But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?” — James Madison
“No one ever likes ANY president’s appointments, including those appointed. — Abraham Lincoln
“Politics is bargains and their shadiness depends entirely on which side of the streets you happen to be standing.” — Gore Vidal
SENATOR Kumoi Guerrero last week said he was “surprised” to learn about the “connection” between the $2 million Compact Impact fund earmarked for Tinian and the fact that 1) the island’s senior senator, David M. Cing, chaired the committee on appointments; and 2) there were pending nominations before the committee. Now if I’m going to rate the political shrewdness of CNMI lawmakers, Guerrero would certainly be on the Top 5 list, and this why I doubt very much that this veteran politico was “shocked” to find out that politicians are capable of scratching each other’s back to get what they want.
I must admit, however, that I, too, was appalled upon learning how America’s greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, and practically every successful U.S. chief executive wheeled and dealed to achieve their goals. I still recall how genuinely shocked I was to know how Lincoln’s managers maneuvered and negotiated their way toward securing the GOP nomination for Honest Abe. But then again, I was only 14, so I think my reaction should be excused. (One of my favorite Lincoln stories involved the appointment of Simon Cameron as war secretary. Cameron’s reputation for cupidity was quite well known, but Lincoln had to give him a Cabinet slot for political reasons. “You think Cameron would steal?” Lincoln asked a senior Republican lawmaker, who replied: “No, I don’t think he would steal a red-hot stove.” Cameron heard what the lawmaker said and demanded an apology. “All right then,” the lawmaker said. “I do not think that you would not steal a red-hot stove.” Those interested to know how a modern master politico gets things done should check out the newly published 3rd volume of Robert Caro’s LBJ biography.)
Some eight years ago, I found myself laughing out loud, much to my embarrassment, during a press conference. One of the other Capitol Hill reporters told then Gov. Lang Tenorio that the merits of his proposals should convince lawmakers to adopt them. The context of the discussion was the “discovery” that to ensure the passage of his pet legislation, Tenorio was appointing people and giving out jobs to individuals close to key lawmakers. If I remember it right, Tenorio also laughed before replying to the reporter.
Some five years later, during a GOP fund-raiser, I told then Governor Teno that I saw former Speaker Pacho Sablan, a Democrat, among the crowd. Teno, by way of a reply, said he and Pacho, as then speaker, accomplished a lot for the CNMI. It was easy to do business with him, Teno recalled. He’d ask me what I needed, I would tell him, and then I would ask him what he needed, and so we get things done.
I’m not telling all this to justify political wheeling and dealing. I might as well justify why the sky is blue and not pink. I’m just reminding everyone that this is how the system works. This is the nature of the beast, so to speak. And even if we’re dissatisfied with it, even if we want it changed, it still pays to know what it is that we want to “improve.”
The key to understanding politics is the realization that those who are good at it have no illusions about politicians. Good pols like James Madison know that if we were angels and not humans then there would be no need for government. But we are certainly not angels, and that is why liberal democracies have governments created precisely to ensure that certain checks and balances are in place to prevent our foibles from running amok. (Incidentally, Madison, the “father” of the U.S. Constitution and America’s 4th president, was also known as the “Big Knife” for his brilliance in cutting deals.)
The only thing we can ask from government officials and other politicians is that their compromises and their deals should be legal and beneficial to everyone. They should, for example, not appoint crooks or anyone with conflicts of interest—which finally brings us back to the controversy regarding Compact Impact funds and the unfortunate nomination of former Sen. Ed Maratita to the CDA board.
Forget, for a moment, the motives involved in this issue. Instead, what we should all ask ourselves are these: Will Tinian and the CNMI be a better place if Tinian gets Compact Impact funds and complete its high school project? Will the CNMI be a better place if the governor gets the kind of Cabinet officials that could help him improve life in the CNMI? We all know the answers to those questions.
The real issue here should be the quality of the nominations themselves, specifically of Maratita’s. And it is here where I agree with Cing. Maratita should NEVER have been nominated to the CDA board. His appointment flies in the face of the governor’s promise to run a good government. It should not have been made. I personally like former Senator Ed, but he simply cannot sit on CDA’s board. He could have been appointed to one of the other government boards and commissions, but definitely not CDA’s.
I must, however, also question Cing’s sincerity. If the senator was really concerned about conflicts of interest, why was he mum on the other glaring conflicts of interest involving other government officials appointed by previous administrations? Senator, what about CDA Chairman Juan S. Tenorio’s possible conflict of interest? But then again, Santiago is Cing’s friend. (Santiago opposed the nomination of Maratita, who is the pal of former CPA chairman and former Rep. Victor Hocog, who is not exactly Santiago’s best friend.)
Now here’s a question for Senator Kumoi. Would you, sir, oppose allotting $2 million to Tinian if the island’s delegation had joined the Saipan senators in the May 13 coup?
Speaking of inconsistency, allow me, at this point, to explain why the House leadership’s complaints about the “excess” salaries of certain gubernatorial appointees sounded so, well, silly—particularly if one knows that the House didn’t make a fuss when the previous administration decided to pay some of its appointees higher salaries despite the implementation of the austerity measures. The only difference then was that Teno exempted the House members from the budget cuts. This time they weren’t, which apparently helped them recall the pertinent provision of the budget law they passed in 1998.
And yes, I do love politics.
