Mostly Politics

An Arrogant American Attitude

Dan Boylan — 2009-11-04T10:00:18+00:00

Last week Thomas Friedman, the respected New York Times columnist and author of The Earth Is Flat, lent his voice in opposition to sending 40,000 more American troops to Afghanistan.

Shortchanging Hawaii’s Kids

Dan Boylan — 2009-10-28T10:00:30+00:00

As I write, public school parents of special needs students are in court trying to stop the first Furlough Friday. Other parents are pleading with relatives to watch their kids or scanning the papers for Furlough Friday child care programs. Many come up empty, with neither relatives nor programs to fill the Friday void.

Celebrating The Art Of Writing

Dan Boylan — 2009-10-21T10:00:08+00:00

For those of you who receive your MidWeek on Monday, I write this column to tell you that the day after tomorrow is - by proclamation of the National Council of Teachers of English - The National Day on Writing. For those of you who receive your MidWeek on Tuesday, prepare to think about writing tomorrow.

A Hasty Hanabusa Endorsement

Dan Boylan — 2009-10-14T10:00:56+00:00

It sure didn’t take ‘em long. Less than a week after Colleen Hanabusa announced her candidacy for a congressional seat from Hawaii’s 1st District, Emily’s List, “the nation’s” self-advertised “largest financial resource for women candidates,” announced its endorsement of the veteran Hawaii state senator.

D.C. Dreaming For Vagabond Pols

Dan Boylan — 2009-10-07T10:00:27+00:00

I have a buddy in the real estate business who calls me each fall to ask if I know any young faculty in the market for a house. Usually, I don’t. Young faculty don’t talk to geezers like me about their housing needs. But occasionally I tell my friend about some untenured youngster who’s unhoused as well.

UH Profs Need A Lesson In Humility

Dan Boylan — 2009-09-30T10:00:45+00:00

Hawaii’s public school teachers voted overwhelmingly last week to ratify a contract with the State Department of Education that would furlough them for 17 days between October and May. Those seventeen days constitute nearly an 8 per cent cut in pay.

Bringing Guns To The Debate

Dan Boylan — 2009-09-23T10:00:05+00:00

I just hope nobody shoots him.
We all know to whom him refers. It’s President Barack Obama. I’ve heard the sentiment expressed repeatedly in the past two or three weeks. I’ve said it myself.

Obama, The Right And Healthcare

Dan Boylan — 2009-09-16T10:00:42+00:00

In the past few weeks, I’ve heard a former Honolulu health clinic director argue for a single-payer, national healthcare system; a physician who heads the Hawaii chapter of the American Medical Association explain why - this time - the nation’s largest organization of physicians supports reform

It’s Too Early To Pick Neil Or Mufi

Dan Boylan — 2009-09-09T10:00:03+00:00

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie’s gubernatorial campaign office released another poll last week. It showed Abercrombie leading Mayor Mufi Hannemann in the race for the 2010 Democratic nomination for governor by a 48-36 percent margin.

The Proper Monument For A Man

Dan Boylan — 2009-09-02T10:00:10+00:00

As I write, Democrats in both House and Senate are talking about passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Healthcare Reform Act of 2009. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opined last Thursday that “Ted Kennedy’s dream of quality healthcare for all Americans will be made real this year because of his leadership and inspiration.”