Honolulu Weekly trashes state Dem convention

[KamaAina]

Figures we'd have the only free weekly in the country that leans repuke (ever see Pritchett's cartoons? :puke: :puke: :puke: ) No wonder I'm the only one who reads it; some refer to it as the Honolulu "Weakly" :-)

http://www.honoluluweekly.com/feature_main.html

It was Saturday, May 29, the second day of three of the Hawai'i Democratic Party State Convention, and I had three missions to accomplish. First, to hear former presidential candidate and former Vermont governor Howard Dean deliver the convention's keynote address. Second, to find out who, if anyone, is surfacing as the Dems’ next candidate for governor. Finally, to make some sense of the curious race for party chair between Jimmy Toyama, chair of the O'ahu County Democrats, and celebrity Brickwood Galuteria (pictured, above right). Why would anyone, I wondered, prefer a minimally experienced radio and TV personality over a hard-working party veteran? (Mr. White: Your bias is showing. -Ed.)

One delegate told me, after glancing surreptitiously in all directions: "The old leadership has been asleep at the switch. But Jimmy is not their candidate... there’s some bad blood. The old boys favor Brickwood." (that wasn't you, was it, oasis? :-) -Ed.)

Tom Coffman, political writer, filmmaker and delegate, said: "I'm supporting Jimmy. But it seems like he's offended the officeholders."

"It's very simple: Jimmy Toyama is an exceedingly rare specimen. He works for the good of the party, not for the security of the incumbents. He's under no obligation to any elected official, and that makes him dangerous. If you can't control somebody, you don't back him. Independent thought is quashed. In fact, this convention is a farce. Every decision has already been made."

Nice job, Mr. White. You've managed to recycle every old stereotype about the "hierarchical", "out-of-touch" Hawai'i Democratic Party. Take your hatchet down to Kilgo's and get it re-sharpened; Karen Hughes will send you your check right away.

[oasis]

1. I'm about as outside the party's "inner circle" as one can get. I sensed

a groundswell for Brickwood. Maybe the party needed a media-type to generate publicity for the party. Remember how Chuck Heston rescued the national image of the NRA?

Anyway, that's my take on it.