tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post2188348840099141829..comments2023-10-20T21:52:36.752+05:30Comments on Cross Connections: How He Turned The Tables: The Rahul Gandhi InterviewFarzana Verseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891229615361937135noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-74048712781976692832014-05-04T21:07:54.583+05:302014-05-04T21:07:54.583+05:30I sincerely feel this artical is a measurable atte...I sincerely feel this artical is a measurable attempt to protect RG from being portrayed as a dumb politician.....He had no answer ready for a single question thrown at him...The interview of RG has posed serious questions about Rahul's wisdom and understanding about very basics...... God save the nation if he becomes PM of the nation....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00239029286210343205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-77279281404183047652014-05-03T20:59:08.260+05:302014-05-03T20:59:08.260+05:30This attempt is simply a failure to defend a extre...This attempt is simply a failure to defend a extremely corrupt organization by trying to sound neutral. <br />We the people have had enough BS from this moral less family and their greed. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00391962597085685214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-89085066394129775852014-01-31T17:22:35.111+05:302014-01-31T17:22:35.111+05:30Hi,I couldn't resist but comment on this artic...Hi,I couldn't resist but comment on this article. The interview cleared all including the misconceptions of congress supporters about RG. Lets not find deviate from the whole big issue of is Mr. RG fit to lead a country like India which has been suffering since 10 years. The Answer is NO. RG's interview showed his ignorance, lack of presence of mind and incapable of dealing with his ignorance. We are definitely not looking an such a person as PM or even PM candidate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-39561454497062087702014-01-30T23:02:41.763+05:302014-01-30T23:02:41.763+05:30FV,
The deluge of the comments above has perhaps ...FV,<br /><br />The deluge of the comments above has perhaps reinforced your belief that RG "touched a raw nerve" with his interview. If I may point out, the real picture is quiet different. <br /><br />It is heartening to see your post attracting such wide readership and discussion on various fora. But as a regular reader of your blog, I must say that your views here have been highly puzzling.<br /><br />I have often disagreed with you in my comments. But you always communicated clearly. I could understand exactly what you were trying to convey. That, doesn't seem to be the case here. Your arguments place a severe strain on credulity. It is immediately clear to anyone watching the show that RG is a bad communicator and a holder of shallow and superficial opinions. He lacks knowledge of issues. He is clueless about details. And he loses his bearing under studio floodlights. While none of these are particularly alarming issues by themselves, in an age of cruel mass media and ahead of an election that promises to be a cliffhanger, he seems singularly unfit to lead his army into a make-or-break war. <br /><br />Why you were driven to find deeper meaning and analyze RG's inner mind after watching this howler of an interaction is, plainly speaking, beyond me.Free and Footloosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16911514463551198170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-1263946793745849952014-01-30T21:26:09.986+05:302014-01-30T21:26:09.986+05:30Hi Farzana,
I am not a regular blogger. But an alt...Hi Farzana,<br />I am not a regular blogger. But an alternate view that you have presented to RG interview made me share my point of view.<br />I agree to your view point and to stand against the tide and present an alternate idea is admirable on your behalf. Keep it up!<br /><br />The only residual thought I am left with after reading this view point is, does this interview really reveals & justifies Rahul Gandhi's Prime Ministerial Candidacy? Even in his own words, it seems like he wants to do a lot of things, and experiment by bringing youth into politics. To take responsibility of the nation takes a little more than aspirations and goals. There has to be substantial level of drive, a leader of national stature, ACCOMPLISHMENTS and SUCCESSFUL POLITICAL REFORMS, by which a person can prove their eligibility.<br />Rahul Gandhi may not be the WORST BET, but has he proved himself to be the BEST BET for being Prime Minister of India?<br /><br />His comments were expected to satisfy that bench mark. Not just justify where he stands right now, aged 45 years, which by no means counts in youth, unless you were thinking Bollywood, but yes where he stands - I agree he did present that sincerely.<br /><br />Thank you!<br />Rajat SrivastavaRajat Srivastavanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-36937686865658978802014-01-30T20:49:46.626+05:302014-01-30T20:49:46.626+05:30I appreciate the time and effort at least a few of...I appreciate the time and effort at least a few of you have expended. It is good to always have a debate. I cannot reply to everyone, and will certainly not to those who indulge in name-calling. <i>This is to share a response I sent (there have been a few emails – some agreeing, some not), which probably conveys what I think best. (The content would convey the questions posed or ‘other’ positions taken by some.)</i>:<br /><br />I would like to state here that mine was not so much a defence of Rahul Gandhi's "performance" as a reading of the content. In fact, I have issues with the emphasis on performance in mainstream media. <br /><br />A few points…<br /><br />His emphasis on personal pain does not negate other pains. This was in context; had he responded to Dalit/SC issues with his pain business I would have judged him differently. <br /><br />He did not speak in Hindi because the show is in English. And I do believe that he or any leader ought to spell out their views while addressing the junta, not pampered TV anchors. Had he said what was in his mind, there is no guarantee that it would be the truth. Thoughts are not manifestoes. The common man does not know that the system needs to change; s/he only knows that they need food, shelter, employment. They know that their lives need to change, not the system. <br /><br />It is naïve to expect any politician to spell out how they will bring about change. Modi talks development. We ought to be thrilled with it, then. <br /><br />Yes, there are views that he sounded “wimpish” etc. I choose not to fall into that. I don’t even call Modi an idiot or monster. <br /><br />Also, I do not judge anybody on the basis of how they fare on TV or even at rallies. How many such did Lal Bahadur Shastri be a part of? As someone who has interviewed very many people, including quite a few politicians, <b>I think the interview failed because it did not ask the right questions</b>. <br /><br />Kangaroo courts don’t work. All of us would like to know what a political leader thinks, but not in random games of what he thinks about whom. <br /><br />The views I expressed were only on one interview, and that should reveal how we ought not to expect one-dimensional ideas at a go. <br /><br />Firstpost reproduced my piece, and it is evident how acrimony rules that they had to close the comments within a couple of hours. Do we want such people deciding on who fares how in Hindustan? <br />Farzana Verseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06891229615361937135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-56391838150053734672014-01-30T20:34:30.819+05:302014-01-30T20:34:30.819+05:30Sudhir:
What can I say? So, I gather a Congress s...Sudhir:<br /><br />What can I say? So, I gather a Congress spokesperson tweeted about this post. What can I do, and how does that alter anything? Don't people flash media reports right inside Parliament to make a point? <br /><br />Anyhow, thanks for the link. <br /><br />---<br /><br />To the Anon who thinks this is satire, much as I would like to ride on this, it would be a lie. There are panned deadpan moments, like the non-disclaimer at the beginning, the dig at the Bharat Nirman ads, the 'ergo'...and a few others. In essence, though, I was straightforward. <br /><br />---<br /><br />In the 'anon' deluge even some interesting comments have been left out. <br /><br />---<br /><br />Try a Thesaurus for idiot, moron. Becomes tedious to read. FVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-39179067654511993702014-01-30T18:13:30.581+05:302014-01-30T18:13:30.581+05:30Critique of your argument - http://www.niticentral...Critique of your argument - http://www.niticentral.com/2014/01/30/why-rahul-baba-failed-to-impress-nation-184837.htmlSudhirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01632812250837859508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-27904027480411538622014-01-30T16:21:19.118+05:302014-01-30T16:21:19.118+05:30Farzana: I have gone through your post in detail. ...Farzana: I have gone through your post in detail. Read through it and tried to be as objective as possible. Unfortunately, this still does not convince me that what RaGa gave as an interview was what I would expect from a part VP who is touted as the next PM. <br /><br />Even in your post, there are places where you have written: Ergo. You, decoding him, for me, a reader. I did not want that from him. <br /><br />I wanted him to be precise, concise and be able o communicate his view correctly. I do believe he has a vision. I do believe that he has a thought. But i do not want it communicated via well-written and proof-read speeches. I do not want them through orchestrated interviews.<br /><br />Yes, one may argue that ArGo was not going to give him any speech time unless he replies only what he's expected to. Look at it this way - If a person cannot get his point across in the clutter and can be arm twisted into NOT saying what he intends to by the reporter, how will he face up to global negotiations? As VP (and PM designate, almost), he will be faced with all these challenges. f he cannot make a point, and get his way with it, I have a problem. I am worried about India's future. <br /><br />I am a strong believer that two very opposing views can exist in a society, and as such I respect what you have written. I just do not agree to it. Not in its totality anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-10846193247623375472014-01-30T11:34:38.012+05:302014-01-30T11:34:38.012+05:30Farzana:You have given a fabulous & correct an...Farzana:You have given a fabulous & correct analysis of the interview. While others were busy cracking jokes at Rahul Gandhi, you made superb use of your time and presented a perspective that escaped most minds but reflects in reality, the immaculate handling of the situation by Congress Vice President. Congratulationswanimasudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02988816871469337486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-77307182590510841802014-01-30T11:26:06.388+05:302014-01-30T11:26:06.388+05:30Seems you have been RahulGandhied. :)Seems you have been RahulGandhied. :)Abhilashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-86407829014675027402014-01-30T11:21:42.229+05:302014-01-30T11:21:42.229+05:30Modi has already had a personal interview with Arn...Modi has already had a personal interview with Arnab.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-33207666979805238822014-01-30T11:09:46.243+05:302014-01-30T11:09:46.243+05:30Point by point rebuttal:
Why was RG not being spe...Point by point rebuttal:<br /><br />Why was RG not being specific?<br /><br />Why should he not ? What was the whole purpose of agreeing to the interview if not to showcase to the nation what RG’s thoughts and opinions are. The interview was not for Times Now’s benefit per se, it was to bolster RG’s image makeover as part of the 500 cr extravaganza. They already know that no one watches RG’s speeches and even less understand his rambling on theoretical topics. This was supposed to be an opportunity for the nation to get to know him better through his thoughts.<br /><br />Why did he not take the Modi bait?<br /><br />Treating NaMo as “just another guy” is exactly like the habit of burying one’s head in the sand to ward off anything scary. If he fails to recognize his principal opponent, which illusory world does he live in? The debate with NaMo just isn’t going on because RG is so scared of a one to one and he knows that he would never stand a chance.<br /><br />Why did he not apologise for the anti-Sikh riots of 1984?<br /><br />I agree with you on this one. Nothing could have been achieved by any apology. Correction: Sonia has never apologized, not that it would have mattered, just as an apology from Ajmal Kasab wouldn’t have lessened his punishment.<br /><br />Why did he not come clean about his degrees?<br /><br />It’s not about degrees or qualifications. It’s about common sincerity. If a would-be PM lies about a basic thing such as his educational qualification, what else is he lying about? I think you can go and investigate for how long Modi ran the tea stall as a child... even if he ran it for a day, it would be more struggle than RG has done in his life.<br /><br />Why did he not commit on the Aam Aadmi Party?<br /><br />Because he has never committed on anything,ever. <br /><br />Why did he keep repeating about RTI, empowerment of women, the system?<br /><br />What was his “piece” ? Was this supposed to be a monologue ? Was it titled “Frankly LISTENING with Arnab Goswami” ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-5376773034335078142014-01-30T09:15:14.134+05:302014-01-30T09:15:14.134+05:30Why this disclaimer of this blog being a parody or...Why this disclaimer of this blog being a parody or an attempt at humor? It is a satirical piece par excellence! And your transactional analysis of Rahul by every bite chases his supporters running for cover! Deadpan! The only pity is that Rahul is going to believe your statements. Poor guy doesn't know AG was far kinder!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-77142645853243069212014-01-30T05:55:37.231+05:302014-01-30T05:55:37.231+05:30I work in a scientific discipline and often write/...I work in a scientific discipline and often write/edit scientific reports. Generally (and this is based on personal experience and criticism is welcome), scientific reports that are written by non-experts or people who are not familiar with the subject matter show a tendency to repeatedly use a few tag lines and phrases to put across their point of view. This, in my opinion, is because they lack an in-depth knowledge of the subject. A person who is well-read and well-informed about the scientific discipline usually invokes multiple arguments, draws from different source materials, piles on evidence after evidence using numerous references to convince the reader of the veracity of his claims. <br /><br />The performance of Mr. Gandhi in the interview shows symptoms of a lack of depth on issues being discussed which perhaps makes him fall to the few phrases he has been able to master over the years. I just watched 4 of his speeches spread over the last four to five years (ask for links if you want to see them). In these speeches too, he has used the word Women Empowerment, RTI, Youth, etc. umpteen times. "Lokpal" was absent from these speeches for obvious reasons. It was passed only recently and is now part of his vocabulary. <br /><br />There is no denying the fact Mr. Gandhi has been through terrible emotional and personal tragedies in his formative years. And surely the "system" was responsible for most if not all of it. But do these tragedies bestow him with credentials to be the Vice President of a major political party? I find Mr. Goswami to be a rabble-rousing and confrontational journalist whose style has party obscured the fundamental question the interview perhaps set out to answer. <br /><br />Does he have the credential to be the Prime Minister of India? <br /><br />He has never been an astute academician who turned India's economic fortune in the 90's (Manmohan Singh) or a presumably incorruptible parliamentarian who was in the political life for fifty years before becoming PM (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) or someone who fought for India's independence alongside Mahatma Gandhi and wrote a comprehensive history of India using his towering intellect (Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru) or an incorruptible person who died a pauper while ensuring victory for India in the war against pakistan (Lal Bahadur Shashtri). <br /><br />Are these comparison unfair in the face of a call for youth to share the burden of governance. Perhaps! But shouldn't this youth have credentials that justify his ascend to the highest elected office of the country! Surely, being a youth is no credential!!<br /><br />But then what exactly are his credentials?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-84887947779787647292014-01-30T01:10:27.630+05:302014-01-30T01:10:27.630+05:30I hadn't seen the interview until I read this ...I hadn't seen the interview until I read this article... I had to see if there was a sense in this article. So went to youtube.<br />But it wasn't pretty at all.. I mean, for a man supposedly leading a large party that is planning to do a hatrick, with him at the helm.<br />I think he's trying hard to be some one who he is not.. Let him have a life of his own. They better look for another leader.<br />The disclaimers in the article are statements that he "may not turn out to be a good political leader". Why is he in the place he is? and he did duck questions.. in some other fashion.<br /> <br />How good will it be when a journalist would have to interpret it in the most constructive way and explain to the public..:)<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-60025068084314730652014-01-30T00:25:52.643+05:302014-01-30T00:25:52.643+05:30Let me enumerate my thoughts on reading the transc...Let me enumerate my thoughts on reading the transcript.<br /><br />1. There was a mismatch of approaches from RG and AG. AG's approach was a Q&A session, where one questions, other answers. RG's was of a debate, wherein one puts forth an argument, and other counter argues, with a point, which may not answer first point, but raises a new point. The viewer upon seeing this will definitely think on seeing this mismatch, that whether the second person is so stupid, that he can't even answer a simple question.<br /><br />2. My second thought was, RG has got greatly inspired by the success of the Chinese. The reasons for success he has identified are: <br /><br />a. Opportunities for talented persons within the communist party to rise in echelons of power.<br /><br />b. Opportunities to women to participate in economic activities.<br /><br />c. Opportunities to become a manufacturing hub.<br /><br />On flipside, he sees lack of transparency in China as creating a problem.<br /><br />If the above is considered , the emphasis on inner party democracy, women empowerment, RTI and manufacturing is clearer. <br /><br />Not that he is right completely, congress is not a single party like communist . Nevertheless, this is his thought process.<br /><br />3. If we take corporate analogy, I think he sees himself as the single largest shareholder of govt, run by a professional management run by MMS. Hence , he has never ever considered himself to be a part of executive decisions of MMS govt. However, as MP, he sees himself as a legislator and has influenced legislation like RTI. and when he criticized MMS when a legislation was being brought as ordinance, without consulting MPs.Shantanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06143703060630280840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-39629835195095456362014-01-29T22:40:53.072+05:302014-01-29T22:40:53.072+05:30Wooow, Congrats Farzana. You said exactly what I...Wooow, Congrats Farzana. You said exactly what I was thinking. Hats off to you, Im impressed. You now, the media especially Times is all out to spoil Rahul's name. Such a big debate and discussion for what. Can he make Modi come for an interview. First of all he cant speak English properly. Rahul is a class apart. These media guys are just pulling the unwanted stuff and blowing it out of proportion. Can you publicise this article as much as possible. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-16270990547073460552014-01-29T20:47:13.582+05:302014-01-29T20:47:13.582+05:30This blog shows the filth of a perverted mindThis blog shows the filth of a perverted mindAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-6540068998515324432014-01-29T20:43:13.315+05:302014-01-29T20:43:13.315+05:30In the scheme of Congress if RJD is an idea then w...In the scheme of Congress if RJD is an idea then would it be illogical to conclude that aap is vodafone?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-11385725143225256702014-01-29T20:35:55.143+05:302014-01-29T20:35:55.143+05:30Perfect analysis. To me he appeared to be a school...Perfect analysis. To me he appeared to be a school student who had mugged some answers which he kept repeatimg like a parrot regardless of the question posedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-16971812533543663532014-01-29T19:56:40.422+05:302014-01-29T19:56:40.422+05:30As quoted in RG interview. "His heart is in t...As quoted in RG interview. "His heart is in the right place". But sadly and very apparently his mind is not. Like all his speaches, this interview was one mind nubbing experience. Best one doesnt attempt to make any sense <br /> of it! priyankanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-33649931823513398722014-01-29T19:36:09.818+05:302014-01-29T19:36:09.818+05:30nice off-beat take. good arguments. but truth and ...nice off-beat take. good arguments. but truth and expectations of the nation are somewhere else.Writing Fantasy Indianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13752770917207874231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-56322125621912405792014-01-29T19:17:35.594+05:302014-01-29T19:17:35.594+05:30Final quick replies:
Bee, Atul, Wishesh, Serish, ...Final quick replies:<br /><br />Bee, Atul, Wishesh, Serish, Rizwan, Yunus (I am kind!), Abhishek...thank you. <br /><br />To the Anon, I feel vindicated by the great intellectual classy 'spitting' here. <br /><br />To the others who have cussed, hope you feel better and lighter. <br /><br />Now, would you read this second para? <br /><br /><b>Rahul Gandhi may not be a great subject for a television interview, he may not even turn out to be a good political leader</b>, but on the much-touted first-ever interview in 10 years (he clarified on camera that this was not the first, but the first formal one!) he did exactly what he set out to do. Say his piece. <b>What seemed like repetition, if not ducking,</b> was a strategy he adopted to bludgeon the inquisitor softly, if not tire him out. <br /><br />In the rush, you probably did not notice. Understandable.<br /><br />And instead of counting how many times he said what, how about reading the transcript of the whole interview? Just a suggestion. <br /><br />PS: I have had my say on this one. The good, the bad, the ugly. FVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16761020.post-82544062815925877212014-01-29T19:12:56.869+05:302014-01-29T19:12:56.869+05:30Venu:
Your comment grabbed me because I am big on...Venu:<br /><br />Your comment grabbed me because I am big on body language. <br /><br />You say:<br /><br />{does it not seem like some one who is trying to not look stupid?}<br /><br />I have problems with two negatives in a sentence. If we simplify it, it implies it seems like he was trying to look stupid. The operative words is 'seems'. A matter of perception, and entirely valid. <br /><br />But, did you notice how the interview was set up? You got a profile of RG or extreme closeups, while Arnab loomed large and bent forward like a pugilist. I happen to have watched his media interactions on the road, and he is definitely more spontaneous. <br /><br />He stayed the course, and if his blinking etc seemed designed to you, then one can say quite a few things about other postures. <br /><br />Regarding what all this implied, I've said it all, at least as far as this interview is concerned. <br /><br />PS: There are quite a few opinions on whether Rodin's Thinker was thinking or not...FVnoreply@blogger.com