Abercrombie 'thinking hard' about isles' top job - Hawaii News

Duke Aiona has no chance in the race. He will be lucky to get as many votes as Randy Iwase did last election.

This statement makes it sound like he will not be running for re-election to the House in any event, so that open seat will generate another scramble, in addition to the Governor's race.

Senator Inouye also comes up for re-election in 2010. If his health is good, he should win re-election, even against the strongest potential GOP candidate, Linda Lingle. Who in Hawaii is willing to give away the Senator's position as Chair of Appropriations?

If the Senator's health is bad, it is unlikely a Democrat would run against him, even including Ed Case.(I THINK Steve Tataii is still a Republican as of this writing?)

But if the Senator cannot run, the open seat is likely to lead to a scramble there as well. Though an open Senate seat might tempt Mufi to opt out of the Governor's race. He would likely face Case. Ugh! A no-win scenario for decent Democrats!

Bong resin impedes brain synapse
Abecrombie pakalolo relapse
Joe Gedan's thoughts in vapor
Neal runs out of rolling paper
In the streets, all adore
The Messiah is Coming,
what a bore

Poor Dukey boy, no chance at all in '10!

Barrack Irack wrote:

If Neil Runs For Gov.....Im Down to Help Out! No Dukes Nor Hanabada.

What about Case, I thought Ed Case was running too. I like him and his wife, they are nice, Audrey. What you think? Why no for Hanabusa? No can do with Neil. Neil he kind of creeps me out, in a ugy way.

Aber better think twice about running for Gov...look what happen to Cec Heftel when he ran against da Machine. Da machine decimated his character by calling him s----- deviant.
Even though it was not true, his political career was scarred for life. Though Aber is a Dem he is still an outsider like how Cec was. And i know what kind of trump up statements the Dems will do against Aber if he runs. They will probably associate him with Tommy Chong of Cheech n Chong.

Of the five names being bandied in the comments, Duke Aiona is the best candidate for Governor. A former judge, local boy, family man and probably the reason Lingle got elected. With 12 years as Lt.Gov . he has the experience.

As for Neil, I think he may carry Honolulu, but not the outer Islands.

2010 will be an off year, it will depend on being able to run a grass roots campaign similar to the Obama folks.

Although Hawaii is primarily Democrats, local people are smart enough to pick the best man/woman if they are aware of him/her.

Ed Case is the best candidate, he has good ideas, good vision for where the State should go, and he listens to what the people need. At least he cares Aiona has too many issues, Hanabusa "too many pockets", Mufi needs to finish what he starts, and Abercrombie, well he'll be absent most of the time. Looks pretty gloomy!

I agree with Rufus. Case has been quiet for a while though, is he really interested? Isn't there anybody with some slight bit of vision or leadership in Hawaii, from any political perspective, instead of just the same corrupt, tired hacks we always get saddled with? Lingle, Abercrombie, Mufi, Akaka, Inouye...the thought that this is be best we can put forward makes me want to puke. Is the job just so bad that no serious person wants it?

For all you naysayers out there who keep on slamming the hawaii congressional delegation, they have brought over 100 million dollars to Hawaii since in office. Abercrombie has always been stereo-typed as a hippie, relaxed, pot-smoking, etc. Those who know him know that his late father was a heavy smoker and so he NEVER smoked pot in his life. But, as always in Hawaii, you get judged by your looks. We think of Hawaiians, Samoans, etc. as lazy; we think Haoles are arrogant; we think Koreans just like to drive taxis and open restaurants....I think he, like the other potential candidates including Ed Case, Colleen Hanabusa, Mufi Hannemann should be given a fair shot and judge on their record, integrity, honesty, ability to work well with others, and most of all, someone who represents our values and ideas. They should be judged on the way they look.

Keaele Pookela wrote:

Although Hawaii is primarily Democrats, local people are smart enough to pick the best man/woman if they are aware of him/her.

Whoa!!! I almost had oatmeal shoot out of my nose after reading this. Local people primarily vote with their heart, if you will, that is on sentimentalities and emotion, not with their brains. That's why we keep ending up with the same old, knucklehead, do-nothing politicians time and time again.

get real

enuff with Linda wrote:

For all you naysayers out there who keep on slamming the hawaii congressional delegation, they have brought over 100 million dollars to Hawaii since in office.

Indeed; and a lot of it has been for the military that covers huge areas of these small islands, and burns and pollutes the land and water. Contrary to John McCain's claims not all earmarks are pork, but a lot of the Hawaii delegations things are pork, and a lot (like the Stryker brigade) were strongly opposed by a lot of people. These things come through fast, while it takes 10 years or more to get $5 million for a bargain-priced national park addition.

Inouye is just the Democratic twin of Ted Stevens, and just as good at bringing in money for no real purpose other than to line pockets. And he's still defending his fellow crook after Stevens' conviction, while his own party is moving to throw him out. Pathetic!

get real wrote:

<quoted text>
Whoa!!! I almost had oatmeal shoot out of my nose after reading this. Local people primarily vote with their heart, if you will, that is on sentimentalities and emotion, not with their brains. That's why we keep ending up with the same old, knucklehead, do-nothing politicians time and time again.
get real

Change we can believe in! One can hope! I know I can influence votes by having stew at political gatherings. Andy Anderson gained a lot of votes against Frank Fasi, just that way. Maybe Duke can do the same... Smile!!!

Keaele Pookela wrote:

<quoted text>
Change we can believe in! One can hope! I know I can influence votes by having stew at political gatherings. Andy Anderson gained a lot of votes against Frank Fasi, just that way. Maybe Duke can do the same... Smile!!!

Exactly my point.... Like I posted earlier, Hawaii votes, not with their "brains", but with their heart and apparently with their "stomachs" as well. Same ol', same ol'- Banana Republic. So sad...

I was hoping Mufi would run for Governor, leaving rail in the dust behind him. The days of big pork are over. Abercrombie is antagonistic and will belittle and shout down anyone who displeases him. He's not a fiscal conservative. His record of accomplishments is a big yawn. Lingle just doesn't cut the mustard or win many hearts nowadays. Mufi is a better representative of Hawaii, looking good and acting folksy and humble. I hate him as Mayor. Please, Mufi, run for governor!

Why did they censor the word ya-wn?

The only thing hippie about Neil is the hair. He's a pit bull.

Rufus wrote:

Ed Case is the best candidate, he has good ideas, good vision for where the State should go, and he listens to what the people need. At least he cares Aiona has too many issues, Hanabusa "too many pockets", Mufi needs to finish what he starts, and Abercrombie, well he'll be absent most of the time. Looks pretty gloomy!

That is what I said then some a** hole puts nut icon. I like Ed Case at least he is local.

Midnight Rambler wrote:

<quoted text>
Indeed; and a lot of it has been for the military that covers huge areas of these small islands, and burns and pollutes the land and water. Contrary to John McCain's claims not all earmarks are pork, but a lot of the Hawaii delegations things are pork, and a lot (like the Stryker brigade) were strongly opposed by a lot of people. These things come through fast, while it takes 10 years or more to get $5 million for a bargain-priced national park addition.
Inouye is just the Democratic twin of Ted Stevens, and just as good at bringing in money for no real purpose other than to line pockets. And he's still defending his fellow crook after Stevens' conviction, while his own party is moving to throw him out. Pathetic!

I have to respectfully disagree with you. Inouye has brought many good jobs not with PORK but with real monies. Look at the 55M he got for the new housing on bases. 165M for Mauna Kea telescopes. Lingle has done a good job getting business to come there to do business but more is needed to get out of the TOURIST BIZ where the jobs are low paying and get more into tech other areas of R&D since Hawaii does have the capabilities of sun and other kind of alternative energy. Folks need more education and more tech skills to make the bump up to higher paying jobs. Why are they bringing folks in and not hiring more trained folks up at the scopes on Mauna Kea? No one wants to live or work there. You go where the work is. Look how many new jobs on the big island are now attached to high tech? That is why we are here working on the big island. Hawaii has lots to offer the rest of America.

Mufi For Gov wrote:

I was hoping Mufi would run for Governor, leaving rail in the dust behind him. The days of big pork are over. Abercrombie is antagonistic and will belittle and shout down anyone who displeases him. He's not a fiscal conservative. His record of accomplishments is a big yawn. Lingle just doesn't cut the mustard or win many hearts nowadays. Mufi is a better representative of Hawaii, looking good and acting folksy and humble. I hate him as Mayor. Please, Mufi, run for governor!

You hate him as Mayor and want him for Governor? Rail OMG, do not get me started. That will cost our kids and our grandkids, thanks MUFI!

Political reasoning in Hawaii always seems to obscure the truth, even to those who are doing the reasoning. I don't see anything in Abercrombie's comments that really demonstrates what improved influence he would have if he were governor over his current House seat. Perhaps a greater constituency would bring greater stature and weight to his efforts. But he would not be in Washington DC.

Could he even win the governor's office? I wonder. Perhaps the old Democratic "machine" can pull him through like it did for Burns and Ariyoshi when I lived in Hawaii.