Isle leaders say nation
stands united with Bush

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By Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com

The nation stands behind President Bush's war against terrorism and is united in the patriotic message of his State of the Union address yesterday.

But the unsettled state of the economy could resonate among voters this fall across the nation and especially here in Hawaii where Republicans are trying to win the governor's seat and make gains in the state Legislature.

That's the reaction from Hawaii political leaders of the speech given by a Republican president whose approval ratings are riding high because his handling of the fight against terrorism since the Sept. 11 attacks.

"I'm sure the Republicans will try to ride on the coattails of President Bush," Hawaii Democratic Party Chairwoman Lorraine Akiba said. "But people in times of crises look back at home and make sure that their priorities at home are taken care of and this is where Democrats have shown leadership and vision."

But Hawaii GOP Chairwoman Linda Lingle, who is running for governor, said the president's popularity will be a boost come this election season.

"I think his popularity will be long-lived, the sentiment is so strong and he has so clearly focused the nation, it is clear they just trust him," Lingle said. " It is helpful for Republicans and republicans in Hawaii to have such a popular president."

Members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, all Democrats, said that the president's strong patriotic message succeeded in rallying the people in the war on terrorism.

"It was kind of a call to arms -- patriotic, a very spiritually endowed kind of message addressed to the country as a whole to gather the energies and commitment of the American public," U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink said.

"My general impression is he made everyone who listened to him proud to be an American," Lingle said.

But Mink and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said the president presented no details in the list of ambitious initiatives he laid out for the Congress and the American public.

"My only concern is how are we going to pay for all of that," said Inouye, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee and is chairman of the defense appropriations subcommittee.

"He will be submitting the largest defense budget in decades and homeland security (budget) has doubled."

While the president called on the Democratic-controlled Senate to pass an economic stimulus package, Inouye said he is concerned about the president's plan to make temporary tax cuts permanent especially when the nation is in a recession.

"I think that is very dangerous not knowing where we are going," Inouye said.