The American Future: A Reflection
November 4, 2008 by mlq3
Filed under Daily Dose
I’ve been watching The American Future: A History, the latest documentary series by one of my favorite historians, Simon Schama. A book version, it seems, has also been released (see Niall Ferguson’s review). Schama, a long-time resident in an America that, in in its post 911 incarnation, became so frighteningly different from the America that was so attractive to liberal intellectuals like him, and which Republican Neo-Conservatives mightily strove to dominate for the foreseeable future, seems relieved to witness a revolt from the American people themselves: what many foresee as Obama’s impending victory seems to be a return to a more familiar, more attractive, United States.
Just yesterday, in The Guardian, Schama published Nowhere man: a farewell to Dubya, all-time loser in presidential history. Goodbye, good riddance, regardless of the outcome of the polls:
Whatever else his legacy, the man who called himself “the decider” has left some gripping history. The last eight years have been so rich in epic imperial hubris that it would take a reborn Gibbon to do justice to the fall. It should be said right away that amid the landscape of smoking craters there are one or two sprigs of decency that have been planted: record amounts of financial help given to Aids-blighted countries of Africa; immigration reform that would have offered an amnesty to illegals and given them a secure path to citizenship, had not those efforts hit the reef of intransigence in Bush’s own party. And no one can argue with the fact that since 9/11 the United States has not been attacked on its home territory by jihadi terrorists; though whether or not that security is more illusory than real is, to put it mildly, open to debate.
Bet against that there is the matter of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilian casualties, more than 4,000 American troops dead, many times that gravely injured, not to mention the puncture wounds and mutilations inflicted on internationally agreed standards of humane conduct for prisoners – and on the protection of domestic liberties enshrined in the American constitution. If the Statue of Liberty were alive, she would be weeping tears of blood.
I must confess that is how I feel: and it betrays a familiarity with, and affection for, a particular conception of America that conservatives labored mightily to prove the false face of America. And to be sure, for a huge number of Americans, Obama is not the face -literally and figuratively- of their America; just as for a particular kind of Filipino-American, it is McCain, his party, and the values of that party that are their values, their preferred face: what other Filipinos and Filipino-Americans would react to with horror as too much paleface.
But I am not an American. But I am a particular kind of Filipino, not particularly representative of the Filipino (or Filipino-American) experience or possibly even conception, of the United States. We lived there for a time; I studied there, for a time; I saw many things I liked, experienced much I did not; but like so many Filipinos, found something exceedingly familiar and attractive in a culture and from a people one didn’t really have to exert much effort to get to know and appreciate.
Let me state first of all that my bias is a clear and in many ways, an unshakeable one, beginning with being bombarded by my father’s very strong opinion that the American Democratic Party was the only proper party to appreciate in the United States, because it was the party of Philippine independence, a cause that generally prospered during Democratic administrations and that fared less well under Republican ones. For this reason I continue to be astounded by Filipino-Americans who are Republicans but eventually, I suppose it makes sense for those who’ve made the decision to leave home and become citizens of the USA: emigration is at the very least an implicit repudiation of the homeland; more often than not, an explicit one, too; and if one party and its policies can be credited with the independence one feels ambivalent about, then one can understandably embrace the very party that, to too many Filipino minds, was poised to bring the permanent blessings of American civilization to their benighted little brown brothers.
That being said, I suppose I am like most Filipinos in viewing the relationship of the Philippines with the United States as more of a positive than negative one, or at the very least, who sees it from the perspective of a relationship that is very personal and not just abstract: the relatives and friends over there, the American friends over there and here, and so on. And for every George W. Bush who praised Marcos’ devotion to democracy, there’s a Ted Kennedy who was a friend to Filipinos fighting Marcos.
Which brings me to this touching scene:
Seeing Ted Kennedy addressing the Democratic Party Convention earlier this year, my thoughts came back to viewing a Democratic Party Convention back in 1984. I had no choice in the matter; every night, my father would sit me down in front of the TV and sternly exhort me to “watch real democracy at work,” trying to exorcise whatever authoritarian instincts, I suppose, might have been nurtured by a childhood spent under the New Society.
During those convention nights, I watched, and learned to enjoy, speeches; Ted Kennedy gave a masterful performance during one of those nights, but there were two speeches, in particular, that thrilled me because they evoked an understanding, or so I thought, of the reason my elders seemed so ill-tempered all the time whenever the government at home was discussed; instead of fear and suspicion it was refreshing and inspiring to hear people talk, not only of what was, but of what could, and should, be.
There was the Rev. Jesse Jackson:
What thrilled me about Jackson wasn’t just his rhetoric, but what he represented: equality of the races, for all races. Something I was quite conscious about because that was the year I’d experienced feeling the urge to speak up for my country when I discovered the Filipino-American War was referred to as the “Philippine Insurrection” in our American history textbook, which made me bristle; fortunately, the teacher was an entirely liberal man he himself made this Mark Twain short story required reading for the class:
And so, for me, 1984 was, indeed, a very interesting year: it was, to begin with, the year in the title of George Orwell’s novel, the sort of book that would make a precise connection with someone in America to experience a culture different from the police state that was the Philippines; it was the year I was introduced to Mark Twain, and his writing against the annexation of the Philippines; and it was an election year, for someone whose only living memory of elections had been the charade that was Marcos’ validation as President of the New Republic he inaugurated with such pomp in 1981. It was, also, the year after Ninoy Aquino had been shot, when the world had focused on the Philippines and Filipinos had begun to consider that their choice wasn’t limited to the bloody revolution of the Communists or the bloody repression of Marcos’ Constitutional Authoritarianism.
There had to be a middle path and what more centrist model could there be, than comfortable America’s? And the other speech that made me sit up and listen was Mario Cuomo’s:
These golden-tongued orators, for someone discovering the joy of words, and who had begun to feel the stirring of political thoughts -of the interplay between leaders and followers, nations and people, ideas and idealists, and how it had all be chronicled and how those chronicles, in turn, explained what was happening, now- well, to a young impressionable mind such as mine, they were the stuff of which indelible memories are made.
In those still-Imeldific days, with its talk of Metro Manila as “The City of Man,” and where the fences had been raised to shield the eyes of visiting Republicans from our shantytowns, to hear someone say, “this nation is more a tale of two cities than it is the tale of a city on a hill” referring to his country, of course, but said in a way that might very well have been addressed to Marcos, why that was enough to instill in someone as firm an understanding of Social Justice as any exploration of the Great Thinkers in College (indeed, when that time came, I mostly fell asleep in SocSci I and II).
Of course, listening to Cuomo lash out at Reagan for subsidizing foreign steel, and hearing the concerns of some contemporary Filipinos over Obama’s vow to start bringing home US jobs, serves as a reminder that the Democratic Party as the party of Philippine independence was in large part, whether at the time of William Jennings Bryan, or in the 1930s, when independence was finally settled as a matter of when and not if, with the entirely selfish assistance of US sugar interests:
And so it remained, with the Rescission Act after the war, stripping Filipino veterans of their benefits; or even in the 1980s, where American enthusiasm for democracy and human rights regularly got trumped by the need to retain their bases; or, in the era that’s evolved after the last umbilical cord, the US bases, has long been cut, in Democrats not being very different from Republicans in attending to their own national interest regardless of appeals for solicitude for Filipino ones. This is simply a reminder of a basic lesson no amount of American tutelage or Filipino navel-gazing can ever really teach: the meaning of sinking or swimming entirely on one’s own efforts. Contrary to what many might say, we have not been a total failure in this regard, as a people; we are, by every measure, middling at the job of independence; yet we have set such a high benchmark for ourselves -and rightly so- that our frustration, individually and collectively, is high, and despair a real problem -the world, as it’s evolved, making it so much easier and lucrative to simply pack up and leave, to work or live, or both, abroad.
To see the maps -and how I wish we could come up with similar things, for our own politics, to graphically explore our political realities- is to see how divided, literally, America is:
But it is also to see a shift; and for those, like me, with a particular kind of affection for a particular kind of America, to derive a certain satisfaction and comfort -the comfort of a return to something familiar, and which seemingly seemed poised to be gone for good- from what is going on.
It’s a return to a more inclusive, a more idealistic, less fear-driven and optimistic, view of the world, for Americans the world they affect so much; and for those who find affinity in those ideals, and in the expression of those ideals, a return to the motive power of words, and of their promise of a society where Social Justice is a living ideal, a commonly-held aspiration, and where might is not what defines right.
Some interesting readings: Campaigns in a Web 2.0 World in the NYT; a Vatican official ventures an opinion on the Democratic party; in Slate, If Obama Loses, Who Gets Blamed? and in Politico, Dems Sketch Obama Staff, Cabinet.
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» Manuel L. Quezon III: The Daily Dose » Today's Dose » The American … on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 11:01 am
[...] -of the interplay between leaders and followers, nations and people, ideas and idealists, … View post Add your [...]
UP n grad on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 11:42 am
Do a Google search on three words — Jesse Jackson extortionist — and you’ll discover why many Americans (Democrats, Republicans and Independents) shudder in contempt — people hear “shakedown” — whenever they hear of this man “making a request” for equality or for support of this cause or that cause or voicing a complaint against a corporation. Jesse Jackson is a great example of “power corrupts”, and he has discovered that because he is associated to this concept of “equality of the races”, that his endorsement of a particular “community” program being pushed by a business can be transformed into cash.
manuelbuencamino on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 11:45 am
I hope you’re right I don’t see too much of a future for America if a cranky ill tempered geezer and his bimbo running mate win tomorrow.
cvj on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 11:54 am
There is this particular strain of Fil-Am who, after having repudiated their former homeland, seem to delight in coming back to put it down even more. That sort of behavior is quite common among Fil-Ams (which why Benign0 is often mistaken for a Fil-Am, instead of a Fil-Aussie).. I am genuinely baffled because even smart Fil-Ams are prone to this behavior and i wonder what kind of underlying pathology drives them to do so and whether other immigrant nationalities (e.g. Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Vietnamese, Cubans etc.) have similar such phenomenon.
Bert on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 11:55 am
Jesse Jackson, Barack Obama, what’s the difference.
It’s not the color stupid.
mlq3 on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 11:58 am
Give me Jesse Jackson in his prime over Shrub and Palin anytime.
grd on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 12:42 pm
“It’s not the color stupid.”
what is it then?
UP n grad on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 12:49 pm
mlq3: Isn’t it a big stretch for you to expect Filipino-Americans to look back to the 1940’s, your grandfather and Philippine independence when these new American citizens evaluate the platforms of the Democratic party versus the Republican Party? I would suggest that the proper consideration for an Abe Margallo is to be much-less concerned with the spanish-American war and be more concerned about which party — republican versus democrat — creates a better future for his children and grandchildren or even which party promises better regarding global warming or nuclear annihilation.
Bert on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 1:17 pm
“It’s not the color stupid.â€
‘what is it then?’-grd asked.
Easy. UP n said Jackson an extorsionist, some said Obama extorts campaign money from gullible people.
See? Birds of the same feathers (not the color), heheh.
mlq3 on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 1:21 pm
UpN that’s like asking blacks not to bear the heavy memory of slavery or the civil rights movement in their political decisions. for generations blacks tended to be republicans because it was the party that liberated them from slavery; just as for sixty years they’ve tended to be democrats because it was the party of civil rights.
it is highly relevant what the track record of a party is concerning the former homeland of immigrants, the same way that zionist jews zero in on which party seems fiercer in defending israel.
and it is relevant, too, considering that filipino-americans are a minority and it would seem logical that they ought not to suffer from the delusion that they’re some sort of honorary whites; that whatever they think, other americans will consider them people of color, too, and whichever party they select should have something to say about giving them a fair chance and not perpetuating prejudice, etc.
grd on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 1:43 pm
“Easy. UP n said Jackson an extorsionist, some said Obama extorts campaign money from gullible people.
See? Birds of the same feathers (not the color), heheh.”
extort from gullible people? gullible you mean those students, women’s group, young professionals (not the oldies), hollywood, the media, etc.
as if Obama’s platform would differ from that of his party. I have no doubt if it’s Hillary Clinton or Edwards or even Gore that it would be hands-down democrat for most americans. it’s the economy stupid.
even G.W. Bush is so disgusted with his administration he’s now supporting Obama. proof? he’s nowhere in sight.
UP n grad on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 1:56 pm
to mlq3: First, they have to include it among the issues, then figure out how heavy is heavy to give “philippines-1940’s”. versus “Iraq” or taxes. Because of the many other items (including global warming, gun rights, right to privacy and the Patriot Ac) I think it is mistaken to think that all Filipinos-now-American who choose the Republican Party did so out of disrespect.
UP n grad on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 2:03 pm
I suppose my point is “how heavy is heavy”/ “a matter of degree” …. a bit similar to how heavy a weight to give “following the dictums of the Vatican” versus “giving Filipino families better options to space their children” regarding Reproductive Health.
BrianB on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 2:32 pm
Manolo,
Speeches are like sci-fi: escapism through idealized positive (StarTrek) or negative (Mad Max) reality.
mlq3 on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 3:26 pm
Brian, then that is to essentially to strip politics of its soul, for rhetoric is to politics what style is to wrinig: of course, at its worst, a slavish surrender to superficial adornment, but at its best, the stuff of meaning.
Pedestrian Observer GB on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 3:48 pm
There are so many factors why there are good portion of FilAms supporting the McCain/Palin tandem. Of course mental errr colonial mentality is one of those but what I think got them so involved is the level of the campaign that is so familiar with a good number of FilAms……….. like being in a twilight zone they went on a frenzy with the politics of personality and sleazy attacks unleashed by the Republicans against Obama for lack of any credible issue to counter a well organized and well funded campaign teeming with volunteers from the grassroots.
These are familiar grounds where FilAms sad to say are so at home and being gullible took the bait hook line and sinker on conspiracies that are mostly hoax and outright lies spamming everyone on their list without checking if their source are credible or the contention has any merit.
nash on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 4:19 pm
Congratulations to President McCain and Vice President Palin!
(USA Pollsters do not factor in the party of silence, hence McCain will win this one.)
How convenient for Barack’s grandmother to die on election day. This is a sympathy technique employed by Wowowee and American Idol contestants to get votes. Hoy, luma na yan!
Palin 2016!
nash on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 4:23 pm
@Pedestrian Observer
As admitted by some fil-ams here, Fil-Ams support the republicans for the abortion issue first, ‘traditional’ family values (kung saan bawal mag-asawa ang mga bading. Ewan kung bakit sila opposed eh hindi naman sila apektado, it’s just a social contract, duh.)
The rest follows. (Kahit ano pa man).
Never mind the economics, health care reform, immigration reform. It’s all about preventing abortion….
BrianB on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 7:59 pm
MLQ, never said it wasn’t useful. I used to read a lot of sci-fi.
BrianB on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 8:01 pm
Pedestrian Observer,
My aunt says she will vote for McCain because Obama is black and has terrorist connections. She lives in Brooklyn.
grd on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 8:45 pm
BrianB,
your aunt is not leytenian, right?
BrianB on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 9:01 pm
No, same province as me.
UP n grad on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 9:21 pm
The following obtained via cut-and-paste from the 2008 Republican Party platform :
Faith in the virtues of self-reliance, civic commitment, and concern for one another. Distrust of government’s interference in people’s lives. Dedication to a rule of law that both protects and preserves liberty. Devotion to the inherent dignity and rights of every person.
It quickly shows why benign0, had he been a US citizen, would be Republican (virtues of self-reliance). There is Bencard’s dedication to rule of law.
And then, there is cvj or Abe Margallo who encourage government’s
interferenceintervention in people’s lives … for the greater good as defined by the Vatican…. oh, wait… as defined by Karl Sagan…. no, as defined by “Tabako” Ramos..UP n grad on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 10:01 pm
But it should be evident that the Democratic and the Republican Party both mouth the politician’s words :
Trust us, we know what we are doing.
UP n grad on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 10:14 pm
which is more humble than
Trust us…. we have a direct line to God.
supremo on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 11:40 pm
The Democratic Party is the party of Philippine independence. It is also the party that abandoned the Philippines during WWII and then imposed the Parity rights before granting independence.
d0d0ng on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 11:41 pm
“For generations blacks tended to be republicans because it was the party that liberated them from slavery; just as for sixty years they’ve tended to be democrats because it was the party of civil rights.”
Excellent point, Manolo.
The same way as Filipinos and Mexicans tended to be Democrats at the beginning because of liberal immigration policies but became Republicans when unborn kids have less rights than animals (cruelty).
supremo on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:10 am
‘just as for sixty years they’ve tended to be democrats because it was the party of civil rights’
The Democratic Party also introduced the food stamp and medicare. Very nice freebies, Brother.
mlq3 on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:15 am
supremo, i agree about europe first in world war 2, but do note the us congress passed to the control of the republicans in 1946.
d0d0ng on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:19 am
Thank you Manolo for your accurate portrayal of majority Filipino Americans in the US.
People who have not been to the US erroneously assume that FilAms are Democrats because of the color of their skin just like judging the book by its cover.
Filipinos who came to the US worked very hard. They would cringed at the thought of using food stamps even if jobless. Even if they already paid property taxes, they still strive to pay for their children college education unlike their American counterparts. And certainly abhor entitlement when they value the fruits of their labor. That’s us – FilAms.
supremo on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:23 am
mlq3,
Noted but Truman still signed it.
Pilipinoparin on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:35 am
“Filipinos who came to the US worked very hard. They would cringed at the thought of using food stamps even if jobless. Even if they already paid property taxes, they still strive to pay for their children college education unlike their American counterparts. And certainly abhor entitlement when they value the fruits of their labor. That’s us – FilAms.”…dOdOng
Maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw kapag tanghaling tapat tuwing Mayo!
supremo on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:39 am
My mistake. It should be Medicaid not Medicare.
Pilipinoparin on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:44 am
Yes , Sir. All the years I have been here, I have not seen a Fil-Am with food stamps. I go to all kinds of groceries, Walmart, Longs, Costo, Sams, Seven Eleven and many more. Never seen a kababayan using food stamps, sagad na lang ang pagtitipid at kayod gabi’t araw ‘wag lang pumila sa DHS. We also help one another, bayanihan spirit in USA.
number cruncher on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:54 am
I have some relatives in the US as well, and for them spending their adult and approaching retirement years meant working hard and having close family and church ties. These values hew closely to usual Republican values.
In addition, my relatives look down on laziness and welfare (since they had to work hard where they got now, versus living on dole outs), which they usually associate with minority & Democratic leanings.
Whenever they visit here, they even cringe when we mention we study with Muslim students in Diliman.
Personally, I’d lean more towards the Democrats, since I believe having an open and liberal discussion of ideas regardless of race or color brings out the best of ideas.
Maybe there’s also a generational shift here in the Republic, where the older generation would prefer the stability of Republicans while the younger generation would value the change promised by the Democrats.
Pilipinoparin on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 1:09 am
Race has nothing to do with being Republicans or Democrats when it comes to Fil-Am votes. It has something to do with with the change the Democrats advocates…MORE ENTITLEMENTS which translates to more freebies and less on individual initiatives and hard work.
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 1:17 am
pilipinoparin: so will McCain win in your state? i know in d0d0ng’s state (if he lives in california as he suggests he does) and in supremo’s state, obama is headed for a win.
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 1:28 am
“MORE ENTITLEMENTS which translates to more freebies and less on individual initiatives and hard work”
I don’t think so. Barack won’t and can’t make the USA a France or a Germany.
Even in socialist countries (the whole of western europe) these entitlements are really meant only for the really hard up. I don’t mind paying my tax for this.
And even in extremely Socialist states, people can still get filthy rich (Ingvar Kamprad, the Albrechts…etc)
Your main problem is clamping down on the welfare cheats and not welfare system itself.
Pilipinoparin on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 1:29 am
Yes, even Gore, Kerry or Bubba the Slick Bill were unpopular in this area. They were all Democrats who advocated changes..more freebies and less hard work.
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 1:53 am
The amount of money lost to thievery when Bush-Republicans opened the floodgates of katrina-relief-money with zero regulatory supervision was the equivalent of 5 years of money of “lost” to welfare cheats. And every year, the money lost to businesses overbilling the Medicare/Medicaid program is over 30% more than money “lost” to individual cheats.
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 2:15 am
nash: that is a good point about … even in socialist countries, people can get extremely rich .
There are many (Fil-Am’s and otherwise) who resent a few of those who, having been awarded college-scholarships, leveraged the “entitlement-award” to positions of responsibility / high salaries. And then there are many (FilAm’s and otherwise) who resent that John McCain or Dubya used family-connections (and letters of introduction from highly-placed family contacts) to obtain positions of responsibility / high salaries.
Pilipinoparin on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 2:18 am
UP,
I am not sure how you got that 30% on over billing medicaid/medicare. we bill medicare using codes for each diagnosis, service rendered. they are specific numbers match to dx/ rx/mgt. no matter how much you put in the bill, say $100 for say for code A, medicare has specific payment for it, say $10. no way you can change it (over bill/over payment). it is exact number, medicare ’s payment prevails based on the code you used, unless of course you put a wrong code for the dx which is easily discovered by paper pushers. Hard to beat MC especially in this days and age of computers.
mlq3 on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 2:32 am
for the record, the relevant statements of truman:
October 26, 1945: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=12306&st=philippines&st1=
November 14, 1945: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=12293&st=philippines&st1=
February 20, 1946: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=12583&st=philippines&st1=
April 4, 1946: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=12623&st=philippines&st1=
May 18, 1946: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=12404&st=Rescission&st1=
July 1, 1947: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=12690&st=philippines&st1=
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 3:19 am
Here is where the “entitlement of Food Stamps” is used to cheat the government. The primary cheater? A store owner. Amount involved. $7.7-millions US.
The store-owner food stamps from the food-stamp beneficiaries. Store-owner gives cash instead of selling milk or cheese or allowed food-items. The food-stamp beneficiary gets 40-cents cash for every dollar (which he can then use to buy vodka or cigarettes). The store-owner gets the entire-dollar from the US government.
So how much money can a crooked store owner make? Millions in USA dollars. Example — an Ohio store-owner was caught/sentenced to jail — the leader of one of the biggest food-stamp fraud rings in Ohio was sentenced to about 3 years prison for his role in a $7.7 million food stamp fraud ring dating back to 1995.
The US secret service puts its effort where the big-buck fraud gets committed — by business-owners. [I think there was a New Jersey Fil-Am store-owner in the news about a similar fraud. Or maybe in Florida]
Pedestrian Observer GB on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 3:22 am
Interesting response that are mostly anecdotal but there is truth to some no actually a good number of FilAms’ bigotry as shown in a survey done by Balitang America if race was a factor in their choice for president……… 40% said it is a factor.
The ultra Christian right or the neo-cons hijacked the Republican Party and the conservatives of the Goldwater type should take over the party in order to make their party relevant again. The FilAms Republicans today are attracted to this kind of neo-cons who are mostly closed Catholic types with their “pro-Life” stance…………. as far as fiscal conservatism, that one went out the window in Bush 8 years of mismanagement so it is just amazing how FilAms can reconcile their brand of conservatism to a failed conservatism of the Bush era.
d0d0ng on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 4:08 am
Ped Obs GB – surveys and polls can be skewed like liberal media had been flouting wide Obama’s margin and Barack keep on correcting by reminding of New Hampshire loss.
FilAms are by nature conservative, save money for their kins in Philippines, send balikbayan boxes, love kids, takes care of elders, etc. We don’t fantasize with neo-cons brand (you know them better than us) and certainly conservatism makes more sense during financial crises than giving freebies and doleouts.
Bigotry begins when you believe that FilAms are bigots.
Pedestrian Observer GB on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 4:51 am
No, read it again I said some or a good number of FilAms are bigots according to the survey…… now that is totally different when you say that I say FilAms are bigots… get it? Accurate or not, representative or not surveys or polls are more reliable than anecdotal tales.
Freebies and dole outs? NOT…… maybe I missed it so please tell me where it was written at Obama’s site that states specifically that his platform is all about freebies….. no free lunch in the US of A as far as I know, unless you are re-wrtiting Obama’s plan then it is your own not the Democrats.
d0d0ng on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 4:53 am
Number Cruncher – younger ones with less worry and less responsibility tend to be democrat. In my son’s middle class, over 95 percent claimed democrat. I told my son, it is easy to be democrat when you receive money from your government or your parents and spend them as much as you want without any interference, especially the dreaded parental restrictions. Wait until you start working hard, pay your bills, own property, paying property taxes, paying income taxes, doing volunteer work, running household raising a family and planning for your future. He is running in the student council as republican.
Pilipinoparin on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 4:58 am
“The food-stamp beneficiary gets 40-cents cash for every dollar (which he can then use to buy vodka or cigarettes). The store-owner gets the entire-dollar from the US government.
So how much money can a crooked store owner make? Millions in USA dollars.”,,,UP n
So how many crooked food stamp holders per one crooked store owner? Millions per one crooked store owner. well both groups are crooked people, does not matter how much it is, stealing is stealing, all the same banana.
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 5:16 am
but Pilipinoparin: I guess you are don’t do claims-processing accounting, else you’ll quickly notice that the one who sold 40-cents-to-the-dollar lost sixty cents! Different situation compared to the business owner who claimed the dollar when in fact he only paid out forty cents.
—————
Anyways…. in less than 6 hours, Fox-News, CNN, ABC, CBS and others will have announced who will win Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, a few others. McCain may not even be able to protect Arizona, but either/or, McCain is headed to lose elections-2008.
Pilipinoparin on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 5:16 am
I voted!
Voted mostly Republicans, with a few Democrats in the mix. I rejected two propositions and approved three. It took me 45 minutes from the end of 100-person line to when I put the ballot in the scanner. I used the same voter’s ID card for decades now. No problem, in the list. They got my name within a minute (alphabetical order in the list).There was one scanner, 15 booths and 5 volunteer-senior citizens. The precinct is in a church compound ( most precincts are, they preserve the security of schools and avoid too many strangers (voters) in the school compounds).
I think scanner type electronic voting is better than ATM type. Scanner has ballot to go back to if questions arise. We have been using this scanner for years, never heard of any question or problem. State level elections are known within 2-3 hours after closing. Results have not been contested yet by any candidate or any party.
I wish COMELEC will have this in 2010….for election and not for CON-CON/CON-ASS. Good luck my beloved Philippines. I hope Comelec will change for the sake of the Republic.
d0d0ng on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 5:31 am
Ped Obs GB – “get it?” Typical teenager.
You said, “but there is truth” and rather water it down. The interpretation depends on you. “Begins when” rest on entirely on you. Anyway, I am speaking from my experience, my friends and my relatives with strong ties to the Philippines but you can ignore as anecdotal tales as you are comfortable with polls favorable to you.
Obama plan did not spell out giving freebies or doleouts. $500 feds check to zero tax liability taxpayer is not easy money that you can just pick on the street.
supremo on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 5:54 am
Pedestrian Observer GB,
In what state are you residing right now?
hvrds on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 6:13 am
It will be interesting to see if a lot more Americans have grown up and allow a part Anglo part African become President.
That would be a game changer….
The so called Pinoy nation take note. The anomaly of the brown anglo nation continues to persist.
His culture has been so twisted that he remains more a slave than those who broken free from slavery.
Simply amazing is how far Obama has come…Organizng a collection of such a broad base transcending class and color.
McCains victory party is scheduled in an exclusive club while Obama’s is scheduled in a public park.
Amazing simply amazing.
Mababaw talaga ang so called pinoy nation.
leytenian on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 7:12 am
My vote is counted for McCain after a 2 hours of long line. This is my second time that I voted as a republican. A lady swiped my driver’s license to check if I was registered, verified my address and handed me two pages of long thick paper ballot. I have to darken the circle for McCain . the ballots without my name were dropped in a keyed container. The computer system that swiped my driver’s license will confirm that I voted . The paper ballot is to reaffirm.
It was tiring and chilly for Florida. I will probably stay up late tonite and it will be over for Obama.
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 7:18 am
..”..more freebies and less hard work.”
is NOT true ALWAYS
Germany, Sweden, Denmark, UK, France etc..- all welfare states
1. “Free University” – you don’t hear parents saying “i work hard to send my children to uni” . It is a given that tax pays for it from kinder to phd (if you want. By the time you are 18, mahiya ka naman kung aasa ka pa sa magulang mo for tuition.
2. Universal Medicare – no need for private insurance you get treated at point of need.
Now, do tell, since when did you see a ‘lazy’ German? With all the ‘freebies’ the Swedes and Danes are getting from their high taxes are they depressed? Sweden as recently voted for a tax increase if only to improve their welfare state.
Pedestrian Observer GB on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 7:47 am
@supremo, Ca….. why are you going to introduce me to the bigoted FilAms? Just joking seriously I hardly know any bigoted FilAms unlike Dodong who seems to know some or maybe all or whatever, lol.
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 8:17 am
leytenian: There were no lines where I voted — I was in and out of the polling place in under 20 minutes. First time to use paper-plus-optical reader but a couple of the old machines were available for anyone who preferred to use them. There were 2 poll-watchers (there were no poll watchers in the prior elections). And CNN, ABC others now say that a Democrat will be our new senator (and will take over the seat of te republican senator (great senator… was ex-husband of Elizabeth Taylor) who has retired).
d0d0ng on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 8:50 am
UPn, Barack need your vote as Maverick is leading the count right now in your state.
Reliable polls and surveys have recently backfired. Obama is so popular that he should be leading by now by wide margin based on popular opinion and liberal media. The media is grappling with initial result with McCain on the front.
It is fun to watch the Bradley effect.
supremo on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 8:54 am
nash,
What you mentioned are not freebies because everyone are entitled to it like Social Security and Medicare in the US. Food stamps and Medicaid are freebies because everyone pays for it but only a few are entitled to it.
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:07 am
well, in the UK not everyone has a hip replacement, in Germany or Switzerland, a lot of people stop schooling after high school, only a few go on to university. In effect, some are getting more than others and everyone pays.
and ikaw naman, if you are already gainfully employed dapat lang na hindi ka entitled sa ‘freebies’ dahil nakalaan yan for people who are living below the threshold.
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:09 am
Anyways, Obama has won already.
As of this comment post it’s Obama 103, McCain 34.
Dinaya si McCain! Kaya pala andun si jocjoc, to make daya like he did for gma.
mlq3 on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:09 am
It amazes me, honestly, to see echoes of Hoover among some FilAms as their country stares Depression-like symptoms in the face. And the utter lack of a community spirit with its contempt for the non-middle. Absolutely amazing. I say sounding like the Hooverites because watch this, and the rhetoric of the McCainites is straight out of the 1936 Republican candidate’s talking points. So here’s a healthy dose of FDR for ya.
mlq3 on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:15 am
I am also seeing an interesting correlation between the dyed-in-the-wool Right Wing Republicans here and advocates of the administration here at home.
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:15 am
akala ko magpupuyat ako kapapanood ng tv.
tapos na agad ang boksing.
back to sleep to wake up to smell the post-Dubya era! (whoever wins)
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:22 am
And Sen. Dole seems to have lost by a big margin
Now, where is her pinagmamalaking “diyos”?
She attacked her opponent for being ‘godless’ ngayon who will she be blaming?
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:30 am
mlq3: I do not know what you mean by “… contempt for the non-middle”. If you actually mean contempt for the poor as mouthed by d00d0ng and others, they just have a poor interpretation of how USA elections are won or lost. In Pinas, elections are won or lost depending on one’s success in getting the votes of the poor — class D and class-E. For the USA, elections are determined by the votes of the $20,000-to-$200,000-a-year voter — the middle-class. It is not “… contempt for the poor”, it is more the elevation of the middle-class. [Having said that, a few rough-around-the-edges Republicans — d00d0ng a good example — forget how hard that the Reagans and the Bush’s and the Republican leadership present their empathy for the very poor — except via “…thousand points of light” charities versus Democrats’ public programs.
———————————-
to d00d0ng: McCain’s path to White House getting seriously derailed. Pennsylvania and New Hampshire now recognized as Obama-wins.
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:39 am
Expect that the new Obama administration will continue to push education-grants all the way to college for US-of-A citizens. Reason : the college-and-above USA population (white and otherwise) are giving their votes to Obama.
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:39 am
Education is trumping racism.
mlq3 on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:45 am
Christopher Hitchens seems to be right. It’s a Zeitgeist moment. And not a moment too soon.
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:48 am
talo talo talo talo talo talo talo talo talo talo talo talo talo talo.
Sabi kasi, dapat na-abort yang mga democratic voters na iyan at ang mga immigrants hindi pinayagang dalhin pamilya nila sa tate at binigyan ng karapatang bumoto. (that last thing does not apply to Pinoys who generally vote Republican)
Sana kasi hindi nabigyan ng Harvard Scholarship si Barack! Sino ba siya to be entitled to that! He’s the son of an immigrant gademet. The USA is only for native american indians! Immigrants go home!
Sorry nalang sa mga earning more thant $250k taxable income per year. I guess you have to reduce the amount of money you give to church to be able to pay your tax.
cheers,
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:04 am
175-61 na, hindi pa kasama California.
Tapos na talaga boxing.
Now, it’s time to start hating Obama.
grd on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:08 am
nash, don’t forget the bradley effect.
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:14 am
bradley effect? why? is obama black? he’s only half black (he is fairer than most pinoys too), hence half bradley effect lang
Pedestrian Observer GB on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:23 am
Nash, Ilan ba ang “quarter millionaire” na FilAms dito sa blog ni Manolo?
Don’t encourage them to be haters……. an Obama (hopefully he wins pwera usog, lol) win is just the beginning of a long journey ahead of us in ridding the nation of muck Bush left us. It will not be pleasant if there are sour grapes pulling the effort down.
leytenian on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:25 am
nash,
take it easy. here’s my plan. I am a C corp and will change to S corp. It’s changing the status of about 30% of employees to contract workers. I cannot be burdened to pay automatic income tax ( FICA), workers comp, employee health benefits, unemployment benefits and State Tax for majority. With S corp, I can elect to remove all those benefits and pay labor as contract. I will still make my money but I cannot be responsible for all these expenses. Lots of work with very little incentives from the democratic party. It might be time for me to venture to Philippines where I can help my own people. Will see, it’s too soon to be discouraged.
It’s good to be living in a neighborhood that shares my ideals. I cannot be looking at the whole country but rather function where I am comfortable. US is too big and Florida is too nice to live. I am expecting to see more educated blacks in the next 10 years I hope , that I can compete and be challenged. I’m ready.
grd on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:28 am
president-elect Obama just took Ohio.
nash, it’s now bradley no effect.
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:30 am
Pedestrian,
ayan, si Tita Leytenian sa itaas, detailing her complex tax plan. If I were here I’d just live as a tax exile in Liechtenstein.
And in a recession, whoever is president will be hated and blamed. That comes with the territory. Whether it’s the ‘educated’ black man as the lady above describes or the white true american john wins, he will be hated.
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:33 am
@grd
wala bradley effect dahil sa dami ng early voting and the high turnout.
tingnan mo sa Arizona mismo, neck and neck.
Obama has crossed the 200 mark without california kaya it’s time to pop the champagne! (or whatever it is you patriots drink there..)
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:39 am
and on a serious note,
let me ask where is the ‘traditional family values’ in not caring enough for your employees?
you want to reclassify some as contract workers to keep your current profit margin because you will pay a little bit more tax?? whut???
(Style yan ni Henry Sy!)
from the sound of it, it is unlikely that this business is big enough to be taxed any higher under the obama plan.
Pedestrian Observer GB on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:39 am
sorry na lang ho tita leytenian……. yeah nash that is probably the case that is if Obama fails to deliver but with the party capturing the majority in both houses the American people are basically good people and will pass the hurdle in time…….. ok, maybe some time….. but then again I have faith in the American people……..
grd on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:43 am
nash is right, tapos na ang boksing. leytenian is sensing it.
after Ohio now New Mexico. even in the home state of McCain
Obama is projected to win.
it’s now unofficially 200-90
can it be called a landslide victory?
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:49 am
36 million counted so fast….
and we wonder why it takes Abalos 8 weeks to count mindanao votes na ilang milyon lang…
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:51 am
On why some ‘quarter millinaires’ voted for the ‘educated’ black hawaiian…
“I’d rather have a better country and a better world and would happily pay a little bit more tax for that” – Democratic voter who earns more than $250k as interviewed on tv
O ha, buti pa siya, he practices ‘traditional family values’ of looking out for your neighbour.
leytenian on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:04 am
Pedestrian,
sorry to say I’m younger than manolo but you can call me tita if your age is less than 25.
Nash,
easy there again. family values can only be applied at home. in business , there’s lots of options. With unemployment rate increasing, supply of labor is a strategy to change the structure of one’s business. Lots of options and alternatives. I think Obama will tax individual higher before ending his term. The current tax incentives will still take effect until that policy will expire at the whitehouse in 2010. I have 1 year to think harder and observe where the economy is heading. All Obama promises have to wait until previous policies will expire. But that time, people will probably think he didn’t do anything.
What people need to realize that most of the policy making and changing have been passed thru Congress already. It’s a matter of when it is subject for amendments or when it will expire.
grd on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:11 am
historic event, the black man is heading to the white house.
leytenian on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:12 am
“I’d rather have a better country and a better world and would happily pay a little bit more tax for that†– Democratic voter who earns more than $250k as interviewed on tv
a typical hypocrite american. he must be a philanthropist
grd on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:13 am
i salute the american people for their maturity.
leytenian on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:21 am
Obama deserve it. It’s time for the Blacks who has not voted for a long time and maybe for the first time , to uphold their ideals. Pinoy should do the same.
No regrets but of course i’m too drunk to accept a one night of disappointment. More happy nights for me and my family.
Dodong, are you there? God bless to you and and your family. Now let’s get back to business. Lots of challenges that will challenge the many FIL-AM pinoys.
UP N and Rego… congratulations
supremo on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:27 am
mlq3,
‘And the utter lack of a community spirit with its contempt for the non-middle.’
It’s enough that most Fil-Ams are not a burden to the community.
supremo on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:28 am
leytenian,
Rego is on the way to the airport now.
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:30 am
“a typical hypocrite american. he must be a philanthropist”
Swedes must be hypocrites then. They voted to increase their tax, remember.
hvrds on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:31 am
It is interesting to note that most of the remaining red states are also the states that host U.S.military installations. Their state economies are tied to the military installations to include the U.S. space command. .
They are also tied to the state subsidized agriculture policies of the U.S.
They rail against the government but a lot of those state economies prosper due to state subsidies.
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:32 am
“family values can only be applied at home.”
HUWAAAAAAAAAT????
wala na ito.
this is hopeless.
manonood nalang ako ng startalk.
mlq3 on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:40 am
the republicans frothing at the mouth are amazing:
http://hummersandcigarettes.blogspot.com/2008/11/election-day-let-madness-begin-voter.html
http://votefraudsquad.com/
and they’ve been at it even before the voting got into high gear:
http://beartracks.wordpress.com/2008/11/04/stop-the-election-accurate-vote-count-impossible/
this made me laugh:
http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/11/03/last-minute-wicker-tries-to-confuse-voters-dust-settles-in-ny-26/
this shows how disciplined the obama effort was:
http://wordsincontext.blogspot.com/2008/11/battle-for-georgia-2-million-early.html
and these make forinteresting reading:
http://www.politico.com/arena/
and
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/voting-problems
cvj on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:45 am
I would attribute that to the Dark Side of Positive Thinking. The positive thinker believes that success is in his or her hands (imho, a good attitude to live by) but the flipside is that if a person fails, it’s his fault and no one else’s.
mlq3 on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:03 pm
cvj on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:03 pm
Thank you America!!
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:03 pm
The news media just waited for the California polls to close, and they are all declaring Obama as the next president of the United States.
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:08 pm
a historic day….
anthony scaia on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:34 pm
***clears throat***
hello leytenian…..
richard on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:45 pm
Obama wins by over 3 million popular votes.
richard on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:48 pm
Electoral vote:
MaCain – 129
Obama – 338
BrianB on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 12:57 pm
Obama is not just the U.S. president for Americans he’s also the U.S, president for the world. With the H of R and US Senate with him, I have high hopes for alternative energy (China is going to follow suit because it has to position itself to supply the U.S.) and the end of oil wars in the future.
BrianB on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 1:04 pm
and note that mccain’s concession speech put the man back to his old endearing self.
BrianB on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 1:16 pm
If the best legacy a Philippine president can leave is an effective population control program, America’s next president should work on alternative energy as his legacy. It doesn’t have to be a Naderite movement. The main objective is to significantly curtail the U.S.’s oil dependence and create a foundation for the world driven by alternative energy.
BrianB on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 1:17 pm
God Bless America and may America love the world not as an empire but as a leader.
BrianB on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 1:18 pm
hu hu hu.
grd on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 1:35 pm
has dodong conceded already? i bet it’s not fun to him anymore. will he relocate now to south america rather than paying higher taxes?
leytenian on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 1:37 pm
yes anthony, i have learned to clear my throat so many times in America. The first day I came, it is no longer familiar but i am immune to it.
over 3.5 millions of new registrations of black voters made a big difference. I am hopeful that after all the waiting and prolong excitement, something good will happen. It’s THEIR beginning . And It is not about winning but GOVERNING.
For my fellow Republican pinoys, we have come this far. This is nothing compared to how we took the process of evolving ourselves from day one. We can only move on.
God Bless
**** clears throat again****
mlq3 on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 2:24 pm
Hoorah for a Republican future with Sarah Palin as the frontrunner for your party nomination in 2012.
acero on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 3:41 pm
Sarah “Have we been pranked?” Palin for 2012 presidency? God bless America!
But for now, I think nightmare for some FilAm neocons (in their bigoted minds, at least) has just begun.
Bert on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 3:45 pm
Twice they voted for GW Bush, labelled by some as international terrorist, now Obama, alleged to be connected to some terrorist. Truly now it can be said Americans deserve what they get.
The Philippines is in a more lighter bind although no one can say who is in worse situation between the two. We voted for somebody but got stuck with another not of our choice instead.
In that sense it cannot be said we deserved what we got.
Huhuhuhuhu, hikbi.
grd on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 4:34 pm
mlq3,
frontrunner, are you kidding me? she’s one of the reasons why McCain lost those swing voters. she had her 15 minutes of fame but soon people will lose their interest in her. she can become a senator in her home state though.
musicobsession on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 5:18 pm
great Obama! Kenyans are cheering for you. Nice post. Musicobsession staffs are congratulating President B.O.
richard on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 5:23 pm
Fil-am neo-cons?
But even DJB rooted for Obama.
And i really do not know why, except for Sarah.
Is there now a neo neocon?
Or a neo neo-liberal?
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 5:35 pm
Asan na yung mga mathematicians natin na ipinagpipilitang MALI ang mga pre-election survey????
Huwag daw tayo makinig sa survey dahil media bias lang daw ito at dahil hindi daw nagpapasurvey ang mga republicans?
Asan na ang mga hindi nagpapasurvey? Ilan dinagdag nila sa final result???
Happy days for SWS and Pulse Asia…
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 6:20 pm
Now it’s time to make Obama jokes and sketches and I reckon it must be very hard.
He is a bit boring comedy material…hopefully, comedians will make nice impersonations soon…
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 6:54 pm
Wala palang effect yang mga padasal dasal ng evangelical christians.With cry cry arms raised to heaven.
God hates evangelical christians. If he did, McCain would have won by a landslide.
CBCP take note.
acero on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 7:05 pm
@ grd: I think mlq3 said those lines with tongue firmly in cheek. I don’t suppose an intelligent person like him would cheer for a dumb broad like Sarah “Clueless” Palin.
@ musicobseesion: If you are an Obama supporter, pease don’t call him President B.O. – just doesn’t sound right, you know? Whenever I see those letters, something smelly comes to mind.
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 7:17 pm
McCain during his concession speech::
I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.
acero on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 7:26 pm
@ richard: The key word in my sentence is “some”. In fact, I’m only referring to a few rabid FilAm Republican commenters here, one of which has been unusally quiet since news of Obama’s win has been confirmed (the guy’s probably busy packing to leave USA).
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 7:51 pm
For the non-USAmericans, let us enjoy the 100 day honeymoon period when Obama can do no wrong.
Once the standard USA double standard interventionist policy, which is party-independent, kicks-in we will slowly begin to hate him too. (Hopefully, not as much as Dubya, who is suddenly looking very loveable now that he is going away…)
And please say a little prayer for the 3000 Dubya political appointees who will be out of jobs. With the economy tanking, only Condi Rice has a guaranteed job. Bankers and investment firms, the usual pangsalo ng past administration cast-aways are not hiring.
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 8:48 pm
d00d0ng: It is fun to watch the Bradley effect.
Obama being voted into the White House is signal that “only for White dudes and duddettes” can be set aside by a Chinese-American or Filipino-American, Cuban- or Peruvian-American, Iranian-American or Egyptian-American, Pakistani-American or Kenyan-American thinking of being a future Vice-President of the United States of America.
Obama-win is a historic event for real.
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:01 pm
One of the messages from the Obama-win :
“No more excuses . . . . throw your buckets down and get busy.”
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:27 pm
@UP n
The next goal is to have a NATIVE american indian elected as President.
Enough of these hyphenated immigrants. LOL
nash on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:59 pm
ps.
You forget that if McCain would have won, he would have been the first Puerto Rican USA President.
Bert on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:00 pm
“Wala palang effect yang mga padasal dasal ng evangelical christians.With cry cry arms raised to heaven.
God hates evangelical christians. If he did, McCain would have won by a landslide.
CBCP take note.”-nash
The CBCP should take lessons from the Rev. Jeremiah Wrights. Mas effective ang kanyang padasal dasal, landslide ang panalo ng kanyang kumpare.
supremo on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:03 pm
Bert,
Let’s give this new guy a chance. Maybe 2 years.
As to who is in worse situation. I always think that Fil-Ams are alright either way. Those who were left behind in the Philippines still have to deal with that squatter in Malacanang.
baycas on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:07 pm
sms (possibly from racists) circling here in R.P.:
With Obama becoming the first black US President,
Binay has a chance to become the first black Philippine President
—–
Obama to the White House…err, the Black House?
UP n grad on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:10 pm
nash: the thirty-first Vice President of the United States — Charles Curtis, vice-president to Herbert Hoover may have an Anglo-name but he was 1/8 American Indian from Kaw nation (Kansas).
supremo on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:12 pm
cvj,
A true positive thinker deals with his/her own failure and does not blame anyone for that failure.
As to MLQ3’s declaration that Fil-Ams ‘lack community spirit’, he probably forgot that a Fil-Am deals with 2 communities. The American community where the last census shows that he/she is not a burden to the community and the Filipino community in the former homeland where he/she remits several billion dollars a year.
supremo on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:14 pm
nash,
You Probably mean Panamanian not Puerto Rican.
devilsadvc8 on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:17 pm
well, i guess i was proven wrong.
americans rose to the occassion amd proved me wrong.
very nice win for Obama. even up to the end of campaigning, his advisers were telling him to heighten his political ads attacking McCain but he would not assent to it, as he personally told his aides, “I will not put my foot down on his neck.”
speaking of not kicking a man when his down.
Obama ran his campaign honorably, sticking to the issues, and refusing to be pulled into the ad hominems that the Republicans employed.
just for that, he gets my admiration.
now, if he can only run the country the same way he ran his campaign, we can all breathe a sigh of relief.
todays starts the day that the whole world will be watching to see if Obama is the real deal…
or if we were all just hoodwinked by his golden tongue.
my god, i still can’t shake the feeling that Obama is too good to be true. somewhere deep down, my senses are tingling.
maybe its just me reading too much Left Behind books.
Bert on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:22 pm
“Enough of these hyphenated immigrants.”-nash
What’s wrong with hyphenated immigrant nash?
Ngayong alam na natin na maski pala Kenyan-American pagti-tiyagaan ng mga Kano lalong may pag-asa na kayong mga Fil-American na maging presidente ng USofA.
Enough of those white American president, America is fed-up with them.
grd on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 10:48 pm
“Twice they voted for GW Bush, labelled by some as international terrorist, now Obama, alleged to be connected to some terrorist. Truly now it can be said Americans deserve what they get.”
Forgive him for he knows not what he is saying.
supremo on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:48 pm
baycas,
Obama is not the first black US President. He is the first Mulato US President.
cvj on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 11:53 pm
My point exactly, although i don’t think you understood what follows from this, i.e. an unfortunate side effect of this attitude which i believe detracts from the community spirit.
nash on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 12:35 am
@bert
nothing. all americans are hyphenated.
but it’s time for the native american indian to rule his land too.
nash on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 12:37 am
@supremo
ay oo nga, my bad…. ang dyslexia ko kasi.
time to go to my gp and avail of my universal healthcare…
nash on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 12:41 am
devilsadvoc8
there are some good orators who turned out to be really good – sina churchill, roosevelt, lincoln
mga sweet talkers. actually, the art is dying na nga. bring back good orators!
even john mccain’s concession speech was brilliant, better than b.o’s acceptance speech.
and there are some good orators who turned out to be really disappointing – sina chiz escudero, miriam (pagbigyan, kahit her delivery is good theatre), apo ferdie marcos, bencard…
roland on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 12:41 am
I do HOPE that our very own politicians would learn to accept defeat just as Senator McCain did on this historical US Presidential Election.
Sana… wag na sila umapela na dinaya sila sa darating na eleksyon, kung talagang talo na sila.
Manolo, I’d love to hear to you everyday, not just watch you on TV. Go make a podcast.
leytenian on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:04 am
The leftist agenda will now focus more on redirecting the rightist agenda back to the center. The democratic party will have a big challenge on how to implement it’s nationalistic/protectionist agenda at this time of crisis with unemployment rising. This is Obama’s problem not ours.
But we all know, Obama’s foreign policies and securities are less favored by majority.
On Barack Obama and the Future of Asia
The Relationship of US and China is a partnership started on trade, commercial and economic.The relationship between US and Japan is more broad and comprehensive. It is based on security, economic, cultural and social ties.
In regards to Philippines, we will probably have to reevaluate our role with APEC and WHO
These two governing bodies are also independent from the World Bank
and the IMF
My question would be, how does Obama implement its CHANGE, a leftist agenda, without causing too much imbalance to those established organizations?
What policies, sanctions and qoutas that our government must maintain and prepare strategies beneficial to our country?
In my opinion, we will go back to basic. Buy our own and achieve national sufficiency. We must elect a president that will clearly define our economic goals within our country FIRST
Remittances will continue
nash on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:09 am
@UP n grad
” 1/8 American Indian from Kaw nation (Kansas).”
Ano yan? Pinoy billboard model? “I’m 1/2 pinoy, 1/5 german sheperd, 1/8 gorilla?”
Genetics alone does not determine ethnicity. It’s a product of upbringing.
Liking ‘adobo’ does not make you a Pinoy the same way as having a view of Russia from your window makes one an expert in Russo Foreign Policy.
Kaya nga ito ang criticism ko sa mga ibang African-Americans for example. They only hang on to the ‘african’ bit because of the phenotype when in fact nothing in their upbringing is remotely connected to africa. At least Barack made a real effort to connect to the kamag-anak from the father side.
In pinoy showbiz, the writers make a big fuss about which hollywood c–lister is ‘half-pinoy’ ek ek when they are not even remotely half because of upbringing…
but anyways, this is just pedantry on my part.
let’s all love one another and be our brother’s keeper (unlike someone here who says keep family values at home…..)
mlq3 on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:11 am
the christian right and the american hierarchy may not have been able to prevent a landslide but they reversed gay marriage in CA and outlawed it in FL (overwhelmingly) and AZ.
mlq3 on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:15 am
supremo, every immigrant has those two communities in mind. not being a burden is and should never be the sum total of civic involvement. and the lifeline they provide to relatives at home is a noble thing, but again, if it stops there and doesn’t extend to demanding of those left at home that they nurture a society that gives people true freedom of choice through true freedom of opportunity, then they are condemning themselves to an unfair martyrdom, permanently subsidizing their loved ones which leaves them little room to contribute to the development of their homeland as well as their motherland.
mlq3 on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:18 am
roland, salamat, pinagiisipan ko nga.
supremo on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:24 am
cvj,
‘My point exactly, although i don’t think you understood what follows from this, i.e. an unfortunate side effect of this attitude which i believe detracts from the community spirit.’
Do not confuse self-delusional positive thinkers from normal positive thinkers. Taking a positive approach to life doesn’t mean ignoring others or the community. Positive thinking actually boost community spirit. Although too much positive thinking reduces awareness.
roland on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:29 am
@mlq3:
woohoo, hoping to hear your commentaries on my ipod. hehe.
leytenian on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:32 am
Nash,
stop your nonsense, When you’re in Rome be a Roman. When you’re at home , be a home maker ( family values). I will give you credit to family values. Yes it can only be applied to a business targeting customers with the same values. Try selling dinuguan to white people. Let’s see if you can expand to that market. LOL. When you’re in business , makes lots of money.
you’re such a baby …. finish your college. you must have missed Philippines. kapuy kaayo ka uy
roland on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:35 am
Martin Luther King’s vision, has finally come true.
its a big Wow… hehe.
When is there going to be a 1st ever Filipino-American President of the US?
XD
UP n grad on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:39 am
cvj; I suppose your assumption is that anyone who “deals with his/her own failure and does not blame anyone for that failure” is also one who does not figure out how others can be helpful much less actually ask for help; or that this “anyone” does not think of how to be helpful to (much less actually give a helping hand to) others.
cvj on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:51 am
From what i observe, positive thinkers, especially those who have achieved a measure of financial success on their own accord have a limited conception of community spirit which they define as not [being] a burden to the community. They also tend to define ‘community’ narrowly.
cvj on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:53 am
Upn (at 1:39 am), i make no such assumption(s).
leytenian on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 2:45 am
there’s always a community spirit whether narrowly, locally and globally understood. it’s up to an individual person which community she/he is comfortable.
one cannot just complicate his/her simple life. self sufficiency must be achieved first whether by contentment or thru outreach . this has nothing to do with money. the balance will be rough and tough at midlife . its not that easy.
In the economic standpoint of our country- our community. “From what i observe, positive thinkers, especially those who have achieved a measure of financial success on their own accord have a limited conception of community spirit which they define as not [being] a burden to the community. They also tend to define ‘community’ narrowly.” cvj
that is very familiar among our political leaders. Enriching Community value and quality public service are paid jobs that needs to be done.
UP n grad on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 3:02 am
mlq3: I don’t know how : … demanding of those left at home that they nurture a society that gives people true freedom of choice through true freedom of opportunity this works in practice.
Demand from who? Demand what? To send a portion of the OFW remittance to the local school (or Caritas) to fund scholarships? To write to the Inquirer editor about JocJoc? Does freedom of opportunity mean to ask ones relatives to give time-off and money for the katulong to take sewing lessons? For them to go against their parish priest regarding RH and to follow their parish priest (be good citizens) otherwise?
Phil Manila on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 4:33 am
If you think about it they frame it as Change for America but its really Redemption for U.S. Mistakes: Iraq, Financial Meltdown, etc.
The Americans can do no less but to elect someone who look, talk, and walk Change and Redemption to Reconcile with the Rest of the World.
supremo on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 4:49 am
mlq3,
Do not lump Fil-Ams together. The priority of first generation Fil-Ams right off the boat is financial stability because sometimes they need to remit back to the Philippines. Sometimes they can do it in a very short time. Sometimes they can’t especially if they have kids. So not being a burden to the community is all that can be achieve by most first generation Fil-Ams. It’s a different story for second generation Fil-Ams. They grew up here. Adjustment is not a problem. Fianacial stability is not problem because they don’y need to remit. They usually get involve in the community as soon as they start school.
As to remittances, I personal do not demand anything in return for my money.
supremo on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 4:53 am
cvj,
Something else is going on their minds aside from positive thinking.
hvrds on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 5:40 am
For many rational reasoning human beings (highly evovled simians) yesterday was an amazing moment.
The history of momentous change resonates.
For many their evolution more as simians have a long way to go still.
fried-neurons on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 7:19 am
I have a short (perhaps also a tad simplistic) theory about why so many Fil-Ams are Republican.
1) A lot of Filipinos are deeply religious. Because the GOP panders to the religious right, many Filipinos find the party appealing.
2) Being status-conscious is deeply ingrained the Filipino psyche. Because the GOP is stereotypically labeled as the party of the rich, many Filipinos identify with it because of the perceived cachet of being a Republican. Nevermind that the vast majority of us here in the US, while leading comfortable lives, are nowhere near and never will be what is considered rich in this country.
3) The neocons’ thinly disguised imperial ambitions and manifest destiny mindset tickles quite a few Pinoys due to decades of “colonial mentality” programming.
manuelbuencamino on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 8:59 am
Many Fil-Ams are Republicans because they believe it will make their skin whiter.
anthony scaia on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 9:15 am
hi leytenian,
amen! thats the spirit! God bless you too.
looking at 2012, if i were Republican, I’d choose Giuliani or Paulson (Treasury Secretary).
of course a lot can still happen in 4 years. another Obama can rise from the GOP. without Dubya in the picture, worthy Republicans could be put in the spotlight
Palin? she is still light years away from being a Hillary. pero she can maximize the next 4 years to be the challenger to the re-election bid
of Obama
si Condi kaya?
masaya siguro ang Harvard Law School, kasi aside from Obama, the SC Chief Justice is also an HLS grad
tanong – is Obama the first Harvard Law grad to be elected US president?
supremo on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 10:07 am
Many Filipinos like the Democrats because they’re jackasses.
supremo on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 10:12 am
Q: What is a Fil-Am Democrat’s usual question in his first job?
A: What would you like to have with your french fries, sir?
cvj on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 10:26 am
Supremo, you’re showing your community spirit.
leytenian on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 10:34 am
“Many Fil-Ams are Republicans because they believe it will make their skin whiter.”
LOL
anthony,
is Obama the first Harvard Law grad to be elected US president?
No. John Adams then his son John Quincy Adams. Theodore Roosevelt went to Harvard, Franklin Roosevelt then John Kennedy. Not sure if FDR and JFK were lawyers.
Obama however is the first African-American President for Harvard Law REVIEW.
leytenian on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 10:51 am
I had to see a long lost friend from India this afternoon. We talked about work (sucks) and politics ( boring). He was a Republican too. As losers, our conversations went to India and Philippines. He made me think when he said, Filipinos are too nice and easily get taken advantage.
Then he further said that Philippines is too beautiful to be poor. I thought he was jealous. LOL
I was whiter than him, that’s for sure
my point?
nash on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 12:03 pm
@supremo
I’m a proud jackass.
Along with 64 million other people.
nash on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 12:06 pm
Oh, bakit nag-iba na ang tunog ni miss “family values are for the home only”, why is she suddenly talking of ‘community spirit’?? no. no, no, no….we must always maximise profits to the detriment of the community in which the family exists…
nash on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 12:08 pm
@scalia
guiliani? baka matalo. payag siya mag-asawa mga badichi eh. maiiwanan na naman ang religious fundamentalist right.
the republican party should get one from california para 55 votes agad.
anthony scalia on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 12:30 pm
supremo,
“Many Filipinos like the Democrats because they’re jackasses”
Keep ‘em coming my friend. The fact still remains – our guy Obama is headed to the White House!
“Q: What is a Fil-Am Democrat’s usual question in his first job?
A: What would you like to have with your french fries, sir?”
A Fil-Am Republican’s question is more effective – ‘would you like fries wtih that, sir?’ Yan ang suggestive selling! The Fil-Am Democrat’s question isn’t suggestive selling
anthony scalia on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 12:40 pm
nash,
“guiliani? baka matalo. payag siya mag-asawa mga badichi eh. maiiwanan na naman ang religious fundamentalist right”
yes, pero the religious fundamentalist right might find themselves in the minority, na mas marami pa ang mga badichi at tibo
kaso nga lang, this minority religious fundamentalist right is the majority in the republican party.
borrow na lang ni Giuliani yung slogan ni Obama na ‘Change’ as in “Change in the Republican Party’
leytenian on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 12:51 pm
Energy Independence is the new course for America’s energy future in the first hundred days of the new presidency — breaking the hammerlock of foreign oil and building a new domestic energy future for America with a focus on sustainability.
The Pickens Plan
grd on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:22 pm
where’s dodong?
Bert on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 2:02 pm
“For many rational reasoning human beings (highly evovled simians) yesterday was an amazing moment.
The history of momentous change resonates.
For many their evolution more as simians have a long way to go still.”-hvrds
America had elected a mulatto president! Amazing moment, and momentous change!
If the Philippines elect a white Redford White as president I will consider it amazing and momentous too.
That’s because I am a retarded simian.
grd on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 3:09 pm
“Let’s give this new guy a chance. Maybe 2 years.†supremo
typo error? maybe you mean “two terms”.
grd on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 3:16 pm
“If the Philippines elect a white Redford White as president I will consider it amazing and momentous too.â€
maybe you mean if the phils elects an aeta.
supremo on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 7:43 pm
cvj,
At least I can make a joke about the new administration and not go to jail for it. You can’t even chew gum.
supremo on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 10:07 pm
grd,
I will give Obama a 2 year break before I make any comment.
supremo on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 10:16 pm
Why did the Democrat beggar and the Republican beggar voted in the presidential election?
They both need change.
UP n grad on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 10:29 pm
to supremo: two years is too long. Obama does not deserve a longer honeymoon and a bigger “…okay, we’ll trust you ‘cuz you probably know what you are doing” because of color, religion and whether or not his father was there to raise him.
No if’s, no but’s…. Obama better deliver!!
UP n grad on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 11:03 pm
side-topic:
a
racist Filipino comedian (on Jay Leno) talking about Chinese and Mexicans. And 2-1/2 Filipino toddlers who are “less articulate” than normal. 
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=42907966
d0d0ng on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 12:25 am
As the world quickly pointed out that the election of President Obama is unprecedented and historic, there is less comfort on the fact that the win was done through the 7 swing states and have not changed the vote of the republican states for presidency. The 52-48 popular vote is enough of division. As the new president already recognized, he has difficult tasks in all areas ahead (especially economic) and control of both houses to bring the government to the middle rather than far left that could repeat a Gingrich response later.
Obama’s win is highly expected along with equally high expectation to perform. There was an immediate shift of burden. Gone is the chip of the shoulders for Black Americans. The greatest legacy is the civil rights leaders fulfillment of their dreams.
I welcome the change. The election is sweet success locally. More important to us, the Black Americans helped us pass proposition 8 to ban gay marriage which we thought impossible in a very liberal and democratic state of California.
God bless you too, Leytenian.
The American Future: A Reflection at Republicans On Best Political Blogs on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 8:27 am
[...] The American Future: A Reflection For this reason I continue to be astounded by Filipino-Americans who are Republicans but eventually, I suppose it makes sense for those who’ve made the decision to leave home and become citizens of the USA: emigration is at the very … [...]
Marcelo on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 7:43 pm
Okay, here’s my take.
1. There’s a joke about Pinoy immigrants in the US. When they first arrive, they vote Democrat. After they’ve made their first million dollars, they trend Republican. When they’ve stashed ten million dollars and upward, they suddenly discover the virtues of going Independent. There’s a lot of truth in this joke and it tends to suggest that Pinoys are no different from other immigrants (or other Americans) who vote based on bank account and tax bracket.
2. It is simply silly, in this day and age, to suppose that the majority of acculturated Pinoy-Americans won’t vote according to their perceived personal interests as supposed to doing what’s best for the Philippines or even for the United States. But that’s like everybody else. Tthere are shades of nuance. Many a Filam Republican supports affirmative action (because many probably benefited from it). At the same time, many staunch Filam Democrats are equally staunch Pro-Lifers (probably due to Catholicism). Meanwhile, I suppose Pinoy Independents who would like to keep the Cayman Islands and other offshore paradises free for capitalism give very generously to charity.
3. Do not underestimate the power of religion in the Filam community. You would be surprised by the number of Pinoys who belong to the fundamentalist Christian churches (including Southern Baptist). We may have very little affinity ideologically or otherwise with these folks, but they are as Pinoy as you or I and they are as deeply sincere in their beliefs as you or I. They are, of course, prime constituencies for the American Right, with the small caveat that they may not be quite so attached to their firearms.
4. Poverty is always relative. I suggest you do not repeat observations that you’ve never seen a Pinoy on food stamps in some parts of the West Coast. The West Coast seems to be the only place in the States where there is appreciable poverty in the Filam community, on levels approaching what exists in some segments of the Black and Hispanic communities. This is a cardinal political point of many West Coast Pinoy Democrats, and they never let you forget it.
5. The reason most politicized Filams are Democrats is because Pinoys first came into mainstream US politics in a big way through the labor movement. That’s remained the case for decades. Even when labor became relatively less important and when more Pinoys became professional and “moved up” in society. Plus the Republicans have been less deft in attracting Pinoys than other minorities (it is possible that this has something to do with the number of small businesses that an immigrant community runs).
6. Finally, the Filam community is not too supple in hedging bets and playing both sides, unlike the South Asian (Indian)-Americans who seem to be very visible and increasingly influential in the two mainstream parties. Maybe it’s because the South Asians have produced nationally recognized talking heads, like Fareed Zakaria and Deepak Chopra (who are, nonetheless, ideologically distinct from one another). Such public commentators seem to have an impact on the American Intelligentsia, which Filams do not yet have.
UP n grad on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 8:54 pm
The current US Defense Secretary has a high likelihood of remaining in that position under the Obama administration. And his views make sense :
“We will be making a terrible mistake if this ends up being called America’s war,” Gates said Oct. 31. :What I would like to see, and, I think, what everybody would like to see, is the most rapid possible further expansion of the Afghan military forces because this needs to be an Afghan war, not an American war and not a NATO war,” Gates told reporters.
UP n grad on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 9:44 pm
Gates also is in philosophical agreement with Obama with regards Iraq — the goal is a draw-down of US troops from that country. A nominal target is that one-third of US troops are out of Iraq in 2 years. Then both Obama and the Iraqi administration will say that the purpose of the remaining US troops is similar to troops in South Korea — a tripwire against Iran invasion. [So expect about 20,000 US troops to rapidly leave Iraq (re-assigned to Afghanistan). By summer-2012 (before elections), then the number of remaining US troops in Iraq will be as in Germany (about 57,000) strategically sited in 6 Clark-size and 30 smaller military bases with 30,000 fast-deploy troops located elsewhere.]
d0d0ng on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 11:48 pm
Marcelo – on #2 FilAms are against affirmative action due to reverse discrimination. Also, it doesn’t feel right getting a tough spot and everybody looking at you as if you don’t deserve it. I am proud to see young Filipinos graduated as valedictorians or salutatorians besting all other races in both public and private schools through hardwork and of course parents constant push reminding of the flip switch (years from now either you flip burgers or flip accounts).
#5. It depends on the location even in a liberal state of California. At north, Democrats are courting FilAm democrats at San Bruno, San Francisco, etc. But in the south, FilAm republicans are strong in Orange County, San Fernando Valley and re-elected the same republican official to the state assembly or other public office.
Marcelo on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 7:25 pm
Dodong:
I am not taking a position on affirmative action. I was just trying to illustrate how difficult it is to make political generalizations about Filams (i.e., being Republican does not automatically mean that a Filam would oppose affirmative action).
Furthermore, if you are interested in the subject, and although I don’t have the references handy, you might want to do some research on what happened to Filipino enrollment in elite California law schools after that State voted to end affirmative action. As I understand it, Filipino enrollment plumetted compared to other Asian groups. If that is, indeed true, it raises a lot of worrying implications.
Why do I care at all about elite American law schools? Because for so many minorities, they have been the portals to greater political visibility and power. Witness Barack Obama. Filams will not carry the weight of their numbers into the decision making processes of the major parties without highly influential individuals who made their mark within their respcetive parties. I’m afraid that the spectacular victory of Obama will not change that particular aspect of American political reality.
BTW, a lot of the young Filams I met (as opposed to the First Generation Immigrant Pinoys) headed for the Ivy League law schools have politics in mind. There is hope in the future!
anthony scalia on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 7:35 pm
Marcelo,
are you saying that 2nd generation Fil-Ams are applying through the “affirmative action” route in the Ivy League law schools?
Marcelo on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 7:43 pm
Maybe some of them, I would not know the numbers. But what is sure is that many of the Second Generationers want the Ivy League credentials for politics.
Further to my earlier post, here’s an interesting article:
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/uspolls2008/Election_Story.aspx?ID=NEWEN20080071657&
Obama picks Indian American Sonal Shah as adviser
NDTV Correspondent
Friday, November 07, 2008 12:49 AM (Washington)
After a historic victory in the American elections President-elect Barack Obama is now busy picking names that will run the US administration with him.
He has already announced the name of his adviser and it’s an Indian American Sonal Shah. She works for Google on its Global Development team.
Shah, 40, is part of an advisory board comprising individuals with significant private and public sector experience who will offer their expertise in their respective fields to Obama’s transition team, according to US media reports.
She has also worked at the Department of Treasury on various economic issues and regions of the world.
Another India-born Preeta Bansal is being seen as a potential candidate for the office of the Solicitor General. She is a Harvard-educated lawyer who was part of Barack Obama’s team of advisers during his election campaign.
Sonal Shah along with other members of the advisory board will help the transition team headed by former White House chief of staff John Podesta, longtime Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, and Pete Rouse, the President-elect’s Senate chief of staff.
Others on the list include former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Carol Browner, Obama friend and former Commerce Secretary William Daley, University of California-Berkeley law school dean Christopher Edley and Obama law school friends and advisers Michael Froman and Julius Genachowski.
Shah, who was named the ‘Person of the Year 2003′ by India Abroad publication, currently works for Google.org on their Global Development team, where she is engaged in defining their global development strategy and promoting the firm’s philanthropy work.
Before joining Google, she was vice president at Goldman, Sachs and Co. and developed and implemented its environmental strategy. She has also served as the Associate Director for Economic and National Security Policy at the Centre for American Progress, where she worked on trade, outsourcing and post-conflict reconstruction issues.
Earlier, she worked for eight years at the Department of Treasury on various economic issues and regions of the world. She was the director of the office covering sub-Saharan Africa, worked in Bosnia and Kosovo after the war, and served as the senior adviser to the Under Secretary at the Department of Treasury during the Asian financial crisis.
Shah is the co-founder of the US-based non-profit organisation Indicorps, which offers one-year fellowships for Indian-origin Americans to work on specific development projects in India.
Her father moved from Gujarat to New York in 1970 and she along with her sister and mother joined him in 1972. She also has a brother.
Among names being suggested for the post of Solicitor General, the ‘The Am Law Daily’, citing some unnamed advisers of the Obama campaign, reported that India-born Bansal, 42, who has advised Obama on foreign policy and judiciary matters, is among possible appointees.
“The Solicitor General is the only position where the statute requires that the officer be learned in the law,” it quoted O’Melveny and Myers’s Walter Dellinger as saying.
Bansal, a product of Harvard Law School and a partner at the international law firm of Skadden Arps, has earlier served as the New York state Solicitor General.
Dellinger said that for the post, experience as a state Solicitor General would be valuable, as would be a record of advocacy before the court, the report said.
Bansal, a member of what an Obama lawyer playfully calls the ‘Harvard Law School mafia’, was part of Bill Clinton’s White House and Justice Department in 1993-96. She was also the first Indian-American to head the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.(With IANS input)
UP n grad on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 8:55 pm
[Their children will be allowed in, too. Once the children gets credentialed.]
UP n grad on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 9:01 pm
to scalia: methinks a kid who wants to hide his heritage
:while applying into Harvard has a serious handicap and probably needs affirmative action…. or counseling. 
fried-neurons on Sun, 9th Nov 2008 7:09 pm
So on election night, as the networks declared Obama the winner, my aunt called me.
“Can you believe McCain lost,” she asked.
“I know, it’s great,” I said.
At that point she started on this tirade (straight from McCain-GOP talking points) about how Obama is a socialist and that he is against the middle class and the wealthy.
Ako naman, nainis sa kanya…
Sabi ko, “Get over yourself, tita. You live in the Bay Area and you have to support two kids on $50K a year. You’re not rich or middle class, you’re poor. So even if you believe all the drivel about Obama coming from the GOP, you should be an Obama supporter anyway.” She hung up on me. Hahahaha.
anthony scalia on Sun, 9th Nov 2008 11:39 pm
to UP n,
“to scalia: methinks a kid who wants to hide his heritage
:while applying into Harvard has a serious handicap and probably needs affirmative action…. or counseling. 
”
that’s a fact that’s lost on Pinoy migrants – US citizenship does not (maybe ‘cannot’ is more apt) erase their heritage.
kaya try as they might, your favorite ex-Pinoys sa ‘tate can’t hide the fact that they are indios
to fried-neurons:
yikes! 50K a year in the Bay area (for 3 people) is already poor? I wonder how ex-Pinoys are doing there now? Baka yang 50k eh courtesy of 3 jobs pa?
living in small-town America may be cheap, but is there an opportunity to earn 50K a year there?
fried-neurons on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 12:59 am
@ anthony scalia…
Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m trying to get at. I know that the typical image of a Filipino living in California is either a healthcare professional (well-paid) or a Federal government employee (low salary but excellent benefits). But there are tens or hundreds of thousands who are working in low-end (and dead-end) service jobs at airports, airlines, and assembly lines. And yet they still overwhelmingly vote Republican. Go figure.
Anyway, per April 2008 government numbers, for a family of 3 in Silicon Valley:
$95,000/year is the median income
$76,400/year is “lower income”
$47,750/year is “very low income”
The actual official Federal poverty line (nationwide, doesn’t take into account regional differences) is $17,600/year for a family of 3.
Thankfully for my tita she only works one job. But, yeah, I just had to knock some sense into her.
leytenian on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 2:51 am
fried neuron:
“You’re not rich or middle class, you’re poor. So even if you believe all the drivel about Obama coming from the GOP, you should be an Obama supporter anyway.†She hung up on me. Hahahaha.”
your neurons are fried indeed. you need to understand that if your tita lose her job, whether McCain or Obama, she will get 6 months of unemployment benefits, housing subsidies and food stamps. That policy will never change. Obama’s promise is an old system already in place. It is a duplicate of what is already provided. It’s only good for people who do not understand the current system in the US. No wonder many voted for him.
I’m glad your tita hang up on you. I won’t blame her
leytenian on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 3:15 am
To those families currently at poverty income level are already enjoying food stamps, medicaid, housing subsidies( section 6) , and free milk for new born babies plus monetary allowance. This is not Obamas Change. What Change he talking about?
Obama’s Promise of Change is about keeping the jobs in the US instead of sending it overseas. Distribution of wealth is not free. It’s about distribution of employment. To those who are already employed in the current US system will have to face labor competition, salary deductions and an increase of income taxation. The democratic party will seriously implement its agenda. Do not believe Obama that he will not raise taxes , he will. That’s always been the democrats strategy.
With current tax policy of refund every year until 2010 and the current tax incentives of $7500 for every individual who buy their first home between April 2008 to 2009 is a true distribution of wealth. Who is the implementator of these policies? Is it not the Republican party of 8 years?
With home foreclosures now cheap, is it not a true distribution of wealth, where low income families are now able to afford the homes they could not afford before.
If we have to think the positive side of all this financial crisis. Who actually will benefit? Lots of cheap stuff nowadays. I don’t think Obama really understand what true distribution of wealth is all about. Promises are made to be broken. I’m not naive. Many friends now are buying homes at discounted price since March. There’s plenty who are benefiting. Is not that bad at all. Think about it.
With Obama’s increase taxation will not stimulate the US economy. The incentives for entrepreneurs are no longer there in the future. Why grow if tax higher? What is it for me? and to those who believe they can grow? what is it for them?
fried-neurons on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 8:41 am
Newsflash for leytenia: unemployment insurance is funded by the state, via payroll taxes. Neither Obama nor McCain has nothing to do with it.
Anyway, What GOP’ers consistently overlook (or deliberately decline to mention) is that the GOP always look at social safety net spending [b]first[/b] when they move to cut government spending. It’s always the same old chorus of cutting taxes (heavily skewed towards the rich and the truly poor, usually neglecting the middle class) AND cutting social spending. As I said before, I am pretty conservative when it comes to fiscal matters. I would love to see a wholesale reduction in tax burden, but not at the expense of social safety.
Cut military spending when appropriate (not now, obviously), cut all these aid contributions to other countries (except for humanitarian aid), cut subsidies to farmers who get paid for throwing away their food, cut subsidies to big oil. Start there, instead of always starting at the bottom like Republicans do.
And if you think for one second that the poor will actually benefit from this foreclosure crisis in the short and medium term, then you are either a Pollyanna or a realtor. Credit is so tight that even people with solid incomes and excellent credit histories have a hard time getting loans. What are the chances that a poor individual will get a loan? If my friend, who has a credit score of 815, and an annual income in excess of $130K, cannot get a loan, how much more difficult do you think it is for a poor person? If the poor can’t get a loan, it doesn’t matter how cheap the foreclosed houses are. They might as well be priced at $10 billion each.
Taxes are a necessary evil. Of course it would be great if they were super low or nonexistent. But the reality is that they are needed for certain things. And SOMETIMES, taxes have to go up. Having said that, I still vehemently disagree with your implied characterization of Obama’s tax plan. It is targeted towards the middle class, for individuals making up to $200,000/year (or families making up to $250,000/year).
Quick, pop quiz… how many individuals do you know who actually make $200,000 a year or more? Very few, I bet. We all have to make painful choices whenever the country as a whole faces a crisis. Everyone has to step up, even if it means not seeing your taxes go down or (if you’re above the cutoff) seeing your taxes go up.
What we all have to remain vigilant about is ensuring that our taxes are put to the best use possible.
By the way, you contradict yourself in your second paragraph above. If, as you say, Obama wants to keep jobs here instead of shipping them overseas, how exactly will that result in, as you say, increased labor competition and salary reduction? Has the law of supply and demand suddenly been turned on its head?
And low-income housing subsidies are section 8, waiting lists for which are an arm’s length and a half long in each community.
leytenian on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 9:45 am
fried neuron,
“Cut military spending when appropriate (not now, obviously), cut all these aid contributions to other countries (except for humanitarian aid), cut subsidies to farmers who get paid for throwing away their food, cut subsidies to big oil. Start there, instead of always starting at the bottom like Republicans do.”
tell that to Obama
“Credit is so tight that even people with solid incomes and excellent credit histories have a hard time getting loans. What are the chances that a poor individual will get a loan?”
Google search Bonds for first time Homeowners, FHA, 100% financing for rural areas, and USDA guaranteed home loans.
“Quick, pop quiz… how many individuals do you know who actually make $200,000 a year or more?”
plenty… all my clients in consulting average over 5 mil a year.
“If, as you say, Obama wants to keep jobs here instead of shipping them overseas, how exactly will that result in, as you say, increased labor competition and salary reduction?”
US unemployment is almost 7%. With unemployment rising, firms can easily negotiate salary reductions and hire the best.
But , its’ the economy, Nobama
UP n grad on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 11:39 am
Half of USA-households have an adjusted gross income under $50K a year and half over $50K a year, per US Census Bureau. A divorced dude whose gross income is $92K a year, puts $8,000 into his IRA (retirement account), and sends $22K-a-year as alimony has an AGI under $60K.
Census Bureau also reports that for 2007, the top 1.9 percent, had income greater than $250,000 in 2007. (About 20 percent of households make more than $100,000.)
According to the American College of Surgeons, the annual salary for general surgeons ranges from $249,700 to $336,000. A second- or 3rd-year US surgeon works about 70- to 80-hours a week and makes $180/00 an hour.
A particular business may have $9M-a-year in receipts with the owner drawing $140K/year gross-income and submitting his income tax AGI of $100K (and the bulk of the business income “buried” as retained earnings).
The average Harvard professor now has a salary of about $185,000 per year. Throw in consulting and book-royalties and the full-professors should get over $220K a year.
Salary of a US senator : 2008 — $169,300 per annum.
Salary of US President : $400,000 a year, plus benefits.
The clintons were bankrupt when they left the White House (from lawyer-fees defending themselves against various lawsuits), but immediately made over a million from book royalties..
A surgeon or a Harvard-full-professor and most anyone making a yearly-AGI over $250K a year usually have become more sophisticated with money and also have a set of business- and social-contacts that make more business opportunities available to them..
anthony scalia on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 1:35 pm
fried-neurons,
thanks for the info
how many companies in Silicon Valley can afford to pay a salary of 95K a year? no wonder stock options can greatly offset a relatively small wage
for sure lawyers are well-paid in California (well beyond the median) – it offers the toughest state bar exam in the whole US
pero comparing SF and LA with NYC, mas mahal ang standard of living sa NYC, di ba?
anthony scalia on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 1:41 pm
leytenian,
“plenty… all my clients in consulting average over 5 mil a year”
individuals? or corporate clients each one absolute-majority owned by a single individual?
leytenian on Tue, 11th Nov 2008 7:48 am
corporate clients, anthony. small business and medium size. I am making these people so rich and I end up getting broke.
Marcus Aurelius on Tue, 11th Nov 2008 12:21 pm
FWIW, my observation is Filipino immigrants tend conservative and then their children veer off to the left.
Marcus Aurelius on Tue, 11th Nov 2008 12:29 pm
“the christian right and the american hierarchy may not have been able to prevent a landslide but they reversed gay marriage in CA and outlawed it in FL (overwhelmingly) and AZ.”
Landslide? What landslide? I grant you the election was called earlier than what we saw in ‘00 & in ‘04, but that was no landslide. Ask Carter & Mondale about landslides.
As far as gay marriage goes, I have noticed socially conservative measures most often poll better than Republican and Democrats.
Marcus Aurelius on Tue, 11th Nov 2008 12:39 pm
Both in this & in another thread many are speculating Sarah will appoint herself to be the next AK senator. Hey-hey, that sort of path really worked out for Murkowski, huh? No, Sarah will stay on as Governor and watch out!
Some here think she cost McCain the election, rubbish. She saved McCain from a really bad blowout. Prior the Palin nomination one word kept coming to my mind “Dole”, reports I have read had rallies where she was present as full and spirited and ones where John McCain was the sole appearance just did not have the same zip. John McCain never had the moderates & independent voters and as it turns out he did not really have the base either.
Marcus Aurelius on Tue, 11th Nov 2008 12:53 pm
I used to like Condeleeza Rice for the job, but I do not think she is ready for elective politics, have heard she comes with leftist social views, and do not think she did a good job running the State Department.
Giuliani has same the same problem with the social views, I think Giuliani would make a top notch AG or in another cabinet job, I don’t think he could get elected either. Paulson is not real popular right now with anyone due to the bailouts.