-- PRESIDENT SAYS FAREWELL TO JAN KOBUSZEWSKI: Jan Kobuszewski has passed away. A warm spark has been extinguished. -- POLITICAL SATURDAY IN A NUTSHELL: PMM: In 2014, PO spent PLN 73 billion on healthcare. This year it will be PLN 103 billion, a 40% increase after 4-5 years. Next year, around PLN 107-109 billion, a 50% increase compared to 5-6 years ago. https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/09/28/ -- CLASH OF HYPERSENSITIVE ARTISTS WITH TIME-INFLEXIBLE RIGHT-WING - PIOTR ZAREMBA IN RZ: “This year's film festival in Gdynia became a stage for the clash of hypersensitive artists with the time-inflexible right-wing. The war is senseless, yet one can be moderately optimistic.” -- ZAREMBA ON MYTHS OF UNDERSUPPORTED PATRIOTIC CREATORS AND LAW-AND-JUSTICE IDEOLOGUES LURKING FOR INDEPENDENT CREATORS: “I repeat: this is less about politics than it might seem. Stories about conservative or patriotic creators, previously excluded from filmmaking, are myths. Likewise are stories about Law and Justice ideologues lurking for independent creators wanting to speak the truth. It's about the weight of topics, sometimes about a different approach, unburdened by the routine of emulating old masters. It's also about the readiness to invest money in something that won't immediately yield a surplus, just as, for example, TVP invested in Jan Jakub Kolski's magnificent 'The Release,' which later had trouble entering mainstream cinemas.” https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus/309279995-Gdynia-filmowcy-i-polityka-Kino-niepotrzebnej-grozy.html -- POLAND NEEDED ATTENTION PAID TO THE ORDINARY PERSON - PRESIDENT ANDRZEJ DUDA IN CONVERSATION WITH LIDIA LEMANIAK FOR NIEZALEŻNA.PL: “Of course, I am very happy with such great trust from Poles. I am simply pursuing the policy I promised to pursue, but not alone. I am supported by the United Right government and the parliamentary majority. It seems to me that Poland very much needed attention paid to the ordinary person and the implementation of the Polish Constitution. The principles of a social market economy, that is, an economy where goods are shared fairly. As an example, I can cite taxes that have been effectively recovered from thieves. I'm talking about VAT, from which we were robbed. Thanks to this, the 500 Plus benefit can be paid to families with children. This is precisely the right policy that should have been implemented in Poland long ago. A policy focused on people, which protects and supports the family. This is the policy that President Lech Kaczyński once shaped. We are creatively developing it today.” -- I TREAT EVERY CANDIDATE WITH RESPECT, I MYSELF FELT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A DISRESPECTED CANDIDATE - PAD CONTINUES: “I don't have such a candidate, but I always say that I treat every candidate with respect. I have always respected people, I believe it's important in politics. If anyone reviews my campaigns, they will see that I have always shown respect to my opponents in debates. Whether it was debates for the Polish parliament, the European parliament, or the presidential debate. I felt what it's like to be a disrespected candidate, mocked. It's not worth mocking other candidates, that's all I can say.” https://niezalezna.pl/290124-prezydent-duda-specjalnie-dla-niezaleznapl-z-kim-chcialby-sie-zmierzyc-w-wyborach -- WHERE POLISH AND AMERICAN INTERESTS COINCIDE, WE HAVE VERY GOOD RELATIONS - PAD FURTHER IN CONVERSATION WITH LEMANIAK: “I can confidently say that my relations with President Trump are good. Probably because I have repeatedly emphasized that I perfectly understand his policy and why he acts the way he does. I view my presidential duties the way Donald Trump views his presidential duties. His primary duty is to pursue American interests, both in the state and national sense. That is his duty, those are his voters, that is his homeland. I must fight at all costs for the interests of Poles, the voters in my country, and my state, for whose presidential office I was elected. Where these American and Polish interests coincide, we have very good relations. That is happening right now.” -- PAD ON IMPERIAL RUSSIA: “Please recall President Lech Kaczyński's speech in Tbilisi, in defense of Georgia, when Russian troops invaded it. The President then said: 'We are here because there is aggression, and who knows what will happen next. Today it is Georgia, tomorrow perhaps it will be Ukraine, the day after tomorrow the Baltic states, and later perhaps my country - Poland.' This has partly come true; in 2008 Russia attacked Georgia, and in 2014 it attacked Ukraine. One cannot remain silent if there are no decisive actions by the international community against such aggression, against the violation of international law, against war, there will be further aggressions. Everyone sees today, I think, that Russia's imperial policy has revived.” https://niezalezna.pl/290126-relacje-z-trumpem-wojska-usa-w-polsce-i-imperialna-polityka-rosji-prezydent-dla-niezaleznapl -- AGATA SZCZĘŚNIAK ON WOMEN'S MOBILIZATION SAVING THE OPPOSITION: “Another issue related to gender may be significant in the upcoming elections. If someone hasn't voted until now, and finally decides to do so, it will more often be a man. This is shown by research by the Batorego Foundation based on data from 1997-2011. The mobilization of new voters can work to the advantage of the broadly understood opposition – provided they are women. Women today have more pro-democratic convictions in Poland than men, as shown by many studies, including OKO.press polls.” -- ONLY MEN VOTE FOR THE FAR-RIGHT - SZCZĘŚNIAK CONTINUES: “Women and men voted identically for PiS (41% each), the Left (13% each), and for PSL with Kukiz’15 (5% each). But practically only men voted for Confederation (10% vs 1%), while women supported Civic Coalition much more strongly (33% to 23%) – according to an IPSOS poll for OKO.press completed on August 29, 2019. As a result, in the Sejm, women would have a majority of 238 seats (image below), and PiS would win only 221. Korwin and the nationalists would be absent entirely.” https://oko.press/kobiety-pozwolicie-zeby-faceci-wybrali-wam-parlament-macie-glos-nie-zawahajcie-sie-go-uzyc/ -- A FORMATION WITH A CREDIBILITY PROBLEM PRESENTS A SPOT THAT IS AN ACTING CREATION - JACEK KARNOWSKI: “This campaign event, this spot, is quite a curio. A formation whose primary problem is a lack of credibility produces a film material that is a pure creation, recognizable as a dubious little theater at first glance. And they even forgot to remove a luxury phone from the 'family' table during the filming.” -- THE PO CAMPAIGN FOR WEEKS HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTING ALL THE WEAKNESSES OF THIS PARTY AND NOT ALLEVIATING ANY FLAWS - KARNOWSKI CONTINUES: “Roman Giertych rejoices that this is an important, breakthrough event of this campaign. Possibly, but perhaps not in the way he thinks. This is primarily an exclamation mark placed on the failed campaign of PO, which for weeks has been highlighting all the weaknesses of this party and not alleviating any flaws.” -- WHY IS EVERYONE AFRAID THAT A BETTER LIFE WILL BE TAKEN AWAY BY PO? - KARNOWSKI CONTINUES: “And they can shoot a hundred more spots, but none will 'catch on' if the answers to these two fundamental questions are not given beforehand. Let's repeat: who gave Poles a better life? Why is everyone afraid that it will be taken away by PO?” -- A CAMPAIGN BASED ON FALSEHOOD PERCEPTIBLE FROM A MILE AWAY - KARNOWSKI CONTINUES: “Without this, the entire PO campaign is based on falsehood, perceptible from a mile away. Without an honest confrontation with the achievements of their rule, comparing it with what their successors have achieved, this party will not move forward. As of today, Poles rightly sense that if they return, they will take everything away again, allowing bonzes and mafias to feed again.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/465775-nic-co-dane-nie-bedzie-zabrane-no-dobrze-ale-kto-dal -- THE RESULT OF SCHETYNA'S FATAL, INCOMPETENT, SHAKY, AND BARREN STRATEGY - ŁUKASZ WARZECHA: “However, this did not come out of nowhere – it is the result of PO's fatal, incompetent, shaky, and barren strategy under Schetyna's leadership. From the perspective of four years, the courses of the two most important groupings on the Polish political scene are clearly visible, and how much Platforma lags behind PiS here. What has Kaczyński's party done for four years? Very consistently – though not without stumbles – it has built its image based on several fundamental messages (let's disregard their truthfulness or sense). First – that it cares about those who were previously neglected. This thread, in particular, was emphasized and strengthened literally until the last moment. Second – that it fulfills its promises and practically nothing is impossible for it. Third – that under its rule, the country is flourishing, which is not just empty rhetoric, but this statement can be supported by data. This shows that PiS has learned a painful lesson from 2005–2007, when the economy was developing very well, but PiS could not boast about it then. Fourth – that if someone from its own ranks flagrantly breaks the rules, they will be sacrificed without regret. Fifth – that PiS is the guarantor of stability and normalcy. This last point is a particular achievement, as it is a reversal of the image from earlier years, when PO was considered the foundation of stability, and PiS was the party of disgrace and crackpots. Today it is the opposite. This course has paid off for PiS and is yielding results in polls today, and will likely translate into election results as well.” -- DO ENTREPRENEURS HAVE THEIR PARTY TODAY? - WARZECHA CONTINUES: “Do lawyers today, who are not furious anti-PiS activists, have their party? Do entrepreneurs, who are not charmed by Jachira's message but are irritated and uneasy about the unprecedented fluidity of law under PiS rule, have their party? Well – no. At least, Civic Platform is certainly not it.” -- SCHETYNA LOST WHAT WAS TO BE LOST - WARZECHA'S CONCLUSION: “Platforma is therefore concluding its election campaign in a state of complete visual chaos, far behind PiS, flailing between various themes from different moments of the past term, unable to create a single cohesive and clear message, to sell two or three key ideas, unable to capitalize on opportunities presented by PiS. Schetyna has lost what was to be lost, although he has saved his own seat and will likely save it in party elections. However, unless something bordering on a miracle occurs, he will remain at the head of PO as an ineffective leader, without a vision, a symbol of stagnation, a man essentially defeated. Dragging Platforma down. Meanwhile, his party faces 2020 and the presidential elections. It doesn't look like there's any plan for them in PO. Frankly, it doesn't look like there's a plan for anything.” https://www.tvn24.pl/magazyn-tvn24/platforma-przegrala-co-bylo-do-przegrania-konczy-w-chaosie-daleko-za-pis,236,4060 -- SUSPEND MEN'S ELECTORAL RIGHTS FOR THREE TERMS - AGNIESZKA HOLLAND PROVOKES IN CONVERSATION WITH PAULINA REITER IN GW: “In a male, testosterone-fueled, nationalistic political project that is simultaneously fearful and narcissistic, we have reached a point beyond which it is very difficult to change politics so that other values suddenly start playing a leading role. So I have a simple idea: to suspend men's electoral rights for three terms. Only active – they won't be able to vote, but they will be able to be elected. A man could still become prime minister, but one elected by women would have different priorities.” -- PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR EVIL; THE ONR IS REAWAKENING - HOLLAND CONTINUES: “I have my view on this matter, but many consider me an alarmist and a hysteric. I believe people do not recognize the potential for evil that the ruling team carries. First, it effectively divided society, and now it is expanding its holdings by trivial means, which are money, but effective. At the same time, it introduces ideological confusion. And it leads to situations close to fascism. They are reviving what was the idea of ONR or part of the National Democracy before the war: a Catholic state of the Polish nation. Kaczyński even officially admitted this. It surprises me that so few people notice this.” -- THEY USE OPENLY NAZI LANGUAGE - HOLLAND FURTHER IN GW: “By falsifying reality and manipulating facts, the government has led to a situation where, within a few months, Poles' attitude towards refugees has changed from indifferent and rather sympathetic to hostility, to the conviction that refugees should be exterminated like vermin. Jarosław Kaczyński and his people do not refrain at all from using openly Nazi language. And it proves effective.” -- THAT GOVERNMENT WAS MORE AFRAID OF ARTISTS: “That government was more afraid of art because it respected it. Today's government is less afraid. Moreover, Lech Kaczyński also respected artists; I met with him several times, we talked, he sought my understanding, and wanted to understand me. His brother often quotes me, but without the same esteem. Besides, the new generation of politicians couldn't care less about artists. I think they are not afraid of art, they disregard it. Gliński, of course, fights with artists, but his younger assistants treat us with contempt.” -- IMAGINE IF HITLER WON POLLS IN GERMANY LIKE STALIN IN RUSSIA - HOLLAND CONTINUES: “The Holocaust found its vehicles, even if somewhat simplifying, like the series 'Holocaust' or 'Schindler's List,' and became part of popular culture. Regarding communism, there is none of that. Of course, there was Solzhenitsyn and his 'Gulag Archipelago.' But that's not enough. Today, when polls are conducted in Russia about who is the greatest hero in history, Stalin is at the top. Imagine such a poll in Germany where Hitler wins. So, if one can talk about these events honestly and reach many people, one must do it.” http://www.wysokieobcasy.pl/wysokie-obcasy/7,157211,25241765,agnieszka-holland-wolnosc-potrafi-byc-trudna-wiekszosc.html -- ADAM LESZCZYŃSKI ON GOWIN'S HIGH INTELLIGENCE - writes in GW: “Gowin's reform shows the high intelligence of this politician. He has recognized the divisions among scientists and is exploiting them masterfully. (...) Let physicists, chemists, and technicians tinker; they are harmless. Historians, political scientists, and sociologists will be targeted. (...) The authorities will play differently with historians, political scientists, or sociologists. For historians, the PiS government is building a separate path of 'national science' in parallel, semi-academic state institutions such as the IPN or the Pilecki Institute. It will also secure the interests of right-wing professorship at universities. They will have their own scored journals and publications. Targeted – just like in Hungary – will be scientists who fall outside either of these two categories, humanists, and representatives of social sciences who may conduct research critical of PiS's Poland.” http://wyborcza.pl/magazyn/7,124059,25242851,reforma-gowina-zdradza-wysoka-inteligencje-tego-polityka.html -- 29 YEARS AGO, Radio Zet (as Radio Gazeta) started – the second commercial radio station in Poland after RMF FM. -- BIRTHDAYS: Grzegorz Bierecki, Robert Maciaszek, SUNDAY: Lech Wałęsa, Marek Balicki.