Countdown to the Presidency of the Good Ol’ US of A
I used to reserve countdowns to occasions that mean a lot of eating and pigging out, but the US Presidential Elections is such an important event that it deserves its own hallowed place in my countdown list. I don’t give a damn about the global financial crisis because all my bank accounts add up to a grand total of 39.27 Philippine Pesos. Oh, I forgot to mention that I have only one bank account.
The Lehman Brothers, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and all those odd-sounding financial institutions may collapse like a deck of cards, yet I will be the least affected by this scenario. What is more relevant than the panicking traders in Wall Street is the US Presidential Elections on November 4, 2008. Two presidential candidates going by the names of Barack Obama and John McCain (in no particular order) as well as a slew of meaningless, obscure nuisances (is Ralph Nader in the mix?) vie for the much maligned position of American President in a world that has become more and more anti-American by the minute.
Yeah, good old Dubya will have to bid farewell early next year. Good riddance, Mr. Bush. We hope that your decision to send troops to Godforsaken places like Iraq and Afghanistan will bode well for America’s future and result in Osama Bin Laden’s foot soldiers getting a good a-whipping. We hope that your recent $700 billion bailout plan will help the world economy back on its shaky feet. You deserve a pat on the back for your earnest efforts. Only history will judge your performance as US President, but for the meantime, let’s place judgment on the two major presidential candidates who are looking for a 4-year lease on White House.
Obama is better than McCain?
Barack Obama? If you haven’t heard of that name even once in your lifetime, either you are deaf or aged below eight years. Barack Obama’s stratospheric rise to American political stardom is nothing less than spectacular. Even the Boston Celtics’ rise and return to basketball glory after more than a decade of mediocrity pales in comparison to Obama’s skyrocketing popularity and name recall.
Hell, even the latest version of Microsoft Word doesn’t recognize the words “Barack Obama,” which goes to show how new he is to the world scene. It doesn’t matter that computers and politics are two different things, but why does the words “John McCain” doesn’t get a red line that “Barack Obama” does? Is he that ancient?
Back to the subject matter, Barack Obama is my early favorite, simply because he promises change in the American government if he is elected. He promises to redeem America in the eyes of the world increasingly critical of US international policies. America is still the world’s only and foremost superpower, but that position has been eroded by mistrust among her allies particularly in the aftermath of the US’ ill-fated decision to do it all in Iraq. Obama promises to make America regain her former prestige and glory as the beacon of freedom and democracy, not to mention capitalism.
Obama also promised to cut taxes for 95% of all Americans. So if you earn less than $200,000 a year, then you are entitled to tax breaks under an Obama administration. I am not a tax expert, but I see Obama as a Robin Hood-in-training in that he plans to “grab from the rich to give to the poor” or something to that effect. Being a millionaire, that worries me to the bones. Just kidding. But I wonder if big businesses and rich individuals will feel threatened by Obama’s tax policies and instead vote for his Republican rival.
Obama’s major advantage over McCain is youth and vigor. He assails McCain for being out of touch with the times and for siding with President Bush 90% of the time. That’s pretty obvious. If you’re a Republican, you don’t vote as a Democrat, you vote as a Republican. It’s not McCain’s fault that he and Bush belong to the same political party. Or is it?
If Obama succeeds in linking McCain to the failed policies of the Bush administration in the minds of American voters, its not farfetched to see him winning enough electoral votes to become the first African-American president of the United States. However, I see some danger in the flock of independent and undecided voters who may have questions about Obama’s experience and competence. If McCain succeeds in painting Obama as a bumbling greenhorn who pose a great risk to America’s future, an upset is not a remote possibility.
McCain is better than Obama?
John McCain earned my respect as a decorated Vietnam War veteran and prisoner of war. It’s not everyday that you vote for a president who survived the most infamous POW camp in history – the Hanoi Hilton. McCain not only survived the inhuman conditions of the Hanoi Hilton, he rose above the fray to become the Republican presidential candidate in what looks to be the closest presidential race in US history.
McCain exudes experience. Two decades as a US senator from Arizona makes him no stranger to the political schemes of Washington, D.C. Knowing the American political climate like the palm of his hand, McCain is an appealing presidential candidate for those who are looking for a strong, steady hand to guide America’s turbulent economic and political future.
There’s no doubt that experience is McCain’s strongest suit, but that is not the magic wand for winning the presidency. Age is one issue that McCain cannot avoid. At 72, he is the oldest US presidential candidate seeking a first term of office. Well, McCain is no spring chicken, but I feel that his political experience and courage as a former POW offsets any issue regarding his advanced age.
Who will win? My crystal ball
And the winner is (drumroll, please)… John McCain. Gasp! “What the hell are you thinking?”, you might ask me. I’m not betting for the underdog simply for the sake of betting for the underdog. My prediction that John McCain will pull off the biggest upset in US Presidential Elections history since the Truman-Dewey era is based on my research and data-gathering. Don’t bother asking me for weird calculations, since I just concocted my prediction in the back of my head.
Barack Obama is a worthy presidential candidate, but he will be dogged by controversies until the day of the elections and beyond. There’s no denying that Jeremiah Wright and all other unsavory connections will haunt Obama’s campaign up to the critical balloting process. Voters who like Obama from the start will not necessarily vote for him, and people who think about writing Obama on the ballot will have a last-minute change of heart. McCain’s experience will prevail over Obama’s youth in the race for the hearts and minds of American voters.
And there’s the issue of race. No matter how we deplore and abhor racism and all forms of discrimination, there are still some people who will vote or not vote for Obama simply because of race. I think racial prejudices are hard-wired to our brains since birth, and racial prejudices will rear its ugly head this time around. It’s just disheartening to see a presidential candidate lose, mainly or partly, because of racial prejudices still prevalent in American society, but in the back of my mind I’m hoping that that will not happen. I want to see Obama or McCain win because of issues about the economy, the war on Iraq, terrorism, taxes, among others – not because of race or color.
Mark my words. John McCain will become the 44th President of the United States of America. Violent reactions are most welcome.
(Photo courtesy of MSNBC.com)
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November 1st, 2008 at 11:40 pm
No violent reaction here. I agree with you that McCain will pull off one of the biggest election upset in history.
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November 3rd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I agree. The democrats are in for a very rude awakening.
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November 3rd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I share your calculations and have came to the same conclusion.
The media circus around obama caused a brief euphoria in his presence, but when it comes down to voting that euphoria will dwindle and reality will set in.
Who do we want as president? A newby who has achieved nothing other than a college degree and a couple of years serving as a senator or a war hero that has been in many campaigns and has served in office longer than many have lived (especially the young obama voters.) I am 37. I am not voting at all. There is no need as I know Mccain already won from the beginning. What I will do is stay out of the city as there is going to be riots. When Obama loses
As we all know AA tend to resort to violence and physical means to vent their anger and frustrations.
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November 4th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Hmmm…biggest election upset?
Well, if McCain wins it will be b/c the majority voted for him.
Therefore, more people are for him than obama.
So how is that the biggest upset?
It’s what Americans wanted.
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November 4th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I’m not sure about your prediction. But I agree with you when you said: “Good riddance, Mr. Bush.” Amen to that.
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November 5th, 2008 at 9:27 am
@p.l.s.: I am even surprised myself why I made that prediction.
It’s a gut feeling on my part and the fact that poll results have tightened in the last few days of the campaign. Though I won’t be suprised if Obama wins as the polls predicted.
Whoever wins the election, I hope he will work to unite both Democrats and Republicans to work in restoring America’s reputation and credibility around the world.
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November 5th, 2008 at 9:31 am
@steve: Well, I just hope that there will be no violence after the elections. I believe people will accept whoever will win, either Obama or McCain. Of course, I’m not discounting the possibility that a few people will see some “injustice” should Obama or McCain lose, but I think that resorting to violence will hurt America’s democratic traditions.
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November 16th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Glad your predictions and that of the entire Filipino nation were incorrect…. Once again, the P.I. is on the wrong side of history… I’m elated, as an Armed Forces member, that my Commander-in-Chief is a member of the race that built the greatest country ever to exist and died for civil rights! I fell to my knees and cried!
The Philippines will be remembered for once again being on the wrong side of history! ! or only 2 countries… And i can appreciate Georgia’s suuport for McCain considering thier political and militaristic situation. But the Filipinos simply wanted McCain to win because he’s Mestiza… Who cares what Filipnos think anyway? They aren’t true Americans… They’re “benefit” seekers and gold diggers… What have they done for America? Nothing…
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November 16th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Huh? Where did that come from?
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November 17th, 2008 at 9:16 am
@Devastatin1:
I’m sorry but my opinions are my own opinions. The Filipino people and the entire nation has nothing to do with what I write in my blogs. In fact, if you visit other blogs by Filipinos, you will see that many of them are pro-Obama. I am just in the minority who support McCain because I believe in his principles, not because of race.
I’m not going to start a debate with you.
But America is the strongest, richest and most powerful nation on Earth. Should it be that America should be the one to help the Philippines, and not the other way around? The Philippines, as well as other Third World nations, has nothing to offer to America except her friendship and assistance in the fight against terrorism. As the world’s only superpower, the US should be the one to offer economic assistance to poor nations, and not expect anything in return.
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November 17th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
To Johnny Boi, Wsecu, Steve & Erin, the best man won…period! And you’re right! AMERICA made it’s choice! The leader of the world and my CINC is Barack Obama!
Steve, your idol McCain is a racist… He continuously voted against MLK Day until the NFL took the Superbowl outta Arizona! He also called Asians “gooks” on natl TV several times and refused to apoligize. While he was in fact referring to his Vietnamese captors, running for the highest office on the planet means that you’re disciplined enough to represent with class, as a true “statesman” of America. By uttering the word “Gook”, he was slandering ALL Asians! And the idiots in the Philippines STILL preferred him over President-elect Obama. While there is only “1″ race in the P.I., there are 2 “classes!” White and not-white…
When I was in school, the Guidance Counselor would ask young black kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. Whenever we said “President”, they’d tell us that’s not for us, and to try being a Sanitation Worker because they get paid very well.
We can build this country, die for Civil Rights, protect it in disproportionate numbers, but cannot be it’s President. We can be castrated, lynched, burned alive, raped, separated from loved ones, skinned, amputated etc, but we cannot be it’s President.
The 44th President of the U.S., my Commander-In-Chief is one of me. I am Barack Obama!
However, I’m wholeheartedly impressed with white America because if it wasn’t for them, Barack Obama would not be the President-elect. Even if he’s assassinated prior to Inauguration, no one can take away the fact that white America finally chose someone for the content of their character, not the color of their skin. For that reason, I’ve rededicated my allegiance in protecting the greatest country ever to exist. I love America, the land that my ancestors built. And should the Aryan Nation assassinate President-elect Obama, I could never hate America, as they’ve forever spoken in support of President-elect Obama. No one can change or mislead the fact that a Black man was elected to the Presidency. I will however hate the idiotic racists that harm him. Unfortunately, all Blacks do not think like me and they’ll be retaliating with mad reciprocity at heart. Being a member of the most racially harmonic institution ever to exist on this planet (U.S. Armed Forces), my idealogy is different, as is the ideology of the hundreds of troops under my command, black, white, Hispanic, Asian and other.
We’re equal opportunity ass-kickers. If there is a “race-war”, and if called upon, we’ll kick black ass, white ass and any flavor of ass detrimental to good order and discipline of America.
May God bless President-elect Obama and the U.S.A.
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November 20th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Loy, I see what you’re saying, however, until your govt can rid itself of the incredible corruption that Marcos foundated, it’s useless for us to keep giving you hand-outs…
And since my asawa is Filipina, I have some sympathy for your country. But you really need to step-up your “Morality” Policing. Recently, the one Filipino politician stole millions and ran-off to Detriot. You’re corruption is killing your credibility… Your respect, and status amongst the world nations…
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November 21st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Steve, that newbie you speak of graduated with honors from Harvard and was President of one of it’s Law organizations. John McCain was next to last in his class at the Naval Academy and Sarah Palin went to about 5 schools no one ever heard of to obtain her “Journalism” degree… Your post reeks of the double standard we still see today. Had President-elect Obama’s daughter had a baby, the storyline would have been much different… I’d ask you one simple question; You and I know nothing of any candidate’s true capabilities. Why is it that people of influence, mostly white, Senators, Governors, Representatives etc. selected Barack Obama, even though many of you played the “experience” card? They see him everyday… They know him… They know who the best candidate would be and they chose him as did the majority of Americans…
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November 28th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Closest presidential race in U.S. History? B.S! The best man won by over 7 Million votes, and DOUBLED the Electoral votes!
McCain = Certified racist! Voted against MLK Day until they tool the Superbowl outta Arizone, and called Asians "GOOKS" several times on national TV! THEN REFUSED TO APOLIGIZE!!! His lack of intelligent communication ability "exuded" over his so-called "experience!"
Closest election my arse! You've been watching too much FOX News!
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February 22nd, 2009 at 10:36 am
Great post, even though your prediction didn’t come true.
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February 25th, 2009 at 8:32 am
So now that Obama is president, what do people think? I still have my skepticism about this person; I don’t know if he can be trusted to do the right thing for us (I know he will try to do the right thing).
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March 6th, 2009 at 2:28 am
I enjoyed watching democracy in action. I was on the fence for both candidates, ultimately voting McCain. I am anxious to see what Obama has in store for the next two years, because that will show the world what he is made of.
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January 18th, 2010 at 3:37 am
Obama is nothing but a big liar. He is very good at hyping things up, and being popular to the younger crowd. People feel like they can relate to him because he acts like a young person. He is a very good con artist.
-Kai
Kai Lo´s last blog ..Keywords That Sell
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February 8th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
@Kai Lo,
Go back to your own country then… See if you’ll fare better there… Good riddance!
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