Inexplicable: Case to challenge Akaka in primary

[KamaAina]

:wtf:

http://starbulletin.com/breaking/breaking.php?id=4102

U.S. Rep. Ed Case announced this afternoon that he will run for the Senate seat now held by fellow Democrat Sen Daniel Akaka.

"I have the deepest aloha for Sen. Akaka... but we all know that we are in a time of transition in our Hawaii representation in Congress. This transition requires that we phase in the next generation to provide continuity in that service," Case said.

Both Akaka and fellow U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye are 81. Case, 53, noted that he did not want to see both Akaka and Inouye leave office at the same time and therefore weaken the state’s seniority in the Senate....

With his announcement, Case acknowledged he will not be a candidate for relection (sic) for his House seat.

This absolutely boggles the mind. We are in such desperate need of a challenger to puke-face Lingle (R-Karen Hughes on Speed Dial) that we're trotting out worn-out has-beens like Randy Iwase and even recruiting potential (R) defectors like Harry Kim. And now Case, a bit of a DINO, true, but nonetheless one of our most prominent Dems, decides to leave the house to challenge Akaka?!

So, to recap: 1) We still do not have a viable challenger for puke-face. 2) We must now again defend the 2nd District seat against the likes of Mike Gabbard (R-Homophobic Ex-Cult Member). 3)What, if anything, do we gain with Case over Akaka? I never heard anyone use age as a campaign issue before, not even against Strom Thurmond (R-Methuselah's Great-Uncle). :eyes:

[KamaAina]

1. Aieee! I just remembered the Akaka Bill

the native Hawaiian recognition bill that Cat Killer Frist has been sitting on all this time. If Akaka leaves the Senate, who will re-re-re-introduce it?

Could this even be part of the Case agenda? :tinfoilhat:

[oasis]

2. IMO, Akaka is vulnerable because of the bill. Many Hawaiians never like.

:-(

[MyUncle]

3. I met Senator Akaka this summer and...

...I am very sorry to say this, but he is just not all there. If I did not know who he was and bumped into him in the line at Foodland, I'd be checking to see if someone was watching out for him.

Again, sorry to say this, but if he is unable to fulfill his term in office, doesn't the Republican Governor Lingle get to appoint his replacement for the duration of his term?

Under those circumstances, I do not blame Ed Case for running. I am a realist. Forget about defeating the Republican Lingle, it is not going to happen this time. From that assumption, the options get a lot narrower.

Ed Case, unless Neil Abercrombie runs as well, is a very good bet to win and hold this Senate seat for the Democrats.

[KamaAina]

4. I met him in June, actually

and got the impression of a courtly old-school gentleman who would probably let me cut in front of him in the line at Foodland. Maybe you caught him on a bad day?

doesn't the Republican Governor Lingle get to appoint his replacement for the duration of his term?

Indeed she does -- but under Hawai'i election law, she is required to appoint a member of the same party (although we recently had someone re-register as Dem just so she could snag an appointment to the Leg). In fact, if I were Lingle, I'd pick the most conservative Dem I could find, plus one whose appointment would open up a seat in the House -- Ed Case.

[MyUncle]

5. Appointing Ed Case is an interesting theory...

so Ed has two chances. I would agree with courtly and old-school as a description. He is not gonzo, but, I feel very impolite in saying he's just "off".

Sigh, we all get older every day...

[AX10]

6. Someone of the same party....

that is fair.