mr. Belvedere Goes to College, Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (no, not that one)
• TLC– She’s A Great Shot (absolutely a must see, Sarah proves she’s incapable of operating a bolt action rifle.  A real Mike Dukakis moment.  Go back to clubbing fish.), a premier (Sara hosts Kate and her 8 for a rainy miserable picnic)
• TNT– Leverage x 2 (Holiday Special premier)
• Toon– A Very Venture Brothers Christmas
• Travel– David Blaine marathon (2 premiers)
• USA– Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Later-

• ABC Family– Christmas Cupid (World Premier)
• AMC– Holiday Inn (exactly like last night)
• Oxygen– Beaches
• Sci Fi– In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, Warehouse 13 (this week’s Holiday Special)
• Turner Classic– Cinderella Jones, Intolerance (shhhh.  More ‘Why can’t you tolerate my being a bigoted racist asshole?’ by D.W. Griffith)
• Toon– Family Guy, Robot Chicken marathon (with premier), Moral Orel, Metalocalypse, American Dad (Holiday Specials)
• USA– Hairspray (still not the good 1988 version)

Zap2it TV Listings, Yahoo TV Listings

Evening Edition is an Open Thread

Guess who’s back?

1 Six police among 14 killed in Iraq suicide attacks

by Bassim al-Anbari, AFP

Sun Dec 12, 10:50 am ET

285 Stories served.  40 per day.

This is actually the hardest diary to execute, and yet perhaps the most valuable because it lets you track story trends over time.  It should be a Sunday morning feature.

• Sunday 12/5
• Monday 12/6
• Tuesday 12/7
• Wednesday 12/8
• Thursday 12/9
• Friday 12/10
• Saturday 12/11

Frosty the Snowman (Jimmy Durante), Frosty Returns (Jonathan Winters), The Flight Before Christmas.  It’s a Wonderful Life (the classic, don’t let Glenn Beck ruin it for you.  A very young and attractive Donna Reed.  A very evil corporatist bankster Lionel Barrymore.).  The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (inferior to Tolkien in every way).

Archaeology is the search for fact… not truth. If it’s truth you’re looking for, Dr. Tyree’s philosophy class is right down the hall.

• ABC Family– The Santa Clause 2, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (told you there’d be plenty of repeats)
• AMC– White Christmas x 2
• Bravo– House marathon
• Comedy– Scary Movie 4, Balls of Fury
• Disney– The Game Plan
• Discovery– Finding Amelia (Earhart)
• E!– The Whole Nine Yards
• ESPN2– College Hoopies, Colorado State @ Kansas, Gonzaga @ Notre Dame
• FX– Tropic Thunder
• Lifetime– A Boyfriend for Christmas, James Patterson’s Sundays at Tiffany’s
• Oxygen– Practical Magic, Something’s Gotta Give x 2
• Sci Fi– Polar Storm, Ice Quake x 2
• Style– The Dish (premier)
• TBS– Fred Claus (again), The House Bunny (also again)
• Turner Classic– Meet Me in St. Louis (Judy Garland night)
• TLC– Sarah Palin’s Alaska marathon (including fish clubbing and the ironically titled She’s A Great Shot)
• TNT– The Forbidden Kingdom x 2
• Toon– Surf’s Up
• USA– Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade x 2
• Vs.– Point Break
• VH1– Fight Club

Later-

• AMC– Holiday Inn (the original debut of White Christmas)
• Disney– Phineas and Ferb
• FX– The League marathon
• Sci Fi– Yeti
• TBS– Joe Dirt
• Turner Classic– The Clock, The Pirate (more Judy)

SNL– Paul Rudd and Paul McCartney.

GitS SAC: 2nd Gig– Trial, Affection (Episodes 10 & 11)

A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don’t do one.

Zap2it TV Listings, Yahoo TV Listings

Evening Edition is an Open Thread

Still no new news from AFP.

Gbagbo’s rivals bid for backing of I.Coast military

by Roland Lloyd Parry, AFP

Thu Dec 9, 4:55 pm ET

ABIDJAN (AFP) – Pressure on Laurent Gbagbo to quit power in Ivory Coast after a disputed presidential poll intensified Thursday with world powers freezing him out and domestic rivals seeking the army’s allegiance.

After the African Union (AU) suspended Ivory Coast from its ranks and the United States warned of sanctions, the rival administration set up by Alassane Ouattara demanded the national military recognise him as head of state.

“The government demands that the Security and Defence Forces carry out their republican mission under President Alassane Ouattara, the supreme chief of the armed forces,” said Ouattara’s government in a statement.

1 Climate talks end with modest steps but no Kyoto deal

By Alister Doyle and Gerard Wynn, Reuters

1 hr 57 mins ago