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Monday, December 31, 2012

"Term limits, Inouye, Schatz, fiscal cliff and Mazol Tov..!" 'James "Kimo" Rosen'




Hawai'i Governor Neil Abercrombie consulting with Obama Da Dog
prior to selecting Brian Schatz to replace the Legendary Senior Senior Dan Inouye...


Senator Dan Inouye was a true American hero,  and did great things for the Aloha state of Hawaii .  He served  as a US senator since 1963. This brings up the question why should  members of Congress in both the United States House of representatives and the U.S.Senate have term limits like the President, Governor's, Mayor's, and other elected officials? Senate  and Congress need term limits. Many times, you have politicians who get elected and become career politicians who are more focused on getting re-elected than serving their constituents.

Ten days after the death of Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye, Governor Abercrombie named Brian Schatz, Hawai'i's Lieutenant Governor as Inouye's replacement on December 26th, just 19 hours later  (after hitching a ride all night  on Air-force One with president Obama who cut short his annual Hawaii vacation to  get back to Washington  for the fiscal cliff drama) Vice president Joe Biden was swearing Schatz in as  the newly selected Senator held the Tanakh.(the Jewish bible)  Wow, Schatz must be pinching himself, what a great story.

I believe our Governor made the best choice, he did not go with the wishes of the late Senator by appointing Congress-woman Colleen Hanabusa, for good reason, it would had cost the state a special election amounting to approximately one million dollars. Brian is only 40 years old, smart, ethical and has a disciplined work ethic as proven. He served for eight years as the CEO of Helping Hands Hawai'i, one of Hawaii's largest non-profit community social services organizations. From 1998 to 2006, Schatz served as a member of the state House of Representatives and in 2010 became the Lt. Governor of the state of Hawaii.

The story of Brian Schatz becoming a US senator  in less than 19 hours  is a remarkable turnaround showing The senate  really can work fast  when confronted with the  serious business of making sure there was a replacement in time for the drama of the fiscal cliff vote.

Nobody can dispute the greatness of senator Inouye, bit one can dispute career politicians with no term limits. Politicians can focus better when not worried about  the next election and selling out to special interest groups for monetary gain for their next election. I believe Senators and Congresspersons  need to be accountable and term limits help keep politicians honest, if that's even possible.

 Brian Schatz will leapfrog to the  senior Senator position since newly elected senator Mazie  Hirono will not be sworn in until January 3rd replacing another legendary Senator, Dan Akaka. 

The irony of this whirlwind adventure was Brian was wearing a red tie during his swearing in ceremony by Joe Biden, doesn't he know that Republicans wear red ties and Democrats blue ties during major events?

Schatz said  that no one can fill Inouye’s shoes, but “we can try to walk in his footsteps.”

Rest in Peace senator Inoyue and  to senator Schatz, Sima Tov and Mazol Tov! (Good  signs  and Congratulations)



Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook....