With the Senate race between Akaka and Case, a lot of talk has centered around the Democratic machine. Growing up in Hawaii, I knew vaguely how the political system worked, but never really got into the details. Now that I've moved back, it's interesting for me to reflect on the political history of the Islands.
I'm just finished up Land and Power in Hawaii, but unfortunately, there's not a lot of detail covering the Waihee years and afterwards. I'm trying to understand the different trends and contextualize them, whether it's Lingle's '02 victory, the corruption charges against Mayor Harris, Hanneman's come-from-behind win, Calvin Say's power and position compared to past House Speakers, the latest rounds of lawsuits against Kamehameha Schools, the demographic impact of the Cayetano years (i.e., the exodus of Hawaii people to the CONUS), and of course, Case's campaign against Akaka, particularly what it will mean in a post-Inouye Hawaii.
One of the most frequently cited terms in connection with these discussions is the "Democratic machine" or the "old-boy network." I don't doubt either exist, since the Democrats have held control for so long. But who exactly is part of this machine? Who runs it? What are the factions in the machine and what factors have contributed to its decline in power (assuming, of course, that it has declined)? When I try to discuss these power plays, I get a lot of "no like talk 'bou dat kine stuff" or, even more irritatingly, delphic phrases that only hint, but don't tell.
It occurs to me that the Internet provides the perfect opportunity to discuss this. There's no fear of retaliation or being politically incorrect, because we can choose anonymity. I'm conscious that this has its downsides, like smears being planted, but I'm trusting that the discussion itself will eventually expose those kinds of motives. Maybe that's too much Wikipedia-esque idealism, but I'm willing to take that risk.
Who is the Democratic machine, how do they work, what is happening to them now, and what impact will that have on Hawaii? In other words, what is the political story of Hawaii and how is it likely to continue?
So now, my elders (if not in age, then certainly in knowledge and wisdom), I'll sit down and hear what you have to say.
(P.S. I'm also fairly certain that there's a "Republican machine" in the works as well. I only titled this thread "The Democratic Machine" because the Democrats are usually seen as more influential, but feel free to tell me about the Republicans as well).
I'm just finished up Land and Power in Hawaii, but unfortunately, there's not a lot of detail covering the Waihee years and afterwards. I'm trying to understand the different trends and contextualize them, whether it's Lingle's '02 victory, the corruption charges against Mayor Harris, Hanneman's come-from-behind win, Calvin Say's power and position compared to past House Speakers, the latest rounds of lawsuits against Kamehameha Schools, the demographic impact of the Cayetano years (i.e., the exodus of Hawaii people to the CONUS), and of course, Case's campaign against Akaka, particularly what it will mean in a post-Inouye Hawaii.
One of the most frequently cited terms in connection with these discussions is the "Democratic machine" or the "old-boy network." I don't doubt either exist, since the Democrats have held control for so long. But who exactly is part of this machine? Who runs it? What are the factions in the machine and what factors have contributed to its decline in power (assuming, of course, that it has declined)? When I try to discuss these power plays, I get a lot of "no like talk 'bou dat kine stuff" or, even more irritatingly, delphic phrases that only hint, but don't tell.
It occurs to me that the Internet provides the perfect opportunity to discuss this. There's no fear of retaliation or being politically incorrect, because we can choose anonymity. I'm conscious that this has its downsides, like smears being planted, but I'm trusting that the discussion itself will eventually expose those kinds of motives. Maybe that's too much Wikipedia-esque idealism, but I'm willing to take that risk.
Who is the Democratic machine, how do they work, what is happening to them now, and what impact will that have on Hawaii? In other words, what is the political story of Hawaii and how is it likely to continue?
So now, my elders (if not in age, then certainly in knowledge and wisdom), I'll sit down and hear what you have to say.
(P.S. I'm also fairly certain that there's a "Republican machine" in the works as well. I only titled this thread "The Democratic Machine" because the Democrats are usually seen as more influential, but feel free to tell me about the Republicans as well).
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