Newsletter's virtual endorsement of Phillips

[Don1]

The PNP awakens from its slumber

Wednesday, July 16, 2008


Dr Peter David Phillips might well have just saved the People's National Party (PNP), by his bold decision to seek the leadership of the Opposition party.
We are inclined to believe the political scientists who say that the PNP is the natural party of Jamaicans. Unless conditions in the country are abysmal - as in 1980 - the electorate wants to retain the PNP. The short answer to the 'why' might be its late leader, Mr Michael Manley, and his father before him, Mr N W Manley.
The razor-thin margin of defeat in last year's general election could be interpreted as a further sign of the reluctance of the electorate to ditch the PNP. We believe that, without taking anything away from Mr Bruce Golding and the excellent campaign he ran, had the PNP leader, Mrs Portia Simpson Miller, been a more effective, astute and visionary leader, the party might have been handed an unprecedented fifth consecutive term in governance.
But insightful people will agree that the PNP has been going through a sort of metamorphosis in reverse, in which it is going from a mature party to one where petty politics and 'tracing' substitute for reason and vision. In this regard, it has gotten worse since its defeat at the polls on September 3, 2007.
In fact, if the truth be told, the slide developed definitive speed once Mr P J Patterson indicated he was stepping down as party leader, triggering a nasty fight to succeed him. In that race, Dr Peter Phillips, one of the combatants, narrowly lost to Mrs Simpson Miller.
But despite his loss, Dr Phillips, a PNP vice-president since 1999, has retained the veneer as the true leader of the party. One got the impression that Mrs Simpson Miller was occupying for a time but was never the intended leader.
Despite breaking historic ground as the first woman prime minister of Jamaica and at one stage enjoying the highest personality rating in the history of local polling, she could not convert that into political capital and a victory for her party.
Again, the short answer to the 'why' is the fact that she has been so underprepared for leadership, even after her many years in politics and her level of popularity.
The long and the short of it is that, more than anything else, a political party is about leadership. A party comprises a group of mostly like-minded persons who agree to support a common vision of leadership which they offer to an electorate. This is why a country has a vested interest in political parties being strong and ready to take power.
We know by experience that very often, it is not the most popular person who is the best leader. How frequently have we seen an excellent worker promoted to management, only to end up a dismal failure.
Both Dr Phillips and Mrs Simpson Miller were close to Michael Manley but there is little evidence that she spent the time learning to be a leader. Those with the outmoded view that Dr Phillips was one of the so-called 'Drumblair Group' fail to see this.
Since entering party politics in 1989, Dr Phillips has occupied more positions in the party than any other officer currently serving. It is that, we believe, which has made the difference between his preparation for leadership and that of Mrs Simpson Miller.
His decision to contest the leadership of the party shows that the PNP has now awaken from its slumber. It's about time.

[Jawge]

Please, Doctor Phllips and Doctor
Henry Wilson will mark the end of the PNP.
Deep down Phillips knows he is no leader (more suited to run a University) but his ego and self interest will come first.

Where can you find the opponent picking weapons for you to fight with; this alone tells you something is wrong. Why did the PNP take so long to respond to JLP ad blitz prior to the election? The truth is being slowly revealed.

[Don1]

Please, Doctor Phllips and Doctor
Henry Wilson will mark the end of the PNP.
Deep down Phillips knows he is no leader (more suited to run a University) but his ego and self interest will come first.

Where can you find the opponent picking weapons for you to fight with; this alone tells you something is wrong. Why did the PNP take so long to respond to JLP ad blitz prior to the election? The truth is being slowly revealed.

Why are you so hysterical with this doomsday scenario? Leadership challenges are a part of democratic tradition.

The PNP needs renewal and a definitive leadership to set a definitive course.... since this issue is currently unresolved.

So what if it causes them to lose a snap election? It can't be all about winning every election.... or it shouldn't be all about that in my opinion.

The JLP seems a viable (if unremarkable) alternative at the current time... so why the fuss?

Relax and let the chips fall where they may... allow the PNP to renew itself however it shakes out... that's a historical imperative.
Winning the next election is not.

[Mosiah]

Deep down Phillips knows he is no leader (more suited to run a University) but his ego and self interest will come first.

At least him good fi run someting. What really is Portia's calling, because it sure as hell ain't party president. She needs to step. Now!

[Jawge]

Not hysterical, just calling things
as they are. Why is it that leadership is now in question? Don't you think a loss in the past general election has something to do with it? Since the 1920 we have tried with little or no success with these highly educated set. We have nothing to show; we are still mired in poverty and third rate education.

The less astute/ casual observer may rant and say look! Nanny P has done nothing for her constituency, they are mired in poverty. The analytic mind on the other hand will feel insulted as they know that Nanny P's constiuency was deliberately left out for political gains in the inner circle (to prove this argument, she did get help for her people once she became PM).

Nanny P was called a fool in the open by Dr.henry Wilson because Nanny P had the vision to see that the people were tired of the party politics and
wanted to see a united front on things critical to the nation. She stood alone brought the PNP in good standing (singlehandedly) to run a close election. prior to the fire truck saga, the PNP was a sitting duck.

The people from Ja that the world regard as great (Garvey and Marley) has a common denominator.

Please note that Garvey was called a fool and buffoon by the black intellectual class of his time; some eighty years later,Garvey is now seen as a visionary and intellectual giant, not to mention leader.

[Jawge]

You obviously have very little
to contribute to the above argument (hence the hurling of insults).
Can you clearly describe what it takes to be a political leader? Thanks.

[Gamma]

of course the loss has something to do with it DUH ....btw going to a dinner her on sattiday night....mi tek up mi hard earned money.......:sigh:

[Gamma]

she's here this weekend....

[Jawge]

Tell her mi say howdy

[Don1]

Not hysterical, just calling things
as they are. Why is it that leadership is now in question? Don't you think a loss in the past general election has something to do with it? Since the 1920 we have tried with little or no success with these highly educated set. We have nothing to show; we are still mired in poverty and third rate education.

The less astute/ casual observer may rant and say look! Nanny P has done nothing for her constituency, they are mired in poverty. The analytic mind on the other hand will feel insulted as they know that Nanny P's constiuency was deliberately left out for political gains in the inner circle (to prove this argument, she did get help for her people once she became PM).

Nanny P was called a fool in the open by Dr.henry Wilson because Nanny P had the vision to see that the people were tired of the party politics and
wanted to see a united front on things critical to the nation. She stood alone brought the PNP in good standing (singlehandedly) to run a close election. prior to the fire truck saga, the PNP was a sitting duck.

The people from Ja that the world regard as great (Garvey and Marley) has a common denominator.

Please note that Garvey was called a fool and buffoon by the black intellectual class of his time; some eighty years later,Garvey is now seen as a visionary and intellectual giant, not to mention leader.

I'm aware of the class prejudice against her.... within the PNP and even moreso by the intellectually diseased monied elites of Jamaica... some of their mouthpieces are on display here.
However despicable that may be.... the country can't be held to ransom over that issue... there are larger issues at play... such as the current extreme crisis the country is in.

Whatever the internal reasons within the PNP which result in a leadership challenge... the fact is that the leadership issue is unresolved and therefore a resolution must be achieved... if that party is to be a viable Opposition and a viable future governing power.

Not emotion... just facts.