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sunny and breezy
When I drew this cartoon, I had no idea that Governor Fitial would resign. I was inspired to create this because of the tradition during Lent to "give up" some pleasure or activity as a means of self-sacrifice. I thought it would be funny to think of Governor Fitial "giving up" reading the Variety. It has, after all, called for his impeachment or his resignation for years now.
I also submitted several other cartoons, now untimely--the Governor sending Valentines to the Senators (as a means of wooing them to vote against impeachment), the Governor on-stage in an opera scene handing a bouquet with extra dollar bills stuffed into it to the Gotterdamerung maiden representing the 18th Senate, and a comparison of the new year of the snake with our new year to impeach--lots of fireworks and a chance for a new beginning.
With the resignation, Benigno Repeki Fitial is no longer Governor. I am hopeful that the need for the stress relief of political cartooning will abate.
Things already seem better with Governor Eloy Inos--he has at least renewed the contract of Alan Fletcher at CUC. Fitial was so intent on monkeying around at CUC that we lost an able director (Abe Utu Malae) and were on the verge of losing Fletcher, also educated and experienced in utilities management. Fitial was obviously upset with Fletcher who refused to back the very-hinky contract with Saipan Development LLC. Inos understands that CUC must have SOMEONE in charge who knows something, and if Fletcher leaves, the vacancy will be horrible.
There there is the arrest finally of Joseph Crisostimo for the murder of Emy Romero is reassuring. Although the DPS and AG assure us that the long delay (more than a year since her murder) had nothing to do with Governor Fitial or his political pressure, you still have to wonder why it took so long when we were told last October or November by Joey San Nicolas that the lab reports were back and there would be an announcement imminently--and yet it took 3+ months to make that arrest! And coincidentally it happened only after Fitial left office.
I am so relieved that Fitial is no longer our Governor. Fitial at least got it right in his letter of resignation-his stepping down is good for our community.
These were published by the Variety on the dates mentioned, but not in the order in which I prepared them. And of course, there is always a lag of time between an event, my art, and then submission and publication.
In a surprise move, the Fitial supporters (now the House minority) resigned from the impeachment committee. This was principally Teresita Santos and Felicidad Ogumoro. This cartoon was inspired by wondering why they would do that. Well, really, it had to be because they are loyal guard for the governor and he told them to. So I show them as junkyard dogs and Governor Fitial reining them in. In my original, I had labeled their names on the dog collars, but MV eliminated those. They did leave the dog tags showing both 17th and 18th House membership.
The little people simply state the obvious--why would they resign? No wonder, though, really. They resigned because they were told to.
This is possibly bad news. Instead of trying to obfuscate or gain time or drag things out or any other tactic to fight in the House, the Governor now seems in a hurry to get to the senate. That can only mean he thinks he's got the senators in his pocket already.
Bright and sunny day, but uncomfortably cool night.
The CNMI has been sinking for the entire six years of the Fitial administration, but it has never been in as bad shape as in 2012. Fitial continues to issue "emergency" declarations to bludgeon autonomous agencies into his control and to hide his wheeling and dealing from the public bidding, open procurement process required by law. In 2013, one month into the year, we already have had two emergency declarations "renewed"--as if there is really any emergency! These are nothing but declarations that say I'm incompetent and these agencies are completely dysfunctional. We continue to sink and the emergency declarations are doing nothing to plug the leaks or repair our vessel.
Unseasonably cold. Windy, rainy, and just down-right chilly.
This political cartoon was inspired by a recent report in the Marianas Variety about how the Governor slipped out after a session with Willie Tan and the Governor's cabinet and other important government officials. Instead of meeting with waiting reporters and answering basic questions, the Governor sent word that he was still in meetings. The reporters waited until they were eventually told the Governor had left the building by another exit.
His response was hilarious. He said he hadn't run away from the reporters, they had failed to catch him! Then he said that certain reporters should consider why they had such difficulty getting information from the government when the others didn't--basically admitting that he plays favorites, gives stories only to the Tribune (a Willy Tan mouthpiece), and has no intention whatever of being subjected to questions from any but the sycophantic.
Just two weeks ago he promised greater transparency. Well, we see clearly what exactly this Governor is and how very undemocratic he is.
Bright and sunny with a strong breeze continuing to bring cool relief.
This cartoon was inspired by the Governor's actions in the week following his SOCA (State of the Commonwealth Address) where he said he had made mistakes but learned from them, and that he would not repeat them.
Of course, in the SOCA he blamed the Federal government for failing to help enough. Since then he has made no progress on paying the contributions owed to NMIRF. He has abandoned his former plan pushing for pension obligation bonds (reported after I drew this cartoon), with his new mantra being we need "new" investment (and his latest deal with E-land for the purchase of Aqua Resort Club). He has said that he must continue with strong government employment practices and indicated he wants to hire more, despite our bloated government payroll. He has already issued an RFP for a new power plant, despite the questionable need for such an expensive purchase at this time. He has shelved the request for extradition of Ed Buckingham and there appears no likelihood he will do so. And of course, he is gearing up to defend himself in the Senate, recognizing he will lose in the House on the impeachment.
He obviously has not learned anything.
Coincidentally, the Governor's photo in today's Variety with the Mount Carmel School (celebrating 40 years of Catholic education) shows him wearing a yellow tie. :-)
Since I drew this cartoon, the Governor has also avoided the MV news reporters, despite his promise of greater transparency.
January sun and tropical heat
Governor Fitial decided to give his State of the Commonwealth Address to the House of Representatives on the last day of the 17th Legislature. He is a lame duck (can't run for governor again) and he gave his SOCA to the lamest of lame ducks on their very last day in office. Included in the group were his supporters who lost their re-election in the last election--going from a CNMI Republican party majority to a mere 4 house members, one of whom is new.
His SOCA was ridiculous, but it did contain his admission of making mistakes. A mild statement for the corruption and complete ruination of the CNMI he has caused.
In this cartoon, I have crime clouds and corruption lighting, CUC in the oil-slicked pond (a reference to the CUC fiascos we've seen-from the ridlyme scandal to the current PPA sole source give-away). One lame duck is smeared with mud from the NMIRF quagmire, caused by the governor paying roughly 41% of employee contributions into the Fund, making is obviously underfunded and on its deathbed. There is also the health jungle, a reference to horrible state of the CHC, caused when the governor decided to create a new governing board and then change funding from about $31 million a year to $5 million a year. Three immediate jeopardy declarations, the threat of losing our medicare/medicaid certification and now fortunately some federal help still means the jungle of healthcare is a very real threat.
The first little guy mentions the obvious-that one lame duck is talking to the other lame ducks. The second one says "enough already," which is the sentiment that all the voters who voted out those 17th legislature lame ducks embraced.
Overcast but perfect temperature!
This cartoon was inspired by the attempts to shore up the Governor's waning political power. Ken Mahmood and ? Osborne are in the CNMI promoting their "done deal" for a $190 million dollar power plant. As part of that, they continue to insist that everything is just hunky dory. Last week, they were saying how impeachment would be bad for the CNMI because it would send a message to investors that the CNMI is unstable.
HAHA! No, impeachment would send a message to investors that we oppose corruption and it is safe to invest here.
This week they are screaming that they are not corrupt; that they are honest; that there is no evidence of anything amiss in their contract with Fitial for the power plant purchase.
Well, that's for another cartoon. Seriously, so many things are wrong with the deal. Mahmood and Osborne's opinions are nothing but their wish to get rich off the backs of our children, grand-children and great grandchildren. They are scum. That's my opinion.
December offers perfect weather--a hint of coolness in sunny, bright days.
This political cartoon relates to the report last week that the CNMI had engaged in negotiations with people in Alaska about the purchase of an $80 million ice cutter named the Susitna. Apparently Ambrose Bennett was looking for a paid gig and thought the federal transportation money might provide an avenue for him. The Alaska owners were trying to get rid of the Susitna because they couldn't afford its maintenance. It was commissioned and specifically built for them, to carry automobiles as a ferry between villages in the north, with ice-cutting capabilities due to the area in which is was set to operate. Although they had the Susitna built with federal money and also got a new ferry terminal, the villages failed to get the necessary docking and ramps built for loading the cars on and off. They are now paying huge storage bills.
And so they are trying to sell the Susitna. Enter the CNMI...also without any docking and ramp facilities to load and unload cars onto such a ferry; minus the terminal; and certainly without purchase money...and obviously without ice in the ocean so that all of the heavy equipment for cutting through ice is completely unnecessary (and probably would add to the operational costs and fuel costs).
Fortunately, the news is that the CNMI is not going to go through with purchase. But that we would have sent serious investigations into this particular ferry, and continue to pursue it after initial information came out that makes it so clearly inappropriate for us...
Well, it just seemed like a shopaholic moment...
The little guys--one comments on one of the basic types of shopaholic thinking. The other brings us back to the reality here. It's time to impeach the governor.
It's just past midnight and pouring down rain.
I have been trying to figure out how our Governor continues to lure voters to his side. This image just popped into my head. It is, of course, a twist on the poem-step into my parlour, said the the spider to the fly. Although the fly resists many advances, in the end, he gives in to flattery when the spider speaks of his mirror and how good the fly will appear if he looks into it. Politics in the CNMI is sort of like that. Promises of better times, how good people will see things, the lure of what they want to hear and believe. Flattery (and other forms of corruption) are at the core of what is happening here now. Unless and until we change it...
Overcast, with a bit of sun. A heavy atmosphere.
Alan Fletcher was called to testify before the House Impeachment committee. He gave detailed and comprehensive testimony that included his opinion that the $190 million, sole-source contract with Ken Mahmood was a bad deal for the CNMI, that it was not needed and wouldn't save consumers money. The Governor responded in the media by calling Fletcher a liar.
I originally had Fletcher saying "nanny-nanny boo boo, I can tell on you-oo" because there was something of that feeling in the reports of his testimony, but I decided that could be more a function of the reporting rather than Fletcher's actual testimony. It took some guts and professionalism to give his testimony.
(Later Fletcher came back to the committee, said he told the truth and didn't know why the Governor was slamming him, and further testified that he refused to sign the contract when asked to do so and told the governor it needed more analysis.)
Fletcher is often seen wearing Island-print shirts. The Governor usually has his big smile in place, no matter what trash he's spewing.
I created this cartoon based after the competing rallies--this one from the support Fitial party. How ironic that they had this big sign complaining of the "do nothing Legislature" when most of the House are completely devoted to doing whatever Governor Fitial wants. They are his puppets, and of course they do nothing but what he wants. When I first made this cartoon, I labeled the puppets--T. Santos, Basa, and Fred DLG--all illustrious members of the House who seem to be among the Governor's puppets.
I've started creating editorial cartoons. Well, I've always done this, but I've started submitting them to the Variety for publication. First one appeared Friday, September 21, 2012 with Zaldy's editorial here.
That very small writing says "Nice job cleaning up, Angel." and the little guys say "He learned it from his mother." and "Ahchoo." There's also one in today (Monday's) Variety. Not online, though.
The KSPN news last night had Ed Buckingham saying that the Governor commuted a part of Diaz's sentence, giving room to the Board of Parole to consider parole.
I have been trying to figure out how that might have happened.
I have not seen the document that releases him. But based on Ed's short description, it seems the Governor must have commuted the sentence as to the 25 years violation related to methamphetamine trafficking. That would leave the lesser crimes' sentences in place, where the Board of Parole would then have room to decide on terms for release into the community.
A brief response to the commenter on Wendy's blog who said:
Jane, you are practically committing legal malpractice. You haven't practiced criminal law in decades.
There is a big, big difference between probation (in which a court retains jurisdiction) and parole or pardon and commutation, in which it does not.
Your hatred of Fitial is so extreme that you blame him for things over which he legally has no control, namely the Board of Parole. That's who any OGA request should be addressed to, not the Governor.
This blog is replete to "citations" of law without any authority whatsoever, a practice which, unfortunately, carries over to CNMI courts and judges. You should be setting an example, Jane, because people trust and rely on you as a lawyer.
I never practiced criminal law. But a court has the power to enforce its judgments, whether those are civil or criminal. And I am aware of the differences between suspension of a sentence, probation, parole, commutation of a sentence and pardon.
I didn't talk about probation in any part of my discussion.
I don't hate Governor Fitial, but I disagree vehemently with his continued actions and misgovernance in the CNMI. And I criticize those actions. He certainly is responsible for the commutation of the sentence of David Tanaka Diaz that was necessary before the Board of Parole could take any action to release him. It was obvious, even before Ed spoke on television news, that the Governor had a role in the release of David Tanaka Diaz. Any Open Government Act request would have to addressed to both the Governor and the Board of Parole to get the full picture.
I don't understand the commenter's criticism that the blog is replete with "citations" of law without any authority. That statement itself makes no sense. Perhaps the commenter doesn't realize that a citation of law is a citation of authority. I don't mind being lumped in a criticism with the CNMI courts and judges. I'd rather be with them than with the current Administration.
On the governor's decision to commute the sentece of David Tanaka Diaz:I think this is reprehensible. Perhaps the Governor knows something that we don't. But then the community should be told, because this is a matter of public importance.
The Legislature has long held a strong line against drug trafficking, especially of ice. The 25 year sentence without being subject to suspension, probation, or parole is one aspect of that line against drug trafficking. (Some may disagree with the law and call it draconian. I might even think so as it is written to apply against a first-time offender. But as it applies in this case, I don't think it is unfair, draconian, or illogical.)
The Court respected the Legislature's policy in the case of David Tanaka Diaz, but the Governor has not. He gave a THREEPEAT offender a commutation of sentence for the worst drug-trafficking crime in the CNMI.
And it should be noted that at the time, the CNMI Attorney General's office asked for a sentence of 50 years!
David Tanaka Diaz has already proven that arrest, conviction and jail time for drug trafficking isn't rehabilitative. His
first time resulted in a federal conviction. His
second time resulted in charges that were pending when he committed his
third offen
Enormous cumulous clouds in the sky; trees in perpetual motion swaying in the breeze. Another hot and beautiful day in paradise.
_____________________________________
An anonymous commenter mentioned on this blog and in the Marianas Variety comments that Governor Fitial has commuted the sentence of convicted ice dealer, David Tanaka Diaz.
I couldn't confirm that report.
I did learn from a DOC official that David Tanaka Diaz has been released from jail.
David Tanaka Diaz was caught with 212.59 grams of ice (a/k/a methamphetamine) and 77.28 grams of marijuana. The ice haul was considered the biggest in CNMI history at the time, and it seems that record may still stand.
Although he tried to quash the search warrant against him that led to the discovery of the ice, he was unsuccessful. And then he was convicted of charges in April 2002 after a jury trial.
The Saipan Tribune reported on this as follows:
The prosecution, through Assistant Attorneys General Daniel Cohan and Janine Udui, convinced the court of Diaz' guilt on the seven-count charges by presenting corroborating witnesses' testimonies, as well as, physical evidence pertaining to the events that occurred on August 29, 2001.
Diaz was apprehended that day in the district of Garapan, where authorities were able to seize from him quantities of crystal methamphetamine or ice.
Aside from the drug charge, prosecutors were able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Diaz had fought to elude police arrest and in the process, rammed into a police vehicle and injured several bystanders.
After disclosing both his and the jury's verdict, Lizama proceeded to impose the sentence on Diaz, which is as follows:
A $500-fine and restitution to the Department of Public Safety on the unsafe backing charge; six months incarceration with a $500-fine on the fleeing/attempting to elude a police officer charge; six months incarceration with a $500-fine for the hit-and-run charge; six months incarceration with a $1,000-fine for the reckless driving charge; and a $50 fine for illegal possession of a controlled substance.
The court has yet to impose a sentence on the two other charges---drug-trafficking and criminal mischief---pending the release of a pre-sentence report.
Illegal trafficking of a controlled substance, in itself, has a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years, according to the court.
Diaz was represented by court-appointed counsel Antonio M. Atalig.
The Superior Court then imposed its sentence in August 2002:
30 years jail term, 25 in jail without the possibility of parole.
Again, from the Tribune:
The Superior Court yesterday sentenced a musician to 30 years in jail "the highest penalty imposed so far by a local court on a drug trafficking offense" for what authorities consider to be the biggest drug-seizure in the Commonwealth last year.
Superior Court Associate Judge Juan T. Lizama, however, ordered that the last five years of the sentence on defendant David Tanaka Diaz be suspended, meaning that he would be released on supervised probation later on. The first 25 years of the sentence is to be served without parole.
Given this report, it seems likely that the only way David Tanaka Diaz could be released from jail would be by the Governor's action.
I hope the Variety and Tribune will investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding the release of David Tanaka Diaz from the Department of Corrections.
One small detail--I wonder if he is still obligated to comply with the terms of release orginally set by the judge.
Upon his release from jail, Diaz is to pay a fin
I've written another lengthy blog post with legal analysis, this time about the power struggle over umbrella permits, at the Day In Court blog.
I see more fruitless resistance by the Fitial Administration, to the harm of our community, including alien workers, employers, and the rest of us. We're all suffering from the uncertainty. We're all suffering from the wasted precious resources of our local government. We're all suffering from the focus on this problem when so many other issues need our local government's attention.
Tuesday evening, about 7 PM-beautiful red crescent moon. Later last night-glorious stars in deep black sky studded with clouds. More cadena de amor shrouding trees and vegetation in the wilder parts of Saipan.
________________________________
So Governor Fitial has decided that Dolores San Nicolas Aldan should no longer be the head of the Department of Corrections. Instead, she will be a special assistant on political affairs. And the Governor has nominated Ray Mafnas to the DOC post.
Well, I don't know why we're now calling relationships with "masseuse therapists" political affairs--just plain old affairs seems more appropriate. Why are we wasting money keeping Dolores San Nicolas Aldan on the government payroll? What price loyalty? or is that silence?
But the real problem is appointing Ray Mafnas to any post with this much power.
Mafnas was most recently "senior policy adviser" -another term for muscle, I think. Whenever Fitial wants something checked out--to bring someone into line?--he calls on Ray Mafnas.
Being on hand when the Governor met with DPS protesters wanting a raise.
Checking out why Jose Itibus didn't show up at the swearing in.
Even enforcing a ban on smoking and chewing betelnut at public places.
Mafnas is a man who wields his power with a heavy hand.
Thought to be behind the ouster of Clyde Norita from DPS.
Wanting to control all government employee transfers.
I suppose being the governor's muscle may be experience in "corrections." No question he has some degree in criminal justice and has previously filled in at both DOC and DPS. Still, I think this is a bad appointment.
Political payback or just a thin clique from which to draw. What a shame for us.
Another perfectly beautiful day in paradise! Blue skies with some white clouds. Sunshine, moderated by refreshing breezes. Cadena d'amour, a pesky vine with very pretty, small pink-petaled flowers, is in bloom.
_______________________________
Before I go and read all the blogs and comments and talk with others, I'm just going to give some gut-level responses to the headline news that Judge Munson quashed the subpoenas in "massage-gate."
He's acted promptly. No one can say he dallied about on this.
He's articulated reasons that make sense (at least to lawyers). Separation of powers and the restraint of the court from participating in the government's investigation are not pretty or popular sound-bites, but they are important foundations of our legal jurisprudence and our system of government.
He's acted fairly and neutrally. I'm guessing he's as curious as the rest of us to actually find out what happened. But he didn't let his own curiosity or disgust about the situation overtake his judgment.
I don't like the outcome, but I'm not fair and neutral. I am disgusted and wanted some heads to roll. Still, I can't fault Judge Munson for reaching this decision.
Now, we'll have to see if this is the end of Massage-gate, or if there will be more federal investigation, more action by the court. I sincerely hope that the Governor is required to pay for his serious and flagrant abuse of power.
Because I don't agree with the Tribune's headline news or the Governor's take that "the truth has prevailed." We haven't heard the truth yet. It hasn't yet prevailed. Ed Buckingham represented the Governor, but he didn't represent the people in this matter. He has won nothing for us.
We did get this, though, from the order:
According to the declarationo fCaptain Georgia Cabrera, it appears that movant (Dolores San Nicolas) left and returned to the Governor's room several times during the treatment, presumably leaving the defendant unattended by any corrections officer for some periods of time...This conclusion is supported by the declaration of Corrections Officer I Abigail Borja...
So at least we know that the defendant was not really in custody all of the time. The spin of the Administration isn't fully supported by the existing factual record, as thin as that record is. And so there are still many, many unanswered questions.
And Stanley Torres is wrong. Shutting up and not disclosing in full public view the answers to the many questions does not put an end to the controversy. It will simply fester.
Rain, gray skies, and very cool temps all week; the ocean has been slate gray, too. Today, there's some blue and green in the water, the sun is starting to glare through the clouds, and the rain has stopped (although it was still cool this morning).
_______________________
If Governor Fitial had only kept his mouth shut one more day, the story of Chinese Take-Out / Massage-gate would have been off the front page and possibly not even in the news at all. (Well, except for the Tribune, which seems to be running its stories days late, now telling us today they "learned" about Cheng's legitimate job at Yu Yu Spa--They probably learned about it from reading Wendy's Blog!) But the Governor is keeping the story alive and fresh, and he says now that he did not "order" the "release" of the federal detainee, Qingmei Cheng.
This statement sounds like the semantics game that President Clinton tried (and lost) when he said he didn't have "sex" with his intern. As if a blow job was not sex.
And for Fitial, as if a "request" to an employee who "serves at the governor's pleasure" and can be sacked at any time by you, and who knows you will not hesitate to terminate her employment, is anything other than an order.
It always makes me nervous when the Governor throws out a smelly bone and the media hounds go chasing after it; I wonder whether that is to distract the media and public from something else, something worse.
_______________________
It's also quite clear this (massage-gate) incident is not an isolated incident, either from the Governor's side or from the Department of Corrections side.
The Governor previously rescued this same "masseuse" from arrest for loitering, making this at least the second time she's been brought by police/correction officials to the governor's mansion to give him a massage.
And DOC's Dolores San Nicolas has (allegedly) at least once before ignored a court order about detention of a person with court-ordered conditions. She allowed her husband, after the court sentenced him to jail without release, to visit the crime scene ostensibly to retrieve a gun (!), and that place happened to be the home of his victim.
_______________________
Dolores San Nicolas has her hands more than full. Wally Deleon Guerrero died in his cell at DOC, an apparent suicide. Wally was being held on domestic violence charges.
Condolences to Alice Guerrero and family.
And now to the political side of this tragedy: why doesn't DOC has sufficient measures in place to prevent this?
And will the next "apparent suicide" be Qingmei Cheng?
DOC does not sound like a safe place.
_____________________________
The Saipan Tribune has today, Friday, published this as news: Fitial in pain.
This news report is predominantly spin, with some very lame excuses:
1. The DOC chief Dolores San Nicolas takes responsibility. She tried to reach the AG and a U.S. Marshall first, but couldn't.
2. Fitial was in severe pain.
3. His wife was present throughout.
On #1
Of course Dolores San NIcolas is responsible for her role in this. But her job security depends on the Governor, and he called her and "asked" for the prisoner to be brought to him. He is also responsible.
Both should face consequences for their actions. Those consequences should include both employment discipline /loss of their jobs and criminal contempt/other charges.
Also, the veracity of their statements should be thoroughly tested. I hope the Feds get the communications records to confirm whether San Nicolas made such phone call/attempts to the AG and the US Marshall. Can records show this?
On #2
It makes no difference how the Governor felt as to the abuse of power. You don't get to use prisoners for your personal needs because you have personal needs and are the Governor.
Also, is this believable in light of his conduct public appearances on that day and the next? The Governor has had medical problems; and those do relate to his back, which means he could be in pain. It's plausible. Yet there are no reports that he seemed in any way to be slower, in pain, uncomfortable on the days leading up to this or the next day.
On # 3
It makes little difference what his wife did to the Governor's abuse of power. The abuse is getting a federal prisoner out of detention for your personal services. I'm sure in the public's eye that massage is less scandalous than prostitution, but both are equally weak as legal support for the Governor's actions.
There there is the question of whether this is believable. Quite frankly, I'm having trouble believing it. But I wasn't there, and don't know. But then I keep going back to the photograph of the first couple, and the anger and unhappiness in the faces of Josie and Ben. At the inauguration, when they should be celebrating.
Just makes me skeptical.
So what do we call this scandal? I've seen "rub-a-dub-dub gate" but I don't much like that, because it makes me think of bathtubs not massage. Other ideas? "Chingching gate" or "Pain-Relief-gate"?
We can send Howard Willens to Washington, D.C. the minute we hear that the Court has dismissed the initial 2 counts of the case fighting federalization of our CNMI immigration.
But we are helpless to obtain printer ribbon to issue permits to the people here trying to renew their entry permits.
For about 2 weeks now, our office has been hearing how CNMI Immigration doesn't yet have the renewal permits ready because they're still waiting on printer ribbon. Yeah. Right.
You can read the entire post at Angelo's blog:
I am voting for Heinz Hofschneider in the gubernatorial runoff election. I fully endorse his candidacy and ask that you vote for him on November 23.
While Ben Fitial has been a supporter of Beautify CNMI, a campaign I hold very close to my heart, I cannot in good conscience vote for the man that refused to meet with concerned citizens for nearly two years concerning another very important issue, ocean conservation.
Instead of meeting with us to hear what we had to say, instead of engaging us to understand our intentions, instead of hearing our pleas to just listen, he ordered his administration to carry out a campaign appealing to the worst side of our local people. And this was not the only island issue in which he did this. And we were not the only targets of his vindictiveness.
My experience with Heinz Hofschneider was the reverse. He took the time to listen to us. He made a point to educate himself on the subject. He sought out experts that knew more about the subject than himself. And after careful consideration he made his decision.
Heinz is the type of man I want leading our people. I humbly ask you to support his bid as our next governor.
I like this endorsement because it gives specific facts and opinions, and I agree with the values expressed.
Did any one else find this bit in yesterday's Saipan Tribune ironic?
The governor said the Subcommittee and the people of the Commonwealth are entitled to know exactly how much Fiscal Year 2009 funding has been spent to prepare for the implementation of federalization, how much more will be expended in the remaining months of FY 2009, and whether DHS is depending in part on funding being sought for FY 2010, “buried somewhere in the Department's request for $55.1 billion.”
Governor Fitial HAS been listening to Tina Sablan, after all! While he denies that the people of the CNMI have a right to know what our CNMI government is spending to fight federalization, he is insisting we have a right to know how much the US government is spending to implement it.
Hahaha!
I think we have a right to know about all of it--both the CNMI and US expenditures.
Judge Wiseman is
moving cautiously, but he is moving the Open Government Act case toward final resolution.
No more delays!
You might want to check out this Daily Kos-Dengre post from 2/19/2009. All about our Governor.
It's going to offend some, so be warned.
And don't miss the bit on Alaska's Rep. Young-which also relates directly to the CNMI.
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Well, obviously, I was wrong. Governor Fitial resigned today