One of the biggest international stories so far this year has been the rise and rise of Barack Obama. Its
twin is the collapse of Hillary Clinton’s campaign. She now has the unmistakable air of a loser as the
aura of inevitability and the mystique of invincibility give way to a scramble for relevance. Perhaps she
is learning the meaning of the audacity of hope. One former British politician said famously and
damningly of another that there was something of the night about him. There truly is something of the
dawn about Mr. Obama. He has been able to shine light on the dark landscape of despair and selfdoubt
afflicting the country. His launch of a presidential bid …..
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/23/stories/2008022355201000.htm

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In a rare display of bipartisan political sagacity, Pakistan’s two major democratic parties, which have
traditionally been at daggers drawn, have made common cause on key democratic and institutional
issues and decided to work together in forming governments at the Centre and in the provinces. This is
bad news for the dictator, retired General Pervez Musharraf, who was clearly banking on the Pakistan
People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League(N) going separate, if not opposite, ways. Their farsighted
agreement to “stay together in principle” and amicably discuss and resolve specific issues on
which they might have differences can consolidate the inspiring outcome of the recent elections — and
lay the foundation for genuine parliamentary democracy in a country ….
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/23/stories/2008022355211000.htm

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The new constituency boundaries fixed by the Delimitation Commission have without intending to do so
liberated the Congress — and its rivals — from the phantom of mid-term polls. The eight or so months
the Election Commission of India (ECI) will need to graft the changes on to the Lok Sabha map, in
effect, mean eight or so months without the big election. So how will the political parties use the
reprieve? On current form, the Congress should sink into further inaction. Even without the mid-term
threat, the farthest approximate date of the 15th General Election….
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/25/stories/2008022553681000.htm

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