A Robber In Drag, Making A Case
Wednesday - February 01, 2006
A bank robbery happened in Honolulu last week. That is not breaking news, but the interesting twist on the story is the suspect was dressed as a woman.
So much for the signs displayed in bank lobbies. “In order to protect and serve you, please remove hats and sunglasses when entering the bank.” I can understand missing a customer wearing shades, but a dude dressed in drag? You would think a red flag would have gone up with someone somewhere.
I saw the pictures of the suspect, and this must have been one real desperado. I hope he wasn’t a gang member because his career path just came to an abrupt halt. To make matters worse, he made for one homely chick. The wig itself should have set off the alarms. It was huge. Picture Don King’s hair on steroids. Not a pretty sight.
I am sure when he gets caught - and believe me, in that getup there is no other conclusion - part of his sentencing should include the requirement he wear that outfit wherever he goes for the next decade. There may be a case for cruel and unusual punishment, but I think prosecutors should take that chance.
I have always liked Ed Case, and I like him even more after his announcement to run against incumbent Sen. Daniel Akaka. His timing and explanation are right on. Even if you are not a Case supporter, you should admire his willingness to take a chance.
I love the moaning coming from Rep. Neil Abercrombie about Rep. Case’s run. C’mon. We all know Neil was dutifully waiting his turn to take a shot at either Akaka’s or Sen. Dan Inouye’s seat when the time was right. Case beat him to the punch. The plaintive cries from Abercrombie almost brought tears to the eye, especially when he determines that spirited competition in political races for City Council or the Legislature are OK, but not for the congressional seats. Is he kidding?
Let me ask you something. How will Hawaii survive without Inouye, Akaka and Abercrombie? You listen to them and there is nobody else who can do what they can do because they are a congressional “team.”
They say there is no “I” in team. Well, there is, and that “I” stands for Inouye. Sen. Dan has key committee positions on Appropriations and is ranking member on the Defense sub-committee. He ranks in the top five in member seniority and has established an undeniable influential presence among his peers. Hawaii will miss his leadership when he leaves office.
The state will be just fine, however, when the torches are passed to the next generation of Hawaii leaders. We often say Hawaii is a special place. The federal government knows that. The United States military is Hawaii’s second largest economic contributor behind tourism. Will our strategic location in the Pacific be diminished if Sen. Inouye or Sen. Akaka is not serving? Will federal investment in Hawaii come to a halt if Rep. Abercrombie is not around? Of course not. The commitment of the U. S. military is, has and always will be strong to the state of Hawaii. We will continue to see Hawaii become more relevant and integral because of our logistical importance in the days in which we live.
Let’s cut to the chase on this whole Ed Case thing. The job of Hawaii senator is one of the best you could ever hope for if you are politically inclined. Neil Abercrombie wants that gig. Ed Case did an end around Neil and stands to take the job Neil thought was his. He simply got out-maneuvered.
We are seeing a shift in the status quo during our lifetime. The dissolution of the Bishop Estate, the election of a Republican governor, and the transition from designated political power to voter’s choice signals a new wave of change in our landscape. Thank you, Ed Case, for taking us to the next step.
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