PRESIDENTIAL RACE

MCCAIN'S SOLUTIONS ARE DEVOID OF CREDIBILITY

Sometimes "experienced" is another word for "exhausted."

I believe that the proposals of the "experienced" presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, for solving such complex and difficult problems as the failure of major financial institutions are indeed exhausted — of credibility, of plausibility and, most frighteningly, of any sense of responsibility for policies that created the crises.

An administration headed by John McCain can be expected to apply his favorite strategy — deregulation — to the healthcare and insurance industries — because "experience" shows it worked so well in banking.

MAYORAL RACE

RAIL PROJECT WILL BRING JOBS, MONEY TO HAWAI'I

Now flip-flopping Ann Kobayashi says we can't afford rail because we're in a recession. Truth is that mounting job losses make the train vital for us.

The rail project will employ 3,700 construction workers, starting next year, and also 11,000 local suppliers, engineers, architects, and other professionals and hard-working residents. Moreover, no construction project a fifth as large is on the horizon.

In addition, this project will bring $900 million in federal dollars; more money than 700,000 tourists each staying a week. Thus while we're keeping locals working, we're making up for the tourism drop. Plus, we'll save nearly $300 million a year in future transportation costs, including lost time in traffic.

So rail is no "make-work" project, but something we need now. On the other hand, pull the plug on rail and Hawai'i may crash faster than you can say Herbert Hoover. If you own a business, or work for one, vote yes for rail and Mayor Mufi Hannemann on Nov. 4.

KOBAYASHI ENGAGING IN NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING

Shame on Ann Kobayashi for running a negative mayoral campaign.

I could not believe my ears when she challenged Mayor Mufi Hannemann's integrity at the Advertiser/KGMB debate.

Councilwoman Kobayashi knows darn well that nonbid contracts have procurement safeguards and that they are needed and commonly used by government when specific skills and capabilities are more important than the lowest price.

If she has evidence of improper or illegal award of contracts, then she should file a complaint with the prosecutor or the U.S. attorney.

Of course, she hasn't because Councilwoman Kobayashi's allegations are without merit and just negative campaigning.

As a person of Japanese ancestry, I was offended by her disrespect for Mayor Hannemann as she would always address him as "Mufi." In previous campaigns, I remember "Mufi" addressing the incumbent or past mayor as "Mayor Harris" or "Mayor Fasi" in every debate.

I have known Mayor Hannemann for more than 15 years at a personal level. I have never seen Mufi Hannemann take a drink of alcohol. I cannot recall any time, even in heated discussions, where I have heard foul language come from his mouth. I know he loves his wife. And I know he loves Hawai'i. His biggest failing is that his Harvard education sometimes causes him to use five-dollar words that I don't know.

What I do know is that Mayor Hannemann is the best person to be mayor of Honolulu.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

PLAN NOW FOR 2009 MEDICARE COVERAGE

In 2009, people in the most popular Medicare drug plans will be seeing a large increases in their premiums, some as high as 60 percent. Information on premiums and coverage options for 2009 should be available starting now, and even people who can afford the higher premiums should start checking to see if their drugs will still be covered next year. People have the right to change Medicare health plans for 2009 from Nov. 15 through Dec. 31.

In most states, there are nearly 100 different Medicare private drug and health plans to choose from. Consumers should look at affordability of premiums and whether their prescriptions are covered by the plan. For people considering a Medicare HMO or other private health plan, check to see if your doctors will accept the plan in 2009 and whether it provides protections against high medical costs.

Unfortunately, there are no standardized benefit packages for either drug or health plans and people cannot receive drug coverage through original Medicare. Here's hoping the next administration creates a Medicare-run drug benefit that would provide stability and peace of mind to older adults and people with disabilities who trust and rely on the program for their other healthcare.

SURGE IN IRAQ

ALSO OTHER REASONS FOR SLOWDOWN IN VIOLENCE

Sen. John McCain continually speaks of the success of the surge in Iraq, but he fails to mention the other two critical events that helped to tamp down the violence there.

When President Bush said the U.S. military would only leave Iraq once the sectarian violence was controlled, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for a ceasefire last year to help get U.S. forces out of their country as fast as possible.

Meanwhile, al-Qaida (which had only gained a stronghold in Iraq once American troops were there) was asked to leave by the Sunni leaders. Who's fighting whom in Iraq is often complicated, but McCain should not be taking credit for a decrease in violence when, in fact, the citizens of Iraq are doing everything they can to speed along the withdrawal.

I commend our troops for a valiant effort in trying to stop a civil war between groups that have been fighting each other for many generations.