Ex-POW enters race for U.S. Senate (Hawaii Republican)

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin ^ | July 12, 2006 | Richard Borreca

[Clintonfatigued]

Jerry Coffee, retired Navy captain and prisoner of war in North Vietnam, will run for the U.S. Senate as a Republican.

Coffee, who was encouraged to run for the state House in 2004 by Gov. Linda Lingle, was supported during yesterday's announcement by Lingle, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and a group of local GOP leaders.

"I am a big supporter of Jerry Coffee. I think he is a terrific candidate and will make it a very exciting race," Lingle said.

"It is really in the public's interest to have at least one person in Washington who is from the Republican Party, and we could not have a better candidate than Jerry Coffee," Lingle said to reporters.

Already running for the Senate are incumbent Democrat Sen. Dan Akaka and U.S. Rep. Ed Case.

Coffee, who lost to Rep. Blake Oshiro (D, Aiea-Halawa) by 54 votes in 2004, picked the Vietnam and Korean War memorial on the grounds of the state Capitol as the site of his announcement to highlight both his 28-year career as a naval flight officer and a POW in Hanoi for seven years.

[Clintonfatigued]

With Jerry Coffee running, Republicans at least have an outside chance at winning. He has some name I.D. as a result of his syndicated column and history as a motivational speaker.

[radar101]

Retired Navy Captain Gerald Coffee was shot down while flying combat missions over North Vietnam. Much of his 7 years, 9 days as a P.O.W. was in solitary confinement. His celebrated keynote message, Beyond Survival -- inspires audiences worldwide with a message of hope, faith, and the invincibility of the human spirit. In his presentation, unique and universal, Captain Coffee focuses upon leadership under stress, change and uncertainty, teamwork and loyalty to the organization, and communication. He also personalizes his program to the goals of any meeting. His is not a story of Vietnam, but a story of human survival and renewal, full of both inspiration and even humor. Due to the life changing impact of his message, he is considered by many of his clients as their most memorable speaker -- ever! His highly acclaimed book, BEYOND SURVIVAL, is considered by many the best ever written on the Vietnam War POW experience.

[Clintonfatigued]

Tbanks for the informative posting!

: )

[freedumb2003]

Sounds like a great guy.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

hawaii ping.

[coconutt2000]

thnx :-)

[fieldmarshaldj]

It is imperative that Akaka is renominated. If Case wins the nomination and prevails in the general, we won't be contesting that seat again until at least 2024, maybe 2030.

[Clintonfatigued]

True, but there is another dynamic at work, one known to few outside of Hawaii. The state Democrat Party is dominated by a corrupt political machine which is led formally be Senator Dan Inouye. An example of their tactics is that in 1991, some women annynomously made charges against Inouye in the wake of the Clarence Thomas hearings. The Machine was able to tfind these women and intimidate them into backing down. A number of Hawaiians are sick of having machine politicians running public affairs.

Ed Case is an anti-machine Democrat and a number of anti-machine voters (including most Republicans but a number of Democrats, some of them quite liberal) see Case as a chance of striking a blow against it. (Incidentally, there have been some GOP politicians who cooperated with the machine, most notably former Sen. Hiram Fong) In fact, many anti-machine voters see Case as their best shot at beginning the overthrow of that group. And they value that more than they value partisan or ideological gains. (furthermore, some anti-machine Democrats aren't inclined to vote GOP, particularly if the GOP candidate is conservative)

[fieldmarshaldj]

Oh, I know about the machine (and the allegations of Inouye's harrassment, every bit as bad, if not worse, than what got Sen. Bob Packwood run out of office -- but, of course, even Packwood's social liberalism couldn't save him as long as he was an "R"). The problem is, getting rid of Akaka at this time and replacing him with Case will only see a new machine rise in its place, one that Case will get to preside over for years to come.

The question we have to ask is what will it benefit the GOP ? Better to keep a senile Democrat in office who will probably die in the next 6 years who could be replaced with a GOP appointee (preferably, Duke Aiona), then giving us zero chance to win the seat if Case beats Akaka, taking it permanently out of play.

[Clintonfatigued]

I agree with your outlook, but there are too Hawaii many voters who don't. Their goal is not conservative or Republican gain (many of Case's supporters are anti-machine Democrats, not Republicans) but striking a blow against the machine, and Case's electoral victories has been a huge headache for it.

Without openly saying so, Case is what used to be called a fusion candidate. Anti-machine Democrats and the states few Republicans have formed an informal alliance. Case's occasional concessions to Republicans in his votes reflects that.

The real purpose of Coffee's candidacy (besides the GOP being unable to recruit a sitting officeholder) is to take advantage of any divisions if the Democrat primary gets very bitter (which it may).

[fieldmarshaldj]

Well, I don't particularly care if Case inflicts maximum damage to Akaka, so long as he doesn't get the nomination. Whatever "concessions" Case makes with his voting is practically non-existent. His voting record is almost as hard-left as the Hawaiian Senile Bobbsey twins. If Coffee can take advantage of the damage inflicted, all the power to him.

[Spyder]

any divisions if the Democrat primary gets very bitter (which it may).

I think "may" is pessimistic. It already is stewing to be nasty. And let's not forget that Hawaii even elected a dead Democrat over a Republican (though admittedly the R options weren't very good that time around). The demographics are changing here, but it's quite slow. I'm guessing Akaka will pull it off, even though more and more are anti-machine as you say.

[bluejay]

It is imperative that Akaka is renominated. If Case wins the nomination and prevails in the general, we won't be contesting that seat again until at least 2024, maybe 2030.

That might be true. But realistically, I don't think a Republican has a prayer of winning. Our best choice is to vote for Case in the primary. Otherwise we will get Akaka for six more years.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Your best choice for what ? You'd prefer the ultraliberal 'Rat Case as the Senator from Hawaii for the next 24 years over renominating the 82-year old Akaka who will likely die in office within the next 6 years, like his predecessor, Spark Matsunaga, did in 1990, which will allow Lingle to appoint a Republican (Duke Aiona) to succeed him ? The moribund Akaka gets us a Republican, Case closes the door for ANY chance for a quarter-century. Explain to me how voting for the younger, healthier, liberal 'Rat makes more sense, because I sure ain't seeing it. Remember, their voting records are nearly identical.

[BillyBoy]

>> It is imperative that Akaka is renominated. If Case wins the nomination and prevails in the general, we won't be contesting that seat again until at least 2024, maybe 2030. <<

Akaka would be easier to beat than Case, but the ideal scenario is Akaka being renominated with as little support as possible, having exhausted his resources by spending all his energy, time, and money to eek through a bitter party primary.

Akaka being renominated with 50.2% of the RAT vote sounds good. ;-)