Tag Archives: Colleen Hanabusa

The 17-year secret

7 May

Shatz-and-Hanabusa-sizedIan Lind has an interesting article on his website that demands reading.

It has to do with Colleen Hanabusa and Brian Schatz and who is best to hit the ground running.

The answer is, of course, the person already there.

But the big thing is his story on one of the state’s largest refuse disposal firms signing a labor contract making it a “union shop”.

But didn’t tell its workers for more than 17 years, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court.

According to Lind, “It turned out that Hanabusa represented the Laborers Union and its attempts to defend the secret contract.”

Ian Lind is a superb reporter and prints nothing without checking its accuracy.

It really is important reading here.

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Open your wallet

3 May

Ed-Markey-sizedPolitics is asking for money.
Always been that way – always will be.

Politics is also giving and gathering favors.
I help you – later you help me.

This from Colleen Hanabusa this morning:

“On Tuesday night, my former House colleague, Ed Markey, won the Democratic nomination in the special election to replace John Kerry in the U.S. Senate — and I couldn’t be more excited at the prospect of serving with Ed again…
But Republicans are far less enthusiastic about a progressive like Ed Markey coming to the Senate.
In the [XX] hours since Ed became the Democratic nominee, right-wing groups from across the country have descended on Massachusetts to attack Ed and prop up his Republican opponent. He needs our help, especially since the general election is next month.”

The release goes on to ask that people send $5 to his campaign.

So, is this about Hanabusa asking for money for her friend to get a favor back later?

Continue reading →

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Everyone knew this was coming

3 May

Shatz-and-Hanabusa-sizedIn our email box flutters a love letter from the Colleen Hanabusa campaign for Senator:

“Colleen will make it official that she is a candidate for the United States Senate, and we need your help, now more than ever…This election will be the first chance the people of Hawaii have to vote for who they wish to succeed Senator Inouye. Join us in saying that Colleen Hanabusa is our choice.”

Brian Schatz, the Lt. Governor, was appointed to the Senate in January by Governor Neil Abercrombie to serve out the term of the late Daniel Inouye.

It was against the dying senator’s last wishes.

The decision caught everyone by surprise because Hanabusa was considered the anointed one, the next in line for the seat.

It’s going to be interesting as Schatz has been raising money, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will support him in the primary.

Hanabusa may not get the national senatorial support, you can bet she’ll have the backing of influential groups like Emily’s List.

But in the end, don’t expect a lot of national support.

The primary is between two Democrats, and having a democrat in the office is all the big-money PACs are interesting in seeing.

What will make a difference is race will play a big part in who wins.

Continue reading →

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The final three

26 Dec

Hanabua-Schatz-Kiaaina-sizedHawaii Democrats got together this morning and came up with a list of three candidates to replace Dan Inouye in the Senate.

It now goes to Governor Neil Abercrombie who appoints one of them.

Here’s the list:

Representative Colleen Hanabusa
Lt. Governor Brian Schatz
State Department of Land and Natural Resources deputy director Esther Kia’aina

A couple of names missing from the list were really no surprise.

Ed Case didn’t stand a chance.

His name is mud with the Democratic Party ever since he ran against beloved Dan Akaka years ago.
That has to go down as one of the worst decisions made by a politician, ever.

Tulsi Garrard also didn’t stand a chance and may have stepped on a few toes throwing her name into the hat.

The former City Council member won the election to replace retiring Akaka, and then submitted her name for consideration before she was sworn into the job she was elected to.
That was another real bad political decision.

Continue reading →

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Political musical chairs

26 Dec

pick-me-sizedToday, leaders in the state’s Democratic Party are meeting to pick three people – one of whom will finish the Senate term of Dan Inouye.

Those names will go to Governor Neil Abercrombie and he’ll appoint one of them to the job.

You can imagine the backroom dealing going on.

The winner becomes the “senior Senator” from Hawaii because he or she will be in office before the new Congress is sworn in January 3rd.

Next to being president, becoming a senator is the highest prize in politics.

And just to stir the pot a bit, Inouye sent a letter to Abercrombie before he died, asking the Representative Colleen Hanabusa be given the position.

And we should point out – the Governor didn’t speak about the letter’s contents (and request) until Senator Inouye’s office released it.

Adding more pressure – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is asking the Governor to appoint a successor before the new year so the state is “fully represented” for a possible vote to avert the fiscal cliff.

If the Governor delays, newly elected Senator Mazie Hirono would be #1 by virtue of her time in the House.

Meanwhile, just about all the usual run-for-anything suspects have tossed their names into the hat, including Ed Case, who keeps running into the wall of his unpopularity with his own party.

Continue reading →

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