Pototan
Pototan's JournalGet ready
Trump's transition is just the storm clouds in the distance. The real category 5 hurricane will hit just after January 20, 2025.
My wife's warning to America
My wife was born in the Philippines in 1955. She was in her late teens when Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared martial law and controlled the country with an iron fist, following the "trigger" event of a Communist rebellion in Mindanao. There were no more elections until the "People Power" revolution in the mid-1980's. Then, in her early 30's she was on the street protesting until Marcos was driven from power.
My wife is currently 69 years old, had lived in the US for over 20 years as a voting US and Filipino citizen, before retiring with me back to the Philippines 2 and a half years ago.
She sees the similarities between the Marcos Sr. early years and the beginning of Trump's second term. What we should fear, according to my wife, is a "trigger" event. real or concocted. That "trigger" event will lead to martial law and the implementation of the "Insurrection Act". The rules of martial law are nearly identical in every country for hundreds of years. The "trigger" event could be an unexpected problem, like a pandemic or a natural disaster. Or demonstrations following a horrific event like the George Floyd murder and the BLM demonstrations. There are many other possible large demonstrations and unrest opportunities, like a Muslim ban or mass deportations.
Once Martial law is declared and implemented, it is very difficult to undo, and it gives an Authoritarian leader unfettered authority. If my wife's warning comes to pass, the irony is not lost on me that in order to escape living under a dictatorship, we moved from the United States to the Philippines.
"There's no such thing as a Palestinian": Huckabee
In one video clip played widely this morning on CNN, Mike Huckabee proclaims, "there's no such thing as a Palestinian". In the attached video he goes even further.
Trump and Huckabee promise peace in the region. Ya, like the US Cavalry brought peace to the Great Plains.
The cry rings out from Dearborn Michigan: "Save Us, Jill Stein".
As for me, "pass the popcorn".
https://x.com/turkiyetodaycom/status/1856422716578185546
I used to have a great gift for convincing people
but that was before the Trump era. When both sides were dealing with the same facts, it was a lot easier to convince others. I also found that even in the Bush years (both father and son), all of that was easier. Both Obama elections had men who had respect for the country, the system and each other.
Once that piece of shit Trump entered the scene, the conversations turned to me having to prove a negative. That wild conspiracy theories entered the discussion. Facts were questioned as "fake news". It seemed like, overnight, I lost my ability to convince anyone other than a person who agreed with me. I was no longer speaking to a perspective voter, but a member of a cult.
That was a time when I was politically active and canvassing as a union rep. I have since retired and have moved to the Philippines. The best thing here is very few people are that interested in American politics, although I do get the occasional question about my opinion of Trump. Once I give it the conversation ends. I never know if they agree, disagree or just want the opinion of an American.
I want to hear this 2017 story a million times in 2025
Undocumented husband of Indiana Trump supporter deported to Mexico
Mayra Cuevas
By Mayra Cuevas, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 8:47 PM EDT, Thu April 6, 2017
Trump voter's husband deported
00:54 - Source: CNN
CNN
—
Helen Beristain voted for Donald Trump even though she is married to an undocumented immigrant.
In November, she thought Trump would deport only people with criminal records – people he called “bad hombres” – and that he would leave families intact.
“I don’t think ICE is out there to detain anyone and break families, no,” Beristain told CNN affiliate WSBT in March, shortly after her husband, Roberto Beristain was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
On Wednesday, Beristain was proven wrong as ICE split her family across two countries.
https://www.cnn.com/2017/04/05/us/undocumented-husband-deported/index.html
Muslim Exit Polls
The national results show Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein received 53% of the Muslim vote, followed by President-elect Donald Trump with 21% and Vice President Kamala Harris with 20%.CAIR also released Michigan-specific responses from 502 registered Muslim voters, revealing that Dr. Stein received 59% support, with Trump at 22% and Harris at 14%.
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-exit-poll-of-muslim-voters-reveals-surge-in-support-for-jill-stein-and-donald-trump-steep-decl
Hay, who here is going to join me for the next protest against Trump's Muslim ban?
I can't fucking wait.
Please don't misunderstand me. I'm scared, too
I have posted for 2 years now about being retired, with my wife, at a beautiful place in the Philippines. I'm glad I'm here, but mostly for selfish reasons. That reason being, I don't have to argue politics every day.
That being said, I'm not a stupid person. I know Trump's election will be a danger to the Philippines and my extended family. My wife's family is highly educated. 85% of Filipinos speak English as a second language. At least a half dozen Filipino nieces and nephews work overseas, Engineers, construction workers and nurses. 2 in the US. 2 others in New Zeeland and 1 each in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. They all work with work visas (OFW's). The folks in the US are now at risk. The Philippines is dependent on "remittances", which is foreign money sent back home to their families. It makes up 20% of the Philippine GDP, and the majority of that money comes from America.
There is also the growing threat from China. There are daily disputes in the South China Sea, within the area of Philippine jurisdiction as decided by international courts. China has created artificial, military islands close to, or within, this jurisdiction. I live on the Island of Panay, which is in the Central Philippines (Visayas). I'm only about 80 miles from the island of Palawan, which is the closest island to the disputed areas. "America First" is really a catch phrase for isolationism. The Philippines cannot stand alone against Chinese aggression, any more than it could against Japanese aggression in WWII. I firmly believe China will invade Tiawan during Trump's term. My guess is in 2027, further putting the Philippines at risk.
Finally, the Philippines is in the top tier of nations at risk from climate change. To elect a climate denier who will set the world's efforts back decades in dealing with warming ocean water puts all of my extended family and future generations of Filipinos more at risk.
For selfish reasons, I'm glad I'm here than in the United States, and that's because I don't have to argue about politics every day, face to face. I can come here to DU, in a safe place, to discuss the issues, and then go about my business with a friendly, loving people who have either no idea who Donald Trump is, or really don't care. And, although I have listed the risks we face here, the people I encounter on a daily basis have no idea about those risks.
So, in closing, I am not smug about being away from the US during these trying years. I fear for both my countries, my original home in America (where I'm still a citizen) and my adopted home, here in the Philippines. But don't think for a moment that I don't understand the risks I face, even 6,000 miles from my birthplace.
What I'm watching for in Trump appointees
Susie Wiles has been chosen as Chief of Staff. It is reported that she wants to control who has access to Trump. It was a definite requirement for her to take the job, according to reports. Good luck with that, Susie. This is the first we'll see if Trump can be told what to do. Because he supposedly said "OK" to that demand by Wiles, Trump has never been known to keep his word. If and when she steps down because he's allowing access to "undesirables", or what she calls "the clown car", will be the first indication of chaos in the new administration. I'll be watching this closely.
The second point is Stephen Miller. He if is appointed to be in charge of "immigration reform" and deportation, then Trump is serious about this. The images of kids being pulled out of schools and deporting American citizens, who are minors but born to undocumented parents, then placing these families in detention centers will be images similar to the early days of the Nazis, or at the very least, the Japanese internment camps in the United States in 1942.
I'm looking to see who Trump appoints to Homeland Security and Secretary of State.
Profile Information
Name: LouisGender: Male
Hometown: Boston USA and Pototan Philippines
Home country: United States
Current location: Philippines
Member since: Tue Dec 20, 2022, 10:03 AM
Number of posts: 2,721