Open argument over the ISA, Tony Tan and Tan Jee Say goes head to head

I just felt so uncomfortable watching this, courtesy of TOC. Will there be lawsuits after this? Is fear coming back? Good grief, why does it have to pan out this way? But in today's environment, I hope the government is not crazy enough to do that.

If I remember correctly, the internal security act is a hand down from the British. Its original purpose was to fight the communists. Then we needed it against secret society chiefs as the judicial route would not work since witnesses would be too cowered to come forward at prosecution.

Tony Tan is right to say that the ISA is a blunt instrument. Question is can we trust a government to wield it responsibly. All the more the president need to be truly independent as a check against the abuse of this blunt and powerful act.

For now, does it mean a sure way to prevent a lawsuit taken out against Tan Jee Say is for him to be elected President? Jee Say, you were too impulsive. Prudence is the better part of valor. If President, would you be able to carry out your duties with dignity and wisdom? Be shrewd, have confidence. Give your opponent rope to hang himself, don't respond to him with like.

I hate all these. Sure, we have to exorcise our ghosts sometime. Every society have skeletons in the cupboard. The Chinese hasn't come to terms with theirs either. But please not now.

As for Tony Tan, he failed to display wisdom in answering the questions. You can't answer questions like you used to. People will not be deferential. You espouse the government line, where is your independence? OK, if you truly bought the government point of view, explain that you somehow independently come to the same conclusion but the road you take must be different. That would be credible. Why am I wasting time over him? He sucks. Period. Just the inexplicable 12 year deferment of his son's from NS is already good enough for me not to support him. If Tony becomes President, a lot of the elites' sons will eventually somehow be able to exceptionally defer NS when they misread that the people would tolerate this. That's cancer.

My score on them:
TJS (-1) and may be still redeemable. Why respond to Tony? Let him discredit himself. I just have to repeat this.
TT (-2) and certainly unsuitable to be President. Gosh! Why can't you have more self control and not provoke TJS? Even if you try your utter best and believe you are independent you are not. You have allowed the PAP to genetically modify you.

All presidential candidates ought to have more confidence in the voters. Stop insulting our intelligence. Let the "wisdom of the crowd" work even if the process appear scary and unpredictable. Life is not safe. When you try to make it too safe, it becomes fatally dangerous. Get it?