"I'm done with this," says another Uri Party defector as he casts off a lollipop shaped like a lame-duck President Roh Moo-hyun and takes flight.

"Won’t be long," those left behind call after the departed, still sucking their lollipops.

Ruling-party members including one-time Roh intimates are abandoning the party in droves due to the president’s and their own dismal approval ratings.