These are Spooky Times We live in.

 When radical right wingers are holding our Nation Hostage.

by Susan McGeachy on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 12:28pm

The United States Congress has raised the ceiling hundreds of times over the past years. The US Congress has balanced the budget many times without any demand. I can't help feeling like the right wingers are fighting against our President regardless of how hard he tries.

This Congress / those that vote against raising the debt should be impeached.

This is not a game of "we are right or we aren't playing).

It is this new radical breed that want to stop the grandfather clock of time and try to change the access of government; (when they are less then the 1/3 majority of all of the law makers).

The Tea Party is going to teach us a lesson and demand a balanced budget without any tax increases. Unless they are from a Planet other then earth, we really don't see how!!! The Democrates have bent over so far backwards that they are now giving the farm away.

The answer is to bring home all of the troops NOW! and cut the contractors working there. Tax the richest 2% billionaires for corp. jets, cut all the give aways on tax subsidies for oil companies (making billions already).
Stop paying the LAW MAKERS in WASHINGTON NOW!

This congress was sent there to guide our Nation forward, getting the people's business and interests first. Yea before all of the lobbiest (with there power and control).
As an AMERICAN I am embarassed by our Government and lack of consideration for ALL American's.
The Tea Party is right that we want to cut the debt but not TODAY. Pass something and then lazer focus on fixing the jobs, the economy and the damaged image our Nation is having to endure

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Comment:

Don't forget making the banks lower Americans' home mortgages after reappraising their homes when their entire neighborhood is now in decline and worth less original purchase price.  Allow unions to fight for the employees of big corps now expecting servitude instead of helping Americans make a wage that will allow them to rise above their present status.

Phyllis Chu
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Comment:

What do you think he can do?
    What he can do is "get it" that the the other party is not genuinely    at the negotiating table and wants NOTHING but failure for the black    man and anything he tries to do.
      He can stop acting like they are anything but disingenuous and say    so.  When they say no to things they actually were for in the    past,..that says they aren't there at the table. He can say it is a    shame what they are doing.
     He can stop taking Bonner to play golf!!!!!
      He can say the three programs that help those struggling is OFF    the table,.just as easily as they say the tax loopholes and    corporate welfare for the 2% fat cats is off their table.
       Social security is solvent for 30 years and paid by US!! Why in the hell is THAT on ANY frickin table????  It should not be! This is unbelievable!!!!
     He can say a word of encouragement to protesters who are fighting the union busters and say that these evil people are trying to make campaign money and voting difficult for no other reason that to    stifle Democratic votes!
     He can be as tough as his words were during his campaign.  He could be as tough as a Teddy Kennedy!.
     What we need is someone with a frickin sack!! Like Greyson!  Who wouldnt keep trying to negotiate with people who have no intention of negotiating!  When I see a picture of him sitting with these    fakes and smiling I want throw up!  They hate his guts and have no intention of compromising! Why does Obama keep acting like they are    anything but fake?
     He could come out and say they are obviously NOT interested in    creating a jobs bill,.when this is what is MOST important right    now,...he could say that  it is shameful for this party to hold our    country hostage as has never been done before,,and use what any same leader would do in this situation and use the Bully Pulpit as much  as possible. 
      He could say that they wanted to dilute the stimulous money  because they knew it would HELP the economy,..He could say they arte    using this Debt Ceiling for no other reason than to distract from    what IS most important right now;  JOBS!!!!!
     He could say that their actions show they are not actually anywhere near patriots by their actions!
    Say hey to Sacramento ED!   ;-) 
Mike F.

 Twist some arms? They have been in meetings for  over 8 months and these far right crazies are holding the country hostage.
It is a minority of the population that want the system to crash. These people should all be impeached. Even their fellow Republicans don’t agree with this group.
(Remember them: The ones with the Obama hate signs at all of their meetings? The ones totting guns to their rallies?)

Bill Maher hits the nail on the head.

As the talks stall with the Credit Rating and the People of America being held hostage by this crazy Congress. Please for the good of the Nation and the future of our world, DO the right thing and get our house in order.
Compromise and get rid of the my way or the highway attitude.
It is up to the Republicans to give way to the will of the people.

Tax the richest and stop taking from the poorist.
Can't help feeling like we should be prepareing for the end of times in our generation.

God help us, we are in deep kim chee right now!
What is going to happen in the future! The middle class will be gone and people will become desparate. The times ahead may be one of survival.  This Country is truly going down. Egos will be our demise.

Social Security NEEDS your HELP!

Subject: Social Security needs help

This affects us personally.  Our beloved president has put Social Security cuts on the table for a debt deal with Republicans, because Republicans refuse to roll back tax breaks for the rich and big corporations.  Obama is desperate to stop the government shutdown that Republicans are threatening if Obama doesn't play ball and make a bunch of painful budget cuts.  Obama doesn't know how to negotiate, so he just gives things away.  Now he is saying he would support changes that would reduce the size of annual cost of living increases to social security. Over a period of about 10 years, this would effectively reduce the amount we would receive by about $500 a month, or possibly more.  Hopefully we will still be here in 10 years, and, if so, we will need that $500 a month.   Since Obama is pretty much a lost cause, we need to put pressure on congressional Democrats to reject this plan.  Obama can't do this without them. 

Here is the link:

http://pol.moveon.org/bad_debt_deal/?r_by=28665-14543293-yXcvq_x&rc=bad_debt_deal_letter.email.g0

President Obama helps Tucson and the Nation heal.

The tradegy in the Tucson shooting was:That the gun and bullets are available with little or no effort.
There should be legislation to out law automatic weapons like that. Why do you need more then 10 rounds at once? This nut had 30 rounds in seconds. Sad.
There were warning signs but he still came under the radar.
The College threw him out and thats all they could do.The guy at Walmart selling the bullets didn't notice that this guy was deranged?The father noticed that his son was dranged but didn't call the Police?
Should of would of could of.....
Time for Congress/ Sentate to step forward and protect us from this kind of mahame.
The Repulican speak is that your right to own and bear a weapon is in the constitution.
The reality is when the constitution was written they had to load one bullet and fire and reload.
They didn't have repeating rounds 30 times?

If heatlh care isn't available to all; who is going to cover all these gun accidents/shootings????

The Changing of the Guards in the House. DANGER!

These next 2 years should be very exciting. The last two years the Republicans all together agreed to vote NO on EVERYthing that was put forward. Now John Bohener (the cry baby) will have to come up with solutions and ideas.
The Health Care plan has no chance of repeal. The American people have spoken and they want JOBS< JOBS< AND JOBS>>>>>
Quite wasting the tax payers money and work on JOBS>
Who do you think pays for those that use emergency rooms without insurance. Thats right you and me.
Why is America the richest country but we are dieing everyday from Obesity, diabetes, and illness related to poor diet. Well the new health care plan will require restraunts to post the actual calories. The new health care helps Seniors with expensive drugs, the new health care covers students on Mom and Dad's insurance until they are 27.... on and on.......
If the Republicans are serious about no new TAXs then why did they just fight to give the wealthiest Americans a FREE RIDE? How do they think they are going to bring the deficit down with actions like that?
We shall see.
My vote is still with Obama 2012. Excellent Job with the hand he was delt.

The Presidental story with great acting.

http://politicalirony.com/2010/10/17/the-very-model-of-a-modern-us-president/

This is clever and true. Enjoy our Presidentail woes.

Getting Ready to Organize a Coqui Frog group

Kona Coastview, Kona Wonderview, Kona Palisades, Kona Highlands.....
Do you hear couqi frogs at night?
Ready to join a group of neighbors to get rid of the frogs?

The County is doing NOTHING, the State is doing NOTHING.
Now it is time for action.
Baking soda worked for us. Now lets go to where they are and getem'

Call if you are interested in joining this group. 325-7576

We need you to Testify: Do we need to BORROW NOW? Wake up Hawaii

Dear County Council,
Please accept this letter has request to rethink this bond obligation. The property taxes are way down, the foreclosure rate is still on the rise in Hawaii.
To add this kind of debit during this time is just plane irresponsible. There is no plan on how the County is going to pay the addtional interest or the bond it's self.
We have lost 2 cruise ships, Aloha Air lines, and thousands of jobs. We have hundreds of properties sitting vacant with half the value of what they were purchased at.
How do you plan to pay for this? If you can answer this then it would be feasible other wises it is like robbing a bank and not thinking about the jail time ahead.
Common sence is a must in this changing age we live in. If you have a dollar in your pocket you don't spend ten and then figure it out later. Let the new Council decide. Those voteing for this are on the way out anyway.
Respectfully,
Susan McGeachy
Kailua Kona since 1988
=====================================================================

Public testimony can also be at the Kona and Waimea county council
offices by videoconferencing.

If you have questions, please call the Kona county council office
at 326-5684.

Also, you can read more about the issues involved at http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2010/11/24/local/local02.txt

A Special Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday November 30^th
at 9AM at the Hilo Council Chambers, Aupuni Street.

Please see below for details on how to submit testimony.

Click here to go to
the County of Hawaii’s on-line library for the full
agenda (Council Records -> Agendas).

THE RECONSIDERATION OF BILL 311 RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS      

Comm. 972.5: REQUESTS THE RECONSIDERATION OF BILL 311 RELATING TO THE
ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS:  

From Council Member Donald Ikeda, dated November 17, 2010, requesting the

reconsideration of Bill 311.  Bill 311 was approved by the Council at its meeting of

November 17, 2010, which passed second and final reading by the following vote:

7-ayes and 1-no (1-absent)

Comm. 972.9: From Council Member Donald Ikeda, dated November 18, 2010, requesting that a

Special Meeting by the Council be held before the end of this Council term

Comm. 972.10: From Council Member Dominic Yagong, dated November 18, 2010, requesting the

reconsideration of the vote on Bill 311.  Requests that this measure be placed on the

December 15, 2010 Council agenda

Bill 311:  Authorizes the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds of the County of Hawai‘i for

the Purpose of Funding All or a Portion of the Costs of Various Public Improvement

Projects; Fixing the Form, Denominations, and Certain Other Details of Such Bonds

and Providing for Their Sale to the Public; and Authorizing the Taking of Other

Actions Relating to the Issuance and Sale of the Bonds.  {Principal amount not to

exceed $56,000,000.  The projects include:  Kawaihae Housing Closure

($1,000,000), Kaloko Housing Project ($4,000,000), Pool Drainage Covers

($500,000), Hawai‘i Paradise Park-New Park Development ($5,500,000),

Kikala-Keokea New Park Development ($100,000), North Kohala Recreational

Facilities Repair and Upgrade ($2,000,000), Banyan Beach Parking Lot ($300,000),

Kapiolani Street Extension ($8,700,000), Puna Makai Alternate Roadway

($500,000), La‘aloa Extension ($20,000,000), Energy Efficiency and Related

Maintenance Upgrades ($4,000,000), Wai‘ōhinu Transfer Station ($8,800,000), and

Waimea Recycle and Transfer Station Garage ($100,000), for a total of

$55,000,000.  (The correct total amount should be “$55,500,000”.  An additional

$500,000 is included for bond issuance costs.)}

   Re:  Comm. 972

   Intr. by:  Mr. Onishi

   1st Reading: November 4, 2010

   2nd Reading: November 17, 2010



(Note:  Pursuant to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, Section 92, notice is hereby given that

if the motion to reconsider Bill 311 is approved, a re-vote will be taken on Bill 311 at

this meeting.  If reconsideration of Bill 311 is approved, there will be a pending

motion on the floor by Mr. Onishi and duly seconded by Ms. Naeole to approve

Bill 311.) 

SUBMITTING
TESTIMONY:

• In person: You may testify in person at the Hilo
       Council Chambers, or by videoconference from the Waimea or Kona Council
       offices.
• Written testimony: Testimony may be submitted before
       noon on the business day prior to the meeting: 
•  
• (1) by mail to the County
        Clerk’s Office in Hilo at 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i, 96720
 
• (2) by fax to (808) 961-8912
 
• By email to counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us.
       

How does Health Care in Hawaii work?

If you are employed for 20 hours a week for 4 weeks in a row; your employer is required to co-pay your health insurance. I know this has helped us over the years to pay for our medical and we have piece of mind knowing we are covered.
Our Country is one of the richest in the world and we have the worst health care. In many states people like Rick Scott came in with their corporations and bought up most of the hospitals and closed all but one or two. This way they can charge anything they want. Supply and demand.
The drug companies advertise on TV all the drugs they think you should be taking. Then there is a long list of side effects; in most cases are worse then the reason you are taking to drug to begin with. It is all about money. The insurance companies don't want Obama's health care because it requires that most of the money (.85 on the dollar) collected actually goes to pay for medical care and not share holders.
Why are we so unhealthy? Obesity is the norm in America. This will be the first generation that is not expected to out live their parents.
Physical exercise in the schools has become an elective and not a requirement. When I was a kid we had the Presidential Physical Fitness program. We were tested every year and PE was a requirement. We also didn't have computers and video games to veg out on. The motivation to be fit is no longer a priority. Children over 200 pounds is not acceptable.
We don't need free health care but we do need affordable health care.
I am looking forward to see what the Republicans call health care and who pays and who benefits from it?
All I have heard from the Republicans is repeal. What is there idea of coverage and what is it going to cost?
No one is perfect but we do need to learn a new word in Congress and the Senate it is "COMPROMISE"
No is not an answer. We need solution minded Government. The next two years will be a test.
Can the Republicans get along with the Tea Party?
Can the Republicans compromise and work for solutions?
Can the remaining Democrats compromise?

The Election is over. We are all winners!

After a nasty mean spirited election we are finally done. I consider alot of great things will come over the next 2 years.
First we are happy to have Neil Abercrombie as our new governor (Dem). Linda Lingle / Iona (Rep) took the State of Hawaii into the ditch. We lost 17 school days, the super ferry, 2 cruise ships, Aloha Airlines and the tax breaks for high tech.
Second we got rid of the idiot County Council members. Emily Nagole and Guy Enriques. Both of which couldn't come up with one idea to cut the Mayor's budget. Welcome aboard Brittany Smart and Fred Blas.
Let's work together as ONE island and get this County turned around.
Third we are very happy all the Republicans have new seats in Congress and the Senate, so now they can say something besides NO, NO, NO, NO and NO. They will be accountable for their decisions. Now maybe just maybe they will try to work together to right our course.

We are looking forward to what President Obama has to say this afternoon. John Bohner will now have to answer for his actions. The next 2 years should be exciting.

and last but not least. How do we change the Supreme Court's decision for disclosure of election contributions? The nasty, hateful election was something most of us DO NOT want to endure prior to every election. Open and Honest disclosure should be required.

Good Luck to all and we are hopeful this Country will be in good hands and solid direction.
ps keep the health care (gee it doesn't even take effect until 2012. So how do they know they don't want it?)

Rally to Restore Peace by Marjorie Cohn

Let’s Rally to Restore Peace
By Marjorie Cohn
Huffington Post

October 31, 2010
----------------------------------

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-cohn/lets-rally-to-restore-pea_b_776759.html

In their Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, Jon Stewart and Stephen
Colbert effectively demonstrated how the media hypes fear. They
brought out Kareem Abdul Jabbar to show that not all Muslims are
terrorists. A couple of musical numbers dealt with the wars we are
fighting. But neither Stewart nor Colbert mentioned Iraq or
Afghanistan and how they are allowed to continue by the hyping of
fear.
Like his predecessor, President Obama also hypes fear - by connecting
his war in Afghanistan to keeping us safe, even though CIA director
Leon Panetta recently admitted that only 50 to 100 al Qaeda fighters
are there. Hoping to put the unpopular Iraq war behind him, Obama
declared combat operations over, although 50,000 U.S. troops and some
100,000 mercenaries remain.
Tragically, both wars have largely disappeared from the national
discourse. On October 22, Wikileaks released nearly 400,000
previously classified U.S. military documents about the Iraq war.
They contain startling evidence of more than 1,300 incidents of
torture, rape, abuse and murder by Iraqi security forces while the
U.S. government looked the other way. During this time the Bush
administration issued a “fragmentary order” called “Frago 242” not to
investigate detainee abuse unless coalition troops were directly
involved. U.S. authorities failed to investigate hundreds of reports
of torture, rape, abuse and murder by Iraqi soldiers and police.
Manfred Nowak, the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on Torture,
called on Obama to order a complete investigation of U.S. forces’
involvement in human rights abuses.
Many reports of abuse are supported by medical evidence. Prisoners
were shackled, blindfolded, and hung by their wrists and ankles. Some
were whipped with cables, chains, wire and pistols. Some were burned
with acid and cigarettes. Electric shocks were applied to genitals,
fingernails were ripped off, and fingers cut off. Some were sodomized
with hoses and bottles. Six died from their torture.
And there are reports of widespread killing of civilians by U.S. and
other coalition forces. But after a couple of days of reporting about
the largest incident of whistle blowing in our history, news of the
Wikileaks revelations has disappeared from the news cycle.
Both torture and the targeting of civilians are war crimes. And, in
spite of the reports of torture, Obama completed the handover of 9,250
detainees to the Iraqi government in July 2010. In so doing, he has
violated the Convention Against Torture, which forbids a party from
expelling, returning or extraditing a person to a country where there
are substantial grounds to believe he will be in danger of being
subjected to torture. This is called non-refoulement. The United
States has ratified the Torture Convention, making it part of U.S. law
under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.
The newly released documents show that between 2004 and 2009, at least
109,032 Iraqis died, including 66,081 civilians. More than 80 percent
of those killed in incidents related to convoys or at checkpoints
throughout Iraq were civilians. Pregnant women were shot dead,
priests were kidnapped and murdered, and Iraqi prison guards used
electric drills to get prisoners to confess.
A U.S. helicopter crew was granted approval to attack two Iraqis on
the ground even though the pilots reported that the men were trying to
surrender. Under the 1907 Hague Regulations, it is prohibited “to
kill or wound an enemy who, having laid down his arms, or having no
longer means of defence, has surrendered at discretion.”
Last year, 239 American soldiers took their own lives and 1,713
soldiers survived suicide attempts; 146 soldiers died from high-risk
activities, including 74 drug overdoses. One-third of returning troops
report mental health problems, and 18.5 percent of all returning
service members have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or depression,
according to a study by the Rand Corporation.
Jon Stewart spent a whole show last week interviewing Obama about
everything from health care to the economy. But neither man mentioned
the wars, even though the billions spent on them could go a long way
toward fixing the economy and paying for health care.
It is time to put the wars back on the national agenda. Iraq Veterans
Against the War issued a statement saying, “We grieve for the Iraqi
and Afghan lives that were lost and destroyed in these wars. We also
grieve for our brothers and sisters in arms, who have been lost to
battle or suicide . . . We demand a real end to both wars, including
immediate withdrawal of the 50,000 “non-combat” troops who remain in
Iraq. The Iraq War Logs underscore the urgent need for peace,
healing, and reparations for all who have been harmed by these wars.
The first step is to bring our brothers and sisters home.”
We cannot rely on Obama to end the wars. It’s up to us to put
sustained pressure on him to do it.

Marjorie Cohn is a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and
past president of the National Lawyers Guild. Her latest book is
“Rules of Disengagement: The Politics and Honor of Military Dissent”
(with Kathleen Gilberd). Her anthology, “The United States and
Torture: Interrogation, Incarceration, and Abuse,” will be published
in December by NYU Press

What was the Supreme Court Thinking?? Or were they?

The overwhelming horrible TV commercials attacking each other over this election has become unbearable.
The really bad part is that we don't have a clear cut view of who is creating and paying for these commercials. The Supreme Court ruled that NO ONE has to disclose who, what, where and when and why is supporting each canidate. Or how much they are spending?What can we do? Who do we write to?

Since when is America known for this kind of closed / unnamed / under the table kind of campaigning?

Just like the Health Care fight: with Rick Scott of Florida. He bought up all the hospitals in an area (3 States to be exact) and closed all but one. That way he could charge what he wants and the public has no other choices. He is now buying his way into the Senate. America has gone to the dogs.

What happened to our great Nation. We have turned to the dark side, I guess!

Debbie Hecht Loses District 8

Aloha Kona friends,
These last two days have been confusing as to the election results because of conflicting reports. I recently got this information from Ken Goodenow, County Clerk as to how the results are figured. Since blank ballots are not included in the final tally, Angel Pilago won the primary with 51.1% of the vote (see the actual part of the charter that addresses this below).

A heartfelt mahalo for everyone who worked on my campaign and took time to tell me their concerns about our quality of life in West Hawaii. Mahalo for considering me to represent you as your council member.

THREE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

THE 2012-2013 BUDGET: I hope Mr. Pilago will consider requesting the following budget items BEFORE the Mayor designs the budget so that they can be included in the 2011-2012 budget for District 8-North Kona. These were projects that you told me were important to you.

1.Open existing bathrooms or build new bathrooms near the police station at Hale Halewai

2. Open the parking lot at Hale Halewai for use by residents and tourists

3. Look into using portions of the parking lots at Lowe's and/or K-Mart for park and ride stops for the island wide bus system AND

4. Obtain two small buses circulating from the park and ride stops along Ali'i from the King Kamehameha Hotel to Huggo's, with a stop at the Regency to ease parking and congestion on Ali'i Drive

5. Pave Kaiminani

SHORELINE PARK: Would you be interesting in working to obtain a 2,000 foot setback on state lands from Kailua to Kawaihae to create a shoreline park? We can protect the Ala Kalakai Trail (The King's Trail) and possibly build a parallel trail for recreation and exercise. This supports the Kona Community Development Plan. We may be circulating a petition to lobby the state.

For more information go to: http://www.dhecht.com/?page_id=14


CHARTER AMENDMENTS: We will be starting a big push to pass the following new or amended charter amendments: The League of Women Voters has done a terrific job on writing the educational piece with the Charter Commission. We need to raise money to buy signs for the 1% Land Fund and educate the public.

1. 1% land fund

2. Recall

3. Revising the charter

4. Reapportionment

5. Preservation of Natural and Cultural Resources

6. WATCH FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THE COMING WEEKS



A hui hou!
Debbie
989-3222
http://www.dhecht.com/

Hawaii County Charter- Section 13-27. County Election.

(a) No person shall be a candidate for more than one elective office in the same election. If no person is elected to a county office, the county council shall appoint a person to fill such office. County elections shall be conducted in accordance with the election laws of the state insofar as applicable.

(b) All county elective officers--mayor, council members and prosecuting attorney-- shall be elected in nonpartisan special elections. Such special elections shall be held with the primary and general elections of the applicable year.

(c) First special election. The first special election shall be held with the regularly scheduled primary election. Any candidate for mayor, prosecuting attorney or council receiving a majority of all votes validly cast for candidates for that office, excluding blank and spoiled ballots, shall be deemed elected. If there is only one candidate for the office, that candidate shall be deemed elected regardless of the number of votes received.

(d) Second special election. The second special election shall be held with the regularly scheduled general election. Unless a candidate has been elected in the first special election, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for the office in question in the first special election shall be placed on the ballot for the second special election. At the second special election the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for each respective office shall be deemed elected.

A straight talking polition. How Refreshing!

I hope this guy runs for president!!!!

I love this guy. He tells it like it is and does not pander to any group or individual. He is the kind of guy we need in the White House. This video is a classic and worth watching. It’s little long but this guy is unbelievable.

http://www.breitbart.tv/nj-gov-christie-delivers-brilliant-laceration-of-teachers-union/

sumbitted by Tom Pyne.

My Personal Choices:

My choices are based on Education, Experience, and actual past Accomplishments.

These are the Best Choices for Hawaii and Hawaii County. We are looking for People to represent all of us as ONE ISLAND, weather it is Honolulu including Kona or Hilo including Kona. We need people with enough (college) Education to now how to problem solve and write and vote on solutions. No more Ol'e boys lined up in Hilo voting against Kona (the cash cow). We need solution minded people.

Dan InouyeSenator
Neil Ambercrombie Governor
Brian Schatz- Lt. Govenor

Pete Hoffman- District 9

Debbie Hecht- District 8

Brenda Ford- District 7
Maegan MacGregor District 7 State House 

Brittany Smart- District 6
Denny Coffman- District 6 State House

James Weatherford-District 5
Fred Fogel- District 5 State House

Anthony Marzi-District 4 State House

Cliff Tsuji-District 3

Sammye-Ann Young-District 2
Mazie Hirono- District 2 State House

Mark Nakashima-District 1

September 11th Changed the World forever! We will never forget.

We will never forget.

Our lives have been changed forever.

Travel internationally will never be the same.

Our trust in all men has been shaken.

We are a resilant people and will work through it but we will never be the same.

God Bless America!

Politics of Lieing - District #8 K. Angel Pilago

Politicians LIE

First Harry Kim claims he built the Kona Coastview/ Wonderview water improvement district. Now K. Angel Pilago in his run for District #8 claims he was responsible for building Kona Coastview/ Wonderview water improvement district. Even Cindy Evans claimed credit for the project too.

The truth is NONE of these people have showed up at a single meeting, fund raiser, planning or execution of the contract.
Jim Rath lives in the neighborhood and he never showed up to a single meeting either.

The process was one of 3 tries over 30 years. We finally got it with the help of NO ELECTED OFFICIALS. We spent 7 ½ years working, planning, researching and holding meetings to get this project complete. The project credit should go to the Homeowners who persevered over the many years and meetings. It was the homeowners that found the funding from the USDA. It was the homeowners that did the entire project and donated it to the Semi-automous Water Department. We are still paying for the project (30 year loans). It was the homeowners that organized and helped those that couldn’t hook up in the end. Meeting with plumbers, back hoe operators, etc…

So the next time a Politian claims they did the Kona Coastview / Kona Wonderview water improvement project. KNOW for a FACT they are lieing.

Susan McGeachy
Kona Coastview since 1988

This Nation is like driving a Car. Now lets put it in gear!

If you want this Country to move forward. It is like a car.

Put it in "D" for drive (democrates) or
"R" reverse (republicans).

Lets start working together for the good of the Nation
and cut the politics of NO NO NO NO....

Vote for Democrates (only) that can make a Difference in Congress!

Anyone in Congress that is a republican should be kicked out. They blocked every attempt to right our Nation. We don’t need to be reminded that the Republicans came into office with a HUGE surplus, and when they left we were on the brink of disaster. 2 wars, deregulating of the financial institutions, Bush taxs cuts for the Super rich…. And more.

Let's think back some 60 years ago.. It was the democrats that fought for Social Security. The Republicans cried socialism. Re-think your history and see where we are going. It is the future of our children that is at risk.
My hat is off to Obama for taking on such a huge challenge.
He has passed health care, women’s equal pay, and on and on….
With NO help from the Republican's.
It is congress (republicans specifically) that have voted against all bills put forward. The republicans were pro imigration legislation until Obama got in office and now there is no support.

So think twice, and look to the (d) democrat when you vote next election.
Time to clean house and get the do nothings out.

Councilman Greenwell for Higher taxes!

Dear Dave,
I thought Kelly Greenwell and Emily Nanoele-Beason went to DC. What did we get for our TAX DOLLARS? Nothing. There is no magic lamp in DC or one of these two would have brought home the bacon.

We are in fact a business and that is why we follow business practices like balancing the budget.

The mid level road is a WASTE of Tax payer dollars. It only benefits those that own property adjoining it. It doesn’t help the thousands of residents in the upper Palisades subdivisions.

Sad our own Councilman wants the rich to pay his way. He came up with the idea of charging all the rich aircraft on the ground $2,500.00 a day to stay here. He doesn't know the State operates the Airport and he has NO jurisdiction there.
What is going to happen to those renters that will now have their rents go up do to the property tax increase. The trickle down will be that the public will no longer want to vacation or buy on the Big Island. The island will become a ghost town when they find out having a rental will be guaranteed 29% taxes and the property has no chance of breaking even.

Get rid of the $100.00 min. tax if you want to be FAIR.

According to West Hawaii Today quote 5/7/10 "That category has grown the most in North Kona, increasing 34 percent in property value in one year alone.Yet County Councilman Kelly Greenwell, who represents that district, says the tax hike is perfectly acceptable to him"

Kelly never did anything prior to being County Council. Never came to a meeting, Never helped volunteer with parks,… Just a golden spoon baby that doesn’t know how to run a successful business (Hawaiian Gardens went under and the property sits with all of his improvements and nothing to show for it.)
Sadly we are at the short end of the stick when it comes to Greenwell.
Mrs. McGeachy
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Aloha,
Please find attached, and pasted below, Councilmember Greenwell’s June 7 & 8, 2010 Council meeting comments regarding Comm. 711.200 (Bill 211 Draft 3) -the Operating budget-FY2010-2011.

Please feel free to post on your blogs\news sites for public review and comments.
As always, feel free to email or call me with any questions,
Dave Hirt
Legislative Assistant to
Councilmember Kelly Greenwell
Council District 8, North Kona, Hawai‘i
Phone 808-327-3642
Fax 808-329-4786
dhirt@co.hawaii.hi.us

June 7, 2010
To understand the solution to fixing our budget woes, we must first accept that we can no longer think of government as a business. Government process is not based on the typical business model. In fact, government draws on an entirely different reason for being. Beyond the assurance of justice, public safety, and welfare, the responsibility of government is to ensure an economic setting wherein private business can succeed. While responsible accounting is certainly necessary, balancing the county budget, which has dominated our efforts for 6 months, is merely a part of the accounting process and cannot be considered as a required goal. Therefore, before we concern ourselves any further with what is really the Mayor’s budget, we need to focus on reviving our county’s business climate. In our present situation the only realistic way to do this is to enhance our financial situation. Since the level of government that creates money is federal, and since they have largely recognized that more cash is needed in the overall economy, and are providing it through the ARRA, we at county need to make the effort to obtain our share.

Our County’s share of the ARRA has presently been determined to exceed $500 million on a per capita basis but so far we have received only about 20% of that. To illustrate our reluctance to seek ARRA funding, had I not insisted that U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono research our eligibility to receive federal assistance in building the Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kona ($35 million) we might not have gotten it at all. Certainly it was secured by the Mayor and his staff who in a timely fashion met the requirements needed to qualify for the grant, but we as a county were content with Ms. Hirono’s rationale for why we couldn’t qualify until I challenged her thinking – and our thinking as well.

I challenge your thinking today by again insisting that federal money is available if we frame the request properly and with conviction.

The ARRA is intended to be the tool to restart the U.S. economy and like any tool, it only works if we use it − and it works a whole lot better if we learn how.

If we continue to follow the current thinking, where will the county’s business environment be a year from now? Will cutting county services and employment by 10% improve things? In this economy? Do we believe the private sector, pressed to manage with reduced services and probably intensified criminal activity based merely on not having enough to eat, is going to rally?

Do we think that the developers and investors who provide most of our jobs are going to be moved to participate in an extended economic crisis?

Fellow Councilors, please understand that we are government, not business, and as such, have quite different responsibilities, goals and objectives.

It may be the established path of business to cut back during hard times but the very last thing government does during these same hard times is cut service. Again, like so many businesses have done already, we in government do not have the option to fail. – We can not close the doors, and furthermore our success is not measured by profit – or by loss.

Our primary, and perhaps only responsibility right now is to revive the economy, and an economy does not perform if you eliminate its’ ability to grow.—if you take the capacity to earn out of the equation by not spending, the economy will only continue to decline.

Where do we think we will be next year? We are significantly worse off this year than last and we will not reverse the trend by down-sizing. The investors and the businesses who can, along with the minds who operate them, will move away and the rest of us will fail, further impacting government services.
Crime, as the only occupation that pays under those conditions, will take over, and what is left of Government will be entirely focused in that area, perhaps even, as in so many other similar situations, becoming a partner. We can’t afford to take that risk under any circumstance.

We need to return this budget to the mayor with one comment and only one comment: That we will assist his administration in any way possible to secure our share of ARRA funds, so much of which is already being held by the State – that would mean:
1. No Reduction in Service
2. No New Taxes
3. No Furloughs