China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
July 10, 2008
.jpg)
Ma Ying-jeou visits Berkeley in 2006
Summary: President Ma Ying-jeou probably never imagined in his entire life that his popularity would decline so much in such a short period of time. That it would resemble the Taiwan stock market insofar as the bottom is still nowhere in sight. One of the main reasons for this is his character and background. When you are the President, many things are your responsibility. Being virtuous is not enough. If the President was merely a figurehead, then there would be no need to fight tooth and nail over presidential elections. In fact, people do not want Ma Ying-jeou to become another Machievellian political schemer. But for Taiwan's democratic politics to progress, we need leaders who are more aggressive and more willing to sacrifice. So far, we are still waiting for Ma Ying-jeou to show greater concern for the nation than for himself.
Full Text below:
President Ma Ying-jeou probably never imagined in his entire life that his popularity would decline so much in such a short period of time. That it would resemble the Taiwan stock market insofar as the bottom is still nowhere in sight. One of the main reasons for this is his character and background.
Prominent political commentator Nanfang Shuo described Ma Ying-jeou's character as one of "gentle obstinacy." Former Control Yuan President Wang Tso-jung said that Ma Ying-jeou's family doted on him as a child, turning him into an egocentric personality indifferent to other peoples' circumstances and feelings. These evaluations of his character have highlighted a key point: Ma Ying-jeou's life and political rise has been far too easy. He has been the recipient of too much public adulation. This great fortune in the first half of his life, is now costing him dearly. Perhaps the credit and deficit columns in Ma's karmic account are about to be balanced.
Ma Ying-jeou was an only son. He was doted upon. He is a man of accomplishments, with exceptional breeding. He has impeccable manners, does everything by the book, and is honest to a fault. He is both erudite and athletic. He is a Harvard Ph.D who speaks fluent English, and an athlete who can run and swim with the best of them. No matter how you look at it, Ma Ying-jeou is the cream of the crop. Parents dream of raising such a son. He is a model student and Prince Charming, all rolled into one. He is like the lotus flower that flourishes amidst the muck of the political arena, but somehow manages to stay clean. As a result he has always remained popular. His legions of screaming fans rival those of major movie stars.
When we look back at Ma Ying-jeou's political career, we see smooth sailing all the way. He had no need to struggle to achieve his goals. His political career was served up to him on a silver platter. At times he found it hard to refuse. Only after the party begged him was he willing to enter the Taipei Mayoral Election. Eventually he would become the sole savior of the KMT and the Republic of China.
Ma Ying-jeou's qualifications were too good. Just by being himself he attracted public adulation. He had no need to do anything. Public adulation and honors automatically came his way. This made him extremely concerned about his image. Any defects or dark spots were intolerable. Because he never had to pay attention to other peoples' needs or feelings, he lacks sensitivity. He does not know how to contribute to others, how to engage in quid pro quo, and does not like dirty politics.
Unfortunately politics is everybody's business. It is hardly something one can engage in alone. Ma Ying-jeou is not good at it. He attaches little importance to interaction with others. His braintrust is too small and too inbred. Most of them are ivory tower intellectuals, politically unsophisticated, fearful of outsiders, isolated, and out of touch with the outside world. This leads to a lack of dissonance during the decision-making process. This undermines the quality and responsiveness of decision-making, and eventually leads to a backlash.
Ma Ying-jeou's list of Control Yuan and Examination Yuan nominees reveals concessions to realpolitik, an effort to defuse confrontation between the Blue and Green camps, and a good faith effort to be a "president to all the people." But the KMT's conduct during the subsequent review process was outrageous. By using innocent Examination Yuan and Control Yuan nominees as scapegoats in order to show Ma Ying-jeou who was boss, KMT legislators merely proved that they were malignant tumors that ought to be excised.
President Ma Ying-jeou is not without responsibility. He failed to consult with the legislature first. Once the matter was out in the open, he tried to be an effective President. But his innate character, remote and aloof, got in the way. His acquired skills failed him as well, due to inexperience. He failed to acknowledge his responsibility to ensure cooperation between his administration and his party. Ma Ying-jeou is like a little white rabbit who has been elected King of the Jungle, who only wants to sit on his throne and remain pure as the driven snow, shielded by his confidants, willing to do what is needed to polish his public image, but unwilling to dirty his paws by coming in contact with the jackals and hyenas. Lacking the necessary ruthlessness and calculation, he delegates the dirty work to others. The office may be elective. But power must be won. If this continues, the weak and pusillanimous little rabbit will soon be exposed for what he is, and the situation will only get worse.
When President Lee Teng-hui took office, he arrived powerless and empty-handed. He pitted one rival against another, gradually building up his power base. Ma Ying-jeou does not need to play these games. People are eager to please him. He is starting from a far more advantageous place. Unfortunately, upon being elected, Ma Ying-jeou has been treating the KMT as an instrument in his service. He feels no obligation to contribute to its political survival. He doesn't consider the reform of this creaky old political party as something he must achieve in order to enhance the quality of Taiwan's political culture. He champions no political philosophy, and offers no national vision. Whatever the Executive Yuan doesn't concern him. Isn't such a presidency just a little too carefree?
When you are the President, many things are your responsibility. Being virtuous is not enough. If the President was merely a figurehead, then there would be no need to fight tooth and nail over presidential elections. In fact, people do not want Ma Ying-jeou to become another Machievellian political schemer. But for Taiwan's democratic politics to progress, we need leaders who are more aggressive and more willing to sacrifice. So far, we are still waiting for Ma Ying-jeou to show greater concern for the nation than for himself.
中時電子報
中國時報 2008.07.10
談談馬總統的領導風格
中時社論
馬英九總統大概一輩子也想不到，自己會在這麼短的時間裡人氣跌得這麼快，而且跟台灣股市一樣，還看不到底部在哪裡。這其中，很大一部分的問題，出在他的人格特質與養成背景。
名政論家南方朔以「柔性的剛愎自用」形容馬英九，前監察院長王作榮則指他自小三千寵愛在一身，形成獨霸的個性，不在乎他人的處境與感受。這些評語都點出了一個關鍵重點：馬英九的成長乃至從政過程，實在太一帆風順、太受萬千寵愛了。但這前半生的莫大幸運，卻導致在此時必須付出非常昂貴的代價；人生的得與失，也許終究會有個平衡吧。
馬英九是家中獨子，備受呵護。一表人才，氣質出眾，做事循規蹈矩，操守一介不取。而且文武雙全，不但是英文呱呱叫的哈佛博士，還是能跑能游的運動健將。不論從哪個角度看，馬英九都是菁英中的菁英。家裡養出這樣的兒子，當父母的做夢都會笑醒。他就像模範生加白馬王子的綜合體，在一缸爛泥似的政壇裡，彷彿一朵出淤泥而不染的清蓮，因此人氣始終紅不讓，粉絲瘋狂尖叫的場景不輸大明星。
回顧馬英九的從政生涯，也一路順遂得有如天之驕子。他不必主動爭取，其他人求之不得的職位與機會就紛紛送上門來，有時連推都推不掉。當年是全黨上下千拜託萬拜託，他才肯參選台北市長，最後他更儼然成了國民黨和中華民國的唯一救星。
馬英九本身的條件太優，光做自己就夠討人喜歡了，不必費心去對別人做什麼，眷愛與榮耀就自動歸之於他。這使得他非常在乎自己的形象，對任何瑕疵或玷汙都難以忍受。由於向來不必去注意，所以對別人的感受或需求缺乏敏感度，不太懂得付出、利益交換或拉幫結派這種事，也不喜歡汙濁的政治。
偏偏政治是眾人之事，不適合搞孤單。馬英九不僅不擅長、不重視與他人的互動，決策圈又非常小，而且和他太像，大多是自視甚高的白面書生，政治手腕並不老練，排外封閉遠勝於合縱連橫。這使得決策過程缺乏不同的聲音注入，影響了決策品質和對事情的因應，還會逐漸在內部累積反彈。
憑良心講，馬英九提出的考監委名單，雖然看得出兼顧現實的部分，但也對化解藍綠對立作了相當努力，展現出扮演一位全民總統的誠意，但國民黨後續的審查表現，簡直荒腔走板到了離譜的地步。如果若干高層真的為了給馬難看，拿無辜的考監委當試刀的祭品，那麼只證明自己正是需要割除的陳年毒瘤。
但馬英九總統卻也不是毫無責任，問題不在他有沒有早一點去拜託，而在於此事暴露出，在扮演一個稱職的總統上，他先天個性太過疏離自限，後天的政治手腕也失之生嫩，又未曾認清自己在黨政運作中應有的責任。彷彿一隻被選為叢林之王的小白兔，只想乾淨漂亮地坐在寶座上，被少數親信保護著，願意做有助公關形象的活動，但不想和滿林的豺狼虎豹打交道。而且坦白說，也沒那個狠辣與權謀，寧可把麻煩骯髒的事交給別人代勞。職位是選來的，但權力是贏來的。再這樣下去，軟弱膽怯的兔子愈來愈被看破手腳，處境恐怕還會更糟。
當年李登輝接下總統職位時，手上權力空空如也，靠著拉這個打那個，逐漸建立起自己的權力版圖。馬英九不需要玩這些，就有很多人巴望著被摸頭，他的起點已經好太多了，可惜當選之後，馬英九似乎想當然爾地認為黨是自動會為自己效力的工具，不覺得自己要對國民黨的政治生命付出什麼心力，也不認為改革這個老舊政黨是提升台灣政治品質的必要課題，更沒有再提出什麼政治理念或國家願景，連行政院在做什麼都好像隔了一層。作為一個總統，這樣會不會太輕鬆了一點？
當總統，對很多事情都有責任的，不是獨善其身就夠了。如果我們的總統真那麼虛位的話，大選不會廝殺得如此慘烈。其實，民眾並不希望馬英九變成另一個耍權謀搞鬥爭的政客，但要推動台灣民主政治進一步向前行，需要領導者願意更積極地奉獻投入。而到目前
No comments:
Post a Comment