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| Korea | |
| S. Korean President Rejects Resignations | |
| 2003-10-11 | |
| President Roh Moo-hyun on Saturday rejected an offer from his Cabinet and presidential aides to resign amid a crisis over his leadership, but left open the possibility that he could quit if he determines that he no longer has the public’s trust. The turmoil at the highest levels of the South Korean government follows months of increasingly virulent criticism of Roh, whose blunt style and perceived inconsistency on major policy issues have alienated many South Koreans. Corruption scandals involving presidential aides have also drained his approval ratings. Told you not to copy-cat Gray Davis. It was not immediately clear how what Roh described as ``chaos’’ in state affairs might affect international efforts to stop North Korea’s suspected development of nuclear weapons. South Korea, a close U.S. ally, is eager to promote dialogue as a means of resolving the issue. Roh’s rejection of the resignation offers from the Cabinet eased chaos in the short term, but the months ahead are likely to be a difficult time for his presidency. Roh said he was willing to face a national referendum on his performance that could lead to his resignation. Recall! Recall! Recall! ``If a president is sacrificed in the middle of his term and if that serves to straighten out South Korean politics, I think that is a bigger stride forward for the development of South Korean politics than the case in which the president simply completes his five-year term,’’ Roh said at a news conference. Roh, a former human rights lawyer who took office in February, said it was unclear whether the constitution allowed for a referendum to assess the public’s confidence. But he suggested that the law could be changed to enable such a vote to take place. This sounds like an organized effort at a pity party. The leadership chaos erupted Friday when Roh said he would ask South Koreans whether they still have trust in him. He said he wanted a ``pardon’’ from the people to restore moral strength in his 8-month-old government, which is besieged by a hostile National Assembly and unfriendly news media. Roh had said he was unsure about a referendum because it could hurt national security amid international efforts to stop North Korea’s nuclear development. That alone is reason enough to can him -- leaders are supposed to know this stuff, Roh. He said he wants to figure out how to assess public opinion by the time the country elects a new parliament next April. Why don’t you just quit? Early Saturday, Prime Minister Goh Kun and the Cabinet, as well as aides at the presidential Blue House, apologized to the public and offered to resign. Presidential press secretary Lee Byung-wan told reporters that Roh’s aides felt ``unlimited responsibility for making the situation reach this point.’’ After Roh’s rejection of the resignation offer, Lee Hwan-sang, spokesman for Prime Minister Goh Kun, said: ``If the appointer has rejected the resignation, we will have to return to our jobs.’’ "Put the pencils back, boys!" Presidential aides were also expected to return to work, the presidential Blue House said. ``I think it is morally right and courteous of them to tender their resignations, but this could reflect that it’s their responsibility, which is definitely different from the truth,’’ Roh said. ``They did not do perfectly well, but the responsibility is not upon them. So I immediately reject their resignations,’’ Roh said. ``If we ask for the public’s opinion in a calm and cool manner, we don’t have to necessarily call it confusion. I don’t think the confusion of asking the public’s opinion would be greater than the confusion we’ve had in the past months. I cannot accept criticism that degrades my decision.’’
The aide gets 6 figures, the opposition gets 7. Hmmm. Several presidential aides have been embroiled in allegations that they collected shady money from businessmen. Sound like Haldeman and Ehrlichman. The National Assembly has embarrassed Roh by casting a no-confidence vote on Roh’s home minister and rejecting his nominee for another key government post. Labor unions staged strikes. Major newspapers attacked the way he handled state affairs. Roh fought back with barbs and libel lawsuits. The political opposition has also accused Roh of being too lenient on communist North Korea, and of condoning anti-American sentiment in South Korea. Finally they get to the real reason why Roh might ought to go. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #4 soft plump PC-educated-therefore-reality-challenged SKor Pollyanna Yuppies Signh Ho! Agnew Lives! :) |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-10-11 11:23:24 AM |
| #3 This guy is blocking investigation of Kim Dae Jung for bribing the Norks with hundreds of millions of won. Koreans are going to have to face soem pretty hard facts about the dealings of the people in charge. |
| Posted by: Tokyo Taro 2003-10-11 4:38:29 AM |
| #2 g wiz - right on target. This guy was "drafted" via an Internet campaign solely for his anti-US blathering. They wanted a single-issue puppet - they got one. A one-trick pony... and a stupid trick it is, too. It's rather obvious that the soft plump PC-educated-therefore-reality-challenged SKor Pollyanna Yuppies haven't Clue One what awaits them, should they get their wish. If it weren't for the fact that Dear Leader deserves a horrific and painful death, instead of being handed such a plum, I'd advocate pulling the plug just as an object lesson for the similarly foolish tools around the planet, including our own crop of self-hating asshats. |
| Posted by: .com 2003-10-11 3:58:00 AM |
| #1 The turmoil at the highest levels of the South Korean government follows months of increasingly virulent criticism of Roh, whose blunt style and perceived inconsistency on major policy issues have alienated many South Koreans. This is what happens when people seek to elect the most anti-American guy they can find - usually they get stuck with a real loser. That seems to be the pattern anyway. Maybe from now on people will begin to dig a little deeper when evaluating potential leaders, but you know what, I doubt it. |
| Posted by: g wiz 2003-10-11 1:27:29 AM |