Summertime and the Living Is Easy ....

But blogging isn't. So much to do, it's hard to be indoors basking in the glow of the flat panel.

Here's LaRoccco's Energy Independence plan. It's nice to see that he has a thoughtful position on nuclear energy. Here's a short story about LaRocco's strong fund-raising start. Scroll down for the amusing headline Idaho Falls Sentenced For Showering With Young Babysitter. Really? The entire town? What a scandal. It must have been a big shower. Were Trish and Halli there?

Here's a Statesman article on the 12 folks who want to be on the Supreme Court. A few retreads from the last go 'round. Randy Stapilus says

Least likely of the 12 ultimately to be selected by Republican Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter: Bill Mauk, a highly-regarded Boise attorney who also happens to be a former chair of the Idaho Democratic party.

I agree with that, but I also think that Mitchell Toryanski has about zero chance. He's a good lawyer and a connected guy in R circles, but the Otternator said that he rejected Clive Strong and Mike Gilmore because they're from the AG's office and might be too suspectible to having a conflict. I think that argument doesn't really hold water, but having staked out the position, Otter's probably going to stick with it. Also, I wonder if Otter isn't peeved at AG Wasden for his contrary position on the Land Board's policy regarding greenbelt land.

Two of the four women applied last time. It'd be tough for the Judicial Council to pick either of the two retreads over Horton, since he won out over them last time. Doubtful the two women have done much in the last couple of weeks to vault them ahead. So they're out.

Sergio Gutierrez has the diversity cred, as does, oddly enough, the white male Ken Howard. He's from N. Idaho! Also, the other two (white) female candidates, District Judges Darla Williamson and Juneal Kerrick, would satisfy the diversity check block, but the Otternator liked his last pick because he wasn't a judge and could bring the private practice experience to the bench.

If Otter elevates Gutierrez to the Supremes, he could appoint a female to replace him, but the appeals court already has a female member. It's hard to image a two-woman one-man court of appeals in Idaho.

I'll tell ya, if a female lawyer of color from CdA or Idaho Falls applied, she'd have been a shoe-in.

I'm thinking Gutierrez has the best shot. He could be backfilled by a lawyer from Not Boise, and the Gov would have increased diversity by two. Don't count out Ken Howard.