IN the Marianas Variety-Guam Edition (March 29, Page 4), a story reads “Goldhorn appointed Homeland Security chief.” Governor Felix P. Camacho, in appointing Goldhorn, said he is confident that Goldhorn would do well because he is a decorated soldier and has shown effective management leadership ability.
What does that mean? That if you are not a decorated soldier and if you have not shown effective management leadership ability you cannot be Homeland Security chief? And if Major General Goldhorn, who is also Adjutant General of the Guam National Guard, is the most qualified person for the job, why didn’t the governor get him during his first stint in office in 2003? It’s not like the general only suddenly got qualified.
At that time the governor hired now Senator Frank Flores Blas Jr. and the highlight of his tenure there was the circumstances surrounding the tsunami that never happened and the practically non-existent warning system for the people of Guam.
But Ray Gibson, the ardent Republican that he is, said (March 29, Breakfast Show) “let’s give the governor credit for this one.” And he is right. Even if he, Gibson, didn’t say a word about the previous pick like many other picks, which displayed a lack of judgment on the part of Camacho. People of Guam, Republicans and Democrats (and whatever else) sleep at night knowing that it is Uncle Fed that protects us not the pathetic GovGuam run by these “adults.” Of course Uncle Fed now is run by likewise “adults” who never served a day in the foreign theatre, and use the ‘war on terrorism’ to go after folks, both here and abroad, to make money for their cronies.
This cronyism is not just Camacho’s (or Bush’s) disease. If Supreme Court Justice Robert Torres must wait for his wife’s brother to pick him to serve, then there is something wrong with the system we have. I mean the bloke is a native, has a Bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame and a Harvard Law degree. It’s not like he just graduated for him not to be noticed by previous governors. (Looks like we want “loyalty” over merit.)
Ray Gibson also has said he is on a “blacklist” in Adelup, since Mrs. Gibson got pulled out of line at the airport just because Gibson is one of five common names in the terror watch list besides Ali and the others. Governor still values your support, Ray.

MATT PHILIPS
Mangilao, Guam