Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie defied late Sen. Daniel Inouye’s dying wish in his appointment to fill the seat today.
Inouye reportedly asked the Democratic governor, in a letter delivered just hours before he passed away, to appoint Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii) to his seat.
“While I understand that selecting someone to serve out the remainder of my term is fully your responsibility, I respectfully request that U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa succeed me, and continue the work, together with Mazie, on behalf of Hawaii in the U.S. Senate,” Inouye wrote on his official letterhead. “Colleen possesses the intellect, presence and legislative skill to succeed in the Senate. I have no doubt that she will represent Hawaii with the same fervor and commitment that I brought to the Senate chamber since 1962.”
Abercrombie told media that the contents of the letter were personal, but Inouye’s staff soon after released the letter to the press.
Moments ago, Abercrombie named 40-year-old Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz to fill Inouye’s seat until the 2014 general election.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) reportedly just wanted the seat filled fast so he could have all the fiscal cliff votes he can get. Schatz is leaving for D.C. tonight and will be sworn in when the Senate re-convenes tomorrow.
“I fully respect the process and the governor’s right to appoint a successor,” Hanabusa said in a statement.
Hawaii will have another new senator at the beginning of the 113th Congress — Mazie Hirono (D), who won the seat of retiring Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).
– wait a while and then gradually replace or retain the staff you inherit with those of your own choosing. Release of that letter was inappropriate.
“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) reportedly just wanted the seat filled fast so he could have all the fiscal cliff votes he can get”
I guess the “D” behind the new Senator’s name will stand for “Dependent thinking”. I mean, as a thought experiment, why would an economy heavily dependent upon tourism, hence dependent upon available excess wealth, automatically have its representative vote for higher taxes among those able to afford trips to Hawaii? I mean, it may decide that is the best course of action, upon reflection–but automatically, before the guy is even selected, or sworn in? In a way that makes Harry Reid think he owns Hawaii, or the new Senator? Please. I guess we are not the United States of America, with 50 semi-sovereign units, but the United Two Parties of America. Great.
I guess the “D” means the new Senator will take orders though–that party is more important than state. Otherwise, why would Harry Reid assume the new guy is a reliable vote? Does Hawaii in no way diverge from the Democratic Party? I find that hard to believe. Does party interest trump state interest? That I find easy to believe, for both the left and, sometimes, the GOP.
Sorry Danny, but that seat wasn’t yours to give away anyhow….
With all due respect (earned or not, as the case may be) I’m afraid you are right. As far as I’m aware, Gov. Abercrombie is an ancien buoffon, proto-hippie who, early on, claimed to have been an old friend of Stanley Ann Dunham, and even dropped hints that he was present at the birth of The One (bearing frankincense and myrrh?), but appointing the place-holder is entirely at his discretion as Governor.
Thank goodness the Democratic party is a party who supports women and minorities when filling positions of power.
And, yes, that was sarcasm.
So let me understand this. A Republican Governor (Nikki Haley) picks a black man (Tim Scott) to fill a retiring white man’s senate seat (Jim DeMint) and the GOP is labeled as racist and just promoting a token minority. *New York Times, Dec 18, 2012 Op/Ed “The Puzzle of Black Republicans”
On the other hand a Democrat Governor (Neil Abercrombie) picks a white man (Brian Schatz) to fill a minority man’s senate seat (Daniel Inouye) and the Democrat party is labeled as… Well, I’m certain that the MSM won’t bother mentioning anything beyond “filling the seat fast.”
The lesson learned: This is why we need to focus on dismantling the Democrat-Media Complex. As long as the media operates as a Democrat propaganda machine, the GOP, conservatives, libertarians, or anyone that opposes the “progressive” agenda will be labeled as racist, stupid, or whatever bad thing the Democrat-Media Complex can come up with. While Democrats will get a free pass.