Djou Leaves The GOP

Part of the swamp (March 20, 2018)

I’m disappointed in Mr. Djou’s announcement (“Charles Djou: Why I’m Leaving The GOP”).

I supported Mr. Djou in all of his attempts to remain or make it to higher office. I am curious to see which party he will throw his hat into? His statements only show me he is part of the swamp we are trying to rid this country of.

And as for his comparison to Winston Churchill — I find it insulting. He is not Winston Churchill.

I salute LTC Djou for his service. I was wearing boots and pushing troops as an active duty senior non-commissioned officer in the United States Army for over 20 years when he joined up. I don’t appreciate him using his rank or affiliation with my Army to elevate himself over others. Perhaps he should remember the Army Values – LDRSHIP. The first letter is L for Loyalty. 

And since he quoted Winston Churchill, I’ll quote Saint Thomas More, “You must not abandon the ship in a storm because you cannot control the winds…. What you cannot turn to good, you must at least make as little bad as you can.”

I hope he will contemplate that. I don’t think I’m sorry to see him go.

— Tom Grant, MSG, USA (ret), Honolulu

Man of the people (March 20, 2018)

I first met Charles Djou when he and Duke Bainum served on the City Council at the time Mufi Hannemann was Honolulu mayor. Hannemann wanted the Council to approve the exorbitant parking fee increase at Kapiolani Park and the Honolulu Zoo as a start of a master plan to meter City and County park and beach lots. Two Council members were with the people on that issue.

Bainum passed away the day the meter parking bill was to be passed. I was at the hearing and requested the Council keep parking fees low for the local residents who use the park as a memorial to Duke. The Council went with the mayor — and as we all know the mayor went out the door.

Djou is still here and we as the coordinator/organizers of the Free Access Coalition will support his future political efforts. A gentleman — and a man of the people — not the Party.

— John and Rita Shockley, Makakilo

A philosophical divide (March 20, 2018)

What did voters know before the presidential election of 2016?

We knew Donald Trump was playing the race card by questioning President Barack Obama’s citizenship. We knew Donald Trump was playing the race card when he called Mexicans rapist and murderers. We knew Donald Trump was a puppet for Vladimir Putin. We knew he declared business bankruptcy so many times no American Bank would loan him money.

We knew by his son Donald Jr.’s statements Russian money was flowing into his real estate developments. We knew by his actions and words Trump does not respect women and their standing as equals under the law. We knew he was under the thumb of the NRA.

Yet registered Republican politicians voted for him to lead our country as president of the United States of America. And please, I have no patience discussing nonsense about the Russian Bot attack on Hillary Clinton’s emails. There is an inner philosophical divide between registered Republicans who voted for Donald Trump and registered Democrats which cannot be ignored by simply changing political parties to win a future election.

— Roy Kamisato, Honolulu

Make America great again! (March 19)

The announcement of Charles Djou leaving the Republican Party angered me. This guy has been MIA since losing in 2014 and especially the last year when the local Republican Party has been working to re-establish itself in this one party paradise. I haven’t heard a peep from this Never Trumper who disappeared.

How will he reimburse supporters who donated hours and dollars to support his political endeavors? Is this a plan to join the Democrats so he can get elected for political ambitions?

Did this guy just awake from a cocoon? A booming economy, NATO members paying their fair share, North Korea’s dictator coming to the table, cancelation of  regulations, a tax reform plan, a military recovering from sequestration, illegal criminal aliens deported, attempts to fix a broken immigration system, appointment of conservative judges. All while facing an attempted coup d’état through a collection of opposition forces unseen in U.S. history: a bogus investigation out to destroy a president; a Democratic Party of resistance; an incompetent Republican establishment; a media arm of the Democratic Party party, entertainment and academia worlds.

Does this guy think Republican candidates like Marco Rubio et al. could have beaten Clinton? Really? The Republicans won the election solely due to Trump. Not their party, Never Trumpers or programs.

The disappearing middle class knew our nation was in decline  and politicians like Clinton didn’t have a clue. I don’t give a hoot what Trump said or tweets, I trust his instincts and support his battles against opposition forces. No Republican would have lasted this long against total opposition.

Go, Mr. President! MAGA! Thank God you won delaying our inevitable march toward a socialistic nation with total Democratic control of government and Never Trumpers like Charles bleating but who change nothing.

— Jim McDiarmid, Mililani

Bravo, Mr. Djou! (March 19, 2018)

Charles Djou’s stature just grew markedly in my opinion after reading his reasons for leaving the Republican Party. Although I have disagreed with many of his stands on policy over the years, I applaud his bravery in leaving the cowardly group of Donald Trump’s apologists and enablers who constitute today’s GOP. Bravo, Mr. Djou!

— Mark A. Nokes, Honolulu

The clown president (March 19, 2018)

I’ve always liked Charles Djou and now I’m an even greater fan. He said everything that needed to be said about a president who has been described as a “malignant clown,” but hasn’t even lived up to that accolade.

Kudos to you Charles.

— Mark Doo, Honolulu

A sinking GOP (March 19, 2018)

I would like to applaud Mr. Djou’s condemnation of Mr. Trump and, even more importantly, his calling out the complicit and enabling behavior of the Republican Party.  We need two parties who are committed to the “rule of law” and adherence to well-established norms of behavior (e.g., the refusal of the U.S. Senate to even consider Judge Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court is one such violation).

Until the Republican Party reforms itself and abandons “the end justifies the [any] means,” then the Grand Old Party will have ultimately sunk its own ship.

— Jeff Rosenberg, Arlington, Virginia

Get off the highway (March 19, 2018)

Hawaii politics may have taken a significant turn. Longtime GOP stalwart Charles Djou abandoned the Republican Party.

I see significance because it opens the way for two middle-roaders who don’t put party loyalty über alles — Djou and Ed Case — to potentially run for Congress on a people-first platform that won for Conor Lamb as a non-conforming Democrat in Pennsylvania last week.

I suspect many voters are tired of the “my way or the highway” trend in party politics under Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. They want people who will do what’s right for their constituents, not what’s convenient for the party.

— Bob Jones, Honolulu

Exit stage left, or right? (March 19, 2018)

Charles Djou changed his coat today, and why do we care?

He explained his decision online with a sprinkle of star dust — by mentioning John McCain and Winston Churchill. That technique is possibly meant to influence readers with a positive association between Djou and those political celebrities.

I was left wondering why should I, or other voters, care what Mr. Djou does ? Maybe we might care, especially if Djou makes a comeback. Perhaps Djou plans to recharge his image and run again?

Exit stage … left or right? What is it Djou?

— Helen Luna

Man of integrity (March 19)

Kudos to Charles Djou for truly being a man of integrity and honor for standing up against his party and Trump.

Even though I have voted for Democratic Party people most of my voting life, I crossed party lines to vote for him. He is the only political person I have voted for in recent memory where I didn’t feel like I was voting for “the lesser of two evils.”

This is where “the good old boy system” has taken us instead of merit, integrity and honor. Blessings to you and your family, Mr.Djou.

— Jeraldine Kunimura, Makiki

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