Statesman Wakes Up to Idaho Blogosphere

But in an oddly twisted way.

Reporter Gregory Hahn writes

The Idaho Democratic "blogosphere" — yes, there is one — lit up this week

Hahn's story is about Idaho's blue Blogosphere reacting to the news about Sali's money from ROMP. Oddly, to me at least, Hahn refers only to Evergreen Politics, a Washington based blog, and to Fort Boise, which seems more center than left leaning. It does mention Kos, but of course not as an Idaho blog.

And, the unkindest cut of all, the story quotes from Adam Graham's blog, twice. It includes links to Adam's site, to a some campaign sites, and does include a link to Red State Rebels. No mention of Chris's posting about the ROMP issue, or Randy Stapilus' insights about Dem chances, or even of 43rd State Blues, which is probably the most popular progressive Idaho site.

Does this story mean that the Statesman is starting to get it, or that it still doesn't? Could be either.

BTW, Liberal Idaho has some excellent posts lately about Hammer Flats and a few other issues. Sara continues as one of the more thoughtful progressive Idaho bloggers. Tara has posted some very nice photos.

Statesman: We Love Gov. Risch!

The Idaho Statesman seems to have fallen in love with Gov. Risch, and is shamelessly promoting him. It’s clear that Risch’s campaign strategy is to use the Gov’s office to generate news, and the Statesman has either fallen for this or is complicit in it.

I went to the Statesman’s website and searched on Risch; it yielded 35 mentions in the last seven days. A similar search for LaRocco returned two mentions, both in articles about Risch. Admittedly many of the Risch mentions are in articles not specifically about him, but he still gets mentioned. He is in eight headlines (in seven days), and mentioned in 27 other articles or letters to the editor (in 7 days)

Some of what the statesman is reporting is legit news. What really got my goat was this article, summarizing all our peripatetic governor’s actions and the stories about him. On a Sunday when they didn’t have anything else to write, the Statesman just published a rehash.

I will give you that a rehash is sometimes worth printing, but during an election campaign such prominent display of Risch’s name and face begins to affect the election and is unfair to LaRocco. It is not sufficient in an article about Risch, under a headine naming Risch, to include a comment from LaRocco. This is not balance. The Statesman should exercise some restraint.

Sneaky Effort to Establish School Vouchers

The Royal (Northwest) Mounted Valice has a couple of good posts about how public schools are doing versus private ones, and Bush Admin efforts to sneak through private school vouchers.

Falling Support for Idaho Public Schools

Randy Sapilus shows that since 1988 fuding for Idaho Public schools has declined from 52% of General Fund Income to 45%.

Frat Boy or Rapper?

Harry Shearer has a great mp3 version of Pres. Bush's potty mouth. Best line; "I had half a french roll stuffed in my yap..."

Bush and His Microphone

You've all seen the video of Pres. Bush and PM Blair at the G8 summit. Bush is eating a roll, chewing with his mouth open, and Blair is talking with him. At the end of the video, Blair asks if the microphone is on, reaches for it and it shuts off.

What's really going on there? Was some stage-crew guy filming and recording the encounter, and shut it off when Blair asked the question? It looked more to me like Blair reached out and flipped the on-off switch on the mic.

If that's the case, that means our President didn't shut off his own mic when lunch started and the official portion stopped for lunch. So, what's up with that? Was Bush too lazy to shut it off? Was he too dumb to figure out that it's up to him to turn it off? Was he too focused on eating that roll? From watching the video, one thing is for sure; he didn't fail to shut it off because he was lost in thought.

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Trickle up, or trickle down?

Which makes more sense to you as a way to stimulate the economy; trickle-down, or trickle-up?

Let’s look at these two ideas in action. Consider a restaurant, or a gas station, or a small law firm, or similar small business. Say the business is going along pretty well, making money, the owner is prospering and can afford an expensive car, a boat, European vacations, college for the kids, and has some investments socked away. Upper middle class, I guess.

More on the flip.
Apply trickle-down tax policy. The owner will have more money, say as much as $10,000 a year. GOPers say the owner will take this money and invest it in the business and create jobs; expand the restaurant, add more pumps to the gas station or perhaps open up another, hire an associate lawyer, or otherwise create more capacity for more customers that will require more jobs. That’s the theory.

The reality is that the owner will probably just buy more investments or nicer consumer goods. This will, somewhere down the road, lead to more jobs, probably. An upsurge in BWM sales will help create jobs, in Germany. Buying more stock in a company will allow it to borrow capital more cheaply, lowering costs, and returning more dividends to the wealthy investors.

The owner probably won’t expand the business with the $10k. $10k isn’t enough by itself for that, even $10k over several years. If the restaurant isn’t always full, the owner won’t make a bigger space so it’s full even less. If the lawyer isn’t turning down clients because of insufficient time to work new cases, an associate isn’t needed.

What will cause the expansion is demand. If the restaurant is full most of the time and customers come in the door, look around and leave because they don’t want to wait, the owner will expand. It’s obviously much less of a risk to create more space if you’re losing customers for lack of it.

Apply trickle-up tax policy and put more money in working people’s pockets. They’ll have money to eat out more, or go for a drive, get a will, whatever. They might save a part of the extra money, but they’ll certainly spend a part of it. Demand drives supply, not the other way around. Adding more hours or more space to the business will require more waiters, convenience store clerks, you get the picture.

Lumber mills in Cascade and Emmett closed and threw folks out of work. What would return jobs to those communities? Tax cuts to the corporations? Tax cuts to Paris Hilton? Those types aren’t going to invest in Emmett and Cascade. However, give more money to the townspeople to spend locally and it will boost the local small businesses.

The next time someone makes the argument that tax cuts for the wealthy will spur the economy, have them apply the logic to the local town. Their logic will fall apart.

Daily Kos: Cook's latest House race ratings

Over at Kos, some report shows the ID-01 district as likely Repub. Of course, we know that as of today it is probably an even race.

If I could figure out how to leave a comment on Kos I'd leave one to point this out. Those of you who are comment-literate may want to.

Also, perhaps someone can sniff out the "Cook's Report" and provide some info about why Sali is not a "likely" choice.

The Rational Right

Bubblehead brings facts and logic and a bit of snark to bear to refute some misleading statements by a frequent Statesman letter writer.

Jon Marvel; anti-grazing extremist?

Idaho Cattle Association calls Jon Marvel an anti-grazing extremist with a proven history of obstruction, lists advantages of grazing program.

Knowing Iraqis

I couldn't get blogger to upload and append these images to my previous blog, so I placed them in a new post. To get the point, you might want to read over my previous post.
When I saw this Hummer as I walked to the chow hall, it gave me a clue about the enemy in Iraq. To the credit of the armor, no one was seriously injured in this IED attack.


We sat and talked with the shiek and his family and ate the sheep being skinnned here. Again, kind of helped me understand Iraqis.

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Some Rationality, Please

I know that bloggers like to write inflammatory statements to spur readership. And I know that it is easy to generalize; "all liberals are weak; all conservatives are heartless. But this pisses me off.

We’re at war. We’re at war with the most inhumane, subhuman enemy we’ve ever faced.

This is a fact Conservatives grasp and liberals don't. 9/11 is but a time of horror to be forgotten, a law enforcement matter that should be handled as such. The primary goal of the American left is the downfall of the Bush Administration and they've placed this above national security.

I beg your pardon, Adam. I think that Jack Murtha and John Kerry, who have actually gone to war, have a much better understanding that we're at "war" than the chickenhawks such as Rove and Cheney who have never served in the military. What's really disgusting is that they are willing to keep killing our troops for just for political purposes.

Stay The Course they bark, which is parroted by chickenhawks like Limbaugh and O'Reily, two more who haven't served and have no family member in the fight. "Stay The Course. Cut And Run. Squawk. Stay The Course. Cut And Run. Squawk."

It is precisely because progressives understand the terrible cost of war, and because they actually care about humans and families and not just corporations and rich people that progressives are seeking solutions to the Iraq problem. "Stay The Course. Let 'em Die. Don't Look For Alternatives. Squawk!"

I'm a liberal. I think I have a pretty good understanding of our enemy in Iraq. I attended days of training to understand Iraqis. I went on mounted and dismounted patrols throught cities and the countryside. I talked with Iraqis, Iraqi soldiers, Iraqi policemen, shared Chai and meal with sheiks and families. I'm pretty sure that experience gives me some understanding of the situation, certainly more so than a chickenhawk or a fighting keyboardist.

Adam says "The primary goal of the American left is the downfall of the Bush Administration and they've placed this above national security." Probably the former, not the latter. However, it is irrefragable that the right's primary goal is to perpetuate GOP power and it is clearly willing to place that goal above national security. "Stay The Course. Let 'em Die. Don't Look For Alternatives. Squawk!"

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Excellent Analysis of Risch's Dilemma

Randy Stapilus writes here about Risch's problems with the special session for cutting taxes.

It's pretty cool that Andus is finally getting on board and helping Dems promote the alternative propety tax. Rs are trying to give businesses a break as usual, at the expense of individuals, and the Dems are calling them on it.

Even Adam "I Love Governor Risch" Graham agrees with the Dems on this. Looks like a winner issue for the Dems.

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Contraception Ban

Channel Six in Eastern Idaho reports from Rexburg:

"Commissioners in May voted to ban the local health district's emergency contraception program that included the pill.

But in June, after complaints they made the decision without adequate public comment or notice and with one of the commissioners missing, commissioners rescinded the ban and postponed a revote until they had the public comment. "

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Sali's Bogus Supporter and Sham Endorsements

Bill Sali lists the "Sixty Votes Coalition" as a supporter, and quotes the following:

“Bill Sali’s anti-tax and pro-family record set him apart in the Idaho State Legislature,” said Paul M. Weyrich, National Chairman for the Sixty Votes Coalition PAC. “He is a proven champion on a number of conservative issues, and we look forward to the impact he will have here in Congress.”

According to this site, the Sixty Votes Coalition has been given $5,000 by Richard M. Scaife and $5,000 by Ritchie Scaife, two notorious wingnut financiers. These two donations are the only donations SVC has received. The SVC has donated ZERO to any candidate, and owes $73,199 in debt.

SCV Chairman Weyrich is definitely active in conservative politics, but Source Watch shows no mention of him being associated with SVC. A Google search of the two names, SVC and PMW, reveals only three mentions, two of which are from politicians endorsed by the SVC.

It looks to me like a total sham endorsement by a bogus PAC. Is Sali desperate for endorsements? Was he duped into thinking this one was valuable enough to tout on his website? Is this the type of research and critical thinking we can expect from Sali? Is he just shameless? Enquiring minds want to know.

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Sunset In Saliville

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Taking Care of Veterans

Or not. I read this post about increases in military health care premiums over at Veterans For Grant.

When I demobilized, I got a card good for two months of health care through Tri-Care. We were also told to sign up for health care through the Veterans Administration, which would provide health care for two years from demobilization. In January I signed up at the VA and made my first appointment. The VA is so backed up that my appointment was made for September. A nine-month wait for VA health care. A third of my entitlement period used up in just waiting to be seen. (They told me that had I had an emergency, I could have gotten an earlier appointment.)

A bill has been languishing in Congress to reduce the retirement age by one year for every two years a reservist serves past 20. Now I can draw the retirement at age 60. With 22 years service, you could draw at age 59, 24 years = age 58, etc., stopping at age 55. This bill is going nowhere.

If our government is serious about supporting our troops, it might taken action on one of these items. (end)

Investigating Alleged Crimes In Iraq Is A Good Thing

We’re up to about six incidents of Soldiers and Marines being accused of murdering Iraqis, Haditha and the alleged rape of the 14 year old Iraqi girl being the two getting the most press.

I’m pretty impressed by how the Army has jumped on some of the more recent cases, especially the rape allegations. (Not saying the Marines didn’t, just haven’t been following that story closely enough to know.) I know these investigations are irritating certain folks who are trying to support the troops or the war. The arguments seem to be, don’t rush to judgment because soldiers must make life and death decisions in the heat of combat and sometimes they err, and, it’s a war for crying out loud, people get killed, what do you expect.

There's more on the flip.

Regarding the former, I fully agree that the situations merit full investigation before action. I also believe that the commanders on the ground have plenty of experience, intelligence and resources to do just that. If a commander recommends an investigation, I’d tend to trust that judgment. Complaining about the investigation thinking you’re supporting the soldiers is misplaced. Soldiers were accused, soldiers made the decision to investigate, soldiers are investigating, soldiers will decide. If you support only the accused, you are criticizing the commanders and investigators.

I also believe that we support our soldiers by ensuring that we purge the miscreants and mutants out of the ranks. These types do manage to get in, and they cause morale problems and put fellow soldiers in bad situations. In order to get them out, you need facts to support the decision, and the facts come from investigations.

The other main argument, that it’s a war and shit happens, is a bit more complex. First, it’s not really a war, it’s a police action and military rules don’t apply. Our soldiers would capture insurgents, arrest them, and as part of the arrest would gather evidence. They’d photograph the scene, and often take video. They’d take swabs from the suspect’s hands to establish the presence of gunpowder. They question the suspect on the spot and again later. Once that was put together, decisions were made. Initially one of the intel guys would decide whether enough evidence existed to hold the suspect. If so, that decision got made again two or three times up the chain until finally the suspect was turned over to the Iraqi police or Army, depending.

It was very common for our soldiers to root out and capture a suspect only to have him released within a day or two Our soldiers called this the “catch and release program,” and they complained bitterly about it. Some of them related a story to me about being taunted by a guy they’d rounded up who’d gotten released for lack of evidence.

Second, even in war commanders must maintain good order and discipline. If they don’t chaos ensues. If commanders don’t find and punish soldiers who stray from the rules, soon all soldiers will be making their own rules. Finding, investigating and in the appropriate case punishing soldiers who commit crimes is an essential part of maintaining discipline and control.

Generous Qwest

Qwest had the ad below in Friday's Statesman, touting its high speed internet connection.
You may note that with the package you get Free Activation and Free Self-Installation. Yes, that's right, they'll let me install myself for free. They won't charge me for my work. Damn decent of them, don't you think?

Windy on the 4th

Kunans celebrated the Fourth of July in style, basically ignoring the Ada County fireworks ban. Lots of aerials bloomed in the sky.My son's friend brought over some firecrackers, so we took an empty tomato paste can, poked a small hole in the tope, and placed it in a pan of water. Putting a firecracker in the hole caused the can to shoot 20 feet or so in the air and muffled the noise of the firecracker. They lit one off, and as it dropped in the street, it almost landed on the hood of a sheriff's patrol car. The deputy drove by with his window down, said "That's amazing. Be careful." and drove off.

The wind kicked up not long after dark.