Ever since I fell in love with American politics back in the 1950s as a high-school Republican (and nephew of a state senator), I have believed that better government starts with better thinking.

This conviction made me an editor, broadcaster, and think-tank entrepreneur before I ever ran for office. It’s reflected in the “Typewriter Service” neon sign and collection of antique typewriters in my Senate office. It led me to start Andrews’ America, a monthly journal of ideas, in 1994, and to put it on the web in 2000.

AndrewsAmerica.com has just been updated and expanded. I invite you to visit there soon, and come back frequently during the challenging new year ahead. My journal, the Backbone Weekly commentary, and our Head On TV debates are all there.

New at the site is an articles library, THINK RIGHT, along with an open forum for discussion of any topic at the reader’s choice, TALK BACK. Plus reports on my work in the Senate and a variety of Web links you’ll find useful.

To think right can mean to reason well, to grasp truth, or to be conservative — or all three. What does it mean to you? Go to TALK BACK on our home page and have your say. Was Lott lynched? is one of the current topics there. How should we prioritize funding for highways vs. transit? is another. Please join the dialogue.

As we enter a new year with reminders of America’s economic vulnerability, world leadership responsibilities, and the anti-terror cold war perhaps soon turning hot, remember that ours is the only national anthem that begins and ends with a question.

How those questions are answered, each generation must determine. Our testing time is now. The thinking you’ll find at AndrewsAmerica.com, and the conversation going on there, are meant to help all of us as citizens meet the test. Thank you for taking a look.

Yours for self-government.

”’John Andrews is President-elect of the Colorado Senate.”’

As the new Chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party, I want to bring your attention to an opportunity that has not come along too often in Hawaii’s history since statehood. We have the very real possibility of electing a Republican to Congress to represent the people of Hawaii. On January 4th, there will be a Special Election in the Second Congressional District to fill the seat recently held by the late Patsy Mink. The Second District includes the Neighbor Islands, as well as, the Windward Side, North Shore and Waianae Coast of Oahu.

Last month, the people of Hawaii took an enormous step in choosing who should lead our state into the future by electing our new Republican Governor, Linda Lingle. And yet the Democrat Party apparently does not hear the voices of Hawaii’s people because they continue to offer us many of the old familiar names intertwined with all of the corruption associated with the Democrat Party and the “Old Boy Network.”

All of Hawaii needs to be represented in Congress, not just those in Honolulu, and not just the Democrats. We Republicans deserve to have our voices heard in Washington, as well, on the issues that concern us the most. No one running as a Democrat can or will do that for us. I ask your help to bring true representation to this state.

Hawaii needs a Republican Congressman who can work with a Republican House, a Republican Senate, and a Republican President. I urge you help bring accountability to our state by considering one of our qualified Republican candidates.

For your convenience, I have enclosed a list of Republican Candidates with Web sites for the second congressional district special election. For a complete listing of candidates for the January 4th Special Election, you can also go online at https://www.hawaii.gov/elections/cand/candidates4 If you have a moment, please take the time to review their respective qualifications. Your support on Jan. 4, 2003 will make the difference.

Mahalo for your time.

Doug Fairhurst https://www.fairhurstforcongress.com

Carolyn Golojuch https://www.geocities.com/gocarolyn2002

Kimo Kaloi https://www.kaloi.com

Bob McDermott https://www.bobmcdermottforcongress.com

Barbara Marumoto https://www.marumoto4congress.com

Nelson Secretario https://www.nelsonsecretario.org

”’Brennon T. Morioka is the chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party.”’