"We have to say no to China!" the 51-year-old factory manager exclaimed, arguing that Chen would stand up to Beijing and prevent a rush to invest in the mainland that could leave the island too dependent on its giant neighbor. "The survival of Taiwan is at stake," he said. "We want to tell the world Taiwan is an independent, democratic country."
and:
"Across town at another rally, Chang Shen-an agreed the election could decide Taiwan's future. But the retired nurse wanted to kick Chen out of office. "If he continues talking about independence and provoking China, the Chinese Communists will attack us," said Chang, 76, who favors Chen's opponent, Nationalist Party leader Lien Chan, in Saturday's election. "Independence is impossible for Taiwan -- we're too small, and they're too big. We should focus on the economy instead, and we can't do that by isolating ourselves from the mainland." " But Chen, who has struggled to govern because he won the presidency with only 39 percent of the vote in 2000 and has trailed Lien in public opinion polls for much of the year, managed to narrow the gap in recent months by stepping up the anti-China rhetoric and proposing that a referendum be held on the same day as the presidential election. The move prompted a series of strong warnings by China, which has long opposed any referendum in Taiwan as a potential step toward an island-wide vote on independence. "
Maybe it was just a firecracker? I pray he has not been shot.
She would obviously vote for an international socialist like Kerry were she American.
I think Samuel Adams had something to say to people like her:
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.