Rebuilding trust and passing the test

Life is a test and the challenge facing our governors-elect is no different—a test to live up to the promises made to the people. For me, they are off to a great start as the people on their “transition team” includes Democrats. The AD Team is living up to their word and that is all anyone can ask of anyone, which also implies they are determined to pass the test of rebuilding trust.

But some of the GOP who joined the AD team are already pushing to declare as GOP again, which would be a horrific and ugly poli-trick to play on Democrats and independent voters who want to see “neutral” leaders. I am just so glad that our governors-elect refused these horrific appeals. The last thing that we need is politics being injected into an effort to unite and rebuild trust. The time for divisive politics should be over—at least in the next four years.

I know some will say, Ambrose is writing about this because he is on the transition team, but that fact in itself is proof that our governors-elect are being true to the game, as we say in my culture. But there are also other Democrats on the transition team who are truly qualified to do the job so don’t try to make this about Ambrose. The reality is we are seeing full inclusion (bipartisan) politics in the Executive Office, the House of Representatives, and the Senate which is a first for the CNMI since I arrived here in 1989.

Given the opening round of political appointments to the transition team, the AD Team is off to a great start in passing the monumental test of rebuilding trust, rebuilding our economy, and improving the quality of life for the people. For sure these people were chosen based on their qualifications and not just because of their politics because I talked about/against Arnold more than anyone. But Arnold didn’t seek vengeance. Instead he forgave me viewing it as just politics, like a real professional and not forgetting that my wife and I worked our butts off for Heinz and Arnold. It’s about looking forward and to the future and not in the rearview mirror. It takes special politicians to drop the politics and do the right thing—AD are proving to be special and leading by example to pass the test.

Only time will tell the final story about the governors-elect passing the test but for sure they are giving it their best shot and that is all we can ask of anyone. I’m just glad that I can finally stop yelling and screaming from the sidelines, trying to hold the governor and voters accountable. I was burned out and sick and tired of the ugly, stinking poli-tricking, gaslighting and outright lies. The NMDs who’ve gotten nothing, the retirees who were used like a political football and the people who have been divided and manipulated now have genuine hope for better days with better leaders.

Ambrose M. Bennett
Kagman III, Saipan