You might enjoy my Hawaii Monitor column today over at Civil Beat (“Patronage Games“).
Nothing earth shattering, just a little tale of how former Gov. Linda Lingle’s friend and religious mentor found himself a job with a company that had landed a 5-year contract with the state.
Curious? So was I.
Check it out.
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Word along the grapevine is that soon to be ex-Rep. Jerry Chang will be the next to do this work. And so it goes . . . . .
How is the dirt you allege against Lingle any different than the dirt PRP alleges against Cayatano? Both look like negative campaign ads to me. Just saying…
Ian is rabidly anti-Lingle but after all is said and done, it is his blog and he is therefore free to take such positions as he prefers.
Both of you are completing missing the clear and simple and most powerful defense against a lawsuit with accusations of libel:
If you report the Truth about a public official, there is no libel that can stand in court. Period. No gray areas, points of debate or legal BS. Either it’s the truth or it’s a lie. If it’s the truth, there is no libel. (Keep in mind that I am talking specifically about libel here, not other areas of legal battles.)
The onus is on the party that sues to prove that there was a) a lie that caused damage and b) the lie was done on purpose.
This approach to libel could be taught in elementary school. (though many kids would flunk an exam on it…….)
My comment has nothing to do with who owns the blog or libel or slander suits. It has to do with people who live in glass houses.
there is a Yuge difference between professional criticism of public officials and self-righteous judgement done on a personal, immature level. this particular blog focuses on the former, not the latter. yes, the difference is Yuge.
I finally had time to digest Ian’s “games'” piece. Seem to flow well and to be well cited. Jane seems super sensitive to Lingle’s many obvious flaws. If Ian had gone after her errors he would need a book.
Just witness what is unfolding in Hilo now with Naniloa Hotel lessee’s utter failures. It was Lingle who allowed that lease to proceed sans any due diligence. And Mr. Liu seems to pop up every where as the dubious bad man from China to the Big Island.