Hawaii Elections 2010: The Morning After

I look forward to the next 4 years in Hawaii.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Tip of the hat to the Democratic Party of Hawaii for their spectacularly trend-defying success."][/caption]

Aiona: great campaign, very classy post-election interview; you truly are a man of integrity and deep-rooted values. Despite our differences in stances on certain issues (actually most), I stand by my vote for someone with strong values, who has a real sence of 'Ohana, who I feel I can trust, and who could have brought accoutability to our lopsided legislature.  Have a great time with the family!

Djou: I could be wrong, but right after the results came in, you almost sounded like a human being for a minute.

Abercrombie: your plan and policies are fine, that was never the issue, but are they only contingient on your political success (as was your fickle support/discontent of the military), or are they based on our shared values? You still have some work to do to earn my trust.

Hanabusa: Congratulations! You deserve the win and some much needed R&R.

Last but not least, I'd like to send a special congratulations to our newly elected young leaders: Stanley Chang, Linda Ichiyama, Brittany Smart, Tulsi Tamayo, and to any one else who stepped up to represent an intregral generation in sharping Hawaii's future.

Why Hawaii Needs a Republican Governor

I am not the fervent Republican zealot who will support any candidate in his party regardless of the candidate’s values. In fact, I am quite the opposite. But although I hold ideals and political philosophies that are of a traditional accordance to those of the Democratic Party, I appreciate the checks and balances that a republican governorship brings to our lopsided State Legislature.

Throughout the past eight years under Republican Gubernatorial leadership, legislation may have not moved as quickly as it could have, but at least our State leaders were forced to be more responsible in the construction of legislation—knowing that vetoes would require a two-thirds vote over-ride.

A democratic majority in the State House and Senate is a great thing for progress in Hawaii, but a republican governorship will help both cabinets produce more responsible legislation. In turn, synthesized designs of bi-partisan, centrist legislation will benefit the greatest amount of people in Hawaii and help create a more harmonious and efficient society.

-- A Letter to the Editor, Published in the Maui News - July 7th 2010