As a moderate Democrat who was happy with Republican Linda Lingle as our governor, I am in the difficult position of voting against her this election because of my fear that she will be just another vote for the Mitch McConnell-led Republican caucus.
We have seen over the last four years that McConnell's stated desire to make Barack Obama a one-term president has eclipsed anything else he would be doing. The way the Senate rules are and the way the Republican caucus demands loyalty, no matter what she says about how she will vote, you can rest assured she will have a 95 percent voting record with the Republicans.
This means the end of the Affordable Care Act, continued tax breaks for billionaires and a compromised EPA. Her votes will help the most radical Tea Party elements pass their agenda. I liked her as a governor, but as a senator, we might as well vote for Mitch McConnell.
Jon R. Henderson
Haiku
