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Obama Won!


Saturn

Obama Victory..  

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Anyway coming back to Obama, does anyone think that something similar can happen here? A Tamil or Muslim President???

I very much doubt it... at least not in our life times... but the first name that came to my mind was - late Lakshman Kadiragamar?

Edited by madmax
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I guess that school did something really great for you and me :rolleyes: . I sincerely hope there are more schools like this in our country!

definately mate...that place taught me everything i know and then some...

@ arc...so you're a peta eh....good for you machan :)

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I very much doubt it... at least not in our life times... but the first name that came to my mind was - late Lakshman Kadiragamar?

Ditto Mate, People Loved him very much.. That's very unfortunate we lost him in time like this. i cant see that kinda capable Tamil Politician in near future..

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Ditto Mate, People Loved him very much.. That's very unfortunate we lost him in time like this. i cant see that kinda capable Tamil Politician in near future..

amen to that

it takes a truly great individual to be able to be respected by all and sundry and even more so to be able to win the trust of an entire nation through honest statesmanship

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I guess that school did something really great for you and me :rolleyes: . I sincerely hope there are more schools like this in our country!

there are

but unfortunately the ideals which the masses embrace might not be congruent with those instilled by such fine institutions :mellow:

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Ditto Mate, People Loved him very much.. That's very unfortunate we lost him in time like this. i cant see that kinda capable Tamil Politician in near future..

amen to that

it takes a truly great individual to be able to be respected by all and sundry and even more so to be able to win the trust of an entire nation through honest statesmanship

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Ditto Mate, People Loved him very much.. That's very unfortunate we lost him in time like this. i cant see that kinda capable Tamil Politician in near future..

I also can’t recall a diplomat like him in recent history

If our politicians were smart they would have made him PM.

It was revealed that the Charles Gnanakoon has given him the assurance that LTTE won’t be doing any harm to him.

( Charles Gnanakoon is the one who mediated to bring RW and LTTE closer )

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amen to that

it takes a truly great individual to be able to be respected by all and sundry and even more so to be able to win the trust of an entire nation through honest statesmanship

I’m not trying to play him down. He was a true gentleman the sort of specie that is very rare in SL politics. But the man has never contested in a general election or any sort of election attached to SL government/politics, and he has never delivered a speech in a rally in SL. One of the reasons why MR was chosen as the premier by the majority of the SLFP in 2004 when Chandrika favoured Kadiragamar was because MR was more marketable since he had the ‘maha kalu singhalaya’ persona. So it would have been very interesting to see him in an election let it be general or presidential.

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I’m not trying to play him down. He was a true gentleman the sort of specie that is very rare in SL politics. But the man has never contested in a general election or any sort of election attached to SL government/politics, and he has never delivered a speech in a rally in SL. One of the reasons why MR was chosen as the premier by the majority of the SLFP in 2004 when Chandrika favoured Kadiragamar was because MR was more marketable since he had the ‘maha kalu singhalaya’ persona. So it would have been very interesting to see him in an election let it be general or presidential.

i thought Chandrika wants to favor for her Brother Anura to presdidential race...

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mate... if you agree that JVP was needed to be crushed the way it was crushed and it's ok for the "un popular decision" that was needed to tackle the problem...

once can argue it's the same with ltte issue aint it

they too have the perfect camouflage, they easily blend in with civilians etc etc etc but will you say ok to handle the ltte problem also the way JVP was handled??? Is it ok to herd thousands upon thousands of youth who might or might not be connected to ltte and torture them and kill them and drop the bodies on to rivers and burning tyres????

during the JVP crack down people had to hide their children when people came knocking on doors, walking on the roads was deemed too dangerous...

I've lived through it mate and lucky for me i was way below the target age group....

Ripster, I did mention that I (or anyone else for that matter) can’t justify the killings of innocent humans. But I have no sorrow for the assassinated JVP carders. Saying that I did agree that he did take the violence and brutality to a new height. Then again I can see his thought process behind his actions. He was sending a warning to all the wanabe JVPers. It’s like capital punishment at a level of unparallel cruelty. This was their second uprising they have already claimed so many lives during both the first uprising and the 83 black July incident. I can’t help but to think that the second uprising would have been much more peaceful if Sirima’s government took a firm decision against Wijeweera back in 71.

Well unfortunately current government is dealing with the LTTE issue in a similar way. Remember the French aid worker massacre? And the incidents leading to the loss of GSP+ concession

Well...i sorta disagree with you on that mate. see... JRJ, Premadasa etc transferred the ltte problem to all other governments... and also each time they passed down the problem ltte was getting stronger becoming a bigger problem to the next government...

So the "perceived" benefit at those times were just due to delaying the issue and nothing else...

either we give into ltte demands and settle with that or war on until otherwise...

though i'm not in favoring the present government... i like their approach of taking a stance and following through it for better or worse...

You got a very valid point. At the same time may be they did realize that it is not an easy task as it may sound to crush the LTTE (Chandrika learned it the hard way, and MR is taking lessons on a daily basis) and they knew majority of the sri lankans especially the singhalese in the south wouldn’t have agreed to a power sharing scheme. Hence they decided to keep the enemy quite during their stint and then pass the problem to who ever comes to power next. It wasn’t the right thing to do. Unfortunately all they cared abut was how to win the next election. But I do believe JR did put a genuine effort to find a solution from restructuring the ‘Sinhala only act’ to trying form a truce via the Indian peace keeping force.

though i'm not in favoring the present government... i like their approach of taking a stance and following through it for better or worse...

Some may say Kim il sung’s revolution and his antics was for the betterment of his country’s citizen. And some may say Sadam’s get rich quick scheme of invading Kuwait was to boost the country’s prosperity. The way I see it governments can’t do things holding all its citizens as ransom hoping their policies are for better or worse.

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Ha ha I'm sure you're right! :lol:

he he he NO i got my wires crossed big time. Went through the pre and post 79 constitution couldn't find anything with atleast a remote resemblance to my statement. i truly apologise and I’m ashamed of having to eat my won words

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i thought Chandrika wants to favor for her Brother Anura to presdidential race...

True. I’m on about SLFPs thought process behind choosing MR as the premier when they formed a government with the help of JVP back in 2004 beating the UNP. That was the first time Anura was in a ruling party under the SLFP therefore his name wasn’t nominated for the premiership.

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Presidential Power on the Road -

By GREGG D. MERKSAMER

Published: October 30, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/automobi...;WT.mc_ev=click

600-limo-span.jpg

Chris Doane/Brenda Priddy & Company

AFTER President McCain or Obama takes the oath of office in January, he may have a shiny new black limousine to go along with his not-so-new White House. General Motors is believed to be putting the final touches on a new First Car.

An analysis of unauthorized photographs taken while the car was being tested last summer on public roads suggests that the presidential ride will be a truck-based Cadillac. It will presumably replace the Cadillac that President Bush has used since 2005.

This new car will be a Caddy like no other. The photos by Chris Doane, a spy photographer who hunts big automotive game — future models that haven’t been publicly revealed — for magazines and Web sites, provide clues about how specialized presidential transportation has become since the first White House fleet was ordered for William Howard Taft in 1909. President Taft rode in a stock White steam car or a conventional Pierce-Arrow, but the next president will travel in a fortress-like vehicle that was mostly built from scratch.

The photographer noted that the limousine was being tested, possibly for comparison purposes, with a pair of GMC Topkick medium-duty trucks. The limousine seemed to be riding on the same 19.5-inch Goodyear Regional RHS tires as the trucks, indicating that it is far heavier than a civilian Cadillac — even the longest stretch limousines built with the G.M. division’s heavy-duty coachbuilder package. Indeed, it is believed that the limo is based on G.M.’s 2500 line of trucks, which includes an extra-heavy-duty version of the Suburban.

Although the raised roof and wide windshield pillars are inherited from the ultra-armored limousines that entered presidential service in 2001, only educated guesses can be made about the technical details. Because neither the Secret Service nor General Motors will discuss the car, or even confirm that a new one has been under development, it is impossible to provide basic specifications or dimensions. Calls to Cadillac’s media relations department were not returned, and the Secret Service declined to comment.

So people who are curious about such things look for clues and make deductions. I have spent almost 30 years paying close attention to presidential vehicles as part of my interest in what are called professional cars, which also include hearses and ambulances. (I am the author of “Professional Cars: Ambulances, Hearses and Flower Cars,” Krause Publications, 2004.)

Other sources I have consulted on cars used by past presidents include “Presidential Cars and Transportation” by William D. Siuru Jr. and Andrea Stewart (Krause Publications, 1995) and “Presidents on Wheels” by Herbert Ridgeway Collins (Bonanza Books, 1971). But my interest has me looking for clues wherever I can find them.

For example, television clips showing George W. Bush entering and exiting the rear doors of his limos indicate that the windows are at least 5 inches thick, nearly twice the depth of what was used on presidential limousines in the 1980s and ’90s.

While I do not know what type of weapons such thick windows are designed to guard against, a half-inch of transparent armor is enough to stop a .44 Magnum round at point-blank range; at a thickness of 1.25 to 1.5 inches, the same material can withstand higher-velocity bullets fired from military assault rifles.

Were an attack to occur, the ballistic forces of bullets fired into the windows would be absorbed within a succession of glass and plastic layers, after which a flexible inner coating known as an antispall shield would keep glass from entering the passenger compartment.

Though the materials protecting the car’s body are also classified, they are probably intended to break up incoming projectiles with a hard substance before their energy is dissipated by a soft substance. Material traditionally used for this purpose includes dual-hardness steel, aluminum, titanium and ceramics.

Large steel overlaps are also typically added to the body openings of armored autos to deter attackers who might try shooting through the door gaps.

Denied the convertible tops and sunroofs that were once found on presidents’ cars, and seated behind glass that is half as transparent and several times as sound-absorbent as that of a standard car, the president has limited interaction with the public while inside his limo. But he can make his presence known by turning on fluorescent interior lighting that makes him visible to bystanders, or by using the built-in public address system.

Aircraft tie-downs welded to the chassis allow the limousine to be transported aboard a military cargo jet, which also often carries the Secret Service’s Suburban escort vehicles and at least one limo used as a backup or decoy.

On television footage of a trip to Pakistan in March 2000, it appeared as though President Bill Clinton’s motorcade used five decoy cars.

Thus, it is likely that G.M. is building not just one new presidential limousine, but perhaps two or three that can be used as backups or decoys.

Presidential limos would have great appeal to collectors. But the Secret Service has shown no enthusiasm for letting recent White House cars fall into private hands. When the cars are retired, they often disappear, to be destroyed or used in Secret Service training.

The Department of State also uses specialized vehicles, and the agency’s disposal methods have been detailed in a document entitled “Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s February 2004 Armored Vehicle Program.” Methods include burial at sea, explosive demolition, burning, crushing or burial on land controlled by the federal government.

In the same spirit, the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Ark., was not given the keys to the 42nd president’s 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood, which is displayed there.

“We can dust the outside of the car, but if we needed to get inside it, we would have to contact the regional Secret Service office,” Christine Mouw, the library curator, said in an interview. “We’ve had requests from people to exhibit it with the doors open, but we’re told we can’t do it for security reasons, which is logical.”

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It wasn’t the right thing to do. Unfortunately all they cared abut was how to win the next election. But I do believe JR did put a genuine effort to find a solution from restructuring the ‘Sinhala only act’ to trying form a truce via the Indian peace keeping force.

I'm not quite agreeing with you. It is the JR’s black July that helped LTTE to shoot-up from zero to its present position. It is an irreversible mistake in Sri Lankan history. Even today we have no words when some one asked about this sad incident. It helped tremendously to gain the international sympathy towards the LTTE.

Please read this excerpt from President Premadasa and I - our Story (pp 60-63) from Sirisena Cooray.

In http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile....statements/644/

(SRI LANKA: Revelations of the former president J.R. Jayawardene's liability for Black July 1983)

The truth about truce via the Indian peace keeping force is, JR had to surrender to the India because of the poor foreign policy.

All of our shortsighted politicians have done one or another serious mistakes throughout the history. When you try to prove only the UNP politicians are correct you will be having a very hard time.

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I'm not quite agreeing with you. It is the JR’s black July that helped LTTE to shoot-up from zero to its present position. It is an irreversible mistake in Sri Lankan history. Even today we have no words when some one asked about this sad incident. It helped tremendously to gain the international sympathy towards the LTTE.

Please read this excerpt from President Premadasa and I - our Story (pp 60-63) from Sirisena Cooray.

In http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile....statements/644/

(SRI LANKA: Revelations of the former president J.R. Jayawardene's liability for Black July 1983)

The truth about truce via the Indian peace keeping force is, JR had to surrender to the India because of the poor foreign policy.

All of our shortsighted politicians have done one or another serious mistakes throughout the history. When you try to prove only the UNP politicians are correct you will be having a very hard time.

WHATEVER, for once I have to agree with you. JRJ made a few grave cock ups for all the economic benefit he brought.

Black July which was extremely traumatic for Tamils - and I had first hand experience when some of our neighbours took refuge in our house in crazy fear. These were guys I used to play cricket with in our lane and their family.

About ten of them huddled together in my room. And did not come out for days. Refused food for two days. I could read the fear in their eyes. Most of them went overseas and we lost contact but I'm willing to bet my Alfa that they are guys who now fund the LTTE.

Anyway another serious incident which I learned about only recently was the prison massacre. To make a long story short 58 Ltte suspects were arrested in 83 and imprisoned. They went to trial and 28 of them were found innocent and were to be relesed on a specified day. A day or two before the prison authorities arranged for all 58 to be killed by the Sinhalese inmates while the prison guards are said to have watched and laughed at. JRJ was informed and he delayed in taking action and the army came in later only to save 3 of the Tamils. One happens to be Douglas Devananda.

JRJ is also the one who encouraged corruption on a large scale by turning a blind eye on his ministers. And thanks to that today we have ace robbers leading the country.

IMO not a single leader has had the balls to go against the Sinhala Buddhist priority stand as all they want to do is win votes in the short term.

Premadasa spoke a lot about it .......we'll probably never know if he would have done something about it. When CBK brought the equality bill the UNP got together with our ever insecure buddhist monks and burned tyres on the parliment road.

It's a sad situ but the majority of are population are mighty dumb and our politicians keep taking them on a ride over and over again.

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I'm not quite agreeing with you. It is the JR’s black July that helped LTTE to shoot-up from zero to its present position. It is an irreversible mistake in Sri Lankan history. Even today we have no words when some one asked about this sad incident. It helped tremendously to gain the international sympathy towards the LTTE.

Please read this excerpt from President Premadasa and I - our Story (pp 60-63) from Sirisena Cooray.

In http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile....statements/644/

(SRI LANKA: Revelations of the former president J.R. Jayawardene's liability for Black July 1983)

The truth about truce via the Indian peace keeping force is, JR had to surrender to the India because of the poor foreign policy.

All of our shortsighted politicians have done one or another serious mistakes throughout the history. When you try to prove only the UNP politicians are correct you will be having a very hard time.

I do not like your choice of words ‘JR’s black July’ and it sounds very ambiguous. Are you meant to say it happened during JR’s time? Or he initiated it? If it’s the first one I don’t see the point of using the word JR in that statement as I can’t recall any other black July in SL history. If it’s the latter one then you are gravely wrong my friend. Did he assist the series of bloody events? Sadly I have to say sort of, not by directly getting involved but by not instating law and order properly. It was an act by the narrow minded Sinhalese aggravated by the JVP. JR did what any other politician would have done, bow down to the masses in order to win the next election, which was wrong.

I don’t agree with you on JR’s foreign policy or lack of it as you say. It is well documented how India was crossed on JR’s decision to award some contracts to western nations instead of them after opening up the economic barriers that was driving this country backwards. I do believe JR did managed to convert the India’s bullyness (is that even a word? lol) to some what our favour by signing the Indo-Sri Lanka accord. IPKF who initially started a peace keeping force did carry out few offensive operations against the LTTE. He was one of the first to talk about power devolution which is acknowledged by everyone including the likes of the current Indian premier and Mr. Chinthaka who came to power boasting to annihilate the LTTE (now he seems to can’t stop talking about it).

JR had a great fore sight just like N.M Perera and Colvin R. De Silva. JR talked about power devolution at a time it was look down upon by the majority. In my mind he knew no matter how successful wadamaracchi operation would be this is a problem that we won’t see the day light of via an armed conflict.

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WHATEVER, for once I have to agree with you. JRJ made a few grave cock ups for all the economic benefit he brought.

Black July which was extremely traumatic for Tamils - and I had first hand experience when some of our neighbours took refuge in our house in crazy fear. These were guys I used to play cricket with in our lane and their family.

About ten of them huddled together in my room. And did not come out for days. Refused food for two days. I could read the fear in their eyes. Most of them went overseas and we lost contact but I'm willing to bet my Alfa that they are guys who now fund the LTTE.

Anyway another serious incident which I learned about only recently was the prison massacre. To make a long story short 58 Ltte suspects were arrested in 83 and imprisoned. They went to trial and 28 of them were found innocent and were to be relesed on a specified day. A day or two before the prison authorities arranged for all 58 to be killed by the Sinhalese inmates while the prison guards are said to have watched and laughed at. JRJ was informed and he delayed in taking action and the army came in later only to save 3 of the Tamils. One happens to be Douglas Devananda.

JRJ is also the one who encouraged corruption on a large scale by turning a blind eye on his ministers. And thanks to that today we have ace robbers leading the country.

IMO not a single leader has had the balls to go against the Sinhala Buddhist priority stand as all they want to do is win votes in the short term.

Premadasa spoke a lot about it .......we'll probably never know if he would have done something about it. When CBK brought the equality bill the UNP got together with our ever insecure buddhist monks and burned tyres on the parliment road.

It's a sad situ but the majority of are population are mighty dumb and our politicians keep taking them on a ride over and over again.

I don’t think there’s a single politician in this world who has not cocked things up at least once, especially in sri lankan politics. It’s a way of human life I guess. You are bound to make mistakes. But the question is have you done any good at all to offset the bad to at least some extend.

Some one mentioned in this tread that there’s no point talking about politics as both main partys are corrupt. True, but I for one would like to settle for the lesser of the two evils.

My good man, do you think JR started/encouraged the trend of mass corruption by politicians? Then do you agree with Premadasa’s stance on keeping undated resignation letters? (now when you think about it that sort of method will sure to keep MPs from jumping sides won’t it?) The way I see it corruption has turned in to some sort of a game where politicians try to top one another. I think it’s futile and impossible to point out how and when this demeaning act started (same applies to the civil conflict/war on terror or what ever you want to call it these days). Just because one guy took a bribe that doesn’t give the right to another person to follow his path. It is sad how people only follow trends that tend to bring misfortune to public while good deeds that should be incorporated go unnoticed. One of those good deeds that I saw in recent times was the sacking of JVP MP for human trafficking. I know he is just a pawn but at least that’s a start.

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