Author: yosefardi.com

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was appointed mayor of Tehran, capital city of Iran in 2003. He was extremely popular. Two years later, he was sworn in as the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo, meanwhile, won 90% votes for a second term as Mayor of Solo two years ago. Jokowi, based on quick counts, wins Jakarta gubernatorial race.

Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo wins the second round of Jakarta gubernatorial election held Thursday (Sept 20) by a substantial margin of around 7-8% over incumbent governor Fauzi Bowo. Jokowi entered the race with support from two ‘opposition parties’ PDI-P and Gerindra, while Fauzi gets overwhelming support from President SBY’s Demokrat Party, Aburizal’s Golkar Party, and five other parties.

When it comes to media industry rules, Indonesia is clearly lot more liberal than any country in the world, even compared to the United States. Media ownership is not an issue here. Individuals like Aburizal Bakrie, Harry Tanoesoedibjo, Chairul Tanjung, Sariaatmadja, Surya Paloh, or James Riady control public airwave not necessarily for public good.

National politics heating up ahead of the second round election of Jakarta governor scheduled next month. Incumbent governor Fauzi Bowo, supported by a coalition of political parties led by President SBY’s Demokrat Party, has been trying almost everything to win the race after shamefully defeated in the first round by Solo mayor Joko Widodo.

“I swear by Almighty God that I will tell lies, the whole lies, and nothing but lies, so Help Me Gayus!” This is the summary of readers’ comments on President SBY’s statement in rebuffing ‘testimony’ from former chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding the bailout of Bank Century (now Mutiara). Most readers doubt the truth of SBY’s statements.