Dancing in the streets and frustrated in the Palace
November 6, 2008 by mlq3
Filed under Daily Dose
You can watch the pre-election episode of The Explainer, November 4, 2008 over at YouTube.
Magnificent as Obama’s victory speech (which you can read or watch here and here) was, and much as there was general approbation over John McCain’s concession speech as a “class act,” (and many Filipinos, I noticed, wistfully commented they wish our own politicians could learn how to concede gracefully when they lose) there were other scenes that I touched me more. In particular, and perhaps this is more due to my own personal, deep affection for the place, the scenes of rejoicing in Washington, DC, moved me most.
Take this video, for example:
Or this one:
People cheering, dancing, singing, fireworks, and finally, converging on the White House!
These scenes were repeated throughout the United States, see the videos from East to West, from New York to Brooklyn to Philadelphia to Wisconsin, San Francisco and Seattle, among many more online. And I don’t think anyone’s heard of, much less seen, such spontaneous and large manifestations of happiness over an election in modern times (you really have to watch the videos).
And for one particular group, there was a sudden, tangible reconnection with the past. See In Our Lifetime by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.:
We have all heard stories about those few magical transformative moments in African-American history, extraordinary ritual occasions through which the geographically and socially diverse black community—a nation within a nation, really—molds itself into one united body, determined to achieve one great social purpose and to bear witness to the process by which this grand achievement occurs.
The first time was New Year’s Day in 1863, when tens of thousands of black people huddled together all over the North waiting to see if Abraham Lincoln would sign the Emancipation Proclamation. The second was the night of June 22, 1938, the storied rematch between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, when black families and friends crowded around radios to listen and cheer as the Brown Bomber knocked out Schmeling in the first round. The third, of course, was Aug. 28, 1963, when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed to the world that he had a dream, in the shadow of a brooding Lincoln, peering down on the assembled throng, while those of us who couldn’t be with him in Washington sat around our black-and-white television sets, bound together by King’s melodious voice through our tears and with quickened-flesh.
But we have never seen anything like this. Nothing could have prepared any of us for the eruption (and, yes, that is the word) of spontaneous celebration that manifested itself in black homes, gathering places and the streets of our communities when Sen. Barack Obama was declared President-elect Obama…
How many of our ancestors have given their lives—how many millions of slaves toiled in the fields in endlessly thankless and mindless labor—before this generation could live to see a black person become president? “How long, Lord?” the spiritual goes; “not long!” is the resounding response. What would Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. Du Bois say if they could know what our people had at long last achieved? What would Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman say? What would Dr. King himself say? Would they say that all those lost hours of brutalizing toil and labor leading to spent, half-fulfilled lives, all those humiliations that our ancestors had to suffer through each and every day, all those slights and rebuffs and recriminations, all those rapes and murders, lynchings and assassinations, all those Jim Crow laws and protest marches, those snarling dogs and bone-breaking water hoses, all of those beatings and all of those killings, all of those black collective dreams deferred—that the unbearable pain of all of those tragedies had, in the end, been assuaged at least somewhat through Barack Obama’s election? This certainly doesn’t wipe that bloody slate clean. His victory is not redemption for all of this suffering; rather, it is the symbolic culmination of the black freedom struggle, the grand achievement of a great, collective dream. Would they say that surviving these horrors, hope against hope, was the price we had to pay to become truly free, to live to see—exactly 389 years after the first African slaves landed on these shores—that “great gettin’ up morning” in 2008 when a black man—Barack Hussein Obama—was elected the first African-American president of the United States?
Anne Applebaum says the spontaneous celebrations were a kind of national self-affirmation for the entire citizenry:
Because all Americans, white and black, liberal and conservative, are brought up to believe that their country is different, special, the “greatest nation on earth,” a “city on a hill.” We are all taught that our system is just, our laws are fair, our Constitution is something to be proud of. Lately, though, this self-image has taken a battering. We are fighting two wars, neither with remarkable success. We have just experienced a cataclysmic financial crisis. We are about to enter a recession. We are unloved around the world, and we know it. Electing our first black president won’t by itself solve any of these problems, but—to use the pop-psychological language for which Americans are justly famous—it sure makes us feel good about ourselves. That hysteria you saw on television in Chicago was, yes, partly about the return of the Democrats and partly about the passing of George Bush. As the rain-on-the-parade dispensers of sour grapes are already writing, it was absolutely about ideology, too. But it was also about relief: We really are a land of opportunity!
Speaking of the dispensers of sour grapes. Of course the Republican and conservative sourpusses were already a-curdlin’ even before election day: and insisted that something was fishy in the votin’ (see hummers & cigarettes). Surely such bloggers were the grist for sites like Vote Fraud Squad (much as it declares itself “non-partisan”), and post-election, angry Republicans (back to verging on being a lunatic fringe party, if they aren’t careful, as they were poised to be in 1964) are off to a rip-roarin’ start: ‘Impeach Obama’ groups pop up on Facebook. Though it’s noteworthy that some took a cue from John McCain and have rolled up their partisan banners.
Politics is as much about logistics as it is about inspiration, and Words: Who, What, When gives an interesting glimpse of how finely-tuned, not to mention well-oiled, the Obama machine was, locally . John Dickerson in Slate, summarizes the achievements of the campaign and its strategists:
It was not only Barack Obama who made history—so did his strategists. They designed a plan and executed it relentlessly through a brutal primary and general election. Twice they upended the idea that no plan survives engagement with the enemy. Obama won by driving up his vote in traditional Democratic areas, and he shrunk the margins in conservative areas. They also out-hustled the competition. According to exit polls, 27 percent of voters said they were contacted by the Obama camp. Only 19 percent say they were contacted by the McCain camp.
Exit polls also indicated that race was not a factor. Where voters said race was important, they voted for Obama. Those who said race wasn’t important also voted for him—in relatively the same percentages. In Ohio, Obama won among whites making less than $50,000, a group that was once supposed to be a big problem for him. In Pennsylvania cities like Scranton, Reading, and Allentown, where he was supposed to have the same problem, he won by healthy margins. “I always thought that there was a prejudice factor in the state,” said Sen. Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat. “I hope we’ve now washed that away.”
In the end, the voters favored change over experience 37 percent to 20 percent. People also seemed to vote against their economic self-interest, something liberal critics said only witless Republican voters did. Fully 70 percent said Obama would raise their taxes, while 60 percent said McCain would. They voted for Obama, anyway.
Seeing the writing on the wall, one Republican senator even tried to campaign as a Democrat (see Campaign Diaries).
The speculation (fueled by what must have been calculated leaks from the Obama camp) on the President-elect’s forthcoming cabinet started prior to election day on Politico.com. On the same site, Mike Allen and then Sam Stein over at The Huffington Post has the latest.
Some bloggers have offered up reflections on what the Democratic victory means, either for the world (see The Coffee) or for the Philippines, see The Marocharim Experiment and Patricio Mangubat.
My editors at the Philippine Daily Inquirer asked me to write a commentary addressing the same question. See New era of intervention, which came out in today’s paper. In the short term, the President’s window of political opportunity has narrowed to the changing of the guard in Washington January 20. Mid- to long-term, the Intengan-Gonzales liquidate the enemy plan is going to face even tougher going abroad.
As for the concerns over the incoming administration’s economic policies and how they might affect Filipinos, Jeffrey Sach’s What Obama Needs To Do: It’s time for a new macroeconomics will make for interesting and informative reading.
As for the President, well, things are off to an unpromising start: Obama too busy to take Arroyo’s call. She could’ve just said she’d sent a congratulatory telegram.
For a regional perspective, see Asian Views of America’s Role in Asia 2008 as well as The view from the Pacific (and its environs) and What lies behind Beijing’s reservations about an Obama Presidency.
My own reaction to the Obama victory is in my column for today, Out with the old, in with the new . You may have noticed the discussions that went on in Howie Severino’s entry Obama and Filipino racism earlier this year.
Aside from racism, something else intrigued me about the reasons given by some (not all, of course) Filipinos and Filipino-Americans for going conservative. Faith. And so I quoted from Archbishop Burke talks to Inside the Vatican Magazine on Eve of Election.
The Religious Right might have failed in mobilizing against Obama, but they scored some morale-boosting victories in California, Florida, and Arizona. Here’s an intriguing article: Props to Obama: Did he help push California’s gay-marriage ban over the top? Not least because of how time, it seems, is not on the Religious Right’s side:
But if the anti-gay-marriage side was boosted by a one-time event—the first major-party African-American presidential candidate on the ballot—might supporters of gay marriage win in the future? McCuan says that’s plausible. “In the abstract, there’s a high level of support for equal rights, particularly among the younger generation.” And support is growing fast. In 2000, 61 percent of voters approved of a ban on same-sex marriage; this year, it was down to a bare majority. The “Yes on 8″ campaign was particularly well-funded and savvy, blanketing the airwaves with ads suggesting that gay marriage would be taught in schools. If supporters of same-sex marriage wait a few years, and if they can muster as effective a campaign as the one mounted this year by the other side, they could well change the law.
You can take a look at the website of the proponents of the American ban on gay marriage at Protect Marriage.
This brings me back to my views on the Reproductive Health bill, and how the actual merits and demerits of the bill as a piece of legislation are now irrelevant, because it’s a showdown between conservative Christians and secularists. It is a fight the secularists will lose and will only serve not only to delay the inevitable, but to make it so much harder to achieve liberalizing things on many other fronts. In which case it has to be asked whether it was the right fight, in the right place, and at the right time.
My next entries will focus less on the scheduled resumption of the Bolante investigation in the Senate (see the Inquirer editorials Defending Bolante and Saved by technicalities ), and more on the truly big fight to come: on the same day the Senate reconvenes to tackle Bolante, the House of Representatives will kick off the do-or-die effort to finally amend the Constitution. That’s on November 10.
Delicious
Facebook
Flickr
LinkedIn
Technorati
Twitter
Loading ...
roland on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 2:41 pm
the RH bill is a good move to get our country to the right path against the ballooning population dilemma we are facing now and in the future as well.
those ill-self-centered bishops (CBCP) just want to ruin our situation. I mean, c’mon, let’s get this over with. They should read FHM more.
Manolo needs a podcast. I love him to tackle more about history.
cvj on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 2:46 pm
I enjoyed reading your column. If not for Bencard, i would’ve thought your description of the ‘Old’ Filipino is a composite of different individuals. (Thank you Bencard.)
John McCain On Best Political Blogs » Blog Archive » Dancing in the streets and frustrated in the Palace on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 3:12 pm
[...] Dancing in the streets and frustrated in the Palace Magnificent as Obama’s victory speech (which you can read or watch here and here) was, and much as there was general approbation over John McCain’s concession speech as a “class act,†(and many Filipinos, I noticed, wistfully commented … [...]
Dancing in the streets and frustrated in the Palace at Voter Fraud On Best Political Blogs on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 3:27 pm
[...] Dancing in the streets and frustrated in the Palace Surely such bloggers were the grist for sites like Vote Fraud Squad (much as it declares itself “non-partisanâ€), and post-election, angry Republicans (back to verging on being a lunatic fringe party, if they aren’t careful, … [...]
devilsadvc8 on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 4:15 pm
it is a fight nonetheless that must be made.
time is not on the side of the religious fanatics.
Jeg on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 5:40 pm
Democracy. What an alien concept.
“Gays Call for Violence Against Christian Supporters of Prop 8″
Meanwhile, over at JoeMyGod.blogspot.com, “World O Jeff,†said, “Burn their f–ing churches to the ground, and then tax the charred timbers.†While, “Tread,†wrote, “I hope the No on 8 people have a long list and long knives.†“Joe,†stated, “I swear, I’d murder people with my bare hands this morning.â€
Link: http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/6081
Lorimer on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 5:50 pm
The Obama win has made me feel more disgruntled, hateful even, about this Arroyo administration. For one, it’s of course a repudiation of every Bush policy this administration has always embraced. What gall on the part of our country’s pseudo president to arrange for a telephone conversation to congratulate or arrange a meeting with President-elect Barack Obama this early on. A fake president do not deserve to do such with a genuinely elected leader. Change has come to America, and to the whole world, indeed. And change will come to our shores come 2010. To Arroyo: don’t you even dare think about doing constitutional manipulations to extend your term — your time is up and it should have been a long time ago!
istambay_sakalye on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 6:27 pm
GMA to call Obama last night to congratulate him but na snubbed! ha! buti nga! akala ko partner sya ni dubya on war on terrorism!
bakit nag-stress out tayo sa RH bill na yan. hindi ba pwede na ma-educate ang mga mamamayan with out a bill from congress? a friend who works at the local health center in our town is already doing that and also were providing contraceptives to mothers willing to take them. it has been going for a long time.
roland on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 6:31 pm
yeah, almost 10 years of power is ’nuff for Pres. Arroyo.
If they want reforms on the constitution, they should cut the years in office of the President to 4 years with a chance for a re-election. Similar to that of the US President.
Also, for me, a run-off voting is much needed. Two-round is preferred. But, for those who does say that “Dinaya ako!” Exhaustive run-off voting maybe a good option to see who the people does want. It’ll be costly though and time consuming (eh? they should automate the polls Now) but in elections, Filipinos really needs to be disciplined.
istambay_sakalye on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 6:36 pm
tayo mga pinoy sa pinas had our chance to turn our country around after EDSA I but we just dropped the ball and been downhill since then. we had tabako,erap and an unano as presidents.
pero mas high tech pa rin tayo kaysa mga kano kung eleksyon lang ang pag-uusapan. it took hours for the americans to determine the winner?! samantala dito to pinas hindi ba bumubuto ang mga tao alam na kung sino ang panalo at 1 milyon ang lamang!
ang mas masakit pa eh baka walang eleksyon sa 2010. wawa naman sina ping,manny at mga hopefools!
roland on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 6:59 pm
hehehe. hopefools, LOL!
walang eleksyon? aba eh, tawagin na sina dodong faeldon at si bitoy trillanes. this means a coup! kudetawa.
ahhh, the Philippines… when will our politicians truly grow up…
yeah, People Power 1986 was a good starting point, pero, marami kasi gutom nun na mga pulitiko, kaya… ayun, sila naman kumain after Macoy…
Pero, I won’t exchange the Philippines for a country like North Korea nor Bangladesh! LOL!
roland on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 7:02 pm
kaka miss tuloy si Eddie Gil… babayaran raw niya utang na Pinas… nice! XD
ibang klase tlga mga payaso.
istambay_sakalye on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 7:05 pm
to my fellow pinoys na sa tate, meron akong tanong sa inyo…sino ang magiging next president kung namatay si obama bago ma swear in as president?
si biden ba?
roland on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 7:13 pm
yep. biden is on the line. he’s next in line.
rego on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 7:13 pm
Magnificent as Obama’s victory speech (which you can read or watch here and here) was, and much as there was general approbation over John McCain’s concession speech as a “class act,â€
That was the real John MC Cain that I really admire.
Although I was in Times Square with my freinds cheering for Obama, we just cant help but admire John Mc Cain’s very gracious and humble concession .
And Sarah Palin too, learned fast this time when she said that next time she run she doesn’t want to be attacked.
The victory of Obama is real moment. You cant reaaly feel the pride of being an America. Love it! Now I decided to stay for good.
rego on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 7:16 pm
Another thing that I notice, The elecoral college system seems to make teh election proces fast. You dont have to wait to finsih fo rth counting of the ballots to declare teh winner. Obama was decalred winner just after the voting of in California and other states in the west.
Iwas wondering if this too can be adopted in teh Philippines.
istambay_sakalye on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 7:18 pm
kung pambayad lang sa mga utang ng bansa natin…ang pera na ninakaw ni marcos at mga cronies pinambayad lahat eh di siguro wala nang utang ang pinas ngayon!
kaso instead na ibalik ang mga pera sa bayan, binubulsa ng mga nasa pwesto. pinaghati-hatian nila. kahit nga ang mga pamilya ng mga pinatay at inabuse noong martial law/marcos regime ayaw pang bigyan ng gobyerno! gahaman talaga sa pera ang mga nasa pwesto! kahit sino sa kanila!
Phil Manila on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 7:25 pm
“and many Filipinos, I noticed, wistfully commented they wish our own politicians could learn how to concede gracefully when they lose” – mlq3
It is unfortunate that after almost 75 years of having the system, Filipinos are still trying to discover the features of true representative democracy.
Not to sound like Benign0 pero kung baga, hindi tayo matuto or masyado tayong uto-uto.
BrianB on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 9:27 pm
Gloria mirrored Clinton and George Dubya. It’s inescapable, AMERICA’s influence on our people.
wysgal on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 9:34 pm
There was a different kind of energy for sure … but it got a little tiring when people in Philly refused to stop screaming and honking their horns at 1.30 in the morning … =)
UP n grad on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 10:00 pm
to rego : ou can reaaly feel the pride of being an American. … especially if you are for the Democratic party in general, and Obama in particular.
McCain acknowledges what many Americans feel — the election of a non-white into the White House is historical.
And then there are many AynRand-believing Americans who care more about economic policy and the mantra of Small Government. These Americans are disheartened that a liberal senator from Illinois will probably do social re-engineering and use The Government (translation : higher taxes) to do so.
UP n grad on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 10:13 pm
and maybe d00d0ng has gotten silent because there is still rancor in California about In California same-sex marriage ban . [Footnote: Gay marriage became legal in California. On May 15, 2008 -- California Supreme Court said a ban was discriminatory and violated the state constitution. ]
vic on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 10:39 pm
This time you don’t even have to be a Democrat or Black to really Celebrate the making of History. Even Dubya was genuinely touched by the event, and Condi was in Tears. This is for All Americans to Celebrate, my sisters and family who were McCain supporters were all touched themselves and so I am, a true Conservative.
To us as we already get used, whatever the personal issues in the campaign are bygones. The Promises and the Programs are the ones that should be remembered and tasked the winners.
supremo on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 11:09 pm
istambay_sakalye,
Obama is officially the President-elect after the Electoral College meets on December 20.
Biden will act as President if Obama fails to assume office according to the 20th Amendment.
vic on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 11:10 pm
Why can’t just PGMA issued a statement congratulating President Elect Obama just like most leaders did instead of trying to do it personally? That was what PM Harper did. What is she trying to prove here?
TonGuE-tWisTeD on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 12:20 am
What’s interesting is that Republican diehards believe they’ve just found a strong presidential material for 2012 in the person of Sarah Palin and the stupid governor is probably soaking her panties wet thinking of that possibility.
Now, the Alaska Senator (whatshisname? Stevens?) I think won his reelection but will be doing jail sentence for the recent conviction if 2/3 of the senate votes to oust him and as state party head and governor, Palin might appoint herself as transition senator until a permanent one is elected.
I can’t understand the people of Alaska, I guess the extreme cold freezes the brain to death. Look, even morons and convicts win in that state!
roland on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 12:31 am
and so I thought, that the Philippines was such a nation to hurdle actors, boxers, or even jokers in the political arena.
Alaska also has that kind of situation. Wow..
UP n grad on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 12:34 am
Filipinos will easily understand how Alaskans voted. It’s like Alaskans are Filipinos — some Alaskans voted for the opposition and some voted for the incumbent. AND… many voted for Stevens because Stevens brought home the pork.
So be careful . . . even morons and convicts
are likely to win in 2010. 
supremo on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 12:57 am
I don’t think Palin would appoint herself to replace Stevens if he resigns. The most likely scenario is Steven resigns then Palin resigns and she gets appointed as Senator. Palin still has to run and win in a special election for Senator later to retain the position.
d0d0ng on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 1:07 am
Even Slate, did not know how to address the defeat of gay marriage except to call Californians as fickle voters like changing channel.
He understand little of the demographics he is reporting. We are too happy for the gay to blame the blacks for their 70% vote. The gay/lesbian are so well organized and funded that they can bring down a politician or any visible head. As expected, mayors from Los Angeles to San Francisco openly take up gay/lesbian cause for political reason. We are also openly saying to our gay/lesbian friends we are supporting them. But my vote like everybody else is based on how we raised my family and less of my friends.
The gay/lesbians are at loss because as far as they knew everybody is supporting them. They are fighting invisible votes they can hardly address.
TonGuE-tWisTeD on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 1:30 am
LOL@ UPn’s even morons and convicts are likely to win in 2010. No debate on that. But Alaska is in America and not some province in ARMM.
Like all the others before her, she will be forgotten soon (unless she does get appointed to the Senate). Or if you want to be reminded, watch “Who’s Nailin’ Paylin” online and make sure you hit Ctrl-D.
nash on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 3:35 am
Now that the election is over, let us all admit to the fact that news/poll/statistics/punditry junkies (me included) feel a certain void. What else to talk about now?
Fortunately, Sarah Palin 2012 begins now.
Like Barack, a catchy motto is needed.
Barring that, I guess it’s back to the depressing 2010 Philippine Elections. Sino na ba frontrunner? We still have enough time to ensure that Loren Legarda and Chiz Escudero do not win. (ala Guiliani, front runner but faltered in the end.)
Binay for the first black president of the Philippines!
Pilipinoparin on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 3:59 am
Things Filipinos should learn from Americans during elections:
1. not a single shot was fired related to the last election
2. issues were discussed by both sides
3. elections results were known within hours, not months
4. the way defeated candidates conceded
5. and many more …
6. but the most important is…anyone with talent, regardless of race or ethnicity, wealth and other parameters could be a candidate for any position and WIN BIG as long as the electorate believe in his ability to lead and govern.
I hope dynasties and election frauds will be a thing of the past in RP.
UP n grad on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 5:03 am
…phrased wrong. It should be :
Vigilance now. Action required. Alaska must not happen. Morons and convicts
must not win in 2010.
vic on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 5:32 am
UPn, Given a choice between Sarah and Gloria, which one will it be?
supremo on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 5:38 am
The 2010 Presidential election might be more exciting if overseas Filipinos are allowed to run for office regardless of citizenship.
d0d0ng on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 6:58 am
“and maybe d00d0ng has gotten silent because there is still rancor in California about In California same-sex marriage ban”
We won.
It is funny though. Our gay/lesbian friends are really pissed off and wondering who did vote against them. They said they are ready to kill (just an expression coz they are even afraid of spider). So, we keep on telling them it is the Blacks. Now, they are venting their anger against the brotherhood. I guess, no more MC Hammer or YMCA impersonation in g-string for now.
UP n grad on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 7:04 am
vic: which sarah? Apparently, the Sarah before she got picked for VP-slot was a lot more centrist, like windfall-profit-tax which then gets re-distributed to Alaska citizens. .
But no matter what, GMA and Sarah both grandmothers… Sarah much younger. And when hunting d00d0ng’s MILF-village-burning kumpare’s from a helicopter, Sarah can shoot.
Andy on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 8:00 am
Is this the d0d0ng schoolmate of Commander Kato?
d0d0ng on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 8:53 am
tongue on, “What’s interesting is that Republican diehards believe they’ve just found a strong presidential material for 2012 in the person of Sarah Palin and the stupid governor is probably soaking her panties wet thinking of that possibility. I can’t understand the people of Alaska, I guess the extreme cold freezes the brain to death. Look, even morons and convicts win in that state”
Tongue – despite your losses in the market, it will not get you anywhere near Sarah’s panties. Your tongue ring might help you understand when it freezes your mouth shut in Alaska as there is much more in Alaska than wet dreams.
d0d0ng on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 9:22 am
Andy – you missed reading my postings. The Army Col in hot pursuit is a HS classmate of my older brother. The Army Col is much younger than Kumander Kato who looked like very much a Lolo. That can help your question.
Upn- Palin would have taken Virginia if Obama’s volunteers have not flooded the white county with registered voters and went door to door for Obama’s vote. Arroyo can do a better job hunting down Kumander Kato by borrowing Obama’s door to door campaign rather than just dropping dud bombs.
supremo on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 11:13 am
cvj,
‘If not for Bencard, i would’ve thought your description of the ‘Old’ Filipino is a composite of different individuals’
Drinking the urine-fortified liquid that Singapore calls water is beginning to interfere with your thinking.
mlq3 on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 11:16 am
supremo, with daly city as an example?
mlq3 on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 11:18 am
BTW in the context of my reading of the Obama victory’s implications re: current administration, here’s their list of policy points re: foreign policy. http://change.gov/agenda/foreignpolicy/
john marzan on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 12:31 pm
socially conservative african-american and hispanic voters turned out in massive numbers to vote for Obama and pass prop 8.
so no bradley effect for obama, but total bradley effect on prop 8.
UP n grad on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 1:11 pm
My fearless forecast regarding gay-marriage. Before Obama leaves office, “gay marriage” will be a matter for the US Supreme Court to decide. AND when the US Supreme Court decides, the decision will mirror Roe v Wade —- equality before the law will trump expectation of the Roman Catholic religion — and any state-laws banning gay-marriage will get tossed into the “circular file”.
john marzan on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 1:15 pm
i think the CBCP’s influence on these matters are overrated.
the nasty smear campaign launched by the CBCP against candidate flavier back in 1995 did not work. in fact, he was the top 1 or 2 vote getter among the senatoriables.
i think our local mainstream media (korina, ted, mike enriquez) is the game changer here. if we can work with them to push for the RH bill, matatalo ang mga hyper conservatives.
Bert on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 1:18 pm
“Morons and convicts must not win in 2010.”-UP n
How about retarded simians, will they do?
But we’ve been had before by the more advance simians who occupied the position, you know, the ones with degrees and masterals, and doctorates. From stat it was found out the more advance the more sophisticated the carnage process.
Aren’t we had enough of them?
Jeg on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 2:13 pm
My fearless forecast regarding gay-marriage. Before Obama leaves office, “gay marriage†will be a matter for the US Supreme Court to decide.
That would be a good bet. America’s direction right now seems to be more Federal control over the individual states’ laws. The States will fight this of course, but I think the Feds will win. Whatre they going to do? Secede? Remember what Lincoln did?
loy on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 2:14 pm
Barack Obama’s election as the first ever African-American president is truly historic. Who would ever think that only 4 decades after racial segregation, the Americans will elect a black president?
However, I’m really not rejoicing, due to the fact that I’m rooting for McCain. Sure, Obama’s election is a cause for celebration, but things like “The First African-American President”, “The First Asian NBA Player”, “The First European Hip-Hop Artist” (okay I made that last one) don’t impress me. Why not throw our racial differences out the window? Why glorify Obama just because he is black and African-American?
I congratulate Obama, though begrudgingly. I still don’t believe that he is the best choice for US President in these hard and trying times. I don’t agree with him on a lot of issues. But I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
Liam Tinio on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 3:27 pm
is there something wrong with the comment system?
Liam Tinio on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 3:32 pm
@loy
its just one facet of how truly historic the Obama win did for the US and the world. the problem you are pointing out is that there has been an overemphasis on that aspect of his election, rather on the issues he fought for to get elected..
well now that were over with that aspect, let us now see how he does on the other important things
roland on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 3:54 pm
@john marzan:
totally agree. teka, papayag kaya si tita koring sa RH bill? hmmmm……… hyper rin kaya cia tulad ng iba dyan…
nash on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 5:15 pm
“….first ever African-American”
this is so nakakasuya na….Barack is MIXED RACE! MIXED RACE!
nash on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 5:19 pm
@dodong,
why don’t you just let the gays and lesbians be? are you at all affected by their marriage?? gay couples are on the high end of purchasing power and disposable income…they are good for business and good for the economy..
my suggestion to the gays and lesbians is declare themselves to be a religion.
then, no one will question their right to marry the same way that a catholic does not question the marriage of buddhists or muslims, vice versa.
BrianB on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 7:11 pm
Agree with Nash, Binay or Bayani as our black candidate for 2010.
George Bush On Best Political Blogs » Dancing in the streets and frustrated in the Palace on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 7:54 pm
[...] Dancing in the streets and frustrated in the Palace That hysteria you saw on television in Chicago was, yes, partly about the return of the Democrats and partly about the passing of George Bush. As the rain-on-the-parade dispensers of sour grapes are already writing, it was absolutely … [...]
vic on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 9:47 pm
The debates on Gay marriage in California and in the U.S. mirror the debates we have had before, nothing get resolved, until the matter was brought by several aggrieved parties before the court and challenged the provision of the Family Law that Clearly Stated: (i bet it was the catholic church that proposes this law before or the maybe the anglican):
Marriage is the Union of Man and Woman at the Exclusion of All others:
Not so Said the courts in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario and the Parliament asked the SC opinion if Legislation needed to legalize the marriages that were already solemnized..the SC suggested not really since thousands of same sex couples already did based on the lower courts rulings. But suggested to the Parliaments that Benefits accruing traditional couples should also be extended to same sex couples, retro-active to the effectivity of the Charter. so widowers or widows get pensions lump sums.
supremo on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 9:54 pm
mlq3,
Daly City uses recycled water to irrigate the golf courses using a different network of pipes.
devilsadvc8 on Fri, 7th Nov 2008 10:04 pm
i dnt like Binay. i can settle for Bayani Fernando though.
my pick still would be Robredo.
but he’s nowehere near the nation’s consciousness, so wth? im not voting for any of the “frontrunners”
ever.
roland on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 12:11 am
@nash:
sabagay… ermats nga pala ni Obama is White. hehe. I forgot that! LOL!
supremo on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 12:25 am
nash,
McCain also has black and mixed race relatives.
d0d0ng on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 12:28 am
UPn on, “Before Obama leaves office, “gay marriage†will be a matter for the US Supreme Court to decide. AND when the US Supreme Court decides, the decision will mirror Roe v Wade —- equality before the law will trump expectation of the Roman Catholic religion — and any state-laws banning gay-marriage will get tossed into the “circular file.”
You misunderstood the federal law vs state law. It is the other way around. Same sex union is not recognized at Federal level because of Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 defining marriage as union of man and woman. It was passed 85-14 in the Senate and 342-67 in the House. No case has been brought to US Supreme Court to test the 1996 Act. It is the least of all options for the Gay and Lesbians community.
The better option for the Gay and Lesbian community is go state by state as they have done in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
d0d0ng on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 1:44 am
nash on, “why don’t you just let the gays and lesbians be? are you at all affected by their marriage??”
First, I am not against gay and lesbians. I like others supported California Domestic Partnership of 1999 that gives the same rights and privileges as traditional marriage like health care, insurance, pension or survivor benefits, visitation rights, sick or family leave, adoption, property rights, trusts or wills.
Second, the claim of civil rights discrimination is outrageous when gay and lesbians have the same rights and privileges like us.
Third, telling us they are entitled to marriage by right is completely absurd, as one can substitute the natural procreation of children by way of adoption. Anything against their perception is considered bigot.
Fourth, they have taken out the word God from currency, remove the bible from the public domain, diminish the very foundation of this great country (religious freedom) and vanish the marriage definition of man and woman.
The most compelling argument is that progress should not be advanced through somebody’s expense – needless to say my faith.
mlq3 on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 2:00 am
glad you clarified, dodong. my personal views are closer to yours, in that it is the actual legal rights that matter more than trying to assert and appropriate the sacramental aspect of marriage. but in other respects i am in favor of an aggressive secularism more on the french model.
d0d0ng on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 2:12 am
Jeg on, “America’s direction right now seems to be more Federal control over the individual states’ laws.”
It is also the other way around. The states can create their own statute on same sex marriage but it will not be recognized by federal government under the DOMA of 1996.
Besides, the states enjoy greater latitude under 10th amendment.
“Powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
UP n grad on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 2:37 am
d0d0ng: A decision by the highest court of the land trumps a decision at the state-level. Evidence-number-1: Bush winning over Gore. Evidence-number-2: segregation. Evidence-number-3 : Roe v Wade.
The ACLU does intend to bring same-sex marriage before the US Supreme Court, but it is waiting until it really becomes clear that the issue is within the purview of the US Supreme Court (e.g. a lot more controversy with a lot more couples in a lot more states being affected by the issue). Then, it is my expectation (and I expect it before Obama leaves the White House) that the decision will mirror Roe v Wade. Equality before the law will trump expectation of the Roman Catholic religion. The majority will not be allowed to deny a minority of their rights. And what happens next is what always happens with a US Supreme Court decision. Any state-law found in violation of the US Constitution will get tossed into the “circular fileâ€.
UP n grad on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 2:44 am
and if you think about it clearly, same-sex-marriage does not say that d0d0ng’s son should be forced to marry Abe Margallo’s son. It does not even say that when d0d0ng’s son wants to marry Abe’s son or the son of Bencard’s Jewish neighbor, then d0d0ng’s temple or mosque or independent church must say “yes” when asked to perform the ceremonies. It will say that d0d0ng can NOT put a gun to his son’s head to say “NO”, I don’t give you permission. It will say that the justice-of-the-peace should perform the ceremony and the union should be recognized by state laws.
UP n grad on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 2:48 am
Remember, no religion ever say, much less practice “…all men created equal”.
UP n grad on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 3:06 am
What the d0d0ng’s of this world don’t quite get yet is that in a religious hierarchy, the minority (the “keepers” of the book-of-knowledge) trumps the will of the majority (the members)… and that the “keepers” of the book-of-knowledge also want to trump the will of those majority who are not even members. Some had sent crusades, some still burn villages or assault other nations’ embassies to get their point across.
leytenian on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 4:21 am
“It is also the other way around. The states can create their own statute on same sex marriage but it will not be recognized by federal government under the DOMA of 1996.”
agree. if we have to look on Immigration and the implication of same sex marriage approve at Federal level, the result will be many gay partners from overseas can become US immigrant by marriage. Same sex marriage at State level is the choice of the majority. I voted to outlaw same sex marriage. A couple don’t need to get married to be happy.
d0d0ng on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 4:22 am
UPn on, “Any state-law found in violation of the US Constitution will get tossed into the “circular fileâ€.
That is very far from the current case. The DOMA of 1996 is a federal law, not a state law, has been unchallenged over a decade for equal protection violation at the US Supreme Court.
The true nature of legal battle having mulitiple cases filed at the same time at state level rather than at the federal because of the adverse opinion at US Supreme Court.
Here is the excerpt from Washington Independent.
“Gay rights groups reportedly filed the cases in state rather than federal court in part to avoid an adverse ruling from the US Supreme Court, which would represent a major setback for the gay marriage movement nationwide.”
http://washingtonindependent.com/17276/gay-marriage-advocates-sue-to-block-prop-8-in-california
d0d0ng on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 4:40 am
Upn on, “and if you think about it clearly, same-sex-marriage does not say that d0d0ng’s son should be forced to marry Abe Margallo’s son”.
The state already recognized civil union for same sex loving relationship. It does not need to alter the traditional marriage of man and woman.
d0d0ng on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 4:51 am
UPn on, “What the d0d0ng’s of this world don’t quite get yet is that in a religious hierarchy, the minority (the “keepers†of the book-of-knowledge) trumps the will of the majority.
I can agree with you that minority represented by gay groups trumps the will of the majority of non-gays. In 2000, the majority passed Prop 22. Only to be denied by the creative ruling of the California judges. This time we put it as Constitutional Amendment beyond the reach of partisan judges as Prop 8.
UP n grad on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 5:05 am
I like that one …. A couple don’t need to get married to be happy…. but does d0d0ng’s son agree?
supremo on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 5:05 am
Another stimulus package in the horizon according to Obama.
d0d0ng on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 5:09 am
UPn on, “Remember, no religion ever say, much less practice “…all men created equalâ€.
Again far from the truth. In Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew or Greek, slave nor free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ.”
UP n grad on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 5:22 am
d0d0ng: those words were enunciated to the converted.
And pay attention to the English words, d00d0ng. I tam talking about religion — how a cohort of men have interpreted what God is supposed to be asking men to believe.
Religion made evident in your MILF friends having put to death more than one Catholic missionaries… or some MILF and a number of Christians in agreement about where in the scheme of things the Jewish people fit.
UP n grad on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 5:25 am
already, one of my religiously-motivated acquaintances have expressed dissatisfaction that Obama had picked Rahm Emanuel to be chief-of-staff. Complaint : that guy is Jewish!!!!
d0d0ng on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 5:56 am
UPn – I know when people talk of issues, there is a tendency of labeling the person who expresses such strong opinion. Hence, I have been accused from stupid to radical MILF. It rather reflects short end of the labeler.
I praised the choice of Chief of Staff, he is methodical and key asset in aligning house votes for the President elect (in case to stay in the middle against veering far left or right).
leytenian on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 6:09 am
Obama does cause a lot of frustrations even at Manolo’s Blog.
baycas on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 7:15 am
agree…but i’m afraid they might be good only in their locality.
bf is already starting to stir the nation’s consciousness on him by posting a lot of his gwapo pictures of himself and by singing on national t.v.
incidentally, bayani’s wife, the incumbent Marikina mayor, probably has a more impressive curriculum vitae than him.
but then again, she’s another She (anticipating flak from the woman-haters out there)…
baycas on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 8:17 am
on the junking of the Esperat case vs. bolante et al by the ombudsgirl:
fg is not called fg by circumstance. the monicker is actually First Gapang.
so, what can we expect…”nagapang na naman…”
it’s also a part their concession…
seal your lips and we end all your worries…”give and take, ‘ika nga, para everybody happy.”
—–
on the probably last medical bulletin:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome is being considered on the joke. my friend-doctor told me that it could be life-threatening in children. in adults, i don’t know…
—–
ang chismis, sobrang lakas ng hilik…este hagok…ni bolante sa 2nd floor ng ospital nabulabog ang lahat…lalo na ang mga tutulog-tulog na security. ayun, tinesting na sa kung ano pang sakit ni bolante ang meron.
—–
they haven’t posted it yet but see st. luke’s website on executive check-up programs here:
http://www.stluke.com.ph/index.php?page=parent&pageID=223&parentID=223
addendum: Program H
…the longest medical check-up to date (see http://hkbigmind.blogspot.com/2008/11/longest-medical-executive-checkup.html#comment-8091047736044065432 ).
st. luke’s strives to exceed customer expectations.
—–
coverup it is…
http://www.verafiles.org/index.php/focus/131-coverup-whitewash-of-bolante-case-seen
justice league on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 8:34 am
I’m in favor of other methods of Family planning short of abortifacients.
But then I’m a non devout Catholic.
The Obama magic: It’s people power, stupid | Filipino Voices on Sat, 8th Nov 2008 8:04 pm
[...] American people, all 63 million or more of them hellbent to toss out in a surge ala “people power†eight years of neo-conservative era that has given us the quagmire of Iraq and the near meltdown [...]
grd on Sun, 9th Nov 2008 5:55 pm
“Upn- Palin would have taken Virginia if Obama’s volunteers have not flooded the white county with registered voters and went door to door for Obama’s vote.” dodong
it’s like saying, “it’s Obama’s fault why McCain lost.â€
rego on Sun, 9th Nov 2008 7:21 pm
ah ha ha ha…. some sourgrapers are really funny. ayaw pa kasing manahimik na lang muna and allow the self healing process take its place. tangapin na kaya muna na mali o hindi nagkatotoo yung kanyang pre election haka haka like bradley effect, tax plan paranaoia and florida older voters….
ngayon eh ang mga bakla naman ang pagdidiskitahan.
leytenian on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 3:20 am
The entrepreneurs will learn how to find loopholes of US tax system under Obama
The practice of cheating and unethical tax practices will be rampant. Obama must tighten the rules. Can he do this? Of course but the skills will not be coming from him instead He will be blamed 
rego on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 8:03 am
ayan na naman, another prediction from from the prophet of doom madam leyetenean. pag hindi nangyari yan….
loy on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 11:36 am
Barack Obama won not solely on the issues, but because a lot of people want to participate in a historical moment i.e. electing the first African-American president. I’m surprised why many Americans ignore a more qualified, capable and experienced presidential candidate in favor of a political greenhorn who has little to offer except the promise of change.
Has US politics began to imitate Philippine politics? Do we vote candidates just because they look good on TV and possess a certain level of charisma and appeal? Do we tend to ignore candidates’ qualifications for political office and look for star power instead? The answer is a resounding YES! And unfortunately, many voters in the USA (not all, though) has started to think that way in their voting preferences.
I have nothing against Obama. Indeed, I like him and I think that he will make a good leader in the future. But not now, when tough economic situations demand a stronger and more capable leader. President-elect Barack Hussein Obama, Jr., in my opinion, fails to meet that standard.
Just my thoughts.
rego on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 12:04 pm
and who is more capable? John Mc Cain? He cannot even come up with a consistent economic plan. He is presenting a different plan almost every other week, kaya nakakalito.
btw you check Obamas economic advisers that he meet last week in the form of a summit, Although warren buffet was not present physically he joined teh summit via phone patch,
hvrds on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 12:10 pm
“I have nothing against Obama. Indeed, I like him and I think that he will make a good leader in the future. But not now, when tough economic situations demand a stronger and more capable leader. President-elect Barack Hussein Obama, Jr., in my opinion, fails to meet that standard.”
“Just my thoughts.” The blind leading the blind pundit or a doctoral graduate from the Sarah Palin University in Wasila, Alaska
“Ben Bernanke is the closest thing to a central economic planner the United States has ever had. He bestrides our narrow economic world like a colossus. Unelected (he was appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by an overwhelming majority in the Senate) and
unaccountable (unless the Congress decides that it wishes to amend the Federal Reserve Act and take the blame for whatever else goes wrong with the economy), he is responsible only to his conscience — and his
open-market committee of himself, the other six governors of the Federal Reserve Board, and the 12 presidents of the regional Federal Reserve banks.”
“The fate of the economy in the next administration depends far less on the president than on this moral-philosopher-prince to whose judgment we have entrusted a remarkable share of control over our
destiny.”
“How did an ivory-tower academic whose specialty is the details of the Great Depression get to this position? What does he do all day? How did so much power come to rest in a single institution, a single individual? The current system is the product of a century and a half
of evolution in the role of a central bank, on both sides of the Atlantic, through a series of accidents and crises. For a generation, the idea of social democracy — with government ownership, control, and regulation of at least the “commanding heights” of the economy –has been in retreat. But in the middle of this market economy is an
immense island of central planning: the Federal Reserve. In normal times, the Fed — not the market — decides what the short-term interest rate is. The interest rate is perhaps the key price in the economy. It is the price at which we trade wealth in the present for wealth in the future.”
anthony scalia on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 2:01 pm
leytenian,
“The entrepreneurs will learn how to find loopholes of US tax system under Obama
The practice of cheating and unethical tax practices will be rampant. Obama must tighten the rules. Can he do this? Of course but the skills will not be coming from him instead He will be blamed 
”
not really entrepreneurs – entrepreneurial lawyers and CPAs!
then it was consulting on “creative accounting” for financial statements to be submitted to stock exchanges
now it will be “creative tax compliance”
blaming Obama? wouldn’t that be difficult – isolating Obama’s missteps from Dubya’s massive colossal boo-boos?
loy on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 2:09 pm
@rego, it doesn’t matter if he presents different economic plans. Plans change according to the situation. An economic plan before the financial crisis is a whole lot different from one after that.
Anybody who thinks that Obama is more qualified to be president than McCain should have their brains examined. I’m just joking, but how can you trust the entire global economy to a 2-year senator?
Of course, it’s only natural for a president to assemble the best and brightest minds in the economic landscape. Warren Buffet has said before the election that he will serve the next president whoever he might be.
loy on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 2:11 pm
“I have nothing against Obama. Indeed, I like him and I think that he will make a good leader in the future. But not now, when tough economic situations demand a stronger and more capable leader. President-elect Barack Hussein Obama, Jr., in my opinion, fails to meet that standard.â€
“Just my thoughts.†The blind leading the blind pundit or a doctoral graduate from the Sarah Palin University in Wasila, Alaska…
What’s that holier than thou approach, eh?
TonGuE-tWisTeD on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 4:32 pm
Can you enlighten me on what the acceptable standards are?
Is it the same standards like California electing an actor replacing the experienced politician, Gov. (Brown, was it?) in the middle of an electricity crisis? Did Arnold solve the problem?
anthony scalia on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 6:27 pm
loy,
“…but how can you trust the entire global economy to a 2-year senator?”
i wonder what were the comments on a governor (with zero Washington experience) being entrusted with the global economy way back in 1992?
loy on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 6:48 pm
anthony scalia,
At least Clinton had nearly a decade of executive experience. Ditto with Bush, though it’s only 5 years.
rego on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 8:11 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/weekinreview/09sokolove.html?_r=1&ref=weekinreview&oref=slogin
anthony scalia on Mon, 10th Nov 2008 9:40 pm
loy,
“At least Clinton had nearly a decade of executive experience. Ditto with Bush, though it’s only 5 years.”
its easy to say that now, looking back.
and Arkansas’ economy is nowhere close to global as California and New York.
Dubya shares something with his old man – they are turning over the presidency, with the nation reeling from economic turmoil, to a democrat
Marcus Aurelius on Tue, 11th Nov 2008 11:47 am
Economic turmoil in ‘92? Hah, nothing like we see now. Building was practically booming back then in comparison to now.
As far as vote fraud goes, it was present, just not in big enough numbers to make a difference (at least in the presidential numbers) a number of ACORN volunteers have been charged with fraud. As far as Obama not returning PGMA’s call it is probably because he was too busy acknowledging Ahmednuttyjihad’s congratulations.
Marcus Aurelius on Tue, 11th Nov 2008 1:01 pm
TonGuE-tWisTeD,
Governor Gray Davis was ousted by Arnold.