Elections office Elections office ADVERTISING A military scenario All I know about the election voting fiasco is what I’ve read in WHT. Until all the evidence is presented and the facts are identified, it appears that Ms. Kawauchi was not
Elections office
A military scenario
All I know about the election voting fiasco is what I’ve read in WHT. Until all the evidence is presented and the facts are identified, it appears that Ms. Kawauchi was not only back-stabbed by fellow employees (three key elections employees took sick days prior to and during the elections period), but also by state Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago.
Mr. Nago, in his report, stated, “The county clerk on election day is supposed to be like a field general with a plan of attack, who acts confidently and has the support of his or her troops. The county clerk was in no way, shape or form that type of leader.”
Since Mr. Nago compares Ms. Kawauchi’s performance in military terms, I shall do likewise. In the military, if a commanding officer is identified as having leadership problems, a senior officer is assigned to investigate the situation and, depending upon the urgency of the situation, takes one or more of the following steps:
c Replace the officer immediately
c Provide whatever assets necessary to resolve the problem
c Take charge of the situation personally until a qualified replacement is found
Apparently, Mr. Nago identified immediately Ms. Kawauchi’s leadership ability as nonexistent, yet did nothing about it until the battle was lost. Nowhere have I read anything about what Mr. Nago did personally to help Ms. Kawauchi during a very stressful period. He is quick to crucify and point his finger at a vulnerable target, but he is far from innocent on this issue.
To put it in military terms, Ms. Kawauchi was sandbagged by the very people who should have supported her.
W.B. Ludwick
Kailua-Kona
GOP Convention
Who decided?
If Hurricane Isaac had threatened the Democratic National Convention, Republican pundits would be shouting that it was proof of God’s wrath against the “godless, fornicating, hypocritical homosexuals” (Pat Robertson), not to mention Jews, Buddhists, African Americans, students and women who populate the Democratic Party tent. That’s one thing.
The other thing: Has anyone asked who decided to hold a zillion-dollar, taxpayer-subsidized event in Florida at the height of hurricane season? Could it be the same crowd of wise men who brought the U.S. economy to its knees? Could it be the same guys who say they hate government at the same time as they enjoy hosting their event at a publicly funded facility with $50 million U.S. tax funds of security?
How does a voter still cling to a wastrel party? Just because it used to be “Grand?”
Yes, it used to led by people who used their brains to make decisions, but it’s run by madmen who rule “from their gut” or for the benefit of the highest bidders for far too long to hope that it’s about to regain its grandness anytime soon.
And, speaking of the wise Republican who, while his gang was shredding the U.S. financial structure, said: “There’s an old saying in Tennessee — I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can’t get fooled again.” Former Republican Gov. Crist’s support for President Obama proves that there are still Republicans who use their brains and aren’t bullied by the crazy people who have stolen their party.
Using plenty of facts, moderates and other sensible factions of the Republican party are taking Bush’s poorly delivered but nevertheless brainy message and are moving on to saner pastures for this important election season.
Let’s hope that the majority of Americans who are still able to vote after being purged by Republican witch hunters (aka Democratic voters) do the same by using facts (i.e., Romney refuses to provide his tax records to the American people; Romney enjoys firing people; Ryan’s education was government-funded yet he’ll cut funding for students; Republicans support taxing the top 1 percent wage earners less than the rest of Americans; Republicans support increasing military spending while decreasing funding for public education, safety nets for the sick, poor and elderly) rather than fantasy (i.e., Republicans are good financial stewards; Republicans don’t discriminate against minorities; President Obama is a socialist because his father — who didn’t raise him — was; women who are raped can stop themselves from becoming pregnant; American people can trust a right-wing ruled Supreme Court majority to make decisions on their behalf; corporations are people) come Election Day.
Otherwise, the U.S. will be controlled by a full house of fringe, and everyone, especially our children’s children, will suffer because of it.
Janice Palma-Glennie
Kailua-Kona
Roadside memorials
Letter appreciated
I would like to thank Craig Hanna. The letter sent from David Bertuleit printed Aug. 23 has bothered me ever since I read it. I felt truly sorry for the families of loved ones who have memorials. I felt like it was so insensitive.
Thank you, Craig Hanna, for speaking out for these families.
Gaylene Fitzgerald
Kona
