what was not said

So last night the highest rating went to the Anibal soap opera "As I lose my shirt". A coward's plea for help. I heard the soap on the radio, as I was listening to Davila Colon, the announcement, "we interrupt this program for an important message from our Governor", Davila was pissed, 15 minutes taken away from his show for what!. And then the my radio started shedding tears, actual tears. My cat was outside and started meowing, in the most horrific and melancholic manner I ever heard. As I sat in the kitchen I saw candles been lit up by those doing there evening cardio walk. Some started swaying back and forth praying, in some ritual from the old Christians. As the show progressed people stopped their cars in befuddlement, disbelief. It started raining; a light drizzle. And Anibal kept talking, his poor dogs, "I have no car, no house, the monseigneur told me I must return the ring, I can't pawn it, the Brioni suits no longer fit me, my eyebrows are out of control and I have not money to trim them (it hurts too much to pluck them)".
Pobrecito, con esa carita de mamao, se cree que coje a uno de pend..o
Meanwhile, you could picture the monseigneur back at the Cathedral pleading to the sky, one knee bent, crying out load with uncontrollable pain.... "NOoooo....". Anibal was conceding defeat..... Or was he.
90% of the readers of that icon of literary talent, that beacon of journalism, yellow journalism, PRIMERA HORA, stated they believed the explanation the Gov. gave. Justice pava style has been done. The "Ay bendito" again saves a felon from the jaws of justice. And we wonder why were are so screwed as an island. We wonder why this malfeasant was elected in the first place. 90% of the poll. Ah but before we distress ourselves, lets review again who has this poll. PRIMERA HORA. So, its only 90% of the melons, pivazos, pseudo-nationalist, and those with major contracts with the Governor or his sister who participated in this poll.
And who were the missing characters from this first chapter, his law firm for starters. He admits to us he doesn't have a pot to piss on. He is broke. So, how does he pay for his 4 lawyers. Are the lawyers handling this case pro bono. For all the contracts they get in return they might. But they're already doing this. Which means he current legal fees and legal costs for now are covered. The rest will be taken care of by; The Melon Munoz Legal Slush Fund Blind Trust Offshore Account. Only cash is accepted and in small non sequential denominations.
And what about Mr. Gonzalez, the monopolistic tycoon from Pan American grain. Co indicted with the Gov (he shares Anibal's other papeleta). He's already stated he gave the Gov 50 cool ones. This man controls all the rice on the island. No justice department investigation. He can hold the Department of education hostage without any rice and nothing is done. Even though they are running mates in the Federal indictments, Mr. Gonzalez was conspicuously absent.
And what about the 400g's in the Partido Popular safe, the slush fund used to pay his AmEx card. Yes all cash not a dime reported. Brilliant, til you get caught.
And, if his case is so solid why employ such expensive lawyers. Court appointed lawyers are among the best and with all the publicity this case will garner, the court appointed lawyers would fall over themselves looking to get appointed to the case. I mean a good shyster would have already sued the Feds back with violation of civil rights, tarnishing an innocent mans family, who knows what creative lawyering could have evolved be a creative shyster.
Of course he did not explain the rampant nepotism as seem with his sisters. Plum contracts, which are retroactive worth millions. You gotta love this guy. Talk about "got your sista's back".
Luis Fortuno told us to beware of the 9 lies of Anibal one for every day. Luis, you missed, he gave us 100 in 15 minutes of prime time radio. He lied so much he could not remember the different version of the same events he gave last week. Like Jackie Gleason "huhmuna, huhmuna huhmuna".
Today and everyday we must remind all our friends to get out the vote if they sre voting for Luis and his ticket. All PNP's need to get out and vote. ALL PNP'S need to VOTE. AND KISS. keep it simple stupid. One cross on three ballots. If it take you more than 30 seconds you are wasting time.

Musings

As we reach the final days until the election this one unlike other elections, the stress level is phenomenal. The thought with all of us who support Luis and his team is what if we lose or worse, not lose but have the election stolen. What is our alternative. Even though I have options which make my leaving the to the mainland very plausible. I also have moral obligations which make my leaving hard. I am old school in many ways. One of the reasons I came back to the island was to spend and enjoy time with my parents. For close to 25 years I was part of the economic diaspora that left Puerto Rico during the PPD administrations of the late 70's. As time went by, the visits from my parents were not really about spending time but fulfilling a commitment. A few days here, a vacation there, a gathering for lunch. I was losing touch and my daughters were at times strangers to there grandparents.
A dear friend from PR who was with me during those years had a frightening experience which we all want to avoid. The dreaded call his mother was hospitalized with an unknown diagnosis. And there he was trying to get a flight and having to wait. After this event I convinced myself I did not want to go through that experience and started to make plans to return.
I arrived during the last years of the Rossello boom. Fast forward Sila Calderon and Anibal Acevedo Vila and at times I wonder what was I thinking. Well, I was thinking of being able to get in my car at any time and visit my parents. Of being able to share with friends and family. To call my Uncle and go sailing, share an afternoon with him, my kid brother, my father, spend an evening with my cousin just listening to music, kibitz with Mom in the kitchen. Family. La Familia. At the end of the day it's all we have and all we want and crave. Yeah, the MasterCard moments, they are priceless. And it hurts to have to chose, because I also have an obligation to my daughters and my wife, to give them a quality of life where they are safe, have a future, not have to live under constant fear. A fear where I hide under a pen name because I do not know what repercussion I may face for expressing my opinion against the dictatorship of the Populares.
I will not leave my parents, family and friends the question becomes whether I will leave Puerto Rico. Will I disassociate myself from the island. Do we give up. Thousands of Puerto Ricans have and do give up every day. How ironic, during the tenure of the Populares, Puerto Rico has undergone its greatest diaspora. It is not easy, eventually we acclimate, but this emigration should never have to take place.

Beware of the False Prophet

Tonight I underwent another painful encounter with mediocrity and mendacity with thank God what was the last debate for the Governorship of our wonderful Macondo. As the debate was about to start I got a on of those late night calls regarding another late bill which is due and has not been paid. I was polite and civil until the lady on the other side of the phone ask me why the payment was late. I went off like Mayor Nagin from New Orleans " Ya got to be shitting me, you really got to be shittin me". She said yes I need to make a note of it. I'm sure that's what the script tells her to say. I blew my top like the old cartoons of Herman Munster. "My bill is late due to the buffoon, crook, jackass" we have as governor. I went off on how I had to pay 1200.00 dollars for a light bill because to it is a waste of time to challenge the bill. On how if she wants my bills paid on time she better vote to get this crooked not good SOB out of Fortaleza: again all the epithets I could muster in 20 seconds came spewing out of my mouth. Was she at fault, no but its come to the point where in this uncivilized island you don't give a damn anymore. And I became another of the monsters we promise never to become.
After the tirade I calmly asked if she had any more questions, she very quietly said no and the conversation ended.
It's back to channel surfing between CSI, the major league series, Keith Oberman on MSNBC and the debate. The debate could only be watched in extremely small dosages anything greater than 15 seconds would could cause serious brain damage. Sadly from the brief glimpses I caught it was more of the same. The format sucks, the background was a bit better but still looked cheap, the questions were assinine and then we had our current Gov. our own court jester and Luis, looking quite Presidential (figuratively speaking)
The gov. is the king of cynicism. How he can get up there and argue his party will not tolerate corruption, the gimmick of looking into the camera and stating "I am innocent, I go forward with my head held high." Wringing his hands with the ring the Monseigneur gave him. As the ultimate coward he attacks Luis wife, but none of the other contenders stepped up to question this act of cowardice. Luis did, he defended the honor and called the Gov a coward. But the Gov is like one of those dumb Labradors, you can cattle prod them, and they still don't get the message. Can you imagine if the other two candidates said "you know what, attacking a mans wife and family is a disdainful act and we will not tolerate such attacks". Wow, a brief glimpse back into the Puerto Rico we were once proud of. Of course it did not happen.
Luis again was calm and collected, no home runs, a few jabs, and repeating the mantra this guy is a crook and a liar. Outlining a credible plan to get PR back on track.
How bad a liar he are some facts I came across today. American Airlines reduced its flights in Puerto Rico in large part due to the doubling of landing fees. The fees went from 1500.00 per flight to 3000.00 plus. Why? To finance the new terminal which no one needs. And the gap which other airlines were going to fill. No go. They to have had there fees doubled. So, Jet Blue, Spirit all increase fares not only as a result of the high cost of fuel, but the flight to Puerto Rico the raise in fare is due to local politic from the executive branch. Why does Puerto Rico have more connecting flights, because the landing fees in Miami, New York, Dallas, Atlanta are much cheaper, and the second leg of the flight is cheaper from these cities.
The same has happened with the cruise ship industry. These are not decisions made by the legislative branch, they are strictly within the realm of the executive. They are made by appointees of the Governor with the advise and consent of the Governor.
Yet, the false prophet, the one who has been blessed by the Monseigneur, the bearer of the ring, wants the people of Puerto Rico to give him another chance. We cannot allow this to happen, and we have an obligation to convince all within our reach to go out and vote for Luis. And please, follow the KISS principle when voting. KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID. One cross under the PNP insignia. That's it. And do not believe a word from the false prophet. Regardless of who's ring he wears

The Zen Master

Yesterday I log on and check the local news, the daily headlines has me frothing at the mouth. Our Cardinal, leader of the Catholic church, my church, is ordering the PNP camp, specifically Luis Fortuno to remove an ad which has in the "background the Cathedral of San Juan. If not remove the ad, remove the part where the Cathedral is depicted. It's 8:00 in the morning and I'm going ballistic. I'm running through my head all the crazy ass responses I would give this lame excuse for a religious person. I want to protest in front of the church hand out leaflets denouncing the double standard the socialist church has carried out in Puerto Rico. This is the same Cardinal who gave the most corrupt, evil, machiavellical, governor Puerto Rico has ever had the Cardinal ring. I mean does the Vatican even allow this. It's like something from the medieval times you read, the corrupt Church official in bed with the corrupt politician.
So, the day passes on we deal with the usual BS of our daily lives. At home my wife and I with some "vino" discuss the politics of the day. The subject of the Cardinal comes up, I again go nuts, then my wife tells me of Luis Fortuno's reaction. Totally cool. No problem your "highness", the ad will be removed. It only has a few more days left so no big deal. End of story. End of drama. Now the yellow press has to make up another headline to distract from the current problems of our island, oh like, education and the fact over 50% of our students do not make it past EIGHTH GRADE, or maybe the never ending battle with the outrageous cost of electricity, or the uncontrollable crime, with the cheap excuse it all due to drug wars.
Luis brought back the issues, to away the thunder, from the yellow press. As I wrote before, Luis is not the typical trial lawyer, he is the corporate and methodical type. With the same coolness he trumped Rossello. Kicked his sorry butt, without getting nasty (Oh yeah he called him a "cancer", oh my how cruel, little baby Rossello is going to cry; personally just calling him ass..le would sufficed) stuck to the issues.
And there is one issue where I believe Luis is the only one who can deliver. Uniting Puerto Rico. Giving us a break from the tribal politics. From the character assassination of the Sila Calderon era, from the lying and cheating of the Anibal Acevedo Vila era. We need a break from the crap and cheap politics. There is so much work to do that we cannot afford to waste a single minute discussing anything but getting the house in order. Example we cannot waste time discussing the still shot of the Cathedral San Juan in a political TV ad.
Luis is the Zen master, able to keep focused, his attention on the matter at hand, not at the red herring the yellow media will try to throw his way. He kicked Rossellos butt and he will do the same to our current crooked, lame excuse for a Governor.

We are Legion

In the Gospel of Mark 5:9 Jesus meets a man who is possessed by evil spirits in the region of Gerasenes speaking to him in tongues, when Jesus asks him who he is, the man replies "we are Legion for we are many". The demons recognize the power of Jesus and asked not to be returned to hell (the abyss) Jesus sends them to possess a herd of pigs who later drown in the sea of Galilee.
Recently the Rossellistas received an sign. A letter from the man to whom some refer as the messiah stating he is ready willing and able to act as governor. His followers a possessed lot, are rabid, blind and unwilling to recognize the harm they will cause, and are causing Puerto Rico, and the statehood movement. Their contempt for Fortuno is baseless and childish. Worst of all it is irrational.
Most dictatorships, grow from the ludicrous, the sense of of an ego which tells them "only I am capable of solving this problem". I have always felt that in the case of Rossello this ego was fed in large part a result of his profession and his success in the same. Rossello was a very able and successful pediatric surgeon. Like many surgeons and physicians (not all), they develop the demigod syndrome. The life of the patient is in THEIR hands in the operating room they, the surgeon, talks to God and God talks to them. This over sized ego does not bode well in a democracy but is the essential element in dictatorships.
Luis Fortuno won the primary. He ran a clean campaign. The PNP has an open primary. Which means it is open to all who are registered voters and want to exercise the right to vote. In the primaries as in the up coming elections there are many Populares who, 1) are fed up with Anibal Acevedo Vila and 2) Did not want Rossello to win as they saw him a a weaker candidate, a has been, and as a person who would continue to divide Puerto Rico and not unite the island.
Between Sila, Rossello, and now Acevedo Vila Puerto Rico has suffered its most divisive politics ever. We cannot prosper, move forward, solve our problems when we are permeated with hate and tribalism.
The Rossellistas have been following a tribal leader. They have started to speak in tongues, they contract with the most amoral person in Puerto Rico's history,Anibal Acevedo Vila. They believe they are many. They do not care the harm they cause, vengeance and hatred invades their soul. Will we, the voters and believers of statehood be able to forgive. If Luis wins it will be easy to forget. If Luis loses...may God gives us the courage and wisdom to forgive.

Dodge City

In the last three weeks in my neighborhood there have been over 15 robberies. One store which has been a landmark for the last 30 years will be closing its doors due to the last burglary in which one of the employee's had his head cracked open.
Its kinda hard to claim justice when the Tito Kayaks of the world can get away with murder. When our governor is under Federal indictment with 24 counts, when the mini me senator from the PNP is under a 32 count Federal indictment.
When Police officers are underpaid and over worked, when the justice system does not respect the work they do every day. When the truckers union can block an avenue in the middle of morning rush hour and under instructions of the Executive branch the truckers are NOT to be bothered you know the whole island is going to hell in a basket.
It's the wild west and we have no sheriff to stop the criminals. And of course none of this will be reported in the press.

Like Lemmimgs

It is truly hard but understandable there are people still out there how believe either from stupidity or convenience that Anibal Acevedo Vila is a viable option and should be re-elected to four more years as Governor. It is understandable if we correlate two traits that characterize the PPD voter. They are truly like lemmings. In this elections unlike others the PPD voter will fall off the cliff. The traits are self rightous arrogance. And self rightous pseudo nationalism.
Unfortunately, those who we would like to see fall off the cliff will not, specifically the Ferre-Rangel family. The harm their sad excuse for a newspaper has caused and is causing will only be accepted when it is too late. A case in point is the "news" of the multi million dollar contracts the sister of AAV has with the government. A blatant case of nepotism. A case which started seven years ago when these contracts were first given with Sila M. Calderon. All are government contracts. And like the contracts with the defense of the Gov, here is another pay to play example.
3.2 million. That is the estimated value of her contracts. Our corrupt Gov had the gall to say she has fewer contracts, so whats the big deal. It is this affront to the decency of the majority of the Puerto Rican people which makes this individual so disdainful.
3.2 million in three years. The contracts were increased from 900k to 3.2 million. At a time when thousands of families here and in the states are losing their homes, savings, cars, unable to afford health insurance, the Gov. sister gets an increase in her contracts to 3.2 million.
This does NOT include additional fees she has generated as a result of her direct ties to her brother. This does NOT include the additional fees she has charged as additional fees for additional legal work. The amount stated in the contract is only a the framework from which the fees are generated.
Did the Ferre Rangel go through the trouble of reviewing these contracts. Have they gone through the work of informing the public like they did in the Rossello years of questionable arrangements between family members and those in government. The Ferre Rangel have been conspicuously quiet. They have gone out of there way to distract from the real issues at hand.
I only wish the indictments included the Ferre Rangel family. They, like the Gov are trying as hard as they can to lead the Puerto Rican people off the cliff like lemmings. The gov will hopefully head off to some Federal Resort, the Ferre Rangel will go to Florida, and we will be left with the pile of crap and trying to put the pieces together.

You feel like smacking the guy

Ok even though I said I was not going to watch the debate I broke down and between CCN, MSNBC, I turned to WAPA. Call me an elitist, frankly my dear I don't give a danm but I rarely if ever watch local programming, it just sucks. Back to the debate, first who came up with the background, truly horrendous. This was a debate, not a presentation from the Tourism board. The whole feel to it was cheap.
First let me state my opinion is biased. I cannot think of anything favorable to state about our current Gov. My focus is on how did Luis do, and as biased as my opinion may be against the Gov, I can be objective as to Luis presentation.
He held his own. In the past I had written of how Luis is not the trial lawyer type. He is not in the battlefield of the courts, nor was he a legislator, accustomed to the constant haggling and debates which occur daily in the legislature. He attacked the Gov., and the institution of the Executive branch which the Gov represents. I believe he brought home two main points: 1.) The Gov is a corrupt SOB; 2.) He is a pathetic liar. Our Gov has sold his soul to the Devil so many ties he is out of credit with Lucifer himself.
Where Luis needed more was in delivering the punches once he had the Gov on the ropes. You can't back down. Here is this guy with the gall to state he is the about real change with the exact same clowns. The Gov was very skill full in linking the legislature to Luis; Luis counter attacked but not as clearly and forcefully. Again, you need to drive the sword thru the heart ( I know hard to do when your opponent does not have one but..) truth is the legislature is not a full majority of the NPP, and the majority of actions have been done by the Gov obviating the Legislative branch and issuing executive orders.
An important point Luis did not respond to or perhaps I missed, was the Gov call to arms in securing the Judicial branch. "If the NPP wins we lose control of the judicial and the NPP will do what ever it wants." ( paraphrase)And what has the PPD been doing for the last fifty years. Who decided the last elections if not the judicial branch, who has decided all the questionable issues against the NPP, if not the Judicial branch, when has the Judicial branch been in control of the NPP majority. NEVER. We as a majority should not be ashamed to state that yes we want to control the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branch. We want it all, we want to undo all of the damage the PPD has done in the last quarter century.
But what truly was frosting my ass was the smirk on the Gov face, his rolling of the eyes, this arrogance which is any other forum would be seen as unprofessional, childish, immature. And those ears, reminded me of the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood "Oh dear what large ears". Today as always the press gives him another free pass. Yes, you feel like smacking the guy. You know, walk by and give him a good ole smack right on the side of his outstanding egghead. Just like our Moms used to do when we were well, disrespectful.

Third World Politics

Get rid of the IVU, free bus fare, free college boards, free ferry to Catano, 20% no 30 % reduction on the electric bill, free, free, free. I will buy the votes, I will fool the people, I will lie cheat and steal. That's our Gov.
A friend of mine told me a story of how he got a deal to buy millions of dollars worth of goods in the US for a government in a corrupt country in Africa. Millions in clothes, TV, anything these guys could hand out before the elections to win the electorate. Other friends who served in the Peace Corps would tell me how the local politicians would hoard the goods sent in as relief or for programs and use those for there own political gain.
Is there any difference between the actions of these corrupt crooks in the 3rd world and our Gov. Do we as a pseudo-nation stoop so low as to buy into this kind of cheap politics. Why is the press, specifically the Ferre-Rangel enterprise white washing this buffoon who is destroying our island? And we wonder why we have the highest suicide rate in the world.
Here is another bit of interesting data, again contrary to popular belief the majority of the goods purchased on the September IVU holiday were paid in CASH. CASH. People are stashing it, they gave the finger to the governor and spent the cash. Millions were spent that weekend. My humble take, people are stashing the money, if by any cruel joke we get 4 more years of Anibal these folks will have the money in hand, cash to leave PR and move to the mainland. Keep the house, keep the car, keep the furniture, I want to keep my sanity and get out.