The press release from Gov. Linda Lingle's office read:

"The governor's support for putting the rail issue before voters is consistent with her long-standing position of letting the people decide on major public policy decisions such as local school boards and whether or not to hold a Constitutional Convention."

It is, however, inconsistent with her closed-door maneuverings on behalf of the Hawaii Superferry and numerous other surprise fiats where she didn't bother to ask "the people" what we thought about it.

Things are so different when it's not her pet project.

Lingle thought Superferry was good to go, no environmental review needed, no community input wanted. Just put that big thing in the water and go.

The protesters didn't get a chance to vote. They had to jump into Nawiliwili Harbor and heckle the governor to get noted.

The press release also said: "Governor Lingle's past support of rail transit has not changed. She believes a rail system could be a viable transportation alternative for the island."

Except the ballot question isn't, "Hey, do you think rail is a good idea?" It proposes a total ban on rail for O'ahu.

So which is it, Governor? No politician wants to be accused of flip-flopping, but just saying you didn't change your mind doesn't cut it when you clearly changed your mind.

Lingle is becoming a calculated communicator. Layers of meaning are imbedded in these public statements, and when you dig down, it seems like a run at congressional office lies beneath it all.

Mufi Hannemann has visions of higher office as well. He has run unsuccessfully for Congress three times, first back in 1986. That's not a dream that fades. It is one that smolders.

But rail has become Hannemann's signature project. For the rest of his life, he will be known as either the man with the vision and determination to build Hawai'i's biggest public works project or the guy who couldn't get it done.

Lingle would rather he be known as the latter.

If she really wanted to let the people decide, she could have vetoed the excise tax hike that set the rail transit plan in serious motion. That one signature would have weighed much more than her name among thousands of others on a petition.

But then she would be on the hook as the one who single-handedly stopped rail. She would be the one who got in Hannemann's way and left all of West O'ahu sitting in gridlock. Another Rene Mansho. And that doesn't get you elected to Congress.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.