Governor gets booed even as he tries to instill respect

The governor got no respect and the University of Hawaii lawyered up as we "flASHback" on the week’s news that amused and confused:

» Gov. Neil Abercrombie was booed at a Kauai community meeting for defending the Public Lands Development Corp. The governor’s podium banner proclaimed "A New Day in Hawaii," but it was more like the old days when Kauaians booed former Gov. Linda Lingle over the Superferry.

» Abercrombie admonished hecklers to heed signs at Chiefess Kamakahelei School promoting respect and self-discipline. It meant a lot coming from a guy once known for dropping the F-bomb on somebody who disagreed with him.

» Jim Boersema resigned as Abercrombie’s communications director, as top-level departures from the governor’s team nears 20 in less than two years. This administration has not only a revolving door, but an ejection seat to shoot you through.

» UH hired a pricey law firm to prepare President M.R.C. Greenwood and school regents for a state Senate hearing on the Stevie Wonder concert fiasco. The UH brain trust needs expert help to run its excuses through a smellcheck.

» After a drunken scuffle in the stands during the UH home football opener, acting athletic director Rockne Freitas wants to ban alcohol at Aloha Stadium. Perhaps he should wait until UH stops giving us so many reasons to drink.

» The U.S. Chamber of Commerce made a $311,000 ad buy to support Republican Lingle’s U.S. Senate campaign, while national women’s and labor groups paid $138,900 for ads backing Democrat Mazie Hirono. It makes you wonder if this is an election or an auction.

» Lingle disavowed GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s dig at welfare recipients, ran an ad claiming Democratic support and posted a video praising Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye. Sounds like she’s changing her party affiliation to Republican’t.

» Moiliili residents don’t get why city crews repaved Kamoku Street, only to have it torn up a week later by a sewer contractor. They’re practicing for tearing down the rail columns they just built.

» Honolulu Emergency Services said its 10 top 911 callers averaged 52 ambulance trips last year at a cost of $795 each, with the top caller riding the ambulance 142 times. EMS should change its number from 911 to 422-2222.

» The Occupy Honolulu protest at Thomas Square celebrated its anniversary by changing its name to (de)Occupy Honolulu. If you were (be)fuddled about the group’s objectives before, now you’re totally (be)wildered.

And the quote of the week … from Councilman Ikaika Anderson on vague answers from Oahu rail officials about project costs: "What worries me is when we have taxpayers calling our offices wondering what’s going on (and) we don’t have answers that make us sound intelligent." They’ve made it this far without sounding intelligent; why change now?

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Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.