“Impeach Abercrombie”

AP: Back home in Hawaii, some praised the pick, while others expressed anger toward Abercrombie for going against Inouye.

Angry comments were plastered on Abercrombie's Facebook page following the announcement of his decision Wednesday, with some predicting he would be a one-term governor and saying he disrespected Inouye with his choice. One post read: "impeach!"

…Abercrombie faces re-election in 2014, and speculation already has started about whether Hanabusa might challenge him. Hanabusa wasn't talking Thursday….

Pritchett's Pen: The Wrath of Dan

read … Impeach

Do you agree with Gov. Abercrombie's decision to pick Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz to fill Inouye's senate seat?

• PBN: 49%-41% No Schatz
• HNN: 64%-36% No Schatz

Progressive Activists Thrilled

ILind: Schatz a good choice for U.S. Senate

KOS: HI-Sen 2nd Stunner: Schatz Vows Climate Change is "The Most Urgent Challenge"

Ann Arbor News: Schatz Father Complained about Tuskegee Syphilis Study in 1965

Akaka, senior senators provide guidance to Shatz

KITV: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Hawaii residents watched Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, a Democrat, flanked by senators Harry Reid and Daniel Akaka, sworn in as U.S. senator.

"I have a feeling when I get back to our hotel room that I will start to recount some of the those moments because certainly one of the real honors was to be escorted by Sen. Dan Akaka and Sen. Harry Reid to Vice President Joe Biden.

AP: "While there were other talented leaders in Hawaii who stepped forward and who would also have been excellent appointees, I know that my colleagues will join me in supporting Senator Brian Schatz for the good of Hawaii," said Akaka, who met with Schatz for more than an hour Thursday.

(Translation: Akaka staffers getting jobs with Schatz, Inouye staffers…?)

read … Akaka Joins Progressive Faction

Abercrombie no Friend of Inouye

Politico: Abercrombie and Inouye were not allies. In fact, their two-decade relationship in Congress was marked by rifts — most notably over Inouye’s encouragement of a primary challenger to Abercrombie in the 2010 governor’s race. Abercrombie and Schatz were running mates in that same election.

So when it came time to choose Inouye’s successor, Abercrombie went his own way — ignoring the deceased senator’s appeal to tap his protégé, Democratic Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, for the plum appointment.

“These splits go way back in the party, and although I’m sure the governor gave due consideration to the senator’s request, I don’t think there was any personal relationship there that would’ve weighed in,” said John Hart, chairman of the department of communication at Hawaii Pacific University. “I think in the end, the governor did what he felt was best for Hawaii, the party; and is also making a statement about who’s in charge of the Democratic Party here in Hawaii.”

“Surprise, surprise. Abercrombie got even with Inouye and declared his independence in a dramatic fashion,” said Larry Sabato, the director for the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

Charles Freedman, a close Schatz ally who chaired his campaign for lieutenant governor in 2010, dismissed any talk of a rift between Abercrombie and the late senator as “political scuttlebutt.” Instead, it was more of an indication that Hawaii was shifting to a new era of politics after Inouye’s death, Freedman said.

”I saw them on the road here in Hawaii a lot and just in general,” Freedman said of Abercrombie and Inouye. “I think they had a reasonably good friendship. Differences I’m sure, but I don’t think that played too much, if at all, into Abercrombie’s decision.”  (He then started laughing uncontrollably and told the interviewer, “Damn, I tried to say that with a straight face but I just cant.”)

Robert Harris said he couldn’t speculate on the governor’s motives but added: “I do know Gov. Abercrombie, and he’s not the type of person who likes to be told what to do.”

Read … Abercrombie: "I'm da boss now."

Hanabusa vs Schatz 2014?

HE: “It is all very easy,” Hawaii Republican State Sen. Sam Slom told Human Events Wednesday. “Schatz is former Hawaii Democratic Party Chairman. Abercrombie had a falling out with Inouye. Abercrombie and Schatz supported Obama (for President in 2008). Inouye and Hanabusa supported Hillary (Clinton).”

Slom added that “(i)f Hanabusa had been appointed,” there would have been a special election to fill her House seat and, in his opinion, “Republican Charles Djou probably could have won the seat in a special election, as he did in early 2010 (but lost in the general election that year to former State Sen. Hanabusa).”….

Although she is not saying anything now, Hanabusa would surprise few if she decided to take on Schatz — the senator who got the appointment Inouye wanted her to have — in 2014 when an election will be held for the remaining two years of Inouye’s term.

For Hawaii Republicans, this clearly points to another opportunity for former two-term Gov. Linda Lingle, who lost a bid for Hawaii’s other Senate seat this year. The centrist Lingle would be in a stronger position after Democrats have waged a civil war among themselves — something Gov. Abercrombie may well have fired the first shot in last night when he defied Sen. Inouye’s dying wish.

read … Human Events

Will Abercrombie and Schatz face political fallout from Inouye replacement?

HNN: …could U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, who took the oath of office Thursday, face a chilly reception in the U.S. Senate?

"There might be some plum committee assignments that would have gone to Hanabusa because of the Inouye connection that may not go to Senator Schatz. We will have to see," Hart said.

Some people believe the line between the Abercrombie and Inouye factions of Hawaii's Democratic Party will grow wider after Abercrombie's decision to tap Schatz for the U.S. Senate seat.

"I think there has always been a rift," said Hawaii Pacific University Professor John Hart, a political analyst. "I think what we're seeing now is it coalescing between a group behind Congresswoman Hanabusa and newly appointed Senator Schatz."

"I think we are going to have different forces now fighting for control of the leadership of the party," Hart said.

Political analyst Dan Boylan said, "Sure, there's factionalism, but as always happens in the Democratic Party, factionalism in this state, it gets decided at the polls. The voters will decide."

Can Abercrombie expect a strong challenge for re-election from Hanabusa, now that he didn't pick her as Inouye's successor?

Sources said since Abercrombie became governor in 2010, he has been worried about Hanabusa challenging him in 2014.

"And in that regard, the governor might have been politically smarter to appointed Hanabusa for his own selfish reasons," Boylan said. Such a move would have meant Hanabusa would most likely have remained in the U.S. Senate, and not set her sights on the governor's chair.

HTH: 500 at Inouye Memorial in Hilo (Abercrombie, Schatz, Tsutsui no-show)

read … Old Boys on the Ropes

Obama Behind Schatz Appointment?

SOO: Apparently, this trip was about Blogojevich style cronyism, making sure that the Senate seat so ably held by the late Daniel Inouye would go to Obama political crony Brian Schatz. Over Inouye’s strenuous pre death objection. It is now evident that Obama is intent on packing the Senate with young leftist extremists, within his control and not interested in deliberation, compromise or the best interests of anyone other than his political patron.

read … Obamabot Senator