Filpino politics, according to my limited reading and comments made by Pinoys, are like a septic tank which could use a thorough cleaning.
Some Pinoys make it sound as though the toxic Love Canal was a pristine swimming hole compared to the rancid sewers of politics in RPI.
Like most Americans, I?ve heard about Imelda?s massive shoe collection and I generally figure any and all dictators steal with both hands.
But I?ve got a news flash for some of you, especially those who are concerned about absolute political corruption possibly absolutely corrupting Idol Manny Pacquaio.
I hope you don?t think American politics is like a sunny day at a clean beach in Boracay.
If you do, let me tell you about the Irish rascal who as Mayor of Boston when I was born in that great city.
His name was James Michael Curley. His supporters motto was ?Vote Often and Early for James Michael Curley.? His popularity, built on favors, giving out public jobs and just graft in general, was such that he was twice elected while being confined to jail.
Can any Pinoy pol make such a fantastic claim? Just getting out or just about to go into the slammer does not count in this special category.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has always been a crooked pol?s playpen.
Speaker of the House Sal DiMasi just got hit with a federal indictment thus joining his two predecessors in that once prestigious office.
They didn?t call our former president, ?Tricky Dick? Nixon for nothing.
Nixon used common burglars to further his goals. Does ?Watergate? ring any burglar alarms?
Speaking of going to the hoosegow, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich seems a sure bet to wind up in Club Fed sometime soon. Maybe Blago couldn?t help himself as he comes from the great Chicago, Daley Machine corruption tradition.
The ward heelers in the Windy City had great expertise in taking money under the table, over the table, around the table and, before they were finished, taking the table itself.
Some like to gloss over it but it?s fact that my hero, John F. Kennedy, would not have beaten Nixon in 1960 if all those deceased voters not miraculously cast their ballots in Chitown.
They say the votes of the dearly depareted caught old gangster Joe Kennedy a pretty penny.
But Old Joe got what he wanted, his son in the White House.
Louisiana, which has never recovered from its start under the Napoleonic Code, has had some Napoleonic leaders.
My favorite has to be former Gov. Edwin Edwards who, last time I checked, was ensconced in a Club Fed facility for some dirty business involving taking money to help casino interests.
Edwards was the Kingfish of politics in the Bayou and it went to his head.
He was so cocky about one election but he told the media that he could only lose an election one day away under two conditions.
?Only way I lose,? Edwards drawled, ?is if y?all find me in the next 24 hours in bed with either a live boy or a dead girl.?
I think Edwards was swept into office that time.
They were calling him Landslide Edwards back then.
So cheer up, Pacfans, it could be worse.
Instead of seeking elective office in Sarangani, Manny could be a candidate in Boston or Chicago.
If he was then the great fighter and you Pinoys would really see what filthy politics really are.
You may have theft, graft, kickbacks, scandals and more. I don?t overlook that.
But, when compared to Massachusetts and Illinois, Pinoy politics would just be a starter kit.
You want to see down and dirty, you want to see taxpayers getting ripped off left and right, come to America, baby.
They don’t call it the Land of Opportunity for nothing.
Michael is a former sports columnist at the New York Post. He was a criminal defense attorney and worked for sports legends Howard Cosell and Don King. Marley also operates Boxingconfidential.com. Email him your thoughts. He makes it a practice to always recommend Pacland, Philboxing and feisty upstart Pacfanscorner.
