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Ricky Li / Ricky Li
Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie named his lieutenant governor, Brian Schatz, to fill the Senate seat left vacant following the death of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye (D).
Abercrombie, a Democrat, chose Schatz from a list of three finalists forwarded to him by the state Democratic party. Inouye, who served almost 50 full years in the Senate, died on Dec. 17.
The late Senator Daniel Inouye's successor, Hawaii's lieutenant governor, Brian Schatz, will be sworn in a day after he was tapped for the position in a move that goes against Inouye's final wishes. TODAY's Natalie Morales reports.
"No one can fill Sen. Daniel K. Inouye's shoes, but together, we can all try to follow in his footsteps," Schatz said in a press conference in Hawaii.
Schatz, flying to Washington with President Obama aboard Air Force One, Tweeted that he was eager to support the president's agenda. The president was returning early from a Christmas break in Hawaii.
Just had a nice, brief chat with the President on Air Force One. Looking forward to supporting his agenda in the Senate.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) December 27, 2012
The other finalists for the position included Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, whom Inouye had preferred as his successor, and Esther Kiaaina, the deputy director of the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources.
"Senator Inouye conveyed his final wish to Governor Abercrombie," Jennifer Sabas, Inouye's chief of staff, said in a statement. "While we are very disappointed that it was not honored, it was the Governor's decision to make."
Abercrombie said Inouye's views and wishes weighed on his decision-making process, but "no one and nothing is preordained." He said the possibility of a special election to fill Hanabusa's seat weighed on him in choosing Inouye's successor.
"Sometimes you have to set aside personal considerations in order to look for the good of the whole," the governor, a former congressman, said at a press conference.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office said Schatz would be sworn in to office on Thursday afternoon or early evening, NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reported. The Senate reconvenes on Thursday to take up the urgent business of reaching a deal to avoid the "fiscal cliff" on Jan. 1.
Leave a Comment:
Not familiar with him...
However, if he is a STRONG liberal... he gets my blessing...
Meanwhile, anyone know where Boner & Co. are hiding out?
Why is it OUR President can get his ass back to DC and the Republican'ts WON'T?
ENOUGH!
Do your god-damn J-O-B-S to which you were elected too and collecting a hefty paycheck from!!!
Oh, terrific. Another unelected bureaucrat in the U.S. Senate.
Is he another one of those "we have to pass the bill to find out what's in the bill" Democrats?
Be sure to pack your rubber stamp, pal!
Feisty, seasons greetings to ya!
The President is on call 24/7. Even so, he has returned to the WH after just a few days vacation.
Didn't Boehner go home early?
GOP-ers should turn their criticism on the NRA, and their crazed mouthpiece LaPierre.
@Arthur,
Be sure to pack your rubber stamp, pal.
You mean like how the Tea Partiers kowtow to Grover Norquist... an "unelected bureaucrat"?
Feisty, stop insulting Hawaiian leaders by calling them "liberals". Hawaii was a center of populism while you were still learning to use "Keynesianism" as your solutions to all the world's problems. I pity all you right-wing establishment libs who are still living under 18th-20th Century liberal capitalism.
Dear Feisty IMBECILE -- Maybe you could Ask Harry SENILE Reid to do HIS Job that he has IGNORED for FIVE YEARS NOW and PASS A BUDGET! Also, Boehner and the House HAVE passed TWO Bills regarding the Fiscal Cliff, But Harry the Alzheimer Patient won't bring them up for consideration! And Boo Hoo that your POS POTUS had to leave his $4 MILLION vacation early to campaign some more - He still hasn't realized that he WON back in 2008 and does NOTHING but Campaign rather than LEADING! The Only President of the United States who HAS NEVER BEEN the President of the United States!
So Arthur, are you suggesting that Hawaiians not have a senator for the next 2 years? There are provisions in each state's constitution to provide for vacancies in office. This is how Hawaii fills that need. Just because he happens to be politically opposite you doesnt mean he wont do a good job for the citizens of Hawaii.
It's obvious Little Arthur doesn't understand how open Senate seat replacement is handled. But then what can one expect from a narrow minded conservative. I suppose the recent Senate replacement in South Car. was handled properly in Little Arthur's World.
It would be nice to see frequent posters try to encourage a healing and a unity in this country instead of always spouting vileness. The same caustic remarks are getting very old.
sziker, I would respond to your rant except you said absolutely nothing but revealed what a drip-drip you are. Pitiful.
Wow, a hebe representing Hawaii, who'd of thunk it?
bhonest -- a"drip-drip"? sounds pretty first-gradish to me. not sure what that contributes to the conversation.
i have no issue with whomever gets selected in hawaii as long as it is done by state law. i would ask folks to recall all of the left wing condemnation of the recent appointee from south carolina.
as stated in the first post, it does not matter who it is as long as the person agrees with the one posting.
Agreed, Feisty. I support any senator who will support Obama's agenda.
Boner? Who knows where he is? Probably sleeping it off. It's infuriating that we pay him and his do-nothing TeaBagger comrades to put us right back where we were when they failed to do their jobs the first time.
I wish all my liberal friends (and even the conservatives...it's important to be all-inclusive at a time like this) a great 2013. Can we work together for the good of our country?
J-O-B-S and the G-O-P-T-P have proven to be one giant O-X-Y-M-O-R-O-N. The GOPTP were elected in 2010 as the cure all solution for the unemployment problem, when they promised their number one goal would be to introduce legislation designed to generate jobs. Not only did they fail to introduce even one piece of job creating legislation, they have now proven they do not know the first thing about doing their own job. What we do know is they know how to 'fall down on the job'. The poor dolts of the House can only pass legislation when it comes to renaming post offices. For any other bills to pass, the words abortion and vagina must be present in order to pass.
Hint to Democrats - to get legislation passed in the House to avoid the fiscal cliff, just insert the following statement at the end of any bill:
Perhaps that rider will perk up GOPTP ears enough to vote an overwhelming "YEA", regardless of what is being proposed.
Perhaps Arthur can explain why it is acceptable for the GOPers to rubber stamp all things Bush and GOP but it is unacceptable for democrats to do the same. Never mind, GOPer = Hypocrite.
As long as he is a Democrat.
They cannot help themselves cause they are so brainwashed. The guy in SC is the same as Demint a right wing Tnut and the rest of the sheep will follow him right into the slaughter house. We do not have opposition nowdays we have unelected idiots like Norquist and the Koch bros running an entire political pary that everyone should ignore as they do not know how to govern and cannot even explain what a liberal is. To them anyone whos is to the right of their 15% share of America is a liberal. Promising white American males they will continue to dominate the political spectrum even after they become a minority is working for them right now but as more people wake up to their methods and stupidity they will in the end just be a footnote in history. They almost sunk this country now they want you to believe they can save it. fat chance.
Last week Governor Haley of South Carolina appointed Tim Scott to fill the vacancy left after Senator DeMint's resignation.
Crickets from Arthur.
This week Governor Abercrombie of Hawaii appointed Brian Schatz to fill the vacancy left after Senator Inouye's death.
Arthur cries foul.
Shocking.
It is ridiculous that the only way to get anyone out of Congress is when death do us part. Inouye had been in the Senate since 1963 and here he is dying out of office at the age of 88. He was in the senate far longer then he should have been, and far and away beyond his productive years. There is simply no excuse for having any of these dinosaurs roaming around Washington on the backs of taxpayers pretending they are up to the job. Just another glaring example of the need for term limits.
Let's hope Shatz wants to a Senator more than Romney wanted to be president.
...other than being re-elected every 6 years as prescribed by the Consitution, you mean.
Job1
"As long as he is a Democrat."
So as long as he is stupid and ignorant you will like him.
We know.
Definitely torn on the term limit argument. At first glance, the late Senator definitely seems like the anomaly. The way he conducted himself. The way he treated others. Thoughtful in his voting record etc, but definitely not the norm.
On the benefit side, having such a long tenure could provide a wonderful platform for young, political junkies to work with someone who really knew the ropes. On the down side, many of those same young, political junkies might be hesitant to tangle in HI politics because they may have seen no way forward because of such a permanent figure. Tough and it's definitely a toss up on the up side vs the down side of having such a long standing member of Congress represent a State or District.
HI politics seem to take the lead in this pick and a good dose of right time, right place for the young man. The proof is in the pudding, we'll see what he does. Gov Abercrombie may not get to be a Senator, but it looks like he got the next best thing by vicariously living it through his Lt.
I'm personally sick and tired of the term limit argument.
This nation has term limits...they're called ELECTIONS!!!
The entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate was up for re-election this year. How many of them did we send back, 9% approval rating and all?
You've got to be kidding me - at least Democratic candidates want the position. The best the GOPTP can run for president is a man whose fake blond, Welsh cake burning, wife is the only one interested in the position.
The only way I could support term limits is if those term limits are applied only to seats representing districts that were gerrymandered by a party. If districts are drawn by a non-partisan group, then term limits should not apply.
Simpletons. Critical thinking skills are seriously lacking here.
At this point, every congressional district in the nation has been gerrymandered at one point or another.
And since Senators represent entire states and not districts anyway, how do you handle the issue of term limits for them since it is impossible to gerrymander a senate seat?
When the framers wrote the Constitution, the electorate had no real say in the composition of the Senate in the first place. Pretty much all Senators were 'appointed.' I'm not sure where all the sturm and drang about Senatorial appointments being somehow Anti-American originate. The idea of Senatorial elections didn't come around until 1913 after the Seventeeth Amendment.
I hear ya Da Noid, you're absolutely correct about the elections, but somewhat of an assumed undercurrent to that perspective, is the 'informed electorate' of those elections.
In my opinion, it is in this area where the real weakness in this country sits. Unfortunately, I believe there are far more Representatives and Senators who are serving MORE because of an uninformed and/or partisan electorate than vs that of a knowledgeable electorate which by default should have to be less partisan, but rather able to speak to what their Rep and/or Sen has done via their voting record.
From this perspective, the only real change that can fight against the very long and real shadow of a long standing member, is the term limit. Just a thought.
"We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority." - Texas Republican Party Platform, 2012
Romney only wanted the trappings of the office. He had no agenda, other than what would have been handed to him by his puppet masters.
But for someone who had no desire to be POTUS, he sure did a lot of damage to the spirit of cooperation in this country...and he made blatant, constant lying on the campaign trail acceptable in some quarters.
Romney added nothing of value to our national conversation, and he will sink like a stone in the memory of the American public, just a footnote at the bottom of the page.
Thanks, Tagg, for admitting that your father never had the cojones to be our leader. At least someone in the Romney family has a vague sense of truth.
Good riddance, Romney! Enjoy your invisibility and irrelevance for many years to come.
Oh, and you Romney supporters can take down your signs now. You can remove your bumper stickers. In case you hadn't heard, Romney lost.
Still celebrating here!! :)
Da Noid
Two wrongs make a right?
What do you mean, DingleB? Da Noid was explaining that the Texas GOP is OPPOSED to critical thinking skills!
what would you know about critical thinking just look at what you and your ilk have done to this country OH I FORGOT YOU CANT SEE FROM IN HIS SHORTS
Congrats, young fella.
Do all of your constituents proud. Do your job, and do it well.
BTW- all offer prayers or good wishes to President Bush, sr.
It's appropriate, and it's what we (used to) do.
You're right, drive-by. We should wish George H.W. a speedy recovery. But if that is not meant to be (he's 88 years old I believe) then my hope is that his family is with him and he goes peacefully into the great beyond.
We're all going there some day. It seems the gun mentality folks would have us all go as soon as possible, but that's a topic for another article.
DBO, well said. Best wishes to former President George H. W. Bush for a speedy recovery.
Hey! Is ther'e an "Old gal" in the neighborhood???
Sorry to report Buzz, the old maids were finally committed to the nut house instead of the tree house!
May the old broads finally.. RIP! ☺
No, not "old maids". " Old 'Gal". Jeekers, doncha remember my old 'friend' from the left coast, that used to delight in calling you 'old gal'?
But yes, I rember all too well, the nuthouse gang, and their obsession with the 'secrecy' of the damned place!
Meanwhile, Geitner saya we have reached the debt ceiling. Good! This way, a debt ceiling deal will have to be part of a fiscal cliff deal.
Maybe id the debt ceiling rises enough,it will reach the cliff! So when we drive off,it will look like a pasture with no bumps! NOT!We might as well take some of our nuclear weapons on the west coast and aim them at the east coast and east coast weapons at the west coast and fire.When everything would settle down,only the sane people in the middle would run the country.Only a dream,just a dream!
There will be no dealing with our debt under the current administration. The policies of the Obama Administration require continued government spending and increased national debt in order to look like they are working. Even Canada's Prime Minister is saying we must address our debt before entire continent of North America suffers the same fate that Europe is suffereing under now.
You mean the people that make up the meth-belt? And you do realize most nukes are located in center of the country.
Too bad this so called Governor of the State of Hawaii, did not honor the wishes of Senator Inouye. Where is the HONOR in that. Never mind if you have to fill Hanabusa's seat. The GREATEST MAN that did Everything for HAWAII. His wishes not even HONORED. Shame on you Abercrombie, this should be your last and only term to serve Hawaii. You do not much for Hawaii not even for TEACHERS.
Some people cant read the debt ceiling has been averted until at least the latter part of Feb!
The debt ceiling is money already spent (voted by Congress to spend) accumulated over the decades since Ronald Reagan turned us from a creditor nation into a debtor nation. The GOP view of just not increasing it is about as ignorant as not paying the monthly mortgage because you changed your mind and really don't like that house you bought. It would be catastrophic for the USA to default on its debt because TP republicans are too stupid to understand what it is.
Yes, the national debt and deficit are problems but they must be addressed sensibly; the last thing we need is to slash spending too quickly--then, we do become like Greece, Spain, etc. The best and most effective way to decrease the deficit and ultimately the debt is to continue spending to get the economy really rolling--jobs means more revenues and less deficit. Irrational government cuts to demanded by the GOP in 2011 and 2012 are exactly why the economy and job creation slowed again in the fall of 2011.
breadex, wrong, the debt ceiling will be reached Dec 31 without manipulation by Treasure. It is troubling that Treasury must manipulate the debt and money to temporarily avert a crisis of Congress's own making. The fiscal cliff, the massive spending cuts are all self-imposed crises due to the incompetence of the GOPTP House and the obstructionist filibustering GOP Senators. Until 2009, BOTH parties quietly increased the debt ceiling with just enough of the minority or majority voting NAY to make a statement. My guess is that prior to 2009, most people had never heard of the debt ceiling. No other civilized countries have such a stupid rule: Congress must increase the debt ceiling to pay for what Congress already voted to spend and has spent. How ridiculous is that?
IMHO the one bill that should NOT be paid is the payroll of the Congress....and that should not be paid until the debt ceiling is increased. Mabe that will wake up a few of them.
Liberals like to compare ObamaCare as being just like RomneyCare, so it must be good for the nation. But when it comes to comparing all the states that are forced to live within their means by balancing their budgets, well there is no way that will work in Washington. Every balanced budget amendment in recent history has been defeated in Congress by the Democrats. So although the Democrats constantly blame everyone else for the fiscal mess in Washington, they have ensured by there voting record that it is never going to change.
I suspect he did not appoint Hanabusa, not out of disrespect for her or for Inouye's wishes, but out of the desire to not remove a voice of reason from the House of Representatives during this very critical week. Even with Hawai'i's expedited process for appointments to vacancies, it took over two weeks to appoint Inouye's replacement.
Big shoes to fill, wish him well.
8.5" shoes aren't big!50 years in the senate making everyone vote for your spending bills that benefit your state only,is big!
Yeah, good, go after the dead. I especially applaud going after WWII heroes, you done good boy.
maso98, you disrespect a veteran of World War II who lost an arm defending this country and received the Medal of Honor. What in the hell have YOU done to make the country a better place to live. Gripe and smear the deceased! What a total A**HOLE.
Brian Schatz is just the next old boy to get his payback for toeing the liberal party line in Hawaii. Senator Inouye did sooo much for this state and we all owe him a very big mahalo! Unfortunately, his last 4-years in office were marred by the partisan politics that took over D.C. when President obama was elected. I had to laugh out loud when Harry Reid said Inouye was as non-partisan a politician he has ever known. Seems like all of the Democrats running for office today say they are non-partisan. Even our new Senator, Mazie Hirono, replacing our retiring Senator Akaka claimed to be non-partisan and able to work with those across the isle. These are flat out lies and the voting public takes these clowns at their word. Rest in peace Senator Inouye and God help this nation if we keep putting the same political actors in office.
When the other side is partisan, you have no choice but to be partisan.
Democrats never being partisan is an oxymoron. Oxymoron without the oxy would be describe you.
Ron you have no idea what you are talking about which proves you are a stuipd conservative
Hopefully Schatz can help make the rest of the US as good of a place to live as Hawaii. They have some of the best health care for its citizens in the nation.
I wonder what this clowns resume says other than "dimocrap!"That is all that is needed.Hawaii needs someone who will fight to brong home all that bacon Inouye did.How about that "interstate freeway" project.Just show me the bridge!
brong home all that bacon
Is that the meth speaking, or is it just another day in the low intelligence realm of a right wing dingbat?
Probably a bit of both
Why are the Republicans doing their best to look like spoiled brats that need to be sent to bed without desert. Taxes should be raised on those earning $500,000 or more. The talk of boner and the gang that these are the "job creators" is utter garbage. These are by far the financial folk, bankers, insurance executives and pharmaceutical bosses. Less than 4% are small business owners and this would be mitigated by deductions. The Republicans think you are all saps and they count on ignorance to get what they want. Too bad they count correctly on their "base".
William! With that attitude of your,you will never get out of your mommy's basement.If you taxed everyone who makes over $250,000 at a 99 percent tax rate,that would feed that voracious beast in Washington for about 12 days.When 47 million people are on food stamps,that's the probelm.I read you libturds daily talking about starving children and how republicans want them to just go hungary! Please,please,please,just give me the name of one starving child in America.We give all needy people plus those who are not in need,money,food and housing.We go beyond that.After provided WIC,EBT and food stamps to the needy to feed their children three meals a day,we feed the same kids two additional meals a day at school.Seems to be a little double dipping out there and its' not from the greedy wealthy folks either.Grow up! If we took all the money in America tomorrow and put it into a giant pot and the next day gave everyone an equal share,the following day,you would have some rich people and some poor people.It's not the rich who make the poor pople,its' the mentality of the poor that make them poor.
No William,we didn't expect the "less than literate" folk like you to stop tweeting for 5 minutes and vote.We made a mistake.By the way William,give me the name of one of your congressional representatives and also the number of your congressional district! Bet you don't know the answers,right!
Why answer a complete idiot? Just asking...
Maso,
Your such a Dick! I am one of those business people that pay my staff. I work with my congressman and senators. You are the illiterate one that presupposes that others are as ignorant as you and your Tea Party ilk. You seem to have flunked both math and civics.
Good choice.
I respectfully disagree. Hanabusa was the one for the job.
She's great, but taking her out of the House without an immediate replacement during this critical week would have been a HUGE mistake. Sort of like Obama appointing Napolitano. Great for the country, but AWFUL for Arizona and one of the President's BIGGEST errors.
Let's see since Obama "CLAIMS" to be from Obama and "CLAIMS" to be from Illinois, we know how he does politics. Wonder how much this guy had to pay for that Senate Seat...lol
@America,
Obama claims to be from Obama?
Whaaaaaat?
Let it go he's just a crack head trying to be funny sorta like maso. Just ignore them they will go away. All so what ever you don't feed tthem.
Seems like we are having to deal with the more illiterate trolls they left on the dung heap when the Republicans sliced up their misinformation crew. Gets quite funny sometimes
America @Risk,
Oscar season is coming up again, and if there was an award for the "most idiotic comment", you'd win hands down.
Sounds like a stool, I mean tool....
Wow i though we'd have one less democrat big government beggar
Only in your teabagger fantasy world would a Democratic governor appoint a Republican...
Under Hawai'i law, the Governor, regardless of party, must appoint one of the three nominees of the party of the person being replaced. But, yeah, the President's state of birth IS mostly democratic. Oh, and, yes it IS the state of his birth!
I thought we would have one less democrat darn..... well they wont get pass the house anyhow
So you support Republican obstructionism? That's your idea of democracy?
You cannot complain then when your taxes go up and you lose the benefits you've already paid for.
Lt. Gov. Schatz was previously elected to statewide office; therefore he is the best-known to Hawaii's voters of the potential successors to the late Sen. Inyoue. It was a political choice, but a good choice.
Do you have a clue about what you are talking about? Hanabusa is better known that Schatz and was Inyoue's choice. But then I can't stand her either because allthe years she was our State Rep she never did anything to better our district. Just to progress her political journey.
Local Boy:
No, Invisible Hand has always been pretty much clueless.
Invisible is an ignorant haole who has no clue about the local politics spouting nonsense and mindless babble.
Schatz is just one more stupid choice for leadership after all the other stupid choices the liberal voters make in this state. Meanwhile our state continues to fall apart at great expense because we continue to pay the Unions for shoddy work just so they can continue to keep their poorly educated kids employed through nepotism. Ah Hawaii the only third World State.
Good Job little Gnome!
If you don't like Hawaii, you can always move to a Red, right to work for less state.
If you think Hawaii is the only third-world state, you obviously have not traveled much. Pretty soon the U.S. will be a third-world country.
I'm not a Union guy. I actually work for a living and not steal from the people of Hawaii and hold them hostage to inflate their salaries.
@Local,
You do remember that one of the first things that the Nazi Party did when they came into power was to dismantle the Labor Unions, right?
They also took the guns away and censored political discourse that was not in line with their plans. Bob if you want to compare American Conservatives with Nazis then you truly are stupid. I guess you forget that it was the Liberals that voted against abolishing slavery, voted for Jim Crow laws, and have done everything they can to make the people of this country dependent upon government rather than independent and self sufficient.
@Local,
Resorting to name calling indicates that you have lost the argument.
I made analogy without calling anyone stupid... like you called me.
After comparing Republican/ American Conservatives to Nazis? Making an analogy is the same as calling someone the name. So to make you feel better you are like those guys dressed in funny costumes that used to dance and cavort before the King for his entertainment. Dude like all Liberals you have no valid argument so you declare victory and move on.
You can also add that Top Dumbocrats ran the KKK, their honored dead Senators were all KKK Officers and Klan Leaders. All of the Anti-Desegregation Southern Governors were Dumbocrats! The list goes on and on about how the supposed "Party of All Colors" has traditionally been an Old White Guys Club! The Republican Party has ten times the number of ELECTED and APPOINTED "People of all Colors" than the Dumbocrat Party for all of the BS the Dumbocrats claim otherwise! Even their ELECTED "People of Color" are ignored, bypassed, and are there only because of Protected and Gerrymandered Districts. Oh the CBC are very good Dumbocrats - Everyone of them has been Investigated and or Convicted of abusing their offices. Kind of a necessary Badge of Honor!
@Local,
Calling you out on your own turf.
I know you are, so what am I?
Here's my thing:
It ain't about Party, it's about US
Then Bob keep it about US and don't compare the American Conservative ideals to Nazis. Nazis killed between 11 and 17 million innocent people. Committed horrible atrocities to mankind and you flippantly use it to attack a well established political party in this country with a long record of past efforts to improve the lot of mankind, like the abolishment of slavery in this country. But then cry foul when I call you stupid for the analogy.
If we keep it to just US. Then the people of this country need to stop sitting on their butts and start actually working to protect their rights and freedoms. They need to stop turning over endless amounts of their money to fuel an out of control government that seems to be content on running us into bankruptcy. We need to start given free hand outs to people that are able bodied and make them actually work. Maybe then they would get some pride back. Welfare has been the single most detrimental policy, in my opinion, this country has ever passed. It took away a person's pride and created generations of people dependent upon the government.
That's what I think WE need to do.
Uhh, Local Boy? I really think your grasp of political history is in need of some fine-tuning- no, scratch that. It needs to be thrown out entirely. You're so far off the truth, you're not even in the same time zone with 'accurate'.
It is true that, at the time of the Civil War, the Democrats were the party of "State's Rights", while the Republicans, who had been in existence for less than a decade, were the party of national unity. If you ever read a damn book once in a while, you might have heard of the 'Dixiecrats', led by notorious segregationist dirtball hypocrite Strom Thurmond, who in 1948 began the process of neatly and completely upending the magnetic poles of American politics, a process that was completed with Nixon's insidiously brilliant 'Southern Strategy'. Look it up, dude. You have a computer, so there is no alibi for your ignorance.
For you to assert that the Democrats "have done everything they can to make the people of this country dependent upon government rather than independent and self sufficient" is not only asinine beyond belief; it is completely unsupportable by anything resembling objective evidence.
Progressivism is based on, among other principles, the idea that since all wealth is created by the laboring classes, they are entitled to a fair share of what they create. Please explain the reasons why you disagree with that notion.
Sziker, your statement about the prevalence of KKK in the Southern Democrat ranks is true as far as it goes, which is up to about the early Sixties. Note my statement above about upending the polarity of American politics. However, your assertion that " The Republican Party has ten times the number of ELECTED and APPOINTED "People of all Colors" is so absurd it does not even rise to the level of idiocy. You, also, are invited to defend your claim with any kind of verifiable evidence.
I'm going to go plant some giant sequoias while I wait for you historically disadvantaged chaps to find the proof you need. They'll be well grown before I hear from you again. Bali, feel free to drop by and enjoy their shade any old time.
Umm one question about this rant? How come the Female Republican governor of SC has appointed the Black elected congressman to fill Jim Demint's shoes? And why is that the first Black Senator in the South since Reconstruction? So spare me liberal rewriting of history.
But Bali Bob, maybe you arn't stupid but you sure sound stupid with your NA_NA_NA type of responses. Come on big fella, you can do better than that!
John 117- I confess, I am impressed! You actually came up with an example, albeit one ripped from yesterday's headlines... news that's still so hot, it's smokin'.
My points are that, 1. The Republican Party, ever since the passage of the Voting Rights Act, has consistently opposed and attempted to block, stymie or dilute every single piece of civil rights legislation that has been advanced anywhere in the country;
2. The Republicans, over that same time frame, have openly and consistently allied themselves with racist, anti-immigrant, and religiously intolerant factions all over the country; and
3. The Republican Party's tactics of feeding,encouraging and exploiting the fears and prejudices of under-educated and deliberately misinformed white voters are almost solely to blame for the crippling state of partisan division which currently exists in this nation.
All of these points are true, and your having pointed out one anomaly, from two days ago, does nothing, nothing whatsoever, to disprove or even to address my statements of fact.
Dude, none of you swaggering Republican bullies, filled up with distortions, exaggerations, and flat-out, bald-faced lies from Fox Entertainment, have got a prayer, OK? I actually read books, check my sources, and verify my claims. Facts and reality have a proven liberal bias. Just walk away; this is a fight you'll never win.
John #'s, you should be asking why is it that the first black senator since reconstruction had to be appointed? The very fact that Scott is the first since reconstruction is telling.
FoxTrotsky (you dancing fool, you!) - thank you for the factual, calm, and historical response to the absurd claims that were presented. I'll also recomend that the people making the claims actually take a look at a few still existing organizations such as the John Birch Society that opposed the Civil Rights Act and the KKK that formally endorsed Gov. Romney.
Respectfully, before someone decides to throw stones, it's often a good idea to see if they live in a glass house.
Matthew, thank you very much for your review and your addenda. It's too bad we're just shouting into a hurricane. You can lead a Republican to truth, but you can't make 'em think.
Me? I'm just doing like James McMurtry said-
"Dancing in the ruins of the realm
A fool and a madman at the helm"
Peace!
Good thing our good old GOP friends can't filibuster a senate nomination. It must make them crazy.
Actually makes me laugh. The people of Hawaii deserve the poor leadership they have elected. Half of the voters in this state don't even have a clue about who or what they are voting for. They are just following blindly what their unions tell them to. All the while the Union leaders continue to fill their pockets on the work of the workers while pointing fingers at those who actually give them jobs. Glad I'm educated enough not to have to be a slave to the unions. I am sorry I have t suffer the fools in power here though.
@Local,
Please respond to my post #16.1. Would like to hear your thoughts.
"Local Boy"??? LOL! Dude, why don't you get on the next east-bound plane and go back where you came from?
There are a lot of problems in the governance of Hawaii, but the unions are not the worst of them. Your name might indicate that you are from here, but if you hate it so much you could always move to Oklahoma or Kansas. There you might find the politics more to your liking.
Put a sock in it. Or do this post your qualifications that show you are an expert on politics in Hawaii instead of a worthless troll!
Leadership starts at the top. If our stumbling, bumbling president had an ounce of leadershil in his body he would never have left D.C. for yet another round of golf in Hawaii. As much as I dislike him that would have impressed even me. He's the man in charge and he should have looked Boehner in the eye and then dared him to go home for Christmas while he (you know, the leader) stayed in Washington. Another blown opportunity to finally show some leadership.
@G/,
Dude came back. Where's everyone else?
LOL that takes the stupidity in this seed to a new high level. Try reading what you post before hitting the post comment buttton in the future or keep going the way you do cause we need a laugh as you clowns try to defmae a great President who's only fault is being fair to all Americans and against all odds sock it to you guys in the last election. So in effect if he is bumbling as you call him what is your party?
The President left for his vacation after the republican congress cleared out of town. The republican congress left some pretty important work to be done, so they could whore up some more big business campaign donations.
To all of you out in the political and social wilderness of American anti-democratic society, allow me to assure you that my long-time friend, Brian Schatz, founder in his early 20s of Youth for Environmental Service, is very much an activist democrat -- with a small 'D'. Brian has the spirit and energy to work to transform American society from the inside-out. We in Hawaii do not use ancient political terminology or ideologies like "liberalism", "conservatism", "capitalism" or "socialism". We use radical pragmatism to create a better world, a post-liberal, post-capitalist society. Trust me, my friends, Brian Schatz is highly attuned to the transformation needed to bring Hawaii and the United States into the proper century politically. Brian was one of the first political leaders to endorse the Occupy Wall Street (aka, (de)Occupy Honolulu) movement in August of 2011. He is always ahead of the curve in terms of his willingness and ability to either lead or follow the leadership of the masses toward the egalitarian ideals the United States of American was born to perfect. In the future, Brian Schatz will be tabbed by pundits to be Hawaii's second native-born U.S. President. Don't doubt his abilities to lead us all out of the wilderness.
I hope you are right about him. However filling those shoes and denying a dead man's wish does not bode well for him.
He should have gracefully declined, as Susan Rice did, and run for Senate on his own merit.
I am disgusted...what disrespect.
Odds are just judy, that you aren't even a democrat. Senator Inouye made a recommendation but it was merely a recommendation. The person he recommended is a newly elected representative; that appointment would have required an expensive special election to fill her seat (leaving an empty Hawaii House seat until that election would take place) whereas appointing the Lt Gov of Hawaii to complete Inouye's senate term with no election required until that term expires in 2014. It is politics played well by the Gov of Hawaii and saves the state money as well.
I am a Democrat..have been forever. Obviously you cannot interpret this statement from his chief of staff. Yes, I know the process of the election, but what about values.
"Senator Inouye conveyed his final wish to Governor Abercrombie," Jennifer Sabas, Inouye's chief of staff, said in a statement. "While we are very disappointed that it was not honored, it was the Governor's decision to make."
LOL Seriously? What has he ever actually accomplished in this state? I mean really actually accomplished for the betterment of all the citizens of Hawaii?
@Local,
Why do you hate America?
His time is here. And the time for change is NOW. Brian has great love for the 'aina and the people who are Hawaii. It is time to restore the monarchy!
@Bob, where in anything I have posted makes you think I hate America?
@Demlefty really? Restore the Monarchy? LOL Laughable.
Well, Local,
Based on all your posts I've read here, I would also deduce you hate America, since all you do is whine and complain about it. It's probably just as accurate to suggest you hate yourself as well. Do yourself a favor and stay away from sharp objects til you settle down.
The important thing to hawaii is to keep the money flowing to this welfare state. We've got generations of welfare cases, no real industry and an ignorant untrained population. Still we'll be fine if we can keep the $ flowing from washington...
Ignorant untrained population
Speaking from your own experience, you mean. Go troll somewhere else. I have Masters Degrees from the University of Hawaii and Portland State in Land Use Conservation and Urban Government.
dem,
government checking in, defending more government. What a surprise!
Now let's face facts. Hawaii is a welfare state. It cost the US billions to run, It's schools are terrible, it has no real industry and an untrained populace many of which are stuck in generational welfare dependency.
So instead of addressing my valid points you choose to simply insult. Feel free to acknowledge the truth and apologise....
Better yet Keith, why don't you post some links to information backing up your rather ridicules claims? Generalizations are a pretty ignorant approach to a debate. Facts on the other hand keep people from thinking you are a complete idiot.
The republicans hate this, but who cares. They dont like anything. LMAO.
Far too many better Democrats were available. Enjoy your one term as Governor Neil, you were lousy in Congress too.
There are a lot of democrats available but they're all pieces of sh!t.
I actually would not have been a bit upset if Neil had named himself -- and handed the keys to the capitol over to Brian. My biggest fear is the situation on Beretania Street. Neil will only be reelected if there is no serious competition. Then what the heck happens in 2018? Worst Case Scenario: It allows an anti-democracy liberal like Ed Case to present an argument that we will be better off with someone most unlike Abercrombie -- i.e., an ideological anti-government figure, like me, Ed Case. Waiting to find out if the AJA Dems put up "one of their own" in 2014. That could be the Best Case Scenario, if that choice is a real progressive -- but very unlikely to get anywhere.
Too much pakalolo mixed with politics can lead to bad choices..........