SIGNS do NOT equal Votes, as it surely seems that the Republicans think that the one with the most signs will get the most votes — it’s Ka du ku! But in fact, Political Science, a State Court, Federal Indictments Looming and the Common Sense of voters are all indicators that the ones (Torres/Sablan) will in fact get the LEAST number of votes followed by the AD Team who have the second most signs. It’s not about the number of signs but the QUALITY of the People & Messaging on the signs and when it comes to esthetics, no one can deny that the Sablan/Staffler signs look better with two beautiful ladies who have the RIGHT-STUFF to be BETTER Leaders!
In fact, it should be noted that the Republicans even changed the requirements for putting up signs making it more expensive that has led to a decline in the signs of those who don’t have the “deep-pockets” like the Republicans who have been literally getting RICH over the past two decades. There really needs to be an audit of the signs given the rules for putting up signs and the abundant number of signs being put up by the Republicans. But it should be noted that the Number-1 position on the ballot for the Sablan/Staffler Team is truly an OMEN of what is to come while many believe WE the People are going to need a little “divine intervention” if the State Court & Feds don’t deliver, which is unlikely. The reality is also the fact that many if not the majority are “sick & tired of Republican chaos, drama, corruption & failures” and that it’s time to get rid of this group of Republicans “ONCE-and-for-ALL”!
The GREAT Debate Challenge –the Young & Old Incumbents v two Battle Tested Women!
It is AWSOME to see Reps. Tina & Leila issuing a challenge to Ralph & Arnold who don’t even deserve their Honorable titles anymore as far as I’m concerned, as neither one of them have lived up to the expectations of being “honest, honorable & trustworthy leaders.” But more to the point, I’m sure there is a plethora of voters who can’t wait to see a debate between the candidates for Governor & Lt. Governor and the only question is will the Chamber of Commerce or any group conduct the debate(s). But we shouldn’t wait on the Chamber, as I am making this a FORMAL & PUBLIC Request for any group, including this newspaper, to host a Governors & Lt. Governors Debate FOR the People of the CNMI. No Commonwealth Address of Accountability for 3-yrs. and no Debates of Accountability is really proof of the Republican Accountability Silence I keep writing about! “All it takes for evil and corruption to prevail is for the good men, women & organizations to say & do nothing” as it’s clear WE the People need someone to step up to the plate. Heck, it would be great if there was more than one debate for Governor like we see for President and WE also need debates for the candidates for Mayor, Senate and the House which would really provide accountability for ALL the candidates but WHO will help the People by sponsoring these debates.
There is actually a lot of belief among voters that Ralph and Arnold are COWARDS, even though Ralph has already said he is ready for the debate but I think he LIED in the same-breath about having a debate for every Gubernatorial Election. But Ralph can’t help himself as lying seems to come naturally now for him. However, I hope he is telling the truth about the Chamber of Commerce. But it was NOT surprising to learn that the AD Team has remained SILENT on the debate challenge — same old “blind-eyed & silent strategy” of Arnold. While the Governor is a very smart person, he seems to think he is smarter than anyone else in the CNMI but in reality, he can’t use “deflecting & gaslighting strategies” in a debate, which is why Tina will figuratively slaughter him and Arnold with the TRUTH! Ralph was bold about accepting the debate challenge but it’s clear his “silver-spoon up-bringing” has yet to develop “crystalized-wisdom of admitting to one’s mistakes,” as he is asserting that everyone, including OUR Constitution is wrong, not him. He has yet to learn that sometimes “we can all be toooo darn smart for our own good,” as many youth & adults, self-included, had to learn this lesson the hard way thinking they can “talk their way out of anything, especially trouble rather than admitting their mistake(s) and becoming a better person” — sounds familiar about Ralph who promised to explain everything but yet to-date TAYA! Who-knows about Arnold with his “Rebuilding Trust Act” and Ralph may even be BLUFFING like he was with Retirees. But I’m sure Ralph and Arnold are both going to be exposed for what they really are if they show up — FAKE Leaders who only “talk-the-talk but they can’t walk-their-talk.”
Rep. Tina Sablan is the only one among the three who is speaking-out on the issues while Ralph & Arnold are only going for Photo Ops and deflecting the real challenges and issues that WE the People are facing. Arnold is not saying nor doing anything (blind-eyed & silent) and Ralph is only trying to speak-up because he is being put on the spot by Rep. Tina Sablan who is placing accountability squarely on his shoulders. She is on him like “white-on-rice.” KUDOS Tina! WE see Ralph somehow was able to magically find 300-a-month for our power bills for the rest of this Political Season and he even found the 25% for Retirees for the rest of his term because he thinks he can still BUY people & votes. But in reality, it was obvious the House Democrats, Independents and a couple of Republicans were not going to fall for the BLUFF of a “Political-extortion tactic using Retirees” by the Secretary of Finance so Ralph was forced to do the right-thing if he wanted any chance to get the votes of Retirees and those needing help with their Power Bill. But I’m sure most voters are not falling anymore for this Republican Tactic of doing things for the People during election season for votes. WE are NOT stupid Governor as you only poli-tricked yourself this time that will surely be reflected in the voting!
Misrepresentation OF the People comes to mind when it comes to the Secretary of Finance, or should I say the “Fake-New Lt. Governor” given the Governor is promoting and using him like he is the Lt. Governor. Ralph had the audacity to send him to Washington to Represent ALL the People of the CNMI, which was really a GROSS INAPPROPRIATE Political Representation of the CNMI and ALL the People in front of the Federal Government. By Law, there are only FOUR elected People & the Judiciary Branch who are empowered and can speak for ALL the People in the CNMI, the Governor, the Lt. Governor, the AG and the Washington Delegate, not the Secretary of Finance who has NO Authority to Speak-FOR-ALL-the-People. As a teacher of U.S. Government, I can honestly say it was a PATHETIC Misrepresentation of the CNMI! I must laugh to keep from crying by guessing Ralph didn’t want to fly Economy, or he doesn’t respect his real Lt. Governor anymore or he couldn’t afford the up-grade like when he had to borrow money to pay his power bill that he didn’t have to pay, which I still believe was “petty money laundering.” I’m sure it’s safe to say “WE the People are anxiously awaiting a debate and hope Ralph & Arnold won’t be cowards like the previous Republicans when it came to a debate. But it really seems like Ralph Arnold & Jude think they can say and do anything they want and even fail to do the right-thing right in our faces and WE won’t do anything about it as if WE the People are stupid. It’s truly time to teach them ALL a real “Political Lesson” — that they work FOR the People and that they can ALL be FIRED, especially Ralph & Arnold! One People One Direction for NEW & BETTER Leaders!
The writer is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays & Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III.
Ambrose M. Bennett
