OMG, A Woman as Vice-President?

I just got back from my adventure outside, hit the net, and found out that McCain chose Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, as his running mate.

It's obvious why McCain chose a female as his running mate: to get the votes of those disenchanted Hilary supporters, as well as any other potential female voters. McCain has been trying to get the Hilary-votes over to him, and this may actually close the deal.

I will be paying attention to the Republican National Convention next week. After watching the speeches of the Democrats, it's time to see the Republicans got up their sleeves.

BIden is Obama's Running Mate!

So I checked my cell phone this morning, and as expected, I got a text message.

It was a neat little message that reads: "Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee. Watch the first Obama-Biden rally live at 3PM ET on www.BarackObama.com. Spread the word! [03:28:11 AM]".

Great time to send a text message, guys! Maybe they're trying to be sneaky. I personally think that's kind of hilarious.

The senator of Illinois teaming up with the senator of Delaware. I can't say much about Biden yet, but I'm certain that I will be more familiar with him as November approaches. Now, McCain, please announce your running mate soon.

And You Can Be the First to Know!

After hearing that Obama is expected reveal who his running mate is today, I signed up for his vice president text-alert (just text "VP to 62262). Though I'm not an Obama fanatic, that desire for immediate knowledge drove me to do it.

Maybe that's why I'm tensed up all day.

The way that Obama embrace technology is certainly giving him more connection to the younger, can't-live-without-my-cellphone crowd, and a large group of his supporters are indeed young voters. This ploy also gives the media more reasons to cover him, I mean, the coming reveal of Obama's running mate seems more publicized than McCain's. In the age of the Internet and technology, you can't just stick to TV ads and newspaper anymore.

Of course, this "first to know" text message plan is already boiling some hoaxes for giggles. Come on, Elliot Spitzer ain't a bad choice.

Democrates, Unite!

Finally, after a long grueling battle between Obama and Clinton, there's a nominee.

Even better, Clinton is throwing her full support to Obama, a good move on her part, and a move that will hopefully patch up the cracks between her supporters and Obama's supporters.

Now the question is: Who will be Obama's running partner?

The first thing that I heard is that Clinton would be the ideal choice. From the beginning, I thought that Obama and Clinton '08 would be groovy, but then their rivalry became so tense that it was almost impossible to imagine the scenario. But the short period before Obama's win , this tension has somehow seemed to eased a bit. And now with Clinton's endorsement, it suddenly seems like these two can patch things up.

Of course, that will be Obama's decision. If he does run with Clinton, the supporters of Clinton will probably turn their heads and support him, the angry women that were so disappointed after Clinton's loss will once again vote for the Democrats.To make up his lack of votes from White women, older people, working class, and Hispanics, it seems like the best strategy will be asking Clinton to run with him. But on the other hand, the Clinton-haters that despited Bill Clinton, and sequentially hated Hilary Clinton, will probably be ticked off by this. Obama's message of change might even be overshadowed if he brought on Clinton, since Clinton doesn't exactly fit the "new politic" stance that Obama stood behind.

It's now five months till the November election, Obama needs to make a good choice.

On the other hand, who does McCain wants to go with?

Indecision '08

Now that the showdown between Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama is over, you would think that things would be more clear. But actually, the answer to the "who is going to get the Democratic nomination" question has only gotten more muddy.


Clinton
Even though Hilary Clinton won the Pennsylvania primary on Tuesday, I don't think it's a "big win". With 55% of the vote, Clinton certainly gained the momentum she needs to continue this race, but it's not a win so impressive that put her in first either. Her total delegate counts are still behind Obama, even though Clinton has more superdelegates under her belts now. She and Obama are basically going head to head, and this win in Pennsylvania only adds to her potential in the race. Hilary now has the reason to run, and the competition between her and Obama will probably have to be settled by the super delegates.

Obama
Perhaps the whole "Reverend Wright" thing has struck Obama deep, since now not only the public associates Obama with an extremist, but now Obama is more vulnerable to the attack from his opponents. In fact, there's already a a pretty negative ad in North Carolina. Then his "bitter" remark got his opponents going again. Even though polls indicated that his remark did not hurt him, he lost nevertheless.

So now the Democrats are stuck with no clear winner, and it is unclear about who is "best" for the party.

Electability
Both Clinton and Obama will be subjected to negative campaigns by the Republicans no matter who is the nominee. Clinton has the Lewinsky thing, her past voting records, and her image to worry about. While Obama has Reverend Wright, inexperience, Muslim conspiracies to worry about. Clinton has won the bigger and more populated states while Obama has won the smaller states. Some argue that Clinton will have a bigger chance to get the bigger states in November, and that will lead the Democrats into victory. Some argue that Obama will be more appealing than Clinton to both the young and the undecided votes. I honestly do not have a preference right now of who should be the nominee.

The fact of the matter is that the super delegates will probably get their hands on deciding who the nominee should be. From the beginning, I thought the super delegates are not the best idea to get the nominee, since it basically ignored the popular votes and lets public "democracy" goes out the door. It's quite unappealing that a few hundreds of powerful members gets to make the big decision (kind of like oligarchy, isn't it?) while the previous delegates goes to waste.

Well, while this is all going on, McCain is just sitting back and laughing.

Some Quick Words on the Tibetan Uprising and the Olympics

Everyone had heard about it by now, Minorities in Tibet are protesting and violently rioting on the streets of Lhasa. And it seems like it's not stopping.

I've been exposed to both the Chinese media and the Western media about the news. Both have their own distinct tone and view, and I don't trust both. The Western media will always have a negative light on China, and China's media is government-controlled. With this say, I honestly don't know what side I'm on.

With this wave of violent protest, I wonder if the Olympics will be as smooth as the government promised. And there's this sort of sadness in me to see this, since as a Chinese myself, I'm proud that China had actually have the opportunity to host the Olympics. To see people considering boycotting the Olympics and seeing people using this opportunity to act violently seems a bit...disheartening.

Some people did not get why the Chinese government cared about the Olympics so much. Well, the Chinese cared about it so much is because of national pride. China was a country that was oppressed by the West and was invaded by Japan, its people have suffered humility and oppression for a long time. Well, now it's the time for China to shine, for China to show off its wealth. To prove to the world that it's no longer a country of regression but a country of progression. It's not just about the Chinese in China, it's also about people like me, immigrants that are far away from their homeland to feel (somewhat vicariously)like they're part of a strong nation.

It will certainly be interesting to see how China will handle the Olympics. I'll be watching closely, whether people boycott it or not. Then again, my opinion is not objective either.

Change vs. Experience ’08 (Stephen Colbert Should Run for President for Real)

It’s a topic that I have not yet write about: The presidential race.

Well, that’s kind of a lie, I just didn’t have the guts to express my opinions on the Internet yet, the arguments are so passionate and tense that I was afraid to throw my hat in. Since no one reads this blog, I can say whatever and not get call an idiot.

Okay, enough chattering:

If I were to vote today, at this moment, I would vote for Hilary Clinton. Even though this statement is practically useless, because Massachusetts already had its primary, and I can’t vote anyways. But that is not going to stop me from having an opinion, it’s impossible to not have an opinion about this race.

Arguably, the 2008 presidential race is one of the most important race so far. It certainly has the most diverse candidates, and its stakes are high: Americans are choosing the next victim to clean up the Iraqi mess (or if you’re McCain, stay in the Iraqi mess), spur up the economy, fight the terrorists, and millions of other things.

The democrats have tow candidates that, if elected, will be making American history in being the first female/ black president. Both are promising to me, both have values that fits my view (Kucinich’s views matched with mine the most, it’s a shame that he was under the radar). But I will vote for Hilary if given the chance because I trust “experience” over “hope”.


Obama

I seem like the oddball in my age group, since most of the young people like Obama. They want change, they need change, they have the optimism for change. Obama embodies hope, his campaign is based on the promise of change. People are sick of the direction that America was headed (and still is), there was a sort of desperation to change things. Obama, with no old political ties, only in the Senate for three years, there seem to be this “hipness” associated with him too. People are afraid that the White House is going to fall to another politician with the same old ties like Bush, afraid that the new president will promote the same agenda, the same policies, and the same relations. Well, Obama is the new fresh light, and he is going to bring change, buddy!

Or, if you’re cynical like me, you might think that change is not gonna come easy. You might pick Clinton’s experience.

Clinton

I admit, being a female myself can be subjective in choosing who to support.
Clinton seemed like a confident, strong and firm woman. This can be seen as her strongest and weakest quality. It may bring admiration or the “hey, she ain’t womanly enough, biiittch” thing. I talked with an adult friend of mine who supports Clinton, and she mentioned that people didn’t like Clinton because she’s a woman. A friend of mine who supports Obama mentioned that Clinton is a “bitch".

Is this reality? Politic is a man’s game, you have to be perceived as strong. But in being strong, you get call a bitch. Then there’s Bill Clinton, maybe people are afraid that the First Husband will run things instead, I don’t know.

Clinton’s slogan is “experience”, yes, she has it. But with having the experience, she has the ties also. Perhaps this is why the Obama supporters chose Obama: they don’t want ties. They don’t want ties to corporations, they don’t want ties to old politicians.

But without ties, how much change can one brings?

Now, I’m no politician, but I don’t think change is that easy. Politics is a dirty and intricate game, with no ties and no experience, just how much can actually change? Clinton and Obama seemed to agree on the important points, and it seemed like a “safer” choice to have someone who have experience and ties to bring these changes.


Republicans

McCain and Huckabee (I have to admit, President Huckabee will be one hell of a hilarious title) are left. I’m pretty sure McCain is going to get the nomination. I just pray that he doesn’t choose Huckabee as running mate.

I’ll give props to McCain in being firm on his position on the War in Iraq. But dude, you can go to Iraq and fight the war yourself if you want to continue.

Conclusion

Currently Obama is leading in the delegates, and he had a long string of victories. It’s a tight race, at one point or another it seemed like all the candidates have the upper hand. Who will ultimately win the nominations and elected as the new president of this beautiful land? I don’t know. Right now, Obama seems to be getting somewhere, if he wins the nomination, I will support him.

Once the nominations are given, that’s when the mud-slinging begins.I hope they don't use something like this.

Who knows, if we’re lucky, we will get another Republican Caucasian man in the White House, and stay in Iraq for a hundred years.

Last but not least, I want to post this heart-warming picture that has nothing to do with anything: