New Lebanese Government met with Skepticism · Global Voices
Elia J. Ayoub

When Lebanese politicians announced their new government, Lebanon's online community responded with indifference, mockery and skepticism.
NOW Lebanon blogger Anthony ElGossain wrote a satirical piece entitled “Dear Citizen: Best Wishes from Lebanon’s New Cabinet” in which he writes a fictional letter written by politicians.
At this stage, furthermore, we are not prepared to recognize, promote, or protect communities of conscience: should you choose to identify with other citizens’ word-view, social mores, economic preferences, or political convictions, we invite you to explore emigration, disillusionment, apathy, or radicalism.
Slutterhouse frontman Rabih Salloum asked a question that seems to be on everyone's mind:
Screenshot from Facebook
Gino Raidy from Gino's Blog shared his sentiment:
What a horrible cabinet full of incompetent people in the wrong places…
— Gino Raidy (@GinoRaidy) February 15, 2014
As though to make things worse, it later turned out that the New Cabinet's Protocol Photo was photoshopped:
Picture from Facebook
New Lebanese Cabinet's Protocol Photo Photoshopped : http://t.co/8z39qRQtCy
— Najib@blogbaladi (@LeNajib) February 16, 2014
The photoshopping incident was in itself a controversy. Many felt that it truly showed how little difference having a new government would make. Speaking to Al-Arabiya,  blogger Karl Sharro from KarlRemarks explained:
“Photoshopping the ministers in is a metaphor for how a cabinet that has no clear political program or mandate and only represents the lowest common denominator has been artificially brought together merely as a form of political placebo”.
And add to that the fact that the new Telecom Minister, Boutros Harb, didn't seem to know how to use Twitter:
We're gonna miss having @NicolaSehnaoui as a minister, LOL ~> pic.twitter.com/M7ucu6RXJQ
— Tawa (@TawaNicolas) February 15, 2014
Trying to calm things down and provide an actual analysis into what the new government represent, Eye on the East blogger Marina Chamma wrote a piece entitled “A Warm Welcome to Lebanon's New Cabinet“
When it comes to the business of the nation, the Lebanese shouldn’t grant politicians the benefit of the doubt anymore, very few deserve it. But the least these people can do is listen. As a reflection of the country’s mood, most of which oscillates between the slightly hopeful and the extreme sarcastic hopelessness, here are some welcome questions and self-evident truths for the newcomers. This is really what it all boils down to people, and in no particular order:
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