Brian Evans..

[Serenity]

What's your thoughts & feelings on Brian Evans
for Senator?

Here is the link:

http://www.brianforsenator.com/

[mel]

I remember reading somewhere that this guy is also a recording artist of some sort.

[kamlost]

Entertainers seem to be joining in on the political fray nowadays. I don't think he has what it takes.

[craigwatanabe]

I remember reading somewhere that this guy is also a recording artist of some sort.
\

Hey Mel, you wanna take over for me in the Christianity debate over in that thread? It's three to one over there and MiuLang is pushing up daisies or something like that.

[Miulang]

\
MiuLang is pushing up daisies or something like that.

I'm NOT pushing up daisies! I'm pushing up CROCI! Can't a woman croak with the flower of her choice?

Miulang

[pzarquon]

Entertainers seem to be joining in on the political fray nowadays. I don't think he has what it takes.Ah, entertainers turned public servants. If the question is, "Can they do the job?" I have my doubts too. If the question is, "Can they get elected anyway?" The answer is, possibly, yes. Ronald Reagan, Sonny Bono, Jesse Ventura, Arnold Schwarzenegger... Brickwood Galuteria, Barbara Marshall, Glenn Wakai...

As for Brian Evans specifically, his official biography (http://www.brianforsenator.com/biography.htm) won't win anyone I know over. Showbiz, Las Vegas, yada yada yada... and incredulously, he starts a paragraph citing Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, and yet ends the same thought by saying he hopes "to be a powerful figure among the working class." Um. Okay.

And his fixation with dental care is a bit unnerving. :D

[Vanguard]

Entertainers seem to be joining in on the political fray nowadays.

My personal favorite is Gary Coleman. I would have liked to have seen him become governor of California.'

ADVISOR: Mr. Coleman, your popularity went down in the polls by 5%.

GARY COLEMAN: Watchoo talkin' bout, Willis?

[Mocha]

It would be hard to relate to Mr. Evans, and some of his issues I don't agree with, (pro marijuana). Guess I'm too old to remember his music although I've not gone to the music link. At least he has his own money and wouldn't be beholden to any specific group.

[pzarquon]

I doubt anyone's following this particular race too closely, but FWIW, Brian Evans put out an odd announcement last week:Brian Evans, the candidate currently running for US Senator as a Democrat, is contemplating switching from the Democratic party...to the Republican Party, just one week prior to the primary election... "I believe issues and people are more important than party affiliation, but I am so dismayed by the lack of support I have received from the DNC in my effort to run against the man they are backing, that I am beginning to believe we are not seeing eye to eye. This election process is about to be the man, not the brand." Evans, 34, believes that most of his beliefs seem to fall within the scope of the republican candidates. "Every survey I see has our answers very similar. The only thing I don't think we see eye to eye on is same-sex civil unions, which I will continue to fight for..."

[alohaj316]

Evans, 34, believes that most of his beliefs seem to fall within the scope of the republican candidates. "Every survey I see has our answers very similar. The only thing I don't think we see eye to eye on is same-sex civil unions, which I will continue to fight for..."

The June 17th issue of The Maui Weekly listed some of Brian Evans’ statements and positions.

“As far as abortions go, I believe in the woman’s right to choose. There should be a time limit imposed once the child clearly becomes a human being. This might not be popular among Democrats but seven months max. Otherwise it’s murder.”

In August, Mr. Evans responded to the Hawaii Right to Life candidate survey by choosing the statement “Abortion should be prohibited except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother” to represent his personal views on abortion. That is a radical change from his position in June.

What happened in two months time that Mr. Evans’ position changed on this issue? Was it a genuine position change or political strategizing? Did he figure out that by the laws of bio-genesis, the unborn child IS a human being for the entire time it is in the womb? Perhaps Mr. Evans is molding his views to that of the Republican Platform in hopes of garnering the Republican vote because otherwise he risks being snuffed out in the primary by his fellow Democrat incumbent!

I don’t think most Republicans favor legalizing pot either!

[EastCoastTropics]

What's your thoughts & feelings on Brian Evans
for Senator?

Here is the link:

http://www.brianforsenator.com/


When I first saw the tile to this post I said to meself.....the singer??!! And sure enough, it's him alright! Would you believe he was born and raised in the city I now reside in??! In fact, many years ago I saw him perform and had his autographed CD! His sound reminds me of The Sinatra!

Wonder what took him down that road? Had no idea that he now lives in Maui! What a small world eh?

[kamlost]

ahahah... hey, if he can give as much entertainment as mr. "girlie men"... it may be worth a shot? but nah.. brian evans seems a little flimsy - he'll probably be called "girlie man".

[pzarquon]

See also a letter (?) Evans published with Hawaii Reporter: Why as a Democrat I am Challenging U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye for His Seat (http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?0b0d799a-82c0-4de4-8cf2-2c2ca0fc3e3a). He's definitely well into hedging his bets with the "what party am I?" stuff. And he asks, "Is it because the Hawaii DNC hasn't returned my phone calls?" which comes across only as sour grapes. If your party has an incumbent it's happy with, why would it return your phone calls?

He goes completely off the rails, eventually, his last paragraph stretching on forever, with passing references to Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter, dental insurance, and Jesus. He's really into dental insurance.I think we all know I have about as good a chance as being voted in as Pope as I do US Senator in the primary, but I hope that I brought my issues to the forefront for those whom suffer without insurance or dental insurance by the current Democratic US Senator.Um. Okay, then, Brian. Please step away from the keyboard.

[kamlost]

He has some interesting points and views. But he majorly needs some writing classes and to speak in less italics.

[KiheiDays]

I don't know, but honestly...I like him.

He's full of piss and vinegar, and he's a young guy which is what I think we need. We keep electing Inouye, and the only one who seems to be benefiting from that is Inouye and his family (and the bubba system).

I saw him on ABC in an interview, and he sounded sharp as hell. I like that he is not about the party, but the person. We need more elected officials who don't care about that party as much as they do the individual.

I intend on voting for him today. Will he win? I highly doubt it, but it's his first shot out the door so who knows. He may be setting himself up for another run down the road. Roll Call (www.rollcall.com) is a highly respected newspaper in Washington, often referred to as the "Newspaper of Air Force One," and they just did a massive piece on him.

I think that regardless of whether or not he wins the primary, it takes massive one's to go up against Inouye, and I will commend him for his efforts with my vote.

I like a guy (or girl) who stirs it up.

[KiheiDays]

Shockingly, check out page 49 of The National Enquirer. It's the one with "Chandra Leavy" on the cover, and something about George Bush doing cocaine on the bottom banner of the front cover. The whole page is about Brian Evans' new CD.

[KiheiDays]

Shockingly, check out page 49 of The National Enquirer. It's the one with "Chandra Leavy" on the cover, and something about George Bush doing cocaine on the bottom banner of the front cover. The whole page is about one of this guys new albums. Interesting that it came out the day before the primary???

I am voting for Brian Evans. He's 34, young enough to grow into it.

[KiheiDays]

I am voting for Brian Evans in the Senate race today, for the primary. I love a guy with piss and vinegar and this guy has both!

[KiheiDays]

He came in 2nd in the primary!

More than or close to 8,000 votes. 2,000 more votes than the last guy who ran against Inouye in 1998.

Evans, it was mentioned, might challenge Republican Governor Linda Lingle in 2006.

That would be a lot closer than this election was. Frankly, Evans had some serious chutzpa to even challenge Inouye.

[pzarquon]

Primary Election update! U.S. Senator results...

Democratic Primary:

Daniel K. Inouye - 112,116 (90.4%)
Blank Votes - 5,561 (4.5%)
Brian Evans - 4,721 (3.8%)
Eddie Yoon - 1,610 (1.3%)

Republican Primary:

Cam Cavasso - 17,683 (39.9%)
Blank Votes - 11,624 (26.2%)
Rich Payne - 6,582 (14.9%)
Jay Friedheim - 5,046 (11.4%)
James R. DeLuze - 3,357 (7.6%)

Non-Partisan Primary:

Jim Brewer - 704 (73.9%)
J. Turner Brown - 219 (23.0%)
Blank Votes - 28 (2.9%)

Libertarian Primary:

Jeff Mallan - 497 (83.7%)
Blank Votes - 97 (16.3%)

[mel]

This will be a 4 way race in the general election. Mr. Brewer qualified in the primary by outpolling the Libertarian Party candidate. More than likely Mr. Inouye will pick up an overwhelming number of votes and win another 6 years in Congress.

Mr. Evans ought to resume his singing career for now. Has anyone heard his music... Ivan, Ivan... I think he records adult standards.

[KiheiDays]

Final Vote Tally:

Evans got more than 8,000 votes without spending a dime. Inouye got 150,000-ish, and he received $3,000,000. Evans beat out Eddie Yoon, a former prosecutor. If Evans really put the effort into campaigning and got some people behind him, he could very well be the front-runner for Governor of Hawaii as a Democrat against Lingle. Will he win? Who knows, but combined with Yoon, 10,000 people voted against brand new candidates and I think that's just terrific.

As a singer goes, yes, he's in the adults standards music profession. He is actually in the National Enquirer this week, on page 49. What's really neat?:

Anyone who buys the CD receives a free autographed photo of him singing the national anthem at Fenway Park in Boston for a Red Sox game, and the photo is also signed by Roger Clemens of the Houston Astros.

Perhaps the next time he runs he can hit up Clemens for some cash to run for office with. Use those favors properly, kiddo. He certainly succeeding in getting his name out here, but I don't believe he realistically believed he'd win, but look at how many people now know his name because he ran against Inouye (or dared to run). Now everyone knows him. I think he and Yoon should both be commended for stepping up to the plate when clearly no one else would, and if Evans can bad more than EIGHT THOUSAND VOTES (that's a lot of votes, we can all agree, for a guy that didn't take out a single ad), then he can step up to the plate again...and maybe next time hit a home run.

He has a very nice statement on his website, www.brianforsenator.com

Contest Party* Candidate Votes Percent
U.S. Senator NPP BREWER, Jim 1,004 72.91%
NPP BROWN, J. Turner 373 27.09%
NPP BLANK VOTES 187 N/A
NPP OVER VOTES 2 N/A


U.S. Senator REP CAVASSO, Cam 21,642 49.25%
REP PAYNE, Rich 9,626 21.91%
REP FRIEDHEIM, Jay 7,025 15.99%
REP DeLUZE, James R. 5,648 12.85%
REP BLANK VOTES 16,250 N/A
REP OVER VOTES 30 N/A


U.S. Senator LIB MALLAN, Jeff 752 100.00%
LIB BLANK VOTES 105 N/A
LIB OVER VOTES 0 N/A


U.S. Senator DEM INOUYE, Daniel K. 157,341 93.75%
DEM EVANS, Brian 8,050 4.80%
DEM YOON, Eddie

[Miulang]

I was actually a little surprised that Inouye was running again this year (what's he trying to do? Beat Strom Thurmond's record for the oldest serving Senator in the history of the US Senate????? :p ). I thought it was pretty funny that all his campaign signs just said "Dan" on them. His name recognition is such that even on Moloka'i, he had yard signs posted all over the place.

There is, however, a little thing called, "knowing when to quit" or "quitting while you're still on top". For his sake and the sake of you citizens of Hawaii, I really hope this is his last term in office if he gets elected. You guys deserve new blood and I don't see that the Democratic party in Hawaii is doing anything to groom a successor to Dan. Maybe Brian Evans can be that heir, but it seems to me in a lot of ways that the Hawaii Democratic Party is in a state of denial about how much longer Dan the Man can continue to do good things for the 'aina. For instance, I don't like the fact that he's trying to tack the Hawaiian sovereignty bill into some Senate appropriations bill. That's sneaky and underhanded. If the Akaka Bill can't stand on its own merits, why should it pass at all???? Just because tacking unrelated things onto spending bills is a tactic used all the time, that doesn't mean that something as important as the Akaka Bill should be treated in the way that it is in Congress right now.

Miulang

[pzarquon]

If Evans really put the effort into campaigning and got some people behind him, he could very well be the front-runner for Governor of Hawaii as a Democrat against Lingle.I give you credit for your optimism, at least! And devotion. Your first day here, and six posts (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/search.php?searchid=19140), all about Brian? I hope he knows he's got a true believer.

As you may have noticed, we were fortunate to have Lillian Hong and Terrence Teruya, candidates for Honolulu, share their perspectives firsthand right here on the site. If Brian wants to make a case as the voice of the people, here's hoping he drops in here as well.

He is actually in the National Enquirer this week, on page 49.Yes, you'd mentioned this a few times... I wouldn't consider a citation in the National Enquirer to be something a politician should neccessarily brag about. Brian did get some respectable mentions in more mainstream outlets, and of that, he should certainly be proud.

Anyone who buys the CD receives a free autographed photo of him singing the national anthem at Fenway Park in Boston for a Red Sox game, and the photo is also signed by Roger Clemens of the Houston Astros.Um, are we talking about politics and public service, or marketing?

What I want to know is, what's Brian going to do about his promised party switch to the Republican side. (After those mean Democrats wouldn't return his phone calls.) Cam Cavasso took a respectable 17,683 votes on the Republican ticket, and I don't think there's any such thing as a running mate in this race! :p

[Miulang]

You know what, though? Brian Evans as entertainer/politician is not a new concept. Look at Ronnie Reagan, Sonny Bono and Arnie Schwartzenneger (to mention a few). Would having a rock singer as an elected official be any better/worse than those precedents?

Miulang

[pzarquon]

Oh, absolutely. I mentioned those guys and a few more (including local examples) in this thread a few posts back (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showpost.php?p=8155&postcount=6). There's no telling who people will elect. I joked today I'd probably cast a vote for the "adult entertainer" running as a Libertarian in the race for U.S. Representative, District 1 (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=2641).

Jasmine Trias? Maybe she'd have a shot, for mere visibility and name recognition.

But if "entertainer turned politician" is the well-worn road Brian's looking to follow, he needs to work on both the "entertainer" and "public servant" sides of his resume. He's talented, I have no doubt, but he's no Ronald Reagan. Or Arnold, for that matter.

I wonder if Brian ever considered running for office in Vegas? He's apparently got a fair share of ties over there, too.

[KiheiDays]

I am curious...would Brian have a shot at the Democratic spot for Governor?

Is there anyone, as a Democrat, more high profile than Evans is now that he's come in 2nd on the ballot?

Granted, it was a diiiiiiiiiistant second, but it's still second.

Thoughts?

[Miulang]

My guess is that Linda Lingle has her eyes on something bigger: like Congress (maybe if Dan the Man retires after this coming term, she will challenge whoever is running on the Dem side for his seat). In Maui County, where she was Mayor for 2 terms (I think), she portrayed herself as being "for the people". But she was not born in Hawaii, so even though she's lived in the 'aina for awhile, she still doesn't get all the nuances of living in Hawaii.

Miulang

[KiheiDays]

Looks like Evans has already made his decision, folks.

Go to www.brianforsenator.com (although that's likely just a "in progress" url while he obtains one more suitable).

[pzarquon]

I guess we should expect to see BrianForGovernor.com soon, then? :) Well, stranger things have happened. Hell, there's time enough to prepare for 2006, and one thing I'll agree with, there's definitely a vacuum in the Democratic Party at the statewide level right now.

Of course, if Hanneman loses the mayor's race this year, he'll probably run for governor... what hasn't he run for?

By the way, Brian, it's "heroes," not "hero's." Good luck.

[KiheiDays]

January 6th & 7th: Brian Evans - Live at The Diamond Head Theatre - Honolulu, Hawaii - 8:00 PM with special guest.


Link to buy tickets for January 6th: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=97601

Link to buy tickets for January 7th: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=97603

Just saw this on RollCall. The former US Senate Candidate and possible candidate for Governor of Hawaii in 2006 will be performing in Hawaii!!!!

His website is www.brianevansonline.com