By David Lubofsky
The outdated failed fear factor of Guam’s Republican Party and its leadership needs to change in order to take back the legislature by infusing new blood and excitement with new candidates and leaders in the party.
In my opinion, the Guam Republican leadership is so afraid or threatened to make waves and allow independent thinking or new blood that those seeking office as new candidates must conform to this defeatist crap. These new candidates, especially without name recognition, may end up losing their bid for office without truly ever expressing what they want to do for the people of Guam with an independent assertive voice. Instead, they become a mouthpiece with outdated republican party rhetoric forced on them by the conformist party, ahh I mean Republican Party of Guam.
The current failed Republican leadership, in my opinion after watching the party for 5 decades, is the real issue today in the demise of the party. They are living in the past, fear losing power, forcing conformation by candidates rather than fostering independent and/or assertive, exciting thinkers. God forbid an independent thinker emerges from the Republican Party with innovative ways to help the people of Guam. How dare they?
It is good Mr. Crisostomo, a good person, resigned. It is a start. One reason Mr. Crisostomo left, it’s reported, was due to the infighting in the party, but the real infighting was between party leaders, not just among senators. Others should also leave to redefine and strengthen the party. Time for new blood.
In addition to leadership issues among each other, it was the Republican leadership failure that stood by idly as Senator Tom Fisher against legislature standing rules was allowed to sue Senator Telo Taitague with our tax money which started much of this current infighting among senators. It was the leadership that engaged in a yelling match also with Telo unprofessionally in public during the picture taking, not setting an example that cooler heads should prevail or taking the higher ground. It was the leadership that let their party member trash Trump and said virtually nothing but then jumps ironically on Telo for trashing Fisher upsetting many supporters and further sending the party into a tizzy. It was the leadership that supports Jimmy Moylan who they threw out of a party leadership position in the past and no doubt will get his butt kicked by Ms. Ginger Cruz. Go figure!! It is the leadership that restricts those running for office to conform to outdated behavior and stick to predefined party rhetoric and rules. Independent assertive thinkers be damned. Senator Fisher pushed back at the party and was punished with his picture not being included in the Republican Party of Guam group picture but was not in any violation of GEC rules.
Weak weak weak!!
The Republicans will not see a majority until new leaders are in place, not the current power seekers from yesteryear. If they are not able to get a majority in the Guam Legislature as has been the case for decades then the party leaders need to move on, the same way the leadership of a sports team moves on with continued losses. Hey guys, you do not own the party for your personal gains, it belongs to the people of Guam. Most of you had your chance. It’s time to give new bloods a chance. Look at the polls, Republicans are mostly in the back of the pack fighting for the last seats out of fifteen. Whose fault is that?
This is especially true as we have an active well-liked democratic governor by more than half of the island and democratic leadership that appears to have their act together (gosh, I bit my tongue saying that). It seems pretty apparent to me that a democrat will be elected as governor again in 2026, even if not Josh. In contrast, the Republican leadership lives in an outdated political world with tired leaders who still think they are relevant as in the past and are apparently personally threatened with losing control more so than shoring up party strength as the priority for the future. It will be humorous to watch who they bring out of the stable to run against the Democratic Governor candidate in 2026. Who stands out in the party now? Hey Chris Duenas, it is your turn! WHAT A JOKE!!
Who do you have as a potential candidate for 2026 who speaks for the people of Guam as let us say Senator Barnett does or as Speaker Therese Terlaje does? Look at Barnett and how he fights for the people of Guam, no matter if his party tries to rope him in or not. This is why he is a top vote getter. Who does that on the Republican side? No one, again as independent assertive ideas are not allowed. Who do you have that can go up against Josh, Therese, or Chris Barnett? If you cannot answer that, then look in the Republican leadership mirror.
We cannot blame Senator Fisher or Senator Taitague or other Republican senators for the infighting we now see. It is the weak republican leadership refusing to take a position or refusing to look in the mirror of change for the betterment of the party and the island that owns the problems we now see. It appears that being in a leadership position is more important in and of itself than actually doing something to move the party forward and to take over the legislature.
It is time to follow Mr. Crisostomo’s lead and move on. The people of Guam deserve a new, exciting, fresh outlook in their Republican leadership that can take over the legislature and fight for change to benefit the people.
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David Lubofsky is a resident of Tamuning
