flASHback: Done and undone
July 3rd, 2009 by David ShapiroPolitical and legal fireworks give way to the real thing as we "flASHback" on the week's news that amused and confused:
- Gov. Linda Lingle said she may veto 65 bills, more than a quarter of the Legislature's output, and lawmakers are planning an override session. Imagine what they'd accomplish if they didn't waste so much energy undoing each other.
- The state failed to have the Hawaii Superferry's bankruptcy case moved from Delaware to Honolulu. It's just as well. If the Superferry got worked over in a Hawai'i court one more time, we'd have to follow the bankruptcy proceeding with a mugging trial.
- Mayor Mufi Hannemann let a City Council budget socking Oahuans with tax and fee increases become law without his signature. That's the political equivalent of wearing a condom.
- The worth of Sen. Daniel Inouye's personal stock in Central Pacific Bank: $350,000-$700,000. The cost of his staff's call to regulators about a federal bailout for CPB: 25 cents. The value of the aid to CPB that followed: $135 million. Inouye's denial: priceless.
- Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said he found plenty of "incompetence" in a state agency's bungling of an energy contract, but nothing criminal. Is that a legal opinion or the political epitaph on the Lingle administration?
- The state Intermediate Court of Appeals lifted legal limits on corporate donations to political candidates. That's politics without the condom.
- Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, who had a DUI conviction in 2007, is exploring a run for lieutenant governor. If the Democratic nominee for governor turns out to be the teetotaling Hannemann, Karamatsu would balance the ticket perfectly.
- The Oscar Mayer "Wienermobile" has been seen cruising around Honolulu. Did Neil Abercrombie finally trade in that Checker cab he campaigns out of?
- A writer for the UH student newspaper accused of making up quotes claimed he was a victim of poor editing. Sounds like he skipped Journalism 101 on getting it right and went straight to the graduate seminar on blaming the copy desk.
- North Korea has apparently dropped plans for a July 4 missile launch toward Hawai'i. They decided it wasn't worth it to compete with all the other illegal fireworks.
And the quote of the week ...
... from Board of Education member Janis Akuna on the board's refusal to pass a budget:
"Are we supposed to actually make a decision based on probability?"
It might be a nice change from decisions based on fantasy.
Tags: City Council, Daniel Inouye, Hawaii Superferry, journalism, Legislature, Linda Lingle, Mufi Hannemann, Neil Abercrombie, Peter Carlisle
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:57 am
You are definitely on a roll Dave.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:42 am
Mufi P. Long. He continues to amuse and confuse, and to confound and astound.
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:27 am
"Did Neil Abercrombie finally trade in that Checker cab he campaigns out of?"
No, he aptly renamed it the "Whinermobile.
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:51 am
The worth of Sen. Daniel Inouye's personal stock in Central Pacific Bank: $350,000-$700,000. The cost of his staff's call to regulators about a federal bailout for CPB: 25 cents. The value of the aid to CPB that followed: $135 million. Inouye's denial: priceless.
Edward Markey is taking lessons from Inouye...with the Cap and Tax bill. What is the name of the bill again? Oh yeah Waxman/Markey clean(laughable) energy(taxable) Bill(that's right a bill)
July 4th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
David, thanks so much for starting our Fourth off with so many laughs!
July 5th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
"Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said he found plenty of "incompetence" in a state agency's bungling of an energy contract, but nothing criminal. Is that a legal opinion or the political epitaph on the Lingle administration?"
What a joke that Mark Bennett recused himself and let his very close friend, Peter Carlisle, review the case. Peter Carlisle, a frequent m.c. at the Lingle fundraisers and functions, certainly was not going to charge Ted Liu. The legislature really should have hired a special prosecutor.