I’m starting a new thread for this cause he needs some special discussion. anyway for a guy who i’ve always respected my opinion of him has nosedived in recent days. i mean for sure he has a conflict of interest but what the fuck is he doing at CKS doing exercises and acting the goat while his own council are issuing citations for noise violations etc. is ti just me or do others agree he has no business taking part in these protests…
ok i’m off to spring scream now…hope when i come back everythings been resolved and we can all move on (like that’ll happen…)
Pros:
Usually seems well-educated and polite (more sophisticated than a lot of KMTers)
Done some good things in Taipei City as far as modernisation and internationalisation goes.
Supports hanyu pinyin.
Bikes on the MRT.
Seems to have distanced himself form Lian/Soong a little.
Cons:
Getting rid of things like the piaotings and the Chungqing circle market - eg cleaning up some good things that don’t fit his view of new Taipei
Stupid police crusades all the time - prostitution, drugs etc.
KMT through and through.
Hasn’t distanced himself from the election protestors and done his job getting rid of them enough.
His reputation has taken a tumble during the election protests, but he’ll no doubt emerge smelling of roses (as pretty boys usually do).
I suppose he was caught between a rock and a hard place, but his first duty is as mayor, with KMT politician being a distant second. He should have responded more quickly to the protests in Taipei. He should have been more publicly critical of them where the civil unrest descended into lawlessness. His politicking to the crowd the day before they were moved was incompatible with his mayoral duties.
I think even many non-KMT supporters have some liking for him, and he’s surely a future leader of the party, but the shit’s gonna stick for a while.
[quote=“Spack”]Ma for President!
I’d vote for him. He’s chumpish on occasion, of course, but he’d rise to the challenge and make an excellent Pres.[/quote]
Remember four years ago when A-Bian won his first presidency? Remember all the old codgers squabbling outside after the results were announced, and how he ‘handled’ that situation by bleating in front of the crowd like a lost goat? Very presidential Well I guess the lesson he learned from that episode was to keep his mouth shut and merely look like a fool instead of proving it.
Ma Ying-jeou looks very nice and all when the pressure is off and he’s able to do things on his own terms, but he doesn’t do well when the heat is on and he’s unable to control the agenda. No backbone.
In my personal opinion, Ma should make a choice, either he serves as Mayor, or he serves in some high position in a local political party (the KMT). It seems to me that he cannot effectively do both, since there is a clear contradiction in the “roles.”
I would recommend a law change, to the effect that any public official must resign from any position of authority in any “political party.” How is this kind of situation handled in other countries?
[quote=“Falcon”]
I would recommend a law change, to the effect that any public official must resign from any position of authority in any “political party.” How is this kind of situation handled in other countries?[/quote]
That’s a silly rule. It’s impossible to enforce a rule telling politicians to not get involved in politics. The only country I know of that has such a rule is South Korea, where they just impeached the President because he - gasp! - publicly announced his support for some members of a political party running for the legislature.
Any such law would not only be impossible to enforce, but probably not desirable even if it could be.
[quote=“hsiadogah”]Remember four years ago when A-Bian won his first presidency? Remember all the old codgers squabbling outside after the results were announced, and how he ‘handled’ that situation by bleating in front of the crowd like a lost goat? Very presidential Well I guess the lesson he learned from that episode was to keep his mouth shut and merely look like a fool instead of proving it.
[/quote]
Exactly. That was the “mayor” who did that? Messenger boy is more like it.
Still something makes me think he would have to be better than the current lot in charge there.
[quote=“daltongang”]
Still something makes me think he would have to better than the current lot in charge there.[/quote]
…and I’d rather have Ma than Jason Hu, but that’s not saying a whole lot…
(still waiting to see how Tai/chung is going to end up ‘better’ than NYC in what remains of his term…)
[quote=“hsiadogah”][quote=“daltongang”]
Still something makes me think he would have to better than the current lot in charge there.[/quote]
…and I’d rather have Ma than Jason Hu, but that’s not saying a whole lot…
(still waiting to see how Tai/chung is going to end up ‘better’ than NYC in what remains of his term…)[/quote]
Jason Hu is an idiot. Downtown Taichung traffic is still a mess thanks to the changes that he introduced a few months ago. It was changed for a reason and he messed it up and changed it back.
Also, that the Taichung campaign office was behind those hideous posters also speaks volumes about Hu and his standing.
I so hope that Hu loses the next mayoral election. This city is pretty evenly divided. If the DPP can come up with a good candidate, it can be done.
I so hope that Hu loses the next mayoral election. [/quote]
Since he’s hardly shown up for work this term, it would be extremely cheeky of him to seek reelection. Then again, his major talent seems to be in overestimating his own abilities and mass-appeal…
But, we digress.
The DPP in Taichung does have a good candidate. He’s so good I’ve forgotten his name! He’s very well regarded; a no nonsense type who’s not in it for the money, works hard etc. I think he has a good chance next time around. If only I could remember his name…
OK, back on topic now.
That man Horse. Someone said he’s got no backbone. Well, Horseboy does seem a bit wimpy, but it’s because he’s trying too hard to be polite all the time. He needs to get in touch with his Dark Side, be a bit more sarcastic. I still reckon he’s the best man for the top slot.
If not Ma, then who?
[quote=“Spack”]The DPP in Taichung (Taizhong) does have a good candidate. If only I could remember his name…
[/quote]
蔡明憲 Micheal Tsai. Agreed on your appraisal.
[quote]
If not Ma, then who?[/quote]
王金平 Wang Chiin-ping, moderate but tough when needs be.
Ma Ying Jui is still a pretty boy - at 52 (wonder how long that asset will be valid). will he become president?
24 hours is a long time in politics and he could still be pulled down.
If he manages to run in 2008, then he might stand a chance, even though he will look more tired than pretty. DPP will have to choose another heavyweight to run, and with a bit of bad luck, the party might split as has happened before in the past. If the DPP pulld it off in 2008, then he’s up for a tough ride. In 2012? He’ll be 60 - wonder how many teenage girls/housewives will have wet knickers when seeing that 阿公 on the stage.
Flip-flopping and refusing to go against the iron core of his party - what do you expect. Any election attempt will have to be funded by the KMT, and alienating the core supporter base is not the way to go. He would prefer to keep a low profile (one must presume), but that’s impossible for him right now. I feel sorry for the poor bastard.
