Kerplank!
April 16th, 2008 by Derrick DePledgeUnsettled by state Republican platform committee meetings that have occasionally been, by some accounts — unruly — a majority loyal to Gov. Linda Lingle voted over the weekend to cut off debate and leave the disagreements for the state convention in May.
The platform committee voted 26 to 19 to recommend the existing 2006 platform to the convention delegates. Any proposed changes to platform planks will now be debated on the convention floor.
Several of the Republicans who prevailed said Lingle ran for re-election on the 2006 platform and won in all 51 state House districts. Willes Lee, the GOP’s state chairman, supported the motion because of what he described as platform committee meetings over the past several weeks that involved personal attacks.
According to a recording of the weekend meeting, several activists complained that the motion essentially made folly of all their previous work on the platform. Some also fumed that some of the people who showed up and voted to end debate had not attended previous meetings.
Eric Ryan, an activist from `Ewa Beach, said the motion was choreographed by Lingle loyalists to stifle debate and marginalize people who want change.
Ryan had jokingly offered to amend the motion to chastise any member of the platform committee who had the nerve to want to change the platform, adding that they should also be spanked. The motion was ruled out of order. He then successfully amended the motion to state that the governor and Republican state lawmakers should promise to actively promote everything in the platform.
Afterward, Ryan, who has confounded Republican leaders with his jabs at the party hierarchy, took his side to Hawaii Reporter.
Ryan told The Advertiser last night that the entire mess is over the party’s support of a Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill, known as the Akaka bill for its sponsor, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai’i. Ryan and other activists want the party to oppose the bill as divisive, among other things, because they believe it would split the state along racial lines.
“When I first joined the committee, led by Lingle appointees, which met at party headquarters, led by Lingle appointees, it was made clear that they didn’t really want to see us make any changes to the platform,” Ryan said in an e-mail. “I guess they really meant what they said and were willing to go as far as ‘bussing in voters’ with questionable credentials to stack the vote, even if it means further fracturing the party between RINO’s and Republicans.”
Lee said last night that people were urged to attend the platform committee meeting over the weekend to see for themselves how unruly it had become.
(The recording of the meeting — provided by Ryan — shows that the debate did at times get tense but at no moment did it appear out of control. One Republican, however, raised his voice and interrupted several times and, at the end of the meeting, screamed out “%^&^%$% dictator !”)
“There’s been some loud voices. There’s been some yelling. Folks will interrupt others,” Lee said. “And not that that’s bad, it’s just not the way we run meetings.”
Lee said he hopes that having the platform debate on the convention floor will lead to more decorum. “I expect, I hope, that there won’t be what I call attempts at physical intimidation by one of our members, one of our larger members,” he said. “There won’t be the cussing.”
April 16th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Enjoyed this post very much- they can’t even agree on the Akaka Bill!
Evidently the “platform” is so tilted it’ll topple “right” over.
And they have to give proportional concern to the size of the individual member!
And Lingle may have to rent buses for the convention, to stack it so she doesn’ t loose 99+% of the vote in Hawaii!
the republican follies, national, state and local continue to amaze or disgust- if not humor- the vast majority of us.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Interesting that HA takes Eric Ryan so seriously. Although he may occasionally have his point across, he does in such haste and revolting fashion. No decorum and lacks personal communication skills.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:57 am
In light of recent nepotism legislation, how many of the 26 who voted in favor of that motion are Lingle/state employees or related/married to Lingle/state employees?
Could anyone who was there or in the know share here?
Also, I’d like to hear that audio.
There are many, many Republicans/ex-Republicans in Hawaii who are disgusted with how the party they believed in years ago is reflective of the Dems.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:24 am
The wagon circling continues. Lingle’s ‘party of one’ is calling district chairman across the state and asking them to fill vacant delegate positions with “administration-friendly” people, so that the state convention next month can continue to rubber-stamp Lingle’s RINO (repubican in name only) direction for the party. The convention, dubbed RINO-Fest 2008 by some, will be a celebration of the complete control of both parties by local Democrats. No wonder voters complain about the lack of choice on ballots. The party that should be providing choice in Hawaii has been sucker-punched into helping one person’s political career at the expense of spreading a reform message which could resonate with voters.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Sadly, it appears on too many occasions more members of the GOP are following Pres. Bush in moving further away from the original core principles of the Republican Party.
April 16th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I see one surprise in all this: the Republicans are still willing to allow Eric Ryan into any of their meetings carrying a recording device. Eric first came to public attention as the guy who had surreptitiously recorded a GOP leadership meeting and then released a tape of the private discussion to the press in an effort to embarrass then Chair, Andy Anderson.
If the rightwing grouping that includes Eric Ryan believes they can win elections by repudiating Linda Lingle and her often moderate policies, all power to them. If the Lingle crowd invites people to the platform committee meetings, what is to stop the Ryan crowd from inviting their “true Republican” allies? Isn’t that what “democracy” is supposed to mean: the side with the most support wins?
Stop whining, Eric. Organize! (And don’t just organize to have a larger chorus of whiners!) Convince your fellow delegates at convention that your ideas are correct and you will win. Run candidates for office based upon your “true Republican” positions and see if you can win there as well.
It is true that Lingle has not been able to help elect more Republicans to the Legislature, but I doubt that your approach is a practical alternative.
Laura- I am unsure what you think are the “original core principles of the Republican Party,” unless you are hoping to return to the days of Abe Lincoln, whose actual opinions would probably get him lynched as an anti-war, pro-Labor radical by the current crop of “true Republicans.” Due to the ironic twists of history, more modern Republicans derive their thinking from Jefferson Davis than Abe Lincoln.
Do “true conservatives” truly blame Bush’s unpopularity on his not being Republican enough? For about six years, virtually all Republicans upheld loyalty to Bush as the most important measure of a good Republican.
Lingle, of course, is the most popular Republican elected official in the entire state of Hawaii, so it’s a little hard to draw parallel lessons from her “betrayal” of Republican principles and Bush’s alleged betrayals.
Have fun on the fringe! I hope the convention proceedings are open to journalists and the public so we can all watch the principled struggle over the future direction of the Hawaii Republican Party.
Hey Eric! Tape it for us, will you?
April 16th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Boy, the Republican Party is in danger of being an extinct species.
April 16th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Looks like Eric’s not alone… this is getting very interesting.
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?2b8cea84-049b-4677-900c-edd50cdbdcab
April 16th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Actually, Gandalf, the tape of Andy Anderson proves he broke the law. But I didn’t tape the meeting. It was taped by the officers of the meeting. I only subpoenaed it. And for the record, my accusation that Andy Anderson was a closet Democrat bent on ruining our party was TRUE . . . he ran as a Democrat for Governor a few years later. Likewise, in this case, the tape was officially recorded by the member of the platform committee authorized to do so. I was just lucky to be furnished a copy along with every other member of the committee.
Second, Gandalf, to illegally stack a meeting or convention with people who aren’t certified to participate isn’t democracy . . . it’s cheating. Sorry you can’t tell the difference. It’s your blind ignorance to the difference which makes it possible for you to flippantly egg on reformers like me to organize for a convention where more cheating is probably in store. Sounds like you’ll be there, on leave from your State job, protecting your selfish financial interest in defending Lingle’s corruption.
Third, fearful-and-hiding-behind-a-pseudonym Gandalf, your entire case for supporting the RINO named LIngle rests on ignoring her liberal agenda, her enthusiastic partnership with Democrats, her ignoring of the infiltration of our party leadership by Democrats, and the massive defeats of Republicans statewide. It’s clear that you’re very happy with the status quo. You’ve got yours and that’s what matters.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I forgot to mention that the same people who supported faux Republican Andy Anderson in the early 90’s are the very same people who support Democrat infiltration of the Republican Party of Hawaii: Linda Lingle (then Maui mayor), Miriam Hellreich (still national committeewoman), Gandalf the Misinformed Insider, and others too numerous to mention.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Andy Anderson, Candidate for Governor of Hawai’i in the Democrat Party Primary Election of 2002 — Andy’s Position Paper on Hawaiian Sovereignty and Ken Conklin’s Commentary
http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/hawaiiansovereignty/AndyAndersonHawSovElection2002.html
April 17th, 2008 at 12:55 am
Is the current party platform available for people to read so we can judge for ourselves what is being debated? It seems strange to have such a heated and divisive fight over a document that no one will ever read once the convention is over.
How’s about posting the current platform online, along with the suggested changes which are in dispute? If the Governor’s people are unashamed of the current platform, let us read it. If the reformists belief their ideas are an improvement, please share them with us so we can judge for ourselves whose ideas are better.
If the discussion takes place in the open, maybe people will mind their manners and avoid underhanded tactics?
April 17th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
OhMyGod! This is hilarious! Face it - Lingle came in and took what she came for. Face this too — you let her –and many, many of you gained from that woman. And if you didnt or you got the boot, well, sorry you couldnt figure out the Lingle-formula after eight-long-years. She singlehandedly did more for all of you Rs, than you ever did for yourselves for how many decades before she popped up on the radar screen.
What you all are doing here, in public, is really only embarrassing yourselves. Its kinda sad that it seems you cant see it.
You all were a mess before her, you’ll apparently be a mess after her too.
April 17th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Thanks Hipoli…Amen…..I am embarrassed to be apart of this GOP mess. Eric Ryan and his crew need to learn how to operate. Get more of your people signed up as delegates…..If you think you are going to win seats in the upcoming election, you should learn why Democrats trully beat us….With low turnouts they get there people to the voting booth…..Case closed…….ERIC stoop whinning….Convince others, or get more alternate delegates to move up into the delegate slot…..Whay Lingle’s people are doing by calling and getting their supporters out is not illegal, but campaigning 101…..OH and there is more issues other than the AKAKA Bill…..I think you are pushing more people towards supporting the Akaka Bill, rather than opposing it, but your comments and hatefilled website…….
The Hawaii GOP before Lingle didn’t even compete……….It was more like a social club……
April 17th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
The state GOP sent along this response tonight from Ed Enos, the chairman of District 51 Republicans:
“The recent letters submitted by Mr. Eric Ryan have unfairly attacked a large number of people within the Republican Party. I’m disgusted by Mr. Ryan’s participation in negative personal attacks that single out a handful of individuals, via a variety of websites and mass emails. Using his skills as an ‘artist’ within his StudioRyan office, it’s rather easy for Eric to cut and paste pictures of the faces of Republican leaders and politicians and post them all over the web in any embarrassing way his little mind can create. Isn’t he clever? Only if your mind operates at his level. Isn’t he funny? Not really and I like to think I have a great sense of humor. But aren’t his pictures thought provoking? Depending on who the viewer is, I think Mr. Ryan’s pictures may provoke a response from people he might not have intended.
Last Saturday’s platform committee meeting at GOP Headquarters caused quite a stir. But if you’ve been paying attention to local politics lately, the result of that meeting may not be all that surprising. It’s no secret that a vocal minority of Ron Paul supporters are doing their best to advance their cause, via the established local Republican Party. You can call Ron Paul a Republican if you want. I see him as many others do and he is by any measure a Libertarian. He’s also very smart, in that he has used the “Republican” label to his advantage to ensure himself a position to voice his 19th century isolationist beliefs. One need only review the team of supporters that have aligned themselves behind Mr. Ryan, to see without a doubt, the Ron Paul crowd is in Mr. Ryan’s corner. If you still aren’t clear on this, contact daniel.douglass@ronpaul2008.com.
But let’s talk about the meeting on Saturday. As I recall, everyone had ample opportunity to voice their opinion. Anyone who wanted to speak up did. There was a lot of debate, from many different viewpoints. In fact, Eric had two opportunities to voice his opinion during the formal discussion phase of the vote. One more than the rest of us. Despite the intimidating and loud bullying tactics offered by Mr. Mike Palcic (otherwise known as “Big Mike” for obvious reasons), at the end of the day, the majority of the attendees voted to keep the 2006 platform “as is” and to not change its content for 2008. The majority won. Mr. Ryan and his minority supporters lost. Sorry guys.
Yes there were more people attending than usual. Mr. Ryan would have you believe that’s a bad thing. Wait a minute; I thought we were trying to get more participation? So more people turned out that were in support of keeping our platform as it is, instead of changing it into something different that you wanted. That tells me that there is more established support for the platform as it is. Mr. Ryan clearly underestimated his support to “change” things. It’s not a difficult concept. When hardcore party supporters felt their platform was being attacked, they showed up for a fight. And won.
As a conservative, I stand by some basic principles that don’t change with the political season. Unlike liberals who always want to change their position on an issue depending on results from the most recent poll, my fundamental viewpoint on basic issues involving economics, social problems, national security, etc. are basically the same today as they were during the last election. Frankly, I see the Party’s effort at a wholesale revamp of our Platform each election season, a waste of time and effort. Perhaps isolating a single plank or two that ‘may’ need review, is time well spent.
It’s obvious to just about anyone, the Native Hawaiian Plank is a contentious issue internally between many Party members. Perhaps I’ll address the issue specifically at another time.
But for now, consider this fact. I represent a district that includes the poorest of Native Hawaiians on Hawaiian Homestead Lands within Waimanalo. One of those families is my cousin, with kids, and a full-time job in a family owned trucking business, who spent months tending to my invalid auntie on her deathbed. I also represent the highest paid haole attorneys living in multimillion dollar beachfront properties in Lanikai. And of course, there are all the blue collar working class people in between those two extremes.
If Mr. Ryan and his friends have an answer to all the problems that all these different people have on any given day, that satisfies them all and makes everyone happy at the same time, then he’s a better man than me. You win.
But I got involved with local politics to “help” find some common ground and resolution to these nagging problems that have overwhelmed Democrats for decades, with no substantial positive results. Democrats as a party are responsible for creating the Hawaii we all live in today. It would be naïve to think that Governor Lingle single-handedly could change the ingrained attitudes of local party political diehards in just two terms.
We might disagree on many things Eric. But I respect your drive and determination. It’s admirable. I just think your tactics and your efforts against “us” are wrong headed. I firmly believe that most of us Republicans want the same thing. We just disagree on how to achieve it. I see your methods as being part of the problem. I want to be part of the solution.”
April 18th, 2008 at 11:09 am
It’s interesting how a recent mainland transplant, just brought in a few months ago to be Executive Director of the Hawaii G.O.P., could be so quickly co-opted to help spread misinformation like the above letter from a ‘regular party member’. When the insiders, including E.D. Adam DeGuire, spend all their time trying to circle their wagons, defend their corruption and distract from their abandonment of principles, it makes you wonder why anyone would contribute to the party as currently led. Hey, Adam, tell Linda Lingle, Miriam Hellreich and Willes Lee that you only want to use your e-mail account and your valuable time promoting Republican ideals and not Democrat policies. Only then will your relocation have been worth anything.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Again I ask, is anyone from EITHER faction willing to post the 2006 party platform online so regular voters can understand what is being debated?
If Eric Ryan runs a design studio, I assume he has Internet skills sufficient to post the platform, along with his criticisms, online. If the GP office staff have the time to pass on my Enos’ lengthy letter, perhaps they can use the party computer to post an online link to the party platform as well?
Why should there be such a bitter fight within the party if neither side wants the platform to be a public document?
April 18th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Sorry to keep you waiting, “Retired on the Hill” and others. Here you go!
HERE’S THE LINK to three files: http://www.studioryan.net/gop_hawaii/
1. copy of existing (non-reformed) platform containing self-determination, pro-Akaka Bill language inserted by a prominent Democrat and promoted by Gov. Lingle
2. a recording of the platform committee meeting at which Lingle’s people showed up to shut down further deliberations by the committee in order to protect the existing platform
3. a copy of the proposed ‘reform’ Native Hawaiian plank which Lingle and her underlings at the part wanted to keep from being adopted. It’s pretty self-explanatory, and it’s the opposite of what Democrats have in their platform.
Thanks for your interest. Mahalo for your patience!
April 19th, 2008 at 6:38 am
I am one of the platform committee delegates whose work was callously dismissed by that farce of a meeting last week. I am not a Ron Paul supporter - far from it. Quite frankly I will be disappointed if the platform issue is used by the Ron Paul group as a mechanism to upset the party. That is certainly not my motivation. I have already been “used” enough. I have been a supporter of the national party for the past 20 years but this year decided to get involved locally. That was mistake #1. I spent a lot of my valuable time seriously working on amending the platform. On the first day we discused the need to streamline the document and to include additional planks and to change the emphasis of others. For example, we voted to add a veterans plank and we voted to have a plank which focused on energy, agriculture and the environment.
At the Lincoln Day Dinner, Governor Lingle spoke about her goal to make Hawaii independent. The 2006 platform had nothing in there about that. The 2008 platform would have incorporated this (in my opinion - since it was not voted on). The 2006 Platform is poorly written from a stylistic standpoint and made the party look ignorant. The 2008 platform committee (defined as those 20 or so of us that showed up and worked week after week) worked on issues such as national security, illegal immigration, gun control, tax reform and so on and so on. We did not all sit around debating the Akaka Bill issue as some would contend.
One one occasion, the committee that was working on the crime and public safety plank met for 3 hours and vigorously debated competing philosophies on gun registration, drug laws, repeat offender legislation and the like. The sub-committee voted, item by item, on the issues. NOt everyone was happy with the way the votes came out but a plank was prepared. That plank was never considered and never voted on. The Jobs/Economy plank was never voted on or even read. The Veterans’ Plank, which was ready the week before the farcical meeting, was read and never voted on.
The meeting of April 12, 2008 was packed with people who never bothered to show up to any prior meetings. These people never did a minute’s work to improve upon the 2006 Platform. These people never saw or considered the work that had been done in 2008. To this day they do not have any knowledge as to whether the proposed 2008 platform would have better reflected Republican values. So I have to disagree with anyone who says last week’s vote was fair.
Republicans have long despaired of the voters who vote Democrat over and over because they are blindly led to the polls by others. We cry out for them to think for themselves. We ask them to look at the issues, see what each side is offering, and decide for themselves. The HRP leadership ignored this maxim and brought to the platform committee meeting their “super delegates” who, like the super delegates at the Democratic National Convention, were expected to use their obviously superior wisdom to save the rank and file from themselves. I, for one, did not appreciate the gesture and I am sure the Democrat voters who bothered to vote and/or caucus will feel likewise if their party’s super delegates give the nomination to Hillary.
I am sorry this posting is so long but I am seeing what happened last week being demagogued by competing interests. What really happened makes my blood boil but it is because my time was wasted and my efforts denigrated. I was also shocked to see the party acting so…so…political. I chuckle at my naivete. I really honestly thought the Republican party was better than that. I actually cannot believe I took my role in the platform committee so seriously.
April 19th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Just saw a typo. Gov. Lingle talked about energy independence at the Lincoln Day Dinner - not political independence…although based on the Akaka Bill issue, that is debatable.
April 19th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Thank you for the link, Eric!
I will review the documents you have made available and make up my own mind. I admit to having mixed feelings about the Akaka Bill. I personally know and respect several of the key Lingle supporters, including some involved in this current squabble. I also appreciate the enthusiasm of the new supporters of Ron Paul and think the party would benefit from their passion. I was young once myself.
I am disappointed when I hear the rules of fair play are being ignored in an effort to suppress honest debate. I am also unhappy that the current party leadership has refused to allow regular members, and prospective party members, a chance to read essential party documents for ourselves. Why is the current platform unavailable online for all to read? Where are the party rules, so we can learn what rights we have and how the party is supposed to function? Why argue over resolutions and the platform at the convention if these documents are then hidden from public view on some party functionary’s hard drive?
On the issues, I do not have enough information with which to decide which side I am on, if any. But I appreciate whomever respects my intelligence, and my RIGHTS, enough to provide me an opportunity to make up my own mind. And to fairly share my opinion, once my mind is made up.
On that point, you Eric, have now scored some points and earned my appreciation. I continue to have high hopes for Governor Lingle and I hope to maintain cordial relations with her top supporters, but I am troubled by what I am hearing.
April 19th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I’m on the Native Hawaiian Plank….for the record, Mr. Ryan’s posting of “his” version f the plank has not been acknowledged by ALL sub-committee members nor unanimously supported. A technicality, but it is the essence of what divides the Hawaii GOP today.
Polls show that most people are opposed to the Akaka Bill. Most politicians privately, don’t support it. So who does? Why Senator Akaka of course! And most, but not all, of the radical Hawaiian extremists who support sovereignty.
I don’t support what this bill says. But like most people, I’m sympathetic to Hawaiians and their issues. I want to work towards resolving once and for all, what the Democrats have failed to do for decades. I believe the Mr. Ryan and his little group “in general” do, too. But his approach is all wrong and will (actually already has) create MORE of a divide between resolution and further frustration.
It’s funny how if you take the time to read all the “public” statements on high profile websites…few people actually discuss what the issue is…being “for” or “against” the Akaka Bill, the essence of the problem. Eric Ryan likes to mince his words with liberal double speak like “diversity” and “multi-ethnicity”….c’mon Eric. Get to the point. You don’t give a hash about native Hawaiians, never did, never will.
Further, you’ll post all over the web those clever, insulting, derogatory pictures and comments about party leaders, you’ll even degrade the efforts of concerned locals
(”cow manua”), but you don’t have the…”men”…between your legs to put your name to it….that doesn’t surprise me. Or anyone else. Your efforts are not helping anything, you are part of the problem.
Be honest about the specifics of what you are trying to do. You and your ilk want to cast aside every native Hawaiian issue, without regard to anything that concerns them. From my discussions first hand and in person with you…you’ve showed me your hand and I know how you’re going to pay this game.
You and your supporters are afraid of the political and social and…possibly economic backlash from connecting your name and face with your political positions. We’ll see what happens at the convention. But I make a prediction. You will purposely attack party leadership and whine about how they are standing in your way of overhauling the existing platform….blah, blah, blah.
But you and your group will also tread very carefully in “how” you publicly state your position, which is in effect anti-Hawaiian…at the end of the day. You live in a pretty local neighborhood. You have to do business in this town. So you and your little group are always very careful how you present your position….as everyone else is, politicians especially.
You’ll never get anywhere until you can call a spade a spade…in public. But you can’t. You haven’t. You won’t. You don’t have it in you to be “that” honest.
Until all of you can come clean and be truthful in public about what it is you want….you’ll never get a majority support.
April 19th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Hold on, Kapena… you are simplistically linking opposition to the Akaka Bill as anti-Hawaiian. You are wrong. There are individuals from all cultural backgrounds (including many Hawaiians) who understand the issue and oppose the Akaka Bill because of the economic, political and social consequences it would lead to here in Hawaii and the precendent it would set for other ethnic groups across the nation.
Promotion of the Akaka Bill presumes plight based upon race. That is wrong. People of all races struggle in Hawaii and it’s not because of race. Every individual has equal rights and equal opportunity, not only inalienable, but protected by law. The Akaka Bill would potentially carve out those protections by not coming under the jursdiction of the U.S. Contstitution.
Have you set foot on an Indian reservation lately? There are two classes, Cheifs and Serfs. The Cheifs collect the federal funds and live large through the casinos and investments and the Serfs are fine living off the federal welfare. Those who want to be free get off the reservation.
Do you honestly believe OHA would do better than that? If you do, fine. I contend most Hawaiians (as with most everyone else) don’t have faith in OHA. They’ve long outworn their welcome from 30 years ago. Can’t wait to see the audit.
April 19th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Denise:
Just as many other Republicans, Ron Paul supporters want to see the Party’s message move toward self reliance, free markets, constitutional personal liberties and honest, transparent and less intrusive governance on the county, state and federal level. Ron Paul supporters made up a 6 of the 19 who voted in the minority last Saturday. At this point, Denise, it’s not about Ron Paul, John McCain or any other figure. It’s about the same old HRP versus what we will be.
Dan Douglass
Hawaii State Coordinator
Ron Paul 2008 PCC
April 19th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Wow, Kapena. What a load of awful personal attacks. Let’s see if I can sum up your ad hominems in one short list. Eric Ryan is an anti-Hawaiian racist, has a small penis, is wrong about everything, and was unable to win over the pro-Akaka Bill Democrats on our Republican platform committee. Gosh, Kapena (anonymous loser), I’m starting to think you might disagree with me. By the way, freaky Kapena, when did you sneak a peek at my sausage? Platform committee meetings were fully dressed, except for Bruss Keppeler and Ed Enos who were nakedly Democrats in our midst.
April 19th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Thanks Dan Douglas and you other newly registered Republican Paulestinians.
I can’t wait to see you transform the Hawaii Republican Party into the glistening success story the Hawaii Libertarian Party is today.
Make sure to share your secrets to consistently getting 4% of the vote with the Republicans. That combined with the Libertarian Party’s super popular policies should make for a winning combination!
Hawaii will be Democrat controlled no more, here come the Libertarians to show the Republicans how to win!
I hear some Paulestinians still think Ron Paul will steal the election at convention because all the delegates will be Paulestinians. This might shed some light on their judgment.
April 19th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Is there even a push from the Republican Party to run candidates this year? You’d think it would be crazy for them to shut any new people or ideas out.
If all the Lingle followers are comfortable with their government jobs who has the guts to run? No one will win if no one runs. Now that sounds like a guaranteed winning combination!
And thanks for the link to the audio and platforms! Very enlightening and encouraging to hear people speaking up against the losing plan of the Rep. party of the last 6 years. I admired their courage. It didn’t sound like any presidential candidate’s agenda was being pushed to me. Just a majority of people speaking up against the motion to adopt the old platform before a lost vote and then a frustrated guy calling the guy running the meeting a “f***ing dictator” at the end for not ending the meeting according to the rules. Oops, sorry for spoiling the ending. Funny stuff.
April 20th, 2008 at 10:18 am
This entire thing is very simple.
Ron Paul “Republicans” thought they could and should take over the state Republican Party.
Apparently this was based on Ron Paul’s stellar performance of securing something like 20 delegates nationwide… out of 1191 needed. Clearly they saw the Ron Paul tidal wave sweeping the country and said “so many people support this guy and what he stands for, if we just take his really popular positions and insert them into the Hawaii Republican Party’s platform then the Hawaii Republicans will be able to do as well as Ron Paul.”
The Republican Party realized what the Ron Paul “Republicans” were up to. Wisely choosing to avoid Ron Paul’s 4% fate they out maneuvered them at that Saturday meeting.
Ron Paul “Republicans” then got angry like little children and started to throw a hissy fit, lashing out like a 5 year old denied a new Tommy the Train toy.
At the end of the day thanks for the help Ron Paul “Republicans” but no thanks. We could be doing a lot better in the state, but compared to your man and the Libertarian Party you came from we are doing fantastic. You guys setting the agenda for our party would be like a paraplegic coaching the track team. Like William Hung giving Andrea Bocelli singing lessons. You catch my drift.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Interesting new spin coming from party headquarters. Funny, I’m not associated with the Ron Paul campaign, and most of the support for reform comes from old-time party members like me who are sick of seeing our policy solutions not get implemented at the state and county levels (or in our federal delegation) because our party keeps losing. Why does our party and its candidates keep losing? Well, our party been run by the same losers for decades. Now those losers have coalesced around Lingle and created a “Party of One” which only cares about her political fates, despite her liberal policy pursuits. By the way, our party’s presumptive nominee John McCain (who is NOT a Ron Paul supporter) has promised to veto the Akaka Government Reorganization Bill. Unlike RINO Lingle, McCain does not think that Hawaii needs to be split along racial lines and opposes the idea that OHA should be turned into a racially-exclusive new government like the gravy train Democrats and Linda Lingle want for Hawaii. Wrap your mind around that, critics of party reform.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Eric, no association with the Ron Paul campaign?
So is it another Eric Ryan that is scheduled to address the Ron Paul Hawaii Delegate Luncheon April 26, 12:30-2:30pm at the Waikiki Yacht Club?
Please accept my apologies if it is another Eric Ryan scheduled to speak.
I agree with you Eric, reform is needed, however adopting the positions that resulted in Ron Paul doing so poorly and which continue to result in the Libertarian Party doing so poorly is not a recipe for success.
April 20th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Being a recently invited guest speaker to talk about marketing (what I do for a living) is hardly an “association”. The McCain folks can readily confirm my status as a supporter of the presumptive nominee. However, Mr. Santos (whoever you are), you can still apologize for your paranoia and defense of the status quo whenever you’re ready. It seems that you think Republicans would be wildly successful in Hawaii if they were all like Linda Lingle. Well, we wouldn’t. And we wouldn’t be Republicans anymore, would we? Supporting big taxes like she does, supporting big spending like she does, supporting the creation of a brand new government like she does. C’mom Santos, is that really the Hawaii you want to live in? Is that what you’re defending so vigorously? Look inward before it’s too late. Don’t be a hack. Be a real Republican, not a RINO or a Linglecrat.
April 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
So Eric Ryan, you are the guest speaker at the Ron Paul Hawaii Delegate Luncheon April 26 but you have no association to the Ron Paul campaign. That is difficult to buy.
Why is the Ron Paul Delegation even still meeting? Did you guys not get the memo his campaign is over? Or are you still holding onto hope that you have enough secret Ron Paul supporters signed up as delegates to steal the nomination away from McCain at convention? Is that what you guys are up to? Because that would be funny.
In response to your statement “It seems that you think Republicans would be wildly successful in Hawaii if they were all like Linda Lingle.” When did I mention Lingle?
I said I am for reform. I actually think the party needs to become more conservative, but not Libertarian, there is a difference. If we turn Libertarian we will meet the fait of Ron Paul and the Libertarian Party, we will be lucky to ever get over 4% of the vote, that seems to be about their average. People don’t overwhelmingly reject Ron Paul and the Libertarian Party because of the name ‘Ron Paul’ or ‘Libertarian Party’ they reject the doctrine, so why in the hell would we want to adopt it?
April 20th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Why are you trying so hard to convince me? I’m a first-time guest speaker to discuss the nuts-and-bolts of political marketing to Republican candidates. Read my rants on Hawaii Reporter and get your head screwed on right, buddy. It’s easier than posting idiotic ravings on the Advertiser message board with no basis in truth (but party insiders will be so happy with you for attacking me that they might give you a free Lingle t-shirt and a hug from Miriam Hellreich). So that you can sleep peacefully tonight, “Rob”, why not ask the leadership and/or the rank-and-file of the campaign for Ron Paul in Hawaii if I’m in any way affiliated with them? When you get the answer, be sure to come back here and post it for all to see.
April 20th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Rob,
Obviously you did not read my positing above so I shall type slowly - I….am….not….affiliated…with….Ron…Paul. I was, however, shut down by the party machine without any inquiry by anyone who voted as to what I worked on. For the record, I supported Romney.
April 20th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
OK Eric, you may not be “associated”, but you are volunteering to help Ron Paul “Republicans” learn how to run a campaign. So you are supporting Libertarian candidates within the HRP. Libertarians within the HRP is the problem here in my opinion.
We need to become more conservative, but not Libertarian. Libertarianism is a recipe for the death of the party, just look at how poorly Libertarians do in every election. If you agreed you probably wouldn’t be helping them out with your expertise, but maybe you have another reason for helping them out.
Denise, you are not the problem, not the reason for what happened at that meeting. I gather what happened happened because the Ron Paul people tried to push through a Libertarian platform. You and many other well meaning real Republicans had your ideas shut out because it wasn’t possible to just shut out the Ron Paulers’ Libertarian ideas. It was just logistically easier to shut down the committee then cherry pick true Republican updates to the platform while rejecting the Ron Paul Libertarian ones, that would have been impossible and the party couldn’t risk a platform that supported legalizing drugs, prostitution and gambling (that is just the beginning). Unfortunately the consequences of adopting the libertarian stuff outweighed the benefits of the true Republican updates to the platform many were working on. The best imperfect solution was to go with the 2006 platform. I think it was the best choice of 3 bad choices.
The issue is the fanatic cult-like Ron Paul people not realizing Ron Paul Libertarianism is a proven looser, they ruined it for all true Republicans who genuinely wanted to reform and update the platform.
April 20th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Your last line, Santos, reveals the shibai party insider songbook you’re singing from, since “true Republicans who genuinely wanted to reform and update the platform” WERE all present and accounted for week after week after week. The Linglecrats who didn’t want such ‘reform’ or ‘updates’ (including the committee’s Chair and Vice-Chair who said they didn’t want changes from Day One) and who never participated in meetings the whole time showed up and voted to kill off the possibility of reform and updates WITHOUT even asking what changes were being considered. Marching down to party headquarters like zombies ready to do the bidding of the Linglecrats is not a sign of being a “true Republican”, but a sign of fearful, closed-minded, wussies who plan to keep the Hawaii GOP in the minority forever and ever. Santos, you should let someone with more experience spinning a lie credibly do the postings on this board. I’m just wondering how cheaply you sold your soul for.
April 20th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
From what I gather from those who were there, there were conservative Republican updates and reforms in the beginning stages of discussion. You may not see the ideas by these true Republican conservatives as real reform because I am guessing you are a Ron Paul “Republican”, so in your mind anything short of getting rid of income taxes, legalizing drugs and prostitution is not reform. Just my guess you would look at the National Republican Party platform and call it Democrat.
As for your comments about Linglecrats keeping us in the minority forever, do you think a Ron Paul “Republican” platform will serve us better? I say the answer lies somewhere in between the moderate Republican platform of our party now and the Libertarian ideas of Ron Paul “Republicans”. I think it is called “conservatism”.
It’s just too bad the Ron Paul “Republicans” ruined it for us this year. I stand behind our party 100% in their actions. It would have been a disaster to let the Ron Paul “Republican” ideas such as legalizing drugs and prostitution into our platform. The very idea of adopting the policies of a man who consistently gets 4% is bordering on the insane. Like taking driving lessons from Brandy, or getting marriage counseling from Elizabeth Taylor…
Maybe two years from now the Ron Paul “Republicans” will have tired of the Cool Aid flavor in their mouths and progress will be made on the platform. Who knows. But one thing is for sure, there should be fireworks at the convention in Honolulu this summer. I will have to drive over when the platform is discussed. I look forward to seeing if these Ron Paulers will have big enough balls to submit their nutty “legalize drugs and prostitution” ideas in front of everyone. Oh I hope they do, the party is prepared and it should be good times! Pompous cultists.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:29 am
You’re still clueless, dude. And party regulars aren’t gonna buy your Ron Paul red herring story. Local McCain campaign leader Jimmy Kuroiwa, old time members like Mike Palcic, Garry Smith and myself, and countless others — who are speaking out loudly about the lousy management, corrupt leadership and questionable liberal direction of our party — have NOTHING to do with the Ron Paul campaign. So you can beat that lame horse to death, but you’ll just end up walking through the desert of lunacy all alone. By the way, “Rob”, you’re not listed as even being involved with the Platform Committee. Yet you pretend to possess so much insight into what went on and the reasons party insiders circled the wagons. There is no “Rob Santos” on the committee or on the delegate lists and probably not even on the party membership list. You’re probably just a volunteer suckup, publicist hack for the Lingle party insiders, or worse one of their employees, operating with a generic, local pseudonym. Either way, don’t expect anyone to bring you a glass of water as you dehydrate in the aforementioned desert. It sounds like you’re beyond being saved, let alone reasoned with.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:56 am
Well, it’s been good times Eric.
Have fun speaking to the Ron Paul Delegation this Saturday at the Waikiki Yacht Club you “old timer” Republican you.
PS I never said I was on the platform committee, I said “From what I gather from those who were there”. Most would understand that to mean I was not there. I am also not a delegate or alternate. I tend not to be as involved in the party as many of my friends, but I will try to attend the convention the day the platform is discussed, it should be extremely entertaining from what I gather.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:03 am
Rob and Eric,
Between the two of you, I figure someone will know the answer to my questions. Those running the platform meeting voted to defer the debate over the platform until the state convention. But will the convention proceedings be open to rank and file members of the party? To members of the general public who might be interested in joining the party, if only they could figure out what the party actually stands for? And to the press, so those of us excluded, or unable to attend, might follow the debate?
I remain troubled by the tactics used by some of the Governor’s loyalists to suppress the debate in the platform committee. Why should we assume that these same people would allow for a fair, open debate at the convention?
And finally, forgive me for beating a dead horse (”a dying mule”?), whichever side prevails at the convention, can both sides commit in advance to post the new party platform, rules and resolutions on the party website once the convention is over?
Thanks in advance for your help.
April 21st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Eric,
Your’re not associated with the Paulestinians but you are their key note speaker? OK. People should buy that!
You have to face the fact that the HRP didn’t shut down the committee because of genuine reforms, they embrace genuine Republican reforms. They shut it down like Rob said, because of the Ron Paul nuts trying to make it Libertarian. A majority of Republicans don’t want to adopt the losing platform of Ron Paul, because it is a proven loser!
You have to be truly lacking something if you think adopting the Ron Paul platform will be good for the HRP after in primary after primary Republicans across the country rejected Ron Paul. His platform appeals to an even smaller group then the current HRP platform.
But the Ron Paul group has never been the most logical. No wonder they think you can fix a less than popular platform with an extremely unpopular one that appeals to about 4% of the population. They think a prostitute on every corner and a drug (real DRUG) store on every street is a good thing for Hawaii and that these types of stances will help the HRP grow. Talk about not being able to see past their noses.
These are the same nuts that STILL think Ron Paul is going to pull off a win at the national GOP convention because they think enough nutty Ron Paul supporters have under the radar been elected delegates, and when it comes voting time will vote for Ron Paul instead of McCain. I bet you are one of them Eric, because you refer to McCain as the “presumptive’ nominee like all the other Paulestinians. I have learned to speak Paulestinian.
Don’t pretend you are some legit reformer Eric, you are clearly a Paulestinian.
Wish I could attend your speech at the Yacht Club to the Ron Paul Delegation, too bad I have other plans.
Oh and Eric, Rob raises a good point which you did not answer. Why is the Ron Paul Delegation still even meeting? Do they not know he lost? It’s because they still think they can win with the secret delegates isn’t it? LOL!
Marcie Treichly
April 21st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Sorry “Marcie”. I’ve never heard of you. I’m sure you’ve accomplished very little in life except licking stamps for Linda Lingle and writing on blogs what the Linglecrats tell you to write. Don’t feel left out because you weren’t asked to speak at this gathering. I’m sure if anyone knew who you were or what value you bring to the planet then you would be asked by lots of groups to speak to them about political marketing. But since you’re a nobody, then nobody cares what you have to say.
Since you were not on the platform committee and have no idea what happened except what some party insiders told you to say, you might think to take a break from making a fool of yourself. Everybody associated with the Ron Paul campaign would be glad to tell you that I’m not a Ron Paul supporter. In fact, you’re newfound obsession with the Ron Paul campaign might make you a more qualified speaker at their luncheon. You probably know more about the Ron Paul campaign and about Libertarian values than I.
Finally, your boyfriend and partner in crime “Rob Santos” are asking the wrong person with your litany of irrelevant questions about Ron Paul and Libertarians. If you want to ask me about campaigns I have worked on, or about recent campaigns such as Romney, Giuliani, McCain and Fred Thompson, I might be able to tackle your inquiries. And if you want me to discuss with you the reasons why the Republican Party (not the Lingle Party of One) should oppose the Akaka Bill, should oppose higher taxes, should oppose bigger government, and should oppose the rail project, and should oppose more dependency and less personal responsibility, then your time spent slouching over a computer keyboard and developing those love handles might be worthwhile. Till then, your 15 minutes are up, and they were boring.
April 21st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Retired,
I don’t know. Maybe Eric does? But you can call party headquarters and someone should be able to answer that for you. (808) 593-8180
I think posting the platform on the website is a good idea.
April 21st, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Aloha, Retired. Good questions. Rank and file members along with the press can attend as convention “guests”, but are prohibited from a number of sessions. You can peek at the agenda on http://www.gophawaii.com.
I’m committed to posting the platform as well as strong policy statements on all issues major and even minor on the party’s website. Heck, the Democrats in Hawaii do that, even though it’s a treatise on socialism. To be honest, chances are slim that posting of our platform and the like will happen before May 2009, when the next state convention is held to elect party officers to 2-year terms. The current Hawaii Republican leadership, frankly, isn’t interested in reaching voters, publicizing positions on issues, making waves, or even winning for that matter. Current Chair Willes Lee seems to think that his writing the occasional letter to the editor is enough marketing for the party and its candidates.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:34 pm
This thread has been an interesting read. Judging from the insider exchange here it appears Ryan’s comments to the Hawaii Reporter and Advertiser that this is all about the Akaka bill is a smoke screen to cover a veiled radical Ron Paul agenda.
I can see why the party wouldn’t want the extremist Ron Paul Libertarians to change the platform from Republican to Libertarian.
Why would they adopt the universally unpopular agenda of an established failure? Republicans may not be in the majority in this state but if they adopt Ron Paul’s ideas they will be lucky to have a single school board seat!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Almost right, “Apple Republican” . . . just BACKWARDS. The Ron Paul smokescreen is being manufactured by party insiders and Linglecrats to cover up the pro-Akaka Bill platform preferred by Linda Lingle, Dan Akaka and the powers-that-be in Hawaii who delight in emasculating Hawaii’s Republican party for decades on end. I sure hope that Miriam Hellreich and Willes Lee give you a big hug, a free ticket to an upcoming fundraiser and maybe even a free t-shirt to thank you for your willingness to spread a poppycock story that is untrue, unbelievable, and unrelentingly asinine.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Hmmm… if Apple’s not a paid GOP staffer, he or she must not have read this eye-opener:
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?2b8cea84-049b-4677-900c-edd50cdbdcab
A McCain leader and a Ron Paul leader both giving the ‘up yours’ to the Linglecrat machine.
Very inspiring for we Hawaii conservative Republicans who can’t stand the fact the only thing our governor stands for without wavering is whole new federally funded racially based government.
Kinda makes me want to go to the convention to see these players.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:14 am
After finish reading all the comments here, I have to wonder just what, exactly, do the Lingle supporters think being a Republican is? The Linglecrats are crying and moaning about the Ron Paul supporters and their “extremist” agenda.
Unless you were born before the days of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, either none of you don’t know what being a true conservative is really about or you’ve forgotten because you’ve either had the wool pulled over your eyes by the liberal “Linglecrats” or you had been slapped over the head by the neo-conservative Bush “Republicans”, neither of which, is Republican nor conservative.
Tell me… What’s so extremist about wanting small, limited, restricted and accountable government? What’s so extremist about wanting less taxes and less regulations against our businesses and personal lives? What’s so extremist about wanting people to be treated equally and fairly, based on their words, deeds, and actions rather than the color of their skin or the ethnicity they hold? What’s extremist about wanting to bring more accountability to a public education system, which at $2.4 BILLION a year cannot adequately educate our children attending public schools?
What’s so extremist about wanting to restore our state government, and our public servants, to being held accountable for and by the People of Hawai’i? In the manner that our Founding Fathers wished us to?
Accusations were made that the Ron Paul “Libertarians” wanted to legalize prostitution and drugs, and that that was the reason for the fiasco which took place last Saturday. Is that what Mr. Daniel Douglass and Co. were proposing on the new platform? If these accusers say “yes”, I’d like to see proof. I’ll even send an e-mail to Mr. Douglass, asking if that was his intention.
Marcie Treichly, you stated that Hawai’i Republicans embrace true Republican reforms. What is your idea of true Republican reform?
So far, all I see here is an attempt to preserve the status quo, which, for whatever reason, wants to keep OHA and the Akaka bill, intact. The answers elude me as to why, our first Republican governor in 40 years, would abandon reforming our public education system after her first year, placate to the vocal minority who support the Akaka bill, and be in favor of the state’s greatest tax increase to fund a rail system which will do nothing to alleviate our traffic problems.
This attack on the Ron Paul supporters is a cheap tactic (something which the Democrats would admire) to avoid the real problems within our Republican party. The fact that there are those within our Party who feel we need to act like liberals in order to win votes and win favor with the media is not “true conservatism”. Pandering and placating to a vocal minority within the sovereignty movement is not true conservatism. Raising taxes and fees, and keeping state government bloated and corrupt (And then “raining” praise on the Democrats for it as Rep. Lynn Finnegann had done) is definitely NOT true conservatism.
Being a conservative Republican is Honoring what the Founding Fathers created for us… a REPUBLIC (If you can keep it! -Benjamin Franklin). It’s about keeping the government limited and restricted while keeping it accountable for the People it’s supposed to represent. True conservatism is about preserving our Liberties, whether it’s through keeping taxes low so we can better provide for our families or whether it’s through preserving our 2nd Amendment rights so we can defend our families. It’s about keeping government small and leaving the People alone to live out there lives as they please.
If all of you Ron Paul bashers were so concerned about their “extremist” agenda, why did it take you until the last minute to show up and make your concerns known? Why didn’t you get yourselves involved in the process of updating a new platform? Leave the lies, the shenanigans and the phony double-talk to the Hawai’i Democrats, they’ve had more time and experience doing it.
Barry Goldwater was a true conservative Republican and so was Ronald Reagan. If any of you can’t or won’t understand this, you’re not a Republican and you’re sure as hell not a conservative.
Get yourselves educated… http://reagan2020.us/
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:55 am
Eric J. Seabury, a quick search reveals you used to be a registered Libertarian, now you are a Ron Paul supporting “Republican”. Just to lay things out here.
In response to your questions CONSERVATISM is good, needs to be adopted by the HRP and has the ability to win elections, LIBERTARINISM has no chance in hell of ever winning an election and is considered a joke by most people, because it is, that should answer all your questions. Just because you wrap up LIBERTARIAN ideas in a CONSERVATIVE package doesn’t make it CONSERVATIVE. You guys may have fooled 13 real Republicans at that meeting, but now your secret is out.
You Paulestinians need to get that if someone is against your Ron Paul Libertarian agenda it doesn’t make them a “Linglecrat”, it makes them a Republican who doesn’t want the Hawaii Republican Party to become the Libertarian Party of Hawaii.
Ron Paul is a loser. Libertarianism is a losing agenda. Just look at how bad Ron Paul did, it was embarrassing. Look at how bad the Libertarian Party does whenever they run a candidate. The American people have said “No thank you!” to Libertarianism and now you guys think the HRP will do BETTER if it adopts Libertarianism! With all due respect, that is nuts. And it is double nuts you can’t see why you had your butt’s kicked out the door at that meeting.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
“Marcie”, the Lingle agenda is short term winner. But what do the people of Hawaii really win? A few insider government jobs? The promise of race-based federal handouts? More taxes? Silence on the shipping monopoly? A white flag in education reform? Sounds, like sorry-a$$ed and poor leadership to me and a whole lot of others in Hawaii. Any infusion of ideas away from the left and middle will help in serving a long term vision. I’m sure many Republicans will agree.
I did a little search on Ron Paul and ended up liking a whole lot of his ideas from his site. I also found this video on the facts and figures behind the media attention received and not received for the past year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iW5kOB1pmg
Keep up the great work, “Marcie”!
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
Marcie Treichly, you must’ve been either a former Democrat or you’re a current government-bureaucrat because you did nicely in avoiding the question, like most Democrats and bureaucrats do.
“What is your idea of true Republican reform?”
Yes, I was once a Libertarian, that’s not something I’d hide, just like Ronald Reagan used to be a Democrat, I became a registered Republican long before Ron Paul announced his candidacy. And while I do not support legalizing drugs, prostitution and I don’t agree with Ron Paul on immediately pulling out of Iraq or disbanding the CIA and FBI, he was the one who closely represented true conservative values (Lowering taxes, keeping government small and accountable, defending the 2nd Amendment, pro-life, securing our God-given rights of personal Liberty) in our Party.
Like I had asked before, did Daniel Douglass pressed for legalizing drugs and/or prostitution at the committee meeting? Or was he pressing for what Republicans are supposed to truly stand for? (Read above).
As usual, you side-stepped the main issue here with a bogus, “Ron Paul Republicans are “infiltrating” the platform committee meeting”, b.s.
A Linglecrat is not someone who doesn’t agree with Libertarian ideas, as you put it, it’s someone who can’t “walk the walk” when it comes to true conservative ideas and values. Do you think supporting OHA and the Akaka bill is consistent with conservatism? Do you think supporting the rise of the General Excise tax to fund rail, a boondoggle which will do little to nothing in alleviating our traffic problems is consistent with conservatism? Do you think spending our tax dollars on “pet projects” is consistent with conservatism? Do you think sitting back after one miserable try in getting the public education system overhauled is consistent with conservatism? Linda Lingle and her minions seem to think so but a real Republican would tell you “no”. And I’m pretty damn sure if Goldwater and Reagan were alive today, they’d tell you “no”, as well.
It’s obvious here that the problem with the Linglecrats is not about the Ron Paul Republicans, it’s about preserving the status quo. Why do we keep losing seats in the legislature year after year, even though it’s been a Democrat-majority since 1954 that we have seen higher taxes, more regulations put on our private lives and businesses, a faltering and useless public education system, and the continued pillage of our tax dollars going to unions and the special interest groups? You’d think the people in Hawai’i would get fed-up by now and start voting Republican, but that hasn’t been happening, has it?
Why did we have 2 Republican members of the state legislature “jump ship” to the Democrat side in the last year? Why is Lynn Finnegann’s appointee, Tracy Okubo, a supposed “Republican”, openly supporting Barack Obama?
Forget about the Linda Lingle, Ron Paul, John McCain arguments, and ask yourself…
What does it mean to be a conservative Republican?
What are we about and what do we have to offer to the People for a better Hawai’i?
If smaller government, lower taxes and regulations, an improved and accountable public education system, better built and maintained roads, secured 2nd Amendment rights and individual Freedom are not part of your answers, you have no business being in the Republican party.
http://reagan2020.us/platform/
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I find it interesting that a Hawai’i Democrat had better advice on how to win elections and win a bigger Republican presence in the legislature than what the GOP status quo has been offering.
Take note… http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?962f880c-7890-4fc1-a8d3-3f9266338937
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Hey Eric J. Seabury great post on that Democrat having better advice. Question though, you think you Ron Paul guys can do better after Ron Paul’s pathetic and laughable performance? You think applying what he stands for to the HRP is going to make things better? You are high on the Ron Paul Cool Aid my man, you do that and the HRP will look back at 2008 as it’s glory days! HA!
Guys, we agree on some points here. I think the HRP is too moderate, too much like the Democrat party. Where we disagree is I think it needs to become conservative, you guys think it needs to become Libertarian in the image of Ron Paul. (Eric J. Seabury, I’m, not going to explain the difference between conservative and libertarian for you, that was 8th grade)
You guys need to grasp the fact RON PAUL and LIBERTARIANISM is a proven loser! You can’t fix a party which is losing ground by inserting the ideas from a party which never had any ground to lose. It is idiotic. The HRP learning how to win from RON PAUL LIBERTARIANS is like taking singing lessons from William Hung! You guys by definition (politically) are LOSERS!
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I’m no Ron Paul supporter, and I’m no psychiatrist, but I think Marcie needs either a boyfriend or a prozac . . . fast.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Eric J. Seabury, I just re-read my last post and my apologies for being a little rude in my post. Your post was very polite and not deserving of my impoliteness.
Eric Ryan; go tell the Ron Paul Delegation you are speaking to this Saturday at the Waikiki Yacht Club that you are not a Ron Paul supporter, nobody is buying it here.
And Eric, heard you on Mike Buck today. Interesting exchange you guys had. My car is old, am I saying it is also bad? Just kidding, good job man. stoprailnow.com
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Eric Ryan “I’m no Ron Paul supporter”…
‘Ron Paul Hawaii Delegate Luncheon
Saturday, April 26, 2008
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Waikiki Yacht Club
You are invited to attend our monthly delegate luncheon at the Waikiki Yacht Club.
The cost is $24 and includes food.
Our special guest speaker will be Eric Ryan, who will address successful political advertising and promotions.
We hope to see you there.’
I’m still wondering why in the hell the Ron Paul delegation is still meeting… he lost… big time. Would an admitted Ron Paul supporter have the balls to tell me please. It’s because you guys think you can steal it with the secret delegates don’t you? One of you sack up and let me know. If nobody sacks up, Eric, please ask the delegation (you are not part of) on Saturday and report back. Thanks bud.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Wow, Marcie and Rob. When you’re not busy smoking crystal meth and dropping acid you sure spend a lot of time harping on one silly talking point. You’re remarkably disciplined at spreading Miriam Hellreich’s sad, post-platform committee debacle spin. Too bad you’re too stoned to realize that you don’t make sense. Think this through between taking hits on your crack pipe and your water bong. Here’s the problem with your bogus logic: It’s pretty unlikely that someone who is as media savvy as Eric Ryan would wait until Ron Paul lost the race for the nomination to finally get around to promoting his candidacy and agenda . . . if Ryan was really FOR Ron Paul and his supporters. It seems that a professional marketer such as Eric Ryan would have started any alleged pro-Ron Paul promotion BEFORE the nomination was decided, rather than months AFTER the nomination was decided. Seriously, your morons, don’t you think I could have made hay about everything Ron Paul supposedly stands for back when it would have made a difference, rather than waiting for Democrats to invade the platform committee with Linda Lingle’s blessing so they can keep the GOP on record as supporting the racially-divisive, Hawaiians-only government creating Akaka/Lingle/OHA bill?? C’mon! Get yourselves into rehab at once. If you’re delusional to think that the headline for this story is “Lingle Saves Party from Libertarian Invasion”, try to understand that the real headline is “Lingle and Her Underlings Let Democrats Run Amok In Party and Create a Conservative Republican Backlash”. Mark my words - the era of Linglecrats and RINOs is hastily coming to an end. If “Marcie” and “Rob” are the most articulate defenders of the status quo in the party, then Lingle and her faux opposition research losers should pack their bags to make room for genuine Republicans that don’t sell out the party (and Hawaii residents) on issue after issue and don’t do the bidding of Democrats and insider special interests. End of story. Now, off to rehab to “both” of you.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:17 am
Marcie, it’s not a problem. I’ve answered other posts in the same manner when I was feeling frustrated.
I know all sides of the Republican party have their own views, but in order for us to fix things and get ourselves united to go after the liberal Democrats, we need to openly discuss what’s going on. There is something going on within our Party, which is putting our values and ideas in jeopardy. Ronald Reagan was the reason I decided to become a Republican (And to quote Frederick Douglass “I’ll be a Republican until the day I die”) so I base my ideas of what being a Republican is all about from his ideas, and that of Barry Goldwater.
However, you did ask a question that I wanted to answer.
“Question though, you think you Ron Paul guys can do better after Ron Paul’s pathetic and laughable performance?”
Like I said, I was once a Libertarian because I agreed with their views on smaller and accountable government, lower taxes, and more individual Freedom. When I later saw that many Libertarians believed in legalizing drugs and prostitution, and favored open borders and allowing illegals to stay in our country, that didn’t sit well with me. But as far as Daniel Douglass and the Ron Paul Republicans (I wasn’t at the meeting) are concerned, were they pressing to legalize drugs and prostitution at the committee meetings? Or were they pressing for limited government, lower taxes and a better public education system, and treating all Americans as equals based on their words, actions and deeds, and not based on the color of their skin or the ethnicity they hold?
From what I understand, many Republicans from around our Nation didn’t support Ron Paul because of his stance with the war in Iraq, and then later saying he wanted to close the FBI and the CIA, (Which I don’t agree with, either) but all of his detractors have said that he was “on the money” when it came to limited government, following the Constitution, lowering taxes, the reason for the falling dollar and safeguarding our Liberties. He was also the one saying, last year, that we were going to go into a recession because of our bad tax and spending habits and printing money “out of thin air”, people laughed him off, yet now, lo and behold, we’re in a recession, and the “experts” now talk as though they saw it coming all along. So it was his views on Iraq that turned people off.
Plus, instead of talking about the positives of the possibilities of less government and more Freedom, he kept harping on the negatives, “The American Empire”. People don’t want to hear “doom and gloom” during election time, they want to be inspired, and that’s where, I believe, Ron Paul faltered. But with many others, he was inspiring with his views on limited government and our ideas and heritage of Liberty.
So that is what we need to promote within our Hawai’i Republican Party, that less government = more Freedom, which in turn creates a better Hawai’i. It creates more jobs, it allows people to keep and save more of what they earn, it allows parents to put their children in quality schools, it promotes small businesses and it allows people to grow and prosper and not be in need of want. It creates self-sufficiency, which is what the Founding Fathers, Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan wanted for all of us.
Supporting OHA and the Akaka bill doesn’t promote self-sufficiency, it keeps people “tethered” to government bureaucracy. Many people here have claimed (falsely) that not supporting OHA and the Akaka bill meant that there was a hatred for native-Hawaiians. This is “shibai” and a tactic to make people sit down and shut up about this subject.
In fact, less government does the opposite. It shows how the Republican party cares about not just native-Hawaiians but all Americans who call Hawai’i home. Being self-sufficient gives an individual the highest sense of pride, that what you work for and achieve, you can call “your own”. You don’t have to make excuses to anybody for what you do, and you can look your spouse and your children in the eyes and know you’re providing for your family, that you’re contributing to your community.
Being “tethered” to the government doesn’t make you feel that way, it’s been done and it doesn’t work.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:09 am
Rob, you asked this question, “I’m still wondering why in the hell the Ron Paul delegation is still meeting… he lost… big time. Would an admitted Ron Paul supporter have the balls to tell me please. It’s because you guys think you can steal it with the secret delegates don’t you?”
While I’m not the kind of Ron Paul supporter who believes that he will win the nomination in September, it is a fact that John McCain hasn’t won anything yet. He will not be the official nominee until the National Republican Convention, and between now and that time, the Ron Paul supporters can still try to change delegate’s minds. It is a well-known fact that many die-hard conservative Republicans are not enthusiastic about John McCain being their nominee.
Especially if you consider that:
He vetoed President Bush’s tax cuts
Has been slow and avoiding in wanting to secure our borders and favors some type of amnesty for the illegals
Shoved “McCain-Feingold” down our throats
Has sided with the Democrats, many times, on their liberal agenda
and had, twice, thought about leaving the Republican party.
While these reasons alone may not be enough to sway Republicans into throwing their support to Ron Paul, Ron Paul and his supporters have every right to use the time before the national convention to change the delegate’s minds. Maybe he still doesn’t have a chance in hell, but he could end up doing a little better than what people are expecting of him and have some type of impact at the convention. Maybe.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Eric J. Seabury:
In general our platform committee members are pushing for constitutional fidelity and transparency in government, greater economic freedom through freer markets and lower taxes and reform in the judiciary.
Specifically in the jobs and economy plank we want to see a freer economy in the shipping industry. We want to see greater competition by opening up more free trade ports throughout the state. The current shipping monopoly prevents competition, keeping prices higher and hurting Hawaii’s general public whenever we buy shipped goods. The current shipping monopoly also results in much greater fuel usage.
Our current platform only addresses this issue in a sentence addressing the Jones Act and an unspecific line about inappropriate barriers.
We want to see greater productivity in our agriculture through community farms. We have a lot of Ag land in central Oahu not being used. All the while food prices are soaring.
We also want to specifically emphasize the latest solar and waste to energy technology. There is only one line that generally mentions alternative power sources.
Another big push in our amendments was for expanding the promotion of the Constitutional Convention. Currently there is only one line in our Party’s platform that addresses ConCon. Having a ConCon could result in much needed judicial reform and an economic environment much friendlier to businesses.
Regarding the highly devisive Native Hawaiian plank we want to see a shift towards promoting self reliance based on individuality. Not more bureaucracy.
As far as I know, there has been no push to legalize illegal drugs and prostitution by any platform committee members.
It’s 2008, with 2008’s problems to solve. Not 2006, the state GOP’s all time legislative caucus low. The Party needs to wake up.
Dan Douglass
Hawaii State Coordinator
Ron Paul 2008 PCC
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Rob Santos,
The Ron Paul campaign is about more than just getting Ron Paul elected. Its about spreading true Republican ideals. You may call these principles libertarianism but that is what Republicans practiced before the neo-conservatives took over. If you will recall the Democrats started the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and it was the Republicans that ended them. Conservatism does not imply wasting billions of dollars on war, but rather in Jefferson’s words, “Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.”
So the message that we are spreading is not simply a message of libertarianism but one of classical Republicanism. Ron Paul is still in this race in order to spread these principles throughout the Republican Party, and restore it to what it once used to be.
Even if Ron Paul losses the nomination we will have won a large victory by spreading the message of liberty.
Daniel Brackins
Hawaii Assistant State Coordinator
Ron Paul 2008 PCC
Candidate Congressional District 1
April 24th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Daniel Douglass and Daniel Brackins, thank you very much for responding here and putting things in perspective.
Ever since I first read Ed Enos’ first letter to “Hawaii Reporter”, I knew the status quo within our Party was using the “Ron Paul Republicans” as an excuse to keep things in place and prevent true change and a rejuvenation of our party from happening.
I also knew that certain people here, making the “legalizing drugs and prostitution” schtick, was just a “scare tactic” (and an obvious one at that) to justify keeping the reeking status quo in place.
It is obvious now that we’re in a battle, true conservative Republicanism, is being attacked from both sides… from the social-liberal Hawai’i Democrats and from the social-liberal Linglecrats.
Sorry Ed Enos and Rob Santos, what had happened at the last platform committee meeting was not “democracy in action”, it was the hijacking of a valid political process. The Ron Paul Republicans were told how the rules were supposed to be played, they played it fairly and Honorably, and when the Lingle machine saw that the status quo was put in jeopardy, they twisted the rules to preserve that same status quo.
That was a “low-blow” tactic, it was typical of what Hawai’i`s Demcorats do, and it had no place in our Hawai’i Republican Party.
As I concluded in my letter to “Hawaii Reporter”, we’re better than that.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Here’s a question for all of you…whether you support Ron Paul or not…
Clearly the “new blood” people want to rid the HRP of the old guard as you believe these people are holding us back from winning more seats in the State Legislature with their “democrat-lite” ideas. Okay.
For the sake of argument and more importantly, to steer the discussion to something productive…Consider this. It would seem that both the “hardcore Republicans” like Eric and the “Ron Paul” supporters like Dan Douglas, want to shift the party’s emphasis back to MORE conservative principles, more “Republican” concepts. We got that.
I firmly believe that we ALL want that or would hope to see that actually happen…soon even! But with respect to local elections and actually GAINING seats here in our State….when our population consist of MOSTLY registered democrats and liberal……HOW DOES OUR BEING MORE CONSERVATIVE WIN US MORE VOTES (AND THUS MORE CANDIDATES) DURING ELECTIONS?
Seems to me that being more “opposite” of what everyone else is would only repel democrats and libs away from us even more??!!?! If I were a candidate running in a district that was predominately DEMOCRAT, how do I convince these people to vote for me (a Republican and conservative) by being even more ultra-conservative…like Ron Paul, as an example??
How does that work?
April 25th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Email me for specifics.
Your can also read this introduction:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0446537519/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link
April 25th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Kapena, do you think Ron Paul is “ultra-conservative”?
Do you think wanting to have small, responsible and accountable government is ultra-conservative? Do you think wanting to keep more of what you earn from your paycheck is ultra-conservative? Do you believe having more opportunities to open and build a business (big or small) and not be bogged down by excess taxes, fees and regulations is ultra-conservative?
Do you think wanting a more accountable public education system and use of our tax money is considered ultra-conservative?
Is it your suggestion that we should be more like the liberal Democrats? Then why bother having a Republican Party in Hawai’i, at all?
Since 1954 we have had a Democrat majority in our state legislature and in the Governor’s office. In that time, we have seen higher taxes, more regulations slapped on our businesses and personal lives, we have seen our public education system become one of the worst in the Nation (at the tune of $2.4 BILLION a year!), our roads are badly maintained, our infrastructure is crumbling, we have one of the highest gas prices in the Nation (and it has NOTHING to do with the oil companies), and now we’re on the brink of being divided along racial ethnic-lines due to another layer of bureaucratic government (at OUR expense, with OUR tax dollars).
Small “Mom & Pop” stores have been disappearing, left and right, for the last 15 years because they can’t “keep their heads above the water” with the taxes and regulations imposed on them, we’re facing a rail system on O’ahu, which is being shoved down our throats and it has already been acknowledged, by the city bureaucrats, that it won’t do anything to alleviate our traffic problems, our cost of living is one of the highest in the Nation, our dairies have shut down, our food is almost completely imported from the mainland, and we have no way to utilize our natural resources to become more energy independent and have to pay continuous higher rates to an electric company, who “kowtows” to the bureaucrats.
…All this, thanks to the liberal Democrats of Hawai’i, the unions and the special interest groups, who’ve been making a quick buck, at our expense.
So, how do we get more people to vote Republican?
Easy. Remind the same public, who have been griping and moaning the last 50 years why gas is so high, public schools so bad, the roads so full of potholes, the taxes too excessive and the younger generation leaving for the mainland, that it’s because of the Democrats.
Forget what the national Republicans are saying and/or doing. The Hawai’i Republican Party is OUR party (To anyone in Hawai’i who considers themselves a Republican). We base our beliefs, our values and our heritage on the Founding Fathers, who wanted limited government and maximum Liberties for the American People. We base our beliefs on a strong national defense from our modern-conservative Fathers, Barry M. Goldwater and Ronald W. Reagan.
We remind people who we are, what we represent, what we bring to the table for a better Hawai’i, and we live out those values, every day for the rest of our lives. Whether it be at work, at the businesses we own, in our house of worship, in our communities, at the three levels of government and in our military.
We lead, by example, how the conservative agenda is the best formula for a Hawai’i that can enjoy a fairer cost of living, lower gas prices, better public schools, better roads and keeps more families united by keeping them in Hawai’i, to grow and prosper, instead of having to “flee” to the mainland for a better quality of life.
United, we need to get out there, not just during election year, but every year, to remind people what the Hawai’i Republican Party is about. Keep reminding people, through word of mouth, through the media, or through our own good acts in the community, that we offer a better choice to grow and prosper for our Families and for our children.
If we do that, instead of selling out our ideas and ethics and start acting like Democrats, the people of Hawai’i will never know there is another choice for a better future.
A good start is by supporting the current members of the Hawai’i GOP Platform Committee, who have been working on the new planks to begin the “push” forward for a better Hawai’i.
We support the real Republicans (Sam Slom, Barbara Marumoto and Charles Djou, are only the select few who come to mind) who are serving the public today and living and working the conservative-Republican lifestyle).
Along with them, we support the “new blood” who are eager and ready to serve the public and are currently campaigning for public office, whether it be at the City & County, State or Federal level of government. The only two who come to mind at this moment are Daniel Douglass (State House of Representatives, HD31) and Daniel Brackins (U.S. House of Representatives, District 1).
All the people of Hawai’i are tired of high and excessive taxes and regulations, they’re tired of the high gas prices, they tired of the potholes and crumbling infrastructure, they’re tired of lousy public schools and they’re tired of the lies, the deceit and the “ol’ boy network” tactics of “scratching the backs” of certain special interest groups.
If we show and tell the People of Hawai’i what we’re about, and we live and lead by those values, the People will join us.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Thanks for your question, Kapena:
My simple answer? Please read this:
http://hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?b5a7b0d7-0722-4a8c-b718-96717cfd641b
Mahalo for your consideration.
ERIC RYAN
April 26th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Whew….that’s a lot to digest man!
Dan Douglass wants us to read a book from Ron Paul, or email him for specifics.
Ryan and Seabury make a long winded statement about….in large part….what’s “wrong” with all the rest of us. Kinda get the impression from all of you that you seem to be dumping all the faults of the local GOP at the feet of everyone else.
If Eric Ryan has been at this since the days of Andy Anderson….then certainly you can’t blame the current group now for what has been (according to you) wrong with our party all this time, eh?
Don’t get me wrong. I agree with the fundamentals of what both of you have stated. Most true republicans do. You keep harping on your own party members as the problem with your party.
I keep asking you about how to convince other people who are born into democrat families, raised with democrat friends, and live and work in a place that is primarily democrat….how to convert their thinking.
You don’t have to convince me and other republicans about wanting lower taxes and less government. I’m with you.
But it’s the liberals that need a mindset change. Why don’t you approach them? Why are you speaking to republican organizations (like at the yacht club) when you should be taking your message to the heart of the democrat crowds? I read your plan. Again, with all due respect, seems like you guys need to work on your message. A brief straight forward message, no more than about a minute tops, on why dems should vote for republicans.
If you believe you’ve done your best and continue to work hard as in years past and if you think your message isn’t getting out…perhaps you ought t think about your delivery?
Republicans don’t disagree with your fundamental political desires. And we vote for Republicans. If you want change, you have to convince the majority of other people living here (liberal dems) to vote for our side. And if you think your message isn’t getting to the democratic potential crossovers, perhaps again, you might revisit the delivery you do with them.
April 26th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Maybe I wasn’t clear, the party leadership has for decades been unwilling to spread any kind of a message to Hawaii voters of all stripes. Some believe it’s because they don’t know how. Others believe they don’t have the best interests of the G.O.P. at hear and are just using our party.
Check the names of party leadership then and now, dating back to the Andy Anderson and Pat Saiki days. You’ll see that it’s really NOT different people, with the exception of some. The common denominators are still holding the cards, and still making excuses for their sorry performance.
April 26th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
As far as “revisiting the delivery”, Kapena, I’m not sure you understand who approves the Republican