Many years later, I saw it again on TV and I found it more horrifying than the first time I watched it: plantlike pods from outer space duplicating humans while they sleep, the original human bodies crumbling like dust, the entire human race doomed and rapidly eliminated by inhuman replicas.
The final scene was as unforgettable as a nightmare.
However, “disgusting” and not “nightmare” was the word that came to my mind when I learned that the governor’s minions had taken over the other major political party in the CNMI. The Republican officials weren’t even sleeping and they welcomed this invasion with open palms, I mean arms.
At what point does conformity become corruption? An English critic and writer once asked that question. I also recalled Army counsel Joseph Welch’s verbal slap in Senator McCarthy’s face: “Have you no sense of decency sir?”
Last Saturday’s GOP meeting was an indecent display of rank opportunism. Politicians usually do not publicize their lack of principles, but that’s what happened at Garapan Central Park. There, ruling party members occupying key positions in the government were warmly embraced by what was supposedly the opposition party. So now, how can representative democracy function under a virtual single-party system? Who will now act as a check on the ruling party? This newspaper’s editorial pages?
Republicans in office were elected in Nov. 2009 because they were not with the Covenant Party. In that year, the GOP depicted its slate as the alternative to a corrupt and incompetent administration. So what does this “merger” say about the GOP? That its officials and members, like their supposed political opponents, are also all talk and no walk. That they are, in fact, no better than their former rivals. Despite their campaign rhetoric about good and clean government they, too, are in it for a government job or contract. They, too, cannot distinguish between what is moral and immoral.
“Everything is wrong,” says a character in Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged.” “So why fight it? Don’t argue. Accept. Adjust yourself. Obey.”
It’s every man for himself now in CNMI politics. The jobless Republicans can’t wait for 2012. They saw how the governor rewarded the “Republicans” who junked their gubernatorial ticket in 2009. They, too, want a piece of the action or whatever’s left of it. The governor, for his part, wants the GOP label because he believes it will allow him to curry favor with the national Republicans. He is still hoping to reverse or at least amend the federalization law. Aligning with the national GOP was never about getting “more federal assistance.” Only the stupid among the governor’s stooges believe that. The U.S. Republicans are on a budgetary slash and burn mission nationwide. If the reddest of the red states are not exempted then why should the CNMI — which has, what, 2,000 Republicans? — be treated differently?
The governor’s other goal is to complete his domination of the CNMI political landscape by kicking out hard-working, competent Kilili, the only local politician who refuses to kowtow before Uncle Ben. The governor assumes that next year, a RepubliCon candidate will fare better against Kilili especially if it’s a one on one contest. (JoeCam and John garnered a combined total of 4,722 votes last year; Kilili received 4,896.) The RepubliCons are already salivating over the $1.4 million annual budget of the congressional delegate’s office which is federally funded and is not affected by the local austerity measures and delayed paydays.
Yes, voters of the CNMI. They have a very low regard for your intelligence.
But not everyone is for sale. Not everyone is a political prostitute. Not all voters are willing to tolerate this widespread shamelessness. The RepubliCons may be in power now but they can’t be in office forever.
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