My 2 Cents

                     

It is no secret that the majority of Guahan would consider themselves Democrats in the political sense.

This is my belief on why:

Guam has been governed since 1898, first by Henry Glass followed (i think) 62 others.  In the beginning, the governor was more of a dictator, directing policy, rules, regulations and laws mostly passed down from the U.S. Navy.

So, if you think about it, 114 years ago is when the people of Guam began getting accustomed to being told what to do and how to do it. The Democrat way is based on community and social responsibility or, as I refer to it, the way of the Sheep.

Don’t get me wrong, Democrats are not bad at all.  I am just a believer of individualism.  If I absolutely HAD to choose a political stance, it would be neither Dem. or Rep., I would choose Libertarian; Maximum Freedom. Minimum Government.

I believe it is the responsibility of the individual to make the correct choices. I do not need the government to tell me what clothes to wear to school or if I am allowed to use a cell phone when driving.

I am fully capable of making my own decisions and actually deciding that only an idiot would risk the safety of him/herself and others by texting and driving. We are not a bunch of sheep that need “tending”, we are People who have the capability to thrive if we experienced true freedom.

Red Meat: Democratic Dish

WHILE Eddie Calvo remains pinned beneath the grinding wheels of that rogue bus his trolls used to throw senator Mana Silva Taijeron under, Bordallo scion, attorney and (sometime) Democrat, Mike Phillips has caused a furor of his own among Dem party faithful. Guamblog tipsters say, the attorney even earned a rebuke from congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo.

On election night, as I wrote earlier, I was too occupied to follow the returns no matter hard I tried. However, I did catch a brief segment with Clint Ridgell on PNC. Ridgell hosted banker and GOP leader Phil Flores and attorney Mike Phillips.

The PNC reporter asked the political color commentators what they thought about a Democrat Unity commercial recorded only days ahead of the elections, that featured both former governor Carl Gutierrez and the congresswoman. Ridgell wanted to know if the men thought the television spot was effective in boosting Democrat voter support.

Clearly confused about what Ridgell had asked, the ponytailed attorney began wildly gesturing with his hands and shaking his head, “No, no…that will never happen!” he snapped. He went on to say that there is no way Madeleine would ever run with Carl for office again.

          

  • As island Democrats gathered at Shirley’s with congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, a stunned silence fell over the room after PNC newsman Clint Ridgell asked attorney Mike Phillips about the effectiveness of the Democrat Unity television spot featuring former Governor Carl Gutierrez and congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo. Phillips’ comments raised eyebrows and ire, from even the congresswoman who was overheard by guests talking to her staff. One village leader alleges Bordallo was flabbergasted by Phillips defiant outburst because it sought to undo the appearance of “Unity” the Democrats have struggled to achieve this year.

    “Why is Mike speaking for me,” the village leader alleges Bordallo snapped, “And saying that I will not run for governor or lt. governor, especially with Carl. Why is he even speaking for the democratic party when he never shows up for meetings or anything?!”

    Channeling Karl Rove’s election night meltdown, Phillips refused to credit the former governor with staving off a Democratic demise at the polls. Even as, senator ben pangelinan - not one readily counted as a friend of Gutierrez - told PNC, “    I credit Gov. Gutierrez for stepping down; he helped unite the Democratic party. With his willingness to put aside past hurts he, of all people, not only stopped the disunity but actually instilled the ‘unity’ message.”

    Even former senator and Bank of Guam president Lou Leon Guerrero, also recognized as one of Gutierrez’s critics, told the news station that, “Gov. Gutierrez, our party ‘chair,’ coming together with Madeleine, really helped the united effort.”

Flores, looked embarrassed for the Democrat’s clueless outburst and went on to reply how he thought the one minute ad may have helped to stem further losses for Democrats who retained the majority, despite losing senator Judi Guthertz along the way.

“Even if Carl is not the party chair in title,” the Republican heavyweight told Ridgell, “he (Gutierrez) is still the head of Democratic Party of Guam.” Flores said that with Carl coming together with Madeleine in the ad he believes it “really helped.”

A clearly flustered Phillips squirmed, casting his eyes downward, obviously not in agreement with Flores’ assessment.

As the dialog continued, Phillips took several more pointed stabs at Gutierrez, dismissing his influence and the inarguable magnitude of the former governor’s presence within the Democrat party.

What was further surprising was how shameless and carelessly Phillips’ cavalier attitude was put on full display, reaffirming what Guamblog had written about before: that the deep divide among island Democrats was the fault and strategy of Bordallos from the very beginning to leverage power and control.

After the incomparable former governor Ricky Bordallo so obscenely dispatched with himself, Bordallo’s widow and friends felt that leadership should rightfully go to them, like some sort of hereditary title or fiefdom. From messages received by Guamblog this week, others think so, too.

    

  • Attorney Phillips, according to Guamblog readers has picked up on that notion of entitlement and worked behind the scenes, not so secretly, against Gutierrez for years.


Attorney Phillips is not the only one who has trouble with a unified party - and playing nice with friends. According to several Democrat leaders, during the taping of that Unity commercial it was apparent the Party was anything but…as Speaker Judi Won Pat threw a “hissy fit” and acted like a “prima donna” because she didn’t like the script prepared for the congresswoman, whom, prior to Won Pat’s own dismal showing on Tuesday, she had hoped to replace soon.

Well, actually, according to the sources, it wasn’t that Won Pat had an issue with the entire script as much as she did with one word in the script.

   

This year, both of the island’s political parties tried to convince voters of their unified spirit and commitment to work for the people of Guam. Nevertheless, 2012 will no doubt go down as the one of the most contentious and divisive year in island politics ever. So much for unity.

In the coming months, internecine rivalries on both sides are bound to flare up ferocisously, as veteran elected leaders continue their squabbles and jockeying for the lion’s share of political red meat, in their bids to gain political muscle, and the advantage, ahead of 2014.

And Guamblog will be watching…Esta!

Democratic Disunity

BY THE END of the day today, we will know who has officially tossed their hat into the political ring for the 2012 election season. And it is a season that may well bode demise for the Democratic party of Guam.

Historically, the two most vital causes of the Democratic party have been healthcare and voter rights. After 4 decades of sitting on the side and watching the national dialog and political tide turn to favor Republicans, healthcare and voters rights have once again come to the fore of national consciousness.

But on Guam, Democrats have done little to embrace what should be the bedrock of the party’s efforts to revitalize the local party. They do not talk beyond soundbites or champion healthcare reform - even with the US Supreme Court on their side. And they have remained mostly disingenuous and philistine about the most egregious electoral process in Guam history.
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With the 2010 Guam general elections having gone down as one of the most controversial, leaving former senators Eddie Calvo and Ray Tenorio at the head of an administration most notable for it’s shaky legitimacy, it would have seemed that the Democrats had a rallying point for island residents who were summarily cheated and disenfranchised.

However, the internal factionalism of the Democrats - first worked to supreme effect by congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo to further her own personal political ambitions - has kept the party from coming together to fight for the people in the way that Democrats traditionally have done.

Moreover, considering that most lawmakers are simply too lazy to do any real work, still others afraid that fighting for fairness and accountability in our electoral process might be seen as supporting former governor Carl Gutierrez, and a corrupt local justice department in the hip pocket of Calvo, it is no big surprise that there would be no real fight on behalf of the people on this important matter.

Gutierrez sought redress through the courts of the 2010 gubernatorial election results because the election was marred with numerous discrepancies, irregularities and violation of local election and government laws.

                    

It is no surprise then that after being left out to dry by his own party, Gutierrez, would be forced to drop a legal challenge of the Guam Election Commission and the election results.

The decision to drop the legal challenge, though both magnanimous and desperate, however freed Gutierrez to focus on the larger issue of trying to revitalize and unify the Democrat party. But here once again, Guam Democrats - more a gathering of individuals each looking out for no one other than his/her own self than a team fighting for the people of Guam - are faltering shamelessly.

Gutierrez, reknowned for bringing his oppenents into his circle rather than push them so far away he cannot see them or know what they are up to, has reached out to pull back together a party ruined by a decade-long dearth of leadership, internecine squabbling and crab-in-the-bucket mentalities.

He will however fail to patch the party. The cracks are too wide and too beneficial to people like Bordallo. Even if Gutierrez could trust a mere handshake from Bordallo - and I think he’d foolish to do so - the Democratic icon would still have a tough time corralling the numerous problem Democrats.

Gutierrez’s relationship with former runningmate Frank Aguon Jr. represents a huge obstacle to future Democratic unity as well.

Former senator Aguon was convinced by Gutierrez to join his ticket rather than faceoff during a Democratic primary. This was a big mistake for both men.

Aguon was the democratic party’s heir apparent for no other reason than there was/is no one in that party qualified or of the caliber to follow in the enormous footsteps of previous Democratic island governors. Aguon was the only Democrat who could comfortably liase with Underwood, Bordallo and Gutierrez Democrats. And he had an enormous appeal to many Republican voters.

However, his decision to team with Gutierrez in 2010 left many of the factionalists in the party feeling betrayed by Aguon, who had previously run unsuccessfully for Adelup with former congressman Robert Underwood. It also left many diehard Gutierrez supporters feeling ill at-ease with the decision as well.

And, not insignificantly, Aguon also left Speaker Judi Won Pat hanging in the wind as she waited for a call that would never come, leaving her to find out only through the media that he had demured for the second slot with Gutierrez.
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Though Gutierrez has put aside his own political ambition for the greater good of the Democratic party and island residents, but to what avail?

A message from one Guamblog reader reflects the issues Dems must contend with if they are to overcome the damage Aguon has done to his party, his career and base of support.

                                        
                              Former senator Frank Blas Aguon Jr.

“Frank Aguon really threw governor Gutierrez and his whole family under the bus. You should know he was approached by Tony Sgro who was the emissary of the Calvos asking him to withdraw (from the Gutierrez/Aguon election challenge). Word on the street has it that if Frank agreed then the money was assured for his senatorial campaign.”

The message received from the Guamblog reader goes on to say, in a passionate if not crude manner:

“He has no fucking heart and such a fucking prostitute. The selfish asshole. What he is spinning out there makes the Democrats look bad and needs to be corrected.” 

Numerous other messages and emails were received by Guamblog regarding Aguon’s odd decision to abandon a challenge to an election fraught with suspect irregularities and nonconformity to existing election law.

However, the charge concerning Tony Sgro caused me to revisit a packet of documents provided to Guamblog anonymously months earlier. Apparently, there may be something to the charge of Sgro’s - and subsequently Calvo’s - involvement with Aguon’s decision to withdraw from the court challenge to the controversial election.

     

Despite Aguon’s claim that he had to withdraw due to the financial strains the case had placed on his family, another email this time from Gutierrez to Aguon, seems to cast considerable doubt on the truthfulness of that excuse, leaving one to wonder what was really behind Aguon’s unusual decision.

    

Aguon’s actions will have the end result of further weakening the Democratic party and empowering the Republicans in ways that they have not been able to do for themselves. But all Democrats will have to shoulder the blame for failing Guam voters by not standing up when the greatest election scam to hit the island occurred.

As the election season heats up, if Aguon decides to run for a seat in the next legislature more of the yet undisclosed scandalous conduct on his part is bound to find its way to the surface for public scrutiny.

Aguon’s betrayal of his former runningmate will matter less to voters, I think, than the perception that he has joined against the best interest of the public by allying with the team of stooges that includes Madeleine Bordallo, Attorney General Lenny Rapadas and US Attorney Alicia Limtiaco - all of whom have connived and refused to do anything about the serious allegations of electoral fraud.

Democratic disunity is not solely Aguon’s fault. But he is the new poster boy for the demise of the Guam Democrats this year….and let us not be fooled: the 2012 elections will be a watershed for the Republicans if the Dems refuse to get back on course.

      

Unity My Ass

Today the Democratic Party of Guam thanked Madeleine Bordallo for asking for an investigation of 2010 election fraud allegations.  It was a subtle reminder of her “vow” last month to island Dems who felt she has played virtually no role in real Democratic politics except to come in, on occasion from the fringes, for meager campaigning stops. Local Democrats have asked her to use the authority of her position in Washington to seek federal scrutiny into serious allegations of voter irregularities that  include double voting, fraud in Barrigada and Yigo, improper ballot security, illegal purging of registered voters, and buying votes, among other allegations.

IT WAS just a few weeks ago that Democratic island leaders gathered in Sinajaña. More than 200 Democrats gathered to attest to a new-found committment towards party unity. Congressional Delegate Madeleine Bordallo and former Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez shook hands vowing mutal and full support of the pale election reform bill passed by the legislature, but naturally vetoed by governor Eddie Calvo.

That a unity effort is necessary, itself is testament to the factionalism that Madeleine has furtively fostered from the fringes of the Guam Democratic party, starting only months after the demise of her late husband, the former governor, and legendary man of the people, Ricardo “Ricky” Bordallo.

Carl is, inarguably, Guam’s only living statesman. Agreeing to surrender what would surely be a successful bid for Congress 2012 for the sake of fostering real party unity, and trusting nothing more than a feeble handshake reaffirms that fact; particularly as Gutierrez is no doubt aware of the duplicituous behind-the-scenes machinations that Madeleine has arsenaled over the years to confound him and most anything he chose to do.

The former lieutenant governor’s demure tactics of factionalization of the Democratic party to foster a very rewarding political career would not continue if real unity - and thereby organizational strength - siezed island Democrats and their leaders.

A discernible pattern of divisive Democratic politics is clear even in the waning months of her last term with former governor Gutierrez.

 

With party factionalism the dynamic that has driven Madeleine Bordallo’s political trajectory for decades, it is unrealistic to expect she will or can really do anything meaningful like real election reform from the fringes of the Democratic party where she is concreted.

In April 2001, with less than a year and a half of her second term as lt. governor, a key special advisor to her office resigned, accusing her of working to undermine the governor’s efforts to coalesce the party ahead of upcoming elections.

James Sablan, a Democratic stalwart and devoted supporter of the late governor Bordallo, cited among other reasons for “great concern” the former lt. governor’s refusal to follow a directive “to provide factual information and that documents be made on a timely and accurate manner,” relative to partisan inquiries from the legislature in 2002 pre-election posturing mode.

Sablan goes on in the resignation letter to express disillusionment in the former local TV hostess’ failure to cooperate in promoting Gutierrez’s “one policy” approach. Madeleine demonstrated this in subtle ways, such as the octogenarian fashion horse’s refusal to return to Guam (as requested by the governor) to avoid turning over executive administration to the Republican Speaker Tony Unpingco during an upcoming trip by the governor.

“The decision to change your arrival date (to Guam) for the third time - and only if seat 1A is available - has caused greater tension and stress to the staff and put me in a very difficult predicament with governor and the airlines, to say the least,” Sablan wrote.

“The governor had to reschedule his travel plans to avoid any reoccurence of the public embarrassment by the Speaker (as Acting governor),” the Democratic heavyweight said in reproach to the divaesque lt. governor.

He continued, “With only 15 months left of the Gutierrez-Bordallo team, I would like to see that the lt. governor’s office work in conjunction with policies of the governor, as it should be.

“Unfortunately, I seriously doubt that this will really happen and I can no longer work under this environment. It is not within my person to continue to allow the compromises that jeopardize my relationship with you or the governor to continue. Therefore, is in the best interest of all parties, and particularly mine, I will be requesting the governor to transfer me to an agency that can best use my financial and administrative abilities.”

 

While many sincerely hoped that Carl had finally armwrestled Madeline back into the Democratic fold from the far edges of the party, to stand up once firmly for the very principles that have always been the bedrock of the Democratic party - voter rights and election reform - I doubt it will produce any substantive work from Madeleine on the issue.

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Guam voters rallied to Ricky Bordallo’s cause not because they condoned his corruption or incredibly horrible suicide during rush hour traffic in a political spectacle far too over the top. Rather, because he fought hard for himself, he fought hard for them. His own personal battles became the battles of the people of Guam.

Carl is like Ricky. He fights hard. He is a true statesman, an internationally honored leader and hero - and a fighter. Stepping aside with a shaky handshake and nod from Madeleine may demonstrate a degree of magnanimity few other than Carl possess, however it is foolish strategy.

Factionalism as politics is successful for the congresswoman. The only team she has historically shown any firm, productive interest in, is her own. When all the braying about unity dies down the Democrats will remain divided, directionless and cheated out of our right to “one man, one vote” accountability.