Exclusive - SBY Wins
So, the polls were
free and fair according to the US, which knows all about the democratic process. "
Around 90 percent of voters said they believed their vote's secrecy was guaranteed and only 3.3 percent said they had been intimidated."
Only 3.3 percent?? According to my calculations, that's about 3 million voters! Don't believe everything you believe in instant polls. Or
the links I give you.
Is it going to make any difference to our lives? I doubt it. Mega will retain her usual enigmatic and
eloquent silence, at least until October 5th when what we all know to be the result becomes official. She'll probably carry on sulking even then. I think that is the reason that her grand coalition of PDI-P and Golkar have already decided to become the
official opposition. "
We are committed to strengthen the position and the role of our parties in the House," said Golkar Party chief, Akbar Tandjung. Actually, his reputation as a Soeharto acolyte and
corrupt politician who wanted Mega to win so he could be the President after next is probably what cost her the election. She should have chosen her friends more carefully.
He probably wants to make the government impotent as well, but the people have spoken loudly and clearly. It is time for a change.
So, is SBY going to be a breath of fresh air? Hardly. SBY is known to prefer
air conditioning to the great outdoors. He may have the support of the US,
Australia and the world, but the
Acehnese rebels expect him to continue military operations against them. I hope they're wrong; after all, as Megawati's Security Minister he was instrumental in arranging the internationally mediated peace talks that resulted in a six-month cease-fire in 2003. As he is a retired army general, with the support of other generals, there probably won't be any new faces or fresh mindsets in his cabinet.
The people have made their choice. We must all live with the consequences. I'm hopeful that the growing political maturity in the nation will effect a more community minded and managed country. There is a massive tolerance of differences; this is the main pleasure of living here. Isolated instances of genocidal ignoramuses cannot destroy all the underlying optimism of a better life for us all.
And on that note of idealistic hogwash, I'd like to record that this is the 150th (official) post by Jakartass. I think I'll have a tot of duty-free to celebrate my perseverance and the tolerance of my readers. Thank you all and one.
Finally, all Brits, and I mean all and not just lovers of football, will feel a sense of loss at the passing of
Brian Clough. "He was a mixture of arrogance and initiative, bombast and generosity, intransigence and self-doubt."
And the public loved him.
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