Gary Hooser set to “Crash the Gates”
Gary Hooser, Candidate for HI-CD-02, has written a new blog on DailyKos . He proclaims that “like you, I’m mad as hell and am not going to take it anymore.” Furthermore,
As a candidate for Congress in Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District, and hopefully soon as an elected member of Congress, I would like to join my energy with yours in this great movement aimed at “Crashing The Gates”. . . .
I would like to be part of the revolution, a positive revolution that will build and protect our children’s future. I would like to be part of crashing the gates, on the inside casting my vote, launching my voice, and helping to unlock those gates, in support of a new and better America.
“Crashing the Gates” is, of course, a reference to “Crashing the Gate: Netroots, Grassroots, and the Rise of People-Powered Politics” (Hardcover), by Jerome Armstrong and Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, co-authored by the creator of DailyKos, and advertised on the DailyKos home page. He thus identifies with the Net Roots, inviting its support.
He also lays claim to the heritage of Patsy Mink (although the Patsy Mink crowd is endorsing another candidate, IIRC):
Often I ask myself, what would Patsy do? I know one thing; Patsy would not sit back quietly and just watch. No, Patsy would throw herself into the fray, she would shout from the rooftops and she would fight with vigor the Bush administration that now has a strangle-hold on our country.
Inspired by Patsy Mink’s example, I will work relentlessly for: peace, justice and sustainability.
Accordingly, he considers himself the true bearer of the Patsy Mink tradition.
He claims the distinction of being the most progressive candidate for the seat, citing The Hawaii Chapter of the Americans for Democratic Action, which “has rated my voting record as the most progressive in the legislature. The Hawaii Sierra Club has also given my voting record the very highest score of any Hawaii Senator in the State legislature and the highest of any candidate in this race.”
He also claims the distinction of being “the only candidate who lives in the rural neighbor islands that compose 60% of the district. Many of the candidates running, including the perceived front-runners, do not even live in the district at all.”
You might think that by this point I have quoted his entire post, but not so! There’s more. But these are some of the reasons that I support his candidacy. See his blog at the link provided at the beginning of this artice for the rest of the details. There you will find that a number of people have left comments on his post, and Gary has responded to most of them.
Bob Schacht
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Aloha, Bob,
Thanks for continuing to call attention to this critically important race.
Mazie Hirono is supported by Gwen Mink (Patsy’s daughter) and Eugene Takemoto (Patsy’s brother).
I mentioned that on Daily Kos yesterday:
“Why I’m supporting Mazie Hirono for Congress (HI-02)”
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/8/13/153314/165
Comment by David Raatz — August 14, 2006 @ 8:50 am
THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN Hooser AND ALL OF THE OTHERS IS:
AND I think it is important to say that you is the ONLY candidate who lives
on the Neighbor Island - who has lived thru the hurricanes, floods, damn
breaks and the rebuilding - Hooser was in office to help with the
economic comeback of Kauai after the hurricane, etc. - Hooser understands the
issues that effect “country people” and the people who live away from the
center of commerce, industry, media, etc. Due to the war and the cutback in
Federal dollars what happens to the Farmers who have real issues that the
rest of us cannot imagine. The closing of the Sugar Mills and the impact of
isolated fishing villages, transportation in rural areas, etc.
I can go on and on.
Mazie lives 2 miles from me - not only does she not live in the 2ndCD - she
cannot even vote for herself. Has she experienced any of these things?
Comment by Marsha Rose — August 14, 2006 @ 9:25 am
Aloha, Marsha,
Mazie represented everyone in this district for eight years. She’s always received strong support from the people of this district because she understands their issues.
And she’s traveling throughout the district every week to learn more. I was fortunate to spend an entire day with her on Lana`i last month, and all the residents she talked to seemed impressed by her grasp of rural issues.
Comment by David Raatz — August 16, 2006 @ 1:29 pm
The Honolulu machine, which supports Hirono, has left the outer islands high and dry on many issues. We got driven off of the outer islands by the corruption and incompetence of outer island health care politics. The machine allows the worst kind of health care management by state owned hospitals and fails to provide oversight of private hospitals. The machine wants to rape Kokee, and charge locals for access to make more money. Dislike for the Honolulu machine is the reason that Republicans are gaining a foothold in the state. It’s time that the Hawaii Democratic party cleans itself up.
Hooser is a real outsider who fights for clean politics. Hooser has had the guts to stand up to developers and march with the striking nurses. Hooser works his butt off for the people and for the land. I never saw Hirono as being a bad politician, but she just never seemed effective. She is part of a corrupt system.
Comment by George Birchard — August 18, 2006 @ 8:29 am
George,
I think it would be helpful if you were to spell out what you mean by “machine.” And what makes you think this “machine” exists on Oahu, as opposed to Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, or even Molokai?
If by “machine” you mean structured, co-ordinated networks that work efficiently to elect candidates to office, I am unsure what is inherently wrong with that? If you mean that this network excludes the ideas and energies of concerned citizens, I would reply that there are entrenched political groups all across the state, not simply in Honolulu. I would also suggest that the Democratic Party on Oahu has been pretty accepting of new people willing to work.
It also might be helpful if you make clear which of the bad things you attribute to the “machine” are actually attributes of the market economy and corporate domination, and which are a result of unhealthy political relationships.
I think it is a mistake for neighbor island people, especially recent arrivals, to think all the problems in the state are caused by Oahu, or “Honolulu,” rather than political and economic forces that exist on their own island and/or the Mainland/foreign capitals.
Comment by Bart — August 20, 2006 @ 4:22 pm