Akaka voted “YES” on Sub-Saharan/CBI Bill

The US Senate recently cleared H.R. 434 (Trade and Development Act of 2000), a measure that grants preferences to over 70 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and central America as discussed earlier this week by Floor Leader Oscar Babauta.

Indeed, the clearance is news for those of us who have weathered the Storm of Hypocrisy from dedicated detractors who, in no uncertain terms, wanted to protect American jobs in textile industries across the country.
Apparently, these hypocrites have always had a different perception of US Citizens here who bring home the bacon, so to speak, through non-garment or residual jobs because of the presence of the much maligned industry here.

But this isn’t the real newsy aspect of the measure by any long shot.

It’s Senator Daniel Akaka’s affirmative vote on H.R. 434 that I find appalling. He and Congressman George Miller have worked up a storm using perceptual indentured slavery and prostitution as reasons for a federal takeover of these isles. I mean, it’s an interesting stand only to see their excuses dampened by the very existence of the same issues in the state the come from. They have apparently laid-low when they found out how royally they have been slammed by the so-called Glass House Syndrome.

I was really wounded by Akaka’s arrogance and apparent hypocrisy. As an islander, I expected a sense of what’s known in Hawaiian as Hui (family) by the fact that he hails from an island however a state. But there was nothing up that alley given that his political career is only as good as his willingness to perform the Tahitian dance at the click of a finger from his big labor bosses. Interesting how he’s shifted against what he stood for in favor of protecting labor unions’ version of American jobs.

Akaka wanted denial of the very preferences he’s recently voted for under the Sub-Saharan/Caribbean and Mexican bill. Sir, these are foreign countries! The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are a permanent part of our country. I suppose it’s perfectly fine to grant Lodrigo, Mohammed and Belafonte their economic freedom while denying your own brothers and sisters the same preferences? Your action in sterling contradiction must be the epitome of hypocrisy. Eh, we’re taking stock for we know we deserve the benefits of equal application of policies!

Fitial prevails in office bout
Speaker Benigno R. Fitial prevails in evicting Juan N. Babauta from the legislature’s building on Capital Hill. Babauta has agreed to vacate the premise in 15 days. He will move to the speaker’s official residence located on the hill.

Babauta’s decision to vacate the office is a grand tale of what happens when one decides to park common sense in his back pocket. It’s a political issue in the first instance, therefore, none of the taxpayers deserves to have his or her hard-earned tax contributions spent on wasteful litigation.

From the outset, it is clear that Speaker Fitial has an obligation to his colleagues who are crammed on the other side of the building.
Accommodating their office space needs is his obligation. He has no obligation to grant Babauta office space. La rason must always be given a fair chance (common sense) over personal grandstanding.

How I wish Babauta had employed the same vigor in defending the NMI against an agenda by well honed hypocrites in Washington who have apparently gone tired of being forced to do the Tahitian Dance at the instant command of big and monied labor bosses. Perhaps it’s just as appropriate time for Mr. Babauta to quiz his braddah Akaka why the warpedly contrarian view in his quest to federalize the NMI versus that of his positive vote on the Sub-Saharan/CBI bill. Disgusting, isn’t it?