Recent Posts
Roy Ho's Blog
Return To Blog Listing
Target Audience: Political junkies; decision makers for overseas assets; professionals who mitigate political risk in North America.
Content: US/Canada politics and its relations to macro economic environment; International politics; Fundraising & a
Recent Posts Tagged With 'activism'
USA Election 2000 – Iranian Edition (And Your $$)
The Iranian election becomes another election mess. The American (the first edition) version requires a Supreme Court to give a final answer. Iranian one? A Supreme Leader gives a final say. And the Supreme Leader says the incumbent wins. In ...
CNN Advertisement: Time To Buy Republican
The author (John Feehery) of this CNN commentary is a political operative, lobbyist, etc. He makes his living by using his access to the Republicans. When Republicans are in disarray, so is his livelihood. In order to drum up more business, he ...
How To Use Swine Flu
This swine flu became a real political event: California declared a state of emergency; Homeland Security is making moves; Obama is making another TV appearance again. It so far looks like the market is reacting to the Fed statement rather than...
Is Obama To Re-Start The Nuremberg Trials Next?
Is Obama ready to re-start the Nuremberg Trials? Or forget Dufar trail in ICC? His decision of not prosecuting CIA officers employs the “I am only following orders” argument which is the exact defense employed during the Nuremberg Trials. O...
AIG The Sacrifice: The Reflection Of America’s Political Risk
I agree quite a few points of this article in regard to the AIG episode. Of course, nothing is perfect. I would change a word here: “It will certainly make Mr. Obama’s task much more difficult when he tries to sell the public [my vers...
Veto The Pork? Thought About The Cost Of Business?
Fourteen Senators are calling Obama to veto the budget (until 2009.09). Will Obama veto? If these 14 Senators are truly against the pork, they could eliminate the bill themselves. They would rather say they are against it, rather than calling t...
Gimmick? What Difference Does It Make?
Obama did not actually ask for pay limit. Obama pretty much asks for pay through options: exercise to sell the stocks when you pay back the money to the government. Obama also asks for more say for the shareholders. Some will say such an ask is...
Electioneering 102: A Lesson From Green Party of Canada
The federal election in Canada concluded on 2008.10.14. The incumbent party won another mandate. There are a lot of interesting content in this election to fill the media. However, for the purpose of Electioneering, this story may not make the ...
What Is The Price Per Vote To Pass The Bailout Bill?
CNN says more banks are likely to fall. It seems like that 700B will get plenty of asset to buy. Now, how much did the additional votes cost to get the bill? Taxpayers For Common Sense compiles a list of 15 pet projects within the bailout bill...
Who Won? The Republicans Who Changed Their Votes!
A 3 page rescue package became 400 page rescue package. A lot of improvement? A lot of pork barrel? Are the lobbyists now worth the money of the clients? Who Changed the vote? Who did not? Anyway, the bill passed! There is 1 vacancy in...
Very Unconventional In This Convention
When the DNC convention is going on, one would expect Obama would get a better polling result. This is not quite the case. McCain is closing in when Democrats’ convention is going on. When Republicans’ convention starts, will McCain’s rat...
Why Bother With The Biden Announcement?
Biden announcement is a great news story for content distributors. For elections, VP is very tactical. VP does not alter the agenda presented to the candidates. History presents the agenda of the nation to the candidates. VP brings neither su...
Guns, $ and Lobbying/Advocating
What is the significance of this gun shooting in an election year? Having an opportunity to bump up into an election issue. Who does not want gun control to be an election issue? Gun manufacturers. Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASD...
A Lesson From Lincoln
We seldom observe opportunities for Obama to learn more about the mechanics of elections. This is also a lesson applicable to even to small races such as county or municipal elections. If Obama studied Lincoln better, he could have avoided this t...
Fatal Beating, Doha, 2008 Presidential Election
This fatal beating can stage the next round of assaults between McCain and Obama regarding free trade. The interesting news about free trade actually did not get reported in American media, although it may fuel the debate well. The Doha round of ...
What About Lobbyists’ Money?
CNN is talking about lobbyists’ money. Lobbying is inherent to the business of politics. The very action of voting is a form of lobbying. The threat should be more focused on if one is lobbying for the interests of some minority group. ...
How Did Global Warming And Afghanistan Get Together?
CNN brought these two topics together. Engaging Europe to dispatch more troops in Afghanistan does help lower fiscal expenditure of America. This message affirms the previous post regarding the relationship between Obama’s foreign policy and f...
How Will This Work For Dafur?
The arrest of Karadzic removes the condition for Serbia to join European Union. This arrest is another evidence an individual cannot escape the will of a state. Karadzic has been successful to remain free for 13 years (since 1995). What makes a...
Any Platform Question For McCain? Obama?
Obama is travelling overseas. However, this is not about vacationing. He is still selling himself to his home audience. He wants to show that he is able to represent the United States, he will not be treated like kid. Part of his weakness is ...
Why This? Why Now? Gore Pushes Obama
Gore’s speech highlighted a point raised here earlier, that is energy is the intersection of issues in this election: gas price, national security and environment. Gore specifically picked to deliver this speech at the Society of Daughters of Ame...
Combating Oil Prices? Italians Got It Right
Everyone has been blaming speculators as the source of oil price increase. No one has a clue what to do with it yet. CNN’s news story contributes the fall of prices on dollar increases, among others, while saying these factors are all short te...
Environmetal Groups Mis-focused G8
CNN’s G8 summit news story focuses on the criticisms against the emission control proposed by G8. Both CNN (and other news sources) and environmental groups fail to recognize other more important items, some of them relevant to this climate chang...
Zimbabwe Crisis: Is It About Democracy?
Zimbabwe crisis has been going on for months. US is not interfering with force since Zimbabwe involves no strategic resources. In a way, most of the African leaders are supporting Mugabe, even though an unstable Zimbabwe is not to their interests...
Why This Obama News Is Less Important Than That Obama News
This is an article printed on A4 of WSJ today that is probably more important than any news we have today, like CNN’s news about Bill Clinton meeting Obama. The WSJ says Obama is spending hours on voter registration. This news is not on the fro...
Energy has so many spins this year!
McCain announced his $300 million prize for a next generation of cars. This election is increasingly turning to an election about environment due to the high gasoline prices. While money is still favoring Obama, McCain is finally trying to close ...
Why Do I Care If Obama Opting Out Public Financing?
Obama changed his mind: he will not use public funding now. Obama’s decision also reflects his comfort level of this campaign. McCain says he will consider opting out as well. The truth is McCain cannot afford not to. McCain’s funding is ...
The Spending and Energy Program of Obama
Gore finally made the endorsement to obama. At about the same time, obama WSJ published their interview with obama regarding the other half of the fiscal policy, the spending side. WSJ’s article does not capture everything Obama has in his webs...
Ireland: Florida 2000 to EU
The Irish vote against the Lisbon treaty becomes the Florida 2000 to EU. 3 million Irish blocked 490 million of Europeans. Is this comparison fair? What did they prevent? What does it matter? Who gets the most out of it? What can we learn...
Clinton Contributed A Great Lesson: Electioneering 101
For any aspiring politician, say an aspiring city councilor, Clinton has taught us a very good lesson, especially her Iowa race. Since the lesson is most useful for an aspiring city councilor, I will focus on that particular case. A primary is mo...
First Democratically Elected Chinese Mayor
Democracy and human rights often accompany each other when the developing countries are criticized. Ever since Bush 2, US is now on the human rights violation list too. China is of course a major human rights violator. However there is somethin...
