Dude, you were all for the coalition with Nagamootoo as the presidential candidate. Once Granger was awarded the presidency, your opinions changed. I still want you to show me how you were going to get the PNC supporters to vote for Nagamootoo if he was chosen ahead of Granger. In case you don't realize it, the voting public in Guyana is still polarized along racial lines. The same argument that you are using which states that Indians will not vote for the PNC holds true in that Blacks will not vote en masse for Nagamootoo. It's just the way it is. Granger had a falling out with the Linden PNC faction and is just managing to woo them back into the fold. What do you think would happen if he sold them out and asked them to vote for Nagamootoo? That would be the death of the coalition before it even got off the ground. Besides that, the PNC is bringing the largest voting base to the table by far so they deserve to have the presidency. There was never a thought in my mind that they would give that up.
It is indeed a commentary on all politicians and wannabe politicians. Present interlocutor included.
I am in favor of a coalition that can win. Not a coalition for the sake of having a coalition. And certainly not one grounded in dreams of unicorns and pixie dust.
I certainly do realize the voting public is still polarized along race. I'm not convinced that Blacks wouldn't vote for a Nagamootoo led PNC-coalition because frankly what choice would they have? Vote PPP?
The problem that the PNC has historically failed to grasp and which apparently still informs their thinking is that they are a minority party because they represent a minority race. 100% of the black vote does not make for a winning strategy in Guyana.
Indians are clearly a majority of the electoral rolls. Therefore, it is incumbent on any party who wants to win to appeal to them.
I'm sorry that reality is unpleasant for you but it tis what it tis.
P.S...the "largest voting bloc" doesn't mean a goddamn thing without enough Indians to turn said bloc into a Government.
The entire opposition is looking for a coalition that will win. However, one that has your horse in the race as the presidential candidate is not a winning formula.
In 2011, approximately 87% of Indians voted PPP and around 13% cast a protest vote and voted for the other parties AFC and APNU. Same for the black vote, with somewhere close to 87% voting for APNU. This formula led to a majority of votes for the opposition and left the PPP with 49% of the vote. All the opposition coalition has to do is to hold serve and maintain those 13% who are willing to cast a protest vote against the PPP and turn out their base in solid numbers.
Anyone with a bit of common sense will see that it is lot easier to hold onto the 13% PPP Indian protest votes (who have already voted against the PPP) than to have 87% of blacks vote for an Indian president in Nagamootoo. If you think that the only choices blacks have would be to vote for a Moses led APNU or the rotten PPP, you're dead wrong. They will stay home. See Dr. Hinds' commentary which basically says the same thing - "The APNU, on the other hand, got the top leadership spot, which some of us felt is critical for mobilizing a large turn out to the polls by the African Guyanese electorate."
I'm not saying that the coalition as it's comprised is a lock to win the elections, but it gives the opposition the best chance of unseating the PPP. The other two options of a Moses led opposition coalition or no coalition guarantees the PPP at least returning as a minority government. The present coalition gives the opposition a fighting chance to win.