Were Civil Beat really concerned about Kai Kahele, running for Governor?
Did any part of Ms. Watson’s article ever mention about Kahele, even if she was tied to Kahele, as they claimed?
Why did Civil Beat become so paranoid that they needed to delete the article, which already had been published, and also led to Ms. Watson’s resignation from such role in Civil Beat?
In fact, (although I don’t believe so), even if her article meant his stepping up such ladders, I don’t think something to worry much as a non profit newspaper, since many other politicians also went thru such steps.
Nevertheless, I still believe Ms.Watson’s article was rather more about me, (fresh start, fresh face, and having fresh ideas), than Kahele.
So many more questions can be drawn into this case.
Aloha.
Ra’anui Sumner,
Thanks for sharing the article, which had already been deleted and gone.
I don’t think it was about Ms. Watson’s call for Caldwell’s exit from the governor race.
However, in my view, Civil Beat, (Media and Status Quo), were afraid that Ms. Watson’s call for “fresh start”, wanting for “new leader” like me, (although not directly mentioned), may turn the tide of public sentiment suddenly toward me, from those three announced candidates.
Perhaps, we may be able to find out the true reasons, later.
Aloha.
Here is Ms. WATSON’S deleted article.
“Commentary
Trisha Kehaulani Watson: Time For Kirk Caldwell To Hang It Up
The former Honolulu mayor is trying to run for governor despite the heavy undertow of two top aides facing federal charges.
By Trisha Kehaulani Watson
February 3, 2022 · 5 min read
38
About the Author
Trisha Kehaulani Watson
Trisha Kehaulani Watson is a Kaimuki resident, small business owner, and bibliophile. She holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Hawaii and J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law. She writes about environmental issues, cultural resource management, and the intersection between culture and politics. Opinions are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Civil Beat’s views. You can follow or contact her on Twitter at @hehawaiiau.
Opinion article badgeI want to say I genuinely like Kirk Caldwell. He was my state representative when I lived in Manoa.
One day, many years ago, I was sitting outside Starbucks and right in front of me, a car plowed through the crosswalk on East Manoa Road, hitting two pedestrians. Thank God we were inches from the Manoa fire station and firemen came racing out to tend to the injured men.
But I was horrified.
I made calls to the offices of council members Ann Kobayashi and Kirk Caldwell and within a few short weeks, crossing flags were installed.
This was my favorite Kirk Caldwell.
This was before …
A Love Of Public Service
Caldwell, as well as the people around him, have said he genuinely loved being mayor. There was no doubt he loved the job, and there were things I loved about his administration, specifically some of the people he hired.
But others …
The federal indictments of two of Caldwell’s top officials, former general counsel Donna Leong and former managing director Roy Amemiya, were a clear sign that concerns about the Caldwell administration had merit. Federal indictments do not happen lightly. It’s clear that the U.S. attorney has been investigating and building the case for years. And they may not be done yet.
If Kirk Caldwell is also being investigated — although so far there has been no indication that he has received a subject or target letter from the U.S. Department of Justice — it would be quite the blow to his legacy, which already wasn’t spectacular. In any case, the charges against his top aides send the public a very alarming message about Caldwell’s leadership skills.
At best, some of his top officials were conducting official acts that resulted in federal charges.
So while in office, Caldwell was at least clueless — and that’s not good.
The Air Is Thin At The Top
Kirk Caldwell is a cautionary tale to other elected officials and other candidates in the 2022 elections: Echo chambers are dangerous.
Elected officials need thick skins, not only publicly but privately. A good elected official invites not only diverse opinions, but establishes an intellectual environment where advisers can debate important issues in an open and informed manner.
Great leaders surround themselves with people who are both smart and highly ethical. There will always be people with individual agendas eager to cozy up to people in power. Great leaders know how to identify these people and keep their distance.
I imagine it sometimes gets hard for elected officials to know who their real friends are. This is why it’s critical for leaders to have people around them who ground them. It’s just too easy to go astray.
And right now, Kirk Caldwell needs good friends around him. He needs people who will be painfully honest with him. The painful, honest truth is that he didn’t have much chance of winning this governor’s race to begin with — and the indictments are the final nail in that coffin.
A screen shot Oct. 26 from Kirk Caldwell’s nascent website for governor.
A screen shot from Kirk Caldwell’s nascent website for governor. Screenshot
He needs to just stop.
Don’t get me wrong. I think anyone has the right to run. I think competition is healthy and important. I’m all for having large slates of great candidates. The thing is, he’s not a good candidate. He’s not a viable candidate. And running just fuels the political fodder and becomes a painful distraction in an election that needs attention and thoughtful consideration.
Time For A New Generation Of Leaders
We need a fresh start. We need fresh faces. We need fresh ideas.
People are exhausted and frustrated. The disconnect between the government and the people has never been greater. And I just don’t feel that the public has the patience or the appetite for empty promises and platitudes.
Voters aren’t dumb. Stop treating us as statistics to be manipulated and controlled. Treat us as people. Treat us as individuals and families that have so much to lose in the upcoming elections.
Politics may be some peoples’ careers, but policies affect our lives.
My hope is that every candidate thinks hard about how they are going to improve the lives of Hawaii’s residents. I’m not talking academic exercises, I’m talking real, immediate, direct benefits. Reducing the cost of living. Making housing affordable. Increasing wages. Creating jobs. Making classrooms safe for students and teachers.
Elections should not be about what candidates want, but rather what the people need. What’s best for the residents? What’s best for our families? I’m not talking donors, I’m talking about the people who can’t afford to donate or just don’t want to donate.
I’m talking about the people who so often become invisible in politics.
And perhaps the only way to make our leaders listen is to vote. Voting matters, because it is the great equalizer. Whether you donate $6,000 or nothing, everyone gets the same one vote. But that vote only has power when we exercise that right.
And if we are unwilling to exercise that right and that power, then we will get the government we deserve.”
This was posed around Jan 27, 2022 on my fb page.
Why Las Vegas casino hotels in Hawaii?
As we may encounter economic downturn, likely stagflation, due to the several years of pandemic, we need to think what opportunities may be best fit to the current Hawaii situations for quick revenue growth.
Heavily relying on Tourism, Hawaii may not have much resilience in dealing with such economic impact. E.g. If we remember 1918 pandemic, we experienced Great Depression after several years.
If we prepare, we may feel much less, even if it happens.
Hawaii also has generations-long hope of self-sustainable economy with much diversification.
So, if and when bringing back ferries, also bringing, perhaps only tourists accessible?, Las Vegas Casino Hotels at certain area of our islands, may not be a bad idea.
Let’s turn this crisis to many good opportunities for better future of Hawaii.
Aloha.
P.S. (State) lottery may also be a good revenue generating opportunity for such investment (ferries).
In fighting COVID19, regardless dropping the mandates and vaccination requirements, pls don’t forget that our FIRST line of defense is
1. (More) For individuals, WEAR MASKS, (higher grade like N95 or KN95 for Omicron variant).
1. (More) For Communities, TEST, TEST, and TEST!
Plz, don’t forget…!
Aloha.
I don’t disagree if our current safe travels program on vaccination requirement is to be ended soon, since even the vaccinated can be infected and/or transmit.
But, we still need to keep PRE and POST travel testing in place.
Among other things, (for now, regardless vaccination status),
1. Pre Travel antigen test on everyone before boarding. (Make sure the travelers don’t have any symptoms of COVID19.)
And, (especially during the surge of Omicron variants for now), have mask mandate during the flight and for two days after arrival, (and if not possible having quarantine).
2.Then, Post arrival consecutive antigen tests for two days: Self administered, (only if having no symptoms), but self reported thru mobile app.
It can be modified, depending on the situations. (Note: For Omicron, the two consecutive post tests should be recommended since its possibly high transmission although incubation period may be less. Besides, the Stealth Omicron variant may be still on the horizon. But, it can be reduced to only once or perhaps none, if later in much less or nearly no prevalence.)
(Even if PCR pretravel test was done and negative, we still need to have post arrival tests, especially during the surge of Omicron variants.)
And, the cost of the tests should be assessed to each traveler, or included in the airfare.
Aloha.
My Noise Campaign against Lg Green and Media might have slowed down their activities, e.g. less number of fb posts by Lg Green and recently less number of interviews with Lg Green by Media; although we don’t know how it will unfold in the future.
Thankfully, Facebook has not blocked my such activity against their power games. Thank you.
Lg Green should (must) resign.
Media should (must) apologize to all Hawaii people that they have wrongfully supported Lg Green, and Reform. At least, they must report (should have reported) my side of view with such clear facts and evidence on their news.
Hawaii Reform! Media Reform!
We are still suffering from Omicron variant.
But, we (may want and) need to pay attention to how these surges, especially delta surge, have happened in Hawaii
Despite being a doctor and liason for COVID19, Lg Green intentionally invited, in fact, demanded, and freely allowed the dangerous delta variant to freely invade our islands, without much safeguards; having resulted in tens of thousands, unnecessary but avoidable, infections and deaths in Hawaii.
At that time, Lg Green should (must) have known the delta variant was much more infectious (6-7 times more than previous original strain), and there have also been breakthrough infections even among the fully vaccinated (at that time, only two shots), and further many Hawaii people were still not vaccinated.
Ironically, on his briefing on June 24, 2021, only 3 days after his demand for opening of the floodgate, Lg Green laid out the two (opening the floodgate and monitoring deadly delta variant), directly contradicting info, without any remorse, just like a Nazi doctor monitoring (and counting) his own victims.
Aloha.
This was posted around Feb 17, 2022 on my facebook page.
Dear everyone,
This is my (last) correspondence that Lg Green failed to respond. This may likely (should) mean he admits the facts and evidence in my specific questions are true. Admission by failure to respond. Mahalo.
“Lieutenant Governor Josh Green,
You are not answering my question first.
(I don’t need to hear your excuse or false opinion about me.)
As professionals, we should know and respond accordingly.
I will give you yes, no question, then. (If no, then, you may respond accordingly with your fact and evidence, but not with your projected opinions.)
Among others,
1. Did you demand Gov Ige to open the floodgate on June 21, 2021? (My evidence is based on news on June 21, 2021.)
2. Did you know the very contagious delta variant was about to invade the islands?
(Fact: You acknowledged the delta variant on June 24, 2021 on your own briefing.)
3. Did you do anything, as a doctor and liaison for COVID19, in preparation for fighting against the dangerous delta variant? If so, plz, state specifically.
4. Didn’t you disseminate false information, as if we would reach herd immunity only thru vaccination, at that time only two shots? Why?
5. Do you admit that there existed breakthrough cases, even among the vaccinated? If you knew, what was supposed to be your actions based on your job title as Lg, doctor, and liason for COVID19?
6. I understand your concern about economic devastation and people’s suffering from isolation. But, was it your job to mainly concern about that?
You consider economy and people’s psychological need over immediate physical attack by the virus, as more or first priority?
If so, plz reply accordingly with your correct logic as a medical professional.
7. Didn’t you read my post(s) regarding “tighter screening and tests at our ports”, prior to your demand of delta floodgate?
Even if not, do you think your response is to best of your knowledge and logic?
I will follow up according to your response.
Thanks again.”
My sites have information, probably much more and specific than many other candidates’. If you take your time, you will get lots of information, which also include the facts and evidence that especially Media and Status Quo may not (don’t) want you to know.
I would appreciate if you read BOTH Richard Kim for Governor at Facebook and richardkimhawaii.com, since my site might have not been (often) updated. (Although sometimes repeated, many more of my posts, especially recent ones, probably dating back to many months, are listed at the Facebook page.)
Thanks.