Wati weighs in on the debate . . .

. . . and I sense a bit of ennui in her response.

I think Jokowi, as in previous debates, gave the more specific answers, but at times he implied that pretty complex problems could be resolved quickly—which is wishful thinking.

Prabowo as usual was inconsistent with his replies. He showed again that he will use whatever it takes to win, regardless of principles.  This debate showed his real character.

Honestly, in the beginning I thought he would change and become a decisive leader. But after analyzing his statements on different issues I really don't trust him. [Phew!  I was wondering when (or if) she would say that. . . ]

How come he criticized and blamed "leakages" while at the same time he took Iocals along during his campaign? Plus he chose Hatta as his running mate? [Wati is referring to a statement made by Prabowo that all the information regarding his military dismissal and allegations of human rights violations were “press leakages” that were just designed to hurt him.  Soon after, there appeared in the local and international media a poster of Prabowo standing in front of a microphone shaking a sanitary pad at the audience, saying “I used this to clean up leakages.”  Charming. And his running mate, no stranger to controversy, is a known blabbermouth.]

How come he said SBY  [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, current president] has successfully practiced the right type of foreign policy diplomacy when his comments on the South China Sea we so dubious? In this regards please read JP today re Marty’s remarks.

[Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said he agreed with Jokowi’s position that Indonesia was not a claimant to the natural resource-rich South China Sea territory and therefore needed to be cautious in positioning itself amid the worsening regional conflict.  Marty also “tried diplomatically to articulate his understanding of the statement of . . . Prabowo Subianto, that Indonesia was a part of the overlapping sovereignty claims.”]

How come all of a sudden he praised his former father in law [Suharto] when in the past he blamed and made statement that he has nothing in common with that family except that he was once married to one of them.

He followed the adage "the end justify the means." You know, I admired President Soeharto very much and have empathy and sympathy for his tragic life.  [meaning that he led well at first but then faltered; democracy went out the window and corruption ruled the day.  He ended up ostracized and isolated from everyone—which was sort of what he did to Sukarno before him.]  And at times like this I really feel so sad because he is being used again as political commodity by his family.

Plus ca change, my friends . . . .