Presidential Election 2011
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Way2GO:
Exactly my point my friend. Despite the farce of a contest, Chua Kim Yeow still garnered a eye-popping 40% of the popular vote nation-wide. What I am trying to say is that despite some very obvious antagonism to OTC at the outset because of his perceived close links to the PAP (he too was an ex-DPM), he went on to be a reasonably effective and popular EP, yes?
Quite different then bwt OTC n dat AG Chua fellow.3Boys:
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In the end, if you refer back to the other previously beloved EP, Mr OTC. He had nearly 40% of votes against him, and even at the time, those of you who recall, there were murmurs that he was much too close to the g'ment and did not have the people's mandate......
CKY was a very reluctant candidate asked by d gahmen to run
to give a semblance of a contest in d first PE.
Dis fellow didn’t even campaign until d 11th hour n
even said his opponent is d better candidate.
How obvious can one be?
What a wayang of a ‘contest’.
Even so, he got more than 40% of d valid votes.
D grapevine then was dat some trade unions were asked to vote for him.
So we can all discount dat 'contest'.
So lets give Dr TT a chance too. This was a much harder campaign than previously, I think if Dr TCB did not stand, Dr TT would have crossed over 50% of popular vote (see my post above). -
No point crying over spilt milk. If there is something that the protest voters have singularly failed to do, is to win the battle for the hearts and minds. The easy part is to get the angry and disgruntled behind you, the hard part lies ahead. How do you convince the ‘dyed-in-the-white’ that you are worthy of being given the responsibility of carrying the mantle? All these insults and half-baked conspiracy theorising is damaging, not helpful to the cause.
Let you in on a little secret. I was contemplating TJS up to the point of nomination day. When Dr TT got booed, there was this great opportunity to TJS to appear ‘Presidential’ and ‘Above politics’, by slamming those who booed him. He could have said, lets respect the political process, whatever your feelings.
However, he did not, he did the exact opposite and copped-out. He made an excuse for those he felt were his likely supporters, and in the process, turned off many neutrals. From that point, to me, he was not electable as President. Oppo MP perhaps, but not President.
I fear his supporters more than I do him. As an elected official, he would have felt pressure to pander to their agenda. As a leader, he must do what is right, not necessarily what is popular. Would he dare stand up to his supporters and say "No, what you are asking is unreasonable, I believe the g’ment is right in this instance." He tried to morph his position in the end, but it was far too late. He complains that the campaign period was too short. Actually, I think if there had been no campaigning AT ALL, he would have done better at the polls than he did. -
Otah:
At no time, did they make me fear for my livelihood... my safety... my children's futures etc... One of our current batch of PAP MPs is the son of a past Opposition politician. This son of an Opposition politician took a PSC scholarship and went on to an illustrious career in NTUC. Hence, evidence exists (from 20 years ago) to suggest that the PAP is NOT vindictive, and prefers to co-opt talent than battle it.
And Chenonceau, care to share how they track you down, har? Thru your computer IP address or you simply dare to publish using your real name?concern2:
In any case, Chenonceau, how did you feel when you got 'tracked down' har? Just curious - did they ask you whether you got 'personal agenda'?
It is uncomfortable that it is known where my kids go to school, where I work, where my immediate family members work. But at no time was I made to feel that I was being interviewed by German Gestapo, KGB or undercover CIA or whatever. Therefore, no... no one accused me of having a personal agenda of any sort. Besides, if I do have an agenda, it will reveal itself in time. And all they need to do is wait... and they're smart enough to know that. So why ask and frighten me?
It was all very above board and respectful. They sincerely wanted to understand my views better, and seek further input. Indeed, pains were taken to let me know that I had done nothing wrong, and that I had valid views.
They did not tell me how they found me. Perhaps, I don't make an effort to hide better... perhaps, they tracked the computer IP. Who knows? -
3Boys:
I totally agree with you on this. Somehow I felt that TJS (& NS for the matter) did not play the cards right. No doubt, they may have endeared themselves even more with the die-hard oppo. supporters - just need to read the biased TRE - but the sabre rattling antics really turned off many neutral voters.
At the end of the day, despite all the sound and fury, TJS did WORSE at this PE than for the GE, where he got nearly 40% of popular vote as part of Holland-Bukit Timah GRC SDP team.
Guess what, we neutrals will still be the king makers in the next GE. -
phankao:
You can also write on the one you hate \"I hate you\" and that would be counted too!
If based on GE guidelines, it is valid, even if you draw a \"tortoise\" on it.ksi:
[quote=\"Way2GO\"]mummyo, question on spoilt vote.
If voter puts a tick instead of a cross,
would d vote be considered spoilt or still valid?
this entry is written by one of the GE vote counters:
http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/counting-agent-me/
It's quite an interesting read.[/quote]Phankao, thanks for sharing! Educational indeed. Now that you guys mention this, when I was making my cross carefully at the polling station, reading all the faces on the paper and double-checking like taking final exam, making sure I didn't see the face wrongly, I heard vigorous scribbling sound at my same cubicle, so vigorous until my cubicle was shaking. That must have been one of the spoilt votes. It was a middle-aged man I saw as we left almost the same time. -
Angelight:
those are the pickles to the main course...I wouldn't worry too much about them. It is another way people are trying to accept the unacceptable. The dust will settle.
... we shld refrain from insulting or giving derogatory names to our g'ment or president, no matter how much grouses or dissatisfaction we have. Tolerance and grace are the first steps towards healing a divided nation. So hopefully we can begin with this.
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Display photos of Prime Minister, President instead of First Lady
Letter from Charles Quah 04:46 AM Aug 30, 2011
Much has been said about the different roles and responsibilities of the Elected President as Head of State and the Prime Minister as Head of Government.
The desire of most Singaporeans, including all four Presidential Election candidates, is that these two leaders should work synergistically for the benefit of all Singaporeans.
These are the two most important offices in the land, as they represent the popular mandate of the electorate.
For that reason, perhaps it is timely the relevant authorities review the current practice of having the official photographs of the President and the First Lady in Government offices, key civic buildings and Singapore missions abroad.
Many countries instead have official photos of the Heads of State and Government or Head of Government and their deputies. Perhaps we should consider this for the following reasons.
There will always be a Head of State and Head of Government. But the same cannot be said of a First Lady. Consider the plausible scenarios: If a future President is a bachelor, or if he is divorced, separated or widowed during his term in office.
In the not-too-distant future, as mentioned by Dr Tony Tan, we may have a female President. Should we then have the picture of the First Gentleman?
Many patriarchal-biased visitors to Singapore, on seeing the pictures of the President and First Spouse, may be confused about who is the Head of State.
The wives of all four Presidential candidates have been wonderful spouses and pillars of support and would have deserved to be featured in their private (but not public) roles and capacities.
That unifying role of the \"First Couple\", in the realm of Singapore politics and public administration, should best be reserved for the President and the Prime Minister.
Source:http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110830-0000242/Display-photos-of-Prime-Minister,-President-instead-of-First-Lady -
Today is the last chance to say bye to the current President at Istana?
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but why the practice of displaying photos of President & First Lady, or for that matter, any person, in the first place? scare that civil servant cannot recognise them when they happen to walk in? :?
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Way2GO:
expectations should balance with the salary getting? If getting super high salary, yet cannot meet expectations, then adjust the salary.
My view is dat u got snookered by CMH's spin.3Boys:
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Whilst I generally dislike Chua Mui Hoong's editorials, part of what she wrote today rings very true. No matter what, over 70% of votes went to the 2 men with the strongest PAP links. Say what you might about scaremongering or head in the sand, very likely, many clever, thoughtful people did vote for one of these 2 candidates, and if TCB did not stand, Dr TT's vote share would have been much higher as I believe many of those who voted for TCB would not have switched their votes to TJS or TKL.
So all this noise about '65%' against TT has to be taken in context. The PAP, I suspect, would have been fairly satisfied with Dr TCB in the Instana also.
In the end, if you refer back to the other previously beloved EP, Mr OTC. He had nearly 40% of votes against him, and even at the time, those of you who recall, there were murmurs that he was much too close to the g'ment and did not have the people's mandate......
So, elections over, lets give Dr TT a chance to perform his role and not set up all sorts of unreasonable expectations and roadblocks.
Both TT & TCB campaigned on a non-partisan platform;
TCB more so in trying to distancing himself fr d PAP.
If they hv both campaign as PAP endorsed candidates, it is unlikely
for them to get a total of 70% coz d results of dis PE shows dat (my reading)
ard 35% die hard PAP supporters voted for TT;
25% moderate PAP supporters + 10% of moderate \"oppo' voters shifted their support to TCB.
I also believe dat TT would not get those 10% moderate 'oppo' votes if TCB was not standing,
but he would still win against TJS n TKL.
I think this gahmen would be a bit uncomfortable with TCB in d Istana,
n thus d recall of TT to join in d fray. But I would agree dat they would accept him grudgingly if he had won.
Is asking d President Elect to honestly account for d PT affair with greater transparency unreasonable?
Can a leader unconditionally asks other mothers' sons to lay down their lives
for him n country in d frontlines when his son play with test-tubes in an air-con lab?
should set a high expectation, yet reasonable expectation though.
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