It’s pretty wet in Kaaawa, and might be enough to keep us from walking. We normally walk in most weather, but I have to admit that heavy rain is a deterrent, and right now it’s raining hard. We’ll just have to see what the morning looks like when there’s just a bit more light.
The Supersession ended yesterday, as expected, with a bill allowing the ferry to sail past the Supreme Court’s ruling. About the only surprise was the “no” vote cast on third reading by House Finance Committee chairman Marcus Oshiro, who joined just ten colleagues against the measure. You can track the votes on the “bill status” page for SB1.
This alert appears on the Judiciary web site this morning:
“PLEASE PARDON THE INCONVENIENCE
Unfortunately, we are having problems with Ho`ohiki, the online database system of Circuit and Family Court records. We are working to fix the problems as soon as possible.”
Dave Shapiro hit the Lingle/Awana issue in his Volcanic Ash column in yesterday’s Honolulu Advertiser.
The governor waited to act until after this unbecoming behavior by her top aide became public and she had no choice but to do something. It was unlikely this was the first she had heard of it, since Awana had reported the extortion attempt to federal prosecutors some time earlier.
The questions are obvious: When did Lingle become aware of this tawdry behavior by top state officials and other members of the trade delegations she led? How widespread was the hanky-panky? What action did she take to stop the misconduct and discipline state officials involved?
Now we just need a media strategy to keep pressure on the governor to answer, or to dig out the answers directly.
Digging through federal campaign contribution info yesterday, I ran out a list of the largest contributors to the Hawaii Republican Party during 2007. Two things jump out at me. First, it reads like a Lingle campaign list. I’m pretty sure that virtually all anywhere near the top of list list maxed out on their contributions to Lingle’s reelection campaign. And, second, I had to look twice at the contributors who are associated with contractors and consultants who used to pop for the Democrats and are now lining up for the GOP, including some fined during the Campaign Spending Commission’s crackdown on illegal contributions, such as RM Towill and Wilson Okamoto.
Thanks to Jeff Garland for pointing to an important link to “free worldwide access via the Internet to live and pre-recorded webcasts of selected FCC events.”
And is it already destined to be a Clinton/Obama Democratic ticket in 2008?
The rain that periodically swept in from over the ocean last night put a damper on Halloween in Kaaawa. I went out early with camera and umbrella to see what was happening, and ran into this group outside what was soon to be a very spooky-looking haunted house. Just click for a larger view of this fine group.
Is anyone else wondering about the Dog Chapman issue? Like, how did it come to be that his private phone call was recorded, and by whom?
Isn’t that illegal? How the heck did this even become a media issue and what is the culpability of his son? This just glares out at me and I haven’t seen it addressed in the media. Anyone?
Chapman’s son taped the call. In many (most?) jurisdictions if one party consents to taping a telephone call then it is legal.
That’s right. In Hawaii any one party to the communication can tape or give consent under HRS §803-42(b)(3).