(+) Anti-Government Blogs Seem to Write Only for the Similarly Minded

A Walk Around the Blog Sites (No Pun Intended)

I continue to be disappointed by  anti-Government blogs.  I look to them for reasons not to support the present regime, and suggestions on the  "way forward"-- even if they point backwards to the old regime. I expect them to disagree with Government; giving it hell for its restrictions on media freedom, the shutdown of the Methodist conference,  its policies on this and that, and its sometimes all too obvious weaknesses, but I expect also to see argument based on reason, backed where possible by evidence. If this is lacking, they write only for the similarly-minded and they will win no new readers to their cause. Surely they can do better than these typical samples from their postings on Tuesday. 

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Coupfourpointfive
Speculation is one thing; wilful guessing another.  I see nothing necessarily sinister in the Fiji Development Bank loan to Radio Fiji, but the blog sees this as evidence of Government FBC control, and chicanery involving FBD's chairman John Prasad ("a close friend of the regime's Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum") the AG, and "his younger brother Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum [who] is Radio Fiji's Chief Executive."  There's nothing secret about these relationships nor are they unusual in Fiji with its small population and relatively small pool of talent. Write again when you have some harder "facts."

Nor do I think Bainimarama's Sunday announcement that the new constitution may make the President's position an elected one "yet another indication that the coup leader has set his eyes on the presidency." An elected president was always a possibility, and if he is interested and is elected, what's your problem? After a promising launch earlier in the year Coupfourpointfive has continued to slip in my esteem,  but it is still the "best" of the bunch.

The Hyperbolic discomboblated bubu
discomboblated bubu, inspired by the Intelligentsiya site, writes of "The Stench from behind the Tapa Curtain"and  asks "But where have all the morons gone that promoted this gutless yellow-bellied coup? The academics, other country’s opportunists, fat-cat businessmen, failed politicians, the resident kaivalagi colonialist writers and social do-gooder commentators - even the odd bishop and excommunicated minister of the cloth who reached out their grubby paws to “help” with the regime’s foul and untruthful deeds. ... OH BUT WAIT .. some have already worked on their exit strategy - VERY convenient. I note that a very unlikely beer-swilling lad of an academic called Ratuva has weasled his way into NZ (bully land). Indeed. And whatshisname the $2 million charter-man ex ADB has also fled back to comfortable old bully land. An ex politician also a $2 million dollar man is now to be seen weasling his way through the ranks and all the others are most likely thinking on their exits too - manipulating, scumbucketing and creeping their way back to bula-bula-happy-clappy land."
[Each of the above references refer to real people in an insulting way. I know some of them and in my opinion they are honest, thoughtful  people who should not be damned for seeing the world differently from "Bubu," whoever he may be.]

Solivakasama
Solivakasama  says the presence of the Melanesian Spearhead Group in Fiji "proves they condone Frank’s treason!  How can they meet in Fiji with this illegal junta and not have the decency to meet with deposed PM Qarase and get his view on whether they should include Fiji on the regional trade talks?"  He asks who will benefit from the trade talks:  "Fijians? [meaning ethnic Fijians. Solivakasama does not write for or to non-Fijians] I seriously doubt it!  It is these shadowy figures behind the idiot Bainimarama who are exploiting him for their own selfish gains! Bainimarama, Mara, Ganilau, Nailatikau, etc are all small fish compared to these sharks!" [All four mentioned are traditionally installed chiefs; three of them high ranking. It is unusual for a Fijian to insult chiefs.  Solivakasama misses the point of the visit: to confer with the de facto government about Pacific regional trade.]