by Ram Maxey
OURS is a politicrazy country like no other. And the craze for politics rises to a crescendo as election time nears. The 2010 polls is no exception, judging from what we read in print media, hear over the radio and watch on television screens day in and day out these days.
And the various “–tiables” who have been contemplating with moist eyes their eventual capture of the Palace by the Pasig have shifted to higher gear their propaganda machines spitting out informercials designed to enhance their image or put in a bad light their potential rivals.
For some of them, it’s time to play it coy and use reverse psychology by pretending that they are not that hungry for power, claiming that they are simply responding to the insistent call “of the people” to take up the cudgels for them and lead them to the promised land.
Presidentiable Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is one of them. He dropped a bombshell of sorts when he abruptly bolted the Nationalist People’s Coalition, saying he would not be dictated upon by members of the NPC as to his political destiny, adding that the Filipino people are now his “partymates”. Maybe he knows something that we don’t. Like for instance, that the NPC hierarchy has somebody else in mind to support for president or vice president.
Chiz, at age 40, is just a kid among much older wannabes. You try to take away a kid’s lollipop, he’s gonna have tantrums. His closest supporters and hangers on expressed shock over his taking French leave of the NPC. But of course. They, too, lost their potential “lollipops”. Chiz is just a young man in too much of a hurry. He said he bolted out of the NPC to give him time to plan to seek higher position. What’s higher than being senator? The presidency, of course. Or the vice presidency. In other words, he has not made up his mind which is which. The “boy” is bewildered. Not a good trait for one who wants all the marbles. Or, some of the marbles. He just isn’t ready to lead this country out of the woods. He can’t make up his mind. He’s lost.
And look who commented on Chiz’ bolting out of the NPC? Senator Loren Legarda, that’s who. Said she: “I respect the decision of Sen. Chiz Escudero to resign from the NPC and understand the noble sentiments behind it.” No regrets. After all, the lady, herself, wants to run for vice president under the NPC. Chiz, for all his “nobility” is one rival out of the way. Last we heard, according to rumor, Legarda had a good night’s sleep after that. Loren somehow reminds me of the Dragon Lady. I don’t know why. Her political ambition knows no bounds, it literally oozes out of her otherwise pretty ears.There’s no law against dreaming such wonderful dreams, but at the end of election day 2010, she shall have been among the also-rans. Dreams can also turn into nightmares.
