Presidential Election - What if?

 Tharman is indeed too qualified for the job of a non executive President, a role that is mostly ceremonial. Some people already lamented that it is a waste for Tharman to be sitting in the Istana tweedling his thumb, and may have to keep himself busy inviting Resident Committees to the Istana to have tea with him. This is like an extension of his Meet the People's Session in his constituency though in an elaborate environment, not in the void deck of HDB flats.

To stand for this Election, Tharman had resigned from his multi million dollar jobs and other lucrative appointments. Does it mean that he has to forgo all the salaries, including his MP allowances, risking all his senang incomes, for a shot at the Presidency? What if he is not elected? What if?

Can he go back to where he was, rewind the clock, to resume all his previous jobs and appointments, and to continue to get the salaries and incomes like before? Or would he be appointed to new positions to get back what he lost for standing as a Presidential candidate? The amount of money he is losing or foregoing is no small change. It could be several millions a year, definitely many times the income of the President of the USA. Never mind that he does not need such money as he is already financially very comfortable even without any income for the rest of his life.

But what if? Is it worth it to lose everything that he is getting every month at the moment? Maybe he is confident that he is sure to win and there is no risk at all. Why is he so confident is anyone's guess. For anyone that is earning much less, anyone that is unemployed, it is just making a bet with nothing much to lose. For the other candidate, George Goh, he is his own boss and would not lose anything. Life would go on as usual if he does not get elected.

For Tharman, it is indeed a big gamble, financially, with a lot to lose. He must be a very brave man or a big risk taker. Oops, he is making a great sacrifice for the people and country.  If he did not make this move, life is so pleasant, so comfortable, so lucrative. He is in his comfort zone with nothing to disturb or irate him, no one to breathe down his neck. But he did it. Maybe he has consulted his fortune guru and read the stars and knows that he cannot lose. A logical, rational and careful man would not take unnecessary risk that is not within his control.

Now, what if it does not turn out as he hopes for? An election is an election and anything can go wrong. No one can fix an election.  Ok, ok, there are plenty of good jobs awaiting him even if he loses. Maybe the private sector would offer him a job that pays him several times what he is getting now....should he lose.  

Luckily this is not an 'all in' gamble when a poker gambler would win or lose everything. There are plenty of doors and jobs open for Tharman if 'what if' did not turn out in his favour. If Tharman were to lose his multi million dollar income when not elected, then it would be a real sacrifice. This is not tikam tikam with small change.

Anyone thinks Tharman can lose?

Even gangsters have morals but not the American terrorists

The USA has perfected the art of propagandising. The MSM and the establishment are working hand in glove, one to generate false accusations, seeing how the reaction would be by aimless farting, then if no one bites or knows it was all made up, the establishment will try to do damage control, knowing all that is pure lies and will eventually be exposed. China knows how the USA system works. That is why China just gave one reply in response to the spy network in Cuba, and be done with it, and let the rabid dogs keep barking on MSM.
Biden just came out to claim that the recent Weather Balloon incident is embarrasing for China. How is it embarassing for China, I really cannot figure out. However, it is in fact an embarrasement for the USA, having to make so much fuss and effort for several days, just to shoot down a stationery balloon. It was a calamity, using two missiles and several back up planes just to shoot down the balloon. After that, the pilots were praised as 'Top Guns'.

This incident, in all its glory, shows the USA does not even have the capability to deal effectively with a harmless balloon. They were practically at sixes and sevens for days, and peeing in their pants, not knowing how to react. A hypersonic missile travels at several times the speed of sound, takes minutes to reach its target. With this kind of slow motion reaction and thinking, how is the USA to deal effectively with hypersonic enemy weapons I just wonder.

Terrorists basically have no shame, so talking about the World's No.1 terrorist not having any shame is a moot point. It comes with the profession of being the world's proven top terrorist. This kind of behavior is as good as a robber telling you that he is coming into your house to rob you, shamelessly, arrogantly and as a matter of factly. That is what the world has to deal with if the USA continues as the de fact hegemon.

Again, to quote Robert De Niro - 'Even gangsters have morals' in reference to the USA administration's unruly and lawless behavior.

Anonymous

American propaganda machine losing effectiveness, with diminishing marginal returns

Media outlets claimed China is building a secret station in Cuba to spy on the US, citing anonymous intelligence officials. But the Pentagon admitted this story is false. It is part of information war
Anonymous US intelligence officials used the media this June to spread a rumor claiming that the Chinese government is building a massive spy base in Cuba, 100 miles from Florida.

There was however a glaring problem with this story: The US Department of Defense said it is false.

Top Pentagon officials came out publicly and clarified that the reports are "not accurate", that China is in fact not building a spy base in Cuba.

This is the latest example of a series of false stories that have been laundered through the mainstream corporate media by US spy agencies, particularly the CIA, which seek to advance US foreign policy interests and demonize adversaries like China, Cuba, and Russia.

Recent disinformation campaigns of similar provenance have included Havana Syndrome - the debunked myth that Cuba, China, and/or Russia was supposedly attacking US spies and diplomats with pulsed microwave weapons - or "Bountygate" - the false CIA claim that Russia was paying the Taliban bounties in order to kill US soldiers during the war in Afghanistan.

The CIA has perfected the art of using the media to manipulate public opinion, to push people in certain political directions and manufacture consent for war.

One of the co-founders of the CIA, Frank Wisner, famously said the spy agency has contacts all across the media and can play the press like a "mighty Wurlitzer” - a kind of old musical instrument.

Anonymous

Blinken Qin Gang's Meeting in Beijing

 What are the important takeaways from this Meeting desperately called upon by the Americans but totally disinterested to the Chinese? The media reported that the talks were candid, substantive and constructive but without anything to show.  The other giveaway was a comment by Hua Chunying that hopefully it would rewind the relationship to the meeting between Xi and Biden at Bali.

There were many things unsaid about the Meeting but are more meaningful to describe the relationship between the US and China. The first point is about American behaviour. They stirred up a storm because of a weather balloon to a state of hysteria, shooting it down with a F22 fighter and filled the pages of all American media in the biggest and most sensational circus of 2023, and culminating in cancelling a planned visit in February by Blinken. This was followed by panic station, desperately wanting to make the trip again, preempting any views from China, broadcasting to the world that the trip was on, with or without the agreement and approval of China. What did all these say about American behaviour? A bunch of silly clowns not knowing what is serious and what is clowning.

I think the most important part of this visit is that American preeminence in military power is over. The Americans wanted to continue to provoke China and mess around in the East and South China Seas but are afraid that China would shoot at their warplanes and warships. This kind of fear never exist in the past. The Americans were so arrogant during the Taiwan Strait crisis to sail two aircraft carriers through the Strait to intimidate China with no fear of being attacked and sunk by the PLA. Today this kind of arrogance would be seen as madness. Even stationing the aircraft carriers east of the Philippines did not make them any safer as they would be sitting ducks for the Chinese anti carrier missiles. 

The flying and sailing of warplanes and warships close to Chinese shores are a guarantee for destruction by the Chinese, if a PLA soldier or pilot presses a wrong button. In this Meeting, or a code of conduct for engagement is what the Americans are hoping to get, to protect their trouble making pilots and sailors in Chinese waters and airspace. The time they could stand in front of the Chinese and beat their chests like big bullies is over. The Chinese only need a needle to prick and puncture the bloating arrogance of the Americans.

The Americans may still want to strut around in the western Pacific, but they are now at the mercy of the PLA. Any miscalculation by the PLA would mean terminating the lives of American pilots and sailors. And China has all the reasons to miscalculate, to make errors, to return the favour of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, killing several Chinese embassy staff. Taking down a few American pilots and sailors should be in the Chinese cards and waiting to happen. And the Americans know that the Chinese can do it, and would do it. It is a matter of when, not if.

The Meeting is as good as the Americans admitting that they have lost control of the western Pacific to the Chinese. China is in absolute control of the region by air and by sea, under the sea and above in space. The Americans know this and better take note that they could no longer strut around with impunity.

The Americans needed this Meeting to protect their cowboy gangsters from mishaps and miscalculations by the Chinese. The Chinese are ready to kick their asses and they could not respond like bombing Iraq to the Stone Age. The Chinese would respond in a similar fashion and style should the insane Americans dare to misbehave. This also shows that the Americans already know their place in the western Pacific. All the cries and bravado are for show. There is genuine fear that they would have to bite the dust or drink radio active contaminated waters from the Pacific Ocean.

On the other hand, China does not want to talk to the Americans, knowing that it would be a waste of time. Blinken would have raised the intent of Biden to visit China and hoping for a return visit by Qin Gang to Washington. Both were met with a stony silence. What is the point of a visit by Biden who did not know what is happening, can't remember anything, if any, at best for the Americans' domestic consumption, to raise the stature of Biden and Blinken. Now, read this again. Today, a meeting with Xi or a visit by a Chinese leader to the US, is a great event for the Americans. If Xi refuses to meet with Biden or any American president, the latter would lose prestige to the American public. 

At the last hour, Xi agreed to meet with Blinken. This is a major concession by China. Xi did not plan to see him, expecting that nothing substantive would come out of the Blinken Qin and even Blinken Wang Yi meetings. Apparently, for Xi to change his mind, Blinken must have agreed to something that is meaningful to China. What is that? Whatever, it is only words and can be dismissed or ignored after the Meeting. Words mean nothing to the Americans. Even agreements can be torn to pieces by the Americans.

For now, China is prepared to take Blinken's words at face value, likely for the last time. China had been duped by the Americans many many times. Every time, after a meeting, China thought the Americans would honour what they said. But when the Americans left the meeting, they would do the opposite. China would be watching what would the Americans do after the Meeting with Xi. Biden's trip to China depends on it.

The Meeting shows that China is gaining more confidence in dealing with the Americans and would not meet them if there is nothing useful and substantive to talk about. No more wasting time on American lies and wild accusations or meddling with China's internal affairs.  China would set the agenda for talks or there will be no talks and no visits if China finds it unnecessary.

China would be watching the Americans every move from now. Would the Americans be sincere and wanting to move forward to build better relations with China? Can Blinken and the Americans be trusted? Wang Yi told Blinken, the Americans have to choose between conflict or cooperation with China. The ball is in the Americans' court now. This is the last chance for the Americans to mend relations with China.

Incidentally, American aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is in the South China Sea and China is not pulling punches. 5 Chinese 052 warships surrounded the aircraft carrier on its journey. This is the first time that China has done this, looking at the Americans eye to eye with warships against warships. A miscalculation could sink the aircraft carrier.

PS.  After listening to Blinken's press conference post meeting Xi, I am quite disappointed that Xi made the effort to meet him.  Blinken disclosed that he raised the issue of Taiwan and human rights in Xinjiang. As for Taiwan, Blinken quoted the Taiwan Relations Act which is a unilateral American law to interfere in China's internal affair. This is a hostile Act against China, to interfere and defend Taiwan. Blinken also repeated American position to sell arms to Taiwan and would not want a change in the Taiwan situation, ie, to keep Taiwan separate from China. Why would Xi regard these as acceptable? And why would Xi, Wang Yi and Qin Gang agreed to Blinken raising the fake human rights issue in Xinjiang during the Meeting?

Having said these, I do not see any real change in American policies on Taiwan, and the provocation and interference would continue. If China regards Taiwan as the most important of its core issues, China would be badly disappointed once they see the Americans continue with what they are doing in and to Taiwan. The Chinese would feel very silly to think that the Americans have changed and would not interfere in Taiwan, an internal affair of China. 

The Americans would interfere and would not allow Taiwan to be reunited with China. Period. The Americans' one China policy is a China with Taiwan as it is now, not independent but separate from China permanently. Is China going to live with this?

China got duped again. Caveat, unless something was agreed on the Taiwan issue that Blinken is not saying in the press conference.

Would the Africans turn against China?

 Have the Americans make good their promises to Asean and the African leaders and send them the $150m and $350m respectively? Or still otan?

Many Africans are awaken and know who is helping them and who has looted and plundered their countries, enslaved them and make them poor till today. But not all Africans are enlightened and rational.

There is a popular modern day African Shamen called Prof Lumumba, preaching to the Africans to be united and to build Africa by themselves into a developed continent of African countries. He laid out the abuses of the foreign powers, and also included China into the same category as evil countries out to exploit Africa.

He could not distinguish China as a different civilisation that had not conquered and colonised Africa and regard China just as bad as the white man. He accused China for going after African resources. Sure, but what is he expecting China to be, Santa Claus? China did not rob Africa and does not owe Africa anything.

China is in Africa to trade, to help them to develop, help them build their infrastructure, cheaply but not for free. They cost China a lot of money, resources and manpower. It is only reasonable and respectable for the Africans to pay back in kind if they did not have the money. But if this Shaman is believed by the Africans, then China would also be their enemy and they would throw China out in a matter of time.

China got to be careful with what the Africans are thinking behind its back, just like Papua New Guinea. After helping PNG in infrastructure development, the PNG has invited the Americans to set up military bases to counter China.

Would the Africans turn against China like the PNG, believing in the Shaman that China was there to exploit their resources, that China must build everything for them for free?

Stupidity has no cure.

Anonymous