On being different in different ways

No two persons are alike, true. No two countries do things the same way, true. Thank God, or whoever is responsible for the actions of homo sapiens. Yet the case of Mr. Julio Cobos takes this notion of being different to a very special scenario. Let's forget about Argentine politics for a minute--true a very difficult task. Imagine the vice president of a soccer club contradicting everything the president of the institution does. Imagine the vice president of a company doing everything possible to oppose the president's policies. Imagine the vice president of the United States voting against the president in crucial Congressional votes.

And then imagine the Argentine vice president not only opposing the president's key policies, but actively backing up his own party's opposition to the government...even announcing his intention to become the country's president. It is a bit weird, isn't it? Independently of what you think of the government or of the opposition in Argentina. If he is so opposed to the government's policies, why doesn't he pack his bags? By the way, the term "opposition" also is a very weird semantic construction. As if it were all one. For example, some of what passes for "opposition" would like to welcome back the International Monetary Fund. Others question the legality of a good part of the weighty foreign debt. Some shout against the use of the country's foreign reserves to pay the debt, but say the debt must be paid. With what money? Belt tightening, perhaps? And then there sits Mr. Cobos snug in his office, counting his chances, waiting his turn. What might he do if he were to be voted into the presidency, if his vice president were to contradict his policies?