I'm a bit surprised that people on “2aHawaii, Hawaii's Firearm, Shooting, and Hunting Community” are so enthusiastic in support of someone who at virtually every turn attempted to take their firearms and Second Amendment rights away. I have no issue with people who respect Inouye because of his military service, but I fail to see how that service gives him a “pass” on Second Amendment issues, or any other issues (see below) for that matter. I also fail to understand how, because of his 50 (FIFTY!) YEARS of Senate seniority and thus his years as number two and then chairmanship position on the Senate Appropriations Committee, his ability to disproportionately steer federal tax dollars to Hawaii is due respect. Thanks for all the ”pork” (aka “earmarks”)? Maybe, but “respect”? Personally, I'd rather see taxpayers everywhere get to keep more of their earned income rather than having (under threat of incarceration) to give so much of it to the federal government where Senators like Inouye used their seniority influence to take more than their fair share:
Hawaii ranks 2nd in pork-barrel spending
Hawaii ranks 2nd among states in attracting 2008 [essentially the same for other years] federal earmark projects, averaging $220.63 per resident on "pork-barrel spending."
The annual list put out by Citizens Against Government Waste highlights projects added to federal budget spending without congressional debate.
Alaska again topped the states in 2008 earmarks with $379 million in earmarks for a population of 683,478, or per-capita pork spending of $555.54.
Hawaii has earmarked $283 million.
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Leading this feeding frenzy at the trough are Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and the number two Democrat on the committee, Senate Appropriations committee member Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), whose states ranked first and second, respectively, in per capita pork for FY 2001. Sen. Stevens secured $480.3 million for Alaska ($766 per person) and Sen. Inouye secured $474.6 million for Hawaii ($392 per person) in the FY 2001 march to the pork barrel. Per capita pork for Alaska was 30 times the national average, while Hawaii raked in 15 times the per capita national average of $25.52.
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That's ethical or deserving of “respect”? To me, it's corruption, influence peddling, and pure political power being wielded for power's sake. How would Hawaii citizens feel if their share of the pork was 1/30th or 1/15th that of the national average? I suppose that is what commentors here are fearing or complaining about with the new senators... they simply won't have the power/seniority to give Hawaii far more than it's fair share of federal tax dollars and Hawaii would have to develop some kind of real sustainable economy based upon viable government laws influencing business practices and regulations.
So besides stealing money from other states to bolster Hawaii's poorly managed and governed economy, what else did Inouye do for us?
Besides the list in my previous post of Inouye's anti-Second Amendment anti-gun legislation support, he also voted against a National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act: 07/22/2009
Daniel Inouye voted Nay (Amendment Vote) - S Amdt 1618 - Authorizing Concealed Firearms Across State Lines
He also voted FOR the original “Assault Weapons Ban” of 1994-2004, and then voted again to extend the ban for another 10 years (which failed despite his efforts, or we'd still be laboring under that nonsense).
Here is a statement from Inouye re firearms:
“Our country needs a national gun law. We should limit the number and type of weapons an individual is allowed to own and they ought to be catalogued in a national database that every arms dealer has to check before making a sale. “ [“You don't need another rifle/handgun...one of each is enough... you don't need even ONE rifle like that...”]
If you like the “Affordable Care Act”, you can keep the “Affordable Care Act”, thanks in part to Inouye's votes for it.
How about being spied upon and surveilled by our government servants? How'd Inouye vote?
Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's roving wiretaps. (Feb 2011)
Voted NO on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls. (Feb 2008)
Voted YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
How'd Inouye vote on border security/illegal immigration issues?
Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities". (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006)
Voted NO on limit welfare for immigrants. (Jun 1997)
How'd Inouye vote on justices nominated for the Supreme Court?
Voted YES on confirming of Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court. (Aug 2009)
Voted NO on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice. (Jan 2006)
Voted NO on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (Sep 2005)
[Had Inouye been successful in blocking Alito and Roberts and replacing them with his preferred Sotomayor-types, we wouldn't be having any discussions about concealed carry based upon Heller, McDonald, etc.).
How “independent” was Inouye?
Voted with Democratic Party 96.9% of 293 votes. (Sep 2007)
I don't miss Inouye.