‘A basket of deplorables’ in PH

I recently saw a column by the longtime New York Times writer Nicholas Kristof headlined “Trump embarrasses himself and whole country,” and I immediately thought that headline could be apply as well to President Duterte and the Philippines.  Kristoff’s article lists US president-elect Donald Trump’s appointees to key posts in his Cabinet, pointing out they’re all as misguided, abrasive, racist and misogynist as the new American president.

Reading about President Duterte’s encounter with Putin on the sidelines of the Apec meeting in Peru, looking every bit like a snut-nosed boy making sumbong to the Russian strongman about someone he considers his enemy, how can anyone not feel embarrassed with our head of state?  He, of course, feels no such thing. And how can one not feel bad that the country he represents will go on being the world’s laughing stock?

Is it ignorance, naivete or self-promoting arrogance, or all of those that make Mr. Duterte think he can be part of the big boys’ club?  As with China, he will be given some of goodies while being patted on the head for his obsequiousness. It’s pure slapstick comedy.

Our own President also chose his pals for his inner circle, and they have not disappointed by being the predictable brown-nosers who rush to spin his every word and defend his twisted views. In that way they continue to embarrass themselves as well—not to mention the entire country.

To borrow Hillary Clinton’s words, every single one of them is “a basket of deplorables!”

ISABEL ESCODA