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April 15, 2003
The Man Who Would Be King
Most politicians, once discredited and disgraced, remove themselves from politics. No, not because they suddenly find a sense of probity, but because no one with any brains will associate with them. Examples include former US Presidents Nixon and Clinton.
But some people just don't get it. They think that if they move far enough and wait long enough people will forget. They think they can find enough ignorant dupes that they can do their carpetbagger song and dance once again. They think that they can then weasel themselves back into politics and gorge themselves at public trough. They think that the money will come rolling in again and they can wield the power they crave so much.
Well, to a certain extent, they are right. People do forgot. People do have short memories. People do move on.
Chuck Quakenbush. A name those in California should remember (see one article here. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Times was the leading newspaper in uncovering this scandal. I say unfortunately because of its online policy of removing free access to old articles. Thus, making it very difficult to research issues such as this).
It is curious for a man to campaign (see his platform here) on lower insurance rates, tougher enforcement against individuals committing insurance fraud (but not, it appears, insurance companies), and greater competition through "easing regulatory burden" would actually do the following (see the full list here):
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Approve insurance rate increases, on average, of one every day, for the first three years he was insurance commissioner.
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Slashed the number of staff involved in investigating consumer complaints against insurance agencies.
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In relation to the Northridge earthquake - bailed out insurance companies while forcing homeowners to pay twice as much premium for half as much earthquake coverage.
All of of this, while getting millions in contributions from the very industry he was supposed to be regulating.
He was allowed to resign in disgrace, on July 10, 2000, rather than face what was probable impeachment. But now, three years later, he turns up here in Hawai'i saying he was framed. That he did nothing wrong - or at least, nothing illegal. He has given an interview with a national publication trying to get his name back into the limelight.
He has seeped into local Republican politics like oil seeps and spreads under a carpet - slowly, unseen. But the light of publicity has now been directed his way and the smart Republican fellow travelers are scattering like frightened roaches while the dumb ones are trying to attack the local newspaper for investigating what is going on (classic, stupid strategy of the guilty, go on the offensive and attack the accusers).
The more the local Republicans try to back this guy the dirtier they will get. And if they get dirty enough, they too shall fall.
Aloha!
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