A tale of two blessed presidents

Iqbal Widastomo, Research Associate School of Politics London School of Economics, London

Recently there was yet another photo-call with George W. Bush. From European leaders like Blair and Chirac to Asian leaders such as Jiang Zemin and Pervaz Musharraf there seems to have been something of a conveyor-belt of national leaders passing by and smiling with Bush. But in this particular photo session it was our beloved President Megawati Soekarnoputri that was to be seen demurely smiling and shaking hands with the president from Texas.

This brought to mind just how similar these two presidents are and how much of a mixed blessing their presence within the world community may be. Both presidents seem questionable on their communication abilities. Bush it seems talks too much, really has little to say and often seems to make mistakes when he does talk. Megawati, meantime, seems to talk too little, really does not seem to have much to say and so seems to make mistakes by what see does not say.

Both of these presidents follow in the footsteps of their fathers who also held their respective presidential offices. Also, regrettably, many critics agree that both of them would simply have had no chance whatsoever of becoming president if it were not for their respective family names. One has prospered politically from a father's legend, the other has prospered politically from a father's financial and political influence.

Both too had very limited credentials to recommend them for the position of president. Megawati prior to achieving the presidency had achieved little in terms of political leadership and the same is undoubtedly true of Bush. Megawati, it is fair to say, was swept to power on a wave of near fanatical nostalgia based on the myth of her father. Bush, meantime, squeezed in the backdoor of power largely with favors and financial support called in by his father's connections.

But now both presidents have had some time to establish their presidencies and carve out a niche in their respective nation's histories. However, as time gathers up the history of these presidencies more and more people are looking ruefully at these presidents. Bush is in danger of looking like a zealot in pursuit of a crusade against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, whilst Megawati seems to be suffering from a paralysis that is increasingly an embarrassment.

In terms of their communications to the world community we might conclude that in the case of George W. Bush less would be hugely beneficial and for Megawati more would be similarly beneficial. In the dreadful aftermath of the Bali bombing the international news magazine Newsweek ran a report on Megawati's actions since the bombs, under the title "Dazed and confused".

To certain parties that article could be described as bordering on insulting with suggestions that Megawati is rather more keen to tend to her garden at her Jakarta residence than attend to affairs of state.

Unquestionably the message from news reporting of this kind is that the Indonesian president is failing in her public relations and is being perceived as inactive and ineffective.

Bush, however, might be described as over-active and over- effective in a rather negative way. It seems as though he has been highly effective in drumming up support in the United States for war against Iraq; even if most of the rest of the world seems to be rejecting this. Bush is clearly very active but this can be an embarrassment too. George Bush, the senior, had a vice- president (Dan Quayle) that seemed skilled in making public mistakes. Bush, the junior, however, does not seem to need a vice-president for this kind of hiccup, as reflected in the numerous gaffs beginning to be called "Bushisms".

A while ago he attempted to recall a wise saying. But all he managed to say was "fool me once -- shame on you ... (long pause) a fool me can't get fooled again." What he was trying to say was "fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

Regrettably there does seem to be quite a considerable degree of shame involved in the Bush presidency. And there is real concern that his handling of complex problems is poor, which in turn complicates the problems.

At a recent anti-war rally in Washington D.C., which was pleasing to see if only it represented some healthy opposition to American war-mongering, protesters carried placards that read "Drop Bush not bombs" but the term of the president still has some time to run. Likewise Megawati's presidency still has time to change and achieve something.

Neither president seems likely to be dropped before they seek reelection and so it is vital that both presidencies develop and grow towards greater achievements. In the case of the American president evidently advisors are needed to inform and slow down a dangerously zealous administration.

In our case advisors are needed to inform and stimulate an administration that appears lethargic and ineffectual. It is to be hoped that both nations and the world will not be left to rue the day that these second generation figures were entrusted with high office.