tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post4353147457799932788..comments2024-02-25T00:38:34.874+08:00Comments on Patrick Cowsill: No Hubbub about PandasPatrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-25464328737268631262009-02-03T21:20:00.000+08:002009-02-03T21:20:00.000+08:00There are some pretty obvious differences between ...There are some pretty obvious differences between Bush and Ma. At least Bush loved the country he lived in and he wasn't afraid to say its name (though I'm sure he garbled that name from time to time). And although he was a moron, he wasn't a lackey. What I mean is no one can ever blame Bush of behaving in a certain way just to please the governments of other countries (see how President Ma often refers to himself as Mr. Ma to please the Chinese and in turn poop on Taiwanese democracy).Patrick Cowsillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-7491707019315639292009-02-03T12:48:00.000+08:002009-02-03T12:48:00.000+08:00Replace Chiang Ching-kuo with Chiang Kai-shek abov...Replace Chiang Ching-kuo with Chiang Kai-shek above. Ma may admire Chiang Ching-kuo too but I suspect he more likely thinks he was too soft and gave the locals too much power and freedom.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04683033699604269541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-49837739156334669232009-02-02T21:09:00.000+08:002009-02-02T21:09:00.000+08:00I was in the USA in 2000 when they elected George ...I was in the USA in 2000 when they elected George W Bush. It was obvious at the time he was a dud and Americans had made a wrong decision.<BR/>Though I'm not certain I have the facts correct. These are a few of the reasons I think Ma was the wrong decision for Taiwan.<BR/>1. Ma was not born in Taiwan, does not speak Taiwanese and has no connection with the 75% of native Taiwanese.<BR/>2. Ma openly resisted moves to full democratic elections in 96 saying "Taiwan is not ready for universally election of a president"<BR/>3. Ma has openly said Singapore's single party authoritarianism is a model Taiwan should consider.<BR/>4. Much of Ma's appeal in the election was his super-smooth image and polish. These are qualities James Soong and Lian Chang both failed at. Ma is now the smooth faced puppet of the KMT die-hards.<BR/>5. Ma openly admires Chiang Ching-kuo. His first presidential address was as a living phallic in front of a seated Chiang statue.<BR/><BR/>Harsh maybe, completely correct, maybe not. In the end I, like you, am an outsider who's opinions are irrelevant and who's future is mostly independent of Taiwan's.<BR/><BR/>But when I saw a majority of Taiwanese vote for Ma last year I had exactly the same feeling as in 2000 when I watched Americans choose a dud.<BR/>Let's just hope the KMT doesn't dismantle democracy enough to prevent an Obama type change for Taiwan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-44969911427169496602009-02-02T16:16:00.000+08:002009-02-02T16:16:00.000+08:00I think the movie you are talking about is called ...I think the movie you are talking about is called "The Departed" a remake from the Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs. If you liked The Departed, the original is 100 times better. BTW, when are you going to implement your New Year's resolution, or are you gonna give your bike to me for safe keeping?<BR/><BR/>EricAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-56079230933162290772009-02-02T14:33:00.000+08:002009-02-02T14:33:00.000+08:00I really enjoy reading about your life in Taiwan. ...I really enjoy reading about your life in Taiwan. I recently moved here after living in Japan for 9 years. My wife is Taiwanese and we are living in Danshui. Looking forward to your next post!<BR/>Nathan<BR/>www.bicycle-sidewalk.comBicyclesidewalkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06368394132652133224noreply@blogger.com