Ambrose M. Bennett
THE Truth of the matter the acting Democrat Party Chair is RIGHT about the need for the 2026, efforts of the party to begin NOW, as the race to win in the Political Areana is a “Marathon that requires a FULL Team effort,” which has been the fatal flaw for our Democrat Party. For too long the Dems have left it up to the Party Chair to lead, but in modern Political Science one will learn that “the highest elected person(s) in the party is viewed as the LEADER(S). The Dems top officials make sure there is a full slate for 2026, if things are to really change FOR the Better! Just look at how Trump took control of the RNC & the Party and won against all the odds. But some politicians are even afraid of me when I’m only trying to help because they’re afraid of being held accountable, but there is no worry if you are a straight shooter with me. Some Democrats will even complain about this, but I know from experience that this public advice is the only hope to sink-in for the leadership to be professionals accept the truth and change accordingly, especially for those who aspire to be Governor one day or the Dems may never win the Governor’s seat anytime soon — for TRUE! As I Told the Party back when Tina was running; “it is ALL-IMPORTANT to have a full slate (full-team) if the Democrats are to capture the Governor’s office to solidify promotional & voting efforts in every precinct.”
I witnessed firsthand Ralph covertly stealing the Republican Party from Babauta, which he did by “organizing HIS Team.” In fact, it is well known that Ralph was the biggest recruiter FOR the Party Candidates, and I know for a fact about two People in his administration he asked to run but they said they were going to run as Democrats, so they were FIRED — true stories! Not that Democrats should be like Ralph but indeed it is time for the top elected Democrat officials (Senators) and/or others wanting to run for Governor to start making sure they have a Team (a full slate of candidates), not the Chair. Your power as an elected Democrat is far more powerful & respected than the chair with recruitment, as creating a real team is the KEY to becoming Governor. The Republicans have proved their recruitment methodology combined with their destruction of the Dem’s recruiting works for the past 30-straight years. It’s really on the Democrat-Senators who want to be Governor to make SURE the Democrats have a complete team, for TRUE!
I was the first to start pleading with the then Independents to join the Democrats, which they did and truly made them and the Party stronger, but it wasn’t enough with a shorthanded team. I can remember pushing for the early selection of candidates on the committee to select candidates when Tina ran for governor but there was a Republican Operative within our committee (you-know-who) who actually stopped the early selection process. There is also the “big-tent phenomenon” of Republicans with “a gang-up and support each other attitude” but I can’t get a Democrat to even give me a thumbs-up, as internal party support is WEAK and even absent, as “attitude determines Ur altitude.” It doesn’t hurt me, I’m not running, but it sends a clear message Democrats are not united nor strong, which needs to change FOR the People to have real confidence in Democrats. Just check out the comments after this for yourself a bombardment of ugly GOP character assassination attempts about 50 yrs. ago, but I will wait and see.
And please don’t self-destruct fighting among yourselves over who is going to run for Governor, as all of you are young professionals having TIME-on-your-SIDE, as patience and waiting for “YOUR TIME” is a key variable to winning in the political arena, as “timing is everything” — flip a coin and accept the results if necessary. Stop taking politics personal, as if you are a Democrat and can’t accept & respect constructive criticism from a person who was born a Democrat, lived 73 years as a Democrat and will die a Democrat, then maybe you are in the wrong business. I am not “spitting on the party” but trying to WAKE-UP the Party after 30 years of losing! WE the People need a Democrat Governor, as WE have ALL suffered ENOUGH under Republicans! I pray for the sake of the CNMI that this advice will not fall on deaf ears and will help the Democrats in getting their act together NOW, as WE need YOU and it’s too late once election season arrives because most of the race has already been run by then and Democrats will be playing catch-up again, the advice of a real Political Scientist.
One People, One Direction.
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays & lifetime Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III.
