Inouye stands behind convicted senator (you know who)

[KamaAina]

The senior senators from the two non-contiguous states have had an unholy alliance for decades now. In recent years, this has taken the form of Inouye's lips being attached, Lieberman-style, to Stevens', um, "bridge to nowhere". Inouye dutifully votes for ANWR drilling while Tubular Ted sits on his claws hands while his fellow repukes repeatedly sabotage the Akaka Hawaiian recognition bill. :grr:

And now this:

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20081028_Inouye_stands_behind_convicted_senator.html

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens had just been convicted of seven felonies, but Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye immediately said he will stand by the man he called "my brother."...

Inouye testified for Stevens during his trial, declaring, "I cannot imagine Ted Stevens telling a lie."

Not very imaginative, is he? :eyes:

The relationship has been so tight that for Inouye, not even achieving a 60-vote, filibuster-proof Democratic majority - which could happen if Stevens and other vulnerable GOP senators lose their seats - is worth risking their relationship. In April, Inouye held a Washington fundraiser for Stevens and also traveled to Alaska to campaign for Stevens' re-election.

Held a fundraiser for a repuke? This guy ought to be next in line after Traitor Joe to get taken to the woodshed after the landslide next week. The only good news is that this is likely his last term, as he's considerably older even than McCain (not to mention FM radio).

Flight attendant, another motion sickness bag, please! :puke:

[Dennis Donovan]

1. That's a shame...

Inouye's once-honorable legacy is tarnished enough without this.:thumbsdown:

[panader0]

2. Very disappointing for a guy I used to admire.

[Disturbed]

4. Loyalty is admirable but campaigning for the opposition is

is wak.

[onenote]

3. I've actually heard a rumor that Inouye may retire if Stevens is defeated/resigns

[KamaAina]

5. Oh crikey.

On the one hand, governor Lingle (R-Not Really A Moderate But Plays One On TV) would be bound by law to pick a Dem to replace him.

On the other hand, there are plenty of DINOs for her to choose from, such as former Blue Dog rep Ed Case. Once she even had one of her cronies re-register as Dem days before a vacancy just happened to open up in the legislature through resignation (the incumbent Dem went for a lucrative lobbying job :eyes: ). Alas, she picked the one and only repuke pol on the entire planet who had a criminal record. :sarcasm:

http://archives.starbulletin.com/2005/09/28/news/story1.html

State Rep. Bev Harbin has refused Gov. Linda Lingle's call for her to resign and said she did not disclose her criminal record because she did not think it would prove to be an embarrassment.

After Lingle appointed Harbin earlier this month to a state House seat, Harbin was the subject of news reports that she still owed the state $125,000 in back taxes and she had been convicted of passing bad checks in 1987.

In a 20-minute meeting with Harbin yesterday, Bob Awana, Lingle's chief of staff, said he lectured Harbin for not telling him about the unpaid taxes and criminal record. Speaking on behalf of the governor, Awana said he asked for Harbin's resignation, but she refused.

In an interview with the Star-Bulletin, Harbin said she was "disappointed that the governor bailed on me."

Postscript: Awana would later resign after he became embroiled in scandal. This from the party that regained power after 40 years -- two years after I got here :grr: -- by running against the corrupt Dems. :eyes:

[MyUncle]

6. Aloha KamaAina

I thought I'd run this by you. But if we support the Akaka Bill, shouldn't we be a bit more sympathetic to the Alaska Independent Party? I realize we are using that against the Palin/McCain ticket but after Obama wins, shouldn't we be on that side as well?

[KamaAina]

10. Apples and oranges (or papayas, if you will)

The Akaka bill would give the Native Hawaiian people federal recognition on a similar basis to the 550 or so Indian tribal nations. It would not grant any form of independence. In fact, the Hawaiian groups that do support independence, like Bumpy Kanahele's Nation of Hawai'i, bitterly oppose the Akaka bill. They consider it a sellout to the "occupiers".

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Appropriating pork is a bipartisan endeavor

[FLAprogressive]

8. No wonder Reid wants to make him chairman....and shift Byrd off.

[Hubert Flottz]

12. Harry is a pubocrat too.

[Ezlivin]

9. If he stands too close it'll be another Republican sex scandal

And no jelly tugs.

[butterfly77]

11. Some of these people need to go....

they are too old and set in their ways on certain issues, this is why Dems have so many problems they don't stick together..