Mega who?

Give credit where it's due. That is why we joined the chorus of commentary and editorials lauding Megawati Soekarnoputri's presidential contributions, as a preface to the nation's democratic opus.

There were significant shortcomings in her three-year presidency, but at the very least -- we surmised at the time -- she brought us political stability, and an era of free elections. The expected graciousness in accepting her crushing defeat would only cement her place in Indonesia's history.

Or so we thought.

Her actions and remarks, so far, during this historic transition period, have left us dumbfounded. Ignorant and spiteful would be one description of her misguided recalcitrance.

The men of blind faith, who continue to support her, are correct in arguing that the President has done nothing to impede the administrative handover process to the president-elect. But, sometimes it is what one refuses to do, rather than what one does, that is the most telling.

She has called on the nation to accept the election result, but her lack of dignity in formally congratulating her opponent, at the earliest possible convenience, is regrettable.

We also abhor her dismissal of a sit-down with the president- elect. Rather than forging a cordial briefing between two top executives she has debated semantics, saying that "reconciliation" with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is unnecessary, since that word applies only to "warring parties who need to sit down and find solutions". This may be evidence that myopia can be an affliction of the mind, as well as sight.

Furthermore, instead of maintaining a steady ship in the final weeks of her administration, she has chosen to ignite controversy by engaging in key policy decisions that were not of immediate necessity. The decision to enact the resignation of TNI Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and the closing of the Aceh ASEAN Fertilizer factory are just some of the vulgar judgments that must be called into question.

Megawati is well within her constitutional privy; however, reason and common sense should have told her of the malodorous nature of making such a decision. Consequently, her lack of propriety and seeming pettiness forces us to review our preliminary assessment of her place in history.

Many have cited her presidency as bringing political stability. But the reasons can be attributed more to legislators' fatigue and desire for poise after the cacophony of the Abdurrahman Wahid presidency.

Her government has claimed credit as the brainchild of groundbreaking constitutional amendments, nevertheless she acted more as the child rather than the brains of the process.

She has also been lauded for bringing forth an era of democratic elections, but that would be to confuse the miracle of birth and creation with the role of an obstetrician. The era of change and reform occurred in spite of her, rather than because of her.

Aside from her almost complete failure to become a bulwark against corruption, there are just too many rumors of impropriety relating to her immediate and family circle to ignore.

The government she presides over has also been characterized by lethargy rather than efficiency, giving credence to the maxim that in a hierarchy everyone tends to rise to his or her level of ineptitude.

In terms of leadership, the President has often conveniently avoided such roles, either through ignorance or strategic incompetence.

We could go on and on with our indignation. In the end an honest appraisal can only confirm the reasons why nearly two out of every three voters voted against her. Her rule can be summed up by Milton's famous line: "Passion and apathy, glory and shame. Vain wisdom all".

Now that the hope of a graceful and dignified transfer of power -- an important political lesson -- is all but eluded, we begin to believe that, increasingly in our society, those who have been intoxicated by power, and derived some kind of emolument from it, do not willingly give it up.

One can still lose without being a loser. Unfortunately the President is acting like the latter. Given her recent fits, we are thankful that her reign will end sooner rather than later.

Recently, the President lamented the lack of self-respect and loyalty of allies as they began leaving her in moments of electoral defeat. Correspondingly, we would like to remind her, that the fruit of vanity is shame.