Ethics

Did you know that an idealistic U.S. diplomat disobeyed his Washington superiors early in World War II and saved 2,500 Jews in southern France, before Nazis could ship them to death camps?

Rep. Hanabusa and Senator Inouye assured voters last October that she would get a seat on the powerful Appropriation Committee if elected and that has turned out to be nothing more than an empty campaign promise.

I believe that a vibrant two-party democracy is better at preserving liberty than monolithic one-party rule.

I believe that open and responsive elected officials are better at ensuring an accountable government than an old-boy network.

"The Congress is the most futile place in the world, and the most discouraging, and the most depressing" for people in this position....

That’s some favor Abercrombie did his old pal; he took a non-issue that was as settled as it’s ever going to be and fired it up all over again.

for all their criticism in print and on-line of incumbent Chairman Michael Steele, none of his four opponents in the race (which will be decided at the RNC winter meeting next week) landed a knock-out blow or even roughed up the embattled RNC chief….

Lloyd Kimura, a Democrat donor, gambler, and brother of Hawaii County Prosecutor Jay Kimura, pled guilty December 28 in State Court to operating a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme known as Maui Industrial Loan & Finance Co. or Maui Finance Co. (MFC).  He could face up to 20 years in prison.  But Kimura’s admission of guilt is just the beginning....

Maui’s County-wide plastic bag ban goes into effect January 11, 2011.  No EIS has been required.  Here’s what they are hiding:

Hawaii is taking the pole position of political surrealism in the far-flung states. The new governor, Neil Abercrombie, an iconic longhair and college pal of Barack Obama's father, has decided to make knocking down Obama birther conspiracies his top political priority.

This truism is lost on the ignoramuses at the Seattle Times, who published an editorial this morning applauding newly-elected Governor Neil Abercrombie's declared intention to do something to squelch the conspiracy theory....

It is easy for Seattle Times editors to cheer on the war effort from comfort of their offices, but many on the front lines are starting to think this is not a winnable war—a quagmire.  Some are even calling for negotiations with the birthers.

At Americans for Prosperity, we're asking you to join us once again as we fight three key public policy battles during the coming year....

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock since just before Christmas, Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie has committed our lives and our treasure to a Sacred Cause.  Our New Governor is heroically leading the State in a Holy War to defeat the Diabolical Birthers.  On Day Seven of this Fight to the Death, the national and international media continue to react while the local media focuses intently on the price of ahi, hoping against hope that Aoki and Asselbaye will quiet The Abercrombie down and get him to pretend to refocus on the budget or something….

Honolulu, HI — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) personally congratulated selected nominees for respective United States Service Academies at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building today.  The following individuals will be nominated by Congressman Charles Djou of Hawaii’s First Congressional District:

The new governor of Hawaii, Neil Abercrombie, has big issues to handle, including a substantial budget deficit that threatens to grow exponentially in coming years.

On top of all his headaches, though, Abercrombie has piled on another, bigger conundrum that he says he is committed to resolving.

Yes. He's taking on the birthers.

With the UPW desperately hoping to somehow magically repatriate the Hawaii convicts being held in mainland prisons, State Auditor Marion Higa has graciously obliged with an audit of Hawaii’s private prison contracts....

More news from around the country as Governor Neil Abercrombie, implementing a "top priority” of his administration, heroically crusades against the “demonic, eviscerating” Birther hordes.

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie’s “top priority” – leading Hawaii in Holy Crusade to slay the Birther dragon – continues to make national and international news.  Google News reports over 2000 articles have been published and more are coming out by the hour.  Here are some of the latest….  

Several ... American businesses were permitted to deal with foreign companies believed to be involved in terrorism or weapons proliferation. In one such case, involving equipment bought by a medical waste disposal plant in Hawaii, the government was preparing to deny the license until an influential politician intervened....

"In off the record conversations, business leaders expressed concern—even fear—about what Abercrombie might do if elected.  Their focus had been less on the specifics of his platform than on how he might treat the business community."

Abercrombie’s response?   Hawaii business leaders have nothing to fear and if they think otherwise they are just ignorant knuckle dragging Neanderthals.

Abercrombie is facing a $71 million deficit this year and 10 times that amount in the years to come....  Even so, the new governor said he was having the time of his life. “If I was having a better time,” he said, laughing, “I’d have to be arrested.”

But on the matter of the birthers, Mr. Abercrombie grew serious....

December 31, 2010 might have been “lights out” for wind energy, but when President Obama on December 17 signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010, the bill did more than extend the Bush Tax cuts and unemployment benefits.

LA Times: Democrat Neil Abercrombie, who knew Obama's parents, is determined to torpedo the conspiracy theory.

The 111th Congress adjourned sine die on Wednesday, December 22, 2010. The first session of the 112th Congress is scheduled for Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 12 p.m.

Last weekend NPR legal correspondent Nina Totenberg inadvertently created a mini-controversy when she said on Inside Washington: "I was at -- forgive the expression - a Christmas party at the Department of Justice." Some thought that Totenberg added "forgive the expression" as a cave to political correctness. But in fact Totenberg was actually mocking the Obama Justice Department.

Congressman Charles Djou gave the following speech as his final address the the U.S. House....

The rules will go into effect early next year, but legal challenges or action by Congress could block the FCC's action. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) on Tuesday called the FCC's action "flawed" and said lawmakers would "have an opportunity in the new Congress to push back against new rules and regulations."

Good news out of Congress this week:  The infamous Akaka Bill, which would create a “Native Hawaiian” government for purposes of racial preferences and other unconstitutional goodies, will not be a part of the slimmed-down legislation that funds the government until Congress gets around to passing an actual budget.

So now that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–NV) has filed for cloture, is Tuesday’s vote a foregone conclusion? No.

• Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010
• Cloture Motion; DREAM Act
• Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010

Last night, the spirit of the Tea Party won another major victory when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–NV) was forced to drop his $1.27 trillion, 1,924-page omnibus spending bill. The problem with Reid’s omnibus spending bill was not just its size—although our federal government does spend far too much of other people’s money—but the way it was drafted and forced on the American people.

Rep. Djou voted in favor of the Obama tax proposal that the President announced last week. Rep. Mazie Hirono was the only member of the Hawaii delegation who voted to oppose the President on this critical bill.

It isn’t quite the Akaka Bill sneak attack that many have warned of in recent days, but on page 809-810 of the 2011 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Senator Dan Inouye has slipped in a mandate to the US Department of the Interior....

Yesterday, the Senate voted 66–32 to begin debate on the New START agreement with Russia. Only a simple majority (51) was required, but vote counters can use yesterday’s roll call as a benchmark for final ratification, which will need 67 votes to pass.

Hawaii joins the 32 other states who already have borrowed money from the federal government to pay unemployment benefits during the current economic downturn. DLIR anticipated the insolvency and proactively took the steps to request advances from U.S. Department of Labor last September. Currently, Hawaii pays out $25 million in regular unemployment benefits a month through the trust fund. 

Defense, homeland security, and veterans can all be funded at current levels for one month through a continuing resolution, and then the next Congress could adjust our defense needs. Inouye is attempting to hold the troops hostage? And for what? Taxpayers for Common Sense reports that among the 6,600 earmarks in the bill is $6 million for parkland acquisition in Hawaii. No wonder Americans hate this Congress.

“I welcome the GAO’s decision to audit the federal funds that go to the COFA. I have been vocally calling for reforming this treaty throughout my campaign and time in Congress – this is a good first step."

Overall, states achieved the highest scores ever for health emergency preparedness with 14 states scoring nine or higher. Three states (Arkansas, North Dakota, and Washington State) scored 10 out of 10. Another 25 states and Washington, D.C. scored in the 7 to 8 range. No state scored lower than a five

“The unchecked expansion of congressional power to the limits suggested by the Minimum Essential Coverage Provision would invite unbridled exercise of federal police powers. At its core, this dispute is not simply about regulating the business of insurance—or crafting a scheme of universal health insurance coverage—it’s about an individual’s right to choose to participate.”

• Cloture Motion, Defense Authorization Act
• Continuing Resolution
• DREAM Act
• Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010

The Obama administration’s requirement that most citizens maintain minimum health coverage as part of a broad overhaul of the industry is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled, striking down the linchpin of the plan.

When President Obama and Congressional Republicans first announced their tax deal early last week, our reaction was to hold our noses against its bad elements; on balance, we thought the extension of the current tax rates was laudable. Now, however, the full text of the bill has been released and we see all the bad things that were in the original deal.

S.510 has been called the “most dangerous bill in the history of the United States.” With over 225 pages of regulations, the FDA is not only granted the authority to issue mandatory recalls, but has the power to tell farmers how to grow food, including regulations on soil, water, temperature, even what type of animals are permitted on the premises. From 2011 to 2015, the estimated cost by the Congressional Budget Office is $1.4 billion.

Highlights:

With the defeat of Rep Bertram, convicted child molester Leon Rouse has become a demonstrated electoral liability to his employers.  Will he still be rehired by Baker or Cabanilla for 2011?  It is likely this question which has caused Rouse to pop up and try to spread his self-serving justifications and denials in the pages of the Maui News.

US Attorney General Eric Holder and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar have written to Senate leaders to “express the Administration’s strong support for …  S 3945 .”  S3945 is the latest version of the Akaka Bill.