Why can’t the local GOP produce more Gene Wards – or Cynthia Thielens?  There is room in this state for a serious debate about how to build a better Hawai‘i.  There are conservative ideas about how to achieve progressive goals that have merit.  Market-driven cap and trade policies could have a huge impact on carbon emissions, to cite just one example.  The fact that Rep. Ward is castigating Democrats for failures on Earned Income Tax Credits and Affordable Housing underline the value of his involvement.  He’s right to say that Democrats just presided over an embarrassing legislative session.  A serious competition of ideas, not to mention a serious competition for votes, might produce more serious handling of the people’s business.  But the local GOP is dominated by Teabaggers who still applaud the chump in the Oval Office and his evil agenda.  Until that changes I don’t see how Rep. Ward can complain about the Dems.  Sure they need to get more serious.  But so does the GOP.