September 21, 2010 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

September 21, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 1:43 PM :: 16210 Views

Debates: Aiona’s Open letter to Abercrombie “All you have to do is say ‘yes’.”

Djou to hold telephone talk-story with constituents

Senate’s only Republican Akaka Bill backer to be stripped of seniority, positions

NYT: In an Ugly Human-Trafficking Case, Hawaii Forgets Itself

Aiona prods Abercrombie to accept his debate plan

HONOLULU (AP) - Republican gubernatorial candidate James "Duke" Aiona is pressing his Democratic rival to accept his plan for six, hour-long debates beginning Friday. Aiona, the incumbent lieutenant governor, on Monday released an open letter to former US Representative Neil Abercrombie urging him to agree to the debates during the general election campaign….

Abercrombie's spokeswoman has only said the former congressman looks forward to debates with Aiona.

HFP: Duke Aiona challenges Abercrombie to six debates, Debates: Aiona’s Open letter to Abercrombie “All you have to do is say ‘yes’.”

Political Radar: Hand Delivered

Republicans woo Hannemann voters

The Republicans think Hannemann's conservative views align his voters with their candidate.

"I'm confident that many of Mufi Hannemann's voters will more ideologically line up with Duke Aiona, and we're already seeing that," said Dylan Nonaka, Chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party. "I'm getting reports from people who are seeing Duke signs go up from where a Mufi sign used to be."

Duke vs. Neil: Compare and Decide

It's a solid bet that Duke Aiona will never mail out a campaign flier that calls attention to his opponent's wife, beard, birthplace and pedigree. It's just not his way of campaigning.

Republican crossovers picked weaker Democrat Abercrombie?

It is important to note that some Republicans in these districts may have pulled a Democratic ballot and voted for Abercrombie over Hannemann. Some argue that Abercrombie will be an easier candidate for Aiona to defeat in November because he is considered more of a contrast with Aiona than the former mayor would have been. If some Republicans voted on the Democratic side, it might help explain some of Abercrombie's success in these Republican districts.

Mix of stalwarts and young guns brought Abercrombie success

Helping him is Lloyd Nekoba, another former school teacher. Nekoba's (progressive) political lineage runs from former Lt. Gov. Jean King to Cayetano. He is also former U.S. Rep. Ed Case's brother-in-law and an assistant to Abercrombie. Nekoba is a worker bee specializing in keeping the grassroots green and well tended.

etcetcetc

Carlisle Prepares For Mayoral Transition

Carlisle said he thinks the transition will be fairly smooth, but he also realizes there will be some who may not be ready for the new changes.

"You have to give them a chance to live up to your expectations. You tell them what's expected of them, you ask them whether they're willing to accept that responsibility, to understand that change is going to be necessary and that it's coming, and then let them see whether they can adjust to see if they can do a good job at that. Some people don't ever get it, other people do get it, 'cause change is coming to City Hall and it's coming now," Carlisle said.

As for his new team, Carlisle said he does not plan to hire Caldwell or Prevedouros. The city needs a fresh start, he said.

CB: Did Momentum Give Prevedouros a Final Push?

Hawaii's next governor won't have much money to play with

"I would ask them what are their priorities," said state economist Pearl Imada-Iboshi, who recently was appointed director of the state labor department. "It is very doable to get rid of the furloughs but it probably means they can do little else."

Even that may have to wait for the next fiscal year. The current one, running through next June 30, carries the load of late tax refunds which used up hundreds of millions of dollars, a big enough bill to offset most of any tax revenue rebounding in the current budget year.

Carlisle vs Oshiro over TAT?

House Finance Chairman Marcus Oshiro was among the more vocal and visible supporters of acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell in the special election for Honolulu mayor.

Oshiro (D, Wahiawa-Poamoho) preceded Caldwell as majority leader when they served together in the state House. He was a spokesman for the Caldwell campaign on primary election night.

Former Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle won the nonpartisan race by about 8,700 votes.

When the Legislature opens next year, it will be Carlisle and his administration making its case to Oshiro and the Finance Committee for the city’s share of state money.

Even though he campaigned against him, Oshiro said Carlisle — who once had ties to the Republican party — can expect a spirit of cooperation when he comes before the committee.

“After the election, whether he’s a Republican or Democrat, as the mayor of the city and county, I’ll respect that office,” Oshiro said Sunday. “We hope to work with the new mayor of the City and County of Honolulu and we’ll treat him accordingly.”

He also offered a warning.

“I think Peter’s going to have a rude awakening when he realizes the day-to-day affairs of running the 12h largest city in the country is more than just prosecuting criminals …” (It is managing them….)

Questions:

Will Calvin Say hold the House?
Will Abercrombie’s people go after the TAT because the idiot mayors all backed Hannemann?

~~Ambition~~ Narcissism Leads to Hawaii Political Turnover

At least six state legislators and former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann failed in their attempts to gain higher office, removing them from any elected position. (Good riddance to Lyla “Islam day” Berg, and Gary “Tax cheating anti-Superferry protester” Hooser)

(Democrat) Voters kicked out only one incumbent legislator statewide in Saturday's primary election. (Nov 2 is coming.)

Keeping Up With the Congressionals

Now that their nominations are official, U.S. Rep. Charles Djou and state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa are off and running in their race for the 1st Congressional District.

Expect a lot of interest in this race from Washington, D.C., types looking at the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. Djou became Hawaii’s first GOP representative in 20 years when he won the seat in a special election last May to replace Neil Abercrombie, who is running for governor. Now national Democrats are eying the seat as one to flip back to blue.

Both are already on air with TV ads. (With many more likely on the way: As of Aug. 29, Djou had $428,000 in campaign cash on hand, Hanabusa had $410,000.)

Howie Dean’s Democracy For America Backs Hanabusa

With pundits predicting Democratic voters will be too apathetic to show up to the polls, Democracy for America -- the group started by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's campaign in 2004 -- went on the offensive Monday, endorsing 23 strong progressive Democrats for the House.

Wharton Wishes Willoughby Success in 2010 General Election

I accept the results of Saturday’s election as we all move forward to support our Republican nominee, John Willoughby. I offer my congratulations to Mr. Willoughby and his campaign and supporters and wish him the very best in his efforts to unseat Mazie Hirono in November.

AP: GOP contender for Hawaii US House seat concedes

Pasha gets PUC approval for interisland shipping

The state gave Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines LLC the go-ahead yesterday to begin an interisland shipping business that will challenge Young Bros. Ltd.'s decades-old regulated monopoly.

(Competition = lower prices and better service.)

The Public Utilities Commission authorized Pasha to operate between Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo, Nawiliwili, Barbers Point and Pearl Harbor through Dec. 31, 2013. The commission will then evaluate the effects of the service and make a final decision on the company's request to operate in the market permanently.

(Meanwhile Young Bros and its political friends will do everything they can to sabotage the permanent status decision.)

Hawaii's personal income up 0.8% in 2Q

Hawaii’s state personal income rose 0.8 percent during the second quarter, but recorded a slight decrease in 2009 as compared to 2008.

TIME: Pentagon Payrolls Fuel Nation's Fattest Income Growth

SA: State tallies modest rise

Kaneshiro to reshape crime office

Newly elected city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro says he plans to reorganize the office with specialized prosecution units and intends to run in 2012 for a four-year term to ensure they are not disbanded.

Kaneshiro, 61, will return to the position he held for two four-year terms before he left 14 years ago when he chose not to run for a third term.

But in hindsight, he says, he left too early because his programs were eliminated, and he plans to run two years from now in hopes of holding on to the job so that does not happen again.

(The great thing about having dedicated prosecutorial teams is that the mob knows exactly who to buy off. And the years 1988-1996 were some of the vilest in Hawaii political history.)

Researcher: Meth decline not linked to campaign

Montana Meth Project director Bill Slaughter says Anderson's study fails to reflect that the rate of meth decline accelerated after the campaign was launched.

The study appears in the September issue of the Journal of Health Economics.

(Without drugs, there would be no liberals; so the progressives finally got one of their perfessers to write a garbage study which they will now quote back and forth at each other.)

Kaneohe Murder-Suicide Suspect Had 18 prior convictions

Thomas had a lengthy criminal record including felony convictions for burglary, assault and terroristic threatening. In June 2005, he was involved in a domestic violence case with a Waianae woman. According to court documents, Thomas wanted to see his son but violated a temporary restraining order.

He threatened the woman with a large kitchen knife, holding it to her throat and stated, "take me to my son." Another woman who was on property was attacked after "swung the knife tip first, nicking, scraping the right side of her neck." He later threatened his own life, putting the knife to his throat and asked if she would to like to see him cut his throat. He then put a green water hose on a door stating he was going to hang himself."

(And the majestic judicial liberals who are so very enlightened, conscious, and progressive kept letting him back out on the streets.)

Queerty: IRS: Hawaii Family Forum Must Pay Tax Penalties For Being a Lobbying Group In Disguise

Comment most reflective of gay activists’ goals: “Woo hoo! The first small step toward nailing the mormons, catholics and all those other religious bigots – go IRS!!!”

Incest: Bringing Out The Conservative In Everybody

This goes right along with the “slippery slope” argument that soon people will be marrying their sisters and pets and furniture and the American Family is going to hell. And for the first time in my life as a liberal New Yorker, I can see what they’re getting at. Not the pets and furniture bit (consenting adults, remember?), but that my brother [or sister (if I had either)] and I could possibly get legally married if the argument that any-two-adults-can-enter-into-a-marriage argument stands. Granted, there are a lot of laws on this right now….

I’ve never had any problems with most differing ideas of sexuality, because outside of my political beliefs, I am not bothered by the lifestyle. And more than not being “bothered” by their relationships, I love it when I see my gay or polyamorous or BDSM friends have found a happy relationship, just as I would feel with any other friend….

Bedbugs are back in Hawaii (Thank an environmentalist)

Once thought to have been pretty much wiped out in the United States with the widespread use of DDT, bedbug infestations are making news in New York City, Ohio, Arkansas and elsewhere. According to the Hawaii Department of Health's Vector Control branch, calls about bedbugs here are averaging one to two a day, roughly double what they were a year ago.

(If you are an environmentalist, you deserve to get bedbugs. Those bedbugs are karma coming back to bite you after your DDT ban allowed so many millions to die of malaria.)

Although some Oahu pest-control companies report a minor surge in bedbug treatments, others have seen a big jump. "The increase has been tremendous, way more than usual," said Frank Gomes, of Diversified Exterminators. "It's just an epidemic."

Gomes said some hotels are treating two to three rooms a day, and since bedbugs travel through walls and electrical outlets, it's hard to get them all. "They come in from infested places like New York City on suitcases, and they travel from suitcase to suitcase on the plane, and then they get in the trunks of taxicabs and then older folks use taxis to go shopping in. ... They're getting around more than you think.''

There are travel advisories suggesting that guests keep their suitcases in the hotel bathtub or up off the floor on tables.

(As even the simplest little child can see, the tourism industry and unions should be spearheading a campaign to legalize the INDOOR use of DDT for bedbug eradication. Or just get used to being in a recession. That’s OK, I’m sure HGEA/HSTA/UPW/UHPA can do with out the tax revenue. They’ll be happy to enjoy more furlough time. They can use the extra days off to hunt for bedbugs in their own homes with a tweezer.)

Genetically modified coffee company in Hawaii sold

Target intel for Luddites.

North Korea To Name New Leadership

Analysts believe current leader Kim Jong-il's youngest son Kim Jong-un is likely to be given an official title at the Workers' Party conference.

That would pave the way for his eventual succession as leader.

Jong-il, who is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008, has reportedly accelerated succession plans.

The North's KCNA news agency said the conference would be held in Pyongyang "for electing its supreme leadership body", but provided no further details of the agenda.