It's all about choice
THAT Newsbreak story, by way of Manolo, about the opposition still unable to come up with a unified slate is not only expected. If the names being floated to comprise the unity ticket indeed have the inside track, then by all means let's have the so-called "Third Force" running for the Senate.
In a democracy, no matter how imperfect, it's all about choice. And something is very wrong if the voter's choice -- because the political gatekeepers want it so -- is limited to JV Ejercito, Gringo Honasan, Tito Sotto, Tessie Aquino Oreta, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
JV, Alan Peter and Koko? Why should we send another Ejercito, Cayetano and Pimentel to the Senate? Are these political families so blessed that everyone else should play second fiddle? Why not Randy David, Susan Ople and Oscar Orbos, as John Marzan proposes?
Gringo, Tito and Tessie? Tinimbang na sila ngunit kulang.
The upcoming Senate election, I think, is not only about about GMA; it's also about the kind of candidates offered as alternative to the administration slate. And all those who will make it who does not belong to her camp, unity ticket or otherwise, will gravitate towards the opposition.
The same thing applies to the administration slate. There is no guarantee that the 30-40% who have remained loyal to GMA through thick and thin will vote for her slate lock, stock and barrel.
9 comments:
In a democracy, no matter how imperfect, it's all about choice. And something is very wrong if the voter's choice -- because the political gatekeepers want it so -- is limited to JV Ejercito, Gringo Honasan, Tito Sotto, Tessie Aquino Oreta, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
i think it's an exaggeration to say that the voter's choice are limited to them.
Number 2, Alan Peter Cayetano is a worthy and qualified candidate to run against Arroyo 12.
JV, Alan Peter and Koko? Why should we send another Ejercito, Cayetano and Pimentel to the Senate? Are these political families so blessed that everyone else should play second fiddle? Why not Randy David, Susan Ople and Oscar Orbos, as John Marzan proposes?
I'm for Randy david (damn the poll numbers, i'll defend his candidacy), Susan Ople (but she says she's not running) and Oscar Orbos. But I'm also strongly in favor of Alan Cayetano's candidacy (and maybe Koko, if I made some adjustments on my final 12).
There's no anti-Dynasty law, so both sides have family members joining the political arena.
But to explain my choice of Cayetano: it's because he's a young, strong candidate with very good potential and leadership qualities. Not because he's a Cayetano, I saw the same qualities with chiz escudero too, and that's why i picked both of them for my 12.
Gringo, Tito and Tessie? Tinimbang na sila ngunit kulang.
I'm not in favor of Gringo for senate. I think Noynoy has good potential, so I prefer him over Tessie, who should run for a House seat instead.
Tito... Tito who? Guingona or Sotto? ;) I like Guingona. And Sotto's not bad when he was in the Senate.
The upcoming Senate election, I think, is not only about about GMA; it's also about the kind of candidates offered as alternative to the administration slate. And all those who will make it who does not belong to her camp, unity ticket or otherwise, will gravitate towards the opposition.
The same thing applies to the administration slate. There is no guarantee that the 30-40% who have remained loyal to GMA through thick and thin will vote for her slate lock, stock and barrel.
the "advantage" GMA has (if we can call it that) is that she is being held to a lower standard by us and her supporters. the anti-GMA coalition could put a quality lineup and still get in trouble because it's possible that arroyo would pack her slate with popular and "winnable" candidates like mike enriquez, edu manzano, a spurned Richard Gomez (after not getting a spot on the Coalition side) or Korina Sanchez. And most of her cynical "realist" supporters would be "okay" with that because winning is the only thing (see her K4 2004 slate, didnt hear much complaints from civil society re that lineup no?).
She want's to win and will do anything (popularity, garci, pork barrel politics) to get it done.
THAT Newsbreak story, by way of Manolo, about the opposition still unable to come up with a unified slate is not only expected. If the names being floated to comprise the unity ticket indeed have the inside track, then by all means let's have the so-called "Third Force" running for the Senate.
In a democracy, no matter how imperfect, it's all about choice.
The problem with a so called third force is that it will most likely help arroyo win. it acts as a spoiler or possibly even a stalking horse. even Manuel said this.
Iloilo City Boy’s entry on the latest permutations in Iolio politics points to the danger inherent in the “third force” concept (much as I’m instinctively sympathetic to the idea): that it won’t prevent an overall opposition win in the Senate, but might prevent a total administration defeat. And the same applies to many local races that we forget tend to be decided, even in the best of times, by very narrow margins.
maybe in the future, when the political situation is more stable (post arroyo), the third force would get more support from me. but for now, i HATE any idea that will help arroyo and her cohorts win.
right now, the "third force" concept is an idea that i cannot and will not support.
for me, the "third force" is a gift to arroyo, probably concocted by defensor, claudio and his gang.
We'll, it's a matter of opinion, John. It seems that for you and probably Manolo, it's still winning-over-GMA-at-all-cost. Even if that plays us right into the Erap camp getting most of what it wants. Which plays perfectly into what the administration wants to frame the coming senatorial elections: a GMA-Erap rematch instead of the referendum on this administration, which should be the message.
I still believe that the opposition is obligated to present better choices that will do justice to the Senate, differentiating it from the "winnables" that the administration will be foisting on us, as you foresee it would.
Because if it doesn't, then it's no different from the very administration it wants to replace. And God help us if that happens. (Although William Esposo thinks there might be divine method to this apparent madness.)
We'll, it's a matter of opinion, John. It seems that for you and probably Manolo, it's still winning-over-GMA-at-all-cost. Even if that plays us right into the Erap camp getting most of what it wants.
Which plays perfectly into what the administration wants to frame the coming senatorial elections: a GMA-Erap rematch instead of the referendum on this administration, which should be the message.
two things wrong in your statement. one is that erap is getting most of what he wants. two is that GMA-Erap rematch "plays perfectly" into the administration hands. it's not. what "plays perfectly" into the admin hands is the spoiler concept of a "third force". Especially in this election.
I don't think this is an erap-gma rematch because i'm not drinking Malacanang's Kool-Aid. On the one hand, Malacanang says it's an erap-GMA fight raw, OTOH, defensor talks about "reconciliation" and freeing erap to pander to the masa. the admin is willing to say what a specific target audience wants to hear on different days. But if you ask me which scenario will help this adminstration more: the election being caricatured as an ERAP-GMA fight by the administration, or a Third Farce spoiler concept... I say Third Force hands down. Without even reading this.
I still believe that the opposition is obligated to present better choices that will do justice to the Senate, differentiating it from the "winnables" that the administration will be foisting on us, as you foresee it would.
I think both sides are obligated to present good choices. but "good choice" doesn't mean bawal lahat ng "maka-erap" or people who were once associated with him. I think that's extreme. We know de-Baathification failed in Iraq.
Anyway, I remember MLQ3's dream senatorial slate. there were 12 names on it, many of whom i'm not familiar with, but i assume are wonderful people.
i told manuel na sa lahat ng nasa listahan, si randy david lang ang pwedeng manalo sa isang national election (and many realists would still say na that's a stretch). but i suggested na many of them can run for a House seat and win. Even if most voters don't know enough about them, since it's a localized election, they have a better chance of winning.
I beg to disagree, John.
Let's look back to the 2004 elections. There was already a "Third Force" -- the Roco-led Alyansa ng Pag-asa. If you come to think of it, most of them would have made better senators that Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid and Miriam Santiago. Although they did not win, the very fact that competed deepened the list that voters can choose from.
But in the end, it was still a two-cornered battle between the GMA and Erap camps. And without Hello Garci and the succeeding scandals hounding the administration, they were only able to hack out a 7-5 win in their favor.
Now you tell me: isn't recent history repeating itself, with discredited old fogies (who should have retired into the sunset, having already served the country and had their time in the limelight ) like John Osmena and Tito Sotto still aching for a comeback? And don't tell me that Erap is not behind it.
And aren't we supposed to address the generational shift that even Manolo said is an issue facing the country? If there is one thing about Emil Jurado's column that MLQ cited, it is about the voters demographics -- its already my generation, and the next one to us, that will have our say.
Shouldn't we grab the opportunity to present younger, fresher faces? If only for this, I will reconsider my opposition to JV, Alan Peter and Koko -- but my instinct tells me this election is about differentiation and the opposition should show the highest for of statesmanship in not only yielding to the young but also deepening and widening the pool of our next leaders.
Let's look back to the 2004 elections. There was already a "Third Force" -- the Roco-led Alyansa ng Pag-asa. If you come to think of it, most of them would have made better senators that Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid and Miriam Santiago. Although they did not win, the very fact that competed deepened the list that voters can choose from.
But in the end, it was still a two-cornered battle between the GMA and Erap camps. And without Hello Garci and the succeeding scandals hounding the administration, they were only able to hack out a 7-5 win in their favor.
Thanks for reminding me about Roco's party, Willy. Yes, I was in favor of that one. That's a legitimate third party. An alternative choice against Arroyo and FPJ's lineup. They lost, but I'm glad they participated.
Like you said, more choice. if batas mauricio, frank chavez, winnie monsod, or jay sonza decides to form themselves into an independent Third Party senatorial slate, i guess there's nothing wrong with that.
But I want a REAL, ALTERNATIVE third party choice, not the one composed of and headed by former administration allies and collaborators like Sen. Noted, the fence-sitting Joker, Ralph Recto, Villar and the Palace Mole Ed Angara. Because that's NOT an independent alternative third party, but a trojan horse that will be funded by the Palace Bolantes.
anyway, here's a third party list that's credible. another one here.
But I'm not gonna support an administration funded "Third Force" headed by former Arroyo allies and the same old, same old familiar faces.
Now you tell me: isn't recent history repeating itself, with discredited old fogies (who should have retired into the sunset, having already served the country and had their time in the limelight ) like John Osmena and Tito Sotto still aching for a comeback? And don't tell me that Erap is not behind it.
I don't think it's wise to have a hardline stance na lahat ng maka-erap dati ay "bad people", at lahat ng maka-arroyo dati ay "masasama" rin. Some people from the erap and arroyo camps are actually good competent individuals, only tainted by their asssociation with erap and arroyo. there are moderates on both sides.
I was willing to give Kiko Pangilinan another chance and include him in my Magic 12 even tho he pretty much screwed the voters and democracy with his pa-Noted, Noted ways. People who supported Arroyo tend to forget that. I was also willing to consider the crafty and "independent" Joker Arroyo too, even though many people who I respect noted na this guy kept quiet during the "Hello Garci" scandal and was pretty much a duplicitous fence-sitter.
if john osmena or tito sotto are getting support and endorsement from erap, so what? so is villar and pangilinan. even though sa latest senate slate na nakikita ko, parang nawala ang pangalan ni sotto at john osmena. and it's not as if there isn't any great effort to include as many candidates with different or diverse backgrounds as possible from the Opposition Coalition side. Guingona, Loi, Legarda, Cayetano... that's pretty diverse, moderate, experienced and capable of working together.
because that's how I want my Magic twelve to reflect the face of the new government after removing the divisive Arroyo: United, diverse, working together, moderate, competent.
I want our people and government to FINALLY work together after Edsa Dos, post Edsa Tres, and post Arroyo.
And aren't we supposed to address the generational shift that even Manolo said is an issue facing the country? If there is one thing about Emil Jurado's column that MLQ cited, it is about the voters demographics -- its already my generation, and the next one to us, that will have our say.
I'm not going to vote for Arroyo's candidates just because they're young. it's also about what the stand for. a garapal CON-ASS attempt? Kill impeachment and obstruct justice? Protect Arroyo and Garci? I'll pass.
Shouldn't we grab the opportunity to present younger, fresher faces? If only for this, I will reconsider my opposition to JV, Alan Peter and Koko -- but my instinct tells me this election is about differentiation and the opposition should show the highest for of statesmanship in not only yielding to the young but also deepening and widening the pool of our next leaders.
Kaya nga nandoon si alan peter cayetano at si chiz escudero eh. overall, the opposition coalition is trying to have a diverse moderate slate with a combination of youth, experience, leadership, and an ability to put differences aside and work together.
Then what were seeing John are the shifting sands of backdoor negotiations that is bogging down the so-called "unity slate" of the opposition.
I'm afraid Lito Banayo is calling it right. But Billy Esposo is equally right, if fact even more so, in saying that -- with Erap's fingerprints all over -- the choices being put forward by the opposition is effectively not the "best response" it should muster.
John Osmena? Tito Sotto? Tessie Oreta? And only two anti-GMA young leaders out of 12?
If only Erap were statesman enough to realize that both he and GMA have been a bane to the nation, he will (a) stop JV from running because one Ejercito is enough in the Senate; (b) ask John, the two Titos (Sotto and Guingona) and Tessie to stop it and give way to young guys like Noynoy, Koko, Alan Peter and Chiz; and (c) accommodate other "Third Force" probables like Sonia Roco, Ralph Recto and Francis Pangilinan -- to take the wind out of its sails.
I dont care if its a Cayetano, Ejercito, Pimentel, Aquino, Arroyo or any familiar name. If they have integrity, intelligence and have all the qualities i see in a leader then i will vote for them. Incidentally my top three are
1. Cayetano
2. Pangilinan
3. Aquino
Hi Gerry! It's past the hands of the contending parties now, so the jockeying is already mooted. Actually, it's in the voters' hands now where in theory the voter's preference matters. And that includes you and your top choices.
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