Natural selection and Chiz Escudero
November 4th, 2009 by Manuel Buencamino“I think natural selection must have greatly rewarded the ability to reassure oneself in a crisis with complete bullshit.”—Bob Harris
Pundits said Francis “Chiz” Escudero committed political suicide when he bolted from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). He may have done that, but I doubt that was what he had in mind.
The NPC had very little to do with his popularity. In fact, it was dragging him down. That’s why many wondered why he did not leave the party sooner.
One of his former party mates explained why he left.
“There may be a simple reason there. He has no funds. The party only committed to bankroll only a fraction of his campaign.”
But Escudero forcefully denied that money had anything to do with his resignation.
“It’s not true. I’m denying it vehemently, that money was an issue, was the reason…. My resignation was a matter of principles and conviction.”
Indeed, money may not be the decisive factor in this election. Escudero believes that, in this election, a candidate who runs on new politics can rely on a huge volunteer base to make up for whatever he lacks in terms of money and party machinery.
He is betting he does not have to spend billions to advertise he is “poor in spirit,” that he does not have to dole out goodies to entice people to show up for his rallies because the voters of 2010 are looking for real change—not for loose change falling out of the pockets of crooks. Chiz is right. Now all he has to do is convince voters he is Noynoy Aquino.
And so Escudero refashioned himself as the people’s candidate, the one whose political party is the Filipino people.
“First, whoever plans to run for president should not belong to any political party. The only party he should belong to is the Philippines and his party mates the Filipino people.”
Escudero is selling a bill of goods. Party-less democracy is an oxymoron. Without political parties, individuals have no vehicle to “collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests.” A personality cult is what you will get when you do away with partisan politics. If that’s what Escudero wants, then he should change his name to Kim and move to North Korea.
Who would be a good running mate for Escudero?
Ping Lacson? But does Ping enjoy constant lecturing?
Loren Legarda? But Escudero is only 40. Loren does not partner with politicians in that age demographic.
Dick Gordon? But if Escudero will have nothing to do with a Manny, why would he partner with a Dick?
At any rate, a running mate is the least of Escudero’s worries. Right now he has to think his way through a dilemma.
If he runs and loses, he may not get a second chance. On the other hand, if he plays it safe, tells himself now is not the time to risk it all, he will disappoint his devoted followers. He will be judged as calculating instead of idealistic, and everything he has said and done to date will be attributed to his overweening ambition.
But Escudero does not have to feel too bad. He can always take refuge in the words of Bob Harris.
November 4, 2009 at 1:40 am
Too much speculations on Chiz Escudero’s future. The guy captured the imagination of the youth. He has charisma and rethorics
at his disposal. It is a useless effort. We should think more
of resettling those Squatters living on the esteros and on the riverbanks to avoid the next flooding.
Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany had also his charisma and rethorics.
So was Mussolini of Italy. The late Pres. Marcos had them also.
Watch out for people who could mesmerize the crowd. They can be
DEVILS in disguises. Angels of Darkness parading as Angels of Light.
THOSE WHO FORGET THE PAST, ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT!
November 4, 2009 at 5:16 am
MB,
Forget about Mr. Escuedero. He tanked. Apply your fine mind to something that matters.
Joe
November 4, 2009 at 5:19 am
As I said elsewhere . . .
The man seems rather the cat in the china shop, leaping from shelf to shelf creating catastrophes (“down with math!”), and pontificating this way and that. He lacks the power of a bull like Villar, who can destroy the shop with one good well-placed expressway, or the deft touch of Aquino who floats aimlessly through the shop on gossamer wings of yellow ribbon, or the experience of Toreodoro (sic, heh) adrift between isles 2 and 3 in a tin bath tub as he lacks a good rubber boat, or the wisdom of Erap who is groggily swapping the china for poker chips and booze.
Perlas for President, or that Quezon dude . . .
Joe
November 4, 2009 at 5:30 am
Chiz is better off dead.
November 4, 2009 at 5:44 am
Why all thew time and effort on this most useless subject? At a time that the PRC is engaging the world in a new mercantilist war we waste time on a man who never had anything to offer and found himself exposed.
He and his Dad are members of the old KBL/NPC Marcos party. His claim to fame was being an opposition media star versus his own party and GMA. He played the role to the hilt. The KBL/NPC are in bed with GMA. How the hell would he have run on an anti-GMA platform.
Look at Loren cavorting with the guys from Isabela and Cagayan. Amongst the worst men who continue to support logging in their own backyards.
In the Philippines media personalities and creations are due in a large part to the grey line that divides journalists, opinion writers and publicists.
The criteria is mainly who rates the best in popularity.
Meanwhile rice prices going up once again. But that is ok since the NFA is borrowing cheap nowadays and is increasing its debt load.
It is utterly insane that we are engrossed in the travails of this lost trapo while we continue to borrow to feed ourselves.
Meanwhile Loren should figure out a way on how we are to pay our bills apart from exporting our women. Enough of this planting trees bullshit.
November 5, 2009 at 2:31 am
Political speculations are the Shabu of the Filipinos. As
Lenin of Soviet Russia had pointed out that Religion is the
Opium of the people.
Misuse of all things is not good. Be it politics, religions,
power, etc…You can see most of the Filipino Politicians are
Double Talkers. They say one thing, then does the other things.
Giving us good promises to make our lives better. After the election. We will be lucky to see their shadows.
November 4, 2009 at 6:36 am
All this seems to be a discussion on Chiz’s winnability.
That is:
- Whether he committed political suicide by leaving the NPC;
- Whether he has enough money to mount a traditional campaign;
- Whether he will be able to gain profile without said traditional campaign;
- What kind of image/i> he will fashion for himself in his pitch to the electorate; and,
- Who his running mate will be.
But where is the discussion about something more important regarding a politician making a pitch for the highest office in the land:
What does he stand for, specifically?
We talk about a “personality cult” that Chiz’s campaign will supposedly degenerate to because of his partyless bid for the presidency, but the question this begs is quite simple:
Is being part of a political party — or not — a strong determinant of whether or not a politician stands for something and/or takes a categorical position on stuff of consequence?
Lets not confuse ourselves by framing the question on whether or not a politician possessess substance around whether he/she belongs to a political party or not. By doing so, we simply beg the question of whether said political parties actually stand for anything to begin with.
Until the National Political “Debate” grows a bit of brain, all discussion avenues simply lead back to a fundamental concept that stands out for the brilliance of its simplicity and the robust strength of its absolute relevance today:
Platform, plez™
Small minds talk about people;
Mediocre minds talk about events;
Brilliant minds talk about ideas.
[Said to have been said by Eleanor Roosevelt]
November 4, 2009 at 5:46 pm
^^”Small minds talk about people;”
IRONY, much?
November 4, 2009 at 12:05 pm
If a crowd of one million listeners were to shout ‘Chiz’ as in “cheese” and if that moment were to have been captured on camera, we probably will be seeing one million “smiling” crowd.
That spells seemingly great ‘media event’ for a person who calls himself Chiz. Remember the cheese? It was a flap since there was some kind of confusion whether it was safe enough to eat. Whoever paid for this cheap gimmickry?
So. Things are not what they seem.
Chiz can always claim to high heavens that “principle and conviction’ moved him to veer away from the cult of party politics. That is rather moving counterclockwise.
Perhaps, Chiz is ill-advised having to pull all these tricks from the playbook.
It cheapens him. He may have to “hire” Bamboo as a social magnet but tell us if there is any principle and conviction that we can find if he does that.
November 4, 2009 at 1:39 pm
He must’ve had a mental diarrhea of some sort where every manner of hare-brained idea is spilled out of him for all the nation to see and smell.
November 6, 2009 at 12:11 am
One would attribute “natural selection” to NoyNoy’s candidacy. You know — genetics.
————————–
Thrust into the presidential race without the usual preparation of a serious contender, the only son of senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino has been the object of political innuendoes from rivals who question his readiness to be president. Does the younger Aquino have what it takes to duplicate, if not surpass, the track record of his parents?
http://www.verafiles.org/index.php/first-person/373-noynoy-no-point-in-competing-with-my-parents
November 6, 2009 at 12:19 am
In his own words, clearly — Noynoy describes his history and current position regarding Hacienda Luisita.
http://www.verafiles.org/index.php/first-person/373-noynoy-no-point-in-competing-with-my-parents?start=3
November 6, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Well, let’s hope that the people just don’t naturally select him for president.
Besides natural selection applies to animals.
November 6, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Noynoy does have an approach to Mindanao peace process — natural selection errrr cross-pollination pala.