WEIRDNESS IN SOUTH AFRICA - AT 8:50 A.M. ET:  One of the things I dislike most about the left is its obvious trendiness.  It dabbles in a cause, and then "moves on."  After all, why sully oneself with the details or hard work?

A perfect example is South Africa.  Once the trendy fight against apartheid was over, the left fueled up its caravan and moved on.  So few are aware of the mess the country is in.  They have a new president.  You won't believe the guy.  From London's Telegraph:

His political ambitions seemed over when he was sacked as deputy president in 2005, following the conviction of his financial adviser for soliciting bribes for him.

Related charges against Mr Zuma have twice been dropped on technical grounds, he has been acquitted of rape, and he was finally formally elected president earlier this week, having led the African National Congress to victory at the general election with 65.9 per cent of the vote.

And...

Mr Zuma's populist appeal is epitomised by his energetic performances of his trademark anthem Umshini Wami, Bring Me My Machine Gun.

With 19 children, he makes no secret of his polygamy, and was due to be accompanied by all three of his wives for the ceremony, although it is not yet clear which of them, if any, will be designated as the first lady.

And...

He is also divorced from South Africa's outgoing foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and another wife, Kate, committed suicide.

COMMENT:  Just a family guy tryin' to do a job for his country.  John Edwards, take heart.

May 9, 2009