The landslide victory of Fidesz in Hungary’s elections creates excitement for the first time in years; too bad most international analysts are easily distracted

Despite the skeptical and in some cases hostile reaction by most of the international media toward the recent political changes in Hungary, most Hungarians are optimistic and content. After years of the “doing nothing” policy of the Socialist party – during which the country sank into deep economic and moral morass – it is finally over. <snip>

For the first time in a long time, things are looking up – not that the international press seems to have noticed.

- The author is the online editor for the Hungarian weekly magazine HVG. He was formerly editor of the World Bank’s Transitions newsletter and a John S. Knight Fellow at Stanford University. 

Richard Hirschler can be reached at
features@praguepost.com

Read the description, then click on the question mark at

the right to see if you guessed right!

I was born in one country, raised in another.

My father was born in another country.

I was not his only child.

He fathered several children with numerous women.

I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no interest in

me.

My mother died at an early age from cancer.

Although my father deserted me and my mother raised me, I later

wrote a book idolizing my father not my mother.

Later in life, questions arose over my real name.

My birth records were sketchy.

No one was able to produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.

I grew up practicing one faith but converted to Christianity, as it was

widely accepted in my new country, but I practiced non-traditional

beliefs and didn’t follow Christianity, except in the public eye under

scrutiny.

I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult,

disguising myself as someone who really cared about them.

That was before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and

I embarked on a new career.

I wrote a book about my struggles growing up.

It was clear to those who read my memoirs, that I had difficulties

accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.

I became active in local politics in my 30′s then, with help behind the

scenes,

I literally burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office in my

40s.

They said I had a golden tongue and could talk anyone into anything.

I had a virtually non-existent resume, little work history, and no

experience in leading a single organization.

Yet I was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me, as

though I were a magnet and they were small roofing tacks.

I drew incredibly large crowds during my public appearances.

This bolstered my ego.

At first, my political campaign focused on my country’s foreign policy…

I was very critical of my country in the last war, and seized every

opportunity to bash my country.

But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on

the country’s economy.

I pretended to have a really good plan on how we could do better,

and every poor person would be fed and housed for free.

I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess.

It was the free market, banks and corporations.

I decided to start making citizens hate them and, if they became

envious of others who did well, the plan was clinched tight.

I called mine “A People’s Campaign”.

That sounded good to all people.

I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside the

traditional path of politics and was able to gain widespread popular

support.

I knew that, if I merely offered the people ‘hope’,together we could

change our country and the world.

So, I started to make my speeches sound like they were on behalf of

the downtrodden, poor, ignorant to include “persecuted minorities”.

My true views were not widely known and I kept them unknown, until

after I became my nation’s leader.

I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have easily found

out what I really believed, if they had simply read my writings and

examined those people I associated with.

I’m glad they didn’t.

Then I became the most powerful man in the world.

And the world learned the truth.

Who am I?

Find out here

by Bruce Bentley

About 50 activists attended the Chicago New Party membership meeting in July. The purpose of the meeting was to update members on local activities and to hear appeals for NP support from four potential political candidates. The NP is being very active in organization building and politics. There are 300 members in Chicago. In order to build an organizational and financial base the NP is sponsoring house parties. Locally it has been successful both fiscally and in building a grassroots base. Nationwide it has resulted in 1000 people committed to monthly contributions. The NP’s political strategy is to support progressive candidates in elections only if they have a concrete chance to “win”. This has resulted in a winning ratio of 77 of 110 elections. Candidates must be approved via a NP political committee. Once approved, candidates must sign a contract with the NP. The contract mandates that they must have a visible and active relationship with the NP.

The political entourage included Alderman Michael Chandler, William Delgado, chief of staff for State Rep Miguel del Valle, and spokespersons for State Sen. Alice Palmer, Sonya Sanchez, chief of staff for State Sen. Jesse Garcia, who is running for State Rep in Garcia’s District; and Barack Obama, chief of staff for State Sen. Alice Palmer. Obama is running for Palmer’s vacant seat.

Michael Chandler thanked the NP for its support in his electoral victory. His achievements to date included obtaining an increase of 30 police in the 24th Ward, citizen involvement in street clean-up and establishment of a 24th Ward Organization. William Delgado is exploring whether to run for State Rep in the 3rd District. He is a former social worker and spoke with compassion and dynamism. He considers himself a community activist who wants to be an advocate for change in the community. His presence in political office would be a benefit to the democratic left.

Indeed it was an exciting evening because the NP has two crucial components. First, the NP is a true “Rainbow Coalition” consisting of both young and aged African-Americans, Hispanics and Caucasians. Although ACORN and SEIU Local 880 were the harbingers of the NP there was a strong presence of CoC and DSA (15% DSA). Moreover a good 8% were younger Generation X’ers who are critically needed. A more diverse representation of Labor is missing. Secondly, the NP is taking “action.” Four political candidates were “there” seeking NP support. The NP is strategically organizing via house parties and tactically entering only elections that they can win. Furthermore they are organizing a campaign on the “Living Wage Ordinance” in the Chicago City Council.

The NP has the following working committees: political, membership/fund-raising, public relations, and legal/finance.

What was the “New Party”? It was a far-left “workers’ party” fighting for:

full employment 

a shorter work week

a guaranteed minimum income for all adults and a universal “social wage”

full public financing of elections with universal voter registration

“the democratization of banking and financial systems”, which included public control and regulation of banking

a more progressive tax system

reductions in military spending and an end to unilateral military interventions.

Will anyone in the mainstream media say ‘boo’ about this? Of course not. Will John McCain? Probably not. Will Sarah Palin? Maybe…

http://archive.redstate.com/stories/elections/2008/barack_obama_sought_the_new_partys_endorsement_knowing_it_was_a_radical_left_organization