Which Tan for President?

Received two smses from friends that all four Tans have gotten their COEs. Except for Tan Jee Say, I had spent sometime thinking about each candidate. No doubt will update this blog as my thinking about each candidate progress.

Naturally all of them claim to be independent and strenuously try to prove that. I hope each candidate will explain how he would be a wise man. I would like a President that maintains an active blog and/or participate in social media. We want to know what he is up to. Working quietly behind the scene like SR Nathan is just not good enough.

Tony Tan
He still hasn't proved to many of us that his son did not get preferential treatment to defer NS. I doubt he has the right temperament when his habit is to lead and make things happen. A President is not an initiator. He is more like a wise father who provide the occasional knowing advice and allows his kids to take horrible risks but is always there for them. I would prefer a former minister who had to play second fiddle to other leading ministers and so learned the habit of wise restrain. Tony Tan never had that sort of experience. Ong Teng Cheong, yes, because NTUC mostly have to respond to the economic imperatives and its Sec Gen had to learn restrain.

Tan Kin Lian
He is a man of action, the sort of temperament that is ill suited to be President. Even Ben Sheares found the job difficult to bear, asked and received the government support to teach younger doctors at the hospital as President. Also remember how lonely Devan Nair was and that was when he succumbed to the bottle.

Tan Cheng Bock
This guy is an effective communicator and good at feeling the pulse of the people. Nobody had run the feedback channel he created better than him. Unfortunately for me, I am over fed on his messages on my facebook wall.

As a doctor for many years, he had many opportunities to listen and empathize with his patients and constituents. This is a huge plus.

Tan Jee Say
Seems to me temperamentally suitable. I just hope he doesn't use the office to try his luck with his $60 billion economic plan and just concentrate in performing his duties well. I need to learn more about this guy.