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Friday, November 04, 2004
Mongaya: Tight race
By Anol Mongaya
The race for 270 electoral votes between President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry is so tight everybody is waiting for the votes from the remaining three states before claiming victory. As of this writing, Bush won in 29 states with 254 Electoral College votes while Kerry topped in 20 with 252 votes.
Friends monitoring CNN said Bush already had the election in the bag early afternoon yesterday. While CNN reported that the Bush camp may soon announce victory, I told myself to wait for the result of the remaining states, particularly the tightly contested votes in Ohio along with Iowa and New Mexico. Slowly, it seems Kerry is inching closer.
But even if Kerry wins the presidency, he will face a Congress and Senate dominated by Republicans.
While I am rooting for Kerry, I also realize that Bush got a big number of votes because of his pro-life, anti-choice position on the abortion issue and his stance against gay marriage.
In the Philippines, many Filipinos worried over Kerry’s position against outsourcing of jobs and projects from America.
If Bush wins the US elections, however, I doubt if the United States can get out of the quicksand it has gotten into that is Iraq. As of the moment, Americans are relying on Iraqis to exercise self-rule as an exit strategy. But the Iraqi democratic government project is not working even as rebels are getting stronger and bolder by the day.
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An anonymous caller taunted me about my hope that Gov. Gwen Garcia and Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez will smoke the peace pipe. Since development in Cebu Province will only come if the current war at the Capitol ends, perhaps President Arroyo should step in. I think the time for her intervention has come.
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Rep. Nerry Soon-Ruiz, in her effort to wriggle out of the lifestyle check issue, has also pointed to Mandaue City Mayor Teddy Ouano’s new mansion and Jollibee franchises in her call for a similar lifestyle check on the mayor.
While I think both should undergo such check at the same time, Rep. Ruiz may have a harder time because of her failure to include her new house in her Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SAL).
Before, Ruiz portrayed herself as one of the poorest member of Congress. But, she can hardly be called poor now with her luxurious house. The mayor, on the other hand, has always been known as one of the richest in the region.
While both need to explain to the public and proper authorities how they acquired their wealth, Ouano will have an easier task than Ruiz. (superbalita@sunstar.com.ph / 0917-9761193)
(November 4, 2004 issue)
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