Michelle continues to be all over this Hawaii thing

Bush to support the Akaka bill!?

According to an article by Malia Zimmerman in Hawaii Reporter, President Bush is lobbying in support of the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005 (aka the Akaka Bill), which would give Native Hawaiians the rights of self-government as indigenous people that American Indians now enjoy:

Hawaii's Republican Governor Linda Lingle is fighting for the passage of the bill along with Hawaii's Democrat Congressional delegation. Lingle has rallied the support of the president behind the bill, and behind the scenes President Bush is said to be lobbying Republican Senators to pass the measure. In addition, the president's administration reportedly has asked the U.S. Justice Department to downplay its concerns over the constitutionality of the bill.

Add this to my list of Bush weaknesses. He should be leaning full tilt against this bill. What? Does he think he think he can run for office again? Wake up and smell that 22nd amendment coffee, Mr. President. You don't have to be a nice guy, anymore. Whatever happened to that political capital you intended to spend in your second term?

This is turning out to be as disapointing as his false ethusiasm on Social Security reform.

But back to the Hawaii Reporter story:

The Aug. 2, 2005, decision outraged Hawaiian activists, parents, students and graduates of the school and supporters in the community who favor the Hawaiians-only admissions policy and special rights for native Hawaiians. [Emphasis mine]

Can you even imagine the angry backlash if the Kamehameha schools had a "whites-only" admission policy? Sheesh. The Akaka bill is bad. Bad like segregation in the south bad. Bad like the baddest thing you can think of. Bad bad bad bad bad.

(Read my previous rants on how much Hawaii seperatists bother me here and here.)