Denby’s Fawcett’s interview several days ago, in which Gov. Lingle expressed interest in running for Dan Akaka’s U.S. Senate seat in 2012, was cited by the D.C.-based The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room.
The Hill also picked up on Lingle’s statement that she will be involved in national level Republican politics ahead of the 2012 presidential race.
Meanwhile, a Libertarian Republican blog calls Lingle one of the “disappointing exceptions” to Republican governor’s record of fiscal conservatism.
And don’t miss today’s lengthy profile of Sen. Dan Inouye in the Washington Post.
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“As governor, (Lingle) has a driver. But in December, she will have to drive herself. She has ordered a Nissan Leaf electric car.”
Good for her! The Leaf is 100 percent electric, which of course means zero emissions. And it’s kinda cute, too. Here’s one review: http://bit.ly/bzp5o3
Even though most of our electricity comes from oil, an electric car (at least this one) is a significant fossil fuel-saver in the long run.
Nancy, I’m curious about your last paragraph. Since she will have to charge the car via Oahu’s power grid, and since nearly all of the electricity on Oahu is oil-generated (H-Power contributes only 7 percent of the grid’s capacity, and it requires trucks to deliver the opala there), how does that translate to “significant” fossil fuel savings? Admittedly there is some benefit through economy of scale to generating power on a wholesale basis, but how do you figure that to be significant?
Does she have some form of power generation (solar, wind) available of which we are not aware?
I heard HECO shill Peter Rosegg (former Cayetano 5th floor guy) say on HPR that electric cars charging up after 9PM will let HEI use wind power which is readily available at night that HEI currently can’t use– I guess peak electrical use is earlier in the evening. So the New Beginner buying a leaf will be a good thing. Kudos.
I’ve heard that on Maui, with a much lower population and a big wind farm, low overnight use is an issue in using all power from the wind farm.
But I have a hard time believing that’s the case on O’ahu. Where are the windmills?
Is Lingle moving back to Maui?
Dave –
Electric vehicles, even if powered by a fossil fuel grid, are more efficient then traditional gas guzzling cars. There are some calculations floating out there. My rough recollection is that they are approximately a 1/3 more efficient even based on Hawaii’s oil-driven power plants.
Robert,
But aren’t hybrids actually more efficient than either the electric or the “traditional gas-guzzling cars”?
Lingle is finally admitting what a number of us have been saying for a couple of years. It has clearly been part of her career plan to run for the US Senate. And that she liked the national spotlight she got at the 2008 GOP convention and campaigning for Sarah Palin.
Lingle’s shift to the right was necessary to appeal to a national market. If Fox News dislikes her, she would not get the face time necessary to raise funds. She is also hoping to capture a share of the national Jewish Republican money. With Coleman defeated by Franken and Arlen Specter switching to the Dems (and then defeated), there is currently no Jewish Republican senator. And (I think) Eric Cantor is the only Jewish Republican in the US House?
That’s a tough set of contradictions to navigate, but Lingle has to avoid angering the Tea Party and Born-Again blocs of Republicans while still encouraging Jewish support. and not aligning herself too closely to the “Party of No” in the eyes of Hawaii swing voters.
OTOH, the Dems have to find a strong candidate if they want to defeat her. Their failure to field an attractive candidate for Neil’s First CD seat shows they really don’t have much talent for playing at that level. Mazie has really caught on with the voters, despite a very good voting record. She would probably be smart to stay in her 2nd CD seat. Much as I hate to say it, Ed Case may be the best hope for the Dems in 2012.
Up until his spanking by Abercrombie, I would have thought Mufi had a shot at the Senate seat. Now, I think he is dead for 2012, though some of the Old Guard/Old Boy Dems around Senator Inouye might not be able to see that.
Lingle will never get another elected position in this state. Period.
I agree w Palolo Lolo. I think Hawaii voters have had all of Ms. Lingle we can stomache, and a little more.
James Roche does a brilliant Linda Lingle, if you haven’t seen him. He looks lovely in fuschia polyester pantsuit too!
After this election cycle, Case is history.
And so is Hannemann.
Then again, just one person’s opinion.