As I wrote in an overnight tweet, election night felt like waking up on a happy Christmas morning and watching the presents being opened. Okay, I don’t suppose it felt that way to Republicans, who must have felt the earth shifting under their feet.
We joined in some election day sign waving for Jessica Wooley, who was making her first bid for elected office in our House district, which stretches from Kaneohe to Laie, and later drove into Kaneohe to watch the results with other campaign supporters. So click on the photo of Jessica and her mom for a few more pictures, or click here for a short video taken when a bottle of champagne was opened after the first results came in showing that she had a significant lead over the 7-term Republican incumbent.
You can be sure that the move to oust House Speaker Calvin Say was moving into high gear with the first printouts last night. I hear that Say is short of the necessary 26 votes, and there’s a small group of House members staking out a middle ground that could be the key swing votes. They might agree to back new leadership, but want less of a spoils system when it comes to committee assignments and internal workings of the House.
As to the Advertiser’s failure to endorse, I received this message regarding a story circulating inside the newspaper:
…the staffing restraint line is bullpucky…
I heard the board voted to endorse Obama 4-2, but (Publisher Lee) Webber did not agree. As a “compromise,” the board decided not to endorse anyone.
Haven’t confirmed the story, but that’s what I’ve been told.
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Ian: I notice that Shapiro at the Advertiser and some others are lamenting the failure to have significant changes in the legislature. They should know that legislative races are won on the local level — neighbor to neighbor, house to house, friend to friend (and seeing how your neighborhood apparently did make a change). Dave, and some of his blogcommentators are also too cynical for me. I’ve found most people who run for office to be folks who care a lot about their families and communities and who have a lot of idealism about our democracy, and in Hawaii, a lot of the successful ones happen to have picked the Democratic brand/label. Even people I don’t agree with (i.e., Fred Hemmings or Sam Slom) I have to admit liking their passion (wrongheaded passion to be sure), and I think that’s part of what attracts voters to a candidate — some connection whether it’s an issue or feel for the person’s character. As for the Governor, she has made it clear what her priority is — her own political future over that of party building, or even of taking care of things at home. The GOP is damn lucky my party doesn’t have anyone that can beat the likeable Dukie Aiona who doesn’t have to resign to run (Mufi) or give up a place of influence (Neil or Colleen) or his ambitions for a Potomac seat (Ed and a dozen others). lol. As for the annual House reorg, let’s see who can count votes.
Also, the Senate might be in for some realignment as well with Colleen supposedly getting some additional support from the new Big Islanders (Dwight and Josh) so one of the other Dem groups might be relegated to lesser roles than in the past majority coalition . . . .
The two editorial board votes for McCain were those of publisher Lee Webber and Mark Platte, the editor. Both are die-hard right-wingers — Webber once told an audience that the main problem in Hawaii is unions and Platte is a born-again Christian who has assiduously pushed a conservative agenda at the paper, marginalizing those with liberal views and elevating managers who’ll toe the line and push his agenda. Note how the Advertiser claims that “staffing problems” prevented it from making an endorsement. That’s a lie, of course — unless Platte and Webber mean they haven’t quite gotten rid of everyone who doesn’t share their political views.
A bit of gossip: Word is one prominent local political colunnist wanted to pen a diatribe about the paper’s refusal to make an endorsement — but decided not to because he feared doing so would endanger the job of a close relative who works for the Advertiser. Trust me, his fears are well-founded.
Why is Platte on the Advertiser editorial board?