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Republican candidate Rex Rammell is planning on playing some campaign commercials on my TV during the Super Bowl. You can check out all three -- here, here and here at YouTube.
If you don't want to watch them (I understand) the message I took away from the spots was this:
"Rex Rammell believes that Washington needs a good dose of common sense -- and he'll protect your right to shoot little fluffy animals in cages".
Unfortunately you don't have to look far in Idaho.
Yesterday the House State Affairs committee voted 11-7 to send a bill allowing election day liquor sales to the full House. Ya know -- to update a centuries old law that isn't really applicable now. It passed committee, and that is good, but you'll notice the vote; 7 Idaho Republicans voted to keep this archaic law in place. Eagle Representative Raul Labrador (R) had this to say:
“I will be voting against this. … The mission of the liquor dispensary is to promote temperance and sobriety. … I think this is contrary to that.”
Ah... Ok, I don't agree but ok.
Other Republicans who voted against allowing you, as a citizen to choose whether or not you can buy booze on election day were:
- Rep.Tom Loertscher, R-Iona
- Reps Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert
- Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs
- Brent Crane, R-Nampa
- Steve Kren, R-Nampa
- Russ Mathews, R-Idaho Falls
Now there is this:
Tamarack wants 10 more liquor licenses
BOISE, Idaho — Idaho lawmakers Wednesday asked Tamarack Resort to rework legislation that would increase the number of third-party liquor licenses allowed at year-round resorts from three to 13.
Tamarack, a ski resort and real-estate development near McCall, is proposing the bill in hopes of expanding the number of its restaurants and hotels that offer liquor.
In 2006, the Legislature approved an exemption to the state's liquor laws to benefit Tamarack. Typically, state law allows a single liquor license for every 1,500 people within city limits. The exemption allowed up to three licenses at four-season resorts, charges applicants a $25,000 fee and in Tamarack's case cleared the way for cocktails at a swank hotel project financed by tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.
The bill is currently in the Senate State Affairs committee awaiting some re-drafting, so my questions are:
Lobbyists make the world go 'round, they they can buy you a legislature in Idaho I guess.
You see, my problem is this (hypothetically speaking) -- say I buy a property in Downtown Nampa and wish to open up a subtle, if not refined imbibing establishment, so I'll need a liquor license, 'cause I like a good mixed drink here and there. What? All the liquor licenses are bought up in my area? The quota has been filled? Ah, the government imposed monopoly has been successful in artificially raising the price for me to own a sanctioned house of swilling. I see.
Problem being is that I can't go to the legislature and get a special bill to allow an exception for my small 3 person operation. I'm out of luck. I've got to either wait on the state waiting list to buy a liquor license at face value or buy one for the artificial price of 100k or so.
I'm just a citizen, so the state government who not only thinks they know when I should and should not be able to buy or drink booze is essentionally pricing me out of selling booze as well. Free market capitalism alive and well in Idaho? Think again, only if you can afford a lobbyist to loosen the apparent moral conundrums affecting Idaho legislators.
Well, I wouldn't have a lobbyist working on my behalf so I would be out of luck and Downtown Nampa would be out of a new, subtle, if not refined imbibing establishment.
I look forward to seeing how this plays out.
The venue is still yet to be locked down, but word on the street is that doors will open at 6:30 a.m. 7:00 a.m. for those wanting to guarantee themselves a spot.
The rally is set to begin at 9:00 a.m.
Updated info from the Barack Obama website:
Stand for Change with Barack Obama
Boise State University
Taco Bell Arena
1401 Bronco Ln.
Boise, ID 83725Saturday, February 2nd, 2008
Doors open: 7:00 a.m.For security reasons, do not brings bags. No signs or banners permitted.
This event is free and open to the public; however an RSVP is strongly encouraged.
Click here to RSVP.
Ysabel Bilbao from KTVB was just on my TV telling me that according to the Idaho Democratic Party, Barack Obama may not be the only Democratic Presidential candidate coming to Idaho before next week's Super Tuesday.
Interesting.
Now with video:
On the heels of Caroline Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama -- here is Obama's new campaign ad featuring Caroline Kennedy:
Great read over at Daily Kos.
Rarely in recent memory have Presidential candidates visited Idaho -- and when they have...
Said it once, said it maybe a thousand times now, there is a party of "me" and a party of "we". Most Democrats understand that shaking the hand of the person who yearns to lead the free world shouldn't cost you a thousand dollars a plate.
-ed. note: to be clear, we're talkin' recent, so we're talkin' Dean (when I started paying attention to national politics... yep, I'm a youngin'). And add to that list, Obama. Can't say the same thing for any Republican candidates that I know of. I'll refrain from commenting exactly how I feel about Kerry and Hillary.
I'm also assuming that Obama's visit will be for the masses not a quick private fundraiser, w/ $500 photo-ops, we shall find out later today. I'm also willing to admit I was hasty with the post, just a tad bit excited.
The rumor mill (er, inbox) is a' churnin'.
The morning (evening?) of Saturday Feb. 2nd, somewhere Boise.
Awesome.
Update
MEDIA: Idaho Statesman confirms it. Jill Kuraitis from New West also has it. As does KTVB. And KBCI. Idaho Press-Tribune.
For x = (1,1), and y = (4,5), |x – y| = √([1–4]2 + [1–5]2) = 5
Whereas x ~ Father, y ~ Mother and 5 = Hooray!.
Glad we got that problem solved.
Oh, did I ever mention that we also did movie reviews?
My brother-in-law left me this one for the movie Cloverfield. Sounds like we'll be checking it out next weekend.
Our party allows discussion.
Interesting thread over at Red State Rebels concerning the Frank Church Banquet and whether or not the state candidates should show "YouTube style" videos or do a speech.
What is even more interesting is that most of the bloggers are the ones saying that we want speeches instead of videos.
Sheriff Nourse just made this year a goldmine of local election awesomeness.
Former Sheriff Nourse to run again
CANYON COUNTY — Former Canyon County Sheriff George Nourse announced his intent to run for sheriff again this year against incumbent Chris Smith.
Nourse retired three years ago after five terms as sheriff. He said in a written announcement Friday that he is against constructing a new jail on Highway 20-26, where commissioners want to build one. He also said the county’s drivers’ license service has been in “chaos” since the county consolidated the service to a building on the Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard.
“The Sheriff’s Office is in dire need of professional leadership that is realistic and has its finger on the pulse of Canyon County’s needs,” Nourse wrote in his announcement.
Idaho Statesman story here w/ comments here.
Idaho's own Josh Ritter returned to The Late Show With David Letterman this past Tuesday playing "To the Dog's or Whoever" of of his latest album The Historical Conquest of Josh Ritter (which you can stream on his website). This is going to be another performance that I just can't bring myself to delete from my DVR.
I think I have to reiterate; I don't know that I've ever seen an artist (or in Ritter's case his whole band) have so much fun, they always seem so excited to just. be. on. the. stage. If you missed his last performance at the Egyptian Theatre this past fall you missed a once in a lifetime show.
I continue to be floored by Ritter and his music and I'm anxiously awaiting his next album as he only continues to grow as a premier songwriter and performer. While you have to be cautious of invoking Dylan or Springsteen comparisons to modern day songwriters in this day and age of carbon copied music -- I really have no problems applying them to Ritter.
Got this in the Idaho Press-Tribune this morning, and I almost got my hopes up -- almost.
Nampan announces Senate candidacy
NAMPA — Brian Hefner knows he has an uphill battle on his hands.The 40-year-old machinist from Nampa has joined a growing list of candidates in a field of hopefuls looking to replace U.S. Sen. Larry Craig to represent Idaho.
But because he’s going head-to-head with some better-known Republican candidates such as former Gov. Jim Risch, Hefner, in an interview Wednesday, used the “David vs. Goliath” analogy to describe his political challenge. But as soon as he said it, he amended that idea.
“I don’t even know if I’m big enough to be considered a David,” Hefner said.
Despite his status, Hefner hopes “average” voters will be able to relate to a “paycheck-to-paycheck” underdog.
I was thinking ok, maybe here is another voice of reason, ala Matt Salisbury, a Republican running in the 1st CD who refuses to play into the regular GOP mindset (and who I happen to respect thus far). I was like "...great, a moderate Republican who is going to take that role in the race for Craig's Senate seat, that's good news indeed". Alas, I was wrong.
From Brian's website (an airplane banner? wtf? "We're leaving on a jet plane" or something?).
“This nation was created on Judea-Christian values it is a part of our culture, and it seems that only a very small, very vocal minority are having a problem with this, they need to deal with it,” Hefner wrote on his Web site. “Majority rules! You don’t like it, move to a country that allows you to place your beliefs above the laws of the land. So tough it out or leave, but my freedom of speech came with the original documents that created this magnificent nation, and that again is one nation under God!”
Oh no, here we go again. I don't think saying "Majority rules!" with exclamation marks like a 16-year-old is going to help his case -- it also shows a basic misunderstanding how how our country and a representative democracy works. Not a good foot to get off on.
The guy has gumption, I'll give him that, he also deserves some kudos for taking the step to run for office that's a step few are brave enough to take. That being said; I think that he might want to try for some lower office that will have more of an impact on his community than the Senate, mighty large jump.
This may be another one to watch if to just see how the GOP establishment (the almighty meat grinding machine) reacts to his candidacy -- should be interesting. The GOP voting base here in Idaho can only stand being used as leftovers for so long before they decide that they may want a place at the table too.
Study: Bush, others 'methodically propagated' false info before Iraq war
But don't say that anyone lied. Oh no...
And to lighten things up a little bit...
Oh, and I kicked ass using Obama -- Romney ain't got nuttin' on me.
Who would have thought that the Idaho Press-Tribune would have labeled a hit piece by rightwing nutball Allen Marsh that includes the word "deathstyle" and a World Net Daily reference as a "Today's Best Read"?
Let's see if they give Eileen Wight's piece found below the same editorial heading if they choose to publish it.
The guy calling himself "political_junkie" over at the Idaho Statesman's forums is a moron.
Got no problem with gays
Submitted by political_junkie on Mon, 01/21/2008 - 2:52pm.They can marry each other, start a family, whatever. I am cool with it. I just don't see where they warrant civil rights protection. It's not like gays are an economically disadvantaged underclass. On average they make more than their hetero counterparts. I think what we need is equal pay for heteros so we can catch up.
I just don't see the need to burden out law books and our courts with unnecessary laws.
Got this in my inbox this morning and thought I'd put it up.
Representative Curtis Bowers should apologize or resign
Two weeks ago, state Representative Curtis Bowers of Caldwell wrote an opinion published in the Idaho Press-Tribune in which he claimed that feminism, environmentalism and the gay movement were part of a communist plot to “take America down.” According to his account, he learned this at a communist strategy meeting at the University of California, Berkeley in 1992, which he attended in disguise out of curiosity.
Now this would be laughed off as a little bit silly if it came from just anyone. However, Rep. Bowers is a legislator and his attempt to scare Idahoans with imagined threats of communism is inconceivable when actual threats like terrorism still exist; his attempt to distract with manufactured issues is irresponsible when real issues, such as safe roads, quality education and good jobs require cooperation and problem-solving; and his attempt to foster contention with divisive rhetoric is insulting when as Idahoans, whether by birth or by choice, we all call this place home.
Rep. Bowers’ goal, it seems, was to pit neighbor against neighbor by targeting three groups of people: feminists, environmentalists and gay rights advocates. According to him, these groups share blame for the destruction of families, business and culture. In fact, his enemies list may include you.
1. Do you agree that women should have the right to vote? If so, then you’re a feminist.
2. Do you enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, skiing or other recreational activities in Idaho and do you agree that the ability to participate in these activities ought to be preserved for your children and grandchildren? If so, then you’re an environmentalist.
3. Are you among the 63% of Idahoans who, according to a recent BSU survey, agreed that it should be illegal to fire a person because they are or are perceived to be gay? If so, then you’re a gay rights advocate.
If you answered “yes” to any of these three, you are among those Rep. Bowers has accused of being unpatriotic communist sympathizers. Having answered “yes” to all three, and being offended by his accusations, I was prompted to take action.
Starting with only an online petition and just a handful of emails, people from every corner of Idaho have joined in this non-partisan effort urging Rep. Bowers to either apologize for his divisive and absurd accusations or resign his office.
As we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it might be appropriate to recall lines from his most famous speech, still powerful and relevant some forty-five years removed, “I have a dream today that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men [and women] are created equal.’”
Join us in sending that message to Rep. Bowers at http://www.petitiononline.com/Bowers.
Eileen Wight
Nampa
This week from A Seasonal Disguise, a local band/musician who I am still extremely impressed by.
Here is the video for "Last Cigarettes".
There's micro brews and live music at the Market in Downtown Nampa tonight.
Good times.
Don't wear clown suits to protests and don't legally change your name to "Pro-Life".
Idaho Press-Tribune:
Abortion protesters gather in Caldwell
CALDWELL — Police responded as a group of anti-abortion protesters gathered outside a dinner held by affiliates of Planned Parenthood at a Caldwell restaurant Thursday night.
The former Idaho gubernatorial candidate formerly known as Marvin Richardson, who has legally changed his name to “Pro-Life,” headed up the protest. Pro-Life, of Emmett, said he and other protesters found out about the dinner through the media and decided to picket at the event.[...]
The group of protesters, which included Pro-Life’s wife, Kirsten Richardson, and several children, held many signs with captions like “Every life is precious, Born and Pre-Born.”
The dinner was held at Orphan Annie’s Bar & Grill, a Caldwell restaurant located near the golf course, but protester Ray Horrell said the group was not targeting the restaurant.
“We have nothing against this restaurant, and we’re not protesting this restaurant,” Horrell said.
I'm no stylist, but wearing Isotoner gloves, a Rainbow Brite jacket and rubber boots?
Idaho Press-Tribune ran a story on the petition that was set up by Eileen Wight of Caldwell asking Rep. Bowers to either apologize for his rant or resign.
Online petition targets Caldwell Rep. Bowers
CANYON COUNTY — A Nampa woman who is unhappy with a controversial opinion column written by Caldwell state representative Curtis Bowers has set up an Internet petition calling for him to apologize or resign.
The petition asking for Bowers, a Republican, to resign had 17 signatures as of Wednesday evening. Five of the people signing the petition listed Boise as their hometown.
17 75? This doesn't bode well. You can sign the petition here. Sadly it doesn't matter if 20,000 people signed the petition, it probably wouldn't change a thing.
Adam Graham pipes up:
Indeed, Bowers will have difficulty getting re-elected as he’s done something that politicians should never do if they want to enjoy a long time government: call our attention to the deteriorating shape of our culture.
Re-elected? Um, no, Bowers has yet to be elected. Some minor details have larger meanings than others.
This was from a couple of days ago, but it is a really good, if not really sad read. From Rep. Nicole LeFavour's Notes From The Floor blog:
I imagine some days it is not easy for Raul Labrador listening to the debates around immigration and how they so easily flow into anti-Mexican, anti-Hispanic and racially stereotyping tirades. It is an odd feeling to know that someone you work with doesn't just perhaps disagree with your ideas or beliefs but feels that you as a person are lesser or evil or by virtue of your existence deserving of pain or derision.
Representative Bowers sits behind me here on the balcony of the House. I stood up a bit ago and went back to tell him how uncomfortable his editorial made me and how sorry I was to see he felt that way about gay people. He was willing to talk more about it. I offered to answer questions when he has them.
I don't know if it will ever really make any difference since I understand he is a strong John Birch Society devotee. But I want him to see me as human. Even if he never votes in a way that shows he respects or cares about gay people, I want him to see me as human.
Read the whole thing.
I'm sure as the day progresses there will be more.
Nampa Mayor Tom Dale gave his State of the City address yesterday to a crowd of over 500 people (I'd wager a guess that's pretty damn good for Nampa), and according to the Mayor Nampa is "poised" for great things. Of course not knowing the inner workings nor bureaucratic bungling that I'm sure has to go on within the city, I'd have to agree with Mayor Dale.
From our re-invigorated Downtown (yay!) to the new interchange and new stores we're on our way to becoming a town where we can live, shop and be entertained. While I don't particularly like the T.G.I. Friday's, Olive Garden's and the tasteless droves they cater to, they are at least helping to keep Nampa money in Nampa -- and they deserve credit for that. We still haven't exactly figured out the whole "good paying jobs in Nampa" thingy yet, but I think that will come with improved services and improved infrastructure.
I think that the coming year is going to be a pretty exciting time for Downtown Nampa, and the coming years are going to be pretty exciting for all of Nampa. And while I'm sure there are plenty of criticisms that can be leveled at Mayor Dale, all in all it does seem like it has been a pretty productive year. My favorite things in that happened in Nampa in '07? Hmm... Amity improvements, Blvd. improvements, Costco, Brick 29 Bistro and of course, Market Limone.
You can read Mayor Dale's State of the City address here (pdf). The city also released (pdf) a list of interesting statistics from the last year.
Media: Idaho Statesman, KTVB (watch the address), Idaho Press-Tribune.
I almost forgot, where are my manners?
Representative Bowers; Welcome to the 'tubes, you write it, we read it, and it never goes away.
Couple pieces in the Idaho Press-Tribune worthy of a read.
You might have personal demons to fight (Bowers), but those demons should be fought in private. You should not use your office as a legislator to publish your personal enemies list.
There are many current issues that deserve serious attention by our state legislators. The list includes transportation, schools, environment, taxation, providing homes to those in treatment programs, exploding prison populations, etc. As an appointed member of the Legislature, your job is to represent all of your constituents (including both those Christian and non-Christian citizens that interpret their holy scriptures differently than you do) and to address those issues that are urgently in need of legislative action. That would be an extremely tough job. A job that cannot be successfully accomplished if you tack on your personal prejudices.
Leave it up to a dirty Pinko to think that legislators should be legislating things that um, might actually have an impact on those that they represent. What'll they think of next? Balancing the budget or something?
Some readers didn't understand my point
Curtis BowersI am surprised by some of the responses to my letter of Jan. 9. Some have implied that no such conference was held, and that communists don’t have a continuing agenda. Others have stated I wrote this with great intolerance and full of hate. These readers clearly missed the point.
I was simply sharing an interesting story and observing how successful the communists have been in getting their detailed plan accomplished. While new to me at the time, it turns out this agenda was not new in 1992 when I attended their conference.
Other blog reactions:
Linky Updates
Yeah, you read that right.
Idaho Press-Tribune ran a story about Democrats having a mock caucus before the official February 5th caucuses in Idaho at the Canyon County Courthouse. I thought it was particularly interesting because Byron Yankey was in the photo they used for the story -- I used to know Bryon Yankey as Principal Yankey.
Mr. Yankey was my Principal at Nampa's Lincoln Elementary school from 1st through 4th grade. I believe Becky Stallcop took over my 5th grade year, the same Becky Stallcop who later led the so-called "charter school revolution" a few years later in Idaho.
Speaking of Lincoln Elementary; it's now confirmed, the Nampa School Board voted unanimously to close its doors.
And don't forget -- Canyon County Democrats will caucus February 5th @ the Nampa Civic Center from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
So you don't want the unelected Curtis Bowers representing you or anyone in the state of Idaho?
Yeah, me neither. Sign here.
Lord knows we elect some questionable people here in Idaho, at the very least we shouldn't have the unelected ones mouthing off incoherently in local newspapers.
Via Where's Larry.
This Saturday from 9am to 4pm at the Nampa Civic Center there will be a meet & greet with Nampa businesses that is open to the public and it's free. It's a chance for consumers to get to know the local merchants and find out about some for new products and services available in our growing city.
First off; kudos to the Idaho Press-Tribune for following up on this story. It definitely deserves a second, if not third and fourth look under the microscope. It still smells really fishy -- ya know, like a second hand kind of fishy.
Today the Idaho Press-Tribune has a new story about the fallout surrounding unelected State Representative Curtis Bowers and his paranoid op-ed that was published last week in the same paper.
Citizens, senator respond to Bowers' column
CANYON COUNTY — Rep. Curtis Bowers’ guest opinion column has drawn several responses from Idaho Press-Tribune readers both supporting and denouncing the article. And while three local lawmakers chose not to comment on the issue, Nampa GOP Sen. Curt McKenzie generally agrees with what Bowers wrote.
Bowers’ column appeared in the Press-Tribune last week. It told the story of a meeting of the Communist Party in Berkeley, Calif., in 1992 that Bowers said he attended. Bowers said members at the meeting said the way to weaken the United States was to promote feminism, environmentalism and homosexuality. Bowers lamented that those agendas have been effective.
Bowers also told the Press-Tribune last week that he could verify information about the meeting. He could not be reached for comment Monday.
[...]
McKenzie said Bowers’ column made some valid points.
“I think there’s been a shift in the social agenda since the time that Rep. Bowers was at Berkeley,” McKenzie said. “It’s been a liberal shift, so I think he’s right when he points that out.”
McKenzie would not say whether he thought homosexuality was immoral, as the column implies.
“I’ve got my personal religious beliefs and I’ve got my kind of legislative hat,” McKenzie said. “I don’t want those necessarily to cross.”
[...]
Meanwhile a man who says he is a Caldwell resident and constituent of Bowers’, Geoff Williams, said those criticizing Bowers’ column are misinterpreting it. He said the four people who protested Bowers’ column at the Statehouse annex Friday were only pushing their own agenda.
“The protesters were making it sound like he had come out with a completely anti-gay, ‘We hate gays,’ bashing gays,” Williams said, “and I didn’t understand it that way at all. I see him saying they’re using that agenda of sexuality to make a weaker country.”
I wonder if Bowers used the camera from his Deluxe Spy vs. Spy kit to document the Commies after he grew out his goatee and went undercover? As they say in some circles; "I want pictures or it didn't happen".
I also guess it's safe to add Sen. Curt McKenzie to the list of paranoid schizophrenics filling in the base of Idaho's GOP. And for McKenzie to say that he doesn't want to cross his religious and legislative hats is just pretty outrageous. McKenzie along with Bill Sali-wannabe Gerry Sweet authored the original bill to amend Idaho's Constitution regarding gay marriage. Not only is McKenzie willfully ignorant of the Democratic Party and his own constituents he's also apparently pretty damn forgetful. Not good traits for an elected official.
God I hope a Democrat gets elected President this year. Then these knuckle dragging Neanderthals will go back into the hills and scream about those mysterious black helicopters again. If they're not scared of one thing they're scared of another. It's a wonder if they are capable of making it to the bathroom from their bedroom in the middle of the cold dark night without screaming at the closest shadow. You never know what may be lurking the shadows in your bedroom, it could be Richard Simmons or Bill Moyers even -- just waiting for you to let down your guard! Then BAM!
You can never be too careful in these parts, gotta keep your safety blanket close at hand, at all times.
Update
More info here including petition.
Good read if you're into craft brews.
I guess if we run out of our domestic hop supply then we can just invade Canada and take theirs. We do it for everything else, why not hops?
Or we can just drink better, drink less (this coming from a guy with a Coors Light picture on his website -- hey, it has its place!).
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