Presidential Election 2011
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3Boys:
Agreed there will be adverse comments no matter how/who the PEC clears for COE.
I don't agree its a strategic move at all. This is a situation where it's no-win for the PEC. If they just picked TCB and TT, they will be criticised for being PAP centric. If they pick TT, TJS and TCB, they will be criticised for choosing those affiliated to political parties. Now that they have chosen 4, people say they are biased towards Tans only, or 'dilute' the anti-establishment vote.
What would be your 'ideal' scenario? Remember, they are not there to play a political role, the PEC is just a screen for suitable candidates. If there were 10 suitable candidates, they would all expect to be selected.
Why? Just like the Election Dept under the PMO, ppl are sceptical that it is truly politically independent.
My preferred situation would be for TBL and TJS to publicly give their support to TCB in a two horse race against TT.
A 11 – 12% shift in voting pattern from recent GE should be sufficient to win it for TCB.
It’s possible but still tough against the well oiled PAP machinery behind TT.
It will be a lost cause for the other 3 TANs in a 4 corner fight from dilution of vote share. -
Way2GO:
I think this is one situation where a full blown PAP support for any candidate will simply drive anti-estab votes away from him. The g'ment is being coy, and for good reason.
It’s possible but still tough against the well oiled PAP machinery behind TT.
It will be a lost cause for the other 3 TANs in a 4 corner fight from dilution of vote share.
Welcome to politics. We may view the non-estab/oppo candidates via rose-tinted glasses, but they are politicians after all, no one's going to back down at this stage. -
3Boys:
I think this is one situation where a full blown PAP support for any candidate will simply drive anti-estab votes away from him. The g'ment is being coy, and for good reason.
Welcome to politics. We may view the non-estab/oppo candidates via rose-tinted glasses, but they are politicians after all, no one's going to back down at this stage.
The PAP and TT knows this. TT even said he is not endorsed by PAP nor supported by SPH. By the signs are there, and ppl are not completely blind to it.
They may be politicians, but they are also not stupid. They would know that realistically, none of them is likely to win in a 4 corner fight with TT.
It's time to see if these 3 TANs have the people's interest high on their agenda, or their ego and personal agenda gets in the way.
I have no doubt about TCB's desire to serve the people and he speaks from the heart.
TT is still too pro-estab, which is not necessarily bad. But as the Dr. Patrick Tan's case showed up, do we want more of the same cozy inner circle I-rub -your-back-you-rub mine goings on? How many of these cases have remained under wraps? -
Way2GO:
This will make it much much easier..
The EP campaign would become more interesting if the other 3 TANs realign themselves to a common cause of serving the people first and foremost. 2 of the TANs should withdraw their candidacy and throw their support behind TCB or TJS standing one-to-one with TT. -
Way2GO:
Therein lies the rub. it almost seems like more about putting up SOMEONE to stand against TT, than about WHO is standing against TT, what his agenda is, what he stands for, how he intends to conduct himself. Whilst I completely understand the sentiment, but its a bit of perversion to the process if it shows up only as an anti-estab vote, rather than a real vote for a real candidate.
They may be politicians, but they are also not stupid. They would know that realistically, none of them is likely to win in a 4 corner fight with TT.
It's time to see if these 3 TANs have the people's interest high on their agenda, or their ego and personal agenda gets in the way.
I have no doubt about TCB's desire to serve the people and he speaks from the heart.
TT is still too pro-estab, which is not necessarily bad. But as the Dr. Patrick Tan's case showed up, do we want more of the same cozy inner circle I-rub -your-back-you-rub mine goings on? How many of these cases have remained under wraps?
As for Patrick Tan, I've stated my thoughts in another thread. In short, I think it is something that needs fuller clarification as to why he was granted such an exceptional deferment. So far TT and Mindef have not come up with one, so I'm with you on that issue. -
This is not gonna happen cos TKL and TJS both have personal agenda to run for presidency. I dunno why but they don't give me the impression that they sincerely want to serve the people, unlike TCB.
Way2GO:
My preferred situation would be for TBL and TJS to publicly give their support to TCB in a two horse race against TT.
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19 unions have come out to support TT. So ??? Everyone pls use our own judgement and vote wisely. My overseas boss was askinge about my views on PE. To me unlike GE, this is just a figure head where we wonder at value add of the individual. Overhead 2 uncle’s conversation that see who has the president face then vote for the person afterall the president and his wife photos will be all over the place… Food for thoughts.
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This is a real political awakening for Singapore. We don’t happily swallow what the g’ment throws our way. This hash of a position called the elected Presidency will collapse under its own contradictions at some point, and will need to be redefined. At the same time, the opposition, being thrust to the fore, are being judged what they can deliver, as opposed to what they PROMISE to deliver. I’m glad people are not jumping on the anti-estab position for the sake of being anti-estab. The political debate is very immature right now for a country at our level of development, but we can only get better. Fasten your seatbelts, its going to be an interesting decade.
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[quote]In 1987, 22 people were detained without trial under the ISA under Operation Spectrum – “a security operation which saw 22 young Roman Catholic church and social activists and professionals detained, without trial, under the internal security law, accused of being members of an alleged Marxist conspiracy bent on subverting the PAP-ruled government by force, and replacing it with a Marxist state” (see HERE).
I just want some soft words for those who were so unjustly mistreated in 1987, and the Presidential candidates should give me some peace, in that if you’re elected, would you be protecting us the citizens if something like this happened again?
Is it too much to expect? The government is never going to apologize or admit any wrong. Could the candidates now as part of their campaign for Presidency give the people some kind of simple show of compassion and hope?
An excerpt from much anticipated The Online Citizen interview with Dr Tan Cheng Bock reads:
“When asked whether he still feels the ‘Marxist conspirators’ are guilty, Dr Tan says with a tone of sincerity, “I really feel they are innocent. They are all social workers and they meant well but unfortunately…(trails off)”
He adds, “I saw the ex-detainees and I really do feel for them. But at that time I believed the information that was given to me.”
Unfortunately the video interview does not show this at all. In fact what Dr Tan says in the video is:
“this is a very sensitive subject… ” and “when all this appeared on the net, I was told to be very careful”
TOLD??? TOLD BY WHOM?
I posted a question on Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s Facebook page, I asked:
“Dr Tan, with respect, there is a question that is burning in my mind and I guess I should just ask it. Knowing what you know today, would you have acted differently with regard to the so-called Marxist Conspirators of 1987? would you heed David Marshall’s call to “save the innocent Teo Soh Lung & Kevin De Souza?”
My question was ignored and eventually deleted from his page. It makes me want to ignore and delete him too.
Friends, I’m just trying to figure out who to vote as our next President.
Someone said on my FB, “you mean you even considered voting for Dr Tony Tan?” Yes, actually I did. But not now. Not after watching him speak on videos – he is so terribly uninspiring and not as sweet as he looks in pictures. Moving pictures tell a different story, he scares the hell out of me actually. And certainly not after the shameless plugging of the Straits Times, beginning with the endorsement by our Prime Minister.
Now I am looking for an alternative. And to everyone’s surprise, Tan Jee Say has got his Certificate of Entitlement. Also I’m not sure if its the savvy “I know how to campaign” Dr Tan Cheng Bock yet.
My dad met Dr Tan Cheng Bock in church few weeks ago, and said he was going to vote for him. But he has now changed his mind, on his own accord!
Teo Soh Lung was right. Change has begun.
Four eligibles for the Elected Presidency. Who would’ve thought we would see the day. People are saying so and so should step down so as not to split the vote etc. I don’t think anyone should give way to anyone else. There is something I learnt from one of my characters in “cooling off day“.
I will not vote according to who I think stands a chance or not. I will not vote in a politically savvy way. I will vote with my heart, my mind, my soul. It is my vote, and it is precious.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rggPsdKg4CE&feature=player_embedded#at=58
Tan Jee Say: fundamental issues of conscience
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