They are everywhere

“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”

—Winston Churchill

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE thought it is happening only in the Philippines.

But the presence of suspected mentally deranged candidates in the elections anywhere in the world has become a reality now; and it can’t be avoided.

Although most of them have been resoundingly rejected in the recent 2022 US midterm elections, there were a few who still made it. 

Their presence were felt in the gubernatorial, senatorial and congressional contests; they were mostly conspiracy theorists, fanatics of the former guy, and election deniers (or those who refused to believe in reality and truth that Joe Biden won honestly and decisively in the 2020 presidential election).     

What a shame that they were able to reach this far.

In some of the still undecided races in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, as of this writing, some of them were already starting to seek refuge in the playbook of “we wuz robbed” to hide their frustrations. 

Some of these lunatics will never concede even if the trend showed they were heading for a blowout loss.  

Control of the next Congress was still up in the air as of this writing (Democrats 198-Republicans 211 in the Senate and Democrats 198-Republicans 211 in the Lower House) after Republicans underperformed expectations in the November 8 midterm elections. But many of the most important races have already been called. The good news: Radical election deniers lost their contests—and decisively.

Good for democracy. Good for common sense and logic. 

 

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In an election that sent a muddled message, voter distaste for extremism shone through, emphasized the The Washington Post. Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano lost by some 13 points, with 94 percent of the vote counted, to moderate Democrat Josh Shapiro. Mr. Mastriano led the 2020 election-denial movement in his state; he even participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Trump rally that turned into an assault on the Capitol, said The Washington Post.

It added: “As a candidate, he threatened to decertify voting machines if he won the governor’s mansion. Mr. Mastriano did not concede on election night, despite the wide margin in his race.”

Meanwhile, in Michigan, Republican secretary of state nominee Kristina Karamo lost her bid to be her state’s top election administrator by 14 points. Ms. Karamo’s only apparent qualification for the job was her claim to be a 2020 election whistleblower. She had insisted that President Donald Trump won Michigan. (He lost by 154,000 votes.) Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R), who stood firm against Mr. Trump’s 2020 efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s narrow victory in his state, won reelection after surviving a GOP primary challenge from a Trump-backed election denier.

The paper said these results mean that leaders who are grounded in reality will run the 2024 presidential elections in key swing states, making it harder for Mr. Trump or another candidate to meddle with the democratic process. 

Votes were still being counted in Arizona and Nevada, where deniers are running to become their states’ chief elections officers. But voters have already rejected some of the highest-risk characters in the run-up to 2024.

Despite well-grounded fears about polling place disruptions, even violence, the election itself went smoothly. Election night was also notable for the decency many losing candidates exhibited. “I have the privilege to concede this race,” Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) said, acknowledging his defeat in his bid for a U.S. Senate seat. “When you lose an election, you concede. You respect the will of the people.” Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) silenced booing after she mentioned her victorious Republican opponent, state Sen. Jen A. Kiggans. “The success of this district depends on her success,” Ms. Luria said. “She won this election. … We do need to wish her the best of luck.”

These hopeful signs do not argue for complacency. Exit polls suggest that one-third of voters still believe Mr. Biden’s 2020 election was illegitimate. Before 2024, states should invest more in reliable election systems, voter education, poll-worker training and security. 

Congress should send the states more aid to help in their efforts and also rewrite election law to make it more difficult for losing candidates to attempt procedural coups. 

But democracy and reasonableness scored some important victories on Tuesday. Americans should be relieved.

 

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The Sentrong Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan-Sambayanan has just held its “special mission project” in the United States.

“It is now rolling out as we start to seriously address the remaining tentacles of CPP-NPA-NDF special line work operations---their so called International Solidarity Network or ISW, which is basically an international network and support build up operations of the CPP-NPA-NDF for their communist terrorism international operational modus operandi,” declared Philippine Team member Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz, who leads the group of former CPP-NPA-NDF rebels and cadres who have embraced the life of peace, under the rule of law.

They were joined by their counterparts from among the Filipino communities and their organizations in the United States and the government's foreign security liaison team.

They held four series input seminar and discussion on information and security awareness about the international communist terrorism network building operations of the CPP-NPA-NDF in the US.

The four series of information caravan covered the East Coast area spanning Washington DC, New York and New Jersey, and the West Coast area focusing on San Francisco and Los Angeles.

They identified the places to be “also among the operational focus of CPP-NPA-NDF international infiltration and terrorism network building of their international network, as well as their operational focus among the Filipino communities, organizations and associations, especially the FilCom youth and American youth recruits.”

The first engagement of the Special Mission Team included the participation of Isay Lucena of Yakap ng mga Magulang group and Bae Jessa Anna Crisostomo of Mindanao Indigenous People's Youth Organization. 

The group called as “very dynamic” the interaction and discussion participation among the various Filipino community leaders and core group of their different associations led by a reputable US-based Filipino lawyer Atty. Valera with at least five big organizations of Filipino professionals in the US- teachers, nurses, and other Filipino expatriates have made their very favorable impressions on the knowledge and experiences sharing regarding the different modus operandi of infiltration operations, recruitment and radicalization, especially among the FilCom youth and other expats, finance generation schemes and the over all spectrum of so called CPP-NPA-NDF international solidarity work or the ISW which also include input discussions on underground component operational activities of the CPP-NPA-NDF, where their various web of operational schemes were likewise clarified.” 

The existence of at least two Country Party Committees of the CPP in the US were also reportedly discussed during the open forum sessions among our FilCom leaders, including the CPP-NPA-NDF conduit of front organizations and other operational network.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

I don’t tolerate shenanigans of friends

 

“A friend to all is a friend to none.”

—Aristotle

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

I WILL flatly say no to anyone involved in illegal activities who will seek my “help.”

What help could I possibly do since I’m a mere journalist? 

I’m not a PAO lawyer; I’m not a spin doctor. I’m not even someone who has the power or position in the higher echelon of government. 

Or someone with extra-ordinary ability to create miracles. 

Some erring individuals who tried to seek my “help” thought I could “reverse” the hellish situation they were in if I would intervene in their cases (read: defend them and vouch for their “good” character and background).

No. Never. That’s impossible. In the first place, I neither have the authority nor the power to intercede on cases I am not familiar with, or those beyond my capacity to intrude.

One of them is a popular woman recently arrested in Metro Manila for wide-scale scam. I met this woman when I was in the Philippines in 2004. 

She was introduced to me by a young lady who is now a congresswoman while I was doing an interview with a very popular national politician, a former political detainee during the Martial Law years, in a famous Iloilo hotel.

The popular politician, who died three years ago, was the woman’s father-in-law.

To make the long story short, we (the woman) became “acquaintances.”

The connection, however, was worthless. She was (once upon a time) a celebrity while I’m a nobody. 

 

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Through an intermediary, she “wanted” me to write something positive about her to extirpate the negative circumstances surrounding her arrest and alleged involvement in the scam. 

Suddenly, I, who is not anymore based in the Philippines, came across her mind—of all people in the world.

Recently, I had four “missed audio calls” from the intermediary. 

I had no reaction; I had no reply. I wouldn’t; I couldn’t. My silence meant no. 

My values and personal philosophy tell me I don’t and cannot waltz with ruffians who willfully and intentionally violate the laws and take advantage of the weaknesses of others, especially the gullible. 

I endorse the heroes and patriots. I praise those who deserve accolades for a job well-done; I salute those who hammer out sterling achievements amid odds and adversity; and those who unselfishly make sacrifices to eke out outstanding services to humanity. 

But not the hooligans, the pagans, the rascals, the bloodsuckers, the twenty percenters, the thugs, the nincompoops, the barbarians, the scoundrels, the mercenaries, and the godless punks. Sorry.

 

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I WILL continue to cover important and major events in the United States as a newsman, but on November 8, 2022, the midterm elections in America, I won’t be able to give my full time—meaning, I won’t be in the polling centers running to and fro to log incoming results like what I did when I covered the 2016 US presidential elections.

Everything is now electronically available. Results of any race—election and sports—can be obtained in seconds. The technology has made everything so easy and accessible; even reporters can have direct access to data base and information made available for public. 

This was my experience when I covered the 2020 US presidential election; I managed to monitor even the “live” debates in my tablets and other gadgets. 

When radio networks in Manila and Western Visayas (Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Negros) sought my help for any “breaking news”, I was quick as a night owl to transmit important facts—because of the power of technology.

At this early, observes think the US midterm election “were long expected to deliver bad news for the Democrats.” 

I have been regularly monitoring the events leading to next month’s election and, routinely, at the half-way mark between presidential elections, voters give the incumbent party a beating. 

Yet, as The Economists recently reported, despite high inflation, and the low approval ratings for President Joseph “Joe” Biden, Jr., this year could bring some cheer for the Democrats. 

“The party has notched up some notable legislative achievements. Although they will expect to lose control of the House, their chances of holding the Senate are improving,” reported The Economist.

“Our model provides an up-to-date statistical forecast of the contest. We'll collect, and regularly update, our midterms coverage here, including reporting on primaries, the most compelling congressional and state-level races, and the personalities involved.”

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

 

 

 

Pinoy election losers should learn from Americans

“No part of the education of a politician is more indispensable than the fighting of elections.”
--Winston Churchill

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- Instead of making a concession speech, a loser in the Philippine elections has always been known to be aching and crying, “We wuz robbed.”
And instead of inspiring or helping minimize the sadness of his emotionally distraught supporters after results of the electoral exercises have been known, the Pinoy sore loser would instigate the crowd and give them false hopes: “We will win in the electoral protest. The truth will come out.”
Instead of moving on with his life after a failed bid for a public office, the Pinoy election loser extends his hurtful rivalry by going after his opponent tongs and hammer in a tumultuous election protest, wasting the taxpayers’ money and productive time when the protest reaches the Electoral Tribunal.
Since Marcos “defeated” Tita Cory in the 1986 Philippine snap elections (Tita Cory became president when the “People Power” toppled the Strongman in EDSA), there were only two losers in the Philippine presidential contests that I remember who gamely accepted defeat: Jose de Venecia (who lost to Erap in 1998) and Mar Roxas (who lost to Digong in 2018).

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From senatorial to congressional down to gubernatorial, mayoral, council and even barangay elections, there have been and will also be “victims of electoral fraud” in the Philippines.
Nobody is defeated in a plain and honest competition; every loser is a “victim of massive cheating and vote-buying.”
The noise and annoying grumble normally come from losing bets who badly need jobs in government because the industry that they come from no longer provide sufficient income to sustain their skyrocketing expenses.
Some of them are the discarded showbiz and entertainment actors and actresses, basketball stars, folk singers and rock stars who live lavish lifestyles.
To bellyache, complain and stir the hornet’s nest after the elections have become the Philippines’ national trademark.
Come May 2019, expect more nitpickers, whiners and crybabies to make a scene and engage in melodrama after they have been rejected in the elections.

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What the Filipino losers--and winners, as well--must learn from their counterparts in America?
Humility.
Gracefulness.
Statesmanship.
In my coverage of the 2018 US Midterm Elections on November 6, 2018 here, the concession speech of Democrat Texas senatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke should be considered as one of the best in modern elections; it should stand up as the most emotional but down-to-earth and very sincere speech coming from a rising political heartthrob many progressives and Democrats thought would be the next Robert F. Kennedy.

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Let me share here Berto O’Rourke’s dynamic and magnificent speech:
El Paso has produced some really great teams over the years. I am very lucky I got to be part of one that came out of this community. For the last 22 months, I have been traveling every county in Texas. I have been there to listen to and show up for every one of us. I was inspired and I am as hopeful as I have ever been in my life. Tonight’s loss does nothing to diminish the way I feel about Texas or this country.
Getting to see all of you tonight and be with you reminds me why we set out to do this in the first place. We’re not about being against anybody. We’re not going to define ourselves by who or what we’re scared of. We are great people. Ambitious. Defined by our aspirations and the hard work we are willing to commit in order to achieve them. Every single one of us from a big city to a small town, the people of Texas will do the great work of the country.
I have now had the opportunity to talk with Sen. Cruz and congratulate him on his victory and wish him well going forward. What I pledged on behalf of all of us is that in this time of division, with the country as polarized as I can remember it in my life, all of this bitterness, if there is anything we can do to help him in his position of public trust to ensure that Texas helps lead the country in a way that brings us back together around big things we want to achieve, whether that is making sure we face any threat against this country or that we are there for every single person who needs a helping hand so we can let your full potential, the ability to see a doctor and receive medication you need, I want to work with him.
I will work with anyone to make sure we lead on that. You amazing public school educators who work so hard and do so much for so many of us, I will work with him or with anyone, anytime, anywhere, to make sure that the same way you have been there for us, we will be there for you. Not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Texans and Americans. I want to make sure that this community that raised me and made me who I am, where Amy and I are fortunate enough to be raising our kids who are here with us tonight, that we offer our experience, perspective, courage on the issues we know best. We will form something powerful, magical.
I have nothing to apologize for. I want to make sure that this proud community offers, has to give to our country and to ensure our best days are still ahead and the policies and laws we craft and the way we treat each other comes not out of fear, but out of confidence and strength in the kind hearts I have always known El Paso to have.
El Paso, I love you so much. I am so proud of you in the city and community and what you mean to the rest of the country. And what you have achieved tonight, along with so many other amazing people across the state. The kindness, generosity you have shown to me and Amy and our family, and to our campaign, it’s amazing. That is why my faith in this state and country is not diminished. We will continue to work and come together to make sure that we live up to the promise of potential of the country. I know that because I met you and listened to you everywhere you live.
I want to thank my family, beginning with Amy, who has borne the toughest burden raising our kids, supporting me, loving me, giving me strength and encouragement at every step, making sure we could finish this as strong as we started. I want to thank our children and my mom and sisters and my family, all of whom are here tonight, for being such great examples to me. I love you.
I want to thank this amazing campaign of people. Not a dime from a single PAC. All of you showing the country how to do this. I am so fucking proud of you guys. David, Jody, Chris, Cynthia, everybody who worked on this campaign, every volunteer and ambassador, everyone who knocked on doors, everyone who made phone calls, everyone who allow themselves to hope and believe, to be inspired by one another and to turn it into action and into votes, and to do something that no one thought was possible, to build a campaign like this one solely comprised of people from all walks of life, coming together, deciding what unites us is far stronger than the color of our skin, how many generations we can count ourselves an American, or whether we just got here yesterday, who we love, we pray to, whether we pray at all, who we voted for last time, none of it matters.
It is the greatness to which we aspire and the work we are willing to put into it to achieve it by which we will be known going forward. This campaign holds a very special place in the history of this country. Every day going forward. You have made that possible.
This team of which we are all members in some way is going to stay together and continue to aspire to do great things. It may be in individual races and communities. It may not have anything to do with politics. But each of us, sometimes together finding ways to make life better for one another in our communities. There are so many great candidates who will come out of this campaign whose work I look forward to supporting and following and cheering on. Know this: I am forever changed in the most profoundly positive way. I am forever grateful to every single one of you for making this possible. I believe in you and I believe in Texas and in this country.
I love you more than words can express and that love will persist every day going forward, making sure whatever we have created and changed, and all of us will decide what that means and how far it goes, that it leads something far greater than what we have today and that everything one of us continues to believe and made possible the greatness of the United States of America.
I am honored to have been able to do this with you and grateful. We will see you down the road. Thank you, El Paso. Thank you, Texas.
Thank you, every single one of you, for making this possible. I am so grateful. Thank you. Thank you.

Pinoys obsessed with US Midterm elections

“Voting is how we participate in a civic society - be it for president, be it for a municipal election. It's the way we teach our children-in school elections-how to be citizens, and the importance of their voice.”
--Loretta Lynch

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- Filipinos are very much involved in the US Midterm Elections for the reason that they, too, will march to the polling precincts six months from now to elect their senators, representatives, governors, mayors, and council members in May 2019.
Some of the those who cast their votes in the rainy and windy morning on November 6, 2018 were members of the Filipino community in the state of New York.
Carmen, 67, born in Davao City in the Philippines, said she voted for the Republicans “because I don’t want my benefits to be delayed if the Democrats will win and allow more illegal immigrants to come in.”
Victor, 60, of Nueva Ecija, said: “Of course, I voted for the Democrats because that will benefit a lot of my kababayans. Also I don’t want to lose my healthcare benefits.”
Healthcare is one of the key issues in the midterm polls.
A major Republican victory would likely lead to the final nail in the coffin of the Affordable Care Act otherwise known as "Obamacare", the healthcare law introduced by Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama.
Republicans have so far failed to repeal and replace Obamacare, but Congress and Trump have made changes to it.

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Former Vice President Joe Biden declared in his final pitch a day before the US Midterm Elections: “The very character of our nation is on the ballot on Tuesday. The rest of the world is looking.”
By the time this article comes out, the United States will have a new set of 435 members in the House of Representatives and 35 members in the Senate as the Americans concluded the 2018 US Midterm Elections.
In New York City where I monitored and covered the polls, voters across the state decided on candidates for governor, senator, attorney general, state legislature and 27 seats in the U.S. House.
New York has more than 12 million registered voters with Democrats outnumbering Republicans by more than 2 to 1.
Polls opened at six o’clock in the morning and closed at nine o’clock in the evening.
Unlike in many other states where millions of votes have already been cast as of this writing, New York did not have early voting, though many have mailed in absentee ballots.
Some of the most watched races in today’s midterm elections involved incumbent Republican members of congress fighting an unusual number of Democratic challengers.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a very popular Democrat, was seeking a third term and Republicans and Democrats battled over the makeup of the state’s congressional delegation as the caustic election midterm election campaign reached its climax.

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The 2018 US Midterm Elections on November 6, 2018 was the second elections in the United States that I officially covered as a journalist.
I was also privileged to cover the 2016 US Presidential Elections and was assigned through the approval of the Board of Elections in the City of New York in Brooklyn.
Normally accredited journalists are not allowed to take photos within the poll sites, but with a written permission from the Board of Elections in the City of New York, we were able to observe the poll right inside the precincts, take some photos and interview the voters and poll officials.
The Board of Elections in the City of New York, headed as president by Maria R. Guastella, is equivalent to the Commission of Elections (Comelec) in the Philippines.
It is an administrative body of ten commissioners, two from each borough upon recommendation by both political parties and then appointed by the City Council for a term of four years.
The commissioners appoint a bipartisan staff to oversee the daily activities of its main and five borough offices.
The Board is responsible under New York State Election Law for the following: Voter registration, outreach and processing; Maintain and update voter records; Processing and verification of candidate petitions/documents; Campaign finance disclosures of candidates and campaign committees; Recruiting, training and assigning the various Election Day officers to conduct elections; Operate poll site locations; Maintain, repair, setup and deploy the Election Day operation equipment; Ensure each voter their right to vote at the polls or by absentee ballot; Canvassing and certification of the vote; Voter education, notification and dissemination of election information; and Preparation of maps of various political subdivisions.

Like Pinoys, American bets also use dirty tricks

“If you think you can slander a woman into loving you, or a man into voting for you, try it till you are satisfied.”
--Abraham Lincoln

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- When opponents of the late Ilongga Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago circulated a story that she was mentally unstable calling her a “brenda” (brain damage) when she ran for president in 1992 without showing any proof, we thought elections in the Philippines were the most obnoxious and the murkiest in the world.
It turned out the use of dirty tricks like mudslinging and slanderous media campaign advertisements appeared to be nastier in the United States compared in the Philippines.
For several weeks now, I laughed each time I saw on TV the poll advertisement “approved by” Bob Hugin, a Republican challenger for the New Jersey Senate race, accusing reelectionist Democratic Senator Robert Menendez of having sex with minor prostitutes.
It reminded me of 1998 presidential candidate Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who won nevertheless even if his rivals accused him of being a womanizer and addicted to liquors.
Hugin, a former pharmaceutical executive, has reportedly dug deep into his pocket to hammer Sen. Menendez, spending over $10 million on negative ads.
Media have reported that their tussle “has become unexpectedly close and increasingly nasty.”
Hugins’ most recent ad focuses on the most salacious details stemming from allegations against Sen. Menendez during his last re-election campaign: that he and his wealthy Florida doctor friend, Salomon Melgen, frequently hired underage prostitutes while vacationing in the Dominican Republic.
“What about the underage girls who accused you, according to the F.B.I.?” screams the TV ad that runs in the prime time.

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The allegations were reportedly made by an anonymous tipster who called himself Pete Williams, a wry reference to a former senator from New Jersey, Harrison “Pete” Williams, who was convicted in 1981 of taking bribes.
The tipster reportedly first reached out to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a left-leaning legal watchdog group. The group eventually passed the allegations to the F.B.I.
The ad reportedly refers to an F.B.I. affidavit filed to show probable cause for a search warrant. In the affidavit, Special Agent Gregory J. Sheehy, recounts his attempts to investigate the tipster’s allegations.
True or not, the nasty TV campaign ad we are referring to only shows that below-the-belt attacks against political opponents are not the exclusive handiwork of Filipino politicians, who went as far as inventing stories and hiring “barkers” or radio block time anchors during the campaign period to destroy the reputation of their rivals.

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Like in the presidential elections in 2016, we will again cover the United States elections on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 which will take place in the middle of President Donald Trump's first term.
To be contested are all the 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate.
At stake in the midterms elections is control of Congress, both houses of which are currently dominated by the Republicans (although the Grand Old Party holds only a narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate).
Democrats are reportedly “on a roll” and are hoping to wrest enough new seats to at least regain control of the House.
They have not held both houses of the legislative branch since 2010.
The U.S. Senate has 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats (including two independents).