Maui Politics: So Messed Up the R's Are Looking Good

[KamaAina]

at least that is the report I get from DU News Maui correspondent Quetzal:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=147x181#325

I hated our last mayor, Apana, and disslike our current mayor. I don't hate him as a person (I know him personally - he just attended my grandmother's 90th birthday party) - it is just that he could have a stronger environmental policy. He made Rob Parsons, a member of the Green Party, a part of his cabinet. I think you just have to trust me on this one - Awakawa is much better than Apana.

Apana, the Democrat, had no environmental policy at all for the county of Maui. Even though we were going through heavy sprawl, he had no plan to deal with it. He also had no interest in curbing growth of any sort of growth. He had no plan to deal with the impending water crisis on Maui. Who were his major campaign contributors? Mostly developers like Everett Dowling (former UH regent).

Who is this Rob Parsons? Well in 2002 during the primary election, Rob Parsons, a Green ran on the primary ticket alongside Democrat Apana and Republican Arakawa. Although Parsons lost the primary, a sizable amount of Maui voters voted for him - enough to put the runoff election in a tossup. No major party candidate could deciecively win without the support of Parson voters. Members of the Green party suddendly became "swing voters". Both candidates tried to woo environmentalists with their "Green Agenda". Well, it was Arakawa who won in the end - he received the endorsement of Rob Parsons. The reason why so many liberals voted for Parsons was because of their opposistion to the Apana administration. Besides, Arakawa had a noted record working on water conservation on Maui.

Historically, Hawai'i Dems, especially Neighbor Island Dems, have been rather close with the developers. This apparently is what left Kimo Apana open to being "Nadered" by Rob Parsons. What can our Dem party do to counteract this trends?

Thing is, what's the alternative? Remember the last time before this that Maui had an (R) mayor? Now look. The whole state is suffering because of it. And you know that Arakawa has her on speed dial, so he can get patched through to Karen Hughes... :puke:

During the next mayoral election, I would not be suprised if a Green and a Republican went at it in the runoff election.

Hmmm... a Green with a real chance to win? Wonder what the Green-bashers in GD would do if it came down to Green vs. repuke?

If you're bummed out about the sorry state of Honolulu's city council, read the original post at the link above for a description of the critters in the Maui Zoo, er, I mean "County Council"!

Anyone out there from the two remaining Neighbor Island counties, Hawai'i and Kaua'i? We should have a thread going for each.

[nofurylike]

1. a little side note about your baiting comment on green controversy.

most greens have been working to exhaustion in grass roots for three+ decades. we know local, and where possible state change is essential. the problem comes when egomaniacs want to exploit green grass roots to skip all the hardest grunt-work and run for impossible (yet!) national office.

most greens know that we must MUST elect John Kerry to even have a future in which to keep growing up this country.

thank you.

couching that flame in an otherwise important discussion was just plain not fair. so, thank you for listening.


peace!

[KamaAina]

2. Parsons' Green credentials are indeed far superior to Nader's.

Unfortunately the name "Nader" has now become identified in the public mind with "Green", thus, I did not know how else to express Parsons' spoiler role in the race. The Nader reference was to the effect of his 2000 candidacy in certain key swing states, not to accepting money, signatures, etc. from the repukes as he is doing in 2004.

Parsons was undoubtedly acting in support of his key issue, the environment, and not out of any desire to see his name in the papers (Maui has no TV station of its own). But the fact is, his involvement in the race tipped it from D to R, in a state where the R's have taken the governorship, all three Neighbor Island mayoralties, and are now moving in on the legislature. This is why I get just a wee bit intemperate about anything that might help the R's.

In terms of "the hardest grunt-work", Rob Parsons would be an unqualified asset to the Maui County Council (go back to Quetzal's original description to see why). Instead he went for mayor, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Secretly I would love to see a race, such as Quetzal foresees, in which the only progressive candidate is Green. Did you not see my equally backhanded swipe at the GD Green-bashers? Here is my position: I support much of the Green agenda, but cringe when situations like this arise in which the R's turn it to their advantage.

[nofurylike]

3. thank you, KamaAina, for replying, and so gently.

i owe you an apology.
i was reading along and ran into the passage about green-bashing. i am green locally, but might be considered green-bashing when dicussing national politics. it is all so loaded for me!

i sincerely apologize for using your discussion to fly off about something you did not - on second read - even say.

i lived in hawai'i until four (*edit, time flies!) years ago, and that is one place i was always most frustrated that dems didn't support, or form coalition with greens, exactly for the reasons you stated - dems being so intimate with big biz n developers n all. and because that magnificent environment must be rescued while it still has more of a chance than much of the planet does.

it's true that it would be refreshing to go back to when greens ran opposite repugs, versus running against dems, or worse WITH repugs!

now, i must re-read your post again to get the rest of what i missed.

sorry, too, that i posted as i was running out the door, so didn't double-check before posting at all, and then wasn't here for your reply!


peace!

[nofurylike]

4. now, more informed...

i am always wondering why dems - who as a whole have been more environmentally aware than repugs - do not work with greens to re-birth dems as the new green democratic party. especially today's generations of each. had dems progressed as we had expected, that would have happened by now.

but then, that is how effective reagan, and so forth, administrations were in keeping us consumed on the defensive.

i do think such a coalition has a chance in hawai'i, if also in coalition with the sovreignty movement.


now, having stepped into (and all over, sorry!) a zone i am now (sadly!) too removed from to fairly comment on, i am off. i'll check back for any reply...


peace!

[KamaAina]

5. Local Dems are closely tied to the construction industry

and thus, to the developers, because it means jobs. We don't have a lot of heavy industry here, besides Pearl Harbor and the two small refineries. Neighbor Islands have essentially no industry since sugar and pineapple collapsed. Thus, construction is a huge employer -- and campaign contributor.

i do think such a coalition has a chance in hawai'i, if also in coalition with the sovreignty movement.

There is a movement to resurrect the old Home Rule party from the days after the Overthrow, as the Aloha 'Aina party. I, too, believe that the Greens would make good coalition partners with them; so does my friend from Volcano who is both Green and Hawaiian. Hawai'i Greens have a well-developed position on Hawaiian issues:

http://www.greenhawaii.org/platform.htm

E. JUSTICE FOR NA KANAKA MAOLI, "NATIVE HAWAIIANS"
Hawai`i's history since Captain Cook is marked by the assault on the Islands' indigenous culture and people by missionaries, soldiers, traders, and businessmen. In 1893, U.S. troops aided American businessmen in forcibly overthrowing the legitimate government of Queen Lili`uokalani. The national landbase and sovereignty of na kanaka maoli were taken. Since illegal annexation in 1898, the Federal and State governments have cheated and neglected the native Hawaiian people. In 1993, the U.S. Congress passed and President Clinton signed into law the "Apology Bill." (U.S. Public Law 103-150) This admission of crime states in part "the native Hawaiians have never lost their inherent sovereignty nor their national home base." Greens demand justice for na kanaka maoli. We support the following:

Protecting sacred and culturally significant sites
Efforts to nurture native Hawaiian culture
Na kanaka maoli leadership and guardianship in protecting gathering rights and lobbying the Legislature to safeguard these rights without interference
Return of, or adequate compensation for, Ceded Lands
Immediate distribution of Hawaiian Homelands; Federal and State funds to be allocated for the necessary infrastructure
A prohibition of future sale or diminishments of the Ceded Land trust
A call for open dialogue among all residents of Hawai`i on the sovereignty option of full independence
Hawaiian sovereignty in a form fair to both native Hawaiians and other citizens of Hawai`i

[nofurylike]

7. Maika'i no!! "JUSTICE FOR NA KANAKA MAOLI" 'ae!!

you know, was proven that returning to ancient agriculture, islands would be net exporter?
(not even to mention the paka)

poi is catching on in the world.

is happening!

thank you so much for posting this!


reading the green link now. wow!
"Today, decisions are made by the few, and usually benefit the rich and powerful"
...and mormons.


Aloha!

[nofurylike]

9. an amazing platform! stuff of dreams, ah.

Aloha 'Aina party

yes.

i believe that in hawai'i you have the best hope of living an example of green/local/democracy for the rest of us.


keep on!!


Maholo
and
Aloha!

[Quetzal]

6. LOL

I loved the comment about the Maui Zoo.

Technically, we don't have a zoo (we used to until Gonzo (Lingle) shut it down)

[nofurylike]

8. Gonzo (Lingle) ha haha! well, was no joke, i guess. Aloha! n/t

[The Sushi Bandit]

10. I'm a Maui Green!

[Quetzal]

11. Hello fellow Maui Green

How long have you been on Maui? I was too young to vote in the 2002 primary - I was only 17 then, but was able to vote in the 2002 general election.

Are you watching the 2004 County Council elections closely?

[The Sushi Bandit]

12. Im stuck on the mainland until November

work .. work.. work!

As for the county elections.. my wife has a lot better opinion on them than I.