Showing posts with label US Elections 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US Elections 2008. Show all posts
Barack Obama: Elected First Afro-American US President
There will be no long night in the US elections 2008. As soon as the polls in California and other western states closed at 11 PM eastern time and without waiting for the initial results from the area, Wolf Blitzer of CNN projects that Barack Obama has garnered enough electoral votes and called the race. Barack Obama becomes the first Afro-American elected president of the United States.
CNN's announcement was greeted by emotional cheers by a sea of Obama supporters at Grant Park Chicago. A crowd of 4000 students from a nearby university, rushed to the gate of the White House cheering for Obama while demanding immediate eviction of President George W. Bush. Cheering crowds were also noted in Wall Street and Dr. Martin Luther King's church in Atlanta.
The world too rejoices. As far as Obama's root country of Kenya, huge crowds celebrate.
Shortly after, John McCain delivered his concession speech before teary-eyed supporters and promises support for an Obama presidency. A couple of times, McCain had to control boos from disappointed supporters. McCain 's "extraordinarily gracious" words after running a bitter, often venomous, campaign is now a footnote to history.
Obama's victory is self-healing for America. After electing the like of George Bush twice, America fights back by choosing a leader who promises to transform not only America but the world as well. It is classic battle between message of hope and change on one hand and experience on the other. It is also a repudiation of negative campaign tactics, personal attacks, stunts and gimmicks. It is also a triumph of ethical journalism over propagandist media like the FoxNews and News Corp. Millions of bloggers in the Web proved effective in flagging down lies and falsehoods. Incidentally, McCain's loss is the fifth time that American voters refused to elect a decorated war hero to the presidency. This is also the first time that an anti-war candidate wins the US Presidency while America is at war. It is expected that under Obama's leadership, America will self-correct previous mistakes and failures.
The Obama-McCain race is for the ages. It is the stuff that songs, poetry and epics celebrating the triumph of the good guy who takes the high road are made of. Americans and non-Americans will certainly remember where they are on this historic moment. The whole world embraces Barack Obama and see him as the leader of the world. A British news headline even calls Obama's victory. " one giant leap for mankind," a direct quote from John F. Kennedy referring to the first human landing in the moon in 1969.
Barack Obama wins as the 44th US President
In a campaign which promises change and hope, Sen. Barack Obama (D) wins over Sen. John McCain (R) in a bid to be the 44th president of the United States. A charistmatic liberal democrat, Obama makes history as the first black president in the White House.On election day, November 5, 2008 at 11:20 PM (Eastern Time,) Sen. McCain graciously concedes his defeat by exhorting the American people to move on and rally behind the next president in the name of unity and prosperity of the country.
In a classy and elegant remark, Sen. McCain accepts the voice of the electorate and looks forward for a unified nation. (Photo Credit: laphoto1) ==0=
Election Day
“In the US, voters cast ballots for individual candidates who are not bound to any party program except rhetorically, and not always then. Some Republicans are more liberal than some Democrats, some libertarians are more radical than some socialists, and many local candidates run without any party identification. No American citizen can vote intelligently without knowledge of the ideas, political background, and commitments of each individual candidate.”---Ben H. Bagdikian (American educator & journalist)Months of campaign has finally brought the Americans to decide and vote on November 4, 2008. They have been treated with presidential debates, talk show humor, media analysts’ opinions, TV advertisements and radio commentaries, but still there is a pall of uncertainty whether the electorate really is deciding for the best candidates who’ll defend their interest.
Certainly, there are those who think passionately that they are doubly sure of their choice taking into account not only the economy, but also the culture USA is taking. And there are also those who are spooked by the immensity of the candidates' eloquent promises which beg for action.
Today the voters silently cast their vote. It’s a regular working day for most Americans who approach the polls in their own terms. Whatever they decide will define the course of their lives and the whole nation. (Photo Credits: wwww.linesandcolors.com; m4roon3d)=0=
The Challenge of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
The Immaculate Conception Church in Astoria, New York where I am a parishioner shares the United States bishop’s reflection “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.” It serves as a primer on how a Catholic must vote in the US election. What is below is an abridged version of the document. The complete text can be read in www.faithfulcitizenship.org
The US bishops make clear that they don’t tell Catholics how to vote. They said the responsibility to make political choices rest on the voter. The bishops' advice is ever more valuable as America charts its future.
Why Does the Church Teach About Issues Affecting Public Policy?
The Church’s obligation to participate in shaping the moral character of society is a requirement of our faith, a part of the mission given to by Jesus Christ. As people of both faith and reason, Catholics are called to bring truth to political life and to practice Christ’s commandment to “love one another.”
Who in the Church Should Participate in Political Life?
Catholics need to act on the Church’s moral principles and become more involved: running for office, working within political parties, and communicating concerns to elected officials. Even those who cannot vote should raise their voices on matters that affect their lives and the common good.
How Does the Church Help Catholics to Address Political and Social Questions?
A Well-Formed Conscience: We Catholics have a lifelong obligation to form our consciences in accord with human reason, enlightened by the teaching of Christ as it comes to us through the Church.
The Virtue of Prudence: Prudence enables us to” discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it.” As Catholics seek to advance the common good, we must carefully discern which public polices are morally sound. A good end does not justify an immoral means.
Doing Good and Avoiding Evil: There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always be rejected and never supported. A preeminent example is the intentional taking of human life through abortion. It is always morally wrong to destroy innocent human beings. A legal system that allows the right to life to be violated on the grounds of choice is fundamentally flawed.
Similarly, direct threats to the dignity of human life such as euthanasia, human cloning, and destructive research on human embryos are also intrinsically evil and must be opposed. Other assaults on human life and dignity, such as genocide, torture, racism, may the targeting of noncombatants in acts of terror or war, can never be justified.
The use of death penalty, hunger, lack of health care or housing, human trafficking, the human and moral costs of war, and the unjust immigration polices are some of the serious moral issues that challenge our consciences. And require us to act.
Making Moral Choices: Difficult political decisions require a well-formed conscience aided by prudence. The exercise of conscience begins with always opposing polices that violate human life or weaken its protection. “Those who formulate law therefore have an obligation in conscience to work toward correcting morally defective laws, lest they be guilty of cooperating in evil and in sinning against the common good (USCCB, Catholics in Political Life).
What does the Church Say about Catholic teaching in the Public Square?
The consistent ethic of life is committed to defend human life and other human rights, from conception until natural death. Catholic voters should use Catholic teaching to examine candidates’ positions on issues and should consider candidates’ integrity, philosophy, and performance. It is important for all citizens “to see beyond party politics.”
The Right to Life and the Dignity of the Human Person
Human life is sacred. Within our society, life is under direct attack from abortion, euthanasia, human cloning, and destruction of human embryos for research. These intrinsic evils must always be opposed.
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
The family, based on marriage between man and woman, is the fundamental unit of society. This sanctuary for the creation and nurturing of children must not be redefined, undermined, or neglected.
Rights and Responsibility
Every human being has a right to life, the fundamental right that makes all other rights possible. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities---to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
A moral test for society is how we treat the weakest among us---the unborn, those dealing with disabilities or terminal illness, the poor and marginalized.
Dignity of Work and the Right of Workers
Economic justice calls for decent work at fair, living wages, opportunities for legal status for immigrant workers, and the opportunity for all people to work together for the common good through their work, ownership, enterprise, investment, participation in unions, and other forms of economic activity.
Solidarity
We are one human family, whatever our national, social, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences.
Caring for God’s Creation
Care for the earth is a duty of our Catholic faith. We are called to be stewards of the environment for now and the future.
Conclusion
In the light of Catholic teaching, as bishops, we repeat our call for renewed politics that focuses on moral principles, the defense of life, the needs of the weak, and the pursuit of the common good. This kind of political participation reflects the social teaching of our Church and the best tradition of our nation. Source & Photo Credit: www.faithfulcitizenship.org =0=
Dr. Doom’s economic crystal ball & the need to say the truth
“Dr. Doom foresees agony in our future,” says the banner headline of Metro, a street newspaper in the Big Apple, the world's biggest metropolis. Metro, New York, (10/29,08, Arden, P) He believes the NYC recession will stay for more than two years.
In the financial circles, Dr. Doom is reaping vindication after he was tagged as an alarmist for his bleak predictions on the economy long before it happened. The NYU economics professor travels more frequently outside USA now, sharing to the world his Nostradamus-like prescient cataclysmic read of the financial future.
Dr. Doom whose real name is Nouriel Roubini has a lot to say about the financial downturn whose solution has moved into uncharted territory. In spite of the $700 billion bailout, persistent market volatility exists which shows no indication of abating.
“Every time there has been a severe crisis in the last six months, people have said this is the catastrophic event that signals the bottom. They said it after Bear Stearns, after Fannie and Freddie, after AIG [the giant US insurer that had to be rescued], and after the $700 billion bailout plan. Each time they have called the bottom, and the bottom has not been reached.
Across the world, governments have taken more and more aggressive actions to stop the panic. However, Roubini believes investors appear to have lost confidence in governments’ ability to sort out the mess." TimesOnline (10/26/08, Rushe, D)
Roubini’s dire look into the future is unlike the optimism and promises of the politicians in the soon-to-be concluded US presidential election in which hope is matched with fear. It brings recall former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who expresses trust in the American people for their extraordinary patience, industry and resiliency. But,---they need to make the right choices.
In his recent book on “Real Change” published months before the economy collapsed, Gingrich mentioned a serious problem.
“The problem is with the politicians, our news media, and our bureaucratic elites. They are afraid to tell the American people the truth. They are afraid to explain the scale of the threat and the inevitable scale of the needed response.”---Real Change: From the world that fails to the world that works." (Regnery Publishing, Washington DC, 2008, Gingrich, N., p.298) (Photo Credits: outragousart; nicoridge)=0=
“Win or lose, after the election we go shopping.”
Except for the people of Georgia and the Philippines, CNN reveals, seventy-five percent (75%) of the world wants Sen. Barack Obama to be the next US president.
The Fil-Am Democrat (FLD,) who spoke of ethnic “ignorance” and cautioned her kababayans that “a nation of bigoted fools is hopeless” raged over the support for Sen. John McCain. As a continuation of my blog: “On Filipino’s support for McCain: This goes deeper than ignorance,” on October 24, 2008, I proceed to think more on the Filipino. See what we have and you decide.
The Georgians
The small East European country with 6 million people allied with the United States was recently invaded by Russia. Georgians probably wanted a candidate like Sen. McCain with experience to help them deal with their problem with Russia.
What do Filipinos want?Pres. Bill Clinton’s popular catch words “It’s the economy, stupid!” helped him win over the republican Pres. George H. W.Bush Sr.
It’s the economy again, but this time, Filipinos seriously weigh in on homeland security, the war on terror, religious freedom, illegal aliens, foreign policy, social security, taxation, healthcare, education, abortion, same-sex marriage, global warming, and stem cell research. That's hell of a lot to think about.
Everybody knows the future of American is at stake. Tied with their moral values, they face conflicting issues in their way of life which are difficult to reconcile. At the risk of losing hold of their American dream, they have to decide with their moral stand, relying on what they hear from family and friends, church, media and workplace. Like any voter, they are vulnerable to misread the election issues and decide against their own respective interests.
Religion & TraditionThere are those who think religion isn’t needed in America anymore. The liberal extremists assert tradition is blasé and counterproductive. They want to ban prayers in school. They protest the mention of God in government. They trash the Christmas tree, efface the “In God We Trust” in the US currency, and prohibit the Christ’s birthday scene display in public. To advance abortion and same-sex marriage, they push on redefining life and the meaning marriage, hoping to change the constitution.
Many Filipinos don’t agree. Families decry the assault of liberalism on morals and ethics. They worry on the effects of secularist relativism for themselves and their growing children. They recognize the contribution of religious believers in the building of America. Rejecting corruption and injustice, many quietly abide with Pope Benedict XVI, the Orthodox Christians, denominational Christian sects, and other faiths including the Muslims and Jews.
US & Philippine PoliticsThe US election reflects the politics in the Philippines. The ACORN voter registration fraud in USA is just as deplorable as the “Hello Garci” scandal of Gloria M. Arroyo and the Joc Joc Bolante election money diversion.
There is hypocrisy, corruption, and distortions hurled on both sides. The manipulation of public opinion through massive campaign spending and eloquent talk has made it hard to ascertain truth.
Filipinos find it hard to buy on promises of change without action. But surely there are those who put their trust on promises. In the crisis that damaged the credibility of the financial system, they have a schizophrenic view of the motives of leaders. They are disappointed and angered for even the retired economics guru Alan Greenspan admitted his mistake in handling the economy.
The financial bailout of $700 billion seems not enough to solve the economic meltdown which some say comes every hundred years. The economy continues to be volatile. Federal Reserves chairman Ben Shalom Bernanke and Treasury secretary Henry Paulson struggle to bring the economy on track. Yet, even with resiliency and optimism, Americans ask if the new president can deliver.
But Filipinos aren’t that politically engaged. They rather stay on the side to focus on their personal lives, work hard to recoup the lost time to advance their dream and that of their families. They are ambivalent to vote for a candidate with grandiose promises, questionable past, and unproven track record of service. Yet, they also worry about a president coming from the ranks of old politics.
“Redistribution of Wealth”Counted among the successful migrants in America, Filipinos play by the rules. They work hard in the tradition of free enterprise. Many avoid the greed and corruption they see in their native land and they hurt when they see it happen in Washington and Wall Street.
They believe honest job gets rewarded better than being idle and lazy. They know competition is a force which drives people to advance in the social ladder; they frown on dole-outs which encourage indolence. Their friends and relatives who have not seen the gruelling work in America may not agree with them.
Unlike the 12 million aliens who gate-crashed USA, majority of Filipinos waited for years working legally to become integrated and become citizens. Taking the capitalist mindset to pursue the American dream, they look at government’s sudden interest in private property with suspicion.
The candidate who wants to intrude into private money by “spreading wealth” isn’t what successful Filipino migrants desire in spite of the fact that sharing wealth abides with their Christian beliefs. In some ways, they want other people to share America’s pie, but they want them to respect the law and work by the rules.
Filipinos are unwilling to be dictated by politicians on what to do with their health insurance, retirement money, savings, investments, and 401Ks. They desire to do charity in their own terms. Socialist liberals, riding on many cash-strapped Americans needing financial help are tempted to tap and give away money to “level the playing field.” Filipinos know the devil lies in the details of a drastic plan and they ask if an elected official(s) can have a blank check using tax-payers' money to reprogram society.
Broken Promises & Taking ResponsibilityPres. Bill Clinton didn’t fulfill his promise on universal healthcare. Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda grew in strength and the stock market ballooned into a bubble which ruptured almost at the end of his term.
Clinton didn't correct the warped and corrupt business practices of Wall Street in his time, paving the way for its collapse, damaging the finances of ordinary people in the Main Street.
The immorality in the Monica Lewinsky affair almost kicked Clinton by impeachment. In spite of approving reviews from democrats, he didn’t take enough responsibility as the people expected. The same frustration apply to Pres. George W. Bush and the “do nothing” warring officials of the senate and congress.
The credit card and mortgage debts are out of hand. Americans live beyond their means. The government has not exercised enough oversight and the moral guardians are losing sway over the people's sense of right and wrong.
Greedy investors and financial managers have signed in borrowers worse than the loan scammers in the Philippines. Those who can’t pay for their homes dodge their complicity by leaving blame to mortgage lenders and the government. Responsible citizens don’t think this way.
With this mess, who then will the public vote? Those who are buried in debt and joblessness root for a promised savior-president, but Filipinos are more pragmatic. Maybe they heard of financier Bernard Baruch’s advice: “Vote for the man who promises least. He'll be the least disappointing.”
Partisan Media The media spread truth and lies. The public has become the captive of its bias and agenda. The media failed to vet on Obama’s background which citizens need to know. Instead, they drum up inanities which distract the focus of the electorate. By pounding on anti-American themes throughout the Bush administration, the media have succeeded in demonizing USA around the world. With huge latitude to control information, it’s easy for them to influence the thinking of the people here and abroad.
Against the majority, many take a detached and independent stand against the media’s excesses. There is lopsidedness in the information stream from the liberal New York Times, Washington Post, MSNBC, and CNN against the underdog conservative defenders in Fox News and the rightist talk radio announcers. Filipinos ask, “How sure are you that the media give you the right information?” Is it any wonder the US newspapers have suffered dropping readership and many Americans don’t turn on their TV anymore?
Movie Stars & Celebrity PoliticsHollywood has joined the political fray too. Filipinos have seen it happen in the Philippines. Talk show hosts like Jay Leno, movie star Barbra Streisand, TV darling Oprah Winfrey, singer Madonna, lesbian comediennes Ellen de Generes and Rosie O’ Donnell, atheist and anti-religion Richard Dawkins, and secularist anti-conservative movie director Michael Moore rein over liberalism while conservatism and traditional family values aren’t given a fair shake to express itself.
The culture these celebrities promote is not what Filipinos can easily take---bait, hook, and sinker. Many believe they can better rely on themselves about how they'll conduct their lives than trust the movie stars.
The prospect of a USA rising under a liberal president seems dampened by a silent fear of an economically and culturally waning America whose moral moorings is fast fading. Conservative Americans and Filipinos are worried by the change in society (for the better or worse.) Even the academics from universities are viewed with distrust; in their erudition they have their own self interest to pursue.
Foreign Vote in the US ElectionWith Obama’s African ancestry, people abroad hope he will somehow think like his Kenyan forebears and have sympathies for the cause of the outside world. Those who harbor anti-American sentiments find Obama likeable against McCain for being an “extension” of Pres. Bush. Foreigners have generously donated money in Obama’s campaign chest counting that their interest will be served if he gets elected.
Race IssueIn the privacy of their homes and in the tone of their humor, there are as much racial undertones that Filipinos are willing to admit. It also goes true with the Americans, but perhaps lesser. Lacking multiracial exposure compared to those who have been in USA longer, Filipinos are still more likely to favor a white man to be president, but this can change. A combination of simple preference, ignorance, colonial mentality, and bigotry are to blame if they vote solely on the basis of race.
You DecideThink seriously where you stand on the issues. Decide wisely. The economy is important as the questions on where the culture of America is going--- the milieu in which our children will live in the future. Resilient and adaptable, I expect all of us will accept whoever wins. We must be prepared to enjoy or suffer the consequences which go with the decision. As Imelda Marcos said in her uncanny wry humor, “win or lose, after the election, we go shopping."
Photo Credits: wwww.hamburg.mi.us; amobb; wishymom; mariozucca; Amm; leeKlement; j-walkblog; ahurey; chuckumentary) =0=
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On Filipino’s support for McCain: “This goes deeper than ignorance.”
“Seventy (70) countries, two billion world citizens prefer Obama 4 to 1. Except Georgia and....the Philippines! It seems the majority Republican sentiments in this group are reflective of our origins. So what do we have in common with Georgia aside from being a small, poor and war torn country? Could it be the Catholic Conscience voter...? This was announced on CNN last night. I have never in my entire life felt so ASHAMED to be a Filipino. For this goes deeper than ignorance which can be cured. A nation of bigoted fools is hopeless... ‘---A FilAm Liberal Democrat (FLD)
I got the above blistering statements in my email from an egroup on Oct 22, 2008. I missed seeing that CNN show, but if true, FLD sounded exactly like first-lady wannabee Michelle Obama when she expressed scorn for her country early on in the campaign, only to be blunted by restraint to talk more about it.
Overtly secular, FLD can be accused of condescension for denouncing the “ignorance” of Filipinos who come from a "bigoted nation of fools." Antipathy and intolerance roil against those who don't share the media-backed liberal view of the democrats. I know FLD as a learned doctor who prescribes cure for Filipinos. Although her view is part of freedom’s guaranteed perks, it made me ponder why, to my surprise, many kababayans would prefer McCain over Obama. Sharing with you my humble opinion on this issue before the US Presidential Election day in an article to follow...to be continued...Abangan! (Photo Credit: byatis547)=0=
UPDATE: The continuation can be found on my blog dated October 30, 2008 entitled "Win or lose, after the election we go shopping." AFM
US Presidential Election and the Catholic Vote
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”---John Quincy Adams
Two weeks from the US presidential election, the economy is still the main issue that drives the choice of voters. With Sen. Barack Obama on the lead, Americans are still angry and confused. Months of explaining, he and Sen. John McCain have not really succeeded in making their platforms fully understood.
The Americans have a mouthful of promises from both candidates, but they aren’t sure. Partly because of the complexity of the issues, they rely on impressions and gut feelings to arrive on a decision. At the third and last presidential debate at Hofstra University in New York, on October 15, 2008, the two candidates will try again. Amid fears of recession and global depression, they will convince the undecided voters who are likely to influence the outcome of this election.
“Wall Street greed, Fannie, Freddie, and others have been accused of destroying our economic system. But few are willing to admit that without a firm commitment to restoring the foundations of our country – namely, a dedication to protecting life, faith, and families – no economic bailout will ultimately work. We need something more than money.
The common thread connecting bad loans, greedy bankers, and power hungry politicians is the selfish disregard for our fellow human beings. Our culture has reduced people to objects and playthings, to be selfishly exploited, profited from, and discarded when they are no longer useful. Politicians who pledge to protect the "right" to kill innocent children are deceiving all of us when they promise to help the innocent unemployed and uninsured. Don’t fall for their lies!
Many people accuse pro-life advocates such as CatholicVote.com of being single-issue voters. The assumption is that we don’t care about the economy, health care, or the poor. But they have it exactly backwards.” CatholicVote.com (10/15/08, Bruch, B)
The Catholics of America comprising about a third of the entire Christians in the United States with whom many Filipinos are affiliated by faith doesn’t have a major sway on the votes. However, they are encouraged to see issues not only through the contracted prism of the economy, but on the whole culture the United States is heading. Specifically, the American Catholic clergy preaches against abortion which makes the contraceptive debate in the Philippines look puny.
Unlike Filipinos, most of the American public doesn't think of artificial contraception vs. natural family planning as problem to resolve. Catholics and other Protestant denominations are taught more against killing the unborn, dishonesty, corruption, materialism, stem cell research, gay marriage, exploitation of the poor and helpless---issues which have been sidelined by the urgency of the economic problems.
America is gearing towards the extremes of secular liberalism and it doesn't augur well for the future of Christianity and its moral tenets. The financial crisis is likely to stay (whoever wins in the presidential election.) It will probably stretch the coping mechanisms of the United States and the rest of the world.
Like those who have been repeatedly put down by the empty promises of Wall Street, the citizens who get carried away by eloquent words without reviewing records of action and credibility will likely be disappointed. With a biased liberal media tipping away from core conservative values, Americans, like the rest of the world, have little to depend on except themselves. They need to understand the small print in the candidate's resume and platform. With two weeks to go, there is still time to think so one can vote wisely. (Photo Credits: cstein96; www.mmpcharity.org) =0=
“Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God - the rest will be given.“---Mother Teresa
Genealogists trace Gov. Sarah Palin's family tree & Brigitte Bardot whips her
Genealogists whose political affiliations are not known have looked into Gov. Sarah Palin’s pedigree, part of the microscopic scrutiny of the VP Republican presidential candidate, a controversial firebrand that brought vim and bemusement to the presidential race. She has ignited seething anger from her political opponents for raising character issues that cast doubt on Sen. Barack Obama's shady dealings which include avowed terrorist-bomber William Ayers, US-hater Jeremiah Wright, Jim Johnson (believed to be among those who put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into bankruptcy) and ACORN, the infamous grassroots organization which is now being investigated for intimidation and massive electoral fraud which tainted the voters registry in many states. Her questions are certainly valid in the wake of spectacular promises of glib-talking politicians that often fall short of action.
Those who expect dirt or fame in her bloodline aren’t disappointed. She is supposed to be a 10th cousin of Princess Diana and a 9th cousin of WWII president Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) who saw America through the Great Depression. Rev. John Lothrop is their common ancestor who lived in Massachusetts in 1634. She is also reported to be a relative of vice president Dick Cheney (R,) her 8th degree relative. Perhaps, the Republicans and Palin supporters are relieved because no Charles Manson, David Koresh or Timothy McVeigh came up in her family tree. Otherwise notoriety can be exploited by her enemies like those who look at her as an incoherent fraud with “porno star” looks, a “no nothing” conservative who subsists on mooseburger in Alaska.
Brigitte Bardot, the faded French movie star and fashion model who popularized sensuality and the baring of breasts in tinseltown decades ago couldn't resist herself. The aging angry political and animal activist vehemently castigated Palin for being "a disgrace to women," because she did not espouse her views, among others the support for abortion and anti-oil-drilling that Bardot likes.
This comes on the heels of the indictment of David Kernell, 20, a shortsighted college student-son of a Tennessee democratic state representative who illegally hacked her emails, stole and distributed them for the world to read.
A loose-mouthed partisan Canadian journalist in Ontario Heather Mallick was reprimanded by her company for unfairly labelling Palin as a "white trash." Madonna, the outlandish singer with liberal ideas, swanky secular lifestyle, and anti-Christian sentiments railed on conservative Palin in a recent concert in New Jersey just as most of Hollywood and liberal media had ganged up on her.
In the October 13, 2008 issue of Newsweek, a controversy had been sparked because of the derisive article "The Palin Problem" and the ugly cover picture which accompanied it. One can't help but think if these people who are quick to pass judgement are responsible enough to do it for other people. This has been a growing problem in our world where people hate others for the flimsiest reasons. (Photo Credits: rhilston4u; babet1969; incendiarymin; merch_bot.com; wltx.com; heliocd.com)=0=
Mr. Charisma clashes with Mr. Experience on economy & other key issues
On October 7, 2008 Tuesday, at Belmont University of Nashville, TN, the second debate between the charismatic Sen. Barack Obama and the more-experienced Sen. John McCain pushed through exposing their fundamental differences in the causations and remedies of the economic crisis. Tom Brokaw of NBC moderated the debate with a question-and-answer town hall format and covered issues on the economy, mortgage mess, war against terrorists, taxes, foreign policy, and healthcare which had been heard in the campaigns of both candidates. Not far from what was unraveled in the previous debate, the presidential candidates clashed, but not with the spark that could clearly change the course of the race with Obama leading after last week's economic meltdown. There were no knock-down questions that could bring out the character of the candidates and probe the answers for the allegations that cast doubt on credibility. Pollsters are busy tallying who won. The third and last debate is slated in Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY on October 15, 2008 and will be moderated by Bob Sheiffer of CBS News..=0=
As an underdog, Gov. Sarah Palin scores beyond expectation
After the Joe Biden-Sarah Palin vice-presidential debate in Missouri on Friday October 2, 2008, the two parties had both claims on who won. As usual, the hardliners among the Democratic and Republican supporters had their respective clear winners heating up the presidential race towards its conclusion in November.
Millions of eager viewers were riveted on the young underdog Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and the more experienced Sen. Joe Biden (D) whose exchanges were moderated by Gwen Ifill, PBS anchorwoman. Ifill's suitability to preside in the debate was at the late hour questioned because of an allegation of conflict of interest arising from her forthcoming book on Sen. Barack Obama. (see blog entitled "Media bias &/or conflict of interest," October 2, 2008)
In my opinion, Palin performed far better than expected after being heavily criticized to a point of unfair ridicule by the media for her alleged inadequacy as a vice-presidential candidate. There were no outstanding gaffes that could embarrass any of the candidates. Both Biden and Palin performed very well. But Palin certainly won points that weren’t expected of her.
Facing Biden, a spirited debater who certainly displayed clear grasp and knowledge about politics in Washington, Palin was able to cut across her ideas with the public as an ordinary American who talked straight into the minds of the viewers. Presenting herself as a young governor of Alaska, she stood her ground on a wide range of issues which include the economy, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and education. As a newcomer, Palin was less exhaustive (but definitely not lacking of substance) compared to Biden’s detailed exposition of facts. This is expected in a time-pressured contest which made the audience wonder if Biden was accurate in all that he said.
Palin has once again changed the dynamics of this campaign. With her down-to-earth relaxed talk which resonates in the American heartland, she clearly has given new life to Sen. John McCain’s (R) campaign which has suffered setbacks as a result the economic crisis rocking the nation. Because the biased liberal media tend to side with the Democrats, NBC News analyst Chuck Todd disparagingly says the debate doesn't matter and will be forgotten easily. I don't agree.
"The absence of train wrecks led some pundits to wonder whether the contest, probably the most anticipated vice presidential debate in history, will quickly be forgotten.
"You're not going to see this debate have much of an effect on this race. This probably won't live much beyond a 24-hour period."---NBC News analyst Chuck Todd. Yahoo.News/AP (010/3/08, Bauder,D.)
The score of the campaign will certainly show some correction in the next few days as the effects of the debate seep their way into the polls. Had the debate turned differently, Sen. Barack Obama (D) would be keeping a far bigger lead at this point of this extraordinary presidential race. (Photo Credits: Cordeman; Don Ermmert/Pool/Reuters; AP) =0=
Media bias &/or conflict of interest?
Gwen Ifill of PBS (Channel 13) has drawn sharp criticisms from concervatives for accepting the job of a moderator during the vice presidential debate of Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin slated on Friday, October 2, 2008. The veteran black anchorwoman didn’t reveal ahead of time that she has a pro-Obama book entitled “'The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama” coming out in January 2008 in time for the next presidential inauguration. This raises the question of media bias, objectivity, and conflict of interest that are at the root of the weakening media credibility. In this age of political partisanship, the American public believes the selection of reliable debate moderators must be done with care.
If Obama wins the election, Ifill will have high financial stakes on the sale of her book. With no shortage of people capable to preside in the debate, Iffil, the contending political parties, and the American public will be better served if she withdraws. It will clear doubts surrounding her suitability as the moderator. =0=
US Presidential Election: weighing in who won in the Mississippi debate
In the next few hours, analysts will dissect into the strength and weaknesses of the arguments of the two contending presidential candidates. Moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS, in this first debate, the issues center on the economy and the foreign policy. Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain cross horns at the University of Mississippi on Friday September 26, 2007 to make their positions known and hopefully earn them votes to win the presidency. There are arguments to be won for each side, but the final arbiter will be people’s decision on who is the better candidate to be the next US president. The second and third presidential debates are scheduled in Belmont University in Nashville, TN on October 7 followed by the last on Oct 15 in Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.
Before this first debate, Obama leads against McCain, a windfall from the shock waves caused by the financial meltdown of Wall Street that has brought uncertainty to the US banking system. The economic repercussions of the chaos and uncertainty which ensued have left the world guessing where the economic downturn will end. If the proposed bail-out by the government on the ailing financial institutions works, the problem will die down without much damage to the public. If the problem lingers, a recession of a magnitude greater than the Great Depression can result in world instability and hardship. This causes tremendous unease in other countries, especially among the fragile ones which can suffer most in a global recession.
Whichever side one looks at the debate, a finer realignment of the electorate will happen. For the disengaged and uncommitted, the debate is a tie. At first glance, Obama has won in the economy part and McCain had an upper hand on the homeland security part. What the public watches now is the recalibration that can change the outcome of the polls. The Democrats has learned that this election isn’t an easy win even if the Republicans have suffered the tumult brought by the economic downturn. It is the foremost worry of majority of Americans. At this time, an informal poll at AOL website shows McCain leading, but at Yahoo website Obama has an upper hand. (Photo Credits: Cookthinker; AP; Mike Cline) =0=
Refusing to take off from the campaign: a clue to Obama’s questionable decision making?
With Sen. Barack Obama gaining fresh lead over Sen. John McCain, the presidential candidate of the Democrats, in projecting that he can do multi-tasking if elected, repudiated McCain’s call to temporarily stop the campaign and postpone the political debate with Obama on Friday September 26, 2008 to help in solving the financial crisis that threatens collapse of the economy, the worst since the Great Depression. In a display of bipartisan leadership, McCain takes another smart move which if successful, will make Obama puny in governance and inexperienced in setting priorities. It’s from the backlash of the financial crisis on the Republicans that he earns a significant lead over McCain, a GOP member tied up by party affiliation with the Bush administration.
Obama wants to pursue votes instead of being with the legislators to tackle the $700 billion bail-out package proposed by the administration and objected to by the Democrats. But Obama,confident that he can do many tasks at the same time, agrees to meet with Pres.George W. Bush and McCain on this issue. The readiness of McCain to sacrifice losing an election to solve a high-profile economic issue is suggested by his decision. He halted his campaign including a stop on all his advertisements.
McCain comes along consistent with his campaign message of putting the country “first” above all other ambitions. But surely, the Democrats dismiss his decision as part of a McCain’s “photo op” with the congress. It remains to be seen whether the maverick in McCain will have windfall in his decision the same way he got in choosing Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. Certainly, the financial crisis is tops on the minds of Americans right now. Photo Credit: Mario Zucca; Afrael=0=
Obama takes a statistical lead on the 41st day before election; McCain suspends campaign and debate to address financial crisis
Presidential candidate Barack Obama gains 6 point lead over John McCain today September 24, 2008, 41 days before the November 4 election. Obama’s present advantage is probably a windfall from the blame the Republican party is getting from the financial meltdown bogging the market after Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, among others filed government protection from bankruptcy.
The genesis of the economic crisis is traced on long-standing corporate greed pervasive in Wall Street, the weak oversight by government regulators for many years, corruption, and the lack of accountability in the banking system, making both Democratic and Republican parties culpable.
In 2001, the Bush administration had pushed for a tightening of the mortagage lending, but Democrats like Cong. Barney Frank (D-MA) head of house financial services committee blocked the initiative.
Citing urgency of the matter, McCain,in a display of leadership, cancels a scheduled debate with Obama on Friday night, September 26, 2008, to focus in bringing a bipartisan solution to the crisis. A bail-out financial package is needed to be passed by the Congress to avert further damage in the economy.
At this time, Obama doesn't want to stop his campaign. He thinks he can do the campaigning and helping fix the economic crisis at the same time. The impasse in the proposed $700 billion bailout of the financial institutions need to be addressed quickly to avert full-blown economic collapse. (Photo Credit: Mario Zucca)=0=
22nd Amendment of the US Constitution: Term Limits of the President
The term limits of the president is defined by the 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution in 1947 which reads: "Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.” www.usconstitution.net/
Throughout US history only Franklin D. Roosevelt served three terms. After the 22nd amendment, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush won two presidential terms. Because Bill Clinton is ineligible to run again, he has fielded Hillary Clinton. Barely 2 month before the 2008 November election, there are speculations that the Democrats are considering dunking Joe Biden to correct the “wrong” in Obama’s choice for his running mate. =0=
The craziness in the US presidential campaign
Truly, there is craziness going on in the US presidential race that baffles the mind. Forty-seven days (47) days before the election, the presidential race is still a tie. A contest which is expected to be handily won by the Democrats who punch on the current administration has become a fierce battle giving the Republicans a good chance to win. Let me offer clues as to why Americans appear to have “short memories” like the Filipinos. I will let you decide.1. The frustration of the Americans over politics crosses beyond party lines. Both the Republicans and Democrats have made errors in their decisions. They have blame to share The undecided voters can’t easily align in any of them. Many criticize Pres. George Bush, but the public also complains against the “do-nothing” Congress (dominated by Democrats) whose public approval rating is less than half of poor satisfaction rating of Pres. George W. Bush hyped by the media.
2. There are Democrats who believe they committed a strategic mistake in choosing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. With a strong political base, Hillary, much more experienced than Obama is thought to be a better and wiser choice. The inexperienced, but articulate Obama has little to offer other than the promises voters have heard since the start. Rejecting Hillary who has good counsel from Pres. Bill Clinton, Obama raises questions on his capacity to decide at “3 o’clock AM” once he becomes president. If Obama chose Hillary as his running mate, his chance of winning is better. Hillary carries a wide gender vote which can counter-balance the popularity of Sarah Palin.
3. The issues at stake in the presidential election are many. Topping the list are the economy, healthcare, social security, taxation, education, illegal immigration, religion, abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, war against terrorism, homeland security. These issues confuse a lot of voters. There are those who decide on a candidate based on one or two of these (not all.) A large number rely on their gut feeling in choosing their candidate.
4. The public is aware of biased information spread around by the media. Newspapers, TV, cable, radio, internet and other media are dominated by left-leaning, secular, anti-Bush, anti-Republican and anti-American personalities. Fighting against conservatism, these partisan liberals are more interested to advance their beliefs rather than be fair and balanced.
5. The liberals and secular progressive have substantial support from movie stars, comedians and teachers in the academe. It is mainly from them that the world forms its perceptions about America. Harboring anti-American sentiments, the outside world can easily get the mindset of those in the New York Times, Washington Post, MSNBC, CNN, and CBS just as the Arab world gets the mindset of Al Jazeera. Manipulation of information to suite an agenda is evident.
6. The conservatives and religious right who generally identify with the Republicans pose a “traditional” way of looking at things that many Americans can’t easily brush aside. Liberal Democrats have a hard time convincing a large portion of America to embrace socialism (vs. capitalism,) abortion, gay marriage, illegal migration, a welfare state, and cynicism against religion.
7. The longer Obama and McCain stay on the campaign trail, the stronger the public doubts Obama. This has been suggested by the polls which show a neck-and-neck competition up to this point. If Americans believe Obama is truly fit to be president, by this time, he could have a huge headway over McCain. With a wide support from the media, he should win hands down. Yet, it hasn’tt happened. Obama can have the financial crisis on his side, but he has to convince the public that he can solve it. The doubt on his leadership remains an obstacle he must overcome.
8. Personal attacks between candidates have been hurled on both sides. But the irrationality, intensity, and number of venomous blows by Democrats against Sarah Palin make her more popular. This worries a lot of Democrats. Earlier in the campaign they are very confident winning over the Republicans, not until Palin enters the race. According to a recent poll, the negative advertisement of the Obama campaign is far more than in the McCain’s.
9. A clearer understanding of platforms is emerging. Obama’s plan looks very good at first glance, but as Americans get closer, a different picture emerges. The public isn’t quite ready to elect a government that is too liberal without a counterbalance from moderates and conservatives. ( See the comparison of Obama-McCain platforms I posted earlier in the blog)
10. Americans compare reality with what both parties tell them. There are exaggerations that do not escape the attention of the electorate. Some issues ascribed against a candidate may not necessarily his own doing. He can only be guilty by association, but not of fact. While USA admits to heavy problems to tackle, it isn’t as bad as Zimbabwe or Somalia as some politicians make them look. The race divide, poverty, conflict between social classes, joblessness, pessimism, and despair in America aren’t that dire. Yes, the problems are bad, but that’s so easy to understand if one comes from a Third World country. =0=
The Incomprehensibility Of The U.S. Presidential Elections
When George Bush jr. took over the reins of the White House nearly eight years ago, he inherited the Bill Clinton legacy--a balanced budget, decades of deficits erased, interest rates and inflation subdued after years of uncontrolled gallop, technology lead reclaimed, rising productivity in industry, a booming economy, renewed confidence in itself and better cooperation and understanding abroad compared to previous administrations.
Yes, Bush was a victim of the 9/11 tragedy, too, which happened very early in his first term. But that solitary tragedy seemed to trigger an irrational streak of administration on his part that constrasted to his successful terms as Texas governor. It seemed his whole administrative regime was dominated by his urge to "get back" against his 9/11 tormentors and its perceived allies. Non-Americans will always associate him as the charging (Lone?) Ranger against Al Qaeda, Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea.
While engaged in this "irrational" quest, the rest of the world got on with its business (I wonder if they even remembered the Coalition of the Willing). China and India emerged, Russia bottomed out on its path to ruin, the European Union was coming to age and Japan, uh well, continued in its steady if unspectacular path.
And how is the great USA faring at the tailend of the Bush administration? A tottering economy fuelled by its stock market and credit woes, a bulging deficit, entrenchment in the Iran and Afghanistan quagmires, a discredited leadership in international affairs and an unpopular president shunned even by the national convention of his party and kept at arms length by its standard bearer.
And yet, that standard bearer of Bush's party is running neck-to-neck with the standard bearer of the opposing party! Incredible! In the Philippines if such were the case McCain will certainly end up pummelled in the elections and a sorry loser after that (like McGovern). Does it mean that the Philippine electorate is more discerning than the US electorate? And I thought many said that the Filipino people has a very short memory. Does it mean that the US electorate has amnesia?
And again, I wonder why such a contest merits a lot of attention in the international media. Oh, I forgot, circuses really do attract a lot of attention.
UP Ibalon Talks on the US Presidential Elections 2008
By popular demand, I am posting here all the exchanges of notes on the US Presidential Election 2008, so others can participate. Use the Comments utility if you like.
From Andy:
Totie,
I posted that story on Palin before the Associated Press picked it up:
http://news. yahoo.com/ s/ap/20080904/ ap_on_el_ pr/cvn_palin_ iraq_war_ 7
Palin just struck my sensibility. Imagine justifying a destructive war as an act of God. This was the very frequent justification in the olden days for holder of powers to invade countries and kingdoms at the time when the Church still had its ways. When the king of France and the Pope did not like to pay its huge debts to the Knights Templar, they massacred them and called it an act of God. There are lots of examples in uncensored sources. Imagine what a President Palin can do to China, Japan, and India to whom the US is now indebted trillions of $s.
Her absolute opposition to abortion even in cases of rape, incest and danger to the mother's life is unacceptable from the medical standpoint, and even moral or humanitarian. A doctor can get into trouble by using his judgment in taking out an in utero fetal death or discontinuing a pregnancy in a mother in danger of heart atack or thyroid storm.
Her stand favoring creationism over Darwin's theory of evolution is a hold-out position, much like the Ku Klux clan, and has no part in present world. Of course, you know that creationists are actively campaigning there to get the doctrine of creation taught in US public schools. Imagine children being taught again that the world was created in 4035 B.C. because that is how the archbishops calculated it.(Read on Archbishop Usher).
Her hardline stance against pre-marital sex is haunting her now.
I respect all beliefs. Let Palin be a governor or senator. Let her live out her beliefs with fellow congregants. But do not put her a breath away from the most powerful office in the world.
Now, it is becoming clear that Palin's base is the evangilical base and McCain is helpless against this group.After Palin's sickening speech last night, I donated at barrackobama. com to show support. In all likelihood, the donation will be returned because the webmasters will soon find out that I am not a US citizen. Quite unfair because a bad or good US president also affects us here. Yes, Pailn can move people into action but in a way different from her intentions.
There are universal dreams and values. Obama gets it. McCain and certainly Palin do not.
Totie, I hope I have given you some glimpse how we view the US election from here. Do not worry about your tax figures for now. They will certainly change because US citizens have so much power over their govenment.
From Totie:
Andy, heated up na ang pres. election sa 'merika. Your blog brings an opinion that surely will interest readers. Dinagdagan ko to strike a balance. Though bako kitang parareho mag-isip, your opinion airs one side of the coin that must go well with contrarian readers. "Agreeing to disagree," is the way of the web. It's up for us to be where we'll find ourselves in the market place of ideas----something we do all the time to survive the complex world!
From Andy:
Totie,
I posted that story on Palin before the Associated Press picked it up:
http://news. yahoo.com/ s/ap/20080904/ ap_on_el_ pr/cvn_palin_ iraq_war_ 7
Palin just struck my sensibility. Imagine justifying a destructive war as an act of God. This was the very frequent justification in the olden days for holder of powers to invade countries and kingdoms at the time when the Church still had its ways. When the king of France and the Pope did not like to pay its huge debts to the Knights Templar, they massacred them and called it an act of God. There are lots of examples in uncensored sources. Imagine what a President Palin can do to China, Japan, and India to whom the US is now indebted trillions of $s.
Her absolute opposition to abortion even in cases of rape, incest and danger to the mother's life is unacceptable from the medical standpoint, and even moral or humanitarian. A doctor can get into trouble by using his judgment in taking out an in utero fetal death or discontinuing a pregnancy in a mother in danger of heart atack or thyroid storm.
Her stand favoring creationism over Darwin's theory of evolution is a hold-out position, much like the Ku Klux clan, and has no part in present world. Of course, you know that creationists are actively campaigning there to get the doctrine of creation taught in US public schools. Imagine children being taught again that the world was created in 4035 B.C. because that is how the archbishops calculated it.(Read on Archbishop Usher).
Her hardline stance against pre-marital sex is haunting her now.
I respect all beliefs. Let Palin be a governor or senator. Let her live out her beliefs with fellow congregants. But do not put her a breath away from the most powerful office in the world.
Now, it is becoming clear that Palin's base is the evangilical base and McCain is helpless against this group.After Palin's sickening speech last night, I donated at barrackobama. com to show support. In all likelihood, the donation will be returned because the webmasters will soon find out that I am not a US citizen. Quite unfair because a bad or good US president also affects us here. Yes, Pailn can move people into action but in a way different from her intentions.
There are universal dreams and values. Obama gets it. McCain and certainly Palin do not.
Totie, I hope I have given you some glimpse how we view the US election from here. Do not worry about your tax figures for now. They will certainly change because US citizens have so much power over their govenment.
From Mighty:Right on, Andy.
I hope the GOP, the party of "interventionists" loses. Pakikiaram lang sa mundo an dadarahon ninda like Bush jr. Kasuarin man nagdara ki peace, development o understanding an intervention ninda sa Iraq?
Only if one understands the ways of imperialism can one understand why one conflict far from their boundaries is part of their "national security" or "national interest." But using religion? Nahiling ko sa Net an pics and stories of German priests blessing the army of Hitler.
And what alarmism! I have come to read a recent thread calling Putin "the scourge of God". And the recent Russian deployment of arms as "the biggest since Khruschev". Huh?
I was surprised at Amb. Kenney's presence in the supposed MOA-AD signing in Kuala Lumpur. Kasuarin man naging part an US sa peace process sa South? I will not be surprised kun an US an nag-torpedo kan peace process thru the ilks of Ermita and Esperon. The US will never tolerate militant Muslim enclaves that can possibly harbor Muslim "terrorists" . Feeling part of their "national security", e.
I just hope the US citizenry can rein in their leaders and teach them the internationally- accepted concept of "non-intervention" and that war cannot be part of a country's national policy like what the UN charter says.
From Totie:
Andy and all my beloved Ibalons:
Napagayon na kita igua nin sharing sa satuyang mga ideyas. It takes me a lot of while to think like the warring anchors of TV---that's to be comfortable with the point of view of others without being emotionally affected by them. With effort, I hope I am going there. I like to believe I am open to ideas. hahahah!
I think it's important that we're dispassionate in approaching the world's vexing issues because there's no soft solution that will solve all of them. We have been transformed into a multicultural world with a very plural way of looking at things, based on our respective experiences. Because of this we must listen to many point of views. However, most of us have no luxury have these.
All the points Andy raised are valid. I appreciate them though it's in the details that most disconcordance in point of views differ. We quickly realize that the issues of the US election are so many. So if one feels so passionate about religion for example, that will be enough to make him decide on who to vote. Majority of voters don't have time to ponder---serious issues give us a lot of headache! But thanks to the "news in real time" which forces everyone to start looking more closely.
Take the case of the Iraq war, Americans are just like us Filipinos. When 911 was fresh, there was almost complete unanimity of going into war. Americans did not trust the UN which after 16 resolutions against Saddam can't do anything---and as a nation, majority voted for war. But when the going went rough, the supporters abandoned the cause they supported. Isn't this not a familiar reaction of balimbings?
It's a natural reaction that people don't want losers. And they forget the threat of terrorism in America is real and unabating--- -we don't have gates and walls on buildings before....or the long lines in airports.... many Americans have become complacent (less than 4,000 lang naman ang namatay sa 911 ha?) Just because we're successful now, the horror won't happen again (all experts agree it is just a matter of time though some quarters in society think this is alarmist, ignoring the hate enemies of America is spewing...)
The staunch supporters of Bush blamed him on a decision that was based on erroneous intelligence (forgetting that Britain and the rest of Europe based their intelligence on the same errors.) Definitely Bush committed mistakes (kaya ngani dae siya very visible sa election.)
The media acted to blame Bush who was steadfast in protecting the homeland. The cost of war is enormous not only on lives of soldiers. The people were concerned and they wanted to withdraw---- but we know, this is easily said than done. Bush tried to solve this is by the surge of troops which is now working under Gen. Petraeas. The media, bent to prove they're correct in their pessimism, became silent. The silence is deafening in contrast to the exaggerated criticisms they made earlier that shaped many of people's opinion----includin g those of people outside America. Kaya hil'nga dikit na ang nagbabasa sa New York Times ngonian kasi alam ng tao nakakasobra ang mga liberals and secular progessives.
It's easy to understand America as an imperialist devil. But this comes as an expected consequence of a world power that gropes (just like us,) on policies, directions, and past mistakes that have piled through the years. This is the consequence of the American experience! In many occasions, it is proven, America isn't perfect but she is the envy of the world. With very high world expectation, there are errors in her wings---but USA has to move on. It has to make sense of its bipolar position that angers the world and leave critics well-fully armed. But come to think of it, in America's struggles, which nation in the world has that "moral ground" to lead? None. But, I think America comes the closest, unless one prefers China, Russia, the Philippines or the Al Qaeda.
In the meantime, expectations remains unmet, people want change. But they know this can't happen overnight. This is why, in spite of Obama's beautiful promises, he remains neck-and-neck with McCain who knows from experience the workings of the world better. This is unexpected and it rattles the Democrats. Obama is supported by the liberal left, the socialists, secular progressive and those who want to tear the fabric on which American society is based. They hate religion, wants a welfare government which gives away services, but where will the money come from? Of course from our taxes which averages to about 1/3 of a regular American's income.
Yes! We have well placed communists in the government too. McCain has started to unravel his personality to the voters----letting them know that between Obama and him, his patriotic motive is clear---In his age of generativity (Maslow's law of individual needs.) McCain is rich, a patriot and an influential man while Obama is an upstart. There is little in McCain's resume that he needs and Americans are thinking... The Democrats fight the traditional capitalist entrepreneurship of America (represented by the Republicans, a party associated with the rich) which has brought us Hollywood and the internet that we enjoy, but at the same time bring evil that we abhor. What the Dems say of a divided, poor, directionless, bankrupt, racial, etc America is a bit exaggerated. I don't feel it that way in spite of my disability and the catastrophic illness I'm facing. Obama plans a universal healthcare, but he gonna tax the people more on that. Where will they get the money? It's a plan even the Clintons failed in their two years of power.
Comes with the Iraq issue are concerns---economy, healthcare, illegal immigration, homeland security, SSS that voters are grappling with. So it's no wonder why they are divided as much as the world. The Democrats are generally supported by the world outside because they offer avenues for change to "redistribute" wealth in the world. It's a Chrisitan imperative that many Filipinos hear. The Republicans are supported by the traditional Americans who felt they deserve what they worked for.
At the root of the American's psyche however, what prevails is still a concern for the world (do you think we can expect this of other peoples in the world if they have become so rich like the Americans?) In spite of hardships in the homeland, they work the hardest and juggle their jobs with their family responsibilities. ..many of them are still generous, rooted in their Judeo-Christian tranditions. This is a reality that even immigrants come to know when they support families back home----in spite of the bad rap of a bad economy...Americans continue to give.
Halaba na ini. Magayon na pag-olayan, pero let's stop here for a while. My gut feeling, Obama won't easily win the presidency as the Democrats thought earlier. Baka da'ogon siya. It would have been easier to defeat McCain if Hillary was the candidate. I think majority of Filipinos , immigrants, and new-comers in America want the Democratic party which offer them an easy way to get a good slice of the American pie (i.e. libre ang pension can mga dae nagtrabahong imigrante which no sane nation can afford!) That's understandable.
But for me, I'm contended with the opportunities USA has given me. I have seen how Americans work and the price they pay for their "success." I don't mind not being "too equal" with them who came earlier---full equality is something I would reserve for our children who started here. But I fight just like any American when I know my rights are trampled (I have a few lawyers to work for me based on their expertise of a problem.)
So Ibalonians, keep the ideas coming. My point of view is from someone who has lived here for a while. The world can be seen in different prisms, and we must not be afraid to disagree. Even our family who loves each member, has lots of disagreements. To talk about it is definitely a healthy thing to do. As a last thought, I think the weaknes of society has something to do with lack of communication and the lack of courage to face reality as it is. I love you all.
From Andy:
Totie,
Actually, I do small things I can online to help the Obama campaign. Mainly I submit blogs, comment on forums and flag down YouTube videos that are obvious propaganda from the McCain-Palin camp. This God-forsaken country of ours is in my mind as I do them.
I do not think Obama supporters want to tear down the fabric of American society. You cannot tag Google, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, to name a few, as liberal left, secular progressive nor socialist who like to harm America. Neither are Harvard University, University of California, again to name a few. These institutions just know that mainland America will be safer and its prosperity and its world leadership secured if the American government starts seriously respecting the rest of the world, a view Obama espouses. Even Bill Clinton said "the world respects the power of our example rather than the example of our power." This is opposed to the "good ol' boy" "go f__k the world" "to hell with the world" stance of the Republicans.
Recently, the mainstream US media has started singing pro-Obama tunes, but only according to the ultra-right, Bush-McCain loving Fox News. Fox anchors now complain of the "death of journalism in America" just because ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, Time, etc., inquired too deeply on the personal circumstances of Palin.
Death of jourmalism? Look who's talking. I do not know how you see Fox News but it reminds me of Marcos's infamous Channel 2 and Radyo ng Bayan just before EDSA I. The maintream US media also has high stakes in this election because if McCain wins, the whole US news channel might be under the thumb of Australian billionaire Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch owns News Corp that owns Fox Network, 20th Century Fox, 135 newspapers and 35 TV channels in the US.The influence of his media empire is worlwide. He is a big supporter of Bush and MacCain, warmonger, supporter of dictatorial regimes,oil imperialist, enabler of human rights violators, New York City political boss... Totie, I think you can add the rest. He also owns MySpace, but this is useless as a political tool because its membership is so international.
We are no fan of ABC (Desperate Housewives) and NBC (Jay Leno's insults to Filipinos). I would even like to see Murdoch take them off the air. But believe me these networks are more lovable than Fox News.
In Berlin, Obama announced that he will have none of the persesution of the dissidents in Burma, the voters in Zimbabwe--- and "never again in Darfur." Gloria Arroyo is not yet in his black list, but when GMA went to US last June, Obama refused to meet her. (Sec Dureza said Obama just called GMA by phone). Definitely, McCain did meet her personally. So if we like Gloria to behave and prevent her from attempting to perpetuate herself in power, we have better chances if Obama were the US president.
And this: McCain's age is no issue but his 4 bouts with melanoma, first diagmosed as Stage IIA in 2000, should be. The Obama camp is just too decent to hammer hard on this. The chance that Palin shall be the most powerful person in the world is so high. In addition, to what I already mentioned, Palin also does not believe that there is such a thing as global warming, a dangerous view for a potential world leader.
Stakes are indeed so high for all people in this particular US election.
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