This list is interesting because you can see who thought it worth their while to see (or have someone see) how they might do in an election, were it held today.Some things might be inferred: showbiz candidates are weaker than the Palace thinks; affiliation with showbiz can’t account for everything: why would Pangilinan be several notches above Recto?…  Could Pangilinan’s declaration the President ought to resign be a factor, along with the rest to explain why he is rating higher than the risk-averse Recto?Note from the above that there are two figures in play: “Awareness,” and “Voting For.”…  Gilbert Remulla, for example, with a 54% awareness level but 10.9% voting for preference, can go much higher with a respectable basis of support.The PR expert suggested that those poring over these survey results would conclude, instead, that Angara is nowhere near the strength he should have considering he doesn’t have much more to aspire to, in terms of voter awareness.

The news on candidacies continues: Tha administration slate, as of today:1….  Antonio Trillanes IV -Indep.In the punditocracy, my Arab News column for this week is The Warsaw of Asia: How Manila Was Flattened in WWII….  He proposes the Confucian model of qualifying examinations for political candidates.

Every President, bar none, has found that playing referee and arbiter of fights is one of the most crucial of presidential prerogatives….  The engulf and devour strategy of her pet party, Kampi, now enables her to drive hard bargains with coalition partners such as the Atienza wing of the Liberal Party, the NPC of Danding Cojuangco, and the Lakas-CMD of Speaker de Venecia.  It interesting to note that in less than a year, Lakas has become the second-biggest bloc in the House, overtaking the NPC.Tha administration slate, as the most recent reports have it:1.

Senator Lacson is the first to publicly react to Randy David’s proposal for a boycott of the May elections.My column for today is A grudge match.Washington SyCip and his remarks on democracy and development have triggered discussion.  I think his main point is that mass democracy works up to a point -the precinct- but that’s needed (as the Thais did, though he didn’t mention that, as he focuses on Ireland) is a consensus on national development goals among the elite.(will update this entry later after I finish writing The Explainer for tomorrow).

THE LONG VIEW A grudge match    By Manuel L. Quezon III Inquirer First Posted 09:42pm (Mla time) 02/04/2007 MANILA, Philippines–NATIONAL Artist F. Sionil José says he lost his respect for Claro M. Recto when he personally witnessed him express hatred for Ramon Magsaysay. In his book, “Why We Are Poor,” José recounts the incident: [...]

Neither the administration nor the opposition has shown any signs of accommodating the Center in its slates, how they were put together, or how they will campaign.  There’s lip service, of course: the dynasty issue is being fanned by Palace propagandists, but shrugged off by the opposition leadership, which knows the issue won’t catch fire with the non middle class voters; the Center is shrill about actors but its bluff has been called by the Palace, which knows for every middle class vote it loses, it gains many more by running the likes of Richard Gomez.  The Center has served its purposes for the Palace, it now reaps what it sowed in sticking by her side.Last year I said, the Center must hold.

I have to wonder if the President got an earful about human rights behind the scenes in Davos….  And it accounts for the President having to grudgingly, of course, admit there has been some kind of military involvement in the assassination of activists.  The diplomatic community -particular attention being paid to the Vatican and the US ambassadors- certainly indicated that this remains a touch issue with foreign governments.

THE LONG VIEW A coalition and not a force   By Manuel L. Quezon III Inquirer First Posted 01:32am (Mla time) 02/01/2007 EARLY this year, colleague Bel Cunanan said a third force was guaranteed to lose; her fellow traveler, columnist Emil Jurado, chirped along the same lines in his column. But I beg to differ [...]