Mazie Hirono: Japanese Immigrant, Lawyer, Congresswoman

Here's a nice photo of Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and some of her constituents.

An immigrant from Japan, Hirono represents Hawai`i's 2nd Congressional District, a district that is the greatest distance from Washington, D.C., and covers seven populated islands and Kaho`olawe an island destroyed during decades of bombing practice by the U.S. Navy.

In 1994, Hirono and her running mate, Benjamin J. Cayetano, were elected to an historic administration. Hirono became the first Japanese immigrant lieutenant governor, and Cayetano, the first Filipino American governor.

In 2002, Hirono ran for governor against Republican Linda Lingle in Hawai'i's first all-female gubernatorial contest.

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez: Congress should restart immigration reform process

Congress should restart immigration reform process (by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, The Hill - 7.26.07) In recent weeks, we have heard a lot of tough talk from those who worked to stop immigration reform in the Senate. What we haven’t heard are any solutions. What do they propose we do now?

As most people who are familiar with the legislative process understand, being against something is easy. Embracing heated political rhetoric is easy.

Pandering to conservative radio hosts and playing into people’s fears is easy.

You know what is not easy, and what was often overlooked during the debate, is the struggle and sacrifice of the immigrant who gets up at the crack of dawn each morning to go take care of someone else’s kids, or the young father working the midnight shift on a cleaning crew, or the woman picking vegetables in oppressive heat for 12 hours a day. You know what is not easy is worrying each day that your husband will not come home from work or that you will be swept up in a raid and your U.S. citizen children will be left helpless and alone.

At the end of the day, that is what the immigration debate is all about, and why I believe it so is important that we keep fighting.

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Voter disgust setting stage for independents in '08?

If 83% of Americans say the Democratic-controlled Congress is doing only a lousy job, and 66% give low marks to the Republican administration (Zogby), isn't that like a massive S.O.S to an independent like Michael Bloomberg?

These historic levels of unhappiness with the president and the congress gives an opening to beltway outsiders with genuine independent streaks.

Unfortunately, the rigged rules of the two party system will also promptly dispose of such candidacies within the parties--and make it nearly impossible for people working outside of them. The major parties prefer to serve up the uninspiring candidacies of the common-denominator types, e.g., Kerry, Bush I, Bush II, Dukakis, Mondale, et al.

But this year could be different. The independent vote within across party primaries will be more formidable than ever due to state balloting changes--and there's a strong possibility for truly competitive independent candidacies to emerge.

The bottom line? If the public's current 'pox on both houses' sentiment holds through next year's federal elections cycle, we may well see the first real boomlet of independent victories of this century.