News (Recent)

Check out 0:25 to 0:29. Nice metaphor.

Toss-up Counties

In every election, there are toss-up counties that each side are battling for. These counties usually have almost equal supporting rate for each party's candidate

Keelung City: Keelung has always been ruled by the KMT. Of all magistrates, Hsieh Guan-yi, Lin Fan-wang, and more, all the way down to the current Chang Tong-rong, there has only been one DPP mayor: Lee Jing-yung. (Chang won re-election after Hsu Tsai-li's sudden death). Traditionally, Keelung city has a 6:4 KMT lead. But this year, things get a little different. DPP's Lin You-tsang is determined to advocate "youth" and "change" to the city people. Although he doesn't have a stable voter base, his slogans and several ads seem to attract many supporters, giving Chang a slightly harder time to lock his voter foundation. Others have slightly complained Chang for "digging roads" and "renovating streets", saying that these actions have disturbed the people. Will Chang successfully win re-electrion or will Lin bring another 4 years of DPP rule in this traditionally KMT ruled city?

Yilan County: In 2005, KMT successfully ended 16 years of DPP rule and elected its KMT Magistrate Lu Guo-hua, seeking relectrion on the 5th. According to past polls, KMT's Lu Guo-hua and DPP's challenger Lin tsong-hsien are leading each other from time to time but within 5% margins. Lu is known as "Yilan's Ma ying-jeou" and has an advantage as the current magistrate. But Lin attacked Lu by saying: out of 25 magistrate, Lu's approval rating ranks 17th. Lin also said Lu is unable to operate Yilan properly and unable to make Yilan prosper.

Hsinchu County: Originally, Hsinchu County had a 3:1 KMT lead, but after County Council Head Chang Bi-ching lost the primary in the KMT, she decided to run as an independent and was determined to win. She travelled through the county begging for support. Even current magistrate Zheng yung-jing supported her. To KMT's candidate Chiu jing-tsun, this battle is not easy at all. On DPP's side Pang Shau-Qin is hoping to win this election because of KMT's lack of uniity.

Hualien County: Hualien County had 60 years of KMT rule. But this county is now in danger. If fact, it has became a three-way election. KMT's Tu Li-hua won the primary against Fu kuen-qi, who signed up to run as a non-affliated but still rallying much support. Fu, originally a KMT legislator, is determined to build the Su Ao-Hualien Highway (Su-hua highway) because he has realized that the people need a safe way to travel, especially in times of crisis. There is also Chang Zi-ming, former deputy magistrate, vying for magistration in Hualien. Recently, Ma has been spending time in Hualien campaigning for Tu, but will his efforts pay off? No one knows until the 5th of December.

Chang hua County: In 2005, current magistrate Zuo Bo-yuan defeated DPP's Wong jing-zu. This year, both will face up against each other again. Although Zuo has the "incumbent advantage", Wong has been spending time in other positions governing Chang hua and is also a former magistrate. Ma hasn't been spending a whole lot of time here. It seems like he is confident that Zuo will win re-election. But no one knows until the 5th.

Note: This post is also in my blog for Asian Studies, even though the teacher did not require it.

KMT newest ad

County Magistrate Election in 10 days

There is only 10 days left until the fate of the magistrates contestants are revealed. Check this site for updates: http://election2009.yam.com/

KMT's latest campaign for 2009 Magistrate Election

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAcGCjYH5BA

Important notice: The Vigils of Reason have not been active for approximately one week and the death of our blog is closer and closer day by day. The fate of our community lies between the touches of our fingertips and our keyboard. So post, comment, and do what we can!

DPP Newest Ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD3uKZkBIqE&feature=topvideos

All comments are welcome.

Means can be used to ban risky beef from U.S.: Yaung

狂牛症 is something we all fear about 6 or 7 years ago. But today, Department of Health Head Yaung Chih-liang averted us from a recurring nightmare by suspending beef imports from the US to Taiwan. He said that it is very plausible that the beef contains risk materials and infections that are dangerous to the local people.

Yaung stressed that the U.S should respect Taiwan's decision in good of the Taiwanese locals.

Deputy Minister Hsiao Mei-ling stated that the accord has already been signed and the agreement has already been made so resuming talks is a difficulty now.

"The DOH announced Oct. 23 that Taiwan would expand market access for U.S. beef after officials of the two countries agreed the previous day in Washington, D.C. to lift a partial ban on such imports." This caused both KMT and DPP members to express disapproval to such decision, resulting in the decision Yaung made today. (You must have a clear logic to under this paragraph)

KMT Legislator Lin Hung-Chih said Yaung should step down for political responsibility on new marketing-opening measures

DPP Legislative whip Wang Hsin-nan accused Ma and National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi for interfering with decision making process

Meanwhile, Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Wu-hsiung said his family could eat the beef, but he would not persuade the public to do so.

World forecasters follow Taiwan's lead in Lupit forecast

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2009/10/23/229754/World-forecasters.htm

Taiwan was the only country to predit the correct path of Typhoon Lupit. It has went west for the past few days and will switch to go northeast for time in the future. Several other countries such as US and China have been despicably flawed as they said Typhoon Lupit would so west and north west. Japan predicted the typhoon will go North which is a little more accurate.

Technicians say that typhoon predictions are based on current situations as well as experience so predictions may not always be exact. Taiwan, this point in history, has numerous experiences with typhoons and thus has gained the capability to accurately predict future paths, trends, and possibity of typhoons.

Lupit will slow but storms will proceed and rains will pour until after the 25th of October.

"As the Pacific high pressure system dissipates and the storm continues to slow down, it could change course Friday or Saturday and move in a more northerly direction toward Taiwan, the bureau said."

Northeast Taiwan and terrestrial regions of North will be affected at least 130mm of rain a single day.