Election Fever II

Who wins the race?

Hillary or Trump?

-Dwarika Pd. Shrestha ¹

November 8^th is at your door step. Not even one and half month to go by now. Candidates are busy making their campaigning more effective to attract more voters and gain more and more votes for the candidate of their favor.

Topic in discussion here is that of 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, a very important issue in the world politics. It is a time when North Korea, People's Republic of China and Russia are demonstrating their powerful conventional and nuclear weapons and India, one of the Asian giants who imposed all sorts of political, traditional, cultural and geographical problems to its northern neighbor – Nepal. America's role in those regards related to international concern was very much important. The newly elected President's decision plays vital role whether the new weapons were to be applied in special and to look after international cases and many others like that in general.

While talking about presidential election, 2016, the concern on election of Hillary or Trump claim the priority in the list. For the country like Nepal both of the candidates are good friends and well-wishers. Therefore, Nepal always wants that a good candidate be elected for the betterment of the people and the country. I had already jolted down an article a few weeks earlier about it under the headline “Election Fever 2016”. (See also the blog: www.dipeesh.blogspot.com)

Winning the race:

Both, the nominees are now on the track in a 'Get-set' position to take part in the race.

Madam Hillary Rodham Clinton was marching ahead all the way through different trials and challenges created by her opponent Donald J. Trump, that starts from 33,000 emails ragging in her political career undertaken as a member of the Democratic party and the Secretary of the State during Barack Obama's presidential period and fund raising for her party and at present for her election. She was found going ahead smoothly and dramatically to win votes though. She had a pause in her program in between for a few more weeks due to pneumonia. Thus the time of her absence in the field became a good time for Trump to make his campaign more forceful and effective among the voters. Trump conducted press conferences and faced the media persons more frequently and delivered speeches to many gatherings of more voters. He raised issue on health concern of his opponent Hillary on the occasion. He also talked about fund raising of Hillary in her election campaign. Trump pleaded to make the security strong and effective during polling day. He asked concerning Govt. unit to stop Hillary's fund raising activities.

Hillary appeared in the field after Hillary Clinton and Senator Tim Kaine released their medical information as referred by Dr. Lisa Bardack and Dr. Brian P. Monaham the medical officers of President and Vice-president nominees of Democrat respectively. Like Hillary, Trump also raised fund on the occasion. Trump reportedly raised more than 70 million dollars. His fund raising unit was kept on busy to do their job though. Trump was billionaire businessman and also a politician. Trump also gave quarter million dollar as a charity to strengthen the security service on the polling period. But while asked, Trump denied to release his tax return.

Hillary was busy for meeting press and facing the mass of voters frequently but vice versa to Trump on the occasion. To a question asked about Hillary's fund raising activities, an issue raised earlier by Trump, he said, “Hillary raised fund in 2008. Finish” (?). “You (?) know, what I mean.” Trump said again.

Similarly, in a question on birther issue raised by Trump since last several years in relation with the birth place of President Obama, Trump replied, “Obama is born in America. Period” (?). “But in a statement hours later from the GOP nominee's spokesman, the campaign claimed Trump does indeed believe the president was born in Hawaii.” n p r political bulletin (Sept.15, 2016).

NPR handout further writes, “a senior communication adviser of Trump campaign, Jason Miller – claiming victory for Trump forcing Obama to release his long-form birth certificate and saying that, because of that evidence , Trump now “believes that President Obama was born in the United States.”

Voters were equally sensitive on the issues raised by the candidates in the election time. Concerning birth issue of President Obama, they have raised a question, “whether Trump asked for 'Apology”. Trump's claim and blame were found like dramatic one. Congressional Block said, “Trump was fraud.” Bufferfield said, trump was disgusting fraud”, CNN. 21^st/22^nd Sept., 2016.

Conclusion:

Trump had made several commitments in his previous delivery made to the National convention but his flip-floppiness in those concerns latter, made him relaxed from unwanted comments. The birther issue related with President Obama's birth and the issue of fund raising, that of Madam Hillary campaign were also almost silent and were made more relaxed to Mr. Trump by his latest comments like, “Obama was born in America. Period.” and “Hillary raised funds in 2008. Finish”. “you know what I mean.”

Politics is called a dirty game. Of course, politics was not a 'good game'. Similar politics is prevailed in Nepal too. They were never appreciated. The dirtier politics played in the U.S. recently, assured me that Nepal is little advanced in this aspect. Flip-floppiness in nature – natural or dramatic, does not lead to good result. As a best candidate nominee to the President, it will cause big damage to him and the country. Flip-floppiness in and out come serve poor quality. So, if one has to flipflop in his/her commitment, better would be that he/she should not make any commitment and 'blame' and 'claim' should not be pronounced. Flip-floppiness cannot make u-turn to any of the diverted voters. Voters' decision will be the last decision. Let's wait till 8^th November.

The end

1(a) Journalist: Worked for 2 yrs. (2020 – 2022 b.s.) for The Commoner, the pioneer English daily in Kathmandu, Nepal and for 20 yrs. (2022 – 2042 b.s. Or 2065-2085 A. D.) for The Rising Nepal, (pro bono publico), National English Daily, of Nepal. It's running now in its 51^st year. (b) Worked as Deputy Director of Studies for 15 yrs. (2042 b.s.-2057b.s.) in Nepal Administrative Staff College, Jawalakhel, Patan, Nepal.   

Election Fever 2016

Hillary ? Or Trump?

- Dwarika Pd. Shrestha¹

Americans are going to polling booths soon to elect their favored candidate as the President of the country. America's Presidential Election matters highly meaningful to almost all the countries in the world. It affects their policies internally and externally and also economically. It might cause big changes in their foreign policies as well as the foreign relations. So the world has eyed this time towards the US presidential election.

America is a big, developed and democratic country. The country's citizens are mixed up with multi cultured, multi colored and multi linguistic people. Because America has afforded a room for each and every one came from any part of the world, whether that is from Asia, Europe, Australia or other.

America is an Unification of 50 states – big or small and its population counts more than 300 millions. About 430 languages are spoken in the USA. English was the main official language though.

Election Day:

As the Election Day has come nearer and nearer day by day lobbying of different candidates have gone more frequent and attractive. There are hardly 63 days to go that the polling activities will go very hot and impressive here. 8^th November has been declared as the Polling Day of the US Presidential Election.

Big country, thus obviously number of political parties must have presented their senior activists as the candidates for the president ship and warming up their campaigning programme. Very busy electronic medias these days, have been seen very active in projecting the activities of two main parties (1) the Republican Party and (2) the Democratic Party, and their candidates. Both of them were regarded as two big political parties of the country.

National Convention:

Last month of July became very hot and colorful, because both the parties observed their National Conventions. The Republican Party organized their National Convention from 18 to 21^st of July in. Cleveland, Ohio. The Democratic Party had their National Convention from 28 to 31^st July in Philadelphia.

National Convention was a great occasion like a political festival celebrated in every four years. The political parties, on this occasion nominate some of their senior activists as the presidential and vice-presidential candidate from their leaders for the election.

The Republican Party nominated Mr. Donald John Trump as the Candidate for President and governor Mike Pence as the candidate for Vice President of the country.

The Democratic Party in other side nominated one of their senior leader Madam Hillary Rodham Clinton as the First Lady candidate for President and Mr. Tim Kaine as a candidate for Vice -President of the country.

Candidates:

Donald John Trump, the Republican Party nominee candidate for President of the USA in the 2016 election is a billionaire, well known American businessman, He is also an author and the chairman of the Trump Organization.

Mike Pence, The Republican Party nominee candidate for Vice-President of the USA in the 2016 election is the Governor of Indiana. Governor Pence's economic policy applied in the State of Indiana is regarded as one of the successful policy. Thus he is supposed as the man of character and accomplishment. He is the right man for the job, Trump said in his speech.

In other side; Madam Hillary Rodham Clinton is the First Lady Democratic Party nominee candidate for President of the USA . She is the former Secretary of State in President Obama's regime and a senior politician. She is one of the die hard senior leader of the Democratic party.

Tim Kaine, the Democratic Party nominee candidate for Vice-President of the USA is an elected Senate to the State of Virginia in 2012. He was elected senate as a 'can-do optimist skilled in bringing people together across old lines of party, race or region.' He helped people through out his life as a missionary, civil rights lawyer, teacher and elected official. He is one of 30 people in American history to have served as a Mayor, Governor and United States Senator.

Deliveries:

Nominees' free flow of words in the convention address carry a lot of significance and values. Those were the words that formulate policy matters. They were assumed finally as the back bone of the policy of the state/ country itself after they stepped in the White House as the President of the United States of America.

In the convention address in Cleveland,Ohio Republican leader Mr. Trump made many comments in the context of strengthening security and development of the country. Some of them were as follows;

• The US will be the country of Law and Order after the Republican leader (Donald Trump) get into the White House as the President, Trump said as he was speaking in reference to the gun-shot events took place recently in Saint Paul, MN; Dallas, TX; a pub in Orlando, Florida in special.
• Construction of border wall to help stop gang and violence and to stop drugs from pouring into our communities.

• Take action against the non-documented population and suspend the immigration from any country that has been comprised by terrorism.
• To create 14 million job opportunities to solve unemployment problem of the people.
• He also pledged to grasp the threats caused by the terrorists (ISIS). The crime and violence will come to an end from the very beginning of 20^th January, 2017, believe him, he said.
• On economic affairs, the Republican will work for new agreements with the International organizations like NAFTA and Trans- Pacific Partnership to open create more jobs in the country.
• They will enforce all trade violence against any country that cheats.
• The Republican nominee said, he would work for largest Tax reduction. The middle-income Americans and business will experience profound relief, and taxes will be greatly simplified for them.

Madam Hillary Clinton, the First Lady nominee for the President from the Democratic Party, another big political party of the country said in her convention address she was thankful to all of her senior family members and the friends who helped her in campaigning and other senior citizens and the people like President Obama, former President Bill Clinton and others also were equally thankful today for their ever lasting contributions that helped America become stronger.

• Referring to the historical events held 240 years ago in Philadelphia, the birthplace of America Madam Hillary mentioned that the people of different language, culture and colors tried to understand each other of them at that time and believed into forming different states into one Nation – America.
• 'Stronger Together' is the lesson the Americans had learned since the time immemorial and the Democrats have come forward with the same motto to make America better and stronger, she said.
• A single person's effort could never be enough to build the Nation stronger as the Republican nominee Mr. Trump used to say, Hillary said many people of different disciplines like Doctors, Military. Police and many other have been contributing their efforts and help country make Stronger. 'All of the people were needed to work together to fight the challenges.
• She wouldn't say to build 'the border wall' but together they will build an economy that helps make good paying job for every one.
• Build a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants who are contributing to our economy.
• Together they will fight terrorism.
• No one can raise family, build business, heal the community totally alone. America needs each and every one to lend their talent, knowledge, skill and ambitions to make America stronger. So the Democrats believe on the motto like “Stronger Together”.
• “Stronger Together” was not only a lesson from history, nor merely a slogan for her campaign but 'a guiding principle of the country to live stronger and become better since long time back, for ever.
• She believes on “do all the goods you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as you can”, that makes stronger each one and the country becomes stronger due to contribution of all for the sake of development. So “stronger together” was their motto.
• She approached all and every one to join her or her team to work for any sort of problem and fight together for, “Stronger together” they 'll win.

Approach:

The nominees as well as the political parties are now very much busy in making the campaign more frequent, more attractive and effective among the voters. The electronic medias like CNN, MSNBC, Fox news and the like are regularly broadcasting the program/s specially related with two big parties and their candidates.

Trump's approaches were found more personal and egoistic. He believes that he alone can do many things, solve many problems and he's accessed to many loopholes of many plans and problems. Alone he could do a lot to make the country stronger and better, “Believe me”, he said. He doesn't want that more and more immigrants should stay in the country.

However, after some comments flowed into him on his commitments made previously in convention address, Trump have become more flip flopped on his speech whether that is related with immigration, job opportunities, or trade.

Madam Hillary, in other side, always requested to join her or her team to work together. They believe in “Stronger Together”. So, her approach always remained pluralistic. She believed on cooperation of all. She always said, “join me”, “join us” “ Stronger together”.

Conclusion:

America's Presidential election matters great significance to America and is equally significant to other countries in the world. “Yes, the World is watching what we do” Hillary said. The new changes after the new President entered in the White House do affect many of the political systems, policies, foreign policies and economy in special in many of the countries. America is still regarded as most developed country in the World.

Yet, the 45^th Presidential election of the USA will establish its own history of election. Because the candidates in this election could not get their match. Therefore the contest between the two could be within the assumption of the general politicians. Its result would be as good as what the Democrats would have assumed.

Again its the Election. Let the 8^th November come, that 's only 62 days away from now.

The End

Monday, 5^th Sept. 2016 or 20 Bhadra, 2073.

1Journalist: Worked for 2 yrs. (2020 – 2022 b.s.) for The Commoner, the pioneer English daily in Kathmandu, Nepal and for 20 yrs. (2022 – 2042 b.s. Or 2065-2085 A. D.) for The Rising Nepal, (pro bono publico), National English Daily, of Nepal. It's running now in its 51^st year.