GOP senator (Kyl) skewers Akaka Bill (Hawaiian recognition)

[KamaAina]

http://starbulletin.com/2005/06/24/news/index4.html

Get ready for a 151-proof distillation of the distortions, misstatements, race-baiting, and belligerence that characterize today's repuke party...

Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., called the Akaka Bill "the creation of race-based government for native Hawaiians."

In comments submitted to the Congressional Record and reprinted by the Republican Policy Committee, Kyl warned that Akaka's bill, S-147, could lead to Hawaii leaving the union....

"It is difficult to see how a bill touted in Hawaii as a potential path to 'total independence' is going to help reconcile whatever racial divisions exist there," Kyl wrote. "It goes without saying that Congress does not serve the nation's long-term interest by providing vehicles for its citizens to secede from the Union."

Bzzzzzzzzt! Actually, Hawaiian sovereignty groups that favor total independence bitterly oppose the Akaka Bill, precisely because it would bind Hawai'i and Native Hawaiians more closely to the Union. Thanks for playing, Jon, and I hope you enjoy your copy of the home version of our game...

"We are disappointed because we have worked with him and talked with him a lot," Lingle (R-Won't Lay a Glove on a Fellow Repuke) said. "He simply has a different opinion on this issue. His opinion is wrong, his facts are wrong and now it is up to us to make clear where he is mistaken."

"reprinted by the Republican Policy Committee"? Who the heck are they? Does this signal that the repukes are ready to block the, pardon the expression, up-or-down vote they promised on the bill?

You've gotta wonder...



if a) that's a member of an an endangered species on top of his head, or b) if it's on too tight, choking off the oxygen supply to his brain.

[mahina]

1. Good, it sucked anyway.

But I hate to see a man like him make any difference to us. And I hope Inouye and Akaka choke on the ANWAR they gave up for nothing.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Wasn't GOP support for this bill why both Dem. Senators from

Hawaii voted in favor of drilling in ANWR?

[KansDem]

3. Sorry, Akaka, guess you won't be voting for any more ANWR drilling...

But then, there won't be any more votes for ANWR drilling, will there? The GOP got what it wanted from you; too bad you didn't get what you wanted from the GOP.

See how that works?

[KamaAina]

4. There may be more votes on ANWR during the budget process

remember, the repukes attached ANWR to the budget because they knew perfectly well it wouldn't survive one of their precious "up-or-down votes". Thus (at least this is what I'm hearing from anti-drilling groups), there will be other opportunities to keep ANWR drilling out of the final budget.

If the repukes back Kyl on this and screw Akaka and Inouye (or even if they don't), they would be well advised to join the other Democrats to make use of those opportunities.

[tritsofme]

6. You can't filibuster a budget resolution

That's why ANWR was attached to it.

[blindpig]

5. when you lie down with pigs.................n/t

[havocmom]

7. But pigs are intelligent creatures

Kyl isn't.

[dArKeR]

8. Why does America have the right to own Hawaiian Island, Guam Islands,

Wake...?

[mahina]

9. Are you seriously asking?

[dArKeR]

10. Of course! Maybe Pearl Harbor would again become the world's most

beautiful ocean place on Earth!

And maybe Waimea Falls Valley would be returned to the people of the island instead of being sold off to white capitalists.

[oasis]

11. Lingle had better tread lightly on this one. This isssue may be the one

which will expose the soft underbelly of the armadillo.