Marianas Milk 2015-06-03

Milk-the last of an era

sunny and breezy

 

When I drew this cartoon, I had no idea that Governor Fitial would resign.  I was inspired to create this because of the tradition during Lent to "give up" some pleasure or activity as a means of self-sacrifice.  I thought it would be funny to think of Governor Fitial "giving up" reading the Variety. It has, after all, called for his impeachment or his resignation for years now.

I also submitted several other cartoons, now untimely--the Governor sending Valentines to the Senators (as a means of wooing them to vote against impeachment), the Governor on-stage in an opera scene handing a bouquet with extra dollar bills stuffed into it to the Gotterdamerung maiden representing the 18th Senate, and a comparison of the new year of the snake with our new year to impeach--lots of fireworks and a chance for a new beginning.

With the resignation, Benigno Repeki Fitial is no longer Governor.  I am hopeful that the need for the stress relief of political cartooning will abate.

Things already seem better with Governor Eloy Inos--he has at least renewed the contract of Alan Fletcher at CUC. Fitial was so intent on monkeying around at CUC that we lost an able director (Abe Utu Malae) and were on the verge of losing Fletcher, also educated and experienced in utilities management.  Fitial was obviously upset with Fletcher who refused to back the very-hinky contract with Saipan Development LLC. Inos understands that CUC must have SOMEONE in charge who knows something, and if Fletcher leaves, the vacancy will be horrible.

There there is the arrest finally of Joseph Crisostimo for the murder of Emy Romero is reassuring.  Although the DPS and AG assure us that the long delay (more than a year since her murder) had nothing to do with Governor Fitial or his political pressure, you still have to wonder why it took so long when we were told last October or November by Joey San Nicolas that the lab reports were back and there would be an announcement imminently--and yet it took 3+ months to make that arrest! And coincidentally it happened only after Fitial left office. 

I am so relieved that Fitial is no longer our Governor.  Fitial at least got it right in his letter of resignation-his stepping down is good for our community.

More Milk-Fitial evades reporters

Unseasonably cold. Windy, rainy, and just down-right chilly.

 

This political cartoon was inspired by a recent report in the Marianas Variety about how the Governor slipped out after a session with Willie Tan and the Governor's cabinet and other important government officials. Instead of meeting with waiting reporters and answering basic questions, the Governor sent word that he was still in meetings. The reporters waited until they were eventually told the Governor had left the building by another exit.

His response was hilarious. He said he hadn't run away from the reporters, they had failed to catch him! Then he said that certain reporters should consider why they had such difficulty getting information from the government when the others didn't--basically admitting that he plays favorites, gives stories only to the Tribune (a Willy Tan mouthpiece), and has no intention whatever of being subjected to questions from any but the sycophantic.

Just two weeks ago he promised greater transparency.  Well, we see clearly what exactly this Governor is and how very undemocratic he is.

My new venture

I've started creating editorial cartoons. Well, I've always done this, but I've started submitting them to the Variety for publication. First one appeared Friday, September 21, 2012 with Zaldy's editorial here.

That very small writing says "Nice job cleaning up, Angel." and the little guys say "He learned it from his mother." and "Ahchoo."

This is essentially based on Angel's job as press secretary, which is more often than not having to excuse the Governor's misdeeds and neglect.  The Governor's contributions to the dung heap are so enormous that sweeping them under rug doesn't adequately hide the mess.  Angel's mom is in the little people's comments from my recollection of her at MLSC years ago, when she worked as our accountant and left in a hurry (an easy out for her) after failing to do a very good job hiding things she shouldn't have done.  Note, I added a lobster bib on Angel because of the lovely photos that had been posted on facebook showing him and Mike Ada and others on one of their many stateside trips chowing down on ginormous crustaceans.

There's also one of my cartoons in today (Monday's) Variety. Not online, though.