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The effective means of controlling the presidency lies
not in law but in politics. For the American president
rules by influence; and the withdrawal of consent, by
Congress, by the press, by public opinion, can bring any
president down.
— Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. in “The Imperial Presidency”
‘Your
Majesty, how do you feel about Team Unity’s (TU’s)
humiliating defeat?”
“The
national elections are just starting their count, but in
the congressional and local elections, the victory of
the overwhelming majority of candidates sympathetic to
the administration shows a vote for political stability
and economic reform.”
“The
counting is almost over, Your Majesty.”
“On the
contrary, [Commission on Elections or Comelec head
Benjamin] Abalos says there are still five million votes
to count.”
“But
Namfrel disagrees. They said, based on numerical
probability, the top nine spots are secure.”
“Namfrel
said that?”
“Yes.”
“Namfrel
doesn’t know canvassing.”
“You
mean TU can come back from behind?”
“Yes.”
“This
late in the game?”
“I did
it in 2004, didn’t I?”
“But the
public won’t stand for it anymore.”
“Won’t
stand for what?”
“Dagdag-bawas
and tampering with ERs [elections returns] and COCs
[certificates of canvass].”
“You
call it dagdag-bawas; I call it clerical error.
You say tampering; I say corrections of manifest
errors. Abalos will explain it to you later.”
“Thank
you. Now, moving on to another topic. . .”
“Moving
on. Those are my favorite words.”
“. . .
Gov. Erico Aumentado said 10 towns in his island
province will receive government projects for delivering
sweeps to TU candidates. Is that true?”
“Yes,
Boholanos will be rewarded; as promised.”
“Isn’t
that electioneering?”
“You
call it electioneering; I call it social payback. Abalos
will explain that to you, too.”
“I hope
so. . . Now, what if the Genuine Opposition [GO] wins
anyway? Won’t that show rejection rather than support
for you?”
“The
senatorial election was not about me. People voted for
their favorite personalities. That’s all there is to
it.”
“Still.
. . a lot of people believe you are now a lame duck.”
“Really?
Sez who?”
“Manuel
L. Quezon III reported in his blog: ‘. . . Abaya [Manila
Standard columnist Antonio Abaya] expresses what I think
is an emerging consensus among people who aren’t fans of
the President: to grant her a reprieve, but a highly
conditional one.’”
“[Hahaha] . . . Sounds like they’re offering me another
‘graceful exit.’”
“It
certainly does.”
“Remember 2005? [Fidel] Ramos and [Jose] De Venecia
thought they were dealing with a lame duck. Well, guess
who’s still on the throne barking orders to her throne
bearers?”
“But
there’s a big probability you will have an opposition
Senate. Doesn’t that worry you?”
“Me?
Granting, for the sake of argument, Abalos fails, I
still have a couple of aces up my sleeve. I have my
antiterror law and my Sigaw Charter-change gang. The
Senate should worry; not me.”
“So
you’re not conceding defeat?”
“Defeat?
In the congressional and local elections, the victory of
the overwhelming majority of candidates sympathetic to
the administration shows a vote for political stability
and economic reform. I won, honey.”
“Any
other message to your subjects?”
“I want
to thank in advance the five million voters whose votes
await canvassing by Abalos. They are the true voice of
the people.”
“Huh?”
“You
better believe it. Like the man said, ‘who are you going
to believe, me or your lying eyes?’”
“Abalos
said that?”
“No, not
Abalos. Marx.”
“Karl
Marx?”
“No, not
Karl. Groucho.”
(This
interview took place at the Enchanted Kingdom Palace,
May 27, 2007.)
Buencamino writes political commentary for Action for
Economic Reforms (www.aer.ph). |
