Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
I was fortunate to be invited to study and observe the US Elections of 8 Nov. 2016. So here I am in Washington, DC, thanks to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. The US election result is out. We have Republican Donald Trump as President-Elect who boasts that “when you are a star, [women] let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by [their genitals]. You can do anything.” He is vitriolically against Muslims, immigrants and Mexicans. Losing the popular vote – 47% against his classy Yale-educated Democratic rival Hilary Clinton’s 48% – he won partly because of Clinton’s vote for the Iraqi war, her support for unrestricted abortion rights even for late term pregnancies, and her earning millions through speaking fees and donations from foreigners seen as working against the US. Trump’s repeated insult “Crooked Hillary” seemed to reverberate and stick. His xenophobia and sexism seemed to attract the votes of the less educated, especially those whose jobs had moved abroad, while most educated women were solidly behind Clinton.
The US map marked in red for where Trump won is similar when compared to a red density-map of evangelical churches. Trump was certainly helped by the evangelical Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of the more famous Rev. Billy Graham, who said
“There’s two different pictures and two different visions for America. … [Trump] is a changed man. … I have people that say, ‘Well I don’t like Donald Trump, I don’t like what he says [about his grabbing women by their genitals].’ Well I don’t like what he said either, I promise I don’t like it. But those are things that he said 11 years ago, not something that he said today. … I think Donald Trump has changed. I think God is working on his heart and in his life.”
Ballot Scanned and Stored: Paper Trail
He added later on Face Book, “the difference between the candidates is night and day. … while Trump’s comments might be ‘crude,’ Hillary Clinton’s progressive agenda is godless and cannot be defended.”
Graham was untruthful. Trump’s racist rants are very recent. Trump has to change or America is finished as a nation of free citizens with inviolable rights.
In contrast, Carl Bernstein of Watergate fame described Clinton as a Christian who teaches Sunday School and marks up her Bible and carries it about wherever she goes. She certainly held onto that traditional, centuries-old Christian virtue of marriage-for-life which is spurned by American-inspired evangelical churches when she stood firmly by her repeatedly straying husband.
A Republican woman conference speaker argued that Trump’s election was breaking through the glass ceiling for women because his campaign manager was a woman. I asked her how women can be safe with Trump around. Telling her that Trump had objectified women, I asked, given his violent boast, how his campaign manager can feel safe around him. The contrasting views about the same people showed how much spin the election and news reporting about it are subject to.
American women in our group, all highly educated, were in literal tears over Clinton’s defeat and were the only white demographic group that overwhelmingly voted for Clinton. Education is the only firewall against spin and ignorance.
Election Dates
Now to things I saw that we in Sri Lanka can benefit from. We are going through various discussions and partisan accusations as to who is responsible for the delayed Local Government Elections. US presidential elections are set every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the relevant year. It happens like clockwork. No one needs to set the date. When a president dies in office, the Vice President takes over. Dr. Nasim Zaidi, the Chief Election Commissioner of India who is here said that in India the prerogative to set the date of elections is entirely his Commission’s. Where the law is silent, by court decisions what the Commission decides is not subject to judicial challenge. At this time as we draft a new constitution, it is opportune to spell these powers out explicitly in the constitution. We need a scheme where the date of elections is set not to suit the interests of a political party, and entrench that in the constitution.
Voting Machines and Turnout
We have been discussing voting machines in Sri Lanka in the context of speedier results. However, we do quite well with hand-counting and get the results out by the morning after the polls. So the cost of getting results a few hours earlier may not be justified.
US-wide, seventy percent of people vote with pen on paper. To permit auditing, the ballot paper is scanned into a machine and stored there to form a paper trail. The image is transmitted to the counting center but the machine is never online to avoid hacking. However, many counting machines after testing have been prohibited by US officials. Further, the State of Virginia which used machines for the last elections, I was told when I visited, had gone back to paper this time because this election was expected to be contentious and the state therefore did not wish to take any risks. This shows that reliability is indeed an issue with machines, even though a vendor at my lunch table was assuring a potential buyer that his machine is “100% accurate.”
Disabled Voting
Moreover, US turnout is abysmally low, estimated at 55.6% yesterday. Voting machines are therefore seen as a means of shortening lines and thereby attracting voters to turn up. In Sri Lanka, the last presidential elections saw a turnout of 81.52% which is near one of the highest rates, Belgium’s 87%. So enhancing turnout may not be relevant to our needs.
Voter Participation
The postal vote (or absentee ballot) was being extensively used in the US to increase voter participation – so much so that 30% of the electorate had already voted before yesterday.
Why don’t we too use that? It would eliminate long queues and having to take leave to vote, and allow our displaced and overseas citizens to participate. After all, our laws guarantee the franchise to every citizen. Therefore, voter participation which we measure as a proportion of the registered voters who vote, is really inaccurate because we register neither a) those who are displaced and have no address, nor b) our citizens abroad – although our laws and even the Convention on Civil and Political Rights guarantee the franchise to every citizen. If they are accounted for, turnout might be much lower than 81.52%.
Some object that with the postal ballot secrecy is lost when an official opens the envelope with ones ballot to record it. Not so. Here in the US they use two envelopes. The outer one with identity for checking and an inner envelop with the actual ballot which will be pooled with others for processing.
On-the-Spot Registration
I saw Virginians who had not pre-registered coming, registering on the spot and voting. However, their vote was treated like postal-ballots. An official would examine his credentials later and everything being in order, his ballot would be passed on for counting. There is no reason why we cannot do this ourselves. We need to be proactive and innovative rather than saying “That is not how it is done.”
US Voting: Front: Collecting Ballot. Back: Marking Ballot
Disabled Persons
I saw provision for disabled persons to drive up in their special cars and vote from the curbside. US law requires that the disabled must be able to vote without any assistance. Those who come in have broad doorways and ramps for their wheelchairs and vote using machines which they may operate without any assistance – with provisions for magnifying glasses, touch screens, and puffing operations for those without hands. However, at the polling stations I visited, the Election Official told me that over the previous 4 years no one had used those machines. Such wasteful political correctness is what Trump tapped into.
What Trump Cannot Verbalize even if he Tried
Clinton gave her magnanimous concession speech today Wednesday, which we viewed live. She regretted not having broken the “highest and hardest glass ceiling” for women – contrary to our Republican speaker’s claim. Expressing thoughts that contrasted with the white-only world Trump offered (threatening the rule of law by saying he would not accept defeat because it would be a rigged result), she expressed the best in American society:
“Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power and we don’t just respect that, we cherish it. It also enshrines other things: the rule of law, the principle that we are equal in rights and dignity, freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish these values too and we must defend them.”
It is what we, 500 of us from 80 countries, had been brought to the US to see. I hope that President-Elect Trump too will learn from her.
jim softy / November 11, 2016
Just 500 people from 80 countries to 350 million people voting ?
Those 500 people are also the officials of elecion commission from each country ?
It looks very like a business pitch and if that is going to be the case, how much commission you get ?
You say Magnanimous speech of Hilary Clinton ?
How about she saying that politiciand are allowed to have opinions, one for the public and another for close door meetings with selected individuals ?.
Besides how about the role of speech writers who makes the wolrd a wonderful place on paper ?
What is her mindset when you read Wikileak emails written by her ?
/
Park / November 11, 2016
The main reason for Hillary Clinton’s loss was the media. Even before the polls opened media including New York Times came out saying Clinton was winning with a large majority. There were other media which also projected the same sentiment during the course of the day. What this did was to stop the Clinton voters from going to the polling booth as they felt they were winning with a big majority and motivated Trump voters to go and vote. This resulted in Clinton’s defeat. Sad state of affairs.
/
Nuwan / November 12, 2016
Spot on…Aandi Hath Denage Kanda Haliye inverse…
/
Non PhD / November 11, 2016
Brilliant write up. Hope this will prick the conscience of Dr. D J and the likes.
DJ is no more worried about Cuba and PLO. He has changed. Started worshipping Trump’s US, Putin’s Russia, and China ruled by the communist party , all at the same time.
DJ strongly believes Trump will finish off the minorities ( Tamils, Muslims,Hindus etc ) by continuing the mission Rajapakses started.
DJ want 3 in one job. One from the US one from China and the other from China. Goodluck to DJ on his mission to dismantle the UN.
/
Lankan / November 12, 2016
[Edited out]
/
Mallaiyuran / November 11, 2016
Trump’s selections for jobs has been controversial-s and rejected-s. One is Newt Gingrich – A well known hypocritical on women’s issue and extreme divider. In Clinton time, while hs was trying hard to impeach Clinton, he was illegally indulged. Other is Chris Christie. Every Dick, Tom and Harry knows how arrogant he is. It is believed he led the Bridgegate crime. But gave the heads of his assistants and escaped. There is a chance Democrats may follow up on him on that. Other one Giuliani. He is better on women issue though he had very ailing divorce. While he was, Mayor he left his wife to use the Garacy Mason, stayed in friend’s apartment to avoid publicity. He left the City penniless until his consulting company started to generate cash flow. But for the arrogance, he is a born together brother with other two. Additional he does not know to talk patiently too. He left his first presidential bid with even entering it. He was rejected to that an extent. Yet if he gets on the job, he will get the approval back again. If he became Attorney General, he is going to go after all big Blue Chips. Eliot Spitzer went on that game and toppled by those powerful companies. It will be difficult for them to challenge Giuliani. We need to wait and see how the team shapes up.
/
anotherbuddhist / November 11, 2016
Well how did someone [Edited out] Hillary Clinton’s [Edited out] get to be an election monitor? Yes, thanks to 70% paper votes this election could not be rigged by Clinton supporters like Soros with you watching. You have conveniently left out Clinton’s corruption and war mongering. I know here we only talk of Rajapaksa corruption.
/
Sinhala_Man / November 11, 2016
Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole is one of the three members of the Elections Commission of Sri Lanka, and would have been selected to observe the U.S. Presidential Elections in that capacity. Three days after those elections he has come out with these very honest personal observations in an independent news website in which he has written so that any reader can understand his personal views. It is NOT the sanitised bureaucratic report that we are used to. And for this, I am personally grateful.
Prof. Hoole has drawn our attention to the groups who voted heavily to elect a person whom he considers undesirable, and says that their views would have been influenced by those of Rev. Franklin Graham; the evangelical’s statements he sums up in the shortest, most direct statement possible: “Graham was untruthful.” Thank you, Dr Hoole.
The woman whom Trump defeated was never personally popular. Dr Hoole tells us that she has lived her personal life as a good woman. And the three words: “America is finished” are there, although qualified on either side by conditioning phrases. We all say we want “Independent Commissions” for a number of public duties – and here we have got it. As I write out this note of congratulations to Prof. Hoole I see no other comment displayed. It may be that some have already been posted.
I’m sure that there will be many responses to this Sri Lankan man (who I think is an American citizen as well, and so must be as familiar with conditions there as any human being can be). Let me hope that ALL those who see this article actually read this carefully, and note that the writer, having made his observation has also spelled out the lessons our own Elections Commission has to draw from all this.
Obviously the official response of our own government has to be more guarded; we cannot afford to thumb our noses at “President Trump” who is soon going to be such a powerful man, but it is good that we have been given this honest picture. We have been told here that “Education is the only firewall against spin and ignorance.” This clear statement ought to be translated in to Sinhala and Tamil because that education of our own electorate must begin right now.
Thank you, Prof. Hoole.
/
Mallaiyuran / November 11, 2016
There are more people out on the roads demonstrating Trump’s election than the ones voted for Hillary. What can I say? Could they have got out of the bed and have voted for her? Americans may just like to protest than vote! Voting is in the closed booth but demonstrating is more fun with a larger crowd out in the open space, I guess.
/
Vanguard Idiot / November 11, 2016
“He is vitriolically against Muslims, immigrants and Mexicans” That’s a damn and provable untruth.
He is for immigrants. His ancestors were immigrants. He wanted to stop the Muslims entering the country as a reacion to a terror attack ‘until we figure out what is going on’ then presumably start it again.
As for Mexicans – he is against illegal immigration but not against legal immigrants. Mexican legal immigrants – no problem? What about the Mexicans who have been granted Citizenship now, who were once illegal immigrants? Does he want to deport them as well? Read and see.
The true idiots in this election are the journalists.
/
Yahapalanaya / November 11, 2016
To add to your comments if one listens to his speeches what he says is that Mexico is sending drug addicts, dealers and criminals illegally to US and that is what he is trying to stop.
I don’t know what is wrong with the Muslims but while most of them hate US still they somehow want to live in that country.
To the liberal media Clinton was the winner while the citizens wanted Trump. US statistics shows economic growth and low unemployment but except for the 1% who are at the top of the corporate ladder others have not benefitted. Or may be the numbers are manipulated like during Mara’s times and the jobs crated must be part time with no benefits.
/
Mallaiyuran / November 11, 2016
He hated the Mexican descendant judge. He hated the Bangladesh origin war Hero. He simply called women are pigs. His heart always overflow with all kinds of hate. His university broke many poor people without a proper certificate. He use illegal workers in construction for cheapness. He is an arrogant headed bully. There is no justifications for his actions whatsoever. Entire developed world has healthcare system. Even Lankawe has covered most of it. Only some republicans like Trump has the opposite view.
American economy is based on small business. Blue Chips kill them. Pampering Blue Chips can no way bring up small business and provide jobs. Mass production is no longer advantageous to America unless super robots are introduced to replace men. Putting excessive effort on that side is counter productive. That will not create jobs. If by unsustainable techniques one boost export and cut down the import, then the dollar will pick up and wipe out any investment put there and the newly built competitiveness in that industry. Though one or two small steel companies have recovered, capturing back US steel production is not even a dream. The one time world’s largest company, U.S.steel, after lot of talk has come to 15th in steel production. That is less than 1/5 of leader Acelor/Mittal. China, India, Japan, russia, South Korea are standing ahead of USA in producing steel. China produce 10-15 times more than USA. You want to have Trump selected for Rust Belt are for this? Hillary lost only in Rust Belt area? The largest American manufacturing Company is 5th in the world. Those all are half baked analysis. Forget about pampering Blue Chips anymore. American strength has changed hands; it is with individual inventions – the small companies.
American feels Secretary Kerry’s foreign policies are too naive. They see after making peace with Cuba, Russia is going to build its base there. Florida does not vote for Clinton family because they deport the boy to Cuba to be in good relations with Cuba. After paying money to Iran and make peace, Iran attacking US ships. Long after Syria matters were settled and when everybody was waiting the president to resign, now Russia has set up their base in Syria. Suadi going to block 800 billion American investments. China and Russia are far ahead in war game. The diplomatic team Southeast long negotiated with India and let even India to handle Lankawe but now Lankawe is lost to China though India still aligned with BRICS- that is Russia and China. Americans don’t know how naively Ambassador Atul Keshap handled Lankawe’s matters. If they come to know, they will demand to deport Ambassador Atul Keshap even before the Muslims or Mexicans.
/
Sinhala_Man / November 11, 2016
Dear “Vanguard Idiot”,
Let’s grant that Trump has been CLEVER enough to dodge paying taxes and so forth. And so, like any religious/racist bigot politician he knows well enough to cover himself, on some occasions at least, by saying there are exceptions among the groups he damned.
“Mallaiyuran” above has given two examples of instances where he made absolute gaffes. This guy garnered his support by rousing hates against all of us. He cares only for himself. Yes, some Sinhala people are happy because he won’t care enough about what happens anywhere, and so the guy will not talk about human rights in our country.
Trump doesn’t care for anybody but himself. Americans who voted for him may not really find out how little he cares for them even in four years. Eight? He may lose to a “fresh-look” Democratic Party in 2020, and his die-hard supporters may never find out the truth about their hero.
But we must judge him from what he’s said and done. Of course, it’s America’s business whom they select. But we should hold fast to our personal misgivings about the way the dominant power in the world has been almost taken over by this crook. Mind, the protests may force him to moderate his views even before he assumes office; in which case we should be happy. But let’s not be hasty in excusing him; WE will be letting down all of us.
/
Non PhD / November 11, 2016
On my comment it should have been
” …the other one from Russia “.
DJ is not interested in India the land Buddha was born.
/
justice / November 11, 2016
Trump was speaking metaphorically when he is supposed to have said “……………grab them by the p***y………”
There is nothing there to ‘grab’.
What he probably meant was ‘get their consent using/stimulating their desire for sexual pleasure’.
Those who have voted for him have probably understood.
There is no connection between evangelism and elections.
Hoole is over obsessed with his religion and the missionaries who converted him and many others, and also gave them American names – which have now been slowly discarded by the third generation of those who were converted.
/
Kitty / November 11, 2016
[Edited out]
/
Nyori / November 11, 2016
“also gave them American names”
Superb display of ignorance in anthropology and history!
Christians who no longer worshiped Hindu gods/ their body parts/goddesses/animals/trees etc., dropped their original Hindu non Tamil names associated with these gods/creatures and chose the names of missionaries they liked.
The Hoole name in Jaffna did not come from America as church records show.
Crazy assumptions without first reading up. A dilettante pretending to be a scholar on Jaffna Christians with not so good intentions.
/
Hillary / November 12, 2016
Nyori
Christianity is colonialism and a cult. Just shut up. Hoole is an Anglo Saxon name also prevalent in America. Hoole is a fool. He is obsessed with his religion. Jaffna Christians were rice Christians.
/
Donald (Ex-Christian) / November 13, 2016
Hillary,
Nice Rice Christian name now that you are in the West.
You say “Jaffna Christians were rice Christians.” Nice Tamil tradition, no?
You Tamils were animists. Asoka came, you buggers became Buddhists like us overnight. Then Cholas came, you buggers became Saivas. Portuguese came, you become Catholics. Dutch coming and immediately Helvetica Calvinis. Then we Sinhalas came and slowly becoming Buddhas! Wait and see. Our Lord’s statues now coming everywhere!
Keep up your tradition. We two Tamils and Sinhalas shall soon be one united by our Lord Buddha again.
/
Donald (Ex-Christian) / November 13, 2016
Hillary,
Nice Rice Christian name now that you are in West.
You say “Jaffna Christians were rice Christians.” Nice Tamil tradition, no?
You Tamils were animists. Asoka came, you buggers became Buddhists like us overnight. Then Cholas came, you buggers became Saivas. Portuguese came, you become Catholics. Dutch coming and immediately Helvetica Calvinis. Then we Sinhalas came and slowly becoming Buddhas! Wait and see. Our Lord’s statues now coming everywhere!
Keep up your tradition. We two Tamils and Sinhalas shall soon be one united by our Lord Buddha again.
/
miyuki / November 13, 2016
You ain’t no Buddhist, bro.Stop the pretence. Christianity is dying. Even in the US, the religiously unaffiliated are increasingly in number. Hoole is trying to put a Christian spin on the US elections. Nyori is likely him. See comment below. So are you too? Christians in Sri Lanka are all pathetic rice converts.
/
Adam / November 12, 2016
Whenever Prof. Hoole writes, we may expect Justice to scrape the bottom of the barrel to say something, anything, that is cantankerous.
Unfortunately he is always ignorant. 1) Hoole is a name that came to Sri Lanka from England, not America. 2) Further, his sexual experience is also VERY limited when he says there is nothing to grab.
Justice: Better shut up when you do not know and seem to have VERY limited experience, perhaps only with men. You are allowing you personal hatred/jealousy to over-ride your better judgement.
/
Lone Wolf / November 12, 2016
justice,
“There is no connection between evangelism and elections.”
I suggest that you study how much political power evangelical churches have, for instance, in countries like USA and Brazil. Millions of Catholics have joined protestant churches in Brazil and their vote is important.
You often show your lack of knowledge on every day life in Northern Province. I assume that you live abroad.
I would like to invite you to visit Jaffna as my guest to see our reality. You can ask for my contact from the CT.
/
Bageera / November 12, 2016
Nice “justice” for Christians from this self-styled, anti christian regular commenter of Prof. ratnajeevan Hoole.
This person’s comment (generic name for such Kumar R, sekara etc) is full of factual errors- in short- INJUSTICE.
/
Kumar R. / November 12, 2016
Bageera,
Isn’t Bageera a “generic name?”
There are idiots and then there are hypocritical idiots!
Don’t fret, agonize or quarrel over anonymity – CT, as do many responsible journals, make that provision for a good reason. If your intellect and education makes it difficult to understand that concept, just ask CT to explain that to you, instead of making moronic comments (See I am not criticizing your name, but rather your sentiment!)
Just stick to discussing subject matter. You guys have to find escapes through such weaseling – only because you sorely lack other means. Dayan, Rajasingam et al used to seek solace under that same complain as you, but now have become ardent fans of that option – ever noticed the now-persistent “Patriot” comments in the blog?
/
Agnos / November 12, 2016
Justice,
Your interpretation of Trump’s words is ludicrous; even those who voted for Trump know and agree that he is a sexual predator and a narcissist, but they simply voted for him thinking it would catalyze change.
The evangelical movement has been a key constituency of the Republicans and they are well organized. Even though Trump has not been religious–he used to be socially liberal and not particularly opposed to abortion or LGBT rights– many evangelical leaders who are stridently opposed to abortion and the like, such as Jerry Falwell Jr. of Liberty University, have been coming up with lies and slippery arguments in support of Trump. There is quite a bit of sexism and racism, as well as ignorance, among these evangelicals.
/
sbarrkum / November 15, 2016
Trump maybe a jerk that makes sexist comments. However, he has not been proven or settled rape charges (Bill), or defended rapists (Hillary).
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3922140/Death-dynasty-rotten-core-40-years-sex-lies-scandals-Clintons-leave-public-life-beset-crushing-humiliation.html?
Oh yes it is the Daily Mail, that understood the message of the Deplorables.
The Clintons and Main Stream Media (MSM) say the deplorables, and the uneducated voted for racism etc. Are you/they saying only elite educated should be allowed to vote.
The facts speak otherwise.
49% of college-educated whites voted for Trump.
median household income of a Trump supporter was $72,000;
median income of a Hillary Clinton supporter was $61,000;
Trump won the votes of
49% of Americans who make between $200,000-$249,999,
48% of those who make $250,000 or more—
bigger shares of the vote than Clinton received
The racists who voted for Trmp were the same ones who voted for Obama.
Both times people voted for change and non establishment person.
You and the Dems still dont get it.
Trmp spent less than a 1/4th of Hillary (172 mil vs 84 mil), his own party was against him and and rag tag campaign organization. He still won because he got it, what people wanted.
But the pummeling of the poor white working class by elites is too reductive, too simplistic. In Trump, poor working-class whites saw a man who wanted to pull them out of poverty, while rich whites saw a man who would keep them rich. Both groups are responsible.
http://fusion.net/story/369286/dont-blame-poor-white-people-trump/
It is the American Spring: A Vote against globalization
/
Observer / November 12, 2016
Please! Evangelists are one thing. Evangelicals are another.
Do not pontificate when you do not know these terms. Perhaps a course at a Christian school of theology is in order for Justice. Even consulting a dictionary or the internet before writing would suffice.
Here is a good answer off the Internet:
* Evangelism means “the preaching of propagation of the gospel” (usually the Christian Gospel).
* Evangelicalism means “adherence to evangelical doctrines”, i.e. those of “evangelical” Christian groups. Evangelical Christian groups lay a great emphasis on personal salvation, belief in the Bible, and evangelism.
While Catholics and Protestants can be evangelists, Catholics and Evangelicals are at the opposite ends of the Christian spectrum. For a Cathoic, the Church is an integral part of salvation (salvation is only through the Church), whereas for an Evangelical salvation is through faith alone. Both can evangelize and try to win people over to their Christian faith systems and in this sense are evangelists.
The word evangelicalism is used caustically about the faith system of evangelicals and is not regarded as complimentary.
/
Abu Banat / November 12, 2016
Nyori – your writing style reminds me of Hoole. He had been caught using fake names before to spew venom. I also remember his hatred of Savitri Goonesekere. He is a hate monger and you remind me of him!
/
Kumar R. / November 12, 2016
Abu Banat,
Absolutely!
These pseudo-champions of “non-anonymity” who then adoringly embrace pseudonyms just when it suits them are the worst of all scoundrels – Bageera, Patriot, Erasmus, et al..
/
Aia / November 12, 2016
Demagogues take the western world by storm- first Brexit and now the USA. Wouldn’t surprise if Germany and Holland aren’t next in line. Funny thing is the current USA administration which has been instrumental for regimes changes in rogue countries around the world hasn’t seen what is happening in its own country. With Trump’s elevation to White House they lose the bragging right for the political correctness. Opposing the excesses of these leaders, in countries like Syria, Egypt, even in SL people have come to street in protest and being killed some even without like Lasantha.
Coming to the USA election, the main reason Hillary lost the electoral votes although she won the popular votes is lack of Democrats voters turn out at the booths. She can only blame herself than others, because some of them assumed she will win regardless of their votes and for others, with the FBI open up her stupid Email scam, they must have lost the interest. Her camp also assumed that the votes Obama received in his two terms to office are there for her with his support, however she didn’t have as many volunteers as Obama has had then particularly the crucial states like Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania.
Reason for the voters who voted for Trump to take a low profile and/or not to show their intention openly may have been that they don’t want to identify themselves with the leader who is notorious for his locker room antics but they liked his vitriolic against certain groups of people. It is all about fear, and Trump played it wisely and he said a number of times it is going to be the other brexit.
I doubt Trump knows where SL is or what type of people live here other than some Asians, let alone our Tamil/Sinhala relationship, which is a blessing for SL, but the USA has a foreign policy which doesn’t change overnight, particularly smaller countries like SL.
/
A Red Indian / November 12, 2016
I read the following on another Website and it is related to this topic:
“It was announced that 1008 coconuts were broken by a Sri Lankan-Tamil at the Nallur Kovil in Jaffna seeking the help of the Hindu Pantheon to get Hillary Clinton elected as the next President of the US. And that bit of hocus-pocus did not work as she was not elected as President of the USA last night. It seems that this coconut-breaking act has some rub-the-Aladdin’s-lamp-magic for the Tamils. I suppose sometimes it works, but some times it doesn’t, like after breaking millions of coconuts at Kovils around the Tamil Diaspora world for 30 years, and killing thousands of innocent Sinhalese, plucking infants off their mothers breasts and thrashing their heads on rocks like breaking coconuts and watching the blood ooze like warm-ketchup for the want for their mono-ethnic, racist, separatist Tamil state, Eelam. That mythical Eelam they still haven’t got and I wish that they damn well will never, ever, get..”
/
pro-Hindu / November 12, 2016
But Donald Trump loves the Hindus, he wants to give a special place for Hindus in the White House…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZYpK2bGMpY&app=desktop
/
Plato. / November 12, 2016
A fine essay,Dr.RH. Simple and clear phraseology.
/
Citizen / November 12, 2016
Trump also said in the People Magazine 1998 – ‘If I were to run, I would run as a Republican. They are the dumpest group of voters in the country. They believe anything on Fox News. I could lie and they’d still eat it up. I bet my numbers would be terrific.’
But this is 2016 we will have to wait how Trump fares during his tenure of office.
/
sbarrkum / November 15, 2016
Jeevan,
>most educated women were solidly behind Clinton
Never let facts stand in the way of generalizations
Compared to Romney in 2012, Trump got
Latino vote: +2%
African American: +5%
Women: unchanged
And I suppose you imply that wants of women who are educated are more important than that of uneducated women.
Or is it that elite educated women know what is best for other women.
No wonder the deplorables won.
/
sbarrkum / November 15, 2016
>because of Clinton’s vote for the Iraqi war
What about mayhem in Libya and Syria (R2P with Samantha Power)
When Gaddafi was killed Hillary said we came. we saw and he died and then did a cackle laugh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgcd1ghag5
Libya was to be a feather in her cap, in preparation for the Presidential run. In clear contravention of the uN mandate they bombed Libya
This woman was absolutely unprincipled and sacrifice a country and millions of people to further her political ambition.
Jeevan I cant even imagine how you could think of her being good for the world. She would have unleashed death and destruction.
/