Hawaii Reorganization Act Fails to Break Cloture

[Sam Spade]

No article yet.  This happened roughly an hour or so ago.  Failed to break cloture by receiving only 56 votes in favor, 41 against, 3 not voting.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00165

Wonder what effect this could have on the Senate primary...

[MODU]

Should not have any impact.  Most native Hawaiians don't want the bill to pass.  Unlike native Americans, Hawaiians are intermixed within all the cities on all the islands (except for Ni'ihau). 

[Sam Spade]

That's not the kind of effect I'm referring to, since both candidates have supported the legislation.

However, one of Case's main campaign points has been that Akaka is ineffective as Senator and has no power to do anything in Washington.

I'm just wondering whether this could really give that campaign point much more "bite".

[Q]

However, one of Case's main campaign points has been that Akaka is ineffective as Senator and has no power to do anything in Washington.

I'm just wondering whether this could really give that campaign point much more "bite".

I'm thinking so.  And also I think that the accuastion might be true, unfortunately.

[minionofmidas]

States will catch and devour you if you're not careful, Q.

This got supported by all Democrats and the following Republicans:
Cochran (R-MS), Coleman (R-MN), Collins (R-ME), Domenici (R-NM), Grassley (R-IA), Hagel (R-NE), Kyl (R-AZ), McCain (R-AZ), Murkowski (R-AK), Smith (R-OR), Snowe (R-ME), Specter (R-PA), Stevens (R-AK)

The Alaskans are there for special reasons. Apart from that it's a reasonable list of moderate Republicans. (Chafee voted against, but he's something else. He's a Liberal Republican - really a single-member third party.)

[Ebowed]

I'd vote against it.

[??????????]

So what exactly would this have done?

[MODU]

So what exactly would this have done?

It would have established a duel government in Hawaii.  One for the general public, and one for "recognized" Hawaiians.  (By "recognized," a council must review applicants to ensure that they are genetically Hawaiian, and not Samoan or any other Pacific Islander.)  Unlike Indian tribes on the mainland, Hawaiians do not live on reservations in the islands, and I highly doubt that they are going to uproot their families, leave their jobs, and head off to a new land where non-Hawaiians are currently living to establish new homes.  That is why many Hawaiians don't want this thing to pass.  It's not needed. 

[NewFederalist]

The number of "true Hawaiians" remaining anywhere in the island chain is incredibly small. They have blended with all the immigrants who came to their islands.

[Q]

States will catch and devour you if you're not careful, Q.

This R-AT won't go down without a fight, C-AT be darned.