A recent post by this blogger took aim at the Democratic Party of Guam. To be fair, there is a need to discuss the prospects of the Republican Party of Guam in this current election cycle.
Many party members are preparing for a new reality in politics with a Republican Governor and Republic Majority in the Guam Legislature. It has been some time since the Guam GOP stars were aligned like this. The 28th Guam Legislature in 2004 and the 29th Guam Legislature in 2006 were Republican majorities.
From experience I can tell you that egos and ambition rendered the policy makers in this part of the world pretty ineffective.
What will be different this time?
I will argue that if the Republican Party of Guam claims these big wins again, do not expect some mind blowing change in direction of the island. I would surmise that this election will displace some of the GOP incumbents. This would be a huge blow to the current administration as they have done much to ensure the placement of their allies back to Hessler Street. There is no question that the quality of late announcing candidates will have many think twice about bringing back incumbents.
This second guessing is already happening within the party infrastructure and the grass roots level.
Many a village leader from Yigo to Umatac are wondering if such GOP control will in fact be good for Guam. Why canvass if the Democratic Party of Guam is imploding before our eyes? Why attempt to raise funds for the GOP Senatorial Candidates when the Guam Governor Candidate can do this whole thing on his own? Why vote, were going to win anyway? If there has been any time in the history of elections on Guam that is seeing so much apathy, then I am curious to what the next two to four years will bring.
I argue that the next mid-term will be more of a challenge to secure the legacy of a sitting Governor as opposed to the creation of important public policy on the heels of the Guam Buildup and the whole Asia Pacific Realignment.
Many republicans I have spoken to are not too thrilled about the prospects moving forward and are looking to bring new blood into the GOP conversation that can re-build an image that for the past four years is akin to conservative democratic ideals taking hold of the Territory.
There have been some gains.
But the opposition will be quick to credit themselves with bi-partisan collaboration and tight government controls which the administration and minority senators have lost the PR battle time and time again. Being late to the dance is not as good as leading the dance from the opening of the party. A wholesale switch in thought must be pushed forward.
Conservative views and more pocketbook issues must dominate our discussions-with the Guam GOP at the lead. If this does not happen quick, expect a repeat of history and a complete melt down of the Guam GOP image across our island once again.