Senator Lingle?
By B.J. Reyes
For the past seven-plus years, whenever we in the media asked Gov. Linda Lingle about her future political aspirations, the question was always deflected with a stock answer: That she was fully committed to Hawaii and concentrating on her current term in office.
Last night, in a one-on-one sitdown with our own Richard Borreca on PBS’ Island Insights, Lingle finally gave us a hint that she may consider a future in island politics once her term ends in December.
In response to a question from “Mike from Kaneohe” about whether she sees herself as a future senator for Hawaii, Lingle responded:
Well, I think it’s a little premature, but I certainly want to do something that continues to contribute to our state. I don’t think there’s another place like Hawaii on Earth, and I certainly want to continue to be a part of our future.
So it’s something I would consider, but not something on my mind right now.
Follow-up question from Borreca: What would cause you to run in 2012?
Lingle:
You know, politics is a matter of issues at the time, how people are viewing things at the time. I was a mayor, I was a council member and sometimes it just — it depends on the issues you bring to them.
I do believe it’s critically important that Hawaii have a more balanced political representation in their Congressional delegation and in our state Legislature. I think the people of Hawaii would get much better results, better decisions out of the Legislature if you had a more diverse mix.
Right now you tend to have an overwhelming number of Democrats, and so the public is really kind of shut out a lot of what’s going on.
(Transcript of remarks provided by the governor’s office.)
Political Radar
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:18 pm
No governor, it’s not that people are shut out sometimes because there are overwhelming number of Democrats in office…it’s just that the PEOPLE are just STUPID and LOLO!!!
Look at their voting tract record for the past 50+ years…doesn’t it tell you how stupid they are? And I’m a local/expatriate….
April 4th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
the kamaaina speaks when they vote , lingle is wrong when she says they have no voice. lingle would prefer that corporate money would have the majority vote that indeed would take away the peoples vote and more people would be homeless landless , without a safety net . 8 years to long .
April 4th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
no more lingle no more republicans
April 4th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Boogie with Googie. Vote for Charles “Googie” Collins. He is the right person for the job. Lingle might have denial stress from the tsunami. She should rethink the furlough plan as it is inconveniencing tens of thousands of children and their parents. Some parents have to stay home from work on furlough days as they cant leave the kids without adult supervision. Boogie with Googie
April 6th, 2010 at 3:30 am
Linda Lingle as senator?Are you kidding me?This must be some kind of joke or something.She couldnt follow up and keep the true people of Hawaiis needs in her agendas.Sometimes people fall off the bandwagon when they start trying to rub elbows and strive towards power and companys instead of being a voice and political leader for the people.You are never to important to be able to surpass the people without the people on your side you are practically nothing!!Many people fall from grace when they get to fat headed and forget where they came from knowing the support is from the people not the new comer buisnesses or real estate companys who are transplants.Now it should be a lesson learned when any politic thinks he or she is above the people of Hawaii.The people are the law of the land and if you abuse your authority people will see through you and you will loose your support and foundation.
April 6th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
great. just what we need, someone who can play the political game of two-facing everyone but at a higher level. shove the furlough down everyones’ throats, and then blame the HSTA for not wanting to revamp when she stands alone in the backlash. she’s delusionally neck-deep in denial, and thinks her career aspirations like the superferry, can be done via shortcuts and string-pulling.