flASHback: Term of endearment
November 21st, 2008 by David ShapiroThings seemed to settle down after the political excitement of recent months, but there was still plenty of fodder for our "flASHback" on the week's news that amused and confused:
- President-elect Barack Obama is thinking of appointing former rival Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state. Maybe she'll get a chance to run for cover at some foreign airport for real.
- The Topps Company will sell trading cards spanning Obama's life. I hope they'll quiet the conspiracy buffs and make the Hawai'i card a picture of his birth certificate.
- Local Democrats will host a fancy ball on Jan. 20 to celebrate Obama's inauguration. Don Quijote had better stock up on formal rubber slippers.
- Possible 2010 rivals for governor James "Duke" Aiona, Mufi Hannemann and Colleen Hanabusa all showed up to break ground for the $800 million Walt Disney resort at Ko Olina. You can't start digging for the glass slipper early enough.
- The City Council might make it illegal to send text messages from cell phones while driving. They just don't want us writing them to complain about traffic jams and potholes.
- Mayoral candidate and city transit opponent Panos Prevedouros says he's innocent of reckless driving charges against him. If the judge disagrees, I'm sure Hannemann will be happy to send him a bus pass.
- Big Island police and prosecutors are looking for a way to ignore a voter initiative making marijuana the county's lowest law enforcement priority. If they can't busy themselves with pot busts, they'll have to find out what happened to Peter Boy.
- It could take the state Ethics Commission a year to finish its investigation of free Sugar Bowl trips handed out by the University of Hawai'i. Marijuana will never be the lowest law enforcement priority as long as we have ethics laws on the books.
- Twin brothers, 14, were arrested in 'Ewa after one falsely reported the other kidnapped so he could hang with his girlfriend instead of going home. You'd think between the two of them they'd have one working brain above the belt.
- Survivors of the late entertainer Don Ho are still fighting over his estate. Is that any way to say "I'll Remember You?"
And the quote of the week ...
... from David Rickard of CVS, which is acquiring Long's, in explaining Hawai'i to investment bankers:
"It may seem hard for you and me to believe, but the indigenous Hawaiians have a term for people from the Lower 48 that is not complimentary."
He may be hearing that term a lot.
Tags: Barack Obama, City Council, Colleen Hanabusa, Hillary Clinton, James "Duke" Aiona, Mufi Hannemann
November 21st, 2008 at 8:37 am
"Possible 2010 rivals for governor James “Duke” Aiona, Mufi Hannemann and Colleen Hanabusa....."
That's the slate for Governor in 2010? We're doomed. What an uninspiring group. Perpetuation of the same old, same old.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:02 am
Richard, you can throw Neil Abercrombie and Ed Case into the mix if that makes you feel any better.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:13 am
As hard as political elite try to eliminate differences between people, the reality is that the people see things from a comparison and contrast perspective.
Aloha,
Keahi
November 21st, 2008 at 9:42 am
I hear Sam Aiona will be entering politics someday. He's a great guy and a Republican (yeah)
November 21st, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Scott,
Sam Aiona "entered politics" long ago. He defeated Jim Shon years ago for the State House seat in Makiki. He ran largely on an anti-homosexual platform. He won the election, but tarnished his name for a long, long time.
He was defeated by Brian Schatz in the next election.
Lingle gave him a job and got him elected State Chair of the Hawaii Republican Party. I believe he was also one those who helped shut down debate at the state convention.
After that beginning, it's kinda hard to see how he "will be entering politics someday."
November 21st, 2008 at 11:56 pm
He's tall. He's got my vote. I'm that petty. Are you still talking about Palin?
(turkey dies)
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Another too true roundup, Dave!
Ethics is a low enforcement priority, I've noticed that there is always a "technicality" why some official's stinky behaviour is not "legally" wrong, just patently offensive to fair minded voters - but why listen to THEM?! Speaking of "technicallties, have you noticed that whenever you see Laura Thielen & the Land Board ("the Pips") she is usually telling emotionally invested crowds of citizens that there is some technical reason why their concern cannot even be adressed? Evicting Hawaiians? Charging for "public parking" at Ala Wai? "Policies" instead of written rules?
No transparency at all. Due process? A kangaroo could preside!
How about Ted Liu and his shenanigans?
Our AWOL Gov (When she's not bad-mouthing a local guy to mainland audiences)?
You really think Duke has a chance?
Maybe we'll get lucky and some authentic, public spirited citizen-leadership will emerge!
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
[...] Ash has another funny take on events that happened this week. It is definitely not for the faint of [...]
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Ouch on the Peter Boy statement.
Has it really been that long?