It looks like everyone who was all fired up and ready to go is all tired out! Obamamania has somewhat died down. While US President-Elect Barack Obama is busy putting together his team, the rest are recovering from the heady experience of electing the first African-American to the world's highest and most influential office.
Since he has already been elected, the world has to wait to see if he can lead and govern. Evidently, Americans are optimistic -- if you go by their votes. But, many are equally un-ecstatic! I asked some of my American friends for their opinions. Two replied, with differing views. Below are excerpts of what they said.
"American voters are shallow and most have no substance or don't know enough about the issues. They are more interested in rockstar wannabes. Granted the guy inspired a bunch of minorities to vote. But understand this fact ... the voter turnout rate while much higher than the average of 60% reached at most 65 - 67%. To be sure roughly33 - 35% of this went to Obama...that is about 1/3 of ALL registered voters. Is this a mandate? ....
" .... never in history has a man gotten the top job with so little experience using so much rhetoric...style over substance. I only question what message it sends...that you don't need to pay your dues, really service your country and get experience to get the top job...just play a good game... but can you govern? Say you are in a traumatic accident and you are facing a fresh doctor and one with 30 yrs experience who will operate on you. Who will you pick? Once again the morality of the American people is questioned ... there is no room for integrity, service to the nation, character, age and experience. Just do a nice song and dance. Feckless. Vacuous. Pubescent. That's the American psyche."
Jeffrey Lim (pictured above in his office), a Malaysian, is now an American citizen. He lives in San Francisco, managing a successful landscape design business. He describes himself as a "fiscal conservative and a social moderate" and he articulates what, I believe, are real issues that were swept aside by Obamamania.
Since he has already been elected, the world has to wait to see if he can lead and govern. Evidently, Americans are optimistic -- if you go by their votes. But, many are equally un-ecstatic! I asked some of my American friends for their opinions. Two replied, with differing views. Below are excerpts of what they said.
"American voters are shallow and most have no substance or don't know enough about the issues. They are more interested in rockstar wannabes. Granted the guy inspired a bunch of minorities to vote. But understand this fact ... the voter turnout rate while much higher than the average of 60% reached at most 65 - 67%. To be sure roughly33 - 35% of this went to Obama...that is about 1/3 of ALL registered voters. Is this a mandate? ....
" .... never in history has a man gotten the top job with so little experience using so much rhetoric...style over substance. I only question what message it sends...that you don't need to pay your dues, really service your country and get experience to get the top job...just play a good game... but can you govern? Say you are in a traumatic accident and you are facing a fresh doctor and one with 30 yrs experience who will operate on you. Who will you pick? Once again the morality of the American people is questioned ... there is no room for integrity, service to the nation, character, age and experience. Just do a nice song and dance. Feckless. Vacuous. Pubescent. That's the American psyche."
Jeffrey Lim (pictured above in his office), a Malaysian, is now an American citizen. He lives in San Francisco, managing a successful landscape design business. He describes himself as a "fiscal conservative and a social moderate" and he articulates what, I believe, are real issues that were swept aside by Obamamania.
6 comments:
I'm not really fussed abt who is the new president thou.. Obamamania...crazy...But it does show that change is possible..Mahathir now says that anyone can be the prime minister...He;s eating his own words...he made sure that the malays(bumiputeras) had the idea that they rule and other races have no right to be the country's leader.. So not in the next 100 years i think malaysia will have a non-bumiputera leader...
Its bad...I wonder how long Obama can survive.... According to reports official and un-official, thr hv been 2 assassination attempts on his life already... Not all white's are ok with having a black president yet..
So imagine is a non-bumi person becomes a leader...same thing might happen...
i only have two things here.
1. No, the obamania is still there, well, at least for me. Im a daily browser of his new website, and yea,i get updates in my mails from the transition team.woohoo! Huffingtton post, cnn, dailykos, you name the blogs, i read em..hehe..aren't we glad we live in times like these? FINALLY, the rest of the world looks back up to the land of the free and the home of the brave! after 8 horrific years! worst MODERN president ever!
2. I am soooooooooo interested to be an american citizen! I love their history,and their politics. Together with my friend joaquin, we rule USA from UTAR...lol... How did you get your citizenship there? is it hard? And san francisco? amazing mate! (btw, hows PROP 8 coming along there? I have tonnes of friends protesting down the streets and i hope things go as they wish there..human rights..)
Ms gertrude, jst to let ya know, i like my country and its people very much too but things are getting worse by the day. not the people but their mentality!
Obama will survive long...he has a very well-experienced team of advisors. We should know that presidents dont make decisions on their own, they have advisors. And i trust hillary, john podesta, valerie jarret and RAHM EMANUEL to handle the country with full responsibility, unlike those republicans who brought shame to Ronald reagan's party!
America is standing tall now! Thank God! After election night, i dreamt of Abraham lincoln, Martin luther and JFK surrounding Obama during his victory speech! (chills down my spine!)
take care ms gertrude!
ms do update more often~~~ or are u stuck in writers block like me?? XD
Just two quick questions here:
(1) Isn't "phenomenon" spelt without the "n" in the centre? (You spelt it as "phenonmenon"). Am just wondering....
(2) Who's this hottie here?? ;)
In response to Kenny's Q on Prop 8..well the ones against gay marriage got it. They had more money to buy the airwaves. Frankly I think the gay community was slow in organizing a response until it was too little too late. I for one was not aware about the Prop until near voting day. Even worst I saw few anti-Prop 8 ads on the air. I can only blame the gay politicos incl the NGOs for underestimating the pro-Prop 8 forces who were much better organized.
Not to worry...in American politics you win some you lose some. In this case you lose and come fight another day.
As for the Q on emigrating to the US...er the best way is to marry an American cit excluding a gay marriage of course.
Or you could have a skill in short supply in the US like sheep herder (honestly...think Brokeback Mtn in sheepland...LOL..I couldnt resist). Also welders, nurses.
BUT its not all it seems. Its what you make of the place not the place itself.
Finally, to Ms Gertrude's long essay...kudos...maybe you should be a writer like Jhumpa Lahiri yah? Not too late to win the Pulitzer.
Er...I am like new to this thingy...the Anonymous comment is from none other than me Jeffrey Lim. No malice meant no hurt intent.
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