drbruce
It's been fascinating to see the interest that the Obama campaign has been having on Indonesians in Bali, Sumbawa, and the rest of Indonesia. I suppose that he is as close to having a "native son" as Indonesia will get when it comes to a major US presidential candidate.I just received the results of the votes by Americans living in Indonesia. Obama won 75% of the vote in the recent primary where Democrats were allowed to vote on the Internet. It was very cool.
Jimbo
Lets hope he wins the nomination and the presidency. The thought of another clinton in power fills me with dread.
Roy
Dr. Bruce, it is always great to hear from you! You might enjoy this letter in The Bali Times published this past Friday:http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1189611/BaliTimes.jpg[/img]
Jimbo
OhmiGod!!!If I am in agreement with Roy I will have to support Clinton :twisted:
Roy
Laughing at that Jimbo, this recent article from the New York Times that Jack Daniels just forwarded gives one a moment of somber thought:Political MemoIn Memories of a Painful Past, Hushed Worry About Obama By JEFF ZELENYDALLAS - There is a hushed worry on the minds of many supporters of Senator Barack Obama, echoing in conversations from state to state, rally to rally: Will he be safe?In Colorado, two sisters say they pray daily for his safety. In New Mexico, a daughter says she persuaded her mother to still vote for Mr. Obama, even though the mother feared that winning would put him in danger. And at a rally here, a woman expressed worries that a message of hope and change, in addition to his race, made him more vulnerable to violence."I've got the best protection in the world," Mr. Obama, of Illinois, said in an interview, reprising a line he tells supporters who raise the issue with him. "So stop worrying."Yet worry they do, with the spring of 1968 seared into their memories, when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated in a span of two months.Mr. Obama was 6 at the time, and like many of his admirers, he has only read about the violence that traumatized the nation. But those recollections and images are often invoked by older voters, who watch his candidacy with fascination, as well as an uneasy air of apprehension, as Democrats inch closer to selecting their nominee.Mr. Obama has had Secret Service agents surrounding him since May 3, the earliest a candidate has ever been provided protection. (He reluctantly gave in to the insistent urging of Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, and others in Congress.) As his rallies have swelled in size, his security has increased, coming close to rivaling that given to a sitting president.His wife, Michelle Obama, voiced concerns about his safety before he was elected to the Senate. Three years ago, she said she dreaded the day her husband received Secret Service protection, because it would mean serious threats had been made against him.Among friends and advisers, danger is something Mr. Obama rarely mentions. "It's not something that I'm spending time thinking about day to day," said Mr. Obama, who has been given the Secret Service nickname Renegade, a way for agents to quickly identify him. "I made a decision to get into this race. I think anybody who decides to run for president recognizes that there are some risks involved, just like there are risks in anything."Not long ago, his advisers worried that some black voters might not support his candidacy out of a fierce desire to protect him. It was a particular concern in South Carolina, but Mr. Obama said he believed the worry was also rooted in "a fear of failure."Now that he has won a string of primaries and caucuses in all corners of the country, and built a coalition of black and white voters, failure would seem to be less of an issue. The fears, however, remain.Representative Bennie Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, raised concerns in a letter in January to officials who oversee the Secret Service. While Mr. Obama was already receiving protection, Mr. Thompson said that the intense interest in the election prompted him to make sure that Mr. Obama and the other candidates were offered adequate security."The national and international profile of Senator Barack Obama gives rise to unique challenges that merit special concern," Mr. Thompson wrote. "As an African-American who was witness to some of this nation's most shameful days during the civil rights movement, I know personally that the hatred of some of our fellow citizens can lead to heinous acts of violence. We need only to look to the assassinations of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and 1968 presidential candidate Robert Kennedy as examples."In an interview, Mr. Thompson declined to elaborate on any specific threats that had come to the attention of his committee or authorities. He said he wrote the letter to the Homeland Security Department without discussing it with Mr. Obama, whom he has endorsed."His candidacy is so unique to this country and so important that the last thing you would want is for him not to have the opportunity to fulfill the role of a potential presidential nominee," Mr. Thompson said. "It's out of an abundance of caution that I wrote the letter, rather than keep our fingers crossed and pray."Before Mr. Obama decided to run for president, he discussed his safety with his family. His campaign employed a team of private security guards before he was placed under Secret Service protection. Since then, he has grown fond of the agents who surround him, inviting them to watch the Super Bowl at his home in Chicago and playing basketball with them on the days he awaits the results of an election.Mr. Obama was reticent in speaking about his security or the period in American history that is often raised - without prompting - by voters who are interviewed at campaign events. Mentions of the fate that befell President John F. Kennedy and Senator Kennedy only increased after Mr. Obama was joined on the campaign trail by Caroline Kennedy and Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts."I'm pretty familiar with the history," Mr. Obama said. "Obviously, it was an incredible national trauma, but neither Bobby Kennedy nor Martin Luther King had Secret Service protection."Indeed, the assassination of Senator Kennedy in 1968 prompted Congress to authorize protection of major presidential and vice presidential candidates. In this campaign, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York has had Secret Service protection from the beginning, because she is a former first lady. None of the other candidates had protection during their primary campaigns."Some candidates are bigger targets than others - any transition candidate or change candidate has a higher profile," said former Senator Gary Hart, who received protection as a Democratic presidential contender in 1984 and 1988. "The evocation of the same excitement surrounding John and Robert Kennedy triggers both negatively and positively."The Secret Service does not discuss details of its protection, including whether Mr. Obama is receiving more protection than Mrs. Clinton.Gerald Posner, author of books on the assassinations of President Kennedy and Dr. King, said he did not believe that Mr. Obama was under a significantly higher risk than President Bush or Mrs. Clinton. The fears are more openly discussed, he said, because he is the first black candidate to come this close to winning a major party's presidential nomination."Barack scares those of us who think of the possibility of an assassination in a different way," Mr. Posner said. "He represents so much hope and change. That is exactly what was taken away from us in the 1960s." Here in Dallas, those memories were raised in conversation after conversation with several of the 17,000 people who came to see Mr. Obama at a rally last week. "Right around the corner is the John Kennedy Memorial; everyone all around me was talking about it," said Imogene Covin, a Democratic activist from Dallas. "In the back of my mind, it's a possibility that something might happen because he's something to gawk at right now. But you know why I think he will be safe? He has a broad range of people behind him."That afternoon, Mr. Obama's motorcade passed Dealey Plaza and the Texas Book Depository building, where the fatal shot was fired at President Kennedy in 1963. Several campaign aides looked out their windows, silently absorbing the scene.Not so for Mr. Obama, who later said he had not realized he was passing the site. And no one in his car pointed it out."I've got to admit, that's not what I was thinking about," he said. "I was thinking about how I was starting to get a head cold and needed to make sure that I cleared up my nose before I got to the arena."
mimpimanis
Lets leave the conjecture till the ballots are in :lol:Just an example.
drbruce
Great letter Roy. As much as I often disagree with my Aussie friends and colleagues here in Sumbawa about world politics, we are all in agreement with the Obama run. It would be great for those of us who are Americans living in Indonesia, if we had a president that we could be proud of.
Jimbo
I see him as a bridge to help repair the damage that Bush has done in his presidency. His early childhood, his middle name of Hussain and his unbiased approach could mend a lot of fences in the middle and far east and as a non american this is important for me.The perception of America in the world is at an all time low and I would like to see it brought back up to where it belongs in order to help the world be a safer place.I cannot speak for the domestic front in USA but he will have a huge job to do to get the economy back on the right track.where do the americans see him in a couple of years time....if he wins.+
JUDY
Jimbo asks where do American's see Obama in a few years if, indeed, he becomes president.Considering the effectivness of his campaign in every imaginable area from organizational skills, participation of new blood into the campaign, (whether it be the youth, middle aged voters, black, white, green, purple, or yellow individuals... women, men, old, young, whatever..... even some republicans. The answer is a resounding ground swell of pride and inspiration regarding this man. He has shown that he is not made up of fluff... His campaign strategy has been and continues to be brillant. Not only from a financial and managerial standpoint, but rather an all-rounded attitude of inspiration, subtance, humbleness, new ideas, diplomacy, graciousness. Of course, with the final blow...results. You name it, He's Got It!!!!!!If his ability to motivate this country to participate in the political process for the first time in over a generation; I truly believe he will begin to turn our country from the depths of despair to a country filled with unlimitless golden possibilities not simply for the rich and those born with a silver spoon in their mouth but for the common folk. Dreams are possible....look at Barack.Oh yeah, I must reiterate the letter sent in by Roy was beautiful.
JUDY
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention one important factor in everyone voting for Barack; especially those expats living abroad whether it be Bali, Simbawa, Lombok, etc... A vote for Barack is a vote to once more give honor to the word-- American. I truly believe he will quickly transform our imagine in the world of one of distain, distrust, greed, warmongering, hate, foolishness, the list is endless to one of honor, pride, leadership, hopefullness, a role we have not held in the world for many, many, years.Ok...I'll just feel much better when I'm home in Bali living out the rest of my life and can feel a sense of pride and honor to have an individual such as Barack as my president as compared to someone who is....you know....insane.My quote for the day: Love is in the Air
Jimbo
Lets hope you are right Judy
JUDY
Jimbo: Ditto!!!!
Markit
I'm all for any American president that will inspire all those American expats to go back to "God's Country" and leave the rest of the world to those of us that have a functioning memory. How many "demigods" and "saviors" do you have to have seen gilding the post of "leader of the free world" (what a joke that is!) before you all realize they are all the same guy and his name is private interests and his nick-name, to his friends, is big business?Remember JFK? Brought us within 1 minute of midnight thanks to the Cuban missile crisis - "Saviour of the free world". My backside - he damn neared killed us all, free and slaves alike.Remember LBJ? 50,000 dead American boys in the jungles of some country that is now our best friend - suppose all those boys that lost their legs, arms or minds have gotten them back by now?Remember "Tricky Dick" Nixon? Anybody that doesn't remember him and a hotel by the name of Watergate shouldn't be allowed to vote in the first place. What about Ford? Couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time but, generally, harmless - which is the best than you can say about any of them.Jimmy Carter, wasn't too bad, as presidents go but oh God, remember his dysfunctional family and particularly his brother and mother...?Now it gets really good - Ronald Raygun - This was where big business decided we (the American people, yes, me too, I'm afraid) were so stupid that they didn't even need to pretend to care what we thought. The sound of defense industries feeding at the public trough was deafening alongside the groaning of the hungry and legally insane all together out there on the sidewalk.How about Bush the Elder? Head of the CIA during some of it's most infamous times, totally useless Vice President and feeble and ineffectual President ("read my lips").Clinton was the best of a really bad bunch but he's hated now for Monica Lewinsky. Kinda pales into insignificance against the present job holder, don't it?George W. Bush - thought it couldn't get any worse? After Tricky Dick, Ronald Raygun and Papa Bush the world stood in awe at America's ability for self delusion and stupidity. I mean you just couldn't make it up could you? Lost the election but stole it back with the help of daddy's buddies in the Supreme Court, yeah that same daddy that was head of the CIA and one-time president himself told the brother, who was Governor of Florida how to influence the election in his brother's favor. And now we have a 3 trillion dollar war that your kids, kids will be paying for.Now I have to ask what makes any of you think that Obama is any wit better? Is this the usual victory of optimism over logic? Stupidity anyone?You'all head on back to "God's Country" and say a pledge of allegiance for me.You want a banana republic? Don't even think of Bali. :roll:
Roy
Markit...a "functioning memory?" Now that is funny! I'm not about to respond to your litany of foibles and gross errors that are attributable to each of America's past Presidents that you list. A lot of what you wrote, I would personally agree. But, let's get real, and be a big boy by admitting that ever since Winston Churchill, every PM of Great Britain has been greatly allied to the American President then in office. We could start with your most recent PM, Tony Blair, who clearly lost his office for just that reason...his alliance and misdirected trust in our current President, George Walker Bush, Jr. That was a shame, and it should be an embarrassment for all Americans. I don't blame you, nor will I criticize you for you cynical opinions of many past American Presidents. You views are shared by many, including many Americans.Given our current choices for President of the United States, Barak Obama, in the opinion of an increasing majority of Americans, offers the best chances for some real change not only in the US, but in the world at large. You wrote:"I'm all for any American president that will inspire all those American expats to go back to "God's Country" and leave the rest of the world to those of us that have a functioning memory."[/quote]Are you suggesting that I should leave Bali, and return to the US? Are you suggesting that you, someone who has already stated has never been to Bali, (coming this April for the first time), would somehow be a better expat living here in Bali? I don't know what you meant by that phrase, but I will tell you something that you clearly do not know, and that is that American expats here in Bali are without question, among the best diplomats of our country, understanding the fundamentals of our government, and its ideology, yet adapting to life in Bali with mutual and pro-active exchange...culturally, morally, spiritually, family, commercially...you name it. And! I can say the same thing for most other expats who hail from other countries as well. You have a great deal to learn Markit, but as a father and teacher of our three boys we are raising within the Balinese culture, I have learned to be patient, and I'm still willing to assist the beginner in essential studies. On the other hand, you might understandably prefer the lessons of my consummate Guru, and my wife, Ni Nyoman Eri. But, be forewarned, she has far less patience than I, and she dismisses fools with a graceful backward wave of her right hand.It will be interesting to read what you have to write once you have been in Bali this coming April. I imagine that one bad habit you might abandon is poking at expats who live here, and live here in complete harmony, with longevity. But, we will see eventually, and it might be that you only add more bricks to your current reputation.
Git
ROY posted:"Mr. Obama has had Secret Service agents surrounding him since May 3, the earliest a candidate has ever been provided protection".....................................Dear RoyMost gov. officials have the secret service as protection. I saw Maria (Arnold Zwartzenegger's wife) at a local "flea market" looking through junk/antiques with a few secret service men following her and the kids.Arnold is only the govenor of CALIFORNIA.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Yes lets hope the tide will turn,the bad reputation the USA has because of its" leaders" in office.It makes it unsave to travel this planet with a USA passport. That i why I kep my Dutch citizenship/passport,and only speak bahasa and Dutch when I am In Bali.
Roy
Yes Gina, I did post that, but I didn't write it. Those words came from the New York Times journalist Jeff Zeleny who wrote the article I presented above.However, and just for clarification, the US Secret Service, which used to be an arm of the Department of the Treasury, (now under the US Department of Homeland Security), does NOT provide security personnel for ANY state government officials unless they are hosting the President, or being hosted by the President, or running for office of President of the US. State governors are "commanders and chief" of their own state's national guard, as well as their state police. Security for state governors, other state officials and their immediate family members is provided by one or both of those units, and not by the federal government. Even though Maria Zwartzenegger, ne Shriver, is a member of the Kennedy family (by marriage of her father to Eunice Kennedy), she is not entitled to Secret Service protection either.
