Red, blue, yellow, or green?

This gubernatorial election will, most likely than not, be the most interesting and critical election in the Commonwealth’s history. Four gubernatorial candidates with vast differences in their political and professional careers are vying for the top job.

The Red Team, captained by candidate Froilan C. Tenorio, governor from 1994 to 1997, holds title to the biggest spender in the Commonwealth’s history. The economy during Tenorio’s time was thriving and they abused it. Ooops, I said, “they.” Yes, Tenorio and his cronies (JST, HSG, JIP to mention a few) abused the privilege and hired every Dick and Harry who wanted a job. Moreover, to add salt to injury, several Dicks and Harrys were ghost employees. “Ghost employee” means “a purported employee who knows nothing, does nothing, and shows up at work only to pick up a biweekly check.” If you want this fiasco to be repeated, then please vote for Tenorio.

The Blue Team, with pitcher gubernatorial candidate Heinz S. Hoschneider, Speaker of 13th Legislature, only seems to have the vision and not the wherewithal to direct and move the Commonwealth in the right direction. He introduced the minimum wage bill over a year ago and did nothing until the election drew near. He seems to have the vision, but not the timing. The Commonwealth is in deep financial trouble and he wants to increase the minimum wage. The Yellow Administration has done a superb job in initiating the Commonwealth’s grave. It is about three feet deep, and here comes the visionary who’s very eager to dig even deeper. Candidate Hofschneider only seems and sounds very intelligent. Listen again my friends. He is the most condescending, arrogant, and egotistical politician I have ever heard of.

His buddy, catcher Dave, who is neither a visionary nor a seeming whatever, introduced a 2006 budget proposal for only the Public School System. The governor wants $50 million for PSS; therefore, Dave wants to honor the governor’s wish and forget the rest because the PSS is the only department in the Commonwealth. Great idea Dave! What the Legislature needs to do is pass a realistic and responsible budget that takes into account available financial resources.

The Blue team is backed by JST. Who is going to captain the Blue Administration? With only a pitcher and catcher on the Blue Team, I wonder who will be on first, second, and third base. Do you recall what happened during Froilan Tenorio’s tenure? If you want history to repeat itself, please vote for Heinz and Dave.

The Yellow Team fiasco wants another four years so he can tell us that the economy is “pretty darn good.” I am beginning to see the game he plays and, for lack of a better game title, I will call it the “Opposite.” When he says “good,” it means “bad.” Thus, “pretty darn good” means “ugly darn bad.”

He says the tourism industry has grown when some hotels are half empty, JAL pulled out, Continental cuts back, and revenue collection for FY 2005 is $206 million. His statement is only true because what he says is the exact opposite of what he means. The Game, my friends!

The continuing state of emergency due to the CUC problems is a farce. Speaker Fitial hits the nail right on its head when he stated in the Gubernatorial Debate that the state of emergency is a ploy only to prevent a payless payday. The governor declared the purported emergency in order to empower himself with unbridled reprogramming of public funds to cover CUC’s financial problems and many others.

The Legislature should subpoena the Secretary of Finance and have him disclose under penalty of perjury what funds have been reprogrammed by the governor and for what purposes. The governor is mandated by law to submit to the Legislature a report describing in detail the emergency requiring the exercise of such authority, the measures being taken to deal with the emergency, and a financial plan for meeting the cost of these measures. The Legislature has not seen such a report from the governor. I guess the governor thinks that he is above the law. Perhaps he displays such extreme arrogance because he has AG Brown to sweep dirt under the rug. If you commit a criminal act between now and Election Day, just check the governor and he’ll arrange dismissal from Brown. Between the governor, Brown, and Moots, anything is negotiable. After the Election Day, don’t do the crime because all you’ll get is my sympathy.

I wonder whether the Yellow Team’s motto “making it happen” means what it means or does it mean “making it not happen.” If you wish things not to happen in the next four years, please vote for the Yellow Team.

The Green Team, championed by Speaker Fitial, is the only candidate with vast knowledge in business and investments. He has the vision and the wherewithal to do something about the “ugly darn bad” economy.

I am extremely bothered when I hear educated locals talk about Speaker Fitial, saying, “He is Carolinian, his wife is Filipina, and he is too connected with the garment industry.” Although I wish to respond, I refrain because why bother with people with no brains. The no-brainers refuse to apply this to the governor, who is half Carolinian, has no First Lady, and has no business sense or investment connections.

Speaker Fitial’s race, wife, and his prior relationship with the garment industry are not issues. The biggest and most critical three issues the Commonwealth is facing are the economy, the economy, and the economy! Ben and Tim can breath life into the withering yellowish Commonwealth.

Alfonso Dela Cruz
Kagman, Saipan