Third parties deserve a chance
The Democratic National Committee has shown bias for Hillary Clinton and against Bernie Sanders from the very beginning. How can we make the Democratic Party democratic?
Meanwhile, the Republican Party has shown bias against Donald Trump from the very beginning. How can we make the Republican Party democratic?
American voters no long trust either party to honor their promises and platforms.
Throw the bums out, and vote for the Greens.
We can only pray that at least one third party will be included in the debates. Keeping third parties out of the debates keeps new ideas from being discussed.
Our Constitution says nothing about a two-party political system.
We will never accomplish real change with the two-party system, as both are entrenched and corrupt.
Bill Russell
Mililani
We need more muckraking
The media and Democrats’ finger-pointing at the Russian government, when emails showed the Democratic National Committee (DNC) acted to subvert Bernie Sanders’ primary election bid, reminds me of the break-in at DNC offices at the Watergate building in 1972.
My ultra-conservative grandfather laughed it off as President Richard Nixon merely getting caught “with his pants down.”
My father retorted, “He pulled them down himself!”
Likewise, DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is wholly responsible for the blowback to her actions.
More to the point, the Watergate break-in and its organizers were exposed by The Washington Post. Why in 2016 do we depend on foreign intrigue and WikiLeaks to inform Americans about who is working to corrupt the integrity of our government?
In the not-too-distant past, muckraking journalists investigated and reported these things. Today, it seems the media acts as a lapdog to the Democratic establishment that they could and should be investigating.
Ritxard Weigel
Salt Lake
Don’t inter ashes in ocean waters
We are island people surrounded by the ocean, which is a living and breathing entity. The ocean is the sacred realm of our Hawaiian akua Kanaloa.
It is not pono to encase cremated ashes in concrete balls to go into man-made artificial memorial reefs in Maunalua Bay (“Eternal reefs,” Star-Advertiser, July 24).
With Hawaiian burial practices, we naturally disintegrate into Hawaii so our mana becomes part of the aina and the kai. It’s so we don’t become a permanent fixture. The memorial reef will be a permanent structure in the ocean, and it’s a commercial venture.
Traditional Hawaiian practices of canoe paddling, fishing and surfing take place in Maunalua Bay. To add an underwater cemetery to these waters is not appropriate. Who wants to paddle or fish over an underwater cemetery?
It’s not pono for the ocean waters of Maunalua, and it’s not pono for ocean waters anywhere else in Hawaii.
Kaleo Paik
Ann Marie Kirk
Maunalua
Dems shouldn’t support Djou
Ben Cayetano forgets that he became lieutenant governor and governor because he is a Democrat.
Walter Heen forgets that he became a state judge because he is a Democrat.
Ann Kobayashi forgets that she has won repeatedly in Manoa because she is a Democrat.
Yet they all are supporting Charles Djou, a Republican, for mayor.
As a state representative, Djou opposed funding to repair schools and voted against cost-of-living increases for state and city retirees. All teachers, retired teachers and other public sector retirees should remember this.
While on the City Council, he proposed budget cuts that the city administration said would force the closure of police stations and eliminate other critical city services.
It is bad enough for these three to be totally disloyal to the Democratic party. It becomes even worse when they support a Republican who has no empathy for our people.
Ed Manglallan
Ewa Beach
Mayoral race will decide rail’s fate
It is not very often that the people in a city are given several chances to correct a great mistake.
Voters in 2008 voted to allow the city to build “a steel-wheel-on-steel-rail transit system.”
At the time we were told it would cost $3.7 billion, with the federal government paying about $1.5 billion.
In 2012, voters were given the chance to change mayors and stop rail when it would cost $5.7 billion.
Now in 2016, voters have their last chance to vote on a $10 billion rail system that is five years behind schedule.
Will voters finally bring rail under control and elect a mayor who never once voted to raise taxes to build it?
Shirley Gibbs
Kaneohe
‘Animal cops’ falsely depicted
The movie, “The Secret Life of Pets,” does a disservice to animal rescue officers.
It portrays the officers as “bumbling bad guys” who capture pets with sadistic glee. The audience is led to cheer when the pets are able to escape the rescue worker’s nets and loop sticks.
The “animal cops” at Hawaiian Humane Society diligently work to help animals. They know that wandering animals risk injury, starvation, dehydration and even death. These individuals are compassionate and care deeply for animals.
It is concerning that thousands of children and adults will see this movie and walk away with a negative image of animal rescue workers.
We need to end the false portrayal of animal protectors for the sake of laughs.
The entertainment industry should to be more cognizant on its messaging and take responsibility in shaping a respectful and compassionate society.
Bonnie Oda
Kakaako
Takai did much for public schools
The passing of U.S. Rep. Mark Takai is a tremendous loss to Hawaii and the nation.
I joined with him when he worked tirelessly as a state legislator to improve public schooling for Hawaii’s children, especially those attending schools that experienced high student turnover due to military transfers.
He spearheaded changes that recouped millions of dollars in federal impact aid funding to supplement state school funds.
He recognized the special needs of these military-impacted schools and streamlined the transition of these oft-traveled military children to blend in with Hawaii’s diversified student population.
His personal efforts resulted in improving the schooling of thousands of students who not only achieved higher test scores, but “lived aloha” to bond lifetime relationships.
Hawaii’s military and local families are extremely grateful, and I am certain that Congressman Takai was very proud of the fruits of his labor.
Charles Ota
Aiea
77 responses to “Third parties deserve a chance”
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IRT: Ed Manglallan. Djou stands out as you depicted as a Republican–what Hawaiian Democrat would ever think of cost cutting??? Tax and spend is their credo.
Djou would make a great improvement over the other candidates for mayor. The only thing the others have brought us is a rail that is over budget and behind schedule, exploding homeless population and the worst roads I have ever seen in a “world class city.” It is time to get a hold of this and start responsible governing vice what we have today. The others offer the status quo, Djou offers change. If we do not change, eventually, our prized tourism industry will start to decline not because of economic turmoil, but because our “world class city” is in decline.
Dijon would be an excellent candidate and make some course corrections that we desperately need.
Why? What corrections would he actually make?
Djou has no plan.
Dem good rep bad right boots and wiliki….don’t worry about the facts right, just vote democrat. Your type of thinking is why were in this mess in the first place.
Well said ALLDUNN.
Caldwell nor Carlisle ever cared about the aina.
Kahu Matu has it right. VOTE FOR DJOU
Well said. People here need to get some perspective.
Bottom line for the mayoral race: Which candidate is the least corrupt? Which candidate is the least self-serving? Which candidate is the least incompetent? Which candidate is least likely to raise taxes unnecessarily? That candidate gets my vote.
The candidate least corrupt is Djou. If we ignore history, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes. When the GE extension was not yet passed, clodwell was quick on the trigger threaten property tax hikes. If re-elected, you can bet he’s going to raid the property taxes, no matter the cost, to build the rail to the shopping mall.
Then when and if the rail ever runs, he’ll be in your wallet again to take more property taxes to pay for operations and maintenance of the rail boondoggle.
Djou… the choice of the 1%. Opponent of Education and rail.
Baloney Let’s see your facts and not everyday BS. Djou…the Best Honest Choice.
Don’t forget Carlyle who fast forwarded the fake groundbreaking in Kapolei and blocked the shuttles from the people who were not Union members. What a scam he pulled off and right under our noses. The reality is we need Djou & Berg to keep a watch on the Democrat old boys network in the islands. WAKE UP HONOLULU
Djou has always opposed funding for education saying he opposes the teachers union. I need not say more for rail… he has always voted for rail.
Djou is a flip flopper… he’s not for anything that he can’t get votes.
Baloney Let’s see your facts and not everyday BS.
Finally, Djou opened up his plans about the rail as he said “the realistic solution to do is to look and putting the system on the ground including looking at perhaps light rail or Bus Rapid Transit or BRT.” Isn’t this what Cayetano wanted all along? Cayetano is running again through Djou!
Djou is nothing but a typical republican who loves to say NO! He would have opposed Eisenhower when the interstate highway system was proposed.
Indeed. No to this, no to that, but can anyone name even one solution of his that was actually put into practice? Easy to throw stones – much harder to do the work.
Djou is no conservative he is a closet Democrat
Baloney… he’s Uncle Scrooge.
I’d rather have scrooge McDuck guarding my tax money instead of the easter bunny.
Uncle Scrooge has no heart. He has a crooked moral compass.
I very happily mailed in my absentee ballot yesterday. Guess who DIDN’T get the box next to his name blackened in?? Yes, KROOK Caldwell!
Thank you SHOPOHOLIC. A common sense vote!!
Ed Manglallan is just a blind voter who will vote party no matter what. Same as the other two sheep above (wiliki and boots).
IRT Rixtard Weigel: It started when the various news divisions were all folded into the entertainment branches of their respective networks.
Bonnie Oda: What ? You expect a Cartoon imaginary story To be Realistic. Why don’t you just sit back and Enjoy. Don’t be so critical, lighten up.
Djou’s only claim to fame is that he never voted for a tax increase. It’s easy to strand on the sidelines as he does and grandstand, criticizing those working to solve problems. He’s nothing but a problem finder, and therefore, not fit to be our mayor.
You described Tea Party Djou to a tee. Do nothing and vote against everything which will help people.
How do tax increases for a boondoggle help people?
For those that know nothing about Charles Djou….Charles is a husband, a dad, a son, and a public servant. Charles’ priority at every level of his life and career is to take care of people. From his family, to his city, state and country, Charles is committed to doing his very best for people. His family comes first every day and he loves his wife Stacey and kids Nick, Tori and Alli more than anything.
Charles served his city in the Honolulu City Council from 2003 to 2010. He served his state in Hawai’i’s First Congressional District from 2010 to 2011 and the Hawaii State House of Representatives, where he was Minority Floor Leader. He serves his country as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve and is a combat veteran who served with the U.S. Army in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan during the “surge” of coalition forces in 2011-2012.
How is he serving by cutting education and rail?
Another wiliki lie. When did Djou cut education or rail?
On the City Council:
– Proposed budget cuts that would have forced closure of police stations, the medical examiner’s office, repairs for police and fire radio systems, and other critical city services.
– Repeatedly voted “No” on City budgets, which included funding for sewer repairs, water mains, road – repairs and repaving, park improvements, street lighting, zoo improvements, flood control, expansion of Satellite City Hall services, and more.
– Called for reductions of City and County services, saying “Cuts, deep cuts and painful cuts are going to have to be made.”
– Opposed pay raises for City employees, police officers and firefighters.
– Squabbled repeatedly with fellow Council members and the Mayor.
At the State Legislature:
– He opposed creation of fund to help repair schools
– He voted against family medical leave to allow workers to care for sick family members
– Voted against cost-of-living increases for State and County retirees.
– Voted against predatory lending legislation, and defended sub-prime lending.
– Voted against Whistleblower protections.
In Congress:
– Supported the repeal of Obamacare.
– Voted against Wall Street reform (Dodd-Frank).
– Was opposed to the Obama stimulus package that helped turn the recession around, even though it included the largest tax cut in history.
– Opposed the Jones Act
– Voted to deny unemployment and other relief benefits from those made jobless at the depth of the Great Recession.
– Voted against $3.6 billion in tax incentives for small businesses.
– Voted against providing billions of dollars to help states avoid firing teachers during the recession
– Voted against providing expanded healthcare to 9/11 first responders.
– Just three months after the BP gulf oil disaster, voted against efforts to reform offshore drilling safety and increase financial liabilities for oil spills.
This is not someone we want in Honolulu Hale?
whs1966 and OD. Djou is a problem finder? Great, that’s what we need here. Someone to identify the problems instead of ignoring them. Everything is rosey as far as you two are concerned huh? No problems?
whs1966: “He’s nothing but a problem finder”.
Better than those who choose to ignore problems until they blow up in our face. I’ll take anyone who has the foresight to anticipate problems and deal with them early no matter how unpopular the recognition and solution may be.
Two wrongs doesn’t make it right! Give a third party a chance and let’s stop the insanities of the two parties that had dominated our country with their own self-serving agendas! Let’s make America takes the right turn toward decency in faith, hope and love of our country!
I agree. I intend to vote for Gary Johnson!
🙂
As for Djou, his advertisements focus on the ills of our city which we are quite aware of – he doesn’t have solutions. Initially, I’m for Djou but we can’t start with another mayor at this point in time. It’s best to go with Cardwell whose administration is set and ready for us to help guide them toward the best way to finish this “albatross “! We can’t afford the time and money to set and prepare a new mayor and his team!
Are people forgetting the mudslinging campaignby clodwell in the last election with the help of PRP? I don’t recall clodwell accentuating many solutions either.
Keolu, I think the last few months we got Caldwell listening to us, the taxpayers! He has to abide and make extra effort to find the best ways to correct his errors of judgements. I was never for him nor for the rail, but it’s here to stay. Djou and Carilse would set us further behind as time marches on while they set up their administration, etc. If the latter two thinks, and the public concurs, to tear down the whole rail project and a guarantee we come out of it without bankrupting our city than either one of them has my vote.
WizardOfMoa says: “Keolu, I think the last few months we got Caldwell listening to us, the taxpayers! ”
I really haven’t seen that. I’ve seen him use more vague language regarding tax increases than he was was a year ago, but we also saw him push through a HUGE tax extension that he promised would be enough to finish the rail project but with the way it’s been managed, that barely gets us to Middle St.
Kirk Caldwell was Managing Director under Mufi, interim Mayor after Mufi left for browner pastures and actual Mayor the past 4 years. He’s had his change and made a huge mess of things. Peter Carlisle had his shot too. It’s time to try someone else.
The transition to a new administration is not a good reason to re-elect kirk. The rail is 5 years behind schedule and billions over budget. We cannot afford to have 4 more years of that.
Unfortunately, thats how it is!
“Yet they all are supporting Charles Djou, a Republican, for mayor.”>>> Possibly for the obvious reason?
“It is bad enough for these three to be totally disloyal to the Democratic party. It becomes even worse when they support a Republican who has no empathy for our people.”>>> And by “people” who mean you and others who work under you for the city. Mr. Union puppet.
Amen
Democrats need their true believers to stay in power.
Fire wiliki. He lies about rail.
“Rail is already paid for”
“rail has a solid finance plan”
And wiliki lies about preschool too.
“the benefits of preschool is as if it pays for itself”
Fire weewili’s “needy kids and make them clean up the beaches
Yet they all are supporting Charles Djou, a Republican, for mayor.,,, And for good reason.Our current Mayor has failed in so many ways. Plus the city politics is not about a two party system. Most people I kow want a change.
Bill Russell, maybe the Democratic Party can be more democratic if people like Sanders don’t join just to run for president. Remember, this guy was an independent before his run. If we truly want to give third parties a chance, they should be third parties – not coattail riders of the established parties. BTW, this is also true of Trump and the GOP.
This is unfair. Bernie and his supporters have full-filled their party responsibilities by their recent voting yesterday.
Whether his supporters want to follow Bernie’s example of support for Clinton and the Party is on their own conscience. He needs to continue to try to persuade them. I hope that they will attend Clinton’s speech and she can meet with them for their support.
Djou’s newest commercial says” I’m taking the rail to Ala Moana and UH”!! Lol. Wink,wink…but “no blank check” wink,wink..will he vote for Trump? Yes. He’s a republiNOcan.
Djou wants the pro rail people to vote for him. I can’t stand a Punahou politician that “tucks” his Aloha Shirt in.
He just grandstanding to get votes. He really opposes rail.
“Djou wants the pro rail people to vote for him”
Well what do you expect? Clodwell wants anti rail people to vote for him too.
Only Republican opportunists flip flop to get the vote… Djou is no different.
IRT Bill Russell, So Bill by your logic (and I do agree with it) the establishment of the Democratic Party won and the establishment of the Republican Party lost. Furthermore, the people in the Democratic Party lost and the people in the Republican Party won. Why would you want to think about a third party, as the people got their way in the Republican Party with an anti-establishment candidate!
Third parties do not work well in our winner take all elections.
Perhaps the public wants proportional representation as in European parliamentary elections? Perhaps the Bernie or bust folks want to form their own party? Perhaps they can start by respecting those who might grant them that?
Call it the Bernie Caucus and grant all caucuses proportional representation in national party meetings of 1000 or more? Catch here is that they can’t belong to more than one caucus? But they can form coalitions at these meetings. Instead of poll by state, we would have poll by caucus.
Rixtard Weigel,,Watergate and Wikileaks are not the same. Do you believe that emails between RNC all spoke of love for trump? Lol. Do you believe emails and phone calls are protected privacy rights granted by the U.S.constitution? Do you believe that every congress member should have their email made public? What about your email and ID? These hackers will steal your ID and rip you off. They will blackmail you. But yeah let’s trust them on politics. Ok.
Free preschool education for needy kids.
Shire Gibbs, All 3 mayoral candidates say finish Rail to Ala Moana. Djou says on to UH. Watch his newest commercial.
Ironically, of the three major candidates for mayor, it is only Djou’s proposal (well, it’s not really a proposal, it’s a campaign TV advertisement) regarding rail that might in fact have some impact on traffic. Anyone who drives on H-1 can apprehend the difference in the levels of traffic once UH is back in session. Anyone who drives to UH can see what a mess a commuter college in a narrow old valley with antiquated roads becomes when all of these people try to park their single-occupancy vehicles.
The first example I think of is the Boston metropolitan area. (Obviously Boston and Honolulu are very different but I’m speaking of the impact of college commuters.) Nobody in their right mind would want to drive in Boston but one can jump on to a (aging) train and go straight to the major educational institutions; Boston U, Boston College, Northeastern, New England Conservatory/Berklee, and in Cambridge, MIT and Harvard. I don’t know if anyone has studied how many more vehicles would be on the road without the “T” even if parking were available but it must be a huge number.
That said, there are only three viable mayoral candidates. I wish there was a fourth. “none of the above.”
All three candidates also say on to UH in the second increment of rail…. only Caldwell has a plan for getting there.
And Djou is a flip-flopper… he has consistently opposed rail funding and had wanted to stop rail at Middle Street.
like Djou or not I have to vote for a mayor who will support Rail. The sooner its finished we can then move on to usage and maintenance. the issue shouldn’t be to stop rail but to start planning for it to go UH, Waikiki and into central Oahu. some people says it looks ugly but I remember the road below the proposed area in Waipahu as being weedy and dusty just looking at it now its much nicer. I can see the same thing for the pearl city to pearl ridge section.
Djou has no solutions to the problems he raises. All he says are pie in the sky…nothing concrete.
In the upcoming debates, they need to ask Djou for specific solutions to his pie in the sky ideas.
Djou wants to change rail to street level, causing more traffic problems. Won’t there be a need to do another EIS? This would set back rail another 20 to 30 years with no solution to the current traffic congestion.
Cayetano who backs Djou was the worst Gov. Why do you think Lingle was elected following his failed leadership.
I would never vote for someone that Cayetano supports.
“”Djou has no solutions to the problems he raises””
“”Djou wants to change rail to street level””
What a liar. You say he offers no solutions and then in the next line you post his solution.
You don’t have to like his proposals but you don’t have to lie and say he has no solutions.
“”Cayetano who backs Djou was the worst Gov.””
I’ll save that title for Neil, the only one term governor in Hawaii’s history.
Djou is a flip flopper…. he makes up stuff to win an election.
Wiliki is the biggest flip flop, making up lies to promote rail.
“rail is already paid for”
We have a lot to thank the democrats for.
The highest homeless population in the country.
The highest cost of living.
The third highest tax burden.
Bottom ten percent student test scores.
A university system that bleeds money continuously.
The worst traffic in the nation.
An employee retirement system underfunded by billions of dollars for which the taxpayers are on the hook.
The most expensive fuel and electric costs.
The worst roads in the US.
What’s not to like?
you forgot one of the highest welfare paying state in the union.
Yes a welfare mom makes 65K a year with 5 kids and a boyfriend who works for Kiewit Pacific making a hundred grand a year. A working mom with kids if she is lucky gets 30K and does not have time for a boyfriend. Obama and the democrats in Hawaii know how to give to those that don’t work and take from those who do. Totally the wrong way to run a State. Look at any surf break on a big wave day and see how many get welfare or disability. many thousands get a free ride on the backs of those who work. We are tired of it and want the work ethic back in Hawaii.
“It is concerning that thousands of children and adults will see this movie and walk away with a negative image of animal rescue workers.
The entertainment industry should to be more cognizant on its messaging and take responsibility in shaping a respectful and compassionate society.
Bonnie Oda”
Oh no Bonnie. Will the movie goers also think that their pets are doing the things that they do in the movie also? Get a grip. It’s a movie. Explain to your kids that it’s not real. If they can’t understand that, then don’t let them see it.