Obama not responding to Gloria's call.

This is from the Tribune a paper that never loses an opportunity to attack Gloria Arroyo. Perhaps Obama is waiting for Arroyo to be replaced as she probably will be with the next elections. As the article mentions though probably Bush will return her calls, their popularity ratings are no doubt similar.



Dubya would accept Gloria’s call
EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
11/09/2008
It’s either Gloria has become so callously insensitive to reality or her desperation for recognition had taken the better of her in insisting on talking to the seemingly disinterested US President-elect Barack Obama.
The Palace insisted that media should not bother about the inability of Gloria to personally congratulate Obama for his convincing and historic poll victory despite the several phone calls nearly a week after it happened, remarking that the gesture was personal between Gloria and Obama.
The tone of the Palace would predictably be far different if Gloria would have connected and said her praises to Obama on the first try. If that would have happened, the Palace would be going around town heralding the call as an affirmation of the close ties between the administrations of Gloria and Obama or something to that effect. As things stand today, the Palace is saying that there already is an understanding between Gloria and Obama, since they had talked last June.
But June was a time when he was not yet elected president and there still was no economic crisis. By the looks it, however, Gloria would need to coerce Obama to talk to him.
But she hasn’t given up, that’s for sure, since all too suddenly, her trip to New York for the so-called Interfaith Dialog, which really isn’t that important for her to personally attend, has, you guessed it, a trip to Chicago, Illinois, to ostensibly meet the Filipino community there.
Chicago happens to be the place Obama is at right now, since he still isn’t in the White House.
In truth, she is looking absolutely pathetic running after Obama for an audience but she has become an embarrassment to the Filipino people.
So Obama is now President-elect, but so what? We are not Americans. So why does Gloria act as a little brown sister?
Obama’s refusal to communicate might be his message to Gloria.
If so, Gloria may suffer the biggest possible humiliation in her life if she keeps on pursuing Obama during her new US visit.
As part of his preparations for his presidential run, Obama would necessarily come across the situation in the Philippines which outgoing US President George W. Bush considered as a major theater in his global war on terror.
It would not be impossible for Obama to have been apprised of how Gloria was able to keep a tight grip on her post or how she stole the 2004 elections and how she is now repudiated by the majority of Filipinos.
Obama may also have come across the fact that under Gloria’s incapable hands, the Philippines has become one of the most corrupt countries if not the most corrupt country in the world.
If Gloria would have not been too full of herself, she would have realized the first time around that Obama may not have been inclined to talk to her since it would be a necessary courtesy among leaders to return a congratulatory message.
The Palace never mentioned that Gloria received a return message from Obama or again it would have made a big deal out of it.
Gloria being on her way out by the time that Obama takes office in January next year might be another reason for the repeated snub. Who wants to be caught talking with a lameduck president?
The prime disincentive, however, must have been that which bugs most of those aspiring for the national elections less than a year down the road.
As much as possible, most of those seeking election to a post in 2010 do not want to be seen touching Gloria with a 10-foot pole. Being associated with Gloria is a political kiss of death due to her rock-bottom popularity.
Obama may have considered that the political benefit of ignoring Gloria far outweighs the need for interpersonal courtesy.
That is saying a lot about the global acceptability of Gloria again extending her term or the chances of her anointed candidate for the 2010 elections.
Gloria should forget Obama, she does not fit in his agenda for change.
Gloria, however, can always call Dubya to reminisce the past.