tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post844697611062177409..comments2024-03-20T16:19:01.468+07:00Comments on The RAB Experience: A Sad State of AffairsRob Baitonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05122219639222126602noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-18889546782303376592008-10-21T16:28:00.000+07:002008-10-21T16:28:00.000+07:00Rani...I was not actually saying that you were say...Rani...<BR/><BR/>I was not actually saying that you were saying Indonesians were stupid. What I was saying was that I do not generally think Indonesians are stupid.<BR/><BR/>I do not agree with golput. I do appreciate that people have the right to choose not to vote if they so desire.<BR/><BR/>I sometimes feel that elections are very much about going through the motions, hence the lack of Rob Baitonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05122219639222126602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-84234821888910969472008-10-21T13:29:00.000+07:002008-10-21T13:29:00.000+07:00Ouch again, my mind jumps to quickly. I mean, even...Ouch again, my mind jumps to quickly. I mean, even the so-called educated people can make an "irrational" choice, let alone the rest (majority) of Indonesia people. That's why the parties/candidates (at least on the last election) didn't seem to bother socialize their platform, because it seems less matter to most people.ranihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12482506500025174557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-65931901986865248762008-10-21T13:21:00.000+07:002008-10-21T13:21:00.000+07:00Ouch, I was being too harsh, wasn't I? I just don'...Ouch, I was being too harsh, wasn't I? I just don't understand why even the smartest people can do stupid things when it comes to politics. That's why the campaigns only touch the surface--dangdut and free t-shirts are more important. And I agree that there's no qualified candidate and it is truly sad.<BR/><BR/>Do you agree with Golput, Rob? I'm seriously considering this optionranihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12482506500025174557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-58858181794119149012008-10-21T08:28:00.000+07:002008-10-21T08:28:00.000+07:00Rani...I don't think Indonesians are stupid. And h...Rani...<BR/><BR/>I don't think Indonesians are stupid. And hopefully my post is not interpreted that way. I am merely making a comment on what I see as a true lack of transformative candidates in this presidential election cycle.<BR/><BR/>Further, I think we can separate the political horse trading that goes on in terms of parties supporting particular candidates and the motivations behind the Rob Baitonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05122219639222126602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-3096374448308607792008-10-21T01:44:00.000+07:002008-10-21T01:44:00.000+07:00jaka said:"Wiranto and Prabowo should prepare for ...jaka said:<BR/>"Wiranto and Prabowo should prepare for their clear defeat. Indonesians are not, however, too stupid by overseeing their track records."<BR/><BR/>In 2004, PKS held their support for Amien Rais until the last minute because they were considering Wiranto. I couldn't understand on what basis an Islamic party should consider a former military with doubtful (Islamic) track record ranihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12482506500025174557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-84804821917449520182008-10-20T17:17:00.000+07:002008-10-20T17:17:00.000+07:00Jaka...I don't know that I know better than you. I...Jaka...<BR/><BR/>I don't know that I know better than you. I am just a fella trying to work it all out in a way that I can understand it ;)<BR/><BR/>Here's hoping that Wiranto and Prabowo cannot pull it off and that their respective parties fail miserably.<BR/><BR/>Mega is an interesting case and perhaps would make a good PhD thesis in the study of the cult of personality.<BR/><BR/>A person mightRob Baitonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05122219639222126602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-38152289627939108642008-10-20T16:41:00.000+07:002008-10-20T16:41:00.000+07:00I think the survey can be applied to most Indonesi...I think the survey can be applied to most Indonesian. Wiranto and Prabowo should prepare for their clear defeat. Indonesians are not, however, too stupid by overseeing their track records. If they win, I am pretty sure there were some misconducts to happen. <BR/><BR/>The problem lays deeply in the parties performance. They do not provide enough stages for the fresh candidates to be observed by Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-4867387965860265402008-10-20T11:11:00.000+07:002008-10-20T11:11:00.000+07:00Invisible...I guess my point was why should Indone...Invisible...<BR/><BR/>I guess my point was why should Indonesians be forced into accepting the lesser of two evils?<BR/><BR/>In my response to Brett I note that failure is a relative term and subjective in how I use it. Was I being unfair, again subjective. <BR/><BR/>I do not say that SBY has not seen positive developments under his administration. Economic growth, reduction in corruption, and Rob Baitonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05122219639222126602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-63050526068402878322008-10-20T11:03:00.000+07:002008-10-20T11:03:00.000+07:00I'd take the lesser of two evils by voting for SBY...I'd take the lesser of two evils by voting for SBY again.<BR/>Why? I personally feel he is doing his best, and we are getting a decent 6% growth in GDP yearly, which is considered on track.<BR/>Tourism in Bali is up, terrorist attacks are way down, overall security has improved. <BR/><BR/>The KPK is also doing a reasonably good job in bringing down corruption. Please do remember that the corrupt Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-44289072801284344952008-10-20T10:52:00.000+07:002008-10-20T10:52:00.000+07:00John...My apologies on not being comprehensive on ...John...<BR/><BR/>My apologies on not being comprehensive on the Wiranto angle. The indictment, if I am not mistaken, has led to a request being made to Interpol and I believe Wiranto's reluctance to leave Indonesian shores is related to this.<BR/><BR/>I was pointing out the skeletons in the closet and had not intended to produce a detailed or comprehensive post on these skeletons. I figured Rob Baitonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05122219639222126602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-54055700588022295842008-10-20T08:55:00.000+07:002008-10-20T08:55:00.000+07:00I see Fauzi Bowdo (no not a typo) is thinking of r...I see Fauzi Bowdo (no not a typo) is thinking of running for president, if he thinks he can run the country the way he runs Jakarta, then god help Indonesia if he ever gets the job.schmerlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09822385478308232919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-24353974910455324752008-10-20T06:06:00.000+07:002008-10-20T06:06:00.000+07:00I posted on golput some time ago, as you will reca...I posted on <I>golput</I> some time ago, as you will recall. My argument was based on the political parties which are the 'middlemen' when it comes to electing the House of Representatives.<BR/><BR/>As the President is directly elected by the people, I think there'll be a big turnout, and SBY will get back in. It's not as if he is the leader of a major party, such as Megawati's PDI-P which Jakartasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13193111071556380486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-22389814953461008932008-10-20T05:39:00.000+07:002008-10-20T05:39:00.000+07:00Actually, Wiranto has been indicted by the UN-back...Actually, Wiranto has been indicted by the UN-backed Serious Crimes process in East Timor. The governments of Timor-Leste and Indonesia at this point in time do not intend to follow up on the indictment. This justn't change the fact that the indictment, which is quite detailed is out there. Links to the text of the indictment and other evidence against Wiranto can be found at http://www.etan.org/Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07003585150140208207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-2302832013233856462008-10-19T22:47:00.000+07:002008-10-19T22:47:00.000+07:00Brett...It is supposed to be inflammatory. It is a...Brett...<BR/><BR/>It is supposed to be inflammatory. It is also designed to spur serious debate among those that agree and those that disagree.<BR/><BR/>I wonder why you did not defend SBY straight off the bat, but rather sort to get me to fess up to why I think he is failing :D<BR/><BR/>He came to the presidency with a very clear mandate and on promises to achieve certain things. I will list Rob Baitonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05122219639222126602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9136987847943346639.post-84771855292100511292008-10-19T20:11:00.000+07:002008-10-19T20:11:00.000+07:00"a currently failing President"? Now THAT's inflam..."a currently failing President"? Now THAT's inflamatory. On what basis?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com