All Politics as Usual

As early as now, we can all see that many politicians are already posturing and advertising themselves for the Presidential elections in 2010. Those who use EDSA wouldn’t fail to notice Bayani Fernando’s towering ads on MRT posts (where he supposedly wants advertisements removed). Everyone saw Loren’s and Villar’s emotional ads on TV. Of course we all know that Lacson, Escudero, and Roxas are all posturing well also on TV and radio during the ZTE (and subsequent) hearings. Even Erap is doing provincial trips obviously trying to promote himself as possible candidate in 2010. Also, we hear about the readiness of Noli de Castro and his possible team-up with Ate Vi.

I am sure, these days, negotiations are ongoing for team-ups and alliances. I am sure many in the mass media are now haggling or have already haggled with many politicians as to how each candidate is to be treated. Obviously Fernando does not have anything going on with the mass media, he is now beginning to be lambasted left and right. On the other hand, Villar is now always interviewed about any topic that comes up in the news, which means he has already done his haggling. Lacson and Escudero are both given good images on TV and radio for there are no negative comments about them even how stupid their questions are on those senate hearings. Also, there are no negative comments on Erap’s campaign, except for that one little question from someone from that French News Agency (AFP). There are some negative comments on Noli although they seem to be controlled, still at this point.

In fact, political re-alignments have started even since the first Hello Garci controversy. I remember I was on the verge of being touched on that day when the Hyatt-11 has resigned and when Cory came up in the open to denounce the cheating in elections. I am almost convinced that that was a turning point for PGMA, only to find out later that those moves are not individual spontaneous reactions, but are a pre-planned concerted action by members of the liberal party (LP-Drillon wing), as a whole to advance their groups chances.

It is clear to me now, that while all of well-meaning people are arguing why PGMA should or should not resign, our leaders are all politics as usual. Meanwhile, we all forget what we need to do. To this very day, while we question PGMA’s legitimacy and call her a cheat, and while we tend to abhor all kinds of cheating and corruption, all of the presidential wannabes are already cheating their way to 2010. They are now advertising themselves in violation of election laws. Of course, they have ways and means to avoid prosecution, but even a child would say that they are now all cheating.

While rallying at Makati and Liwasan, well-meaning people forgot that elections are coming and we are still vulnerable to cheating. While we follow every word of Jun Lozada’s sweet pied piping stories of how corrupt our government is, we forgot to see that our mass media is awash with spins and already prepared for 2010. While we are all deeply and emotionally involved in search for some truth, we fail to see that we still have not a set-up for a fair nor meaningful elections. Even the Ang Kapatiran party, with all its romantic vision of a better country forgot to market themselves and still remain surely a boring group come 2010.

Short of naming all our leaders, both in the opposition and administration, the CBCP and recently the Bishops in Manila asked our leaders to lead the fight against corruption within ourselves. Nobody seems to be heeding that call. Every politician while clamoring for truth is actually politics as usual. Worse, we naively buy their stories.

We are indeed doomed beyond 2010.