What about Bob? I asked that question a few weeks ago, and yesterday we got the answer, although there were probably few people attending to the testimony at that point. I was watching via Olelo’s streaming video feed. Thank you, Olelo.
Attorney General Mark Bennett was pressed–skillfully cross examined, really–by Rep. Sharon Har during yesterday’s extended House hearing. At one point she asked about the Superferry’s harbor agreement with the state, and Bennett answered that it had been negotiated by the administration. Har dug deeper. “Who, specifically?” Bennett seemed surprised by the pointed question, but responded directly, saying that former chief of staff Bob Awana made the policy decisions regarding the harbor agreement from his position right there in the governor’s office. Bingo. So forget transportation director Barry Fukunaga attempt to shift responsibility way down the food chain and away from the governor.
Lots of good blogging is tracking the Super Session. I’ve been checking Larry Geller (www.disappearednews.com) and Doug White (www.poinography.com) for details, and The Small Pond, written by a House staffer, has some interesting inside perspectives.
I, unfortunately, am short on time this morning. So I’m cutting this short and offering up a few cats for this Feline Friday. After getting scolded the last time for omitting images of Toby, I’ll feature him today, along with Harriet and Oreo, the cat formerly known as Mr. Kitten. Just click on the photo for more.
5 responses so far ↓
1 kailuahale // Oct 26, 2007 at 7:11 am
Was it Bob? Or, was it Linda? It has been occurring to me that this whole “superferry” debacle is so well scripted, so “Rovian” (as in Karl), that it may very well have more to do with shaping how business and policymaking is done in Hawaii than interisland transportation at all.
Skip the obvious need for EIS, press on, inflame cultural divisiveness in order to overshadow issues of urbanization and development, single out and denigrate environmental issues and so called “activists” and on and on. Worst of all has been the attack on the judiciary system, rule of law, and now the separation of powers between the legislative and executive. Basically, ending up with all the power going to the governor to expedite business interests, all the while crying about how difficult it is for business in Hawaii. Are there to be no controls at all?
It’s so clearly a done deal. But, what are we left with in terms of precedents long after the Lingle administration is gone? Or are we just getting to see what was already there?
I sure would’ve liked to see the ferry people take our local police and firefighters out for a “free ride” - but, the military had more PR power I guess. Oh, hey, not that I don’t “support the troops.”
2 digitaleye // Oct 26, 2007 at 7:20 am
You said “Thank you, Olelo” for the streaming video, but perhaps you should be thanking cable subscribers for footing the bill as the service is now streamed by Granicus, a California company, for pay. Perhaps you should then also thank NetEnterprise, a local Hawai’i company, who has reportedly been providing the service for FREE, and apparently still is:
FOCUS - Channel 49
http://wmserver.netenterprise.net/olelo-leg2
OAHU - Channel 52
http://wmserver.netenterprise.net/olelo-oahu
NATV - Channel 53
http://media03.netenterprise.net/olelolive
VIEWS - Channel 54
http://wmserver.netenterprise.net/olelo-views
3 Lora // Oct 26, 2007 at 9:31 am
First, regarding the super ferry, I agree that all kinds of shenanigans have been going on, and I have long suspected that the neighbor islands have been “infiltrated” by some paid folks to stir up the controversy there to make it really ugly. They’ve done a good job and I’m still angry about that. Over all, though, I’d like to see it in operation. Let it run and let’s work out the challenges and issues. We are, after all, the Aloha state and I’m seeing none of that.
Cats. Love the photos, Ian. Mr. Toby is looking quite well, and Oreo? What a charmer. Coal and Sita just got an early Christmas present; a 3-sided tent with a “lambskin” rug and a mousie that dangles from the center top. Coal has pretty much taken it over. It makes for great entertainment household-wide.
4 Bartman // Oct 26, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Yep, let’s blame the protests on “outside agitators”! Paid professionals, nonetheless.
What progress we have made in understanding the roots of “subversion.” The protesters aren’t angry over the contempt Lingle has displayed towards their efforts to achieve justice through the courts, or their success in getting the Kauai, Maui and Hawaii County Councils to request an EIS, or the opinion of the state Environmental Council that an EIS was required, or even the judgment of the State Supreme Court that the environmentalist were correct. The enviros went through ALL the “proper channels” and won in each arena, but Lingle said screw the County councils, screw the EC, screw the Supreme Court and screw the Kauai citizens who objected to the SuperFerry’s lawless conduct. If this resulted in “protests,” then clearly it can be best explained by the nefarious activities of paid “outside agitators!”
On a seperate matter, I picked up your post raising questions about Bob Awana’s role and raised it rather pointedly in my testimony:
“I do believe that it is in the public interest that we trace back how we got into the current jam we are in and support the call for the State Auditor to conduct an investigation. I find it curious that Bob Awana’s name has largely disappeared from public discussions of this matter, as I had understood that it was Awana, not Director Rod Haraga, who was effectively controlling the Department of Transportation during this period.”
And later:
“IF the SF were to file against the State, it is a shame that they cannot file personally against Linda Lingle, Bob Awana and Barry Fukunaga.”
I don’t believe Awana’s name had been mentioned in the hearing prior to this, though later Garibaldi was questioned by senators about Awana’s role. I know several of the House members had watched the Senate hearing in their offices, as several made comments to me about my testimony.
So it may have been your seed that eventually sprouted in the form of those public questions about Awana’s role. Good work.
BTW- I haven’t yet received my paycheck from the [pick one] Kremlin, Rothschilds or Illuminatti conspiracy for the hours I have put into agitating against special treatment for the SuperFerry. If Lora could put me in touch with the paymasters, I would appreciate the help.
5 wlsc // Oct 27, 2007 at 7:26 am
Speaking of Bob Awana, isn’t Patkar’s sentencing sometime soon?
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