GOP Decay
The Republican Party of Guam is rotting from the inside out. Ideology out the window, the local GOP chapter is quickly writing its final chapter as they let a single issue destroy them. It is not trans people nor is it abortion - its Senator Telo Taitague. I don't think anyone has seen a single politician face her demise and determine that the rest of her party should come down with her. That's exactly what she is doing.
Rewind back to June of 2024. Senator Tom Fisher issued a Freedom of Information Act to Senator Telo Taitague, requesting text message conversation between herself and the Attorney General of Guam pertaining to Bill 175-37. Ultimately the FOIA request was found in the trash and Senator Taitague found herself in court a month later. The Senator is believed to be unable to find legal representation and opted to represent herself in the case.
It doesn't look good for Senator Taitague. How does she handle this issue? She turns the party against Senator Tom Fisher. Tom Fisher is not a registered Republican but chose to run with the Republican Party of Guam, whom he had a positive relationship up until recently. This is not uncommon, just as Bernie Sanders often runs as a Democrat in previous Presidential Primaries. "He's not a registered Republican!" Senator Taitague yells with frustration of his mere presence.
Senator Taitague has done something unexpected: losing in the courts, having failed the constituents by not following the law while being expected to create law, and makes it a party issue. Senator Taitague is facing loss and wants some kind of win. That seems to come in the fight of who is a Republican. It seems the party is listening. The party is risking everything to let Telo have her day while she faces certain loss in the courts, and most likely in the November election. She is making her legal issue everyone else's.
Guam Republicans are letting this happen to. They are rewarding Telo's loyalty to the party at the cost of their survival. The Chairman of the party lets it happen, no one is taking control, and the party is without leadership. Senator Taitague is slowly taking control of the Republican party by the tusks, whispering (or yelling), and just might become the head of the party. Guaranteed a Republican majority will never come to fruition.
Imagine that - Chairwoman/Minority Leader Telo Taitague...Yikes...