TRUBLUE SPEAKS: OBAMA VS MCCAIN

Thank you very much to TruBlue for writing this post for us. Cheers and hope for more favors/writings to come! ;-)

Flattered you chose me who doesn't follow politics but my simple ordinary view is that it will come down to the Electoral College of the more than 10 swing states. These states are in a way neutral and will have a say as to who becomes president, so rigorous campaigning is essential to these key areas.

There are 538 Electoral Votes and 270+ is required regardless if you lost in the general popular votes. McCain will surely win the South and some midwester states while Obama takes the Pacific NW, NorthEast and Hawaii. Well, that's the norm.

If RACE is not an issue, Obama can win despite the current dirt diggings. McCain obviously is the white candidate and will dominate their votes but if the Asians, Hispanics, and Blacks are truly a voting Bloc, Obama can also win and it's so repugnant listening to pundits say "America is not ready for a black president"! I ask, when is the right time?? Heck, a Japanese ruled the country of PERU at one time.

Varieties of domestic issues especially the economy, and foreign policies, the war in Iraq are key issues to articulate and sell to swing voters. Don't anger also those ever sniping rights groups with liberal/conservative opinions as it's quite dangerous.

Obama's patriotism is under a radar for one reason oranother but hey, Bill Clinton was a Draft dodger; Bush 43 eluded the military and was a National Guardsman, Reagan was an actor, and VP Dick Cheney, who at one point addressed graduating cadets of an elite Military School, avoided the Draft with his FIVE Deferments.

McCain is a well-decorated Navy Pilot and hot tempered. Both can lead the nation with or without being in the military, just sorround yourself with good old fashioned intellects in your cabinet while listening to LOGIC once elected.

During our return fligt from the Pacific NW last month, I sat next to this good looking lady and we talked the whole time while TP slept. Kept looking at her as she looked familiar and at one point during our chat, she said "I will vote for Obama" and sharply said "she hated the current administration". This woman looked like Kim Bassinger, just for your info, and she's from Oregon, a democratic state.

I only mentioned that brief encounter to illustrate how particular groups of people, a town, county, or a state are hardly swayed by any politician's rhetorics when it comes to their own idealogies and authentic political affiliation. The same underlying principles I just can'talter my friends from the Pacific NW to vote for Obama and likewise to my chums in Southern California to cast their votes for McCain. It's the nature of the Beast, that's why I hate Politics! But it will be interesting from here on and could be historical as well.

MY SIMPLE OBAMANESS

Okey, I'm just a SAHM and not even an American. My "political acrobats" would not even pass in deffirentiating a democrat from a republican. But, a future president who can move and dance that "hot" is a "change" itself hehehe...

I have to give credit first to REYNA ELENA for stalking Sen Obama here: Meet Senator Barack Obama, 47 years old. As usual, the laughters "she"(that's Reynz), draws out even if "she" talks seriously (to the highest degree) is contagoius.

Eversince Sen Obama was making a name for himself, I've always rooted for him to make it big mainly because he is black. So absurd as it may sound but I believe that the "challenge" of marking history as the first African - American President will always remind him to do what is right and that would also burden him to be a good one.

Here is a must read: The story of my life

...Whose story do you prefer?

It may not come as much of a surprise to hear that politicians are adept at telling stories. But in the modern political age, our leaders have increasingly relied on creating narratives around themselves and their ideas to communicate with us... continue reading

THINKING TOO MUCH

Sometimes I envy those people whose only problem is how to wash their dishes... or how to cook the chicken - 'adobo or tinola'?

Sometimes I wish I couldn't read - no TV, no news, no computer and be ignorant about the poverty crisis in the Philippines and the graft and corruption that is worsening it. I also desire NOT TO KNOW about the hunger in Africa, the recent incest case that rocked Germany, mourning widows and orphans of the war in Iraq, children missing, abused and killed, injustice etc... etc...

It also hurts so much to know that there are sick people who're just waiting for their time to die because they can't afford to buy their life.

Sometimes I simply wish I'll stop thinking that much.

But, you know what? When I hug my boys, they bring me back to hope. They resurrect me from drowning into the maladies of the society. The need to be strong to show them that the world is still beautiful may be a struggle but I owe it to them and their "budding life". And, this is not because of my duty as a parent... its for the love of life itself.

Cartoon Credit: http://www.cartoonstock.com/

TO OUR DEAR BLOGGER FRIEND JMM AND FAMILY:

I pursued words to console your grief.
Mummed to hear it come, I plead.
Pithy may be uttered in swift,
I welcomed defeat, I must concede.


Such is an ache for a piercing loss.
Empathy may not even give justice
But, its what I have as I say the most-
May his soul rest and forever lay in peace.

WHAT LUKIE WANTS

"Yeah right, every body's at the beach!" my husband said when we got to the mall today. We were there before lunch and cars covering the parking lot look like ants in columns. There were also many cars waiting for that "miracle space". That's the advantage of riding the bus, its never a problem where to park.

I told him this morning that we'd better go and buy Lukie's things for school before every one gets back from their vacation. He said the mall would probably be full. I confidently disagree and told him they've all gone to the beach.

On September, Lukie goes to Prima Elementare (Grade 1). The real spending for his education starts. For his Day Care everything was free. Pens, papers, colors etc... were provided. So with his three years Prep/Kinder except for the lunch ticket which is 3.10 euros everyday.

As advised by one of the mothers - backpack, 'grembiole'(apron that looks like a long polo shirt), coloring pens/pencil and crayons should be bought first. Other stuff would be later because the list of things needed will be given on the first day of school.

Lukie decided to have the DragonBallZ trolley/backpack over the Ferrari I was insisting him to have. The prior was the first one we saw. About twenty DragonBallZ trollies/back packs on a platform which costs 44.95 euros each. The cheaper backpacks were hanged behind including the stunning red Ferrari bag I like which is only 22 euros.

Boogie came while I was comparing the prices of the two bags to my son. He tried bribing him with a PlayStation game(DVD) if he chooses the Ferrari. We even told Lukie, we'll buy a DVD of any cartoon film he wants. Arrgghhh, DragonBallZ won!

On our way home, I told my husband what I suddenly saw in my mind. During Lukie's passed Kinder years, all the kids at school had colorful bags with their favorite animation show. It was only my son who had a plain blue EastPack. I then understood why Lukie wanted this bag.

For my husband, he still can't let go of the Ferrari one. Tomorrow he'll remind Lukie again of what he did not choose while they watch the FORMULA 1 ING MAGYAR NAGYDIJ 2008 (Budapest).

Oh well, for a while there, we forgot what Lukie wanted. He is still a child and sees things as a child. He would like to have what every other child would like to have. I hope we always remind ourselves with this.

WEEKLY QUESTION 10

Teacher Julie wrote:

"I decided to make WQ a little different today. I have posted a photo in my blog and I want to know your thoughts about it.

Here is a part of my post as a way of explaining the photo:

I once chanced upon this little girl walking in front of the house one late summer day. She was wearing an undershirt and an underwear plus a pair of pink flip flops. I immediately took two photos of her and this was one of them (the other photo she was standing up so I didn’t choose to upload because I thought it was a little indecent for a little girl)"

Tina of MyGoodFinds has a point when she said, "Since I have not walked the shoes of the parents of this little girl, it’s hard for me to judge. I don’t know if the parents have fallen in hard times and not be able afford decent clothes for their girl but they still shouldn’t let her go outside like that..." on her comment.

For me, the photo reflects how population explosion affects the Philippines. With 88.57 million Filipinos as of 2007 tallied by the NSO, expect some children to be neglected and wander places in such clothing.

"Family planning is responsible parenthood" says it all for me to make this post short. Sir Juan Flavier had been right since I first heard it from him 15 years ago.

FERIE D'AGOSTO

August for Italy is vacation time. If you have business transactions or working on papers that needed to pass on certain government offices, don't do it this month. You will end up "boiling" more than the summer heat.

Roads for get away destinations such as the beach and the mountains are in heavy traffic as shown on TV last night. Out of the country travels too are at it's peak during this time for the Italians. "To avoid the tourists, be a tourist", was said by the crabby lady next to me in the boat this morning on my way to Lido. She keeps on complaining and she said can't wait to leave Venice. I left her and my seat too as I can't concentrate on what I'm reading.

Here's an article: AT THE START OF EXODUS IN AUGUST to tell us more.

Boun Ferie d'Agosto every one! Stay safe.

PHOTO CREDIT: La Stampa.it