barriomulas.com - Barriomulas on Acevedo Vila III

A wave of anti-American feeling and autonomous impulse has descended upon the PPD during the previous few days. Even the most conservative of PPD members have been calling for the liberalization of Puerto Rico's association with the U.S. The autonomist PROELA is capitalizing on this situation and has supported the Governor while simutaneously calling for PPD members to evaluate the autonomy question (El Nuevo Dia). While I have pushed for autonomy since becoming a member of the PPD, I believe that this is the worst way to go about it. I am being cautious before jumping onto this new autonomous wave, simply because doing so makes it seem as if we are supporting a conservative Governor who is autonomous only when its convenient for him to do so.

I too have had my beef with the presence of the FBI and the federal courts in Puerto Rico, though I am not surprised about these recent events. If the U.S. Government is capable of funding the pro-Navy option in the Vieques referendum, if the federal court had the audacity to cross its jurisdiction and overturn our 2004 elections, and if the FBI could shoot down Filiberto Ojeda Rios on the anniversary of the Grito de Lares then they have the ability to selectively charge the Governor for crimes that we all know he is guilty of.

I'm honestly surprised that it has taken the PPD membership so long to get ruffled up over the our relationship with the federales. Meanwhile, the PIP, independentistas, and even autonomists are getting excited this new wave of support. The MINH is one of them (Red Betances).

I repeat: it is obvious that the FBI has been very selective with their investigations. The charges brought up against Anibal can be brought up to any candidate with an elected post in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, the "system" does not permit for citizens to become official candidates without the backing of large financial donors. And unfortunately, the average Juan del Pueblo does not have the type of income to fund such a campaign. Thus, to run an effective campaign in Puerto Rico one must have the backing of private companies, wealthy individuals, and other influential groups. And we all know that none of these entities are going to back a campaign unless they get something in return.

Though I acknowledge that this investigation has been selective, we all know that Anibal is guilty of the claims. The PPD knows this as well, citing that such charges could have been dealt with via internal administrative measures such as fines, that public funds had nothing to do with the charges, or even acknowledging that everybody else does it.

I'm shocked to hear that some PPD still believe that they can win the election with Anibal. I must point out that Anibal won the 2004 elections with only about 2,000 votes. That margin has been long lost after the expensive suits incident, the hikes in public service costs, and now the federal investigation. Even if Anibal were to retain the bulk of the party's support, even the slightest disgust can make the difference. 2,000 votes is not a lot. (Willie won with a margin 10 times that in his Municipal election.) Not to mention, Rossello was a candidate that would incite hate among potential melones while Fortuño is seen as moderate statehooder. I personally do not see much different between Anibal and Fortuño, except for the fact that Fortuño is much more sharp on the issue of budget management and as a Republican would probably roll back our ill mantengo problem. Myself a PPD, have decided that if Anibal is the candidate that I will vote for the new PPR party. My second option would be to vote a blank ballot and my third, to vote PIP. Fourth, I would rather vote for Fortuño than Anibal if you were to eliminate the other three options. There is nothing that could be done for me to vote for Anibal.

As for my preferred candidate if Anibal were to resign, we all know that my candidate is Willie Miranda Marin. Though Willie is my favorite, I would prefer the other names instead of Anibal - from Garcia Padilla, Rafael Hernandez Colon, to Fas Alzamora (El Vocero), all of whom have traditionally aligned themselves with the autonomist cause. Willie is a candidate with vision. Willie has the ability to pull in PNP and PIP votes, counteract the PNP platform (while the last two PPD administrations have had no platform at all), and implement the changes needed for this country to function (decentralization, self-sufficiency, and democratization).