August 14, 2010 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, August 14, 2010

August 14, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 5:36 PM :: 9187 Views

Djou on KITV: "Voters voted against the establishment...I look forward to November"

Rasmussen: Only 26% of Americans strongly approve of Obama

The Federal Policy Landscape Is Now More Favorable to Wind Energy than at Any Other Time in the Past Decade

Lingle chooses Recktenwald as chief justice

Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle on Friday nominated Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Mark E. Recktenwald to serve as Hawaii’s next chief justice — a week after her first choice, Katherine Leonard, was rejected by the state Senate.

Recktenwald, 54, has long been a favorite appointee of Lingle’s — and widely considered among her top choices for the Hawaii State Judiciary’s top post — having moved up the ranks of the courts in recent years

(This means that the Democrats will have been successful in holding Lingle to only one real nomination in 8 years. Duffy doesn’t count because the Democrat Judicial Selection Commission forced Lingle to select Democrat Duffy. Recktenwald’s selection a CJ creates an opening for an associate justice, but not until Recktenwald is approved by the Senate in 30 days. That will be Sept 12. After that there will be an opening for an AJ, but the Democrat Judicial Selection Commission has no deadline to present a list of nominees. They will stall until December when the new Gov is sworn in. Thus Hawaii’s only hope for justice is Duke Aiona.)

HNN: Recktenwald nominated to Hawaii Supreme Court

SA: Recktenwald picked to lead high court

Hanabusa backs Recktenwald: Rejection of Leonard part of scheme to deprive Lingle of third nomination

Recktenwald angered prosecutors and made prosecuting speeders more difficult, with a ruling he wrote for the majority in a case call State v. Fitzwater. The ruling required prosecutors produce more documentation in court that police car speedometers, when used to “pace” suspected speeders, were accurate. (He did this to sucker Democrats into thinking he is soft on crime.)

in a case involving Waters of Life charter school on the Big Island, Recktenwald wrote a majority opinion that gave ~~regular citizens~~ professional activists more power to defend environment regulations in court. (He did this to sucker Democrats into thinking he was ‘with them’ on environmental shake-down operations.)

Hanabusa predicted easy confirmation for Recktenwald, partly because, from his record, senate Democrats can tell he's not following the governor's legal agenda. (Suckers.)

“I think that he probably would display a well-balanced situation in terms how he leads the court in terms of the policies,” Hanabusa said. (Sucker.)

Another reason for Democrats to like Recktenwald's appointment is simple math. If they'd approved Katherine Leonard, Lingle would have appointed the majority on the five-member court. Recktenwald's confirmation will leave Lingle with two appointees on the court and a vacancy, which she may not be able to fill before leaving office in December.

(Aiona will nominate the next AJ.)

Abercrombie hits Hannemann on “bullying and mismanagement”

Gubernatorial candidate Neil Abercrombie on Friday lashed out at opponent Mufi Hannemann on what he called the former mayor's mishandling of the proposed rail transit project.

The former congressman accused Hannemann of bullying Gov. Linda Lingle and using the rail project to advance Hannemann's personal political goals.

The heated exchange between Abercrombie and Hannemann was during a forum sponsored by the West Oahu Development Association and the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce.

"If you want rail here in West Oahu, and all the places it has to be, you have to have an EIS that is going to be capable of being signed. You cant go to the governor and call her 'ignorant.' you cant try and bully the governor on the EIS so she ends up getting 'super-ferried' twice. That is not going to work and that certainly is not collaboration," Abercrombie said.

Hannemann: Chinatown residents are “NIMBYS”, Abercrombie is “absurd and false”

Hannemann said Abercrombie's contention that the city's $5.5 billion rail transit project is stalled is "a patently absurd and false statement."

He said the city pursued a public-private partnership to develop a Chinatown property to help homeless people but encountered "NIMBY-ism" from residents and merchants. He said it is "patently unfair" to locate all the homeless-assistance projects in West Oahu.

Carlisle Chooses Concert Over Community Forum

The moderator and board members said they were upset that Carlisle told them he had chosen another event that was "more in his demographic." They expressed their feelings to the audience.

Carlisle said concert promoter Tom Moffatt invited him to greet attendees arriving at the Four Tops concert.

Mayoral Candidates Exchange Barbs

When Caldwell, the lawyer turned acting mayor asked the engineer about his idea for a nuclear plant, the answer ricochet as a jab about rail.

“I would be the last person to shove a nuclear plant down someone’s throat, as some administrations have tried to shove rail down people’s throats,” said Panos Prevedoros.

All three did agree on something: a fireworks ban.

Progressives fear Prevedouros victory

Great news.

Abercrombie refunds donations, gets them back

Beginning last September, Abercrombie refunded $427,000 to 270 contributors, Federal Election Commission reports indicate. At least 201 of those donors have since given almost $402,000 to his gubernatorial campaign, according to state Campaign Spending Commission records. (Yes, the Military Industrial Complex loves Neil as Governor, just as they loved him in Congress.)

REALITY: Neil Abercrombie 2009: A year of corruption

Abercrombie’s Half-Truth: My Offshore Drilling Bill Would Have Helped With BP Oil Spill

In fact, Abercrombie was so vocal in his advocacy of the measure that it was commonly referred to as the Peterson-Abercrombie bill, even by Abercrombie himself. In 2007, the Sierra Club warned that Peterson's and Abercrombie's work on offshore drilling was a threat to America's coasts [pdf].

After being introduced on the last day of July 2008, Peterson-Abecrombie was referred to a half-dozen committees. While it languished, another measure was introduced. The new bill, House Resolution 6899, was sponsored by four Democrats and was titled the "Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act."

The bill, which included more small-C conservative ideas on offshore drilling as well as a number of provisions on unrelated energy issues, was described by its chief sponsor as a "compromise" measure. It garnered far more Democratic support and far less Republican support than Peterson-Abercrombie had.

On Sept. 16, 2008, Abercrombie was among 226 representatives — 216 of which were Democrats — to vote against a motion by Peterson to send the bill back to committee with the instruction that it be amended to mirror Peterson-Abercrombie word-for-word. The next day, Peterson-Abercrombie was referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, where it eventually died when the 110th Congress adjourned. House Minority Leader John Boehner lashed out, saying 24 Democrats, including Abercrombie, reversed their positions from sponsoring Peterson-Abercrombie to voting against it. (Typical Abercrombie trick)

Kauai: Democrats-only LG Debate

Boring article designed to make candidates look good by not quoting them directly. Here’s something more interesting: Drunks, tax cheats, and other wannabees: Scary Democrat Lieutenant Governor candidates

Maui: Four candidates eligibility challenged

WAILUKU - Even as a residency challenge against Maui Council Member Sol Kaho'ohalahala moves through court, four candidates for the 2010 elections have had their own eligibility to hold office questioned - three of them over residency.

Challenges were filed in July against candidates Riki Hokama, Zeke Kalua and Alan Fukuyama, based on claims that none of the three actually live in the districts they are running for on the Maui County Council.

A fourth challenge, filed Wednesday against Council Chairman Danny Mateo, contends he would exceed his five-term limit if re-elected.

Maui County Clerk Jeffrey Kuwada said he had requested additional information from the three candidates facing residency challenges.

SA: Candidate criticizes own (sic) party for disqualification move

A state Senate candidate on Friday compared the Hawaii Democratic Party to the Nazi Party for trying to disqualify three other candidates from the Sept. 18 primary election.

The candidates — Daniel Davidson, Kaleo Farias and Jason Pascua — joined the Democratic Party shortly before the candidate filing deadline in late July. The party requires candidates be Democrats in good standing for a minimum of 60 days before filing for political office.

Case Family Democrat Advertiser: 'Bridge' funding welcomed

After the law was enacted, Lingle called it a "federal bailout" that "is intended to be a one-time shot in the arm that must be paid for in the future. It merely defers the day of reckoning that will require a reprioritization of state services and a reduction of spending."

Newly elected Republican Rep. Charles Djou joined in his party's mantra, contending it would inflate the national budget deficit and long-term debt.

Actually, the legislation was funded by reducing some food-stamp payments after 2014 that had been raised by last year's stimulus bill and by limiting foreign tax credits used by U.S.-based multinational corporations doing business abroad.

"The bill is paid for, and the bill's opponents know this," Rep. Mazie Hirono said on her website. "One of the ways we pay for the bill is by closing a tax loophole that is used by corporations shipping jobs overseas. In fact, some are voting against this bill because of this tax provision."

(On November 2, Honolulu voters will decide whether they still believe that free money comes from Washington, DC or not. It will be a great test.)

SA: No bad guys in farmers' plight (so sayeth the voice of landed aristocracy)

The essential agricultural struggle in Hawaii — achieving profitability with intense development pressure driving up land costs — is playing out in East Oahu at an accelerated pace.

(It is not “intense development pressure” but the purposeful limitation of available land supplies by large landowners such as the Case family—Grove Farm, ML&P--which is causing the high prices. The only affordable housing in Hawaii is in Puna and Kau where thousands of individual lots have been subdivided.)

Decades ago, Kamehameha deeded an adjacent parcel, the site of an ancient agricultural heiau, to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for its preservation. Involving OHA in discussions for ways to support continued farming in the area would be a reasonable option at this point. (OHA??? Is the SA just struggling to find something to say here or is something more sinister going on?)

Oahu electricity prices reach 2-year high

The typical Hawaiian Electric Co. residential customer on Oahu using 600 kilowatt-hours per month will pay $160.41, up from $157.99 in July, HECO said. That's the highest since November 2008, when the typical bill was $182.01, according to HECO.

The rate per kilowatt-hour on Oahu rose to 25.2 cents in August from 24.8 cents in July. (America’s most expensive electricity.)

Residential bills also rose on the neighbor islands, with the typical Big Island customer paying the most at $215.03, or 34 cents per kilowatt-hour, up from $209.45 last month.

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Cultural practitioner or squatter? State ejects canoe builder from park

McGuire removed all his personal possessions from the state land Wednesday evening, but said he left the canoe to get a point across.
"Let them take it," he said. "State law provides for these cultural practices as it clearly states in Hawaii Administrative Rules Article 12, Section 7 that the state reaffirms and will protect the rights of the native Hawaiians to practice their cultural, traditional, religious and customary practices."

(Quick! Somebody call the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp! Or are they too busy shaking down property developers to help defend traditional rights where there is no money is to be had?)

Hawaii lawmaker plans resolution to ban N-word

Dr Laura makes a fool of herself on the radio so Rep Mizuno decides this is a great time to stage a symbolic attack on free speech. Watch as all the warm-fuzzy feeeel-goood types fall in line singing the praises of this anti-free speech resolution.

DePledge: N-word

GTMO Greenwell demands jury trial for resisting arrest

Greenwell was arrested July 17 after police used a handheld laser to clock him traveling at 51 mph in a 35 mph zone.
Police say Greenwell failed to stop and became confrontational.

(Lets just send him to GTMO so he can meet his new neighbors.)

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Obama hammered for support of triumphal Mosque at Ground Zero

In a statement Saturday, House Minority Leader John Boehner said the decision to build the mosque wasn't an issue of religious freedom, but a matter of respect.

"The fact that someone has the right to do something doesn't necessarily make it the right thing to do," Boehner said. "That is the essence of tolerance, peace and understanding."

Added Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.: "President Obama is wrong. It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of ground zero."

Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene of Florida took Obama's Friday speech to mean the president supports the construction.

"President Obama has this all wrong and I strongly oppose his support for building a mosque near ground zero especially since Islamic terrorists have bragged and celebrated destroying the Twin Towers and killing nearly 3,000 Americans," said Greene. "Freedom of religion might provide the right to build the mosque in the shadow of ground zero, but common sense and respect for those who lost their lives and loved ones gives sensible reason to build the mosque someplace else."

The mosque would be part of a $100 million Islamic community center two blocks from where nearly 3,000 people perished when hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

The proposed construction has sparked debate around the country that has included opposition from top Republicans including Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich as well as the Jewish civil rights group the Anti-Defamation League.

Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son was killed at the World Trade Center, has said the president's comments show "a gross lack of sensitivity to the 9/11 families and to the people who were lost."

"Barack Obama has abandoned America at the place where America's heart was broken nine years ago, and where her true values were on display for all to see," said Debra Burlingame, a spokeswoman for some Sept. 11 victims' families and the sister of one of the pilots killed in the attacks.

Building the mosque at ground zero, she said, "is a deliberately provocative act that will precipitate more bloodshed in the name of Allah."