Well, as we sit here licking our wounds from the results of Saturday's primary, just a few last thoughts on it and maybe a few more on November's general election.
Our endorsements of Ed Case and Mufi Hannemann in Saturday's primary were based on our perception that both were more moderate than their main opponents. As we've written here many times, we think the country is ill-served by the gridlock that is gripping Washington, D.C., and there is a pressing need for both parties to elect candidates that are willing to effect bipartisan compromises for the good of the country.
In short, the growing problems of yearly deficits and a massive national debt demand statesmen, not right-wing nor left-wing ideologues. We had the impression from both Case and Hannemann that they wanted to be part of a moderate group that tackled these problems and found solutions.
Which brings us to the general election:
Mitt Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as his vice presidential pick is troubling because Ryan's highly publicized budget plan, the Path to Prosperity, is a nonstarter with Democrats.
Yet, it is at least a serious proposal, unlike President Obama's tax the rich plan. The problem with Obama's plan to restore tax rates for the wealthy to pre-Bush days is that even if they were fully restored, it wouldn't put a dent in the deficit. "Tax the Rich" is a great campaign slogan, but it's not a serious plan to tackle the deficit.
The solution lies in something like the bipartisan Bowles-Simpson recommendation that both cuts spending and reforms the tax code. Yet, neither party is coming close to proposing such an encompassing plan in the coming campaign.
Somehow the country must elect representatives who will join the much-vaunted "Gang of Six" in the Senate who want to use Simpson-Bowles as a starting point to fix the nation's debt and deficit problems.
We hope the representatives Hawaii sends to Washington in November will join in that effort. The United States desperately needs leaders who will put country before party.
* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.
