U.S. Election Results 2008

It's over, Barack Obama wins.

Obama garnered a whopping 338 349 electoral votes (270 are needed to win) over John McCain's 141 163 to become the 44th President of the United States. McCain has graciously accepted the result. He said, "Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much, and tonight, I remain her servant."

For Obama, winning the presidential race is the easy part. The hard part comes next - which is actually leading his country.

For the next four years, Obama will have his hands full. He would have to deal with the economic crisis that the U.S. is currently experiencing; the troops in Iraq; foreign relations; the energy/oil siuation;  the budget deficit; healthcare and taxes. I don't expect any radical changes happening in the near future, but I believe positive changes will happen during his term. He can't do any worse than Dubya, can he?

Coffee For Your Vote

If Americans still aren't enticed to go out and vote later, maybe this bit of information will entice them: Starbucks shows its civic duty (and marketing savvy) by giving away a cup of coffee to people who will vote on the 4th. Their tagline: If you care enough to vote, we care enough to give you a free cup of coffee.

Ba't walang ganyan dito sa Pinas?

The World Poll

My mini-poll (right side of the screen) currently shows Barack Obama leading John McCain 9-3, with 1 abstention. Not surprising really, as the Gallup polls reveal that world citizens prefer Obama to McCain by more than 3-to-1.

What is surprising is that in the Philippines, more people prefer McCain over Obama. An Inquirer article about a week ago states:

A Gallup Poll survey conducted in the Philippines in late May found 28 percent of respondents endorsing Republican John McCain -- and only 20 percent in favor of Democrat Barack Obama. A slim majority, 52 percent, had no opinion or refused to respond.

The Philippines thus earned a distinction as one of a handful of countries – the others include Georgia, Laos and Cambodia – where McCain is more popular than Obama.

Anyway, I prefer Obama, because of several reasons. I found this article in Dail Mail that pretty much sums up the reasons for my preference.

Why should we give a damn about the US election?

The US presidential election is first and foremost a domestic concern. Americans will be the ones directly affected by the outcome of the voting, especially now when their economy is wobbly. And as a sovereign nation, no one can blame them even if they choose a president who is vilified across the globe (i.e. Bush). It's akin to Filipinos caving in to our ASEAN neighbors' demand as to who is fit to lead our country, even though the Pinoy preference is different.

However, that doesn't mean that we should not give a damn about who the next US president will be. Every country will be affected by the choice that US will make on November 4. After all, whoever will become the US president will become the most powerful man in the planet - a modern-day king. While he'll be directly accountable to 300 million Americans, he'll also become the de facto leader of the 6 billion people living outside the United States. As the head of the US hegemony, his policies will have ramifications for US citizens and non-US citizens alike, whether he likes it or not. Whether WE like it or not.

So I'm interested as to how you will vote in the US election if you were allowed to. Please participate in the mock poll seen on the left side of the blog. Will you go for the Democratic ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden? Or will you choose the Grand Old Party's John McCain/Sarah Palin tandem?


Photo: Les James Humor, Flickr, Creative Commons

Fist bump heard 'round the world

The hoopla about Michelle and Barack's fist bump is kinda puzzling.

The fist bump lost its novelty for me when Jean-Claude Van Damme did it with monks in Double Team. Nowadays it is just as normal as a handshake or a high-five (and especially convenient if you have sweaty palms).

And you know it has really gone mainstream when two sixtysomething lady senators do a fist bump on CNN.

But to be implied by Fox News (a.k.a. Republicans' mouthpiece masquerading as a news network) that it is a "terrorist fist jab" is downright ridiculous it's hilarious. C'mon people, it's just a fist bump. No biggie.

Enough of Republicans

Despite my earlier post, I personally wouldn't have minded if Obama or Clinton gets the nod, as long as the next U.S. President is not a Republican. I think John McCain is a competent man, but I don't like the idea of another four years of Republican rule. Look where the Bush administration got the US - an impending recession, a Vietnam War-like dilemma and strained foreign relations. McCain has been distancing himself away from Bush, but I doubt if Bush's policies will be radically overhauled by McCain if he ever wins.


Photo: k_hargrav, Creative Commons, Flickr

Obama is it!

Barack Obama becomes the first black candidate to run for President after a drawn out battle against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party's nomination. Click here for the complete story.

The Democratic presidential nomination is a compelling story because it brings to the forefront the issue of gender and race (to put it simply). But if I were to choose, I'd pick Obama over Clinton. I like Obama's message of change and of hope. And his stand on some major issues are pretty sound too.

I admire Bill Clinton for his performance as president (no, not the performance on Monica Lewinsky). So I thought that some *Bill* might rub off on Hillary (no, not the infidelity). On the other hand, Hillary has that trapo vibe that makes my spider sense tingle. Okay, I don't have spider sense, but if I do, it will probably tell me that Hillary is a trapo. It seems as if she will do anything to win - to the point of being desperate. Her attempted crying and *misspeaking* reminds me of someone close to home.... So it's Obama for me.


Photo: jetheriot, Creative Commons, Flickr