Category Archives: Politics

Politics

Hawaii Democratic Primary Caucus February 19

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Barack Obama handily won the majority of delegates up for grabs during the Aloha State’s democratic caucus. He and his half-sister both campaigned on their home turf, including attending several fundraisers (for more detail, see the entry “Barack Obama’s Sister Maya Like Him, But Funnier”).

If you want to know more about how Hawaii’s democratic presidential primary caucus worked on February 19th, read on.

After Super Tuesday, the Democratic nomination was still up for grabs. For the first time ever, Hawaii’s voters had a say in the democratic presidential primary that mattered.

Here’s how  to participate in future caucuses and elections in Hawaii:

1. Register to vote

If you are already a registered voter in Hawaii and identified yourself as a democrat, there’s no need to re-register. If you haven’t voted before or want to change your party affiliation, you can register in several ways:

  • Follow this link to the Hawaii Voter Registration website where you can download the registration form to complete and return by mail. This registration form is also available for free at every post office in Hawaii, satellite city halls, local libraries, phone books, state services offices and on University of Hawaii campuses.
  • Alternately, you can register to vote in person by going to the office of the City or County Clerk on the island where you reside. Follow this link for the fact sheet that contains address and telephone information for all counties.

2. Locate your caucus precinct

Your caucus location is determined by your State House district and precinct. Caucuses are held on February 19th and start at 7:00 PM. Many sites are opening earlier for registration and for those who join the Party that night.

  • Find your state House district at the Hawaii State Legislature website.
  • Once you know your district, you can find the caucus location for your precinct at the Hawaii Democrats website.
  • For more information about Maui, check out the Maui Democrats website.

3. Show up and vote

The only way to participate is to show up in person. Unfortunately, no absentee voting is allowed. If you are an independent voter, you must register with the Democratic party in advance, but if not you can sign up at the door.

Like most of the United States, the democrats in Hawaii award delegates on a proportional basis. In other words, the 20 delegates up for grabs will be distributed to each candidate based on how many votes he or she wins in the caucuses.

With the chase for democratic delegates continuing after Super Tuesday, 2008 could be an exceptional year politically. Hawaii’s votes in the democratic presidential primary are going to count afterall.

Caucus vs. Primary

What is the difference between a caucus and a primary? Basically, the difference comes down to how people vote. Hawaii’s democratic “primary” on February 19 is actually a caucus.

A Primary lasts 12 hours, and individuals line up and vote one at a time. Voting can be done by many different devices – cards, ballots, machines, etc. It is done by precinct. The votes are counted at the close of the polls. Absentee voting is possible.

Caucuses are like town meetings. Everyone gathers at one time and in one location by precinct. The different sides present the arguements for their candidates, at at the end everyone votes at one time. The votes are counted after the last person votes. Absentee voting is not possible.

For more information about the Hawaii Democratic Party, visit their website at www.hawaiidemocrats.org or contact them at:

Democratic Party of Hawai’i
1050 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite D-26
Honolulu, HI 96814
phone (808) 596-2980 – fax (808) 596-2985

News, Politics

Super Tuesday February 5: Candidates Comparison

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Before going to the polls on “Super Tuesday” — February 5, 2008 — you may want to know the candidates stack up on three areas: oil industry contributions, MySpace pages and music videos. Comparing the leading candidates in both the Republican and Democratic parties is one way to make a more informed decision.

If you want to compare the candidates on specific issues and policies, glassbooth.org offers one of the most unbiased tools around. You can even take a quiz to see which candidates most closely match your views.

How much money from the oil industry did each candidate take?
This question has been hard to answer until now. Contributions from the oil industry, according to some politicos is one gauge of corruption–meaning if Big Oil owns the candidate, the chances are that the people don’t.

Oil Change International has made a simple interactive tool available for free to see how much money each candidate, including those in the current presidential race, has accepted from Big Oil.

Overall, Rudy Giuliani had the greasiest campaign with $568,708. On the Republican side, Mitt Romney came second to Giuliani and accepted $345,383 from the oil industry. John McCain comes in third among Republicans with $206,935.

Among the Democrats, Hilary Clinton is the big oil money grabber with $235,350–just slightly more than McCain. Bill Richardson, who is no longer in the race came in second among the Democrats with $154,650. Barack Obama comes in a distant third with $110,412. Of the leading candidates on either side, Obama accepted the least oil money.

Catherine Brahic wrote an informative article on oily candidates in a recent edition of the New Scientist magazine.

Who has the best MySpace page?
In the world of Web 2.0, where social networks rule, not having a campaign page on the most popular social networks would be a great faux pas. More specifically, younger voters may not know who the candidates are without them. So how do the candidates compare when it comes to social network saavy? Here are my impressions:

  1. Obama – Lots of interactive features, including a link to demand he visit your hometown, which I did. Cool text messaging option. But the white suit photo is not one of his best.
  2. McCain – The fact that he’s over 70 and gets the importance of a MySpace page means that he listens to his advisors and scores some coolness kudos. The layout is clean and corporate, but it’s super easy to read and includes his favorite movie and books. Nice photo.
  3. Romney – Wow, he has a lot of kids! But how friendly that they’re on his page. And he looks hot in a ski parka.
  4. Clinton – Cute picture of Hillary, even if it does look like she has to pee. And thanks for being honest about your age.

Who has the best music video?
This is a crucial test of a presidential candidate that may be the deciding factor on Super Tuesday. Here are links to the four leading candidates’ videos ranked in my order of favorites:

  1. Clinton
  2. Obama
  3. Romney
  4. McCain (no music videos, but a lot of tv ads)

Hope this is helpful. Please let me know if it was. For more information about Hawaii’s presidential primary see my entry entitled “Do Hawaii Voters Count in the Presidential Primary” on this site.

Good luck! And remember to vote early, but not often.

Culture, Environment, Lifestyle, Politics, Travel

Maui Harbor Expansion Would End Surfing and Paddling There

On August 15, 2005 then Mayor of Maui Alan Arakawa noticed an increase in the use of Kahului Harbor by cruise ships. He commissioned a report. One of the findings is prophetic:

The canoe clubs fear that an increase in the number of cruise
ships will require harbor expansion, and may eliminate their
activities in the harbor altogether.

To accomodate the Hawaii Superferry, Governor Linda Lingle and the State Department of Transportation (DOT) want to expand the harbor inward by building an additional pier. This pier, the proposed Pier 5, will destroy water sports in the harbor, including surfing and canoeing. It will also prevent tug boats from turning around. However, it won’t prevent wave surge, which keeps the Superferry from docking already.

The other harbor expansion option is outward to the East, which would truly increase the future viability of the harbor while allowing the tug boats to turn around. An outward expansion would probably require a second breakwater. The problem with this plan is that it will take more time, more money and actually require more thoughtful planning than just a fancy new ramp. It won’t help the Superferry immediately, which seems to be DOT and Lingle’s goal.

DOT noted recently that the state’s harbor expansion plan would have “no significant impact on cultural activities.” Surfing and outrigger canoe paddling have been conveniently downgraded to “recreational” activities rather than cultural ones. But how is this rationally possible? The ancient Hawaiians invented these activities; and modern Hawaiians, among others, still practice them. Just because they also happen to be fun doesn’t mean there isn’t a deep cultural connection. In the 2005 Arakawa report, the cultural relevance of the canoe clubs were noted:

The canoe clubs of Maui serve many important social functions
in our community. They provide Hawaiian cultural education for
children and adults and strong positive education and support
for at-risk children. These programs are also held up as
successful drug prevention programs.

Chances are, if you’ve shelled out for a Maui vacation, you are either curious about or appreciate local culture. Certainly if you’ve decided to live here, you understand that surfing and paddling are metaphors for our way of life. It’s time for Maui lovers, both visitors and residents alike, to speak out against idiotic harbor planning that only serves one private company’s interest. Come to a meeting, wave a sign, complain to the cruise ship or Superferry management, or tell other people. Not everything is for sale.

The full 2005 Mayor’s Cruise Ship Task Force report is available at: www.savekahuluiharbor.com .