A friend with a chip on his shoulder is often more dangerous than an enemy. What an endless series of opposition plots failed to do may happen, courtesy of a longtime GMA friend and political ally.
In a privileged speech at the eve of his ouster, House of Representatives Speaker Jose de Venecia cut off any final link to the Malacañang tenant. We are witness to the final act of GMA’s current crisis of presidential legitimacy. In so doing, he has thrown the gauntlet at GMA’s feet, accusing her of orchestrating his ouster and hinting of stormy days ahead.
GMA has no choice but to pick up this gauntlet–issues are already joined. The fuse was lit by de Venecia and the clock is ticking. If taken to its logical conclusion–and if no major damage control is taken, however remote its possibility–the crisis of legitimacy has entered its final act. Jose de Venecia cannot be permitted to speak of living, breathing demons in the Malacañang closet.
GMA faces the specter of serious political opposition with the present and future JDV revelations. In a situation of negative presidential popularity, this is an explosive situation. The possible scenarios basically are open-ended. They certainly include a shortened GMA term or a possible desperate declaration of an emergency situation.
Malacañang’s political strategists miscalculated on this one. It may cost all of them their heads.
[…] moncasiple wrote an interesting post today on Hottest of potatoes: JDV go out with bombsHere’s a quick excerptGMA faces the specter of serious political opposition with the present and future JDV revelations. In a situation of negative presidential popularity, this is an explosive situation. The possible scenarios basically are open-ended. … […]
[…] Doronila says that Arroyo will pay a high price for the ouster of De Venecia. The political analyst Mon Casiple portends: GMA faces the specter of serious political opposition with the present and future JDV […]
i rather see JDV’s ouster as an epic achievement of GMA in showing that no one can stand in her way. a remarkable move belying what she previously claimed: that she was a very bad politician.
in fact, what this only shows is that: GMA, if these were her designs, is an exemplary student of realpolitik, pulling off a brilliant political move in order to achie her goals for the country, whatever it may be.
Actually, I made the same observation that this might be a wrong move in Malacañang’s part. The Palace has always been rather… coarse in its responses and in the managing of issues since Garci began, and this would be just another example of such bad issue management.
Or is it? Remember that we’re talking about a political animal – the Prez – who, despite consistent negative ratings, has managed to survive so many ouster attempts. There might be something here we’re not seeing.
@rob
yes.. that is what i have seen in this move.. she has basically done the only remaining thing that can be considered political suicide: and that is to oust a powerful ally and a powerful political animal..
if she can do this.. imagine the extent of her grasp and power.. i can only hope that it will be towards the good for this country..
[…] Mon Casiple, in his blog, offers up this reflection: […]
I still think this is not simply a vendetta on JdV. Gloria needs to hurry up her push for cha-cha. With JdV out of the way, she can now vigorously pursue her dream of staying in power. She cannot afford to step down for it would mean the end for her and her gang of thieves.
The Arroyos-drunk with power (blame it on the XO), miscalculated JdV.
Just like FVR & Enrile on Marcos, Chavit on Erap, JdV spilled the beans on Arroyo last night, many are asking, “why did he speak only now”?
It takes a thug to squeal on a fellow thug. The question is not “why..only now?” The point is it had to be now !
Finally !
On the contrary Mr Casiple, I think that with JDV’s ouster, Malacanang has finally consolidated its grip on the House and made GMA’s hold on power stronger. I think JDV’s “moral revolution” will not morph into another edsa revolution because the people are in no mood for it anymore.
I predict that after JDV makes his much-anticipated second speech wherein he promises to expose all the dirt he knows about the Arroyos, people will just go back to their daily lives as if nothing happened. For the past 9 years, everything that could be thrown against GMA has been thrown against her and yet she is still standing. I think the best thing for the country is for us to just focus on the coming 2010 elections and exert all efforts to make it credible.
[…] Truly Mr. de Venecia has burned his bridges. […]