IT is no secret the Senate is going to acquit the Governor but they are doing it with complete CONTEMPT for the “Rule of Law in the Open Government Act, the Process for a Trial in the denial of evidence & prosecutors and the desire OF the People to witness a fair trial.” I’m just glad Jude Hofschneider isn’t a real Judge — it’s truly PATHETIC what he is doing. But like these Republicans FORCED the Casino down our throats it’s not a mystery they are going to FORCE the Governor’s acquittal down our throats too by any-means-necessary — just like I’ve been predicting. It is truly sad our “Democracy & Justice System is being Deposed” by the Party-of-ONE-Man. But that’s the Godfather Syndrome driven by “illegal tactics & power-plays to manipulate the establishment to protect & serve the Godfather.” WE the People are screwed and it’s no mystery, ask Retirees.
There is a Political Circus in town, it’s the “Torres’ & Accomplices’ Greatest Show on Earth — Democracy & Justice Deposed” with all three rings (the Feds, Impeachment & Local Criminal Charges,” as this Governor has literally turned the CNMI into a three-ring-poli-tricking-circus for HIS personal intentions. There has only been one Governor like Torres in American History called the “Kingfish” Huey Long from Louisiana, as he also operated like a Godfather and I will let readers find out for themselves to see what happened to him, as he eluded and manipulated the Justice System like Governor Torres is doing but he didn’t escape Justice! The Governor’s Impeachment, the FBI’s RICO Investigation and the Criminal Charges are NOT a mystery for Hulu but in fact are REAL LIFE REALITIES of a Governor who has fallen from grace, that will make a great real-life Block-buster Political-Gangster movie for Theaters. Given all the legal challenges the Governor faces, the ending of this “Corruption Story” won’t be a mystery but great Reality Theater.
The Governor WILL surely and eventually end-up in an Orange Jumpsuit and even with a set of Local & Federal suits and even his Lt. Governor should be with him on the RICO Case given he admittedly Witnessed, SUPPORTED and even HELPED in criminal activities by approving what he KNEW was illegal travel but remained silent covering-up the Governor’s criminal activities — he’s a clear “accessory during & after the crime.” But the Lt. Governor is campaigning on “Silent-mode” hoping to get lucky and win as he thinks he has a “free get-out-of-Jail Card” because he testified. But the Feds may think different as he had a very real “Fiduciary DUTY to the People and to our Constitution to Protect & Serve OUR Laws and Constitution” but instead he assisted in the Governor’s criminal activity — RICO! I think and pray the majority of voters know that WE the People will truly look like a real “Banana Republic” if either of them win, especially when the Feds put them in Orange Jumpsuits. I’m not seeking mob-justice just wanting and waiting for some real JUSTICE at the State & Federal Levels, as the Senate Trial’s outcome is obviously headed for TAYA!
The Governor’s Lawyer, whose co-counsel should be disbarred, only cited HIS OPINION to the Senate, as he didn’t offer a “single case of precedents nor any viable evidence” on the Governor’s Impeachment making his assertions no more legally valid than “a letter to the editor.” More importantly, the Governor’s lawyer DEFLECTED the Governor’s guilt siting “we are not there yet,” but attacked a House Member and asserted that the entire Impeachment Process was illegal. He conducted a classic “deflecting, gaslighting & finger-pointing show” with no PROOF, just casting seeds of doubt — the Godfather Syndrome. I’m sure voters can now see that “seed of doubt that is now a tree of evil that grew fruit in the Senate” for the Governor. The Godfather Syndrome is real as we saw House Republicans claimed “ignorance & doubt,” a Senate President & Crew acting like “lieutenants of a Godfather,” threatening to throw the entire Impeachment into the trash!
As for the Simple Math, first and foremost the Governor’s Lawyer is a “LIER, Deflecting and Gaslighting Professional” just like his client. The Governor’s Lawyer asserted that 15 House Members only represented 1% of the People in the CNMI when the simple math clearly PROVES that these 15 Representatives do indeed Represent 75% of the People in the CNMI as there are only 20 Representatives — so do the math! He also needs to stop the “deflecting, gaslighting and finger-pointing at an innocent Lady whose participation and vote was even IRRELEVANT as 14 votes is 70% and still above the 2/3rd threshold. What does he have to say about Vinnie’s vote that now has the Trial in Limbo — these guys are Poli-tricking EXPERTS! I’m sure many can now see the Governor’s Lawyers are just like the Governor — for TRUE! I keep telling readers this Governor and Crew (Republican House Members, Senators & his Lawyers) think we are stupid given the ridiculous things they are doing and the assertions that are coming out of their mouths without a single IOTA (grain) of proof nor any evidence to support their arguments for THEIR Governor to be acquitted — no defense just Poli-tricks.
I’m sure the Torres voters are expecting a “grand finale” by the Governor beating all his criminal charges and even winning in the election, as if the Governor can figuratively “walk-on-water” — LOL! But I’m sure most of us with common sense are really just waiting to see “who & how the Governor will be punished” just like the Godfather Cases in the past. The simple math actually shows the Governor has been in control of over a Billion Dollars in Federal Funds and over a Half-a-Billion in Local Funding under his two-administrations and there is very little to show, except for his family who has gotten new businesses from the contracts steered their way — as one example alone shows 10s of Thousands-a-day just for sanitizing the multi-purpose building.
But the Governor hasn’t said nor done anything to create the conditions for NEW REVENUES which is what the CNMI needs MOST from him instead of his Poli-tricks, especially when the Stimulus runs out. Heck, it took 20 years to complete one road and his administration is still fooling around with the Garapan Revitalization Project that is only 60% complete after 5 or more years and nothing on the Mariana Resort & La Fiesta that only need leasing but they are wasting away. This Governor can’t fix the OLD problems much less coming up with something NEW, as he is too busy poli-tricking. You can bet that nothing will be completed until AFTER the election if at all, which is the Godfather Syndrome of putting on a good Public (Political) Show but no real substance or results FOR the People when it comes to Justice and Progress. Don’t be FOOLED again, it’s truly time to Poli-trick the Poli-trickers on Judgement Day after what this Governor “Has Done and FAILED-to-Do,” as “no-one is above the Law and no one knows where your vote goes.”
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
