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Actually the Democrats had quite a successful history in Hawaii after the war. First thing they did was break the Republican grip on the state's politics and then made substantial improvements in the residents wages, job security and general welfare.
Unfortunately any group in power too long seems to devolve into corruption, kickbacks and payoffs... which has happened.
But it would be incorrect to say that the last fifty years under Democratic control has been all bad. It has not.
Personally I'd love to see a third party.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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quote:
Originally posted by Rob Tucker
Actually the Democrats had quite a successful history in Hawaii after the war. First thing they did was break the Republican grip on the state's politics and then made substantial improvements in the residents wages, job security and general welfare.
Unfortunately any group in power too long seems to devolve into corruption, kickbacks and payoffs... which has happened.
But it would be incorrect to say that the last fifty years under Democratic control has been all bad. It has not.
Personally I'd love to see a third party.
Here, here!!!! A third party would be a huge improvement over either party now in place.
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A third party would be a huge improvement over either party now in place.
Don't confuse R vs D with a "two party system" -- it ain't.
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Third parties generally just take votes away from an incumbant. If the Republicans want to challenge Democratic dominance here; they need to step up and offer something substantial and different from their National Party line.
However;
There was, in fact, a third party win here in Hawaii County awhile back when Keiko Bonk was elected to the County Council as a Green Party Member. She was actually put into the Chair of the Council in an alliance building move by one of the competing factions.
Keiko lost her power in a premature run for Mayor, and would have developed into a more dominate political figure within the County if she would have stayed in the Council for another term.
Outsiders rarely make a difference here, but Keiko and Bernard Akana both proved that nothing is impossible (and that local politics can be fun!)
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"[...]The other fact is Ruderman is on video multiple times stating he is against science.[...]"
Does anyone have any links to videos where Ruderman actually says this? I'd be very interested to see them.
Still waiting for the links to those videos, PT. You go on about people being anti science but have yet to provide any evidence for your hypothesis. I'm wondering who is actually anti-science at the moment.
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I worked on Keiko Bonk's council and mayoral campaign. She put a fright into the Party. There was potential for the Green Party to take over the county... too many misdeeds would be uncorked if that happened.
Keiko's bid for mayor was derailed by our own Harry Kim. Keiko had asked Harry if he was going to run. She knew he would be unbeatable and wouldn't run if he did. Harry assured her he wasn't... and he did not until the very last day to file. The powers that be persuaded Harry that the world as they knew it might end of he didn't run and she won. So he came in to stop the Green Party from getting keys to the back room.
So we have since been saddled with lawyers for hire like Kenoi and Yoshimoto plus brainiacs like Dennis Onishi.
The CW of don't ask too many questions, don't complain and just quietly wait your turn - sometimes put forth as local style of social life - feeds directly into maintaining the conventions of corruption we have today. Corruption is so institutionalized here that it isn't even considered bad form... it is just they way things have always been done so don't rock the boat.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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Thanks for the inside scoops Rob. I still wonder how things would have shaken out if Keiko would have stayed on as Council Chair(A more powerful position than Mayor IMO), and waited out the CEO position.
Who would have been elected Mayor if Keiko wasn't running and Harry wasn't persuaded? I don't remember anyone else in that particular race.
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Kim's opponents in 2000 were Harvey Tajiri in the Republican primary and Democrat Fred Holschuh & Keiko Bonk in the general.
One of the powers of third party officials is they, even in a minority position, can rearrange the furniture in a government. In that manner Keiko Bonk was able to obtain the council chairmanship with the council evenly split (at that time) between Republicans and Democrats. Green Party took the middle seat... council chairwoman.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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If I may...."the powers that be" at that time would have been the outgoing Yamashiro administration and the standard union/business interests that were not specifically supportive of that administration. In my memory none of them wanted Harry Kim to be the Mayor to succeed Yamashiro. He ran on his own, with no visible financial or manpower support, solely on name/voice recognition. After all the TH/WHT headlines and radio repeats of CD messages it was more of a coronation than an election. As far as the last minute submarining of Keikos candidacy Harry did the same thing to Billy in 2012, that's just his "style". Harry is noted for being capricious so a "misdirection" to Keiko Bonk is just as in character. Finally, there was never any chance of the Green Party to "take over the County". Seriously.... Keiko is intelligent and well educated but her career was founded on her fathers political savvy, his connections, and a receptive home district. She didn't "scale". She served as Chair at the whim of others, as most Chairs do. We haven't had many strong Chairs in the last 30 years, perhaps just Yamashiro and Arakaki. Maybe Brian DeLima for a short time. Term limits and single member districts preclude strong Chairs from arising.
While this post is not relevant to Senator Ruderman, his fundraiser, or any of the issues he is noted for, as my "Moderated" post was, it is relevant to the last dozen posts or so...
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Rob - You have hijacked this posting. Your posts are totally off subject. Please get back on topic and delete your last 2 postings like you do to others who stray off the topic.
