Letters to the Editor - Hawaii Editorials

I would like to comment on the nature of Alexander & Baldwin Inc./Hawaii Commercial & Sugar Co.'s charitable giving, community involvement and accessibility, and the good will it has traditionally provided to the people of Maui.

[edward kelly]

I noticed a letter to the editor
saying that Hawaii citizens are not
interested in what happens in New Jersey
or Virginia where the GOP won. Hawaii
is all Democrats in the State Legislature....and they spent all the
money. On the Mainland the Democrats
are in trouble because of big spending
...but not in Hawaii. Mufi will easily
roll into the Governors chair and
RAIL will be financed by money that
does not exist...which doesnt matter
to Obamanomics. Rail is a good idea
but is a financial disaster so legal
hotel gaming will be introduced in
2011 to pay for it. There is no
other answer except to keep kidding
yourself that tourism will rebound
next year.

[Hawaiian Republican]

Unfinished business from yesterday.

Yeah wrote:

<quoted text>Well, the poster wrote:
"Also, whatever you think of FOXNEWS, they completely dominate in the ratings over the other cable news networks, and they also have a very strong viewership of people who consider themselves Democrats and Independents. Their viewship is faily balanced among people who consider themselves Republicans, Democrats, and Independents."
Those on the right seem to hate the MSM. All I did was point out if they are the biggest, is not FOXNews then the msm you hate? It was logical and straight forward.

That may be a your logical conclusion, but it is devoid of some...well...logic. You must be the type of person that takes everything they hear literally. For instance, when someone says they don't like politicians or lawyers, you interpret that to mean quite literally mean that they don't like ALL politicians/lawyers rather than to understand they are making a generalization about politicians/lawyers since they probably have not met ALL of them or probably are familiar with at least a few that they do like.

Also, for many FOXNEWS viewers, the "mainstream media" is not the cable news networks (ie, FOX, CNN, MSNBC), but rather ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS; the major newspapers like the New York Times, Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer; periodicals like Newsweek and Time; and radio stations such as NPR and Air America.

Furthermore, if you watch FOXNEWS, you would know that some of the personalities like Bill O'Reilly and Glen Beck prefer to use the terms "established media" or "the liberal media" instead of mainstream media. "Established media," too, though, is a generalization because there are a number of long-time established newspapers that present fair and balanced coverage. The Wall Street Journal is one that comes to mind.

It would be a fairly safe logic, though, that when you hear people on the political right complain about the mainstream media, they are generalizing and consider FOXNEWS as one of the exceptions.

[Dave]

Since the children of Hawaii go to school for much shorter periods than the children on the mainland, it would only make sense to lengthen their school day here for the four days they are in school.
Getting out at 1:30 pm on Wednesdays only give them more time to get into trouble.

[Keith Haugen]

Aloha:

As a former newsman, I read and watch and listen to a lot of news, print and broadcast.

In my humble opinion, FOXNews is not ... not "news."

It is all opinion, hosted by the most opinionated talk show hosts in the business. Some try to pass themselves off as "journalists" and "reporters" and most don't admit that their purpose is to be entertaining, and or to get richer. They do have a following and they are very well paid.

I like to think there is a place for opinion and it is on the editorial page. There is place for entertainment and it is in the entertainment section. Newspapers, news magazines and the so-called "mainstream" broadcast media (not cable) do a pretty good job of separating opinion and entertainment from news. FOX clearly does not, and it is intentional.

Many FOX viewers believe everything they hear from their favorite talk show hosts, no matter how ridiculous it may seem to the rest of us.

Bill O`Reilly, who preaches that his show is the "no-spin" zone, is the master of "spin." And many of the others are more radical than he is. If you've ever watched Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, Lou Dobbs (CNN) or listened to some of the radio talk shows, you know they are NOT news and are there for another specific purpose, whether it is to "break" President Obama or destroy the America we know, or simply make tens of millions of dollars a year.

And there seem to be a legion of "wannabes" who appear as "guests" or "contributors" and who are just as biased, just as radical, just as hate-filled, waiting in line to get their own show. Many of them will say anything to be invited back again, and again. That includes political losers like Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee, and the likes of Michelle Malkin, who doesn't seem to know the difference between lying and telling the truth. Huckabee, the clergyman, is at least occasionally entertaining.

Even if you watch them for the questionable entertainment value (???), you should question everything they say. Most of it will not pass a "truth" test. So, don't repeat it.

What ever happened to the day when it was important to be honest, speak the truth, and admit that what you are saying is just your "opinion?" I also remember in journalism school, a professor who said the three most important things in our profession were "accuracy, accuracy, accuracy." That can be translated to "accuracy, honesty, integrity," all of which are missing in FOX shows.

Those in the mainstream media make mistakes, but they at least try to be accurate, and honest. It is part of the profession.

Me ka pono,

Keith Haugen
Nu`uanu

[willie]

Keith Haugen wrote:

Aloha:
In my humble opinion, FOXNews is not ... not "news."

And exactly how much Foxnews do you or have you actually WATCHED to come to that conclusion?

[Jim967]

Mr. Bell, The DOE is currently given funding to the tune of over $1 Billion dollars per year. I would like to know where that money is being spent before giving them any more. We have a terrible school system in application, graduation, comprehension, potential to succeed, in just about every area and yet, the DOE and teachers union says the solution is MORE MONEY!!!
Well, I disagree.
I do agree that teachers are underpaid for the work they do, however, salaries are determined by negotiations between the State and the unions, not by raiding funds that were created for another specified purpose.
Teachers voted for the furloughs and now they want a "do over". Once again the teachers are telling the students and community that their word has no value. Remember the random drug testing they also voted for? How'd that turn out?

[Poi]

Keith Haugen wrote:

Aloha:
As a former newsman, I read and watch and listen to a lot of news, print and broadcast.
In my humble opinion, FOXNews is not ... not "news."

Nobody is really arguing that.

Most of Fox is EDITORIAL.

But ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN are all WORSE than not news.

They are pretend "news" organizations which act like non-editorial "news" delivery mechanisms when in fact everything they say and do is filtered through a far left filter.

Example: Yesterday, another special rights for homosexual couples law (gay people) was shot down. ALL the morning "news" shows mentioned that loss with 64 words. That's it. 64 words. Now if that measure had passed, how much coverage would it have gotten?

That's right. I would have been an endless celebration.

So Fox is mostly a day filled with conservative editorials. But the rest of the so called "news" organizations are shameless, dispicable, biased, lying, filtering scum.

I dare anyone to read Newsbusters.com every day for a month and then disagree with me.

[Poi]

edward kelly wrote:

I noticed a letter to the editor
saying that Hawaii citizens are not
interested in what happens in New Jersey
or Virginia where the GOP won. Hawaii
is all Democrats in the State Legislature....and they spent all the
money. On the Mainland the Democrats
are in trouble because of big spending
...but not in Hawaii. Mufi will easily
roll into the Governors chair and
RAIL will be financed by money that
does not exist...which doesnt matter
to Obamanomics. Rail is a good idea
but is a financial disaster so legal
hotel gaming will be introduced in
2011 to pay for it. There is no
other answer except to keep kidding
yourself that tourism will rebound
next year.

The races yesterday remind people how thinking mainlanders can change their minds and vote to shift power.

It reminds us that even 1 seat here and a few seats there shift in power can be considered earth moving changes.

Unfortunately, Hawaii, as an illegal state, has always voluntarily voted for one total domination party politics. Its not 53/47%. It's 90% Democrat, its always been that way and its been 5 decades.

[Pearl City Senior]

Mr. Haugen, I was enjoying your latest attempt at the great American novella until I got to the last two paragraphs and almost threw up in my coffee cup.
If you meant that in a sarcastic or facetious way, then I can agree. But if you are serious, I can only ask, What are you thinking?
And, I am grateful that you are a 'former' newsman. We have enough slanted news being reported by the MSM lemmings.
BTW, I watch Fox, CNN, HLN, ABC and NBC newscasts to see whats going on in my world and can give you my opinion, the closest to the truth is the one listed before CNN above.

[Pau]

willie wrote:

<quoted text>
And exactly how much Foxnews do you or have you actually WATCHED to come to that conclusion?

FOX media has made cuts to staff like most corporations have. One department they didn't have to consider cutting is their quality assurance staff. It has always been their fervent goal to signify a Republican as a Democrat whenever a scandal arises with their beloved cohorts.

[Just another voice]

Teachers voted for the furloughs and now they want a "do over". Once again the teachers are telling the students and community that their word has no value.

Actually, it's the community that wants a do-over. The outcry came from the public when they finally woke up and realized that the furloughs they had so enthusiastically embraced in the spring/summer would mean that their kids would have fewer school days, something that the teachers and their union had been saying ever since Lingle announced she was furloughing everyone for 3 days a a month for the next two years.

The public got what it asked for; now it realizes it asked for the wrong thing. Too bad.

[Dave]

Re. Keith Haugen,
That is the biggest load of crock I have ever heard. You refused to back up your accusations.
The thing with Fox and why the people are flocking to it is, they back up their stories with videos of the very people they are talking about. It is hard to refute words coming right from their mouths.
If you don't want to believe this administration is not taking us down the wrong path, that is your right. I, instead, wish to keep the freedom of speech and freedom of the press and no internet manipulation in my life. I would rather follow the Constitution than have it taken from me.
This President should be impeached for tyranny. Look it up. He swore to uphold the Constitution and has done nothing but tear it down and separate this country since day one.
Even Glenn Beck has asked the WH to call if their was some misrepresentation, No calls of course were made.
You say people that watch Fox or go on the shows are biased, well what in the heck would you call yourself?
As for Michelle Malkin, you only wish you could be as knowledgeable as she. She is one sharp cookie and she knows her stuff.
You just can't stand the fact that one little station is beating the socks off of the far left stations that are in the pockets of the WH. At least they stand alone and proud and have amazing passion. They are American.
You chastise people for not telling the truth, then you spill all those lies yourself.

And by the way, stop with the name calling and you call yourself a newsman, geez, that gives me the willies.

[Ben]

Just another voice wrote:

Teachers voted for the furloughs and now they want a "do over". Once again the teachers are telling the students and community that their word has no value.
Actually, it's the community that wants a do-over. The outcry came from the public when they finally woke up and realized that the furloughs they had so enthusiastically embraced in the spring/summer would mean that their kids would have fewer school days, something that the teachers and their union had been saying ever since Lingle announced she was furloughing everyone for 3 days a a month for the next two years.
The public got what it asked for; now it realizes it asked for the wrong thing. Too bad.

Agreed, these are the same people that agreed to drug testing to get their raises and after the raises, no drug testing. What does this show the kids? They are not making it easy on themselves to conjure up empathy from the people.

[Yeah]

Hawaiian Republican wrote:

Unfinished business from yesterday.
<quoted text>
That may be a your logical conclusion, but it is devoid of some...well...logic. You must be the type of person that takes everything they hear literally. For instance, when someone says they don't like politicians or lawyers, you interpret that to mean quite literally mean that they don't like ALL politicians/lawyers rather than to understand they are making a generalization about politicians/lawyers since they probably have not met ALL of them or probably are familiar with at least a few that they do like.
Also, for many FOXNEWS viewers, the "mainstream media" is not the cable news networks (ie, FOX, CNN, MSNBC), but rather ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS; the major newspapers like the New York Times, Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer; periodicals like Newsweek and Time; and radio stations such as NPR and Air America.
Furthermore, if you watch FOXNEWS, you would know that some of the personalities like Bill O'Reilly and Glen Beck prefer to use the terms "established media" or "the liberal media" instead of mainstream media. "Established media," too, though, is a generalization because there are a number of long-time established newspapers that present fair and balanced coverage. The Wall Street Journal is one that comes to mind.
It would be a fairly safe logic, though, that when you hear people on the political right complain about the mainstream media, they are generalizing and consider FOXNEWS as one of the exceptions.

Well let's see. You seem to be the type of person who “interprets” logic to mean what they want it to mean. That is, you “logic” is weighted towards what you “believe” is true and therefore, your conclusion must also be true. For people like you, this allows a “swinging door” so you can shift your “logic” to match your personal opinions. You can come to several different conclusions depending on what you personally like or don't like,

This is why you're “telling” me what you think msm is. All I'm basing it on is what my understanding of msm is from the perspective of the right. I really don't care what O”Reilly, Beck or anyone else calls it. Besides, from what I understand, these people do not deliver real “news” anyway. They are entertainers. So using them to glean factual information is like saying the WWE is real wrestling. You could argue people get hurt and that's real enough, but I sure wouldn't consider it competitive.

I think it would be fair to logically say if the right doesn't like what the media has to say, they get lumped in the msm category. If they right likes what he media says, then it's not. If not true, then I'd like to know the term msm is truly defined so everyone can be clear and person opinions can be eliminated from the definition. Now that would truly be logical. Otherwise, you're simply offering an opinion.

[Yeah]

Pearl City Senior wrote:

Mr. Haugen, I was enjoying your latest attempt at the great American novella until I got to the last two paragraphs and almost threw up in my coffee cup.
If you meant that in a sarcastic or facetious way, then I can agree. But if you are serious, I can only ask, What are you thinking?
And, I am grateful that you are a 'former' newsman. We have enough slanted news being reported by the MSM lemmings.
BTW, I watch Fox, CNN, HLN, ABC and NBC newscasts to see whats going on in my world and can give you my opinion, the closest to the truth is the one listed before CNN above.

lol! Funny how you can tell the truth from a SINGLE news source. But then again, if you simply believe what you're told it's not a far stretch.

[Yeah]

Poi wrote:

<quoted text>
The races yesterday remind people how thinking mainlanders can change their minds and vote to shift power.
It reminds us that even 1 seat here and a few seats there shift in power can be considered earth moving changes.
Unfortunately, Hawaii, as an illegal state, has always voluntarily voted for one total domination party politics. Its not 53/47%. It's 90% Democrat, its always been that way and its been 5 decades.

Sorry mr racist b traitor. I don't understand why Hawaii is an illegal state. Hawaii is a very legal state.

[Hawaiian Republican]

Keith Haugen wrote:

Aloha:
As a former newsman, I read and watch and listen to a lot of news, print and broadcast. In my humble opinion, FOXNews is not ... not "news."
Keith Haugen
Nu`uanu

Keith,
The fact that you label Bill O'Reilly as "radical" is already very telling about how far out of center you are with your reasoning and judgement. Lou Dobbs, Mike Huckabee, and Newt Gingrich are now all hate-filled radicals also??? That's incredibly laughable.
O'Reilly gives Obama a pretty fair shake on his show. In the viewer emails he typically reads at the end of his program, he often gets berated by Liberal and Conservative viewers as being too hard/too soft on the exact same issue or report. As a daily viewer, I can tell you I think he's sometimes too "giving" when it comes to Obama and his Admin. I guess you would consider me more a more hate-filled radical.
Glen Beck and Hannity do not call themselves "journalists" or "reporters". Glen, in particular, has repeated this numerous times on his program.
The Liberal Left have certainly re-defined the meanings of the word "racist" and "radical". Radicals used to be people who executed planned violence to get their point across or held wildly revolutionary ideas. Racists were people who had a sure disregard for anyone of a different color. Now, such words are easily pinned on anyone that has a differing political view of the Obama Administration or the DNC as a whole. You, as a "former newsman" should know better, and should be more careful in your word choice.
I had to laugh at your reminiscing of days-gone-by journalism. The Muro-Cronkite era of journalism is dead...its final death blow delivered during last year's presidential election campaign when much of "mainstream media" went in the tank for Obama and failed the American people with honest, unbiased, hard-questioning reporting.

[No Talk for Us]

Bell can pay if he like.

The cash is there, but the DOE is spending in areas OTHER than class instruction.

The HSTA union too.

Let's disband that union, amend the State constitution and get rid of the socialist Hawaii Democrat mandatory union language----and make unions illegal among State government workers.

Start there.

But, Bell, if you giving out cash, make sure the OHA people not in line. Those are THE most USELESS people ever invited to the trough by your Hawaii Democrats.

[Former HI resident]

To Mr Haugen:
It seems that you confuse the FOX opinion shows (all conservative since Alan Colmes left) with the news programming. On the opinion programs, the hosts (except Bill O'Reilly, who likes to portray himself as nonpartisan) identify themselves as conservatives, and acknowledge that they are expressing a conservative viewpoint. And they identify their guests with their background, which includes if they have worked for or been Republican or Democrat office holders. That is fair, and allows the viewers to realize the bias that the host and the guests have.
More dangerous is an organization that holds itself up as reporting the news, but does not disclose their bias. A viewer may think that they are indeed getting an unbiased report when in fact the bias is there, it is just not acknowledged.
The liberal biased opinion show hosts (Maddow, Olberman, and Matthews) are known to be liberals, so viewers can judge what they hear based on that knowledge, similar to the Fox opinion show hosts (Beck, Hannity).
Fox news only seems conservative based on comparison to the liberal network news shows, but in fact have been critical of conservative viewpoints too. During the compaign they had an equal percentage of negative reports on both McCain and Obama, vs the other networks who hardly ever had a negative report on Obama.

[No Talk for Us]

Poi wrote:

<quoted text>
Nobody is really arguing that.
Most of Fox is EDITORIAL.
But ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN are all WORSE than not news.
They are pretend "news" organizations which act like non-editorial "news" delivery mechanisms when in fact everything they say and do is filtered through a far left filter.
Example: Yesterday, another special rights for homosexual couples law (gay people) was shot down. ALL the morning "news" shows mentioned that loss with 64 words. That's it. 64 words. Now if that measure had passed, how much coverage would it have gotten?
That's right. I would have been an endless celebration.
So Fox is mostly a day filled with conservative editorials. But the rest of the so called "news" organizations are shameless, dispicable, biased, lying, filtering scum.
I dare anyone to read Newsbusters.com every day for a month and then disagree with me.

Okay poi. You may be a misguided "Restore the Foreign Monarchy and Make Believe It's Hawaiian" type that has not quite reached enlightment yet, HOWEVER, you do make some valid points. I enjoy your "I hate the Hawaii Democrats" mantra. After all, I hate them too.

Now, turning your attention directly to the Newsbusters.com .

I am going to look at it. And did. But first, I like know if you know who that hot hapa chick is on the start up page. That chick got it going on! I like "go steady" with her. C'mon bra. Kokua.