[Vnbiz] US president election under the eye of a vietnamese

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear CACC,

Usually I dont' talk publicly about who I will vote, but now that you guys
are talking about it, let me share my thoughts just for fun ("For fun" means
you can respond "You are such an idiot" and I will not be offended and will
not respond :-)

I register as an Independent, and have never found a candidate that I was
totally happy with, including the ones I had to vote for :-(

I won't vote for Hilllary, obviously because of all the baggage she has (and
her biggest baggage is Bill.  Bill's behavior during the campaign so far
tells me that if I vote for Hillary I will have Bill as the country's de
facto commander in chief.  And I want my vote to really count, meaning if I
vote for Hillary I mean Hillary).

I like Obama a lot.  He does raise a lot of inspiration, but I won't vote
for him, because has too little in his record to prove his talents.  He
should wait some more years to build the record first.

Also, as far as Vietnam is concerned, both Hillary and Obama are more
protectionists in economic policies (I think both have talked about
punishing companies that move jobs overseas).  In general, I support
globalization and free trade.  I think they are much better for the world.

John McCain is much better for Vietnam because he is pro-Vietnam.  This
gentleman, though tortured in prison in Vietnam, is so kind in his heart
that he becomes a great friend of Vietnam.  He also supports "smaller
government" and "more business," which is the traditional
conservative economic policy that is good for the US and for the world,
especially for developing countries replying on export like Vietnam.

Everyone knows that I have opposed the Iraq war vigorously and still oppose
it.  But now that we (the US) are already in Iraq, we cannot simply pull out
immediately, because that would make Iraq and the entire Middle East fall
immediately into chaos and war and the entire world will have much a bigger
problem to handle.  I think the issue now is to secure Iraq and move out
slowly as the security situation there allow.  That is what McCain is
saying.

So you know who I will vote for (unless there falls from the sky a better
candidate).

Have a fun day!

Hoanh



fromShandon Phan <shandonphan at gmail.com>
reply-tovnbiz at vietlinks.net,
tovnbiz at mail.saigon.com,
dateFri, Feb 22, 2008 at 1:47 PM
subjectRe: [Vnbiz] Vnbiz Digest, Vol 29, Issue 27
mailing listvnbiz.mail.saigon.com Filter messages from this mailing list
hide details 1:47 PM (8 minutes ago) Reply

[ Vietnam Business Forum ]
In resonse to anh Thang's inquiry, here's an opinion I shared with
some other fellow Vietnamese Americans on a different forum.
Disclaimer:  I try to be as objective as I can in my opinion but I
certainly have my own bias as a McCain delegate.
-----------------------
Obama is generating a lot of emotion/passion. Which is good. He is
an inspiring figure that can mobilize the young voters to get involved
in politics. If I am a Democrat or if we are not at war in Iraq and
against terorrism and McCain is not running, I might vote for him.
The Obama movement seems unstoppable.  But, is it really unstoppable?
I bet that the bubble will burst when he emerges as the Democratic
nominee and having his record matched against McCain's record. The
entire Obama's movement, and the beautiful dream of a new America, is
entirely built
by beautiful and persuasive rhetoric. Obama is a gifted politician
and public speaker. However, we are searching for our
Commander-in-Chief and we need something substantive in his record to
back up his
promises. There is none. And against battle-scarred,
time-tested McCain, the bubble will burst.
McCain fought for all his life for America, from sacrificing the best
yrs of his life for his country to putting his political career at
risk to take on the most challenging issues of our time (immigration
reform, Iraq war, "no torture" detainee policy). Every single moment
of his political life was spent tackling these big defining issues and
challenges of our time.
On the other hand, Obama has 3 yrs in the Senate. Not only that his
time of service is too short and his foreign policy experience is too
thin, if not non-existent, to be our Commander-in-Chief, he has also
demonstrated no leadership on significant issues. He chose to charm
and play nice with everyone. He was an insignificant factor in the
Senate and was not up to par with his felow Senators.  It might be the
best strategic move for
one young senator with presidential ambition but matching him against
McCain for the President position, the choice is clear.
The thing with McCain is... to quote the words of a retired judge, former
federal prosecutor, and Vietnam veteran, who shared with me:
"As a retired judge, I'm not allowed to take part in politics -
and too old for it anyhow - but I expect to vote for McCain. However,
he has problems: too old, steps on everybodies" toes in both parties,
perhaps inflexible - but he is a decent man, as rare as a blue pearl
in our politics."
It is McCain being the living example of that "blue pearl in politics" that
inspire younger generations of Americans to believe in and pursue politics
as a way to make change. And as Vietnamese Americans, McCain offers
the most solid understanding and support on Vietnam. His policy of
promoting the rule of law and democracy in Asia is also a plus,
considering the strategic impact of the Asia continent in this century
and the rising power of China.

On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 1:44 PM, Craig Stevenson <cstevenson2000 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
>
>
> Dear CACC:
>
> I am somewhat, rather enjoyably, entirely, insulated from what goes on in
> the election.  Yet, I tend to think Hillary holds to much baggage, perhaps
> is misunderstood, but is certainly less eloquent (as articulate has been
> used) than Obama.  I remember him well and his manner has always shown one
> of comfort in expressing his ideas and opinions.  Hillary rather seems as
> she is, the political daughter of a former Senator, decided Washington
> insider, with New York polish and expensive suits.  I think there has been
> enough of this, and most Americans should by now be tired of this.  McCain,
> is older, less than he was (in many ways) than prior to the war in Iraq.
> Further, he is obviously compromised post-Bush invasion and should prove
> unpalatable to the greater majority of citizens; hopefully these silent
> voices can be more motivated to vote this time around. (It might be that the
> democractic candidates are more able to motivate marginalized bases of
> non-voting (to voting) supporters.
>
> All in all, Obama would seem preferable by great leaps over the other
> candidates involved.
>
> As to Middle Class and taxes and hand-outs to the "welfare" whatevers.
> Uhhhhmmmm....not quite in the spirit in which you speak I too would say now
> is not time for added profligacy.  Obama might be the only one who could
> avoid such.  The other candidates are far more beholden to special interest
> and would most likely continue policies and rampant spending as they've done
> previously.  Clinton might have been around when there were postive
> movements toward more proper governance but they were very different
> political, economic, and even emotional or spiritual, times.  Now, such
> interests limit Clintons ability to be an effective agent for change.
> Simply look to our "champion" of universal health care to find legions of
> health care related political action committees supporting of her
> campaign(s).  She's tainted.
>
> Obama would be the best choice for better interactions with the wider
> world by my humble estimate.  Perhaps, more importantly to the common
> American, he might be more able to tackle the tough issues.  That is why I
> will end up voting for him as surely a mobilized base must be ripe for
> action and I suspect marginalized communities more likely to participate in
> the upcoming presidential elections. McCain is tainted by association and a
> complicated recent political past.  Hillary seems uptight. Obama would
> serve better as our representative in the world, more importantly an agent
> of change to benefit the common citizen.
>
> Personally, I would like to see a low flat tax on all income but pensions
> and IRA's (savings for investment)
> I would like to see a value-added tax on all final user purchases
>
> I would like to change the very economic model we have recently "enjoyed"
>
> I would like to see systems supported and investments made, not
> "hand-outs" given.
>
> I would like to see an austerity program.
>
> The low-tax mantra has been a tool to bind the masses while burdens have
> shifted to the middle class as government spending and tax policy have
> benefited large corporate intersts.  (Thatcherite-Reaganite economic voodoo;
> destructive to the interests of the vast many Americans despite that they
> might be too blind to see this truth).  Much of the "China benefit" (cost
> reductions in the cost of goods) seem likely to be evaporating (see loan
> portfolio growth in January alone 112 Billion USD) leading to likely price
> spikes (if not worldwide economic collapse) and less-consumption, in the
> US, is the order of the day.
>
> More investment in R&D, more investment in critical physical
> infrastructure, more stringent energy efficiency standards and
> investment and more investment for human resources in areas of critical
> importance to our collective human future.
>
> Less emphasis on prolific consumption and more for savings and
> critical investments.
>
> The person able to do this would become the greatest US president in
> history.
> Only Obama of the three might be so free as to be able to do some of it.
>
> The other candidates, more of the same.
>
> Craig
>
>
>
> --
> Tran Dinh Hoanh, Esq., LLB, JD
> Washington DC
>
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