James Soong: Between Illusion and Reality

James Soong: Between Illusion and Reality
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
July 20, 2011

Grass-roots supporters of the Orange Camp are petitioning to make James Soong a candidate for President of the Republic of China, The leadership of the People First Party reportedly wants him to run for legislator from Hualien. Running for president and running for legislator from Hualien are miles apart. This suggests that despite any brave face James Soong might put on, in his heart of hearts he remains a realist.

By threatening to run for president, James Soong is putting on a magic show. This magic show conceals his bitterness with his loss of power and status, He is alienated from and angry with the Ma camp, It is hard for him to forget the era when everyone greeted him as "the honorable Governor Soong." Even now friends crowd around him, and urge him to run for office, The result has been bittersweet. On the Internet, he boasts a "million man petition." At the grassroots level however, he commands only a few tens of thousands of supporters. How many real world votes will this support translate into on election day? James Soong, a seasoned veteran, knows only too well.

By contrast, his plan to run for legislator from Hualien, is Soong's ultimate reality. Since 2000, he has suffered one defeat after another. He made failed bids for the presidency, the vice presidency, and the mayorship of Taipei City. In the end, he received barely more than 50,000 votes. He may still harbor political ambitions. But can he still fight the good fight? Fu Kun-chi has sunk deep roots in the region. James Soong probably intends to hitch a ride on Fu Kun-chi's coat tails. If Soong runs for legislator from Hualien, he may be able to return to the political stage. But even if Song is elected legislator from Hualien, the only impact he will have on the election, on cross-Strait relations, and on the strategic situation, is likely to be negative. Is this really the legacy Soong seeks? Even Lee Teng-hui is urging him to run for president. Running for legislator could be regarded as self-degradation, as looking tough on the outside, but being weak on the inside.

Just exactly what role does James Soong hope to play on Taiwan's political stage, and in cross-Strait relations? Why run for legislator from Hualien? Just because nothing better is available? He may be able to make trouble for the KMT. But what of it? He may be able to give the DPP a boost, and create chaos. But is that really James Soong's mission in life?

Also, must James Soong be synonymous with the People First Party? Is that something that might change? Years ago, the People First Party rode to glory on James Soong's coat tails. But times have changed. The halo over James Soong's head, has become a dark cloud over the PFP. The PFP is a political party founded on a single person's charisma. It may have difficulty maintaining voter support in Taiwan's highly competitive political arena. For proof, look at Lee Teng-hui's Taiwan Solidarity Union.

James Soong never considered the long term survival of the People First Party. He put himself above the party. His leadership of the party was emotional, even violent. He ignored others' advice. He alienated his original supporters. He drove away the party elite. This, rather than any KMT dominance. led to the decline of the People First Party. The real cause of the PFP's decline was the party chairman's egotism. The public still recalls his conduct during the "Chen/Soong Meeting." James Soong could refuse to remain under the Pan Blue banner. He could argue that "three parties without a majority ensures people power." But his political moves did not reassure the public. The public doubted his power play would improve the situation for Taiwan. They feared it would only make it worse.

Soong's problems began with the 240 million NT Chung Hsing Bills case. Soong insisted that the 240 million belonged to the KMT. Now however, he says the money was the balance from his own campaign funds. The KMT cannot compromise on this matter. The issue concerns more than justice. It concerns Soong's reputation. Soong originally insisted that the money belonged to the KMT. If he and the KMT were to donate it to charity, Soong could erase the stigma from the Chung Hsing Bills case, He could rehabilitate his image. But if the 240 million NT becomes his reason to run for legislator from Hualien, his reputation will soon be in shambles.

James Soong has repeatedly gone on the offensive, and attacked the KMT. But he has offered no national policies superior to the KMT's. The public sees no overarching reason for him to return to politics. Why is he joining the DPP's attack on the KMT? On the issue of black gold, he has even joined in the chorus with Lee Teng-hui. He is saying the money had nothing to do with Lee Teng-hui. Lee Teng-hui has returned the favor, praising Soong as "the best administor on Taiwan." Years ago, the two confronted each other with drawn swords. Yet today they acted out this perverse charade. By the look of things, Lee Teng-hui ought to visit Hualien and stump for James Soong.

This is Soong's greatest tragedy. The express train of time has hurtled ten years into the future, But James Soong remains seated at the same station, waxing nostalgic over the past. Filled with grief and sorrow, he rails against fate, and longs to revisit happier times. But who are his real enemies? Are they his erstwhile comrades, who once fought at his side? Are they Taiwan's voters, whose moods are as changeable as the wind? Or are they the demons in his own heart, who long for revenge?

People Soong once touched may recall the hard working Governor Soong of years gone by. But such memories are being squeezed out by today's images of a sour faced Chairman Soong. Five years ago, when James Soong ran for Taipei mayor, he said it would be his last hurrah. Today James Soong can still be received on the mainland with some dignity, People on both sides of the Strait still recall happier times. Is James Soong determined to sink so low? Is he determined to eradicate these final traces of his legacy, by glad handing and shouting slogans?

宋楚瑜：在魔幻與現實之間
【聯合報╱社論】 2011.07.20

正當橘營基層為宋楚瑜發動連署競選總統之際，親民黨中央也傳出他可能到花蓮參選立委的消息。從「選總統」到「選花蓮立委」的天壤之別，顯示宋楚瑜不管把手上的大刀舞得多花稍，他心中對現實的估計終究有幾分保留。

揚言要選總統，是宋楚瑜的魔幻。這個魔幻中，包含了他權位失落的苦澀、他對馬陣營疏離的憤怒、他難以忘情的「省長好」時代的甜美，乃至今天周遭親朋勸進的湧動，匯成了酸甜苦辣痛的錯綜情結。但無論是網路上虛擬的「百萬人連署」，或者基層實體誇稱的幾十萬人，最後能在選舉中化為多少張真實的選票，久經歷練如宋楚瑜，自是心裡有數。

相形之下，盤算到花蓮選立委，則是宋楚瑜最後的現實。從兩千年以來，他屢戰屢敗，一路從總統、副總統、選到台北市長，最後得票不過五萬多；廉頗老矣，尚能戰否？宋楚瑜的盤算應是：藉著傅?萁既有的耕耘，宋自己若在花蓮參選區域立委，或許有重返江湖的機會。然而，即使宋在花蓮當選立委，對此次選舉及台灣政治全局及兩岸關係恐也只是「成事不足，敗事有餘」而已，這難道就是宋所追求的歷史角色？連李登輝都建議他選總統，選立委可能被視為自貶身價、色厲內荏。

宋楚瑜究竟想在台灣政治全局及兩岸關係中扮演何種角色？花蓮選立委，只因無魚蝦也好？扯國民黨後腿，扯斷了又如何？抬捧了民進黨，攪亂了全局，難道這是宋楚瑜的歷史使命？

再者，「宋楚瑜」和「親民黨」之間的等號關係究竟要不要調整？當年親民黨因宋楚瑜的光環而成立，曾風光一時；但時過境遷，宋楚瑜的「光環」幾已變成親民黨的「陰影」。這麼一個高度「個人化」的政黨，要在競爭激烈的政黨政治中維持台灣多元選民的認同，並非易事；只要一睹李登輝的台聯，已可一目了然。

然而，宋楚瑜對親民黨的經營不僅缺乏長期布局，他也始終把自己看得比黨還大，甚至以情緒性的暴衝來領導政黨。他的一意孤行，不僅讓他流失原有的支持者，也使黨內菁英不斷出走。亦即，親民黨的沒落，其實未必是由於國民黨的凌越，而是黨主席過度自我中心所致，眾人應仍記得宋在「扁宋會」的表現。宋楚瑜當然可以拒絕屈就在泛藍的旗幟底下，他要喊「三黨不過半，人民才有伴」也是他的自由；但從他的手段看，人們看不到這個口號有打造台灣新局面的可能，反而恐將使台灣更向下沉淪。

一切都是那二‧四億在作怪。興票案爆發時，宋說這二‧四億是國民黨的；如今卻稱這筆錢是他自己的選舉節餘款。國民黨不能在這方面退讓，非但事關是非公義，其實也在愛護宋的名節；倘若宋能將這筆他原稱是國民黨的錢，與國民黨一起捐作公益，他即可洗刷興票案的汙名，亦是人格風範的重生與再造。但若這二‧四億成了赴花蓮參選立委的動機，其高下軒輊即是判若天壤了。

宋楚瑜頻頻出手，刀刀都指向國民黨；但在國家大政方針上卻完全不見能超越國民黨的主張，外界很難看出他誓言重返政壇的超然訴求何在，又為何要與民進黨分進合擊？在黑金問題上，他甚至與李登輝唱和，說黑金和李無關，還因此換來李給他「行政能力全台最優秀」的讚揚。當年兩人刀槍相向，今天竟演出如此倒錯的場面，看來，李登輝可赴花蓮為宋楚瑜站台了。

這正是宋楚瑜最大的悲情。時代的列車已經往前開了十幾年，宋楚瑜卻還停留在他最不能忘情的那個車站，抱著滿腔的悲憤和酸楚向天呼嘯，希望時鐘能夠倒撥。但他真正的敵人是誰呢？是曾和他並肩作戰過的戰友，是台灣如流水的民意，還是他自己心裡的復仇惡魔？

曾被「天道酬勤」感動過的人，記憶中那位宋省長的勤謹模樣或許還沒全然消退，但與今天這位宋主席的酸辣影像已經漸漸無法重疊。五年前選台北市長，宋楚瑜曾誓言那是「人生最後一役」；宋楚瑜今日尚可帶著幾分虛榮到大陸行走，在兩岸全局中讓人存有幾分想像，難道要自甘淪落到由傅?萁拉手喊凍蒜的地步？