Leonel Fernández Reyna: The Politic, The Author, The Intellectual

[NALs]

I'll use this thread to put several articles, videos, etc. that reflects on Leonel Fernandez as the political figure that he is, the author that he is, the intellectual that he is. This will be an on going "project" on what could very well be the most intelligent political leader in the DR to date.

I'll start with the following:

Here is a video of the Charlie Rose show, aired in the U.S. nightly; perhaps abroad as well.

The interview with Leonel (in English) is after the Bob Dole report. This was filmed days after Leonel became the president of the DR for the first time in 1996.

Very interesting.

Leonel in 1996

-NALs

[liam1]

it is not that hard to be considered an intellectual among population as "aware" as Dominicans are. no offense. the author? ok, if you say so. as far as the politics go; you have to give him the respect, not as a leader of the country but as a pure politician that he is. i mean, to fool 54% of the population (as the latest polls show) is truly amazing. but then again, in the US, after everything he's done in his 1st term, in 2004 Bush got re-elected!? IMHO, what is the main difference between Leonel and Hippo is their know-how on how to steal. Hippo was more arrogant in his ways, while Leonel steals slowly but surely.

to me it looks like Leonel is molding his economics after Bush's, with a twist. instead of borrow spend, borrow, spend, borrow, spend, Leonel's way is borrow spend, borrow, steal, borrow, spend, borrow, steal...

in any case, people (in free countries) ALWAYS get the government they deserve.

[Chirimoya]

Thanks for this link, NALs. His English is excellent, and although he was visibly nervous at the beginning - it was early in his career, I'm sure he'd be much calmer now - he warmed up and expressed himself very well. It was a bit depressing to hear all those good intentions about fighting corruption, knowing what we know now.

liam1, it's not so much that he has fooled the electorate, it's that no matter how bad he is, the alternatives are perceived to be far worse.

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

liam1, it's not so much that he has fooled the electorate, it's that no matter how bad he is, the alternatives are perceived to be far worse.

A world-wide crisis.

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?

[liam1]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

liam1, it's not so much that he has fooled the electorate, it's that no matter how bad he is, the alternatives are perceived to be far worse.

as Jessy Ventura suggested, on the ballot under candidate's names there should be "none of the above" option too.

[Chirimoya]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

A world-wide crisis.

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?

I get the cultural reference (showing my age here) but not the meaning in this context.

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

I get the cultural reference (showing my age here) but not the meaning in this context.

Leaders are in short supply. The DiMaggio line is from a Simon and Garfunkel song, Mrs. Robinson, from The Graduate, and was a lament about heroes from the past.

[A.Hidalgo]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

Leaders are in short supply. The DiMaggio line is from a Simon and Garfunkel song, Mrs. Robinson, from The Graduate, and was a lament about heroes from the past.

The album was called Bookends...a gem

[NALs]

Originally Posted by liam1

it is not that hard to be considered an intellectual among population as "aware" as Dominicans are. no offense.

When did the definition of intellectual changed?

Last time I checked, Leonel has a doctorate degree, was professor at UASD university, and has great insights and influence on the elite.

If that is not an intellectual, then please enlighten everyone with the "new" definition!

Originally Posted by liam1

the author? ok, if you say so.

Sure, because I say so, backed by:

Book #1: "El Delito de la Opinión Pública"

Book #2: "Los Estados Unidos en el Caribe: De La Guerra Fría al Plan Reagan"

Book #3: "Raíces de un Poder Usurpado"

Hm, maybe the definition of who is an author has changed also. Usually, anyone that publishes one books is automatically considered an "author"; Leonel has published three books through the years, all concerning with politics in the DR and the region and another about Public Opinion.

Then there are the articles he has published.

The range the gamut, all dealing with important political issues, as was the case with:

"República Dominicana, Independencia y Petróleo"
"Populismo e ideología"
"Populismo y socialdemócrata"
"Populismo y neoliberalismo"
"¿Podrá sobrevivir la democracia en América Latina?"
"Tony Blair: El triunfo de la Tercera Vía y la Modernización"
"La política del absurdo"
"Psicopatología de la política dominicana"

These are only a small sampling of the numerous articles he has published.

So yes, Leonel is an author in part because I say so, but then again, I am saying that he is because of his books!

-NALs

[A.Hidalgo]

No offense meant but I'm starting to worry about you dude.....