by Andrew Walden

HART and Mayor Caldwell engineered the removal of HART Board Chair Don Horner to make room for Colleen Hanabusa atop the bloated mess that is Rail—and now, after only one month on the job, Hanabusa has decided to leave for ‘greener’ pastures.  

The Star-Advertiser today reports, “Hanabusa will make a bid to return to the seat she once held in U.S. House of Representatives representing urban Honolulu, according to sources who have discussed the race with her.  It is unclear if Hanabusa will announce her plans at the State Democratic Convention this weekend, or if she plans to delay her announcement a bit longer. The filing deadline for candidates running for election this year is June 7, and Hanabusa has very little time to organize and launch what will need to be a major campaign.”

An observer explains: “Looking at how the Dems are handling the Takai vacancy and Hanabusa ascension, it has all of the trappings and feel of a medieval fiefdom transfer from one aristocratic lord to another.  Look for the coronation ceremony at the Democratic Party state convention this weekend.  Last time a high noble died, Abercrombie screwed it up by giving the fief to a lesser baron instead of the anointed one.  This isn't democracy, its feudalism.”

The Star-Advertiser omitted any reference to Hanabusa’s HART job in its coverage—a throwback to the bad old day of Hawaii ‘journalism’ in the service of old-boy insiders.  But commenters on the article were not fooled.  Here are some of the most perspicuous:

“Now there’s two….CROOKED Hillary & CROOKED Colleen.” 

“So, why did she take the rail position? Was it just to keep her name in the news? To me it shows no commitment. In life, sometimes you commit and the next day a better deal comes along. An ethical and moral person will stick it out, to meet the terms of the commitment. It smacks of opportunism, sorta like Trump, who never met a bankruptcy he did not like. She should stick with rail and try to help see it through. I have to wonder about her credibility. Actually it reminds me of eager Rep. K. Caldwell, who, at the news of Bainum’s death resigned his house seat and ran down to the county to sign up to run for mayor…..only he was a few minutes late. Consolation prize was to be hired by Mufi.”

“I would run as far away from the rail project as possible.”

“Hanabusa is an opportunist. She gave up her House seat to achieve something bigger and better in the Senate, but she lost. If elected again to Congress, I will not be surprised if she tries again to move to the Senate by challenging Mazie Hirono.”

“Useless before in Congress, do we expect anything else from her?”

“I can hear her campaign song now, ‘I been workin’ on the Railroad’” – “and rest of the lyrics ‘to spend more money and raise your taxes everyday…’”

“Hanabusa shares the same opportunistic nature as Mazie Hirono: if there’s an open seat she’ll run for it. …we need fresh people in Congress. It’s obvious the same old ones can’t do the job.”

“For God’s sake…let’s NOT allow this shameless opportunist into office. Relegate her to Moofee land of has been politicians… I weep for our future.”

“Colin Moore is mistaken if he thinks Hanabusa is popular. Her negatives and those of her husband are as bad as Hillary Clinton and Bubba.  Not a surprise she is dumping rail for another chance at the gold ring. Imagine the money you can make if you are in Congress. Talk about gravy train.”

UPDATE: After Star-Adv article runs, Hanabusa tells KHON she remains undecided but "will make that decision very shortly."

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For more Hanabusa information: www.TheRealHanabusa.com