AFTER reading the Editor’s “Dramatis personae (Actors in a play)” I will be the first to say the events in the Senate could be viewed as “fictional theater among political actors” but the REALITY is our Senate has literally gone-off-the-rails! I do agree with a lot of what the editor said, but I disagree with the “context” as with theater there are no consequences but this was REAL LIFE and for sure the People are going to eventually suffer the consequences of the Senate’s behavior. For sure, they could have been arguing about pressing issues like the bonus for the retirees; the government’s other massive financial obligations and how to pay for them once the ARPA funds are gone” but the matter at hand was simply the RIGHT of People to testify, especially a Senator who represents an entire voting District. If anyone was “out of order” it was the Senate President and the Senate with their measly 3-minute rule because if a Senator can be denied the REALITY is us-regular-folks don’t stand any chance of testifying — I know from my personal experience with the Senate that I just wrote about. WE are a nation of “Laws, Principles & Values” and when the Senate deviates from the expectations of living up to these standards for “Governing & Life” then WE the People are in serious trouble when it comes to having a “responsive, responsible, accountable and productive government FOR the People.” WE can’t chalk-it-off that the Political Theater that will pass…
Asserting that the Governor was only impeached because it was his political opponents and not because he broke OUR Laws is Theater but in Reality, the evidence speaks for itself and it should not be ignored which is what the Senate obviously plans to do. Asserting the Governor would be acquitted because of the Republican majority and not because of a lack of evidence is Theatre but in REALITY, the Senate is injecting vengeance that belongs ONLY to God, for those who believe in this Spiritual Teaching. The editor was right when he said “the rules proposed by the Senate leadership appear to be the political equivalent of trolling aimed at the House leadership” but is this HOW honorable and respected leaders are supposedly to act, I think not in REALITY! At least the Democrats do have a high level of INTEGRITY!
Implying the House said “don’t tell us how to conduct our investigation and hearings” to the Senate is Theatre but the House was talking too & about the Governor who was clearly trying to dictate the SCOPE & HOW the House should function for HIM, which is the ugly REALITY! Furthermore, the REALITY is the House was only following the Laws and Ethical Codes, but the Governor was literally conducting Theatre of his own yelling in the newspaper and getting on the radio all while violating the Laws he took an Oath to “promote, preserve & defend” by refusing to show after being subpoenaed, as he could have showed-up and taken the 5th just to comply but instead it was total disrespect by the Governor for REAL!
Saying to those who disagree with Senate to “take them to court” is Fictional Theatre and offering options like “recalling the Governor” that also requires the Senate is REALLY an ugly joke to play on voters. For most voters, the rules and events in the Senate were not Theatre but a REAL prelude to the apocalyptic decision to acquit the Governor WITHOUT even considering the evidence in their Trial. Heck, the People will not even be represented by their Representatives in this Kangaroo Trial that can only be Theatre as it will not resemble the example set-forth by our Justice System for a FAIR Trial. Voters are not stupid and can see the MALFEASANT behavior of the Senate and they will eventually address this Theatre of the Senate and Governor in the voting booth. I’m sure the eventual REALITY in this Theatre by the Senate will be “the Bell Tolling for Thee (Republicans).” WE the People can’t continue to act like what the Republicans are doing is just Theatre because WE the People are suffering the REAL CONSEQUENCES of the EVILS of “WHAT the Governor, HIS Administration and Republicans have DONE and FAILED to Do” — for TRUE!
To be continued: One people One Direction.
The writer is an Economist, Political Scientist, retired teacher, former CNMI Board of Education Member, James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays & Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III.
Ambrose M. Bennett
