Probably some of you noted that I stopped blogging on the election and took down my posts. It was just too divisive. I'm glad it is over.
We Americans did ourselves proud today. But as my Taiwanese wife said:
"You Americans are amazing. You elected a black man president. You are so lucky. You have your own country.
We don't even have a country yet."
Democrat or Republican, there's much still to work toward on this island that we all love.
[Taiwan]
52 comments:
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All I can say is thank goodness the nightmare of the last 8 years is over.
Of course, it is a sad day for being an American comic knowing that Palin will be back in Alaska now.
And I'd like to believe that Canada saved the world with THIS CALL. ;>)
(yes, it was her).
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Chinese President Hu Jintao, shortly after Barack Obama was declared president-elect, sent a message Wednesday to Obama for his election as the US president, and said he looks forward to working together with him for long-term, healthy China-US relations
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/05/content_7177115.htm
Well, one down, STOP, just one to go.
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Hey...I wonder if those comedy DJ pranksters know Beijing Mandarin?
Hmm....
"Mr. Ma -- Hu Jin-tao is on Line 1."
Mmmmwwwwaaahahahaha!!!
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everyone is gushing over him, talking about "hope" blah blah. he's nothing more than a career politician with the same agenda as everyone else - because the agenda is made by people behind the scenes. tell me what you think of him after he invades the next country on the list because he was instructed to.
Or not. Teddy Roosevelt spoke softly and carried a big stick.
Bush didn't speak softly and carried a big stick.
Let's hope that Obama will speak softly and not forget to leave the stick at home.
Ok, so he won. Now the hard part comes...
Good Lord mj klein, can you give it a rest for one day? What a miserable life you must lead...
-Ben
What does it say about our country when so many Americans are unwilling to vote for a physically challenged candidate with a multi-racial family?
I voted for Obama to give him a chance, but if he messes up the next 4 years, I will hate all blacks forever.
The vicious attacks on Bush were at least as bad as those against Clinton before him. Obama must expect that same treatment from those who are unable to separate their opinions from the realities of governance.
Obama's victory speech last night called for unity, a call that was virtually identical to Bush's remarks during his victory speech eight years ago. Obama's success at unity will almost certainly be met with the same response.
It all says far more about us as a society than it says about either of these decent men.
I don't understand the "physically challenged", but maybe the 48 percent or so that did not vote for him were simply unimpressed. Why does someone have to take his race into consideration?
I am taking a wait and see approach as I have no choice, and I think he may have potential, but he also has potential to be a disappointment. But I, like the other 48 percent, have no reason to dance in the streets yet.
I am not sure why Obama is "with the same agenda as everyone else". It's obvious to me that his idea and approaches are very different from McCain's.
Following Obama's campaign very closely ever since before he defeated Hillary in the primary, I see a grand view about the world, and how USA would stand among all countries around the world. Not just how to fight terrorists.
I also see his vision into the future, especially on the issue of energy independence. USA is the strongest country in the world for a century, but with all those hi tech, how could USA not be able to establish the energy independence like Brazil does ? This should have been done long time ago, and Americans are suffering because it's not done. And if USA keeps putting this aside, next couple of generations will definitely suffer the consequences.
Are all those come from people behind him ? I don't know. But judging from how well he ran his campaign -- the best campaign in USA history (well, CNN says that. I was just amazed like seeing a grand performance of a perfect show), it would be hard for me not to admire his leadership.
Oh, btw, stop_ma, the prank call to Palin is amazingly hilarious. I thought Palin's lousy interviews with Couric Katie would be the most memorized laughters in this campaign. But the French prank call obviously out run them.
well, tell your Taiwanese wife that she has a country that's called＂中華民
國＂ ｎｅｖｅｒ a part /province of PRC.
"And I'd like to believe that Canada saved the world with THIS CALL. ;>)"
Well, it's funny...but although I don't like Palin that much, I consider prank call quite low class. I recieved one when I was a kid. I found out soon and just hung up. I don't like people forcing others to waste their time using phone. If they don't have important things to do or say, they should just go screw themselves instead of wasting other people's time.
Congradulation to the US on selecting a new President.
Realized or not hope is necessary to carry a lot of hard days in the future. Obama has a lot of hard work ahead but isn't a better we're past 16 years of bitter Clinton and Bush Administrations?
Here's to hoping.
Oh bummer! Politically correct Yanks…. You did the world great harm. Adieu Sarah, we barely knew you. You were a hoot. We’ll miss you. There goes our opportunity at anti-American mirth. Dick! You remain unchallenged, rest assured! Right! Now put that blunderbuss down! I said, Dick! Just gimme the blood…. Bon, bon, bon, bon, bon à rien…. Oh bummer…
The question now is how long the honeymoon period will last for Obama. Sooner or later he's going to start alienating a section of Americans that voted for him. Especially since he is our first black president, there may be unintentional/intentional pressure to do things that may benefit the black community more so than the rest of Americans. And based on the decisions he makes then, he'll either be called one that is favoring his "people," or one that has turned his back on his "people."
The HOPE is that he can actually bring unity to this nation and not alienate anyone. REALISTICALLY, I doubt any of you would say that's possible.
I don't understand the "physically challenged", but maybe the 48 percent or so that did not vote for him were simply unimpressed. Why does someone have to take his race into consideration?
McCain is physically handicapped due to his injuries sustained during the Vietnam war.
McCain's family is multi-racial because he has adopted children.
All the talk about "history" was about Obama being "black" (though he was multi-racial he preferred not to mention that and just call himself "black").
What about the history that would have been made by electing an openly physically handicapped president, as opposed to Roosevelt who had to hide his handicap? What about the history of having a multi-racial first family in the White House?
While Obama talked about how he didn't look like previous president, and without cause accused his opponents of racism, and pointed out that he was black, and said that his middle name might help him understand the world better, McCain instead focussed on issues, character and choices made in life.
McCain paid for it. No good deed goes unpunished, as they say.
Dixteel said... Well, it's funny...but although I don't like Palin that much, I consider prank call quite low class.
I think what out of ordinary is not the class of the call, but how easily an outsider can panetrate Palin's office. It shows how unprepared Palin and her staff is.
This kind of thing should never have happened, especially on a team that claimed ready to handle national crisis.
Palin has shown many like that in the past couple of months. I feel like watching a kid's play. I am really puzzled how she could still get so much support (her crowd is easily get to 9 to 10 times of McCain's).
Stephen, you're probably looking for excuses to hate them anyway.
To me it feels like Taiwan and the United States are tracking each other.
About 8 years ago, Taiwan elected a young may from a political party whose stated goals were noble and good. But the young man did not show great competence in government, and made a lot of mistakes.
About 8 years ago, the U.S. did the same thing.
Taiwan has elected a good-looking man from a party whose ideas I disagree with and whose past indicate that his centrist campaign statements and promises should not be trusted, and who raised expectations far beyond what can be delivered.
Now the U.S. has done the same.
Obama has shown himself to be very intelligent and excellent at campaigning. I hope his skills translate well to the presidency and I hope his governing more reflects the ability to adapt to the desires of constituents that he demonstrated by running as a centrist after the primaries were over.
I hope Obama succeeds, because at this point we can't afford to have a president fail.
Bush, McCain, and Obama's reactions to opposite opinions:
Bush will simply ignore you and do what think is right (although if it is proven to be wrong, he will still and continue do it).
McCain will just yell at you, calling you the C word, and beat you up while do what he wants to do.
Obama, unlike most, will talk to you and answer your questions although you are just a redneck pretending (dreaming) to be making 250k a year while practice the trade without a license required by law and didn't even pay taxes. Btw, Obama did the same thing when he visited Iraq and General Petraeus has commented on how Obama is willing to learn, communicate, and exchange ideas with opposite views.
Of course, I don't expect much from general readers of this blog considering any opinions opposite of theirs are usually responded with "you are a troll, the information is a common knowledge, and you are wrong (while in fact there is no proof at all), you are wrong because I say so, and classic one liner that offers little help, etc."
However, it is fun to read though.
Side note for readin:
What about the history of having a multi-racial first family in the White House?
Google Obama family, and you will know his family is truly multi-racial (not through adoption). Have you ever saw his half sister before, hint she is not black but an Asian.
Readin, I misread what you wrote. I thought you were talking about Obama. Yes, actually a few things really bothered me about this campaign.
1) Ironically, by going out of their way to walk on pins and needles about the race issue in this campaign, many Americans actually toned down personal criticism of Obama, making it easier for him to get his message across on other issues. Thus, his race gave him an advantage when ideally, we were supposed to be color-blind.
2) Racist comments were off limits, as they should have been, but age-ist comments were obviously not. It was ok to imply that an older person should not hold an important job, even if that person is in very good health.
3) Media establishment bias. Nuff said. We all know it was there. Good for you if it favoured your candidate.
So I will forever believe that Obama won on a very unlevel playing field. This does not mean he won't be a good president, but it is a nagging thought.
From what I've read, it took Obama $664M to get this job. You have to wonder where this money came from and who does he owe favors to. The potential appointment of Rahm "AIPAC" Emanuel as Obama's chief of staff is not a good sign that any positive change coming.
Also I think if a JPM'er or GS'er becomes SecTreasury, the US will never get out from under the financial mess we are in because the corruption will continue. In my dreams I would like to see Obama give this position to Ron Paul.
readin: While Obama talked about how he didn't look like previous president,
Since when saying himself is different becomes a problem?
and without cause accused his opponents of racism, and pointed out that he was black, and said that his middle name might help him understand the world better, McCain instead focussed on issues, character and choices made in life.
Wo wo wo ... this is out right lie. Prove us with any single evidence of your accusations and I will apologize for calling you a lier.
In fact, if you follow the news closely, you would have noticed that it is McCain's camp that, instead of focusing on the issues, attacked Obama's character, labeling him "palling around terrorists".
It isn't until the last few weeks that they found personal attack failed did they switched back to real issues, which I believe prevented MacCain's rating from falling further down.
Stephen,
Bush has messed up big time, as did many other US Presidents whose skin colors were far lighter than that of Obama. Does that give us a good reason to hate all whites?
2) Racist comments were off limits, as they should have been, but age-ist comments were obviously not. It was ok to imply that an older person should not hold an important job, even if that person is in very good health.
McCain has had multiple bouts of cancerous melanoma -- one of the worst forms of RECURRING skin cancer.
Also, your missing one important element, Thomas...
The fact that a complete moron and evangelical nut-job was 2nd in line to the most powerful leader in the free world if McCain would have been elected. She made Bush look like a genius, for goodness sakes!
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Wo wo wo ... this is out right lie. Prove us with any single evidence of your accusations and I will apologize for calling you a lier.
I said "and without cause accused his opponents of racism,"
In June Obama said "The choice is clear. Most of all we can choose between hope and fear. It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign policy. We know what kind of campaign they’re going to run. They’re going to try to make you afraid. They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?"
It took me a while to find that quote which I remembered him saying. I need to get some sleep so I'll let you research the rest if you want.
In fact, if you follow the news closely, you would have noticed that it is McCain's camp that, instead of focusing on the issues, attacked Obama's character, labeling him "palling around terrorists".
Choosing to pal around with terrorists says something about character. And I did say character was one of the things McCain talked about - a totally legitimate thing to consider when choosing a president.
Google Obama family, and you will know his family is truly multi-racial (not through adoption). Have you ever saw his half sister before, hint she is not black but an Asian.
The "first family in the White House" is usually thought of the people who actually live in the White House - the candidate, his spouse and his children. For McCain that would include his children. For Obama it would most likely not include his sister, aunt, etc..
But my point was more tongue in cheek. McCain's election would have been historic too, but it wasn't talked about the way Obama's was, and McCain did the noble thing by not bringing it up himself.
Obama's campaign indeed did run the best campaign. Why? They were able to garner the YHV- the youth hype vote. Without this block of voters, he might not have so easily won. Do I have a problem with youths voting? No, I am a "youth" myself. But, it does irritate me to see the whole college campus jump on the Obama bandwagon and have no idea what his actual policies are. All you needed to know was, Obama is not Bush, Obama is cool, and supporting Obama makes you cool, supporting Republicans makes you uncool.
Being a peer to all these youth votes, it's easy to see the clear nod that the college aged kids gave to Obama. Facebook polls showed Obama "votes" getting 75% of the votes, with McCain only getting around 25%. A great campaign he ran, indeed.
1. In this youtube interview (part1 part2), Ron Paul discusses what he believes will be the shock event that will happen around Jan 21. That is, a devaluation of the dollar and the creation of a new global reserve and monetary system. (Note, the link goes to an Alex Jones interview ~ I'll just say don't shoot the messenger, its a worthwhile listen.)
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the KMT has the unification business on track1. We know the KMT did mention they would talk to the CCP about how to weather the coming financial crapstorm together. Perhaps Taiwan, with US$44B in US Treasuries, will be deep binglang spital if the dollar is devalued. Last week they already said they would no longer purchase US debt.
Interestingly, both Biden and Colin Powell mentioned that something "big" will happen soon after Obama is sworn in. There is also a meeting in the EU on Nov.15 to discuss a new banking system. I think I remember reading about bush agreeing to allow the BIS to audit the FED after he leaves office as well.
2. It is also interesting to see most Asian markets tank by almost 6% today (Nov5). You have to wonder how many millions of $ the ROC.gov just lost trying to prop up the Taiex to 5000 before the Chen YunLin meeting.
3. I heard some talk that Laura Tyson may be the next SecTres. Interesting to see that she is a trilaterialist and a CFR'er like Obama's advisors Zbig and Volker.
I know this is all rumor and sounds tinfoil, but its something to think about since its coming from Ron Paul, someone who has been right on the money all along.
"Since when saying himself is different becomes a problem?"
When he uses it as a talking point to appeal to a constituency. It is not like he was just making a matter-of-fact comment in a crowd: "Hey, I just noticed that I don't look like George Washington today!"
That actually was a problem Taiwan Echo. Which is precisely why after he said it, he never openly mentioned racial differences to appeal to minority crowds again.
But the comment itself reveals that Obama is not as post-racial as many would like.
For those who supported Obama, congrats! For those who are passionate about U.S. support for Taiwan, there's reason for guarded optimism. The Taiwan-related attitudes of dozen or so political appointees that will come in with a new administration to oversee Asia policy are in many ways more important than the new president himself.
With McCain, we pretty much knew who would populate the key positions inside the bureaucracy. We don't with Obama since he had such a large campaign staff. If Obama or his immediate circle bring in the likes of Colin Powell, Richard Danzig, Jim Steinberg, Kurt Campbell, Richard Bush, Frank Januzzi, Derek Mitchell, Derek Chollet, and Even Medeiros then all will be fine. There are others that could not bode well for Taiwan at all.
Thomas wrote:
"Racist comments were off limits, as they should have been, but age-ist comments were obviously not. It was ok to imply that an older person should not hold an important job, even if that person is in very good health."
I'm not aware of any "ageist" comments directed at McCain. If there were, they were nothing compared to the insinuations about Obama's religion and patriotism, among other things.
Nevertheless, age was a valid question in this campaign. In addition to being 72, which meant there would have been something like a 25% chance that McCain would not have lived to see the completion of a second term as president (according to actuarial tables), there was also his past history of cancer. And let's not forget who he chose to be his possible successor as president!
Age, unlike race, can be a detriment in these circumstances.
"To me it feels like Taiwan and the United States are tracking each other."
What the heck????
The first time Chen got elected, I would see some echoes to Obama. Obama and Chen are the young people here. Ma is Chen's age, but elected 8 YEARS LATER.
I hope Obama's presidency goes a lot better than Chen's, but where are these parallels coming from?
Although Ma won a huge part of the vote the demographics that support him are so different from Obama's. The oldest and the youngest age brackets supported Hsieh, not Ma. The young overwhelmingly supported Obama.
Many artists, musicians, intellectuals, professors, liberals came out, as they traditionally do, for Hsieh and the DPP, not Ma. These are the same strongholds as Obama's, though the comparison isn't perfect.
Anyways, I'm not try to make any parallels. I think it's pretty hard to come up with realy good analogies. I'm just pointing out that your parallels are totally whack. There's much more that's broken about your comparison, but there are already so many comments.
Good thing the divisiveness in the comments is now over!
Jerome, are you talking about my comment?
If so...what the heck are you talking about? I am not a US citizen therefore not what you call a Yank. And I am talking about my extreme dislike of prank calls, what the heck does that have to do with Iran? I like both McCain and Obama, and some prank calls from Canada is not going to change my opinion, which doesn't really matter anyway because I am not voting for US president.
Imagin yourself getting a prank call while you are taking a nap during the weekend. I would actually consider that a harasment. And for what? Just because some boring people can't come up with jokes themselves and have to call others to make themselves laugh. Some people think they are so smart because they are able to make prank calls, but I would just say they are bunch of assholes.
readin,
I have to apologize -- before I read any of your reply to my comment. I could have made the same point without raising anything like "lying." This is a very bad demo of internet manner.
Now back to your reply.
In June Obama said "The choice is clear. Most of all we ... They’re going to try to make you afraid. They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?"
That sounds like a preventive defense to me.
Thanks for spending time on this. I really feel bad.
Choosing to pal around with terrorists says something about character.
Now, you are taking Sarah Palin's word without verifying how much she said is valid.
What does "pal around with terrorists" mean ?
Bill Ayers, the terrorist Palin talked about, had the terror act when Obama was 8 year old. Ayers has been a professor in University of Chicago. Are all students he taught, all faculty in UofC, all "palling around a terrorist?" When any of them run for a position, is it fair to label them "pal around terrorists?"
This is one of the worst character assassinations one could ever imagine. This labeling implied that Obama is a terrorist, causing fear among McCain's supporters that they are gonna be ruled by a terrorist-related president. That actually pushes McCain's supporters to an extreme, which in turn polarizes the society. IMO it is one the most society-damaging tactics in this entire campaign.
This in response to Thomas, who implied that GOP did not use racist comments in their campaign.
Anybody who followed the campaign could see that stoking fears in the racist core of the GOP was quite definitely a key part of the strategy.
Besides Sarah Palin, the other major mistake the GOP made this time was the fact that they based their campaign on very thinly-veiled attacks on Obama's character, and outright questioning of his patriotism (of which the accusations such as "he's a socialist" played a key part). The "where's his lapel pin" brand of superficial patriotism is a hallmark of the GOP.
Sure, they also threw in a bit of talk about the war, the economy, Joe the Moronic Plumber/Tax Evader/Gullible Everyman, etc., but it was the character attacks that they were hoping would carry them across the finish line. These were calculated and carefully-worded statements that were intended to make anglo americans afraid of someone who did not look like them. Of course they did not say, "How can a black man be president of the USA??". Instead, they (or she) said, "This is a man who does not see America as you and I see America..", etc. And I and a lot of other people took that for what it was: an attempt to make people afraid of Obama because he is different in terms of his ethnic background, and yes, color.
And yes, that is racist, and that's one of the reasons I am so glad the GOP lost this one big-time.
As far as what effect it will have on Taiwan...One reason that the USA has been so annoying concilliatory vis-a-vis China for so long is because the USA has no choice in terms of real-politik. That's because for the last 8 years, both America's soft power and military power have been squandered to the extent that there is no longer any point in talking tough if you can't "put your money where your mouth is". Under McCain, that drain of USA's soft and hard power would have continued unabated. Under Obama, maybe it could be re-directed to areas where it could make a real difference (including East Asia, if need be).
Scott in 安平 (previously of 士林)
Readin said...
To me it feels like Taiwan and the United States are tracking each other.
I have always been amazed how similar the politics went in USA and Taiwan in the past few years.
However, the similarity stops at the election this year.
In USA, Obama is described by many as extremely intellegent.
But in Taiwan, both blue and green camps agreed thta Ma Ying-jeou is stupid.
In USA, Obama's election signals the opening of a new door to human right of Americans.
In Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou's election closes the only one door to the human right of Taiwanese.
The difference is devastating.
Thomas said...
..."Hey, I just noticed that I don't look like George Washington today!"
That actually was a problem Taiwan Echo. Which is precisely why after he said it, he never openly mentioned racial differences to appeal to minority crowds again.
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I agree. Do you think his acknowledge of it, by never mentioning it again, indicates his ability to recognize his own weakness and correct it ?
Or you would rather see him as the one before he "never mentioned it again?"
What I saw on McCain's side is, many analysts say negative attack doesn't work, in fact it works backward, but they kept doing it.
"We Americans did ourselves proud today"
Ahh yes and Proposition 8 passed so that was really a bittersweet victory for some Americans. Wouldn't you say Mr. Turton?
Obama may have won the election, but we'll see what the next 4 years will bring.
I think it rather weird that you say "we Americans" when, not all Americans voted for him, and for a very particular reason.
Also, strangely enough, you didn't mention the proposition 8 victory in California, nor the ban on homosexual attempt to redefine marriage in Arizona and Florida.
Could it be that even "blacks" know that GOD did indeed ordain marriage?
Also "Asian"-Americans were largely against gay marriage as well Mr. Turton.
So yes Obama won, but gay marriage lost and I think that's what really mattered to Christians like myself; but at the same time, we have a more "liberal" Congress and leader so it'd be really interesting these next 4 years. As you are an atheist, I'm sure you know what I mean....
The number of Chinese Christians is now at about 130 million....and growing...
Check out New York Times (today or tomorrow's). There is a special report of McCain camp dissing Palin. Here are a couple of snippets I have heard:
1) McCain camp only told Palin to buy 3 suits for the convention, but she went on a $150k shopping spree!
2) Palin didn't get clearance from McCain's strategists when she went on that stage and started associating Bill Ayers with Obama with statements like "pal around terrorists?"
Stay tuned! It's great that Republican didn't win this time, because the right-wing Evangelical nuts are finally losing their grips on the Republican Party. Let the "true" conservatives return to the Republican Party. We care about small government, fiscal conservatism and real policy issues, not the stupid cultural war that the religious right has been shoving down others' throats.
Choosing to pal around with terrorists says something about character. And I did say character was one of the things McCain talked about - a totally legitimate thing to consider when choosing a president.
You do know that's why McCain lost, right. Ayers is not a terrorist. I find it hilarious that this statement is coming from someone who is for DPP street movements i.e. fire bombing the police and running barricades, and all the sudden is against it because someone put a "terrorist" tag on it. :) Btw, I am always against such act personally, because I consider them to be populist tactics especially violence is involved.
"I'm not aware of any "ageist" comments directed at McCain. If there were, they were nothing compared to the insinuations about Obama's religion and patriotism, among other things."
Kaminoge, Obama had ads about McCain being to old. Also, that was one of the most frequent complaints about him that I heard from others. They were worried he would die in office.
As for his previous bouts with cancer, I just have one thing to say: McCain does not have cancer now. I guess cancer survivors shouldn't hold office either, should they?
"This in response to Thomas, who implied that GOP did not use racist comments in their campaign."
To Anonymous, I never said or implied that.
Thomas,
The math is quite simple, really. Actuarial tables + past medical history + Sarah Palin = genuine cause for concern. Multiply that by eight disastrous years of a Republican administration, and top it off with smears about your rival's religion, patriotism, alleged terrorist connections ad nauseum, with a dash of visions of "real (read "white") Americans" thrown in, and you get a not-unexpected defeat, even without the benefit of hindsight.
Cancer survivors have every right to run for office, and to win. They also have every right to lose, if they run a poor campaign.
I'll drop the presidential debate here, as Michael Turton pointed out that the politics get out of hand. But I want to address a couple of personal points.
Arty said "I find it hilarious that this statement is coming from someone who is for DPP street movements i.e. fire bombing the police"
Arty, you have no evidence for that accusation. Fire bombing endangers human lives and there is no place for it in Taiwan.
Taiwan Echo, I humbly accept the apology an commend you for it. The internet is usually an anonymous platform, and certainly I am anonymous to you. In such an environment apologies are rarely given. the offer of offer, regardless of the circumstance that prompted it, says wonderful things about you.
Arty, you have no evidence for that accusation. Fire bombing endangers human lives and there is no place for it in Taiwan.
Did you even read the news? Molotov cocktails were used last night...a little late on the information? Btw, DPP used a lot of Molotov cocktails during the late 80's street movements. Although, I think the situation is a little different this time.
Arty, you accused me of supporting the fire bombing. You have no evidence to support that accusation, and I did not support the fire bombing.
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