Jose Thomas Perez a hero

[Porfirio]

Jose Thomas Perez was the only candidate from his and Leonel´s party elected to represent his constituency out of all the Senatorial Districts in the DR. Jose Thomas sat alone fighting a one sided free spending President, who it happens to be in the same Party. The big question that arises is ¨WHY IN THE WORLD DOES DANILO MEDINA & LEONEL WANT TO DUMP JOSE THOMAS, A PROVEN WINNER ???? Jose Thomas objected to the waste of money to construct a fantasy island off the Malecone, and a subway system that would consume at least one billion dollars (US), (the false estimate by the Government was for $350 million US) and disrupt the City for 10 years (the false estimate was for 3 years) years. The Puerto Rico subway (for the same distance estimated for the proposed DR system) has taken more than 10 years & cost over $one billion dollars, and is still unfinished. Jose Thomas endorsed a proven less expensive monorail public transportation above ground system that could be operable within 3 years, with minimal disruption to the commerce of the City. The same system used in the United States, Europe and Australia. Crime in New York subways is at all time highs, and crime flourishes in dark lonely subway stations. Jose Thomas wanted to improve our hospitals and medical treatment programs to permit all Dominicans high quality treatment equal to that offered in developed countries. In place of the billion dollar isalnd off the Malecone, Jose Thomas is in favor of elevating our education system with modern public school buildings, and internationally & recognized scholastic programs that would produce more professionals who would stay here in the DR. Jose Thomas freely spoke against the spend spend programs such as $350 million DR (decorating bill) to furnish a court building with expensive imported furnture while qualified Dominicans produce fine furniture here at lower cost, and the $25 million US given to a private hospital, while public hospitals are lacking medicines or supplies. Jose Thomas voiced objections to the constant travels by Leonel, while the DR was and still is in crises in dire need of more effective Government at home. With crime increasing, corruption evident and no jobs available, a hands on Presidency was and is a priority. It does appear that Jose Thomas was simply too much for Dominicans (the people), and made the present administration look bad. Let´s hope Jose Thomas and Jaime David can create an unbeatable duo as President, and Vice President in 2008.

[Mirador]

Porfirio, who are you, and why are you telling us all these things? You know very well that Dominican politics is a business enterprise, and problems are addressed only inasmuch as they represent opportunities for graft to line the participants' pockets and fund the corrupt system.

[arturo]

Originally Posted by Mirador

Porfirio, who are you, and why are you telling us all these things? You know very well that Dominican politics is a business enterprise, and problems are addressed only inasmuch as they represent opportunities for graft to line the participants' pockets and fund the corrupt system.

The surprising part is how little the various candidates and office holders have differed since Balaguer. It's more of the same with different slogans. The oligarchy runs the country and the government is just a front for them to control the populace and curry favor with foreign states.

[project9]

I wonder what the island in the malecon has to do with your rant since it is a private project.

Candelier presidente carajo!

[Keith R]

But it is a private project that affects the public in a big way, not that the government gives a @#$* about that and certainly doesn't want a full, honest and transparent discussion of its possible impacts before it is fait accompli...

[Mirador]

Originally Posted by project9

I wonder what the island in the malecon has to do with your rant since it is a private project. Candelier presidente carajo!

Private? The project involves the use of public land and waterway, for which concessionary use has to be approved by Congress.

Abajo Candelier carajo!

[arturo]

Originally Posted by Mirador

Private? The project involves the use of public land and waterway, for which concessionary use has to be approved by Congress.

Abajo Candelier carajo!

I am basically apolitical. My objective view is that if Candelier were to appear to be gaining any significant popular support as the election nears, the three top parties would derail his candidacy with a 1996 Pena Gomez style smear campaign. Here are some of the items that a largely uninformed bystander like me knows about that they would likely use in addition to who knows how many other skeletons from his closet and piles of dirt they have in reserve:

* the villa at Casa de Campo he uses and how a >US$60,000/year military salary could finance it

* the circumstances surrounding his removal from the head of the National Police and transfer to the head of AMET (Amnesty International & other international organizations applied pressure in the wake of increasing extra judicial killings under his watch)

* a portfolio of published quotes of near Hipolito Mejia level crudity and insensitivity

I suspect he and his supporters have been very quiet the past couple of months because the situation I've mentioned has been brought to his attention. Time will tell...

[project9]

Jose Thomas objected to the waste of money to construct a fantasy island off the Malecone,

Ye i agree on the public impact of a private project ... but if any money is to be "wasted" on the project it will be private money.

[Keith R]

Originally Posted by project9

Ye i agree on the public impact of a private project ... but if any money is to be "wasted" on the project it will be private money.

If you really believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

[project9]

You can keep the bridge, a credible evidence that the project will be funded with public money will do.