IN the Marianas Variety – Guam Edition, Feb. 1, Page 5, the title reads, “Bordallo urges Cheney to meet with Guam leaders.”
The article states that Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo has confirmed that Vice President Richard B. Cheney will visit Guam briefly as part of his tour of Japan and Australia this month. Bordallo goes on to say, “My office has been in contact with the White House, and we are waiting for more details of the vice-president’s visit to Guam. I will be urging the vice president to include Guam’s civilian leadership in his visit, however brief it may be.”
I would just like to know how much clout Delegate Bordallo has in pursuing Guam’s interest when, according to Senator Ben Pangelinan, not a strident critic of her, Bordallo just signed the incinerator contract without reading a single line and not know the terms and conditions. She said she was told to sign it. (Marianas Variety – Guam Edition, Jan 30, Page 12.) I guess she was just bullied by the Gutierrez Sunshine Democrats during her tenure as lt. governor from ’95 to ’02 (a little how Camacho did the same to Moylan).
As much as all the consultation that goes back and forth between the so-called ‘civilian leadership’ and the feds, most people have figured out it is a one-way street because of the unfinished political status question. Until such time Guam’s elected officials will move on that issue, all the “jive talk” (most for media consumption to rile up the ordinary folks or at least to show that they, the local politicians, are “leading”) is not going to help. Republicans like Speaker Forbes and Gov. Felix P. Camacho are, however, more savvy and they know how to not look bad to the voters on sensitive military-territorial issues. But they, like the Dems, are still hesitant to be real leaders and tackle the status issue which will pave the way for greater say.

MATT PHILIPS
Mangilao, Guam