By Alejandro Lichauco
ANALYSIS
03/23/2009
If there?s any doubt at all that US President Obama has decided to support this regime ? in spite of the corruption charges hurled by the World Bank (WB) and the US State Department just a few weeks back ? that doubt has been dispelled by the decision of the WB to extend the regime a $3-billion loan aid for its projects. This after weeks of international publicity on WB and US State Department open denunciation of corruption in high places. Judging by the prominence given those charges, unprecedented in their directness and open assault on Malaca?ang and the Judiciary ? one might be forgiven for his expectation that the Philippines is about to witness another US-backed ?regime change.?
But following the cascade of publicly given to the WB and State Department assault came that celebrated overseas conversation between Obama and GMA ? this time on initiative of Obama ? concerning the status of the VFA and America?s war on terror. Following which came Nicole?s recantation; and following which in turn demands the abrogation of the VFA.
Then comes now the story carried by this paper in its issue of Saturday (?Corruption key to WB?s $3-B aid to RP?). Read the story and what it tells you is that the WB is taking back everything that it has said about corruption in this country, virtually announcing that it was considering ? another word for ?approving? ? a $3-billion loan to the regime to finance projects against poverty and to support what it calls ?good governance.?
But that is as expected. In a prior piece, this writer maintained that the US-China military confrontation in the South China Sea area has highlighted the importance of the Philippines as a strategic base of operations for the United States and the indispensability of this country as a base from which to launch an attack on China in some eventual future.
So, if shouldn?t come as a surprise that shortly after that overseas call from the US President, reportedly on the subject of the VFA (for what other subject could he have called about), the WB should immediately announcing its decision to ?consider? ? again, another word for ?approve? ? a $3-billion loan aid to this government.
China?s display of military resolve in the South China Sea apparently worked very much in favor of GMA insofar as securing US support ? which, in operative terms, refraining from any further acts of destabilization.
The WB action stand is in stark contrast to the denunciation issued by the European Union (EU) against this regime for its human rights violations. The EU could of course afford such a stance of hostility because it doesn?t have any military interest to protect in this country. And besides, the EU isn?t known to be in military confrontation with China.
So there we have it. Forget all that talk ? at least on the part of Obama ? about his administrations? determination to promote good governance along with democracy around the world and his warning to one and at that corrupt governments abroad are on the wrong side of history. It was an international advisory widely interpreted here, particularly by the opposition, to mean that Obama is just about to do GMA in as his predecessors did Marcos and Estrada in.
Nope. It?s clear that America?s first black President is sticking to the usual approach that has marked American foreign policy in the last hundred or so years. Meaning, the US government will support any and all kinds of foreign governments, regardless of their morals, ideology and politics, as long as those governments serve America?s foreign policy interests. Hence, the support for Saddam as long as he served America?s interest: For Pinochet, as long as he served America?s interest; Ngo Dinh Diem, as long as he served America?s interest; Noriega, as long as he served America?s interest. And so on ad infinitum.
Of this the opposition should be aware: In the conduct of its international politics, to the US there never has been any such thing as transparency, good governance and even democracy.
Both Obama and GMA now stand joined and united on the same side of history.
I’m truly amazed with the dispatch that CD posted the above as today’s topic. I scoured first all other newspapers on line, but it’s only the column of Alejandro Lichauco that this piece of info appeared and therefore, CD has a scoop of sort, much ahead of any other blogs.
And so it appears now, there’s no CHANGE at all when it comes to Obama’s miuch touted battlecry as candidate. That is if we based it on what’s stated above and we repeat it here:
“It’s clear that America’s first black President is sticking to the usual approach that has marked American foreign policy in the last hundred or so years. Meaning, the US government will support any and all kinds of foreign governments, regardless of their morals, ideology and politics, as long as those governments serve America’s foreign policy interests.”
Somebody texted me that the news about the $3-B aid in the form of loan was in the newspapers yesterday. I stand corrected because I was not able to read yesteday’s news. Mea culpa.
But in the matter of having it in the blog open for comments and discussion, I hope I’m not mistaken to say CD is ahead of others in posting it.
The Macapagal-Arroyo regime’s puppetry to United States (U.S.) imperialism is unsurpassed in the Philippines’ nearly six decades of nominal flag independence. In exchange it will get what it deserves: recognition as U.S. imperialism’s premier lapdog in the region and barely even scraps from its master.
Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, President Arroyo not only expressed sympathy with its victims but, in the same breath, eagerly and unconditionally committed the country’s “all-out support” to the U.S. – there was not even the pretense of going through the motions of understanding the entirety of the situation and what such support entails. On Sept. 12 she wrote U.S. President George W. Bush: “We extend whatever support we can muster… We will help in whatever way we can to strengthen the global effort to crush those responsible for this barbaric act.” Subsequent events showed this was no simple emotional outburst borne of the tragedy.
Nine days after 9/11, in a speech at a joint session of the U.S. Congress, President Bush declared the U.S.’s protracted and borderless “war on terror” and threatened “every nation, in every region… either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” Less than a week later, on Sept. 26, President Arroyo wholeheartedly and unqualifiedly offered overflight rights and the use of the country’s airfields and naval facilities for the transit, staging and refueling of whatever military response the U.S. undertakes. More than that, she also declared preparedness to deploy Philippine soldiers, support and medical personnel if requested. The very next day she proudly announced efforts for a U.S.-inspired and ASEAN-endorsed regional anti-terrorist campaign. The Philippines was the first country in Asia to offer such concrete, categorical and, indeed, fawning support.
All that in barely two weeks after 9/11. Since then the Macapagal-Arroyo regime has continued to affirm its extraordinary loyalty to U.S. imperialism in a host of ways, completely reversing any gains made by the people’s movement for national independence and democracy in the previous decades that peaked with the removal of the U.S. bases in 1991.
Direct military support for worldwide U.S. militarism has so far consisted of allowing the use of the country’s airspace, air and naval facilities by American invasion and occupation forces during so-called “Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan” and “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” However the U.S.’s overall geopolitical agenda for the Philippines goes far beyond just this and it aims to consolidate the country as a vital strategic location for regional force projection.[
Obama, with barely 2 months in office, will face many challenges in the area of foreign policy, but in general terms, his biggest mistake would be “business as usual” — continuing the policy of dominance versus balance, the policy of partisan favoritism on issues that should be judged instead on their respective merits. A continuation of a policy of ignoring and supporting injustice because of the inconvenience of doing otherwise, as in the case of what’s happening in our country. Surely, it’s a big letdown to those who believed that change as he advocated will have a far reaching effect and will be hard on those who are perceived corrupt and abusive while in power.
THE US-RP VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT
* ratified by the Philippine Senate on May 27, 1999
* 2/3 of the votes was needed so that VFA may achieve senate concurrence
* 18 senators voted in favor of VFA; 5 voted against it
FOR VFA (18)
* Senate President Marcelo Fernan,
* Senate President Pro Tempore Blas Ople
* Senator Franklin Drilon
* Senator Rodolfo Biazon
* Senator Francisco Tatad
* Senator Renato Cayetano
* Senator Teresa Aquino-Oreta
* Senator Robert Barbers
* Senator Robert Jaworski
* Senator Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.
* Senator John Osmeña
* Senator Juan Flavier
* Senator Mirriam Defensor-Santiago
* Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile
* Senator Vicente Sotto III
* Senator Ramon Revilla
* Senator Anna Dominique Coseteng
* Senator Gregorio Honasan
AGAINST VFA (5)
* Senator Teofisto Guingona, Jr.
* Senator Raul Roco
* Senator Sergio Osmena III
* Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr.
* Senator Loren Legarda-Leviste
Scrap VFA– JOMA win.
The VFA is a concrete manifestation of the enduring alliance between the Philippines and the United States
The much-publicized phone call placed by US President Barack Obama to Arroyo supporting the VFA. Under the Bush regime, the US government sent hundreds of millions in military aid to the Philippine government for US military operations in the Philippines.
It is hypocritical for the Obama administration to support the VFA and Arroyo. This signifies no departure from the much-hated Bush policies of US intervention in the Philippines. Coming from someone who rode on the slogan ‘Change We Can Believe In’, Obama’s US foreign policy so far in the Philippines is no different from Bush in his push for costly US militarization of the region and monetary support for a regime that has proven itself to be tyrannical and to funnel US military aid towards human rights violations against its people.
In the matter of this mind boggling $3-B aid loan to fight corruption “kuno”, we would like to think that Obama is ill-served by his advisers and staff. They might have been given wrong information or simply blindsided and overwhelmed by the crushing demands of the presidency. We could now hear wrangling at the White House, US congress and disenchatment in the media who are most ardent supporting candidate Obama. But what is appaling is, hard hitting critics are immediately receiving harsh retorts and and being bamboozled. A columnist comment: “Though novice presidency makes mistakes and blunders, it’s modus operandi should not conspiratorial reflex cynicism. “
Obama’s inaugural speech: To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
On these lines, palakpakan tayo because we are of the thinking the he was alluding to the present administration. Obama being elusive drew cheers from Filipinos because we thought that here’s the man so unlike of his predecessor and hope reverberated that change is really in the offing. But when a telephone call came so unexpectedly from Obama to gorya, the firmament suddenly become gloomy. In a matter of days, Nicole recants her testimony having her doubts that she was really raped by a Daniel Smith, a US soldier who was convicted by the court of the crime beyond reasonable doubt. And amidst the furor that follows, came a $3-B aid (but it’s a loan) to fight corruption.
Who is perceived to be corrupt? Who will receive the loan to fight corruption? Who will take charge in fighting corruption?
Hindi kaya naturuan ni Goryang si Obama? Hindi ba nuong kabagobago ni Goryang, sabi niya, ‘i will be the best president the phil can have’, or something to that effect, nagpalakpakan din ang mga kapinoyan nuon. Hindi kaya nag promise ng tongpats kay Oba si Omama goryang? Nakakatakot na baka ang mga pinuno ng mga ibang bansa ay gayahin na ang style ng huli sa pagnanankaw at pagsisinungaling.
mukhang nagbago ang patakaran ni barack..Ano nga ang sabi niya…he was for change? ang sabi niya noong inauguration niya at ang ginagawa niya ay magkaiba nga..what else is new? nanalo si putot…barack changed his mind…ang buhay ng politico!
It’s mind-boggling the amount of money President Obama and Gloria are playing with.
Obama is neither smart enough or experienced enough to have thought out all these new tax proposals he plans on congress implementing. Obama only has one talent and that’s his ability to mesmerize an audience. Everything else will be on the job training. All of his key advisors will be approved with the advice and consent of congress, or not. Barack Obama’s entering the Oval Office in the misguided perception, “He’s the man”. If Obama thinks for a moment he’s immune to congressional and media scrutiny he’s badly mistaken. Pelosi and Schumer will own him from day one and there are still enough Republicans in congress to keep him late at night.
An inexperienced president a Democratic majority in congress then add a weak minority political party and what we have is a recipe for financial disaster. The financial disaster will effect the small investor’s, retirement funds, home equity for those who had any equity in their homes and a few speculative investors. The smart money was strategically pulled out of the markets early in the year. The person who earns a million dollars has a greater appreciation for the dollar than the person who is hired to manage the million. Congresses claim is they will only increase taxes on the richest of the population. Congresses history on tax reform tells us they never passed a tax bill effecting the rich that doesn’t have gaps wide enough to drive an armored car through.
Two things are a fact congress has already worked out there solution to this bust in the financial bubble. Congress always has a plan and it’s doubtful Obama has a clue what congress has or is doing about it. The problem with congressional solution is Joe Six Pack and Joe the Plumber are never included on the winning end of things, they’re always the victims. Those in the middle have less representation than the fat cats and therefore are the first to be taken advantage of. Only the politicians and their chosen few the super rich are the beneficiaries of market collapses. Congress seems to be divided into two groups, those on the inside and those who will never make it to the inside. The select few wrote the rule of congress to assure their authority can’t be challenged, ergo the few rule the congressional masses.
Congressional Republicans predicted a doomsday scenario of crushing debt and eventual federal bankruptcy if President Barack Obama’s massive spending blueprint wins passage.
Parebg Barak administration’s 2010 budget will entail the most drastic curtailment in public spending in American history, leading to social havoc and the potential impoverishment of millions of people. Defense spending and bank bailouts will consume all government revenue resulting in fiscal collapse that will lead to the privatization of the state.
Pareng JoeSeg at Cocoy,
Nahirapan akong umintindi ng englisan ninyo sa topic na ito.Ang masasabi ko lang ay itong si Pareng Barak mayroon palang kapilyuahang itinatago,pakipot pa kunyari kay Arroyo iyun pala ay bibigay din.Naloko ni Nicole ang mga Pinoy,ngayon naman pagbukas ng telon si Pareng Barak naman ang maglalaro sa kaisipan ng mga bother brawn.
Palagay ko ay makukumbinse na ni Pareng Cocoy si Pareng Trublu na mali ang ibinoto niya at ipinagtangol si Obama.
According to Marxism the standard of morality arises from our political standpoint, which in turn is determined by our economic condition. Thus if I have no money to buy bread, I will take the political stand of siding with the oppressed masses. This means that to steal from the landlord becomes right; I am not guilt of theft. I am only taking back what he has exploited from my class.
As I posted earlier, disenchantment on BO among media is now showing and foremost is the New York Times when its editorial criticized BO on his handling of the economy and national security. It’s headlined: Friendly Fire
It’s not unusual for BO to take a little friendly fire from the Times. Their critique punctuated a weekend that started with a widely circulated blog post by Paul Krugman that said the president’s yet to be announced bank rescue plan would almost certainly fail.
The sentiment, coming just two months after the president was sworn in, reflects elite opinion in the Washington-New York corridor that BO is increasingly overwhelmed, and not fully appreciative of the building tsunami of populist outrage.
I’ll stick my guns to Obama until the cows come home. Common sense slips away so easily for even people who seem to have it. Two months into his presidency and the rightists all the way to those extreme rightwingers simply want this brother to fail. If you live in the US, why such paradigm exist is pure betrayal to what this administration is working on to FIX THE HUGE DEFICITS WILLED TO HIM by GWB and his minions. And now, you see the same Senators and Congressmen telling the democrats, THIS IS HOW we fix the economy, THIS IS HOW we solve these problems, Crap! you fucked up the whole economy in the first place, so the GOP’s should just zip it. As my man Barack said, when pressed to answer the same question: Obama said “the GOP’s are Constructive and the Democrats are Inclusive” which is damn true – meaning just shut the hell up and we’ll solve the mess you left us.
American people are not that stupid. If he cannot deliver, 2012 is just around the corner and I’ll vote for Palin so the good ol’ USA will always have fun under the sun. We’ll just wink, wink, wink our lives for all I care. The wink to nowhere under “Mrs Morality” model (Where’s the marriage you promised your daughter will have this year??)
Going back to Lichauco’s column, he “maintained that the US-China military confrontation in the South China Sea area has highlighted the importance of the Philippines as a strategic base of operations for the United States and the indispensability of this country as a base from which to launch an attack on China in some eventual future.”
What could be the consequences based on Lichauco’s apprehension?
1. BO might “intercede” so that GMA will stay in power beyond 2010.
2. GMA then will allow US forces to come under the VFA as she has no more power to say no, otherwise…
3. The story of Nicole will be repeated many times over
Who is Lichauco? Is he credible enough? Was he just writing over and through his head?
From what I’ve read, WB last friday MAY PROVIDE 700 to 1Billion dollars to RP over the next three years for various programs to lift poverty out of the sandbox and for good governance. BUT under it’s NEW COUNTRY Assistance Program, this loan from WB, NOT THE US, repeat, NOT THE US, can only go into effect IF THE ARROYO REGIME can give a good, logical explaination of it’s mile long charges of corruption and human rights violations – key points in determining factor if LOAN of 3Billion will be authorized.
Not sure how Obama into this Shakesperean play.
JoeSeg – Professor and Nobel Prize Winah Phil Krugman could be singing a different tune these days. When you have so much talent in the tank, yet you were not handpicked for the Obama Administration in the financial or economics department, your ego is bruised.
Felt sooo shorry for him, but maybe it’s the bigote and too much beard – remember Richardson shaved when he was nominated for Commerce Secretary but back to his old self after his withdrawal. Obama wants to project a clean image and mustache is acceptable but not balbas or barbas, depending what region you’re from, hehe…
Am just wondering. How did it happen Obama can direct the World Bank to support the most corrupt administration for a $3b loan?
Had he forgotten his words during his inaugural speech which was not dealing with the corrupt and deceit?
He is barely two months in office yet he forgets that fast?
This is not for the interest of the US but calling for his imminent downfall!
Gloria? Of all people?
Haaay!
This VFA stuff should be shoved down the gutter long time ago. It only applies to the US Military, no one else, they’re always under the microscope. They’re there to help but their intensions are misconstrued more than understood. I wish the US will just withdraw it’s entire Embassy and all it’s DOD personnel.
Do other foreign forces personnel really behave when in the Philippines having a good time on their nights or days off? I’ve never heard of any Indonesian, Malaysian, or other foreign military personnel in trouble in the Philippines. Not even drunkeness? Rape maybe? OR the law simply ignore them since there’s not much at stake. I can hear cops saying this: “huwag ng hulihin ang mga walang kuwentang iyan, yung Kano ang dakmain natin”!!
Apo – don’t skip the lines of my posts. Read thru the lines! The KeyWord is MAYBE. Gluerilla has lots of explaining to do before the money is handed down. Should it happen, Gluerilla won’t be in power by then, if the voting Filipinos will be smart.
Over a week or so, former “Five Times draft Deferral” VP Cheney claimed the Ameican People are not safe with the Obama administration. Well put Dicky, your friends are not even safe with you duckhunting!!! They got shot point blank!!
Former US Presidents are not to indulge in blasting the sitting president, it’s not a written rule but just a matter of respect to the presidency. For me to put it in the context of humor, in the game of football – GWB, Dick, Rummy, Governor Sanford of SC, Boehner, Cantor, Lindsey Graham, were in the huddle with Bush 41 giving the “audible” call of the middle finger towards Obama. Didn’t include my friend John McCain in the huddle since he can no longer block nor pass but he can nonetheless fumble, no offense Johnny boy, a wink, wink here.
In all seriousness, Cheney had GWB’s blessings by making those fickled statements, my personal view.
True Republicans Aahnold and Crist of Florida took their share of the stimulus to help the people of their states. Sanford, who is on the way out as governor, is exercising his deep-rooted southern upbringing, pretending to be so modest and declined the money. Goodluck to the people of South Carolina.
Another GOP Governor, Jim Gibbons of Nevada rejected the money offered and said: most of the money will go to extension of unemployment benefits for six months, it’s a waste of good dollars. Geeez Gov, six months will help thousands of people!!! Yet, a few weeks earlier, he approved a PAY INCREASE FOR HIS STAFF!!
The COWS will soon get home!
It is clear how this strategy is being applied in Asia Pacific and across the globe by the United States of America and I personally do not see any change coming even from Obama. Using the pretext of “war against terrorism” and other so-called threats to the security of the region, the US government is increasingly and steadily deploying its forces, rebuilding its military bases, securing stronger and more reliable military alliances and security partnerships, gaining more access to ports, airfields and air spaces. But soon the combat missions that we now see in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao, will be replicated throughout the Philippines, in Southeast Asia and other parts of the Asia Pacific. America’s objective in Asia Pacific is to maintain a strong military power never seen before in the entire history of the region.
US military power in the region addresses the American Empire’s strategic objectives to contain the rise of power competitors such as – but not limited to – China, and deter the growth of other threats to its hegemony including revolutionary movements and the rise of independent regimes.
Because Asia Pacific is a vast mass of land and sea territory with huge economic and geopolitical potentials, and because it is contiguous to the American mainland and its Pacific territories, this region remains of strategic interest to the United States. Without a strong power projection in Asia Pacific, America’s drive for global hegemony and domination will be threatened.
Obama and Omama ay nagsama na.HIHIHIHIHIHIHIH
Papadok,
Tama ka,hindi bibitawan ng kano ang Pilipinas.
Obama, the president of the world including the Pinas of Gloria.
I said it before, no American president will throw Pinas out, the only difference between them and Barack is that Mr. Teleprompter is so madaldal to the point of telling all and sundry that he won’t tolerate “those who are on the other side of history”, which Barackians and anti-Gloria immediately concluded referring to the putang Little One.
Now, Obama can tell Gloria…’my Little One’, both of us “now stand joined and united on the same side of history”. Har! har! har!
The US of A will never cease to insist its presence in the Far East particularly in Philippines because our country lies strategically along and with the routes to and from the American lines of interests and it is not that its leaders are salivating to be socially or economically identified with any Philippine leader, then and now. It is only America’s interest. No more, no less.
will never cease INSISTING……along and WITHIN….
Chi – Obama is what I call now, “Pendulum Head”, Mr Teleprompter is much genteel.
FYI, wala ng sex si Barack at Michelle since moving to the WH. Michelle is content with visiting children nationwide and pagarden-garden na lang while Obama has now a new sex partner – himself. He spends his nights watching reruns of himself of the days televised pronouncements, he claim it’s so much better than sex.
Chi,
It is the small one who will tell Obama “we now belong to the shame side of history, united and joined till the rest of your term, but I shall stay forever”.
Fakhifot kha fa, sha akhin rhin fala magfo-fall down!
Hindi fha lasheng ‘yun!
How much more if she’s already granted the $3b loan?
TruBlue,
Maybe Barack’s could not get his eyes off himself whenever he watches reruns of his engagement/s because he’s falling in love with himself! Imagine being elected as president of the world’s most powerful nation? Maybe he’s kissing his imagine in the tube.
Ahay! Vacklushh!
Tru,
I like “Pendulum Head” better. That’s how my hubby calls him, too.
Wala na bang “yehawwww” si Barack? That well explains how he came to embrace the Little One, a diversion from himself. Hahaha!
Apohikain,
Oo nga ano, two term lang si Barack, the most, but the putang Little One will stay forever.
Huh!, You are making takot me!
Si papa Edong kasi, sinabi na mas meron matututunan si Barack sa kanyang pekeng presidente. Ayan tuloy, Barack is giving her $3B in aid of ‘experience’.
Para palang greenhorn si Barack, ano?
Wala pang experience. And gloria will be doing him the baptism of ano na nga ‘yun? Baka kasi madulas ang dila ko, mahirap na!
Mahal namang bayad sa experience ‘yun. $3b?
Tsk. tsk. tsk.
The Fatso is surely jumping happily inside his pen!
Apohicain…ha, ha. Ayos iyan kabayang Chi. Tutal pro-McCain iyan kaya HiCain. Matutuwa ang amo ko sa sagot ko. Sa tutoo lang, ako ang nagturo sa amo ko sa mga jokes na nababasa niyo. Nagtataka ang amo ko kung bakit napakaraming mga Kastila dito sa Madrid.
I like Barak to be our president and support him,majority of Americans voted for him,although I don’t! but I am growing impatient. I don’t understand how anyone can say he is living up to his campaign promises. He violated his promise to give the public notice before he signs bills just days after taking office. He talked endlessly about change in Washington and went and re-hired the Clinton squad. He talked about not hiring lobbyists and nominated several for cabinet positions. He changed his definition of income brackets. He promised a windfall profits tax on big oil, but has reneged on this too. We should have seen this coming when he reneged on campaign finance reform. I think Mr. Obama has the potential to be one of the finest presidents in this nation’s short history. The time is ripe for reform and we are desperately looking for leadership after the many failures of recent years. If he continues though with making and breaking promises people are eventually lose trust in him. I for one find it disturbing that he is so ready to break promises that appeared to be made in earnest and that the public is not willing to call him on it. I find this more threatenning than the real meat and potatoes of any policy he might put forward.
Hoy artsee,
Tenk u at pakiss muna, mwahh!!! Salamat sa iyo, kahit isa kang nincompoop na bakla, ginawa mong mapanalo ako sa pustahan na muli kang magpoposte sa CD at nagpatunay na isang kang dakilang BAKLA!!! Kla! Kla! Kla!
Hindi mo ba napansin ang mga posters sa CD ay puro may nilalaman ang komento maliban sa iyo na walang laman dahil walang laman ang utak mong bugok! Palibhasa, isa kang bakla!! Kla! kla! kla!
May amo ka pala eh pinagyayabang mo rito na mayaman ka. Sa bagay alam naman ng lahat na puro hangin ka lang at dito lumabas na ang totoo na hindi ka lang isang kulang sa pansin na bakla, isa ka ring BADING. Palakpakan
I am not a US voter yet I am one among those following closely what is happening in US politics. Like everybody else, I would like President Obama to succeed because his success will reverberate around the world in terms of economic rebound and perhaps it will include our homeland. There are too much expectation from Obama that is why, two months in the White House, many are already disappointed including myself.
Looking back and recalling the presidential campaign, we now realized that Hope and Change was a marketing ploy that worked. It meant something different to every person who heard it. It addressed all fears and issues in words, but nothing in actuality.
Obama needs to follow through on what he promised.
We are not saying that Obama created the mess, but he is making a bigger mess! He has backed out on all the promises he made. When did Obama read them stimulous line by line, when did the public get 5 days to critique it and so many gaffes. The list goes on.
I still have high hopes on Obama but look what happened in succession.
The day Obama was elected, the market crashed. The day he was inaugurated, the market crashed. The day he announced his bailout plan, the market crashed.
Big business and investors have NO confidence in Obama.
Albert, continue ko lang ang poste mo ha.
Warren Buffet might have been so annoyed about the series of market crash which cut Berkshire Hathaway in half that he advised Obama to just focus on the economy and forget his social engineering while the US market is in so bad shape.
Buffet must have been horribly surprised by the market’s non-confidence in his guy.
Barack is sabog trying to do a lot of things at the same time in order to impress everyone around the world, even his newfound Korap Little One in Pinas.
Obama is still in campaign mode. It looks like this guy is not serious. When ABC 60 minutes interview him about the economy, he laughs and he looks arrogant. He doesn’t look presidential at all. I still do not trust him. Many promises he made had been broken already.
So many voters were dupe in his “change we can believe in”.
Unfortunately, Obama does not strategize his CHANGE to better off the US economy!
Jandelou, I also noticed that whenever Obama is cornered in any interviews, he just laughs to hide his ’emptiness’ especially so when his partner Mr. Tele is not around to save his day.
“Do not do unto others what you dont want others do unto you. Two months barely into office, I don’t think you will be happy being criticized in the same predicament. Here is a quite simple analogy: Let’s say Danny Lim gets elected prez of our lovely homeland, critics will say including me, what does he know? what is his experience? his resume is thin! It’s two months and he hasn’t done a squat! There is no change! It’s all talk! He doesn’t look like presidential? His promises are already broken!? He duped again the Juan Tamads and Marya Bukingkings! He is not to be trusted! He is only a Brig General! No politics experience! Folks, Danny Lim could be your father, brother, relative, friend. Being a fair-minded observer of life in general, I will NEVER say that to anyone who is a little over 60 days into the most powerful job in the world.
Albert – the economy is all whacked out when Obama took office, unless your comments are based effective January 20th of this year.
Puknangna kang Albert. Tonong apohikain ka. Hindi mo ba ako titigilan? Nagsumbong na sa akin ang aking alalay. Hindi na daw niya masikmura ang tirada ninyo sa akin (dalawa o tatlo lang naman kayo). Iyan mga lumitaw na bagong mga pangalan wala naman dito kahit isang buwan nagkaraan. Ang pangalan ko noon pang Enero 2008 dahil kami ni Cocks ang nag-umpisa. Huwag niyo akong buwisitin dahil nandito ako sa Germany. Bibili ako ng German Shephered para ipasalubong sa inyo. Gago!
Sent from my BlackBerry
O, ‘andito na pala si fartsee, este si artsee? ‘Ambilis naman ng biyahe mo? D’yan ka agad sa Germany?
Tsk. tsk. tsk. Sira na naman ang talakayan dito sa CD.
Tamang tama. Dalawin mo ang libing ng lolo mong si Aristutil Ungasis, tutal ‘and’yan ka na rin lang.
Ingat ka sa bibilhin mong German shepherd. Galit ang breed ng asong ‘yan sa mga hambog at walang laman ang utak kundi kayabangan at salaula ang bungangang katulad mo. Lalapain ka niyan!
TruBlue,
Who knows, Danny Lim might be spending his time reading books about PROPER governance as preparation for his eventual entry to the presidential race or somewhat come 2010?
We don’t have to judge a person on how thick or thin is his experience but the ideals he espouses. Look at our present situation now under a “well educated, politically experienced and economically expert UNELECTED president, how was it since her day one in office? More than EIGHT long years, not even a single word she said during her term was fulfilled. Every second of her misgovernance means NIGHTMARE and every word she speaks suffocates or strangles us.
Nothing changed in the lives of most Filipinos except worse to worst.
At saka, fartsee (sama ng amoy), hindi kaya nandito kami ay dahil sa iyo kundi dahil kay Mr. Cocoy. Ikaw lamang sa lahat kahit saan mang blog ang PINAKABUSADO at laging MAY TOYO sa bumbunan.
Wala ka nang ginawa kundi MAGYABANG, MAGHAMBOG, MANGALANDAKANG MAYAMAN wala namang nagtatanong sa iyo dahil hindi interesado at lalong NADISMAYA ang mga datihan na dito at ‘yung ibang gustong makilahok sa talakayan dahil sa KABASTUSAN mo.
Magbago ka na, bitchevil!
Kararating ko lang dito sa UK at eto naman si tangnang aponicain na pumatay kay Abel. Hindi ko ugali ang magpalit ng pangalan dahil kaya kong harapin ang sino man. Anong bitchevil and pinagsasabi mo ulol ? Iyon Ingles ng Ingles? Kumpare ni Haponesa iyon. Tahimik na sa akin ang iba dahil mas kilala nila ako. Di tulad mo na gagamit pa ng ibang alyas para lang ako tirahin. Magsasalita ako sa British Parliament bukas at pinag-aaralan ko pa ang speech ko.
Sent from my BlackBerry
fartsee,
Paanong hindi tatahimik ang iba ay napuno na nga sa mga kabastusan mo?
Parliament na sinasabi mo?
Sa loob ka lang kubetang nilalangaw at inuuod dahil sa umaapaw na ebak nababagay!
fartsee,
Huwag ka dito. Para kang magnanakaw niyan, eh. Doon ka mag-post sa unahan dahil doon ay may direksiyon ang talakayan.
Kusabagay, ano ba ang maiaambag mong matino, eh puro hangin ang laman ng ulo mo?
O, sige. Hindi ko na ipagpipilitang ikaw si bitchevil, kung ayaw mo.
Basta para sa akin, ikaw ay bitch and evil. Okey ba?
Si Obama alangan itim at alangan na puti. We just don’t know his racial preference deep in his heart. That’s an advantage. He could play both side of the cards and come up the winner.
Chi,
Obama’s second press conference was a boring one. And he hates the media because they are asking him a hard question. Now, he has a wide screen flat panel TV as his teleprompter facing him directly so that it will show that he is directly talking to americans. Siguro, nasaktan siya sa tawag sa kanya na Pingpong President.
penchanco,
Noy, ‘wag na nating pasakitin ang ulo natin kung ano’ng kulay ang balat ni Obama. Basta’t isipin nating mahilig siya sa pula puti.
he he heeh! Peace!
‘Tagal mong nawala, ah!
Kumustasa?
If this is true… $3 Billion worth of package for the Philippines is really huge amount and it will help so many Filipinos for their health, food, education and some infrastructure projects. I just hope that the proper agencies who will be handling this amount would be that honest and take our corruption in their mind and heart.