Turn signals will be preserved for eons

Hundreds of years from now, archaeologists will discover the rusted remains of Oahu's auto junk yards, where they will find huge piles of turn signals, intact and in perfect condition. Because the &*#@**$# things were never used!

Credit isle Democrats with good economy

Gov. Linda Lingle's fancy TV ads, paid for by big mainland contributions, are claiming credit for Hawaii's good economy.

Let's not forget that it was the state Legislature and Gov. Ben Cayetano's tough budget cuts and tax cuts for the middle class that stimulated the economy in the first place.

Republicans seem to have a double standard. When President Bush encountered a bad economy, he blamed it on Bill Clinton, his predecessor. But when Lingle has a good economy, she takes credit for it herself. Auwe.

State was a mess before Lingle-Aiona

If you take a minute to remember what Hawaii state government was like four years ago during Democratic rule, you'll realize just how critical this upcoming election is. Just four years ago, public officials were being jailed left and right on corruption charges and an endless network of insider connections existed in all aspects of government. The economy was down the drain, the state hospital was failing miserably, the ice epidemic was on the rise, doing business in Hawaii was a nightmare and finding a decent job was near impossible. Even pets suffered, as a result of the outdated quarantine rules that need only be updated with a little knowledge of modern medicine.

All of this has changed for the better with Gov. Linda Lingle's and Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona's leadership. We're finally on the right track, and we cannot afford to go backward. We need to re-elect this team so they can continue the great job they started.

Vote for Bumpy and Jackie to OHA seats

I'm asking all voters to vote for exactly two Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee candidates: Bumpy Kanahele and Jackie Burke.

In February 2000 the Supreme Court (Rice v. Cayetano) ordered Hawaii to desegregate voting. All citizens regardless of race can vote for OHA trustees. All Hawaii voters may vote for every seat; even Maui residents can vote for the Oahu seat.

OHA serves an agenda of racial separatism, which I consider reprehensible. But until a court rules it unconstitutional, we're stuck with it. I cannot approve or endorse any candidate, because they all (including Kanahele and Burke) support race-based programs. But we can use our votes to shake things up at OHA. Every now-sitting trustee should be thrown out.

Bumpy Kanahele (at large) and Jackie Burke (Oahu seat) oppose the Akaka Bill.That's why I will vote only for them. I believe they'll demand an honest public accounting of how OHA's money has been spent, and they'll support programs to help needy people instead of spending untold millions on lobbying and advertising the Akaka Bill.

Charter Amendment 3 is a rare win-win

The voters face some tough choices on Nov. 7. One vote, however, should be easy. City Charter Amendment No. 3 is one of those rare win-win questions that deserve a resounding "yes" vote. No. 3 won't raise your taxes! No. 3 will help to preserve the natural beauty of the aina! No. 3 will provide funding to assist the homeless and build affordable housing!

This amendment works in so many ways and I encourage all voters to vote "yes" on No. 3.

Hirono's ads offensive to all Americans

Regarding Senate candidate Mazie Hirono's TV campaign: So if she makes it to Congress she's going to vote with "us" and therefore against the president of the United States, is she? Well, she has the right to free speech, but she doesn't have the right to speak for me, and I hope she never will.

I find her tactics offensive, disgraceful and disrespectful to all our people; also completely insensitive to our armed forces and their families. Her comments don't reflect love of country or state. They tell me that what she loves is the idea of power and that she doesn't care what she says or does in order to get it.

According to her statements, if elected, she will be working to undermine the security and safety of the people of the United States, including those of this state she purports to love. She should focus on the office she's running for, not the presidency, an office she is patently unqualified to hold and can never aspire to.

Press secretary might rethink his career

Can there be a worse job on Earth than Tony Snow's as press secretary for the Bush administration? I think joining Charles Manson for dinner and a sleepover would be preferable.

On Thursday, it was Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld telling the press to "back off" when questioned on new Iraq war policy.

On Friday, it was Vice President Dick Cheney sanctioning waterboarding as an effective means to interrogate enemy combatants, terrorists and insurgents -- basically the entire Middle East population.

Last week it was Bush's futile attempt to reassure the American people that he has everything under control and progress is being made in Iraq. With 100 U.S. soldiers killed this month alone, that was a tall order.

Bringing up the rear was that radio gas bag Rush Limbaugh mimicking Michael J. Fox, accusing him of manipulating his meds and using his Parkinson's disease for political means. Tony Snow has to spin this faster than Maytag.

Can this group get any more bizarre?