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Who will run the country? By Haaretz Editorial Tags: corruption probe, israel  It's hard to fathom what led Ehud Olmert to keep his hold on power until he is indicted, to send his advisers to scold the police and prosecution and to hint that he might contest the Kadima primary - all this as the evidence against him mounts. It's hard to fathom what Olmert is trying to achieve by postponing his dishonorable exit from public life when it's obvious to everyone else that his public career is over. A line can be drawn between Olmert's response to the Winograd Committee examining the conduct of the Second Lebanon War and his behavior in the criminal cases under investigation. Both two years ago and now, he does not feel he owes the public an explanation. At the same time, he dismisses all criticism as persecution. Kadima's future depends mainly on who will lead the party; Olmert's candidacy could spell its end. "Centrist party" was always a respectable name for a political fiction. Kadima serves mainly as a work arrangement for politicians who did not find their place in existing parties. Perhaps a new lineup could change its image as a party of refugees from the Likud Central Committee. Advertisement Olmert is not engaged with this issue. As far as he's concerned, declaring his challenge for the party leadership is part of his personal battle for survival, an attempt to declare that he is still on the map and that anyone who wants to compete for leadership of the party is undermining him. This morning Olmert will once again be questioned in the Talansky affair. If it appears that the original shock over the testimony about the money in envelopes has passed, it is almost certain that next week's cross-examination will revive the public's disgust at the prime minister's actions. Olmert is still presumed innocent, but the public has a right to a prime minister who is not almost completely consumed with reading folders filled with evidence and consulting with image advisers bent on making people forget what's in them. The Kadima primary will be held in late September. Whether or not Olmert competes, that is too long to wait to replace the prime minister. The Labor Party has decided that if a different chairman is not elected to lead Kadima in September it will push for a new general election. All of that might be convenient for politicians, but it will not satisfy anyone who cares about good government. It would be appropriate for Olmert to take a long vacation starting now, until a decision is made on an indictment. It is logical to assume that someone facing criminal charges, who is being questioned and cross-examined week after week, who will almost certainly be called to a hearing and asked to present a defense, needs a great deal of time to attend to these things without being bothered by affairs of state. Olmert's lawyers yesterday announced that they will be requesting an additional cross-examination of Morris Talansky, beyond the session scheduled for next week and the following week. This request is legitimate because it concerns protecting the suspect's rights, but it demonstrates that Olmert, and not just his attorneys, will be distracted with Talansky all summer. In the meantime, someone needs to run the country. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Smoking kills Tehran slams McCain for saying cigarettes could be used to kill Iranians. Case of deja vu Olmert and his office chief Shula Zaken were accused of similar charges back in 1991.   1.   WHO WILL RUN THE COUNTRY 20:47  |  booker t willis 11/07/08   2.   Okay, okay!!!! You`ve pressured me enough!!! 03:14  |  Che Vive 12/07/08

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