Posted on: Saturday, August 9, 2008
Paris has her say in presidential campaign
By David Shapiro
Since Sen. Barack Obama is gracing us with a visit, we'll start with presidential politics as we "flASHback" on the week's news that amused and confused:
Obama plans to prepare for the Democratic National Convention while chilling on our beaches. I hope we don't have to watch a parade of vice president hopefuls in swim trunks.
Sen. John McCain, who hasn't cast a vote on the Senate floor since April, knocked Obama and other senators for taking a break instead of staying in Washington to work on the energy crisis. Then he resumed his nap.
Paris Hilton responded to McCain's ad mocking Obama at her expense by calling him a "wrinkly white-haired guy" and referring to both candidates as "bitches." You usually don't get that kind of respect until after you're elected president.
Top legislators defended Hawai'i Tourism Authority CEO Rex Johnson, who was caught e-mailing porn from his state computer, saying he's vital to reviving Hawai'i's visitor industry. How, by stealing sex tourists from Bangkok?
The Department of Education sent more than 650 people to a conference at the Disney resort in Florida for $1.2 million. No wonder the school board can't find money to pay for $35 drug tests for teachers.
Some state employees started a four-day work week. If they can get it down to 2 1/2 days, maybe they'll have their pay doubled like Kamehameha Schools trustees.
An attorney who's again suing Kamehameha Schools over its Hawaiians-first admissions policy after collecting $7 million last time says it's a matter of principle. Sad but true. Greed is one of the the oldest legal principles.
An auditor criticized the city for a 44 percent increase in its energy costs. And that's for just talking about trains. Wait until they start running them.
University of Hawai'i enrollment is up as the local job market shrinks. These are mean times when you need a college degree to be unemployed.
A Kaka'ako massage parlor was robbed by eight men masking their identities. In other words, they looked like any other men going into massage parlors.
Theresa Harden of Kane'ohe followed a carjacker and his abducted victim across the Pali and guided police to him by cell phone. Looks like "Dog" Chapman can be replaced if he shoots off his mouth again.
And the quote of the week ... from mayoral candidate Ann Kobayashi on Mayor Mufi Hannemann's $2.7 million war chest: "Money isn't everything. Money is power but so is people power, and I think people power is greater." This campaign will test the power of wishful thinking.
David Shapiro has covered Hawai'i and national news for four decades as a reporter, editor and columnist. Read his blog, Volcanic Ash, at http://honoluluadvertiser.com/blogs.
Reach David Shapiro at dave@volcanicash.net.
