Let the competence begin
By David Shapiro
Linda Lingle was elected Hawai'i's first Republican governor in 40 years largely on her promise to restore competent management to state government.
Lingle won in 2002 after selling the promise that she could provide tough and efficient management, contrasting her eight years of executive experience as Maui mayor with her Democratic predecessors who came up through the Legislature and lieutenant governor's office.
As Lingle enters the final year of her term, it's difficult to find evidence of the superior management she pledged except for the advances made by Micah Kane at Hawaiian Homes before he moved on to Kamehameha Schools.
Her administration's handling of this recession has certainly been no more effective than the Cayetano administration's handling of the last recession.
Perhaps most frustrating are the persistent signs of outright mismanagement that seriously erode public confidence in the state government.
Just a few recent examples:
- The State Auditor found widespread incompetence in the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and recommended the firing of its director Ted Liu. The administration dismissed it as partisan politics, but incompetence was also cited in an earlier investigation of DBEDT by Honolulu prosecutor Peter Carlisle, a Republican.
- The record state budget deficit grew by $44 million in a flash as a result of a counting error in the transfer of information between two state departments.
- The swine flu vaccination program is in disarray, with the state unable to account for the doses of vaccine that have have come in, how they were distributed or who has received the shots. Hawai'i is fortunate that we haven't been hit as hard by the virus as other states — yet — but in a serious pandemic such chaos could be deadly.
- Millions of dollars are tied up in state airport contracts that have lapsed, some more than 10 years ago.
Constant missteps such as these — not to mention grand-scale blunders like the Hawaii Superferry — are shaping up as a sad legacy for an administration that started out with such high hopes of effecting historic change.
Volcanic Ash
December 7th, 2009 at 6:22 am
I think the Lingle aministration has been in steady decline since it took office. What started as an honest attempt to bring about positive change has deteriorated into an futile exercise in self-preservation. Now every Lingle action is evaluated, not on it's merits, but how it can help Lingle and Aiona make their growing list of "political enemies" look bad.
I can hardly wait for their "review' of the city's EIS on rail. I hope the public won't tolerate a protracted self-serving circus from Lingle.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:15 am
The truth is Lingle the phenomenon was never actually Lingle. It was Bob Awana (a democrat) who was responsible. He obviously had his own demons to deal with, and once they became public and he had to resign Lingle was rudderless...
December 7th, 2009 at 7:16 am
Let us not forget that Lingle and her communications staff refused to meet with concerned citizens concerning her invite of Tipzi Livini, a War Criminal according to International Law, for the Gaza murders, 1400 civilians & Lebanon actions during her reign in the Israeli Apartheid Gov.to speak at the Sept. International Women's Conference. Listening to and watching the Livini speech which was a propaganda speech filled with myths and misinformation about Israel and then the obvious planted questions, any individual who values human rights would have to state that Lingle and her staff shamed the people of Hawaii.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:11 am
Aloha ~
Anyone who has studied our military knows none of the members want war although the most ambitious realize they need war to prove their mettle.
We all know Governor Lingle didn't seek our current financial crisis yet it nevertheless offered her an opportunity to demonstrate her character. I rate her leadership as lackluster.
In a crisis people seek calmness, certainty and composure from leaders. In Linda Lingle we have witnessed chaos, confusion and uncertainty.
In a crisis leaders of quality make bold decisions and frequently must ask followers to take action they ordinarily would prefer not to do. The furloughs are a perfect example.
This crisis was not Hawai'i's fault. This is not disputed and the federal government pumped about $2B into our economy in response. Lingle could easily have demanded this be doubled and the state's budget crisis would have been delayed until such time that a rational scale-back could be accomplished. This would have given us some breathing room and allowed us to focus on designing a recovery for our private sector.
Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) was featured in the NY Times last week asking his local residents to "spend $25 at each of two local stores this month, an initiative that could have a $27 million economic impact on the state in December." Richardson points out that 68 percent of spending remains in the local economy.
If we apply his formula to the public school issue of Furlough Fridays, which saves the state about $5M per day, each furlough day actually removes an estimated $3.4M from the local economy. This hurts local businesses, increases private sector layoffs (or reduces new hiring) and further decreases tax revenues.
Looking at the BIG picture - as leaders must do - each furlough day disrupts and frustrates parents, irreparably hurts our Keiki's education, and reduces purchasing power in our local economy by $3.4M per day. Lackluster Lingle has been a disaster through and through.
There were many options available for a bold and enlightened leader. Lingle chose the easy and well-worn path and for this she will be remembered. Lackluster Lingle will be her legacy.
I would like to close with a quote from one of my key role models, John Wooden. I wish Ms. Lingle would have had the opportunity to train under one of America's greatest teachers.
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
A*L*O*H*A
December 7th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Hi ScottG,
I gotta question your statement:
"Lingle could easily have demanded this be doubled...."
Sorry, I can't follow along with you on that. HOw can the Governor of the small state of Hawaii "demand" $2 billion from the Feds? On what basis? What clout does she have? What cards can she play? Add to the equation the way she went out of her way to be personally rude to to Obama, why would she get a sympathetic ear for such an extraordinary request?
I don't see it.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Aloha Kolea ~
Excellent questions ... mahalo!
You asked, "How can the Governor of the small state of Hawaii 'demand' $2 billion from the Feds?" What is the definition of too big to fail? Is this nation only concerned about bankers and investment specialists on Wall Street? I can easily make a GREAT case why 1.3 million people are too important to be left to falter.
You asked, "What cards can she play?" Such a spending plan creates JOBS! This is a central mission of the Obama administration's economic plan. By providing stability within the public sector during a demand-crisis recession we create a bridge for the private sector. You and I have talked previously about Keynesian economics. What were the WPA or CCC except public sector programs?
Would anyone say the Hoover Dam is more important than our Keiki's education? Whether FDR put money in the hands of dam builders or Obama puts money in the hands of teachers, the positive stimulus to the economy is the same. Both create lasting benefits for society.
Further I have written extensively that I would turn the Rail project into a federal expressway, designated as H4. This would relieve struggling local families and businesses of about 90 percent of the financial tax burden and shift it to the federal government. The project would add less than $5B to Obama's ledger, which is pennies in their grand scheme, and another excellent way to create jobs from a Keynesian perspective.
Lackluster Lingle was unable to think outside the box - and unable to fight for her people in a crisis.
You added, "Add to the equation the way she went out of her way to be personally rude to to Obama ..." Quality leaders do not go out of their way to be rude to other leaders - we're on the same team!
Enlightened leaders reach across the isle because they put the interest of their constituents before their personal egos and ideological underpinning.
A*L*O*H*A
December 7th, 2009 at 9:28 am
@Scott-
"Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) was featured in the NY Times last week asking his local residents to "spend $25 at each of two local stores this month, an initiative that could have a $27 million economic impact on the state in December." Richardson points out that 68 percent of spending remains in the local economy."
So, Gov. Richardson's plan to battle the recession is to ask his citizens to go shopping? That sounds familiar... I wonder if the NYTimes is giving Gov. Richardson's plan the same treatment as it gave the Bush plan.
Also, your Wooden quote in this context is puzzling...
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
Doesn't that mean, "Ignore what everybody on this blog says?" Not a bad idea by half (for any elected official), but just a weird thing for you to be saying. You post a lengthy critique of Lingle and then close with a quote that implies that if she had been mentored by Coach Wooden she would know to ignore what you had said. Weird.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:33 am
I agree with the person using the name "The Truth" who commented at 7:15 this morning. Once Awana left, Miz Lingle just couldn't seem to get anything done. "Rudderless" is an apt description.
Clearly Awana had his own demons guiding his personal life, and he made an astoundingly bad set of choices that led to his banishment. And yet he seems, in hindsight, to have also been a good administrator.
It's always seemed to me (and many others) that Lingle was using her role as a stepping stone to a federal job in what she'd hoped would be a Republican administration. Once McCain/PALIN lost the race for the Presidency, she's seemed ticked off at all of us.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:37 am
I think "The Truth" has a point about Awana, but I think it's exaggerated. A number of conditions and individuals came together to create the "Lingle Phenomenon." This newspaper played a major role in building Lingle's image, at least from the time she lost her first gubernatorial race against Cayetano. Hon-Ad saw that as a missed opportunity and developed an EXPLICIT affirmative action policy for Republicans--justified in the name of "building a strong two-party system."
Bob Awana knew how to build campaigns and how to build relationships behind the scenes in a way none of the other Republican operatives did. He could reach out to other operatives across the party lines in order to make things happen. Towards the end, some it became pretty shady, though he was dumped because of the sex scandal rather than for his influence-peddling, which was under-reported by the major media.
I question the accuracy of labeling Awana a "democrat"(sic). Bob spent years working in Democratic campaigns, learning the ropes, building his contacts. But he went over to the other team. So in what way is he a "Democrat"? Not on party membership. Not ideologically. I doubt he votes for Democratic candidates over Republicans.
I suggest he was a non-ideological technician of power who grew to like the game, liked "rewarding his friends and punishing his enemies" and used his skills to make a decent living for himself.
Bob Awana was also deeply involved in the Administration's special treatment for the SuperFerry corporation. Follow this link to a useful account:
http://savekahuluiharbor.blogspot.com/2008/04/advertisers-derrick-depledge-uncovers.html
December 7th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Aloha WooWoo821 ~
You wrote, "I wonder if the NYTimes is giving Gov. Richardson's plan the same treatment as it gave the Bush plan.
If you're referring to Bush's action after 9/11 to stimulate the economy by asking people to continue shopping, then yes, I agree Richardson's plan would be similar - and both are appropriate remedies under the circumstances. After 9/11 people were scared and holding onto their pocketbooks. Had this not changed Usama bin Laden would have won. In the current demand-crisis we are facing those who have available resources (including government entities) must spend. This is the only way we'll climb out of this hole.
You added, "Also, your Wooden quote in this context is puzzling ...
I am in agreement with Bongo who wrote, "Now every Lingle action is evaluated, not on it's merits, but how it can help Lingle and Aiona make their growing list of 'political enemies' look bad.
This demonstrates greater concern for reputation than character and why I selected Coach Wooden's quote.
Mahalo for your comments ...
A*L*O*H*A
December 7th, 2009 at 9:49 am
@ WooWoo821,
You wrote:
"So, Gov. Richardson's plan to battle the recession is to ask his citizens to go shopping? That sounds familiar... I wonder if the NYTimes is giving Gov. Richardson's plan the same treatment as it gave the Bush plan."
Well, since the most immediate cause of a recession is the drop in consumer demand, I would suggest Governor Richardson's "plan" is not that off-base.
Yes, Bush was worried about the 9-11 attacks leading to a recession, but considering the kind of leadership and comfort the American people were looking for in that crisis, his admonition to "go shopping" seemed a little tone-deaf, callous frivolous. Americans are already (half-)sensitive to the criticism we find meaning in mindless consumerism. At the time, people were willing to set that aside, come together to pitch in and help out. It was an AMAZING opportunity for visionary leadership to inspire us and put us to work for the good of the country. We were coming together, not in hate, but in compassionate community. In response to that NEED, Bush told us we could help by going to the mall and go about being greedy little consumers.
I suspect you can see the inadequacy of that response?
December 7th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Aloha Kolea ~
Good points in your comments to WooWoo821 but we must keep in mind that the nation had fallen into recession in March 2001 - due primarily to the bursting dot-com bubble.
The 9/11 attacks did not significantly impact our economic structure per se outside the airline industry yet consumers further pulled back due to their fear and confusion. I credit Bush's "go shopping" call for helping to shorten what could have been a long recession. Economists today consider it lasted about 8-9 months.
A*L*O*H*A
December 7th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Why doesn't Lingle sell off the Superferry barges that she bought for $40,000,000.
Even if she thinks she can bring back the Superferry, these barges simply physically didn't work -- damaged themselves and Pier 2 at Kahului Harbor every time high surf came in (which is about 40 days per year). The harbor pilots TOLD DOT this would happen even before Lingle bought them.
The second Superferry has onboard ramp - which the first one can easily get with a retrofit (and would have gotten had not Lingle gone against her own DOT advisors and seen this as a way to circumvent an EIS)
So these barges are worthless, useless and taking up valuable dock space. SELL THEM!
December 7th, 2009 at 10:22 am
could her lackluster performance be due to the fact that the hawaii state legislature is 99% democrats who will do whatever it takes to set the agendas?and what's with this infatuation with keynesianism?it defies common sense.government stimulus makes as much sense to me as running up a hundred thousand dollar bill on my credit card and THEN spending money to buy a70" HDTV (consumption) and to build a garage(infrastrcture).i barely made it thru high school back in 1970 but i can see that it will take capitalism.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Aloha shaftalley ~
You wrote, "could her lackluster performance be due to the fact that the hawaii state legislature is 99% democrats who will do whatever it takes to set the agendas?
Quality leaders don't make excuses or blame others. Ms. Lingle's victory broke a 40-year drought - she knew her road would be difficult. Yet in our political system it is the Executive branch that has the fast-track to set agendas. Some are better at this than others and Lackluster Lingle will depart with the legacy she wrote.
You added, "what's with this infatuation with keynesianism? it defies common sense.
Herbert Hoover had a difficult time wrapping his brain around a global collapse in demand as well. As he was wedded to his interpretation of common sense our nation and millions of Americans suffered for many years longer than necessary.
A*L*O*H*A
December 7th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Compare he to her predecessors and you will see a significant increase in competence.
Aloha,
Keahi
December 7th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Aloha Keahi ~
I would love to read your comparisons and am sure the others would as well.
Please share the significant increase in competence with us.
A*L*O*H*A
December 7th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
scott goold, i will not let you get away with throwing out that worn-out and ridiculous myth about hoover being some kind of "heartless laissez-fairer".you had better do some research into hoover,dude!!he behaved in typical text book keynesian ways after the stock market crash of '29.he began ratcheting up federal spending,increasing it to 45% from fy '30 to fy '32.it was his big gov't.response to to the market crash that began prolonging and deepening the depression before fdr ever got to office.hoover originated the new deal farm price support program.he pioneered artificial wage raises, a stupid keynesian idea that high wages are necessary to assure purchasing power and a healthy economy.and what was the result? worsened the unemployment problem during the depression.as soon as the stock market crashed,hoover called in all the big shot industrialists for a "chat" in which he forced the group under threat of coercive gov't. "actions" to propping up wage rates.and the result? massive unemployment during price declines.after hoover's term,el presidente for life FDR simply continued and expanded hoover's policies along the way.it is historically proven without aDOUBT that we had 2 new deal tyrants back to back.hoover,contrary to that idiotic myth that he was some "small-gov't. conservative" , raised taxes,launched public work projects,extended loans to failing businesses,and lent money to state programs(like obama is doing now).i'm stunned that you,scott goold,a former high school teacher didn't know this.i think you are mistaking harding for hoover,(harding did the principled thing during the 1920 depression which was:nothing at all!!!).why do you think they call it the HOOVER DAM?
December 7th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Get a grip!
Does anybody remember 2000? It was a mess. Then Mayor Lingle developed a plan,implemented it in 2002 and started a second phase in 2006. In her opinion piece she suggested the achievements are numerous and not quite yet finished. I read them on the website. Have you? We are far better off today because of her fiscal discipline as well the hundreds of other initiatives that have made us stronger as a state. If she hadn't done what she did with our state budget in the early years, we would look like CA today. Upgrades to our highways, harbors and airports are underway. Social Services are better, and there are too many more write in this small space. I think Mr. Shapiro better be lighting more candles for Hanukah (his column today points out he doesn't know the protocol to handle such a ceremony) so he can read the facts and not just write dribble based on a slanted bias. I am sad he has become such a vitriolic columnist, rather than the competent journalist he once was.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
one of gov.lingle's failures as our CEO here in hawaii is that she favored or maybe pressured into central planning solutions and reacting to a perceived need for the people on a reliance for a gov't. social net.her reluctant commitment has led to a huge tax burden on the citizens.she used her veto powers over some of the legislators'power grabbing and expensive laws,but the veto's were always overridden by the dems.and that's where it stands today.deficit spending,high taxes.pretty soon,if some people and politicians have their way,residents of hawaii will one day be FORCED,by law to spend their money,and use their credit cards or be fined!(smile)
December 7th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
@Kolea-
nice link to the earlier depledge article. I had missed that somehow. As far as the "tone deaf" comment on Bush's "go shopping," I think that is a fair characterization of his choice of words. I think the idea behind it was don't let this scare you into a hole, and for people to continue to do things that they would normally do, including shopping. I guess I agree with you that it was tone deaf, and I agree with Scott that it helped mitigate the economic impact of 9/11.
To put in my 2 cents on the Lingle administration, I think it clearly didn't live up to expectations, but I have a hard time believing that a Hirono or Iwase administration would have done any better. "It could have been worse," is not the strongest summation of an administration, but I think its also accurate.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Republicans in Hawaii have a big bullseye on them and I guess Dave is taking aiming. I agree with @Shaftalley and @laurencepaul that Democrats have a huge amount of influence in Hawaii politics, regardless of @Kolea's argument that "true leaders don't make excuses or blame others." The fact is, Dems' power is deeply rooted and a part of our fundamental political culture in Hawaii. If we don't restore some sort of balance and accountability in Hawaii---and that means electing strong Republicans AND Democrats-- we'll end up like California or Michigan.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
For those who missed it, here is a link to the governor's opinion piece in yesterday's Advertiser that Laurence Paul referred to:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2009/Dec/06/op/hawaii912060339.html
December 7th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
In re-reading the thread, I second Scott's choice of "lackluster" as an appropriate adjective. Not failed, not incompetent. Not "did the best under the circumstances." She could have done better, under the circumstances. Lackluster is accurate.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Didn't Lingle announce with great fanfare that the state was going to purchase Turtle Bay or something like that to "keep the country, country."
What happened to that?
December 8th, 2009 at 5:52 am
Everyone really needs to take a step back and breathe. Everyone needs to look at the Governors' entire body of work by reading all the material available and look the specifics involved. I have only been here for two decades, but our state is much better place to live and work since LL came into office. My small business was able to thrive by her govenment cutting costs; unlike in the late '90's I can openly bid on projects and, from what friends have told me, every resident actually knows what is going on in state government. Maybe that is where some of the criticism is coming from. The leadership is doing a lot and maybe you don't like some of it. (Much like my wife... I don't love every little thing she does.) As for Charles' comment about TB: it was, and still remains a good idea to preserve this precious area by getting it for free. If open reports were accurate, at least three entities wanted to buy the hotel, leaving the beautiful open coastline to be preserved. Good idea. So, the downturn in the economy caused a halt to negotiations after seven months. To borrow a phrase, "I called a friend" this morning and found out the deal is still on table. Let's drill down to the facts folks and realize that while we may not agree with our president or governor (and wife) on everything, we are much better off having them in our life. I believe the more we know, we learn, we read about Gov. LL, we will thank her and her Administrations for years to come for energy independence and security (especially in a crisis), cutting business costs and opening up the Far East to diversify our economy, just mention three. Be a little less cynical and not so political, especially at this holiday season. Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka e Hauoli Makihiki Hou !
December 8th, 2009 at 6:00 am
Easy to take pot shots. Easy to make harsh statements. Easy to be political. But not easy to take time to really look/read/listen to the myriad of issues/initiates that have been achieved in seven years. Why don't we support our Governor and her directors for 12 months? At the end, yes, let's evalutate. Until then, can't we be supportive? At this time in our states history we all need to pull together. We look foolish to others across the country that hold up our Governor's plans as bold and innovative. So, it's easy to write a provocative blog and throw away comments. It is not so easy to govern in a worldwide economic crisis. Write our governor. Call her. But don't take cheap shots. You, we look bad. Happy Holidays.
December 8th, 2009 at 6:21 am
HSTA using furloughs to keep “Race to the Top” dollars—and reform--out of Hawaii schools
http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/main/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1406/HSTA-using-furloughs-to-keep-ldquoRace-to-the-Toprdquo-dollarsmdashand-reformout-of-Hawaii-schools.aspx
...just ignore this, keep using the Linglehater/Bushhater template.....
December 8th, 2009 at 7:26 am
The Lingle administration has a history of making big PR announcements followed by....nothing. The list it too long to enumerate.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Amusing how so many here, in the peanut gallery, complain about Governor Lingle and her tenure as Hawai'i´s governor.
With Hawai'i´s cost of living, gasoline price, rent, and the cost of food, materials and supplies remaining high, it seems many here want to ignore the fact it has been our democratic-majority state legislature, who holds the state's purse strings, who have been offering the taxpayers a lackluster performance in trying to balance the budget and spend our tax dollars responsibly.
Linda Lingle had campaigned in trying to reform our public schools, by getting the state legislature to allow the people of Hawai'i to vote on whether we wanted to stay with the bloated and inefficient Hawai'i Board of Education, or break the BoE down to eight local school districts, where principals, teachers and parents would hold more accountability in educating our children. Democratic state legislators, in their continued kowtowing to the union organizations, had refused, claiming the break-up would create more "red tape bureaucracy" (First time I ever heard a Hawai'i Democrat ever voice concern over too much "bureaucracy", which would not had happened had the BoE been broken up) and did not allow the people to decide on how they wanted their children to be educated.
Now, thanks to the state legislature, DoE Superintendent Pat Hamamoto and the clueless BoE, we have a state Department of Education, that is funded at more than $2.4BILLION a year, yet the DoE and BoE claim they don't have enough money to keep the schools open on Fridays, cannot account for alot of that money and prefer to play politics, at the expense of our children's education and future, just to get their people to win an election next year.
As Jeff Moss had pointed out, under the Lingle administration, great gains have been made to streamline government, make it more open for the public and has made it easier for businesses to actually DO business by cutting fees.
Governor Lingle has also made it possible for people of Hawaiian ethnicity to receive their entitled land, at a faster rate, where under previous, Democratic administrations, handing out land, under the DHHL, was crawling at a snail's pace, where many had to wait for years.
Could Governor Lingle had done better? Ofcourse she could. I also disagree with some of her decisions, such as supporting the raise in the General Excise tax to support the next great Hawai'i boondoggle, called rail. I disagreed with her not pushing for an EIS to make certain the Superferry could operate in Hawai'i, and I strongly disagree with her support for the Akaka bill, but she has been one of our more fiscally responsible, and open, governor in the last 47 years.
All I hear from the two leading Democratic candidates for Governor is how we need to spend more tax dollars for "this and that" and rely on federal funding to cover our bloated budget so the Democrats in the state legislature can remain irresponsible in how they spend our tax dollars.
So the next time you take a look at the price of gasoline, see that 20 year old pothole, not far from the Aloha Tower, needing another "patch up" job, wonder why the quality of our public educational system has slipped down another notch closer to "50" or see the high price of milk at your nearest Safeway go even higher, you can thank your Hawai'i Democratic "Good Ol' Boy" whose loyalty holds closer to their special interest buddies rather than to the people of Hawai'i.
December 9th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Charles,
"Keep the country, country" was put out to pasture.