Extreme makeover

President Donald Trump has had a busy first week. The flurry of activity from the US Presidential pen mimics the similar President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ( PRRD) whirlwind post election activity. If the PRRD bête noire is illegal drugs and his first acts targeted the same, the Executive Orders (EOs) of President Trump bear out that, for the Donald, immigration is it.

Superiority complex. Of all the volte-faceTrump issuances: the Obamacare rollback, barring funding for pro-abortion NGOs, withdrawing from the Trans Pacific Partnership, his impending Supreme Court appointment, a regulatory freeze pending review of issuances from environment related agencies, it is the EOs delivering on his promises on the Mexican Border Wall and to cut funding to sanctuary cities (those that are “soft” on undocumented immigrants) that have created the most noise. On Wednesday, he is to announce follow up EOs imposing a ban on refugees and the suspension of visas for a number of Middle Eastern and African countries.

Almost a million undocumented Filipinos in the US are beginning to feel the heat of this tough immigration stance. But, sad to say, our government, rather than explore negotiations and bargaining for possible benefits for these dollar remitting fellow Filipino citizens, has chosen to defer to Trump’s decisions citing the policy of non-interference.

Not exactly. The similarities shared by the misogynist pair have been chronicled and discussed ad nauseam, the latest being Trump’s avowal that torture works. What is striking is the dissimilarity. A glaring one is in their initial job approval ratings.

In the case of PRRD, the very first SWS satisfaction survey administered in July 2016 produced results of 76% satisfied, 11% dissatisfied. The bragging right for highest ever belongs to President Fidel V. Ramos, with PRRD second. Trump’s initial job disapproval rating is 45%. This is the lowest in American history from the time GALLUP introduced its post election approval survey in the early 50s. His counterpart historical lowest in the Philippines was President Gloria MacapagalArroyo in 2004.

Both PRRD and Trump are plurality Presidents (in Trump’s case this understanding is stretched). But the conventional nation “coming together” for the electoral winner was evident for PRRD. For Trump, not only did this not happen but it is clear that even those who supported him have slowly deserted him.

You and me against the world. The ascension of Trump bodes meaningful changes in America’s global relationships. For one, with his propensity for random, reactive knee jerk actions (returning to similarities, think of PRRD lashing out and saying P**t**na. Trump has a similar thin skin on criticism), his ability to wield power makes his equivalent of saying P**t**na more dangerous. The consequence to the US and to the world may be more severe: blowing up alliances like NATO, starting wars with control of a nuclear arsenal, changing major trade or immigration policies.

Of course, though the US Presidency oversees so much power, it is individually a weak role in contrast to the stronger Philippine President. The balancing factor is the Cabinet and the Republican Congress. He is appointing billionaires and ex generals so far to his Cabinet. We have to wait and see how they do. Just like in PRRD’s case - with all his personal color - the day to day governing and balance comes from his appointees. The latest story, however, is his expressed impatience with the confirmation process. “They’re playing little political games” was Trump’s exasperated comment.

Fast forward 2021. The US has flip flopped presidents the last four times, electing opposites: Bush to Clinton to Bush to Obama to Trump, on eight-year cycles. Trump enters with a lot of doubt that he will get more than 4. This early, doomsday scenario peddlers are talking of even less than four.

Strong man politics has flouris hed where democratic institutions and ideals have faltered. The world is watching as Donald Trump stamps what is essentially strong man politics in the most advanced democracy in the world.

Homing in for the kill. As the nation prepares for the opening of the Death Penalty debates in Congress next week, we are gifted by European ally France with the wisdom of their own experience on capital punishment. As the nation that introduced the guillotine to the world, French advice will always be enlightening. Speaking of non-interference, we applaud the proactive efforts of French ambassador to the Philippines Thierry Mathou to dialogue with the legislators. His main argument is the inefficiency of the capital punishment as a deterrent factor.

Any debate on the re-imposition of capital punishment would be incomplete if it neglects to consider the experiences of other nations. The trend in western democracies around the world, with the exception of one United States of America, has been toward abolition of capital punishment. Even those that still retain it in their statute books have refrained from imposing it. Countries that continue to use it are usually the ones with authoritarian set ups – hence, you see a lot of it in China, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Even Israel, with all the grief and provocation it has had to endure to exist in the Middle East, has not executed anyone since Adolf Eichmann in 1962.

The other big debate is on the method of execution. With PRRD making no secret of his bloodlust for retribution, it seems that the lethal injection mode (which was seen as least offensive to sensibilities) may be off the table. What grisly method will be chosen is part of the debate to be participated in by our dear legislators.

A continuing love affair. The Philippines, for the 3rd time, plays host to the Miss Universe Pageant. I was once told that this contest was designed to serve as the great equalizer for 3rd world nations – a consuelo

de bobo, as it were, where Davids could conquer their Goliaths. For me, that is just another conspiracy theory mouthed by 1st worlders hard pressed to provide an explanation whenever they lose. The US though has had the most number of winners at 8. Good luck to all the candidates and good call, Mr. President, on not declaring a holiday on Monday.