- NEWS: DPP turncoat Shih Ming-teh is supposed to launch independent presidential bid tomorrow. I would never think that is related to the fact that running a political campaign is a great way to collect money. Also, any news service that reports that Shih is a former DPP Chairman without reporting that he switched sides around 2000 is lying to you by omission.
- Quote of the day from Alton Thompson about J Michael Cole's piece on what Taiwan would gain from being annexed to China (National Interest): It's a sad situation when the most seductive argument a regime can muster for signing onto it is 'Don't worry. We'll treat you better than we treat our own people. Trust us.'
- Also from Cole: The US has no position on the 1992 Consensus
- Synapticism with another great ruin for us.
- Where is anti-nuclear Mazu now?
- Drew's poetic ode to cycling in central Taichung city.
- Taiwan ThinkTank (pro-Green) poll has Tsai up on Chu by just a few points.
The poll, commissioned by the pro-DPP Taiwan Thinktank, found Tsai leading Wang by 44.1-41.3 percent margin and beating Chu, who is also mayor of New Taipei, by a 46.7-41 percent margin.
Her lead was much bigger against Wu (64.1-20.2 percent), Hung (63.6-21.5 percent) and Yaung (63.4-17.5 percent). - Brookings Paper on Taiwan and the SCS
- The awesome Jon Sullivan's reading list on political and social movements in Taiwan and on political parties
- Comedy: Ma says China fears Taiwan protesters. Aw, poor China.
- Soong trashes Ma
- Eating hornet larvae in Taiwan
- JOB: Institute of Molecular Biology looking for editor
- Faces of New Media in Taiwan: Taiwan Explorer
Time and Date-- Sunday May 24th, 10 am
Speaker: Bo Tedards, Director of Amnesty International Taiwan
Topic: Amnesty International, how it helped Taiwan in the past; and how it now works from Taiwan to help Asian countries.
Venue: We are trying out a new venue-- it is right near the Liuchangli MRT Station at HePing East Rd. and Keelung Rd.
The name of the place is Vinyl Decision
Address No. 6, Lane 38 Chongde St. Xinyi Dist.
Website has a map. www.vinyldecision.com
It is a cool place that you will want to know about to listen to oldies on LP.
Phone if lost, 02 8732-9969
From the MRT station, stay on the east side of Keelung; and cross HePing to its north side, Chongde Rd. is right there off the circle.
Breakfast will be NT$125. Free flowing coffee and egg sandwiches etc.
You have no doubt heard of Amnesty International, this is a good chance to find out all that it is involved in.
And if you want to work with them on projects.
Give me (Jerome) a heads up if you are coming.
_______________________
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9 comments:
New theory: Eric Chu is a latter day Lee Teng-Hui (re: your "saw the light" point in an earlier post). He's a self-discovered, self-appointed Taiwanese nationalist Trojan horse within the KMT, and doing everything he can to scupper their chances for a generation.
Not realistic, but I imagine this is a belief taking shape in some Deep Blue pockets. And currently indistinguishable outcome-wise from whatever he's really up to.
Shih Ming-Te will split the DPP vote. I'm scared.
I had no idea Wu Den-yi was so unpopular.
Shih Ming-teh will have little effect. He will collect donations however.
Not realistic, but I imagine this is a belief taking shape in some Deep Blue pockets. And currently indistinguishable outcome-wise from whatever he's really up to.
I agree. The deep blues are totally out of touch with reality, and even earnest reformers like Chu are trapped by the assumptions of their Blue identities...
Michael
As a recent article in the Taipei Times pointed out,
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/05/20/2003618719
the KMT is a culture of "Yes-men".
The KMT party culture, with its emphasis on patronage and access to spoils, rewards cadres, not for dispensing useful advice, but for massaging the ego of their infallible boss.
Why should Ma actually listen to the public, when he, as an enlightened Han and a descendent of the dragon, need only that his own wishes be validated by the praise of underlings?
Is this not enough?
"New theory: Eric Chu is a latter day Lee Teng-Hui (re: your "saw the light" point in an earlier post). He's a self-discovered, self-appointed Taiwanese nationalist Trojan horse within the KMT, and doing everything he can to scupper their chances for a generation."
Love it!
For all of its positions and faults, to me, the most concerning thing about the KMT right now from a democratic process perspective is actually that no one believes the only two candidates registered for the primary are the ones that will actually be nominated for the real campaign! Everyone believes Ma Ying-jeou and Eric Chu will completely ignore process and make an independent choice.
This is extremely damaging for a competitive democracy. The DPP needs a healthy opponent that keeps it honest, not one that is a complete joke and even to this day, hesitates in its commitment to democracy. I wouldn't be so sure that these developments are great for the DPP.
A party realignment couldn't come soon enough. Whatever his faults, I see James Soong and the PFP destroying the KMT as the only way to keep democracy going strong. But the realignment most likely would be chaotic and create a lot of noise that will coverup real issues, and so it's hard to see it as a great path either...
"Shih Ming-Te will split the DPP vote. I'm scared."
I'm fairly certain most green voters despise him at this point.
And now the pundits are saying Matong would let Wang Jinping run as veep to Wu Denyi. Let the slaughter begin!
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