Opinion by Mabel Doge Luhan for Mabel’s Table, Kandit News & Views
Epiphany! My Feast of the Epiphany did indeed bring a shocking realization: I’m not perfect.
It’s a fringe view, and you will most likely disagree. But hear me out on this hot take.
You see, back in 2022, I voted for Palacios-Apatang in the runoff election. They weren’t my first choice. Not even my second choice, probably. But I was pragmatic, and I followed Tina Saipan’s endorsement and pledge of support for the Palacios-Apatang team.
Team PA was supposed to bring sexy back, constitutionally speaking. And they kind of did. To their credit, they pivoted away from the pay-for-service model previously utilized by the CNMI government, in which Chinese gangsters were allowed to rule over our islands, as long as they provided our “leaders” with cash and meth.
Just as I can firmly say that Herbert Hoover never tongue-kissed Stalin, I am quite confident that Palacios and Apatang were not on the CCP payroll. But it is amazing that this is actually a point of contention, and something we have to be grateful for. And moreover, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the pivot wasn’t based on principles, but on simple political calculus, as well as just wanting to stay out of prison.
Because just as Si Arnold proved himself to have absolutely no spine as he stood by and shrugged while our Commonwealth was looted and plundered, he has put his spinelessness on full display again — and made a mockery of those who supported him — by fully enrolling in the Party of Trump.
Ralph Torres was famously the first governor (outside of Russia and China) to endorse Trump, and never dropped his support for the Toupeed Cantaloupe. And now Si Arnold follows in those fine footsteps, pledging fealty to a cabal of coke-snorting grifters who have declared open war on democracy, law, brown people, trade, and women.
It’s the expedient thing, isn’t it? Just as when Arnold never said a peep while his predecessor allegedly literally stole the office furniture and a few pickups, after he got done allegedly pilfering a few hundred million dollars.
We should have known back then. I should have known back then.
We should have listened to the whispers about the unpaid land lease and covert self-dealing. We should have wisened up when Arnold refused to publicly support the prosecution of his predecessor. Or when he refused to do much of anything politically unpopular but desperately needed, such as disbanding all the “commissions” and all the other comically wasteful “offices” and “departments.” Or when he didn’t speak up to shut down the multimillion-dollar vacation club that is the MVA. Nor did he say a word to start enforcing the federal ban on cockfighting or any of the other myriad federal and local laws that are completely ignored in the CNMI.
I was wrong, Arnold Palacios. I trusted you, even when you told all of us over and over who you were: when you refused to do much of anything more than refusing to take Chinese bribes, which was most likely a smart move just to stay out of prison.
And now, we don’t even have to wait for the Conversion of Saul to see your true colors on true display.
There now: be Donnie’s pet. Maybe you’ll get a free meal out of it. I guarantee Donnie will still think of you as that funny-talking Mexican, and will still consider our islands “not America.” But after you spent all that time in bed with Kim Jong Bistek, what’s a roll in the political hay with Mango Mussolini?
I gave you my vote, and even a few hundred dollars of my money. You took advantage of me, but not as badly as you took advantage of those like Tina Saipan and Jim Man-King who sacrificed years of their time and work to try to help you make a difference.
The only difference you’re interested in is the path of least resistance.
For shame.
_____
Mabel Doge Luhan is a woman of loose morals. She resides in Kagman V, where she pursues her passions of crocheting, beatboxing, and falconry.
1 Comments
elkapitan
01/05/2025 at 3:17 PM
Just like all voters every election time there is not much choice on who to vote for. since each election there is the same recycled failures 99.9% of the time on the ballots.
Each person votes for family and friends and negotiate on what they will gain if they put their friend and family in office as in many cases the largest family usually will win, while other voters have to attempt to take a chance on who they believe will be the lessor of the evils and vote them in office.
In this case it comes down to would you rather continue on with Ralphy boy and his corrupted minions as if Ralphy was to have been re-elected all would be covered up and hidden.
The only difference we have now is these corrupted Judges and lawyers along with this AG delaying and burying cases while the Feds are sleeping..
Add the inactions of the Feds who are supposed to be on these missing and missused Fed funds and the only thing that was changed by electing Arnold was Ralphy boy’s access to what was left of these funds so he could continue on his rampage and spending spree.
But not to worry, the inept Dept. of Finance has it all covered (literaly) as they seem not to have any idea of how much money is left and where it is stashed.
All else in regards to this enept Govt. stays the same with all the Govt agencies not paying CUC and it’s vendors as the legislature do noy even budget for CUC