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

Fri Feb 22 11:41:30 PST 2008

Mo' breakin' McCain news:

McCain hopes Castro to "meet Marx
soon"<http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2257627420080222?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&sp=true>
Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:18am EST
By Jason Szep

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Republican presidential front-runner John McCain
suggested on Friday that he hoped retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro would
die soon and said Castro's brother will be a worse leader.

"I hope he has the opportunity to meet Karl Marx very soon," McCain told a
town-hall style meeting of about 150 people, referring to communist
theoretician Marx who died on March 14, 1883.

[snip - full Reuters report under link above]

Question: If VietNam likes Marx and Castro (even if only publicly), how good
can McCain ultimately be for VietNam?

On Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 2:31 AM, AD Marshall <admarshall at gmail.com> wrote:

> Breaking McCain news:
> Rick Renzi Indicted: *McCain* Co-Chair Hit For Fraud, Extortion<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/22/rick-renzi-indicted-mcca_n_87974.html> from
> HuffingtonPost<https://www.google.com/reader/view/feed/http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.huffingtonpost.com%2Fhuffingtonpost%2Fraw_feed>by The
> Huffington Post News Editors
>
> GOP Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi -- the co-chairman of Sen. John *McCain*'s
> campaign in Arizona -- has been indicted this morning<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20080222/congressman-indicted/>
> :
>
> Republican Rep. Rick Renzi (REN-zee) has been indicted for extortion, wire
> fraud, money laundering and other charges related to a land deal in Arizona.
>
>
> A 26-page federal indictment unsealed in Arizona accuses Renzi and two
> former business partners of conspiring to promote the sale of land that
> buyers could swap for property owned by the federal government. The sale
> netted one of Renzi's former partners $4.5 million.
>
> Renzi is a three-term member of the House. He announced in August that he
> would not seek re-election.
>
> Today's indictment comes after a lengthy federal investigation into the
> land developing and insurance businesses owned by Renzi's family.
>
> In April 2007, federal agents raided a Sonoita (so-no-EE-ta) Arizona
> business owned by Renzi's wife, Roberta.
>
> Renzi is listed as an Arizona co-chair<http://arizona.johnmccain.com/Content/Default.aspx?area=arizona+Leaders&PageName=Arizona+Leaders>
> *McCain*'s website.
>
> Paul Kiel<http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/breaking_gop_rep_renzi_indicte.php>breaks down the indictment:
>
> The charges boil down to this, basically. Renzi is charged with doing
> everything he can as a congressman to strong-arm others into buying land
> from his buddy James Sandlin -- Sandlin then allegedly kicked back sizable
> chunks of cash back to Renzi in a series of complicated financial
> transactions (thus the money laundering charge). The main details of these
> charges were reported by the Arizona papers and The Wall Street Journal last
> year.
>
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 2:19 AM, Tran Dinh Hoanh <tdhoanh at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> >
> >
> > 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
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > To subscribe/unsubscribe, please contact admins at
> > vnbizadmin at vietlinks.net
> > Info at http://mail.saigon.com/mailman/listinfo/vnbiz
> > Archive at
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vnbiz/
> > or http://groups-beta.google.com/group/VNBIZforum/
> > or http://mail.saigon.com/pipermail/vnbiz
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> AD (Andi) Marshall
> Mobile: +84 (0) 903871313
> eMail: admarshall at gmail.com
> Zone: ICT (IndoChina Time, GMT/UTC+7)
> Web: http://admarshall.googlepages.com/
> Post: HoChiMinh City (ex/or SaiGon), VietNam
> Quote: "Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none..."
> Source: Shakespeare, 1623, "All's Well That Ends Well"
> Get it at Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2246
> GPG/PGP Public Keys online: http://cryptonomicon.mit.edu/
>

-- 
AD (Andi) Marshall
Mobile: +84 (0) 903871313
eMail: admarshall at gmail.com
Zone: ICT (IndoChina Time, GMT/UTC+7)
Web: http://admarshall.googlepages.com/
Post: HoChiMinh City (ex/or SaiGon), VietNam
Quote: "Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none..."
Source: Shakespeare, 1623, "All's Well That Ends Well"
Get it at Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2246
GPG/PGP Public Keys online: http://cryptonomicon.mit.edu/
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mail.saigon.com/pipermail/vnbiz/attachments/20080223/eb37130b/attachment.html 