The Congress for Democratic Chaos (CDC)

By: ralph geeplay

This week, there were laughter in the streets of Monrovia and the international community especially amongst Diaspora Liberians that Winston Tubman and his Congress for Democratic Chaos (CDC) literally went to Sirleaf with hat in hand begging for government jobs. Excuse the sarcasm please, but how not the Chaos Party since all of their actions and statements depicts pandemonium and disorder. There is something about this party that is very very troubling and deeply wrong even for the cursory observer. What’s interesting at this point of the game is the absurdity of Winston Tubman! It should be cleared by now that 

 he will not be the standard bearer of the CDC  Come 2017, He is too old.  

He should have bowed out long ago and left the CDC to push its own agenda! Tubman has behaved erratically since becoming the standard bearer of the CDC (not that he have a record to stand on) going against every norm and virtue of international diplomacy, his professed forte, showing that the chameleon has not changed spots. Remembered he has been with the grand old True Whig Party (TWP), the National Democratic Party (NDPL), all ruling parties and the Liberian National Union (LINU), and now the CDC.

Tubman Solidified The Imperial Presidency!

By: ralph geeplay

This week, Liberia celebrated November 29, the birthday of Liberia’s 18th president, William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman. Tubman is a polarizing Liberian politician on all fronts. To call him the father of modern Liberia as he is popularly referred to by historians [mostly those of none Liberian origin] is by no means a mistake. The policies and the politics of his era still have a domino effect and his shadow still looms large. No doubt, Tubman contributed largely to the economic and political development of Liberia. 

In truth, and in retrospect though, he seem halfhearted at leadership, because his autocratic and dictatorial methods speak for themselves. Given his position and times, say analysts, he easily could have left a great legacy, and recognized probably as the greatest president of the nation. But, he was helped: The Liberian constitution gives the chief executive sweeping powers, but even with that said, those who harbor dictatorial tendencies will always circumvent the laws to suite their caprices, and Shad Tubman did just that, during the 27 unbroken years he led Africa's first republic.

 

What influenced Tubman, and why was he so determined to dominate the political landscape of Liberia as president, is a question those who are interested in his presidency must probe. Shad, the second son in his family was the most successful of his siblings. He attended primary school in Harper, before going to the Methodist Cape Palmas Secondary Seminary and Harper County High.  Tubman according to records participated in several military operations from 1910 and 1917, rising from a private to become an officer. Most of his earlier influences can be traced to Robert Tubman, his father, who was also a former speaker of the Liberian Congress, a military man and a straight disciplinarian, and also a probable reason for Tubman rise to fame.