(Editor's note: In RP politicians view tax money as plain fondo (fund) which is neither public nor private as noted by the author.)

Tests and standards of honesty may be proclaimed as lofty on one side and dark or murky on the other. This forced Lincoln to say, “ten angels swearing I was right won’t make any difference.”

Honest Abe

Why did Lincoln drag the angels to the realm of politics? First he was called Honest Abe, but at the White House throwing stones at opponents was in practice, and still is up to January 23, 2010.

As for the rest of the back story we refer readers to Carl Sandburg (1878 – 1967), poet, novelist, historian, folklorist and journalist. He wrote about Lincoln in: The Prairie Years (1926) and The War Years (1939, Pulitzer Prize).

Great presidents

US historians have selected 10 greatest presidents in this order: 1) Lincoln 2) Franklin D. Roosevelt 3) Washington and seven other near greats. Years ago the order was: Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt. The order may be reviewed/revised again anytime.

Curse

One curse in politics runs like this, there are no permanent allies or friends. Convenience or opportunity is politics’ permanent and main structure, but an army of angels on one’s side won’t guarantee the difference, big or small as Lincoln said it.

Safety first

Most critics in Europe believed Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) played it safe when he wrote great prose and verses about the past only, because the charge of treason was common in the days of Henry VIII, Mary I and Elizabeth I (father and daughters all). So Shakespeare devoted great lines  to the remote past, including Julius Caesar.

12 or 11 angels

In past and present politics playing it safe (even without honesty or shades of scruples) has remained an “admirable” rule. That’s the reason most of us are not so sure whose side is right: 12 angels of a senator for or 11 angels of them against a Senate report telling all that tax money of P6.2 billion was wasted on a road project – supported by politicians in the Senate and House. Worse, that this money from the people was spent allegedly to promote profit or gain of a private enterprise.

Not all the documents and simple proof could convince the opponents of the report that a grain of politics was not thrown in to make one party appear responsible or liable for open corruption.

100 angels

In the US the Senate of 100 “angels” has the power to give advice and consent in all appointments of high officials – federal judges and top officers in the Executive Department – the report of the majority can make or unmake presidential candidates.

Promising but…

Press reports about hanky-panky by senators aspiring for the White House job are given due weight. Years ago a US senator was reported in the company of girls wearing swimsuits of band-aid. He was a young, promising Democrat with the looks of John F. Kennedy.

‘Proof of life’

He was a favorite in the Democratic primaries and threatened any newspaper, TV and radio journalist who would as much as hint at his misdemeanor.

Not content with suits he also challenged reporters and editors to show “proof of life.”

One national daily in Florida took up the challenge: It published a picture of a scantily dressed girl frolicking on the lap of US Senator Gary Hart. The “president-to-be” was on the yacht appropriately named “Monkey Business.”

Defeat

Senator Hart withdrew his name from contention and was not reelected US senator in his home state. It was hard to explain his presence at the yacht with a nearly naked “low-flying dove” on his lap – to about 110 M voters representing 538 electoral votes.

Not so in RP

Voters in RP, including flying voters, now number about 50 M plus. About 75 to 80 percent (37.5 M to 40 M) of us may vote on May 10.

Explaining the road project in question is not easy but in a culture where politicians buy votes and fellow politicians the US standard to win the primaries will not apply.

Tax money is treated as plain fondo (fund), neither public nor private. There’s the rub! (Comments are welcome at roming@pefianco.com).