Our governor was uncharacteristically quiet over the holidays, but the airwaves seem back to all Neil, all the time as we plant tongue in cheek and "flASHback" on the week’s news that amused and confused.
» In his second State of the State address, Gov. Neil Abercrombie was no longer depicting the state as a capsizing canoe, but said we face new challenges in an improving economy. Our elected leaders are always up to the challenge of doing less with more money.
» He admitted that his first year was not easy, but said he accomplished his purpose. You can’t argue with that if his purpose was comedy.
» Abercrombie urged legislators to join him in moving beyond the drama of the recent past. He’ll stay on his meds if they do.
» The governor again criticized the NFL for charging Hawaii $4 million to host the Pro Bowl, then showed up at a Pro Bowl news conference to express confidence that local fans will enjoy the game again next year. Right, the ones who book their flights to New Orleans.
» Abercrombie said he still carries a Hawaiian adage given him by state Rep. Karen Awana during his most difficult times which said, "A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia (No task is too big when done together by all)." I hope he also kept the one my reader gave him: "Hana ka hoe, pa‘a ka waha (Work the paddle, close the mouth)."
» Some legislators are puzzled about why the state comptroller installed glass doors near the entryway to their Capitol offices. Their work order asked for teller windows for campaign donors.
» A bill introduced by House Speaker Calvin Say would make it a punishable offense to disrespect or display contempt for a house of the Legislature. Hey, I’m just trying to make a living here.
» Former Gov. Ben Cayetano said his run for mayor will test Mayor Peter Carlisle’s claim that the $5.27 billion Oahu rail project has too much momentum to be stopped. It’s the classic battle of an irresistible force versus an unmovable curmudgeon.
» Abercrombie said he won’t be making an endorsement in the three-way mayoral contest between Carlisle, Cayetano and former acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell. The candidates who might have received his endorsement emitted a collective, "Whew!"
And the quote of the week … from U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in support of a bill that would cut congressional pay by 5 percent: "As responsible public servants, we should be willing to sacrifice to solve our nation’s financial problems, just as we are asking others to do the same." That sounds a lot like what the rest of us said when she avidly defended 36 percent pay raises for Hawaii legislators at the height of the recession.
