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It’s one election down and one more to go as we "flASHback" on the week’s news that amused and confused:
» Neil Abercrombie scored a surprisingly early knockout in the Democratic primary for governor, posting a 22-point win over Mufi Hannemann. If you were scripting this battle for the WWE, it would be like The Rock getting thrown out of the ring by Papa Smurf.
» James "Duke" Aiona cruised to an easy victory in the GOP primary and immediately challenged Abercrombie to six debates on issues from energy to education to the economy. One topic that didn’t make the cut: "I look like you, you look like … never mind."
» Both parties went for youth in the lieutenant governor spot, with the Democrats nominating 37-year-old Brian Schatz and Republicans picking Lynn Finnegan, 39. While Abercrombie and Aiona are pointing fingers, the running mates will shake their rattles.
» Mayor-elect Peter Carlisle set up his transition office on folding tables in the Honolulu Hale courtyard and said he’d put up a sign saying, "Mayor Carlisle, would you like to meet me?" I guess "The Dating Game" method is one way to pick a Cabinet.
» Congressional rivals Charles Djou and Colleen Hanabusa exchanged accusations that the other lacks independence. That’s like two house mutts arguing about table manners.
» City Councilman Gary Okino was soundly defeated in his bid to unseat state Rep. Blake Oshiro, the main author of the civil unions bill in the Legislature. When Okino heard God’s call to run, he should have waited to find out to where.
» Most of the veteran state legislators who stepped down to run for higher office are out of work after primary election losses. Good luck to them in finding new jobs that pay 36 percent raises in the middle of a recession.
» Police broke up three gambling dens in Chinatown — and just in the nick of time for the operators. The fines have to be cheaper than paying off the over/under on Abercrombie vs. Hannemann.
» One study said Hawaii’s top marginal tax rate could soon be the second highest in the country, while another said we have the third-worst urban roads among big cities. The number that connects the dots: 42.8 percent voter turnout.
» After studying a drop in the frequency of tradewinds, the state climatologist is worried that Hawaii’s air is getting too hot. We won’t be able to establish an accurate base line until the election season is over.
» And the quote of the week … from Aiona’s campaign chairman, Dutch Hanohano, ripping Abercrombie for not agreeing to six debates: "The people of Hawaii need real solutions, not just talk." That’s certainly a powerful argument for six hours of talk.
David Shapiro can be reached at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.
