blackshama's commentary on Philippine issues

In the wake of the Watergate scandals, a 1970s issue of the American satirical Mad Magazine had a spoof of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" lampooning American senators, congressmen and the would have been impeached President Richard Nixon but Nixon resigned soon after thus sending the unelected Gerald Ford to the White House.  The"usual Gang of idiots" did not change an iota of the comic opera script but had hilarious cartoons imagining what possible punishment would fit the crime! My object all sublime I shall achieve in time — To let the punishment fit the crime — The punishment fit the crime; And make each prisoner pent Unwillingly represent A source of innocent merriment! Of innocent merriment! One of the punishments meted was subjecting the Watergate crew to an endless loop of the tapes. Now of course no sane American reader would SERIOUSLY consider subjecting Dick Nixon to an endless loop of the Watergate tapes and the famous "I...

Sir Thomas More, The Man for all Seasons The Philippines House of Representatives has the necessary numbers to begin impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. In an ironic but wry comment, for the first time a respected constitutional lawyer, the Reverend Father Joaquin Bernas SJ has quoted Sir Thomas More's timeless "the devil and the rule of law" soundbite. But Fr Bernas does not name More as the source of the quote and that is the real downer!  Thomas More isn't your any ordinary lawyer. He is a Catholic saint and martyr. He was once Chancellor of England, which equivalent in our congressional system as the Chief Justice and President of the Senate combined. Ferdinand Topacio Esq will pale by comparison since More won't trade his eggs for mere "lawyer's drivel"! BTW, his wife Lady Alice Middleton was tempted many times to do so! In my commentaries on Philippine politics and the rule of law, I have always allu...