President Barack Obama vs. Impersonator Obama of China

China's Xiao Jiguo impersonates President Barack Obama

Photo courtesy: www.bbc.com/

Chinese actor Xiao Jiguo, 30, who looks alike U.S. President Barack Obama, impersonates him in his acting stunts. He has been quite a stir in China for quite some time. 

When President Barack Obama leaves office in January, 2017, what will happen to this actor? 

More acting as a regular actor!

Learn more about him from the following:

• What will happen to China's Obama now? (Nov. 11, 2016)
• Meet the Chinese Obama impersonator: Can you spot the difference? (Nov. 5, 2016)
• It's the Barack of Beijing! Meet the Chinese actor who looks just like President Obama (Aug. 20, 2016)
• [Video] Meet China's Barack Obama Impersonator Xiao Jiguo (Sept. 23, 2016)
• Images of Xiao Jiguo of China impersonating U.S. President Barack Obama

 

The U.S. Gets Its Czar, President Donald Trump

President-elect Donald Trump

Artwork © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

The tumultuous and acrimonious U.S. Presidential election campaign culminated in the widely unexpected result, the victory of Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee. He will be the 45th President of the United States after the two-term President Barack Obama. 

So far Donald Trump received 289 electoral votes as opposed to Democratic Party presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's 218. The CNN termed it as "a stunning repudiation of Washington's political establishment. This also proves that the U.S. is not ready yet to accept a lady president.

Accepting the results, Trump called for unity: "I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans," reports the CNN. 

Trump expressed his graciousness toward his opponent Hillary Clinton, saying, "We owe (Clinton) a very major debt of gratitude to her for her service to our country. I say it is time for us to come together as one united people." 

Hillary Clinton did not speak publicly on the election night but conceded her defeat to Donald Trump in a private call to him. Later on Wednesday she publicly conceded her defeat. 

The world reaction to the victory of Donald Trump was varied. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump and he "has expressed confidence that the dialogue between and Washington, in keeping with each other's views, meets the interests of both Russia and the U.S.," reports Russia Today. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulating Trump said, "President-elect Trump is a true friend of the State of Israel. I look forward to working with him to advance security, stability and peace in our region."

U. K. Prime Minister Theresa May said, "We are, and will remain strong and close partners on trade, security and defense."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, " We appreciate the friendship you have articulated towards India during your campaign."

King Salman of Saudi Arabia said: “We wish your excellency success in your mission to achieve security and stability in the Middle East and worldwide.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping said: “I place great importance on the China-US relationship, and look forward to working with you to uphold the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation,”

Mexico's reaction was mixed. It said that it would work with President-elect Donald Trump but would not pay for his U.S.-Mexico border wall. 

More Reactions to Donald Trump's Win:

• World Markets Plunge, Then Steady on Trump Victory (Nov. 9, 2016) 
• Clinton, Obama pledge unity behind Trump presidency (Nov. 9, 2016)
• President Obama Full Speech on Donald Trump Win (Nov. 9, 2016)
• 13 photos of Donald Trump Supporters Celebrating (Nov. 9, 2016)
• Cheers as Donald Trump is elected the next US president (Nov. 9, 2016)
  
• Anti-Donald Trump protests break out in New York and Chicago after US election results (Nov. 9, 2016) 
• Trump win sparks student walkout and angry protests across California (Nov. 9, 2016)
• Thousands take to streets of U.S. cities to protest Trump victory (Nov. 9, 2016)
• Live: Millions of protesters take to streets in US to voice anger at Donald Trump Presidency (Nov. 10, 2016)
• Vatican prays Trump presidency will promote peace amid conflict (Nov. 9, 2916)
  
• Donald Trump's Win Goes Down Hard in Mexico (Nov. 9, 2016)
•  Mexico will not pay for Trump wall, but seeks cooperation (Nov. 9, 2016)
• 'Dear God, America what have you done?': How the world and its media reacted as Donald Trump became US President-elect (Nov. 9, 2016)
• World reaction to Donald Trump's election win (Nov. 8, 2016)
• Russia's Putin, others pleased as Trump win shocks world (Nov. 9, 2016)
• Total global disbelief as Trump is elected president (Nov. 9, 2016)
• Newspaper Front Pages Around the World After Donald Trump's Win (Nov. 9, 2016) 
• Front pages across the world react to Donald Trump's US presidential election win with mixture of glee and horror (Nov. 9, 2016)
• See How the World's Newspapers Reported Donald Trump Victory (Nov. 9, 2016)
• The World Reacts: Everyone has an opinion on President Trump (Nov. 9, 2016)
  

(Updated on Nov. 9, 2016: 10:30 p.m.)

Nicknames Given By and To Donald Trump

You may click on the above image to read it in an enlarged format

Image design (Nov. 4, 2016) © Jerome D'Costa

Call these 'nicknames,' 'epithets,' or 'name-calling,' it was Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump who was continuously and vigorously using these against his opponents and perceived 'enemies' (first, the Republican primary contestants, and later Democratic contestants, President Barack Obama, media personnel, members of the minority communities, and others in the USA). In return, other politicians, media personnel, and such also gave him nicknames for his continuous verbal attacks, bombastics, and bullying as well as his acrimonious behaviour and unusual hair colour and style. If a person wants to put others down, others, in return, want to put his or her down, too. These are the perfect examples of that. 

We provide in the above image some samples of nicknames used during this unusually polarizing U.S. presidential campaign in 2015 - 2016.

President Barack Obama Wins Re-election

 President Barack Obama, Democratic Party nominee, got re-elected in 2012 election

Mitt Romney, Republican Party nominee for President in 2012 election

Artworks (Toronto: Oct. 22, 2012) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

U.S. President Barack Obama in the country-wide election yesterday has been re-elected for the next four years defeating his opponent Republican nominee Mitt Romney. In the neck and neck election campaign, President Barack Obama received 303 electoral college votes and Mitt Romney 206 votes. According to the CNN, so far, the President received 60,451,292 popular votes while Mitt Romney received 57,646,397 votes.

The election came to an end after a bitter partisan fight between these two parties, a lot of acrimony, and attack advertisements in the media.

Now both the President with his democratic party and the opposition Republican party need to work together to redress the economic downturn and take the country forward. President in his victory speech promised to reach out and work together with the Republicans. Mitt Romney, conceding, defeat, also promised to work with the President and his party for the greater good of the country.

To know more about the election, you may read the following:

• 'Time for governing,' Obama's re-election puts 'forward' to the test
• Obama Promises 'Best Is Yet to Come'
• Obama Wins a Clear Victory, but Balance of Power Is Unchanged in Washington

Donald Trump Threatens President Obama with Disclosure of His Past Secrets

Donald Trump, U.S. businessman and TV personality

Photo courtesy: www.people.com

When there is the dead heat going on between President Barak Obama and his rival Mitt Romney in the ongoing presidential campaign leading up to the election on November 6, Donald Trump is threatening the President with divulgement of his past secrets.

According to various media reports, Donald Trump, an Obama foe and well-known U.S. businessman and TV personality, on October24, said in a You Tube video if the President releases his college and passport records, he would donate five million dollars to any charity of the President’s choice.

“If Barak Obama opens up and gives his college records and applications and his passport applications and records, I will give to a charity of his choice…a cheque immediately for $ 5 million,” said Donald Trump, a Mitt Romney supporter. He also mentioned a condition that the said records have to be released “to my satisfaction.” He gave the president a deadline of 5:00 p.m. on October 31. The tone of this ultimatum verges on to blackmailing and even racism.

He termed President Obama “the least transparent president in the history of this country.” “If he releases these records it will end the question and indeed the anger of many Americans,” he added.

For quite some time, along with some “birthers” (who believe that Barak Obama’s presidency is not valid because he is not a U.S.-born citizen), Tea Party members, and sensationalist gossip magazines, Donald Trump has been questioning President Obama’s birth certificate issued by the State of Hawaii. He strongly believes that the certificate is not legitimate and that the President was born in Kenya and not in the U.S. The President’s father was a Kenyan student studying at the University of Hawaii where his American mother was also a student. She had become pregnant by him at that time and Barak Obama was born. 

Significance of President Obama Being a Non-U.S. Citizen at the Time of His Birth

For sheer argument’s sake, let’s say that President Barak Obama was not a U.S. citizen by birth, what is the significance of it? Although it is not believable (because Obama being a lawyer would be so stupid as to stand for election for presidentship in the first place knowing that he was a non-U.S. citizen at his birth), yet if it is proven beyond doubt that the President was not a citizen by birth, his 2008 eligibility for U.S. presidentship would have to be made null and void generating the unprecedented constitutional crisis in the history of the U.S. The U.S. Congress and/or the Supreme Court would have to decide on it. Not only that, his presidentship would also be invalid resulting in illegality of whatever official edicts, orders and directives President Obama gave, whatever agreements he made with other countries, and whatever actions – including appointments to different positions -- he took so far. This year’s election would also be invalid. In the last four years, congress men and women and senators of the Republican Party who cooperated with President Obama in passing laws and agreements would also be at fault.

It would take months, if not years, to right all these wrongs. Are the right thinking American people ready to go all the way?

The Cartoon I Like

Cartoon courtesy: National Post (Toronto: October 16, 2012)

U.S. President Barack Obama Supports Same-Sex Marriage

Cartoon courtesy: The Toronto Sun (May 11, 2012)

Cartoon courtesy: The Globe and Mail (Toronto: May 10, 2012)

U.S. President Barack Obama on May 9, in an interview with the ABC News, said he now supports the same-sex (homosexual) marriage in the U.S.A. He said his support for gay marriage evolved through several  years although initially he had supported marriage between a man and woman only. Later he supported gay civil unions instead of marriage.

Barack Obama is the first U.S. president to openly voice his endorsement for the same-sex marriage which is a contentious issue in the polarized U.S.A. There are Americans who demand gay marriage, whereas there are others who vehemently oppose this type of marriage because, to them, a valid marriage is only between a male and a female.

“I’ve just concluded that, for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married,” Mr. Obama said.

It is interesting to note, as if a part of a choreographed play, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, in order to test the waters ahead of the President, in an interview with the NBC on May 6, said he was “completely comfortable” with the same-sex marriage. He also mentioned that they should get “the same exact rights” heterosexual married couples receive. Vice-President Joe Biden is a Roman Catholic politician and he went against his Church’s teaching on marriage between a man and woman only and gave his support to the homosexual marriage.

Next day, on May 7, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan expressed his support for the gay marriage, too.

These endorsements from the President, Vice-President and Education Secretary are their personal opinions only, gay marriage does not become official in the U.S.A. The laws on marriage are determined by individual states. So far about a half dozen states made laws allowing gay marriage, whereas 31 states already passed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The above notable endorsements will no doubt energize the gay marriage movement in the U.S.A. and abroad.

Reactions to the President’s announcement were immediate. Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican Party nominee for president, expressed his opposition to the same-sex marriage or same-sex unions.

Roman Catholic bishops rejected Mr. Obama’s declaration. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said on May 9: “President Obama’s words today are not surprising since they follow upon various actions already taken by his administration that erode or ignore the unique meaning of marriage. We cannot be silent in the face of words and actions that would undermine the institution of marriage, the very cornerstone of our society. The people of this country, especially our children, deserve better.”

Gay marriage is officially legal country-wide in the following countries: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa and Sweden. Of these, Roman-Catholic majority countries are Argentina, Belgium, Portugal and Spain.

Gay marriage or gay civil unions are partially legal in some states (provinces) of Brazil, Mexico and U.S.A.

The gay rights movement is gaining ground in many countries of the world. Canada is as example for having full same-sex marriage rights. Every summer, it has the largest gay parade in the world. With the full recognition of the gays in Canada, the definition of a family has completely changed.