Teflon-coated Presidency

November 17, 2007  --  Got something to say?
Print This Post Print This Post

Nestor MataIta easy, a political wit observed, to tell a lie, but hard to tell only one!
Gloria Arroyo knows this well. And political observers, critics, pundits, detractors and de-stabilizers, know this very well, too. They know, as we have noted in this column in the last six years of her misrule, she has lied to obtain power and has lied while using it to this very day.

And yet, given all the times that Gloria has fiddled with the truth, she has, quite remarkably, not suffered for repeatedly telling lies so far! Or possibly, as one colleague in column, Jose D. Baylon, put it in mock admiration, shes one lucky lady.
Lucky? No! She seems to have learned what is called the teflon-coated presidency,” that is, the ability to deflect charges of corruption aimed at her Administration, just like a metal cooking pan bonded by polytetrafluorethylene to keep food from sticking to it. The term, by the way, was first coined in reference to Ronald Reagans ability to overcome charges of corruption during his two terms as president of the United States.

So, Gloria Arroyos not really lucky. It wasnt luck when she plotted the ouster of the legitimately-elected Joseph Estrada from the presidency in 2001, in conspiracy with a cabal of military and police generals, justices of the high tribunal, political cohorts, business and civic leaders? It wasnt luck when she, once more, plotted to steal the presidency from the real winner, the great movie icon Fernando Poe, Jr, in conspiracy with a cabal of her military and police generals, corrupt election and provincial officials? It wasnt luck when she was proclaimed president, while the nation was asleep, by her political minions in the House of Representatives?

And most certainly it wasnt luck when her puffing and splattering political allies, image makers and Palace satraps recited a good deal of grisly materials relating to her life, virtues and achievements and their execrable propaganda to deodorize her of the innumerable sins of commission and omission.”

All these and more happened not because shes lucky, but because shes cunning, tricky, a serial liar, a cheater, and a master of deception, as the majority of citizens and the whole world know now.

Thats why she is the countrys most unpopular president as shown by the many public opinion polls ever since she lied and cheated her way to the presidency. She has alienated civil society and business groups, some of the best brains in the country, and some erstwhile political followers, who all thought, wrongly, that she had a vision of building a better nation.” And ordinary citizens have seen her true character. They found out shes aloof, arrogant, and lacks the common touch.
And now the Roman Catholic Church, which had a hand in pulling down Ferdinand Marcos from his dictatorial rule, has joined the denunciation of the Arroyo Administration for its moral bankruptcy with the exposure of the latest scandal involving the blatant bribery of lawmakers and governors right inside Malacaang. Some courageous bishops have even called for Gloria Arroyos resignation. Apart from adverse reactions in business and civic society sectors, there are already rumblings of unrest within the military establishment.

True, she has survived coup attempts by disgruntled junior military officers, Scout Rangers and Marines, and attempts to impeach her had all failed, but this time the fallout from the latest of scandals may yet stick. And if it does, then we may yet witness Gloria and her cohorts, cronies, and all others in her corruption- tainted government being swept away by a political tsunami into oblivion!

The question now is when will it happen? Will it be this year, next year, or will it be when our democracy is dead, already?

Share This
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

Posted by News Team | Filed Under Nestor Mata 

Comments

Got something to say?





Authentic Diecast Model Cars
Close
E-mail It