flASHback: The respect you deserve
August 8th, 2008 by David ShapiroSince Sen. Barack Obama is gracing us with a visit, we’ll start with presidential politics as we “flASHback” on the week’s news that amused and confused:
- Obama plans to prepare for the Democratic National Convention while chilling out on our beaches. I hope we don’t see a parade of vice president hopefuls in swim trunks.
- Sen. John McCain, who hasn’t cast a vote on the Senate floor since April, knocked Obama and other senators for taking a break instead of staying in Washington to work on the energy crisis. Then he resumed his nap.
- Paris Hilton responded to McCain’s ad mocking Obama at her expense by calling him a “wrinkly white-haired guy” and referring to both candidates as “bitches.” You usually don’t get that kind of respect until after you’re elected president.
- Top legislators defended Hawai’i Tourism Authority CEO Rex Johnson, who was caught e-mailing porn from his state computer, saying he’s vital to reviving Hawai’i’s visitor industry. How, by stealing sex tourists from Bangkok?
- The Department of Education sent more than 650 people to a conference at the Disney resort in Florida for $1.2 million. No wonder the school board can’t find money to pay for $35 drug tests for teachers.
- Some state employees started a four-day work week. If they can get it down to 2 1/2 days, maybe they’ll get their pay doubled like Kamehameha Schools trustees.
- An attorney who’s suing Kamehameha Schools over its Hawaiians-first admissions again after collecting $7 million last time says it’s a matter of principle. Sad but true. Greed is one of the the oldest legal principles.
- An auditor criticized the city for a 44-percent increase in its energy costs. And that’s for just talking about trains. Wait until they start running them.
- University of Hawai’i enrollment is up as the local job market shrinks. These are mean times when you need a college degree to be unemployed.
- A Kaka’ako massage parlor was robbed by eight men masking their identities. In other words, they looked like any other men going into massage parlors.
- Theresa Harden of Kane’ohe followed a carjacker and his abducted victim across the Pali and guided police to him by cell phone. Looks like “Dog” Chapman can be replaced if he shoots off his mouth again.
And the quote of the week …
… from mayoral candidate Ann Kobayashi on Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s $2.7 million war chest:
“Money isn’t everything. Money is power but so is people power, and I think people power is greater.”
This campaign will test the power of wishful thinking.
Tags: Ann Kobayashi, Barack Obama, Education, John McCain, Kamehameha Schools, Mufi Hannemann, presidential race, tourism, University of Hawai'i
August 8th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Wouldn’t it be interesting if it was Ann Kobayashi and Panos Prevedouris in the general election?
Then we’d know that Hawaii (Honolulu) has come a long way — on the road to recovery, instead of that endless journey into darkness.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Paris Hilton, president of the United States, the State of Hawaii becomes it own nation. And Hawaii charges a $100.00 per person entry fee to our visitors.
Why not, the price you pay TO COME to paradise.
August 9th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
There are many parallels between Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Barak Obama:
1. Both are Senators
2. Bath are Democrats
3. Both are Married
4. Both are Liberals
5. Both paraded their spouses to gain political advantage vs. Sen. Clinton. Edwards to gain sympathy for his cancer stricken wife being a “strong women”, Obama to show how his wife is “strong women” in his life.
6. Both profess to be for the “poor” while living opulent lifestyles: Edwards lives in a 28,000 SF mansion, Obama in a multimillion estate in the tony section of town.
7. Obama talks about himself in messianic terms (proving to be a narcissist and an egomaniac), Edwards just admitted to being a narcissist and an egomaniac.
8. Obama was an “organizer of the poor” in Chicago; Edwards went on the “poverty tour”.
9. Both seek Presidency of the US.
10. Both are race baiters.
11. Both are admired by Hollywood celebrities.
12. Both are admired by the Media.
13. Both are Lawyers.
14. Both have “back stories” that meant to deceive the public: Edwards pretends to be a working class person by describing himself as the son of a mill worker, Obama hides father’s polygamy and Moslem roots.
15. Both have no qualifications to be a President, having not spent any time in government service: Obama have not completed a single term as a Senator, Edwards was a one term senator.
16. Both are smooth speakers and demagogues.
17. Both are elitists camouflaging as a common men: Edwards spends $300 per haircut, Obama is fond of arugulah.
18. Neither served in the military and has no foreign policy experience.
19. Both are for high taxes.
20. Both are for nationalizing the medicine in the US.
21. Both enjoy reading the National Enquirer. (OK this one is false, but since mainstream media covers for the Democrats, National Enquirer is becoming a choice reading of many Americans).