DJB: "GMA would have been the Joan of Arc or our generation."

From Dean Jorge Bocobo:

"Suppose Erap had been acquitted? Knowing him, he would then have straightened out (a little!) and actually become a half-way decent President (ok ok one tenth decent). He certainly wouldn’t have carried on as he did before he was impeached! But the 2001 elections would’ve become a referendum on him. Maybe a Hanging Senate would’ve replaced the Craven Eleven. Then he could’ve been impeached again. Given the rabid nature of the anti-Erap opposition that could certainly have happened. By 2004, GMA would’ve blossomed into a kind of Joan d’Arc of our generation and would’ve swept triumphantly into Malacanang with a posse (instead of sneaking in on Garci’s donkey)."

if there was no edsa dos, and erap survived impeachment the first time, there was a good chance he won't survive it again after the 2001 midterms. If he managed to survive till 2004, the last remaining years of his presidency would look like george w. bush's.

as for GMA being our "joan of arc" savior... heh. she's the least liked among the opposition candidates back in 2001. she was late to join the bandwagon.

by 2004, there'd be plenty of anti-erap candidates who probably would be more viable, charismatic and credible prez candidates than GMA. maraming sasali, open race ang 2004 (katulad ng 2008 US Presidential elections). If she ran with other anti-erap candidates, she'd be the "JDV of the 2004 elections", looked at with suspicion edsa dos faithfuls.