Saturday, October 25, 2008 Libre: Election fever and the US elections By Mel Libre Seriously Now
THE election fever is on, with the US presidential polls to be finally decided on Nov. 4. The long process of selecting nominees, well-covered by the media, has made Democrat Barack Obama and Republican McCain popular not just within the US but in other parts of the globe as well.
Advanced technology has made the world a truly global village. What’s happening in the most powerful nation has become a staple news item from Beijing to Moscow, from Wellington to Reykjavic.
Poll surveys favored Obama the past months, but McCain has narrowed the gap in recent days. However, if one were to judge the candidates by the number of people in their rallies, Obama wins hands down. He can easily draw 100,000 supporter or more at times. McCain can only get 10,000 or less.
McCain also suffered in his choice of Sarah Palin for vice president. The photogenic Alaskan governor came as a Hillary clone to becoming a Barbie dud. From rock star status, Obama has become a rock--–a strong and mighty political gladiator out to vanquish a tired and old warrior named John.
Along the extended skirmish between the two major White House contenders, two other names (excluding Palin and Biden) have emerged to play supporting roles: Joe the Plumber and Eric Libre.
Joe came to public consciousness as a result of his ambush interview with Barack, whom the former tasked to advice him on his plumbing business in the face of an economic crisis. The response of Obama was a mumbo jumbo of sound bytes that didn’t seem right as deciphered by McCain’s camp.
The plumber’s name (he isn’t really a plumber according to sources) was mentioned so many times in the last debate that he seemed to come out the winner instead of the two candidates.
Eric Libre, whose name happens to be that of my older brother, has cropped up in billboards, posters and even in a tattoo in the behind of an elderly woman as US presidential candidate no. 3.
Eric’s candidacy started when a caller responded to a radio host on the need for an alternative to the two leading candidates. Another caller suggested a name, “Eric Libre,” and thereafter Libre’s campaign snowballed.
Eric, who has been described as a worthy leader with good credentials, is gaining supporters – but funny, nobody has actually seen him in person. I’ve seen him though; and he lives in Digos City.
A few days after the US elections, New Zealand will go to the polls to elect its members of parliament. It is a toss between the Labour Party (of Prime Minister Helen Clark) and the National Party (led by John Key).
The Labour Party (with the support of other minor parties) has been in power for nine years. Though it made good in the economic and social welfare fronts in all those years, it came up with many unprecedented legislation, such as anti-smacking, civil partnerships (allowing gay marriages) and prostitution (regulating brothels).
It is a dead heat between the two major parties – but the Greens, New Zealand First and Mäori parties, that can earn seats in the system similar to the Philippine party-list, are inclined to supporting the socialist and liberal Labour.
The social re-engineering of Labour, termed as “nanny state” policies, have shaken traditional Kiwi values. Thus, conservative and Christian groups favor National. It is a big challenge though for John Key to get National to gain seats more than the coalition partnership of the progressive parties – and that surge has not occurred as yet in the final stretch of the election.
On the week commencing Nov. 10, we will be clear on the victors –- and by then, whoever will win has a big task ahead.
