Re-branding, again.

I had a post arguing this same point a while back, but it's worth revisiting.

Bubblehead recently called out Bryan Fischer, again, and as an aside took a swipe at DailyKos.

the Idaho Democratic Party just invited Daily Kos guy Markus "Screw Them" Zuniga to speak at their big yearly dinner. Not quite the best way to show independent Idaho voters that the Idaho Democratic Party isn't just the party of the Angry Left.

As I, Chris and Sisyphus commented to Bubblehead, Kos's site may have some wingnuts leave posts on it, but he and his front page writers cannot fairly be called wingnuts. Left leaning, okay, progressive, sure, but not lefty wing nuts. But I digress.

What I really want to say is that I am almost unable to conceive how the Id Dem Party can show independent voters that it just isn't the party of the angry left. I believe that, even though about a third of the electorate self-identify as independant, true independents are pretty scarce. The bogus independents vote R in election after election. Just look at the results. So most of those independents are Republicans and beyond reaching or convincing.

And please, don't make the tired argument that Idaho Dems don't put up good candidates, and hat if they did they'd get more votes. Larry Grant is a moderate Dem and a good candidate by any standard. Even more to the point, check out the race for State Controller. Donna Jones, with her GED and her experience as director of a realtors group, beat out Jackie Twilegar, with her MA in finance and her years of experience in the financial field. And it's not a highly political job, so political opinions are of minor effect in the job. Jones got voted in, solely, obviously, because she's an R. True independents would have voted for Twilegar. So, there aren't that many independents to reach out to.

Idaho Dems simply are not of the hard left persuasion. Certainly no Dem that runs for office is left of moderate. In most cases, Idaho Dem values are in line with what people in Idaho want. Gun ownership, fine. Death penalty, fine. Fiscal responsibility, check. Middle-class tax relief, check. Granted, Dem values vary from what the hard right want, but no so much from moderate Rs.

My point is that Idahoans just aren't paying attention to who they're voting for. They just assume R=good, D=bad. Idaho Dems need some re-branding campaign to get people to take a look, and until such time virtually nothing they do will influence Idaho voters.

Update: DFO at Huckleberries Online started a thread to discuss whether "most Idaho Independents really are straight-ticket Republicans who don't want to admit it."

I got an answer

In the post below this one, I asked, rhetorically, what the other Republican candidates think about Idaho's R leadership supporting Jim Risch for Senate before the primary is held. Well, Kent Marmon answered me in a comment to the post.

He pointed me to his website, and said he's got a long involvement with Idaho politics. His site does answer my question; he doesn't like with the leaders have done, calling it cronyism.

I don't know about you, but I believe that this type of "cronyism" is a big part of the problem we have today in government. It almost seems as though we have evolved into an "anointing" of sorts.

I think he got that right. Isn't it inevitable in a one party state that the leadership will get complacent and begin to take advantage of the lack of challenge and competition? Cronyism seems descriptive to me.

Missing something?

Maybe I'm missing something, or maybe it's just missing. I've been looking around for a Jim Risch for Senate website, and I can't find one. Google doesn't bring up any such reference, nor can I find one on any of the party web sites.

Assuming that Risch still doesn't have a site up, this tells us something. One, he doesn't much value the internets. Two, he's probably the Luddite we suspected him of being, and is almost certainly not smart about technology issues. Three, he's passing up donations. Four, he has little interest in connecting with younger and tech savvy folks.

And on a related note, I see that another R has joined the race for Senate. Betsy Russell reports here that Post Falls businessman Richard Phenneger has joined the fray.

In addition to Phenneger and Risch, there’s former eastern Idaho elk rancher Rex Rammell, Caldwell real estate broker and Iraq veteran Scott Syme, and former Caldwell city councilman Kent Marmon.

I wonder what these new entrants think about all the R leadership having already endorsed Risch. I wonder what the leadership thinks about this? It was one thing to try to freeze out Rammell, and perhaps pressure Craig, by boarding the Risch campaign bus before the primary. Now that other credible candidates have surfaced, is the leadership having second thoughts? If not, I guess that shows that Idaho's GOP truly is a good ol' boys club, and the party leadership is happy to anoint the winners rather than leave it up to the voters.

I'm leery of so-called dedicated funds

Betsy Russell reports that House Speaker Lawerence Denney learned from talking to Idahoans that they are willing to pay for better roads through increased taxes "as long as we know it’s going to pavement."

I agree with that, but I'm leery of it. The concept is that the additional taxes get earmarked for, or dedicated to, building roads and bridges. A similar concept applies to money from the state lottery going to the state school system. The problem is that nothing prevents lawmakers from reducing what they might otherwise allocate, and thus offset the earmarks. The first year or two would probably see the full amount going to the targeted problem. Over time I suspect the legislature will reduce the former general fund contributions, effectively eating into the earmarks.

If the JFAC folks don't get to see how much in dedicated funds are going to roads, or schools from the lottery, then the dedication might work. But of course JFAC will look at those funds; it's probably irresponsible not to, because they could end up over funding something if they didn't.

So the earmark just ends up being political cover for raising taxes. I don't have a problem with paying for infrastructure, or for important functions of government, but we ought to be honest about it.

Saturday Brunch

Had my kids over this weekend, and this was our Saturday brunch.




Toasted bagel, lox, cream cheese, tomato, and red onion. Tasty.

What's Bill going to do?

Bill Sali is going to be in a quandary, on the horns of dilemma, between a rock and a hard place, pulled in two directions and rent asunder.

Bill's economic base, the Club for Growth, is bringing out the long knives to use against Mike Huckabee.

"Already tonight, Club for Growth [and] economic conservatives are attacking Mike Huckabee saying he's unacceptable for the party," David Gergen, a CNN political analyst, said Thursday night. "So there's going to be a fracas on the Republican side."

Bill is also famously evangelical, as of course is Pastor Huckabee. So which will Bill choose, God or mammon? Maybe Bubblehead can get Hoffman to tell us who Bill supports in the primary. I'd bet the CFG wants to know also.

Golden Duke Awards

If you haven't checked out TPM Media's Golden Duke award presentation, you ought to. It's a hilarious snark fest, featuring, among others, good ol' Larry Craig.

And for any media types who might happen across my tiny blog, I commend the TPM site to you as an great example of new media. I think it's a good model for how a print newspaper could keep itself relevant, and profitable. TPM isn't print, but it is a good blend of media, including solid investigative reporting. Print media could use its reportorial assets in a similar blend and presentation, drive traffic to its website, and at least generate web income.

And another bit of advice; don't link only to yourself. Most newspaper web sites just link to their own web sites and pages. Interesting sites link to other sources. Don't be afraid that you'll drive traffic away from your web site. You might as the person explores the link, but they'll come back because of your content and links you provide. Huckleberries Online does a good job at linking to non-SR sites, and it's page views are climbing.

Another way to inflate home prices

Somehow this way to inflate home prices isn't considered fraud, though it sure looks that way to me. Here's how it works.

A buyer contracts directly with a builder for a home. Maybe it's a build job, maybe it's to buy a speculation home the builder built and now wants to unload.

Builder and buyer agree on a price. Included in the price is the builder's normal profit, or at least some profit. This will be backed up by an appraisal. If the builder built 20 homes in a subdivision, all about the same value, and 10 have sold, that's going to establish a decent comparable value and the appraisal will reflect that.

The buyer gets a loan on the appraised value, or at least some high percentage of it, like 90%. Buyer pays builder, and typically the check is written by the lender to the builder as part of the closing. Builder then writes the buyer a check that represents the discount on the sale price they had agreed to. I guess the justification is that the builder gets the usual profit, but has agreed to share it with the buyer. Lender knows nothing about this.

Is anyone who's part of this transaction harmed by this deal? Usually not. Builder unloads inventory and cuts off interest on the construction loan. Buyer gets a nicer home. Lender gets repaid by buyer as per their contract. Local government gets higher taxes, based on the ostensible selling price. The loan officer gets a higher commission. (The loan officer and the lender are usually two separate entities; both get a bite of the action and make money off the buyer.)

The losers? Again, neighboring honest home buyers, who buy overpriced homes because their home value is set by comparable sales. They also pay more in taxes than they should as well.

Inflated Home Prices

The Statesman quoted in its Sunday edition from a Twin Falls Times-News article about assessing home values. The T-N argued that home sale values should be made public.

Idaho is one of only seven states that does not require home sellers to disclose sale price. That's akin to the IRS checking your tax return without being allowed to know your income.

Fair market value determines your property tax bill. Without sales figures, there's no way to guarantee your tax bill is correct.

The argument is that by making sales values public, or at least disclosing them to the public, the assessor can more accurately value homes for tax purposes. The T-N advocates for disclosing the values to the assessor, though not necessarily to the public.

So Bonner County is considering ordinances that would require buyer disclosure to the assessor, though not to the general public.

The point of not telling the public is to protect realtors. If you can easily find out what other homes are selling for, you aren't as likely to need a realtor.

Home pricing is a complex business, especially in a volatile market. Homes typically are valued based on sale value of comparable nearby homes, as a means to establish market value. What it sells for is market value, right? Maybe.

Consider the Treasure Valley market over the last few years, and its rapidly rising valuations. It was a true real estate bubble. Many of the buyers bought homes for speculation, homes they did not intend to live in, counting on the ever-rising values. It was easy; loans for 100% of the value, interest only loans, loans given without proof of income. This inflated prices over the true value. People weren't so much interested in the lowest price, because the rising market would soon add equity. It might appear to be market value, but the market was distorted.

Another troubling trend; using homes as vehicles to obtain money for speculation in other investments. A person could buy a home for whatever value, preferably one that had not been sold through the multiple listing service, because that would establish a current market value. Once purchased, the buyer obtains a new, higher, appraisal, often by shopping around to various appraisals. This has the effect of instant equity in the home. The buyer then gets a new loan and a home equity loan. The property is now over-valued, but the buyer has money to invest.

If the money is invested at, say, 6%, and the buyer is paying 2% or so on the equity loan, the buyer wins. In a rising market, after a couple of years when the interest rate adjusts, the buyer can sell at a price that will have risen to the over-valued appraisal. Net effect; the buyer uses lender money to make money, called leveraging.

That's great for the buyer when everything works out. However, when the bubble bursts and homes stop rising in value, things fall apart. If the buyer was dumb or greedy enough to do this on 2 or more homes, things really go bad.

If a person wants to speculate, fine, let her. But don't bail her out when the bubble bursts, because her actions had victims; other home buyers. You see, when she refinanced at the inflated value, it caused other homes to sell for more. Great for realtors on commission, great for mortgage lenders who lent on higher values, great for loan officers who also get a percent of the sale value.

Not great for the honest home buyer who had to buy a home that was overvalued because its value was determined by comparable nearby homes, homes that were overpriced in order to help a speculator make money. The honest buyer paid more in commissions, more in interest, more in principle.

Communication Director?

Chuck Oxley has an opinion published in the Statesman . Oxley doesn't like Otter's proposed tax on non-motorized watercraft. At least, I think that's the point he was trying to make.

Unfortunately, Oxley got carried away with trying to tell a story and write something amusing, and he buried his thesis way down in the piece. Noting that motorized boats are taxed, but non-motorized boats are not, Oxley writes

Seems to be a bit of a disparity, doesn't there? Not to worry, though. Gov. Butch Otter and his Republican Legislature are on the job. The problem, they say, is that they're not taxing enough watercraft. They have left out an entire class of boats - those without motors.

Mr. Oxley's argument comes across very weakly. He uses a lot of sarcasm, and the extended riff on Biff wanders all over the place. He complains about a problem but proposes no solution. He seems to criticize Otter's proposal yet ends up saying "I agree the system is out of balance."

Is he saying, don't tax non-motorized boats? Is he arguing for a tax based on market value, or something like what's in place for automobiles?

Oxley's argument also falls flat because he compares the tax on a boat and trailer with the tax on a large boat. You can sleep on the large boat, he implies, so it's okay to include trailer tax in the comparison. That doesn't make much sense to me.

Oxley is the communication director for the Idaho Democratic party. I hope he makes future arguments more aptly than this one.

Christmas Eve

I spent Christmas Eve with friends and family, which IMHO is a great way to spend the evening, if you're fortunate enough to be able to do that. I got home around 23:00 (11:00 PM, if you don't get military time), and am having a Christmas Eve cocktail and doing a bit of channel surfing.

My choices for viewing pleasure seem to fall into three or four categories. Typical viewing fare, including the usual cable programs and shopping channels (so that's one or two, depending), Christmas shows, and, oddly, counter-programming. I can watch Santa Claus: The Movie, or Toby Keith Classic Christmas (puh rum pa pum pum in a coyboy hat), and similar shows. Or I can watch, no kidding: Night of the Living Dead; Godfather; Goodfellas; and Bad Santa.

Nice.

BSU Broncos

I had a little Hawaii Bowl party last night, and was disappointed by the Broncos. If you didn't watch the game, you probably don't care about the result. If you did, you don't need me to provide a replay or analysis here.

I do have a couple of points to make. As a fan I was disappointed by their choice to go to Hawaii instead of playing in the Humanitarian bowl against a better opponent. The kids chose their fun over the fans and the sake of the team, I think.

Second, if you watched the game, you couldn't avoid the interminable interview with Hawaii coach June Jones. The ESPN announcers let that run on WAY too long. You can watch a 9:49 minute YouTube posting below, if you're interested. They stopped commenting on and explaining the game, and they stopped replays in order to show Jones, despite at least one important play occurring.



I was looking at Jones' shirt while he talked. It was black with a white logo on the left chest. A few minutes later the camera showed some Pirate fans wearing theme aparrel, and I think I noticed something. I looks to me like Jones was sporting a skull and cross-bones as a shirt logo. In other words, a Jolly Roger symbol, and in still other words, a symbol of the Pirates team BSU was playing. If my view of the symbol is correct, I think Jones was rooting for the Pirates against the Broncos.



I've heard of classless behavior by Hawaii fans towards BSU fans. Admittedly, BSU has its share of louts as well. But if Jones was rooting against BSU by wearing that shirt, I can see where some of the blame lies.



Update: After much consideration and discussion, I've decided I'm really going to teach Jones a lesson. I'm going to root against Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. That'll show him.

Later update: Well, after watching the Hawaii game I have to backtrack. The same logo on Jones' shirt was plastered all over the players's helmets. It appears to be an Hawaiian mask or something, with swords, or something, below. Anyway, it is a Hawaii logo, not a pirate logo.

I was still ambivalent at for a while during the game. Poor Hawaii got stomped so soundly that it was hard to watch. Also, their drubbing makes the entire WAC look weak. Boise will be lucky to get any ranking next year. And Colt Brennan dropped from Heisman candidate to just another quarterback in a weak conference; he may have killed his NFL prospects in a single night.

Let's reelect these folks! Not.

The Statesman reports that our political leaders are hoping the feds will mandate fixes for the valley's air quality problems.

So no legislation is in the hopper for 2008, and many political leaders privately say they are waiting for the federal government to order them to do what it believes needs to be done.

I wish the reporter would have named names so we can know who these "leaders" are. In fact, I take issue with the reporter - Rocky Barker - even using that term. He should have just described them as politicians, not leaders.

Is it leadership to just duck and cover and allow the feds to impose changes? Of course not. This just seems craven to me, and contrary to the political philosophy espoused by Idahoans and most legislators. To the extent that Republican legislators are the "political leaders" Barker cites but doesn't name, this is especially egregious, given Republican distaste for federal government interference in state matters.

I started to write a post about how complacent voters keep returning these "leaders" to the legislature despite such contrary inaction, but realized that I don't know if Barker was referring to legislators. Also, if voters don't know who is doing this, they can't vote the offenders out of office. I suppose that if Barker named names, the next time he called the hand-sitting "leaders" they wouldn't talk to him and he would be less effective in learning of such cowardice. Still, it would be nice to know so we could vote accordingly.

Wow

I had no idea of the extent to which President Bush is actively trying to prevent Congress from getting anything done. After one veto in his first six years, he is now up to seven, and has threatened to veto 53 pending bills, shown below. This just seems to be a conscious effort to keep Congress from getting anything done. If nothing else, you can easily conclude that Pres. Bush has no desire to work with Congress.

1. Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act - H.R. 4, and the Medicare Fair Prescription Drug Price Act - S. 3
2. Employee Free Choice Act - H.R. 800
3. Improving America's Security Act - S. 4
4. Water Quality Financing Act - H.R. 720
5. Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 - H.R. 985
6. Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 - H.R. 1255
7. United States Policy in Iraq Resolution - S.J.Res. 9
8. U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act - H.R. 1591, S. 965, H.R. 2206
9. D.C. Voting Rights Act – H.R. 1433, S. 1257
10. Rail and Public Transportation Security Act - H.R. 1401
11. Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act - S. 5
12. Intelligence Authorization Act - S. 372, H.R. 2082
13. Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act - S. 1082
14. Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act – H.R. 1592
15. Redeployment of United States Armed Forces and defense contractors from Iraq - H.R. 2237
16. Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act - H.R. 1684
17. Agricultural Disaster Assistance and Western States Emergency Unfinished Business Appropriations Act - H.R. 2207
18. National Defense Authorization Act - H.R. 1585, S. 1547
19. No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act - H.R. 2264
20. Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act – H.R. 1252
21. Human Cloning Prohibition Act - H.R. 2560
22. Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act - H.R. 2638, S. 1644
23. Creating Long-term Energy Alternatives for the Nation (CLEAN) Act/Energy Independence and Security Act - H.R. 6
24. State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act - H.R. 2764
25. Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act - H.R. 2643
26. Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act - H.R. 2829
27. College Cost Reduction Act - H.R. 2669
28. Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act - H.R. 2956
29. Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act - H.R. 3074, S. 1789
30. Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act - H.R. 3093, S. 1745
31. Farm, Nutrition and Bioengery Act/Food and Energy Security Act - H.R. 2419
32. Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act - H.R. 2831
33. Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act(SCHIP)- S. 1893, H.R. 3162, H.R. 976, H.R. 3963
34. Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act - H.R. 3161
35. Ensuring Military Readiness Through Stability and Predictability Deployment Policy Act - H.R. 3159
36. Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act - H.R. 2776
37. New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act - H.R. 3221
38. Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision and Extension Act - H.R. 2761
39. FAA Reauthorization Act - H.R. 2881
40. Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act - H.R. 3121
41. Improving Government Accountability Act - H.R. 928
42. Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act - H.R. 3246
43. National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act - H.R. 2895
44. Tax Collection Responsibility Act - H.R. 3056
45. Free Flow of Information Act - H.R. 2102
46. Responsible Electronic Surveillance that is Overseen, Reviewed, and Effective (RESTORE) Act - H.R. 3773
47. Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act - H.R. 505
48. Employment Non-Discrimination Act - H.R. 3685
49. Trade and Globalization Assistance Act - H.R. 3920
50. Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act - H.R. 2262
51. Homeowner's Defense Act - H.R. 3355
52. Temporary Tax Relief Act (AMT) - H.R. 3996
53. Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act - H.R. 4156

List complied by KagroX at Daily Kos.

Americans for Tax Reform

The interest group Americans for Tax Reform took out a full page ad in the Statesman, and no doubt in many other places, to stir up resistance to the energy bill recently passed by the House. ATR is calling the energy bill the “Massive Tax Hike of 2007.” ATR alleges the bill has $21 Billion in new taxes, will lead to higher utility bills, and will cost drivers more than $6.71 Bil.

What a crock.

The bill does increases taxes for oil companies, but it’s in the form of taking away subsidies and special tax breaks. Given the record, and windfall, profits oil companies are enjoying, this is reasonable. They don’t need tax breaks in these highly profitable times. Higher utility bill will result only if the oil companies raise their prices even further to make up for the lost tax breaks.

I suppose that if car manufacturers incur costs to raise fuel economy, and they pass along those costs, then drivers might have to pay more. However, in the current highly competitive environment it’s not clear that manufacturers can pass along such costs. Also, c’mon, it’s obvious that better fuel economy will save drivers money.

From NHTSA's website, www.nhtsa.gov. "Report to Congress: Study of Feasibility and Effects of Reducing Use of Fuel for Automobiles"

NHTSA’s decision to raise light truck standards for 7 consecutive model years (2005-2011) will contribute greatly to reducing fuel consumption. In addition to the 14.3 billion gallons of fuel saved over the lifetime of the vehicles affected by the standards, NHTSA also completed and institutionalized a size-based CAFE reform structure that will save more fuel than the unreformed CAFE structure without negatively affecting safety and jobs.

I figure that 14.3 billion gallons of fuel saved, times $3.00 per gallon, means a savings of $43 billion. And there is the real problem for ATR; that’s $43B that won’t be going to oil companies.

Personally, I like the smell of pine

Hot diggity dog. I was excited. Macy’s sent me a “fragrance gift guide” just in time for my Christmas shopping needs. After looking through it, however, I realized that I just don’t get “fragrances.”

First off, I always just call it perfume. Apparently, the preferred nomenclature is scent or fragrance or Eau de Parfum Spray, or Eau de Toilette Spray.

Some of scents could be scented on an attached scratch and sniff kind of thing, or on cards that all fell out of the guide and onto my floor. The card for “Cashmere Mist” had a flap that read “Lift to experience.” I wondered how you turn a cloth into a mist.

For those that didn’t include something to smell, I guess you’re just left with looking at the pictures and reading the descriptions to make your choice. Clearly, these fragrance makers are appealing based on image.

The first fragrance was “Diesel,” which comes in a burlap sack tied with leather. A greasy rag would be more appropriate, I think. While shopping last week, a young fellow dressed all in black and sporting spiked hair working in the scent section of Macy’s handed me a piece of paper that said Diesel. It didn’t smell anything like diesel.

Several of them, I guess, try to get the buyer to identify with the name of some famous person associated with the perfume. “L, a L.A.M.B. fragrance by Gwen Stefani” for those people who want to look like an overdone 1940s hooker and who like to smell like “A luscious floral fragrance wrapped in a sensual warmth."



The Elizabeth Arden offering was interesting, because it offered no description or scratch-n-sniff card. Here’s a picture of Elizabeth Arden; buy this scent and identify yourself with this old gal. Actually, my first mental image was of Eve Arden, another seemingly odd choice for young women to try to emulate.

Next up, Jessica McClintock, who recommends “An exquisite fragrance that is a reminder of another era.” In other words, an old smell. Possible musty.



Sarah Jessica Parker is hawking “Covet, a stunning blend of green notes, gorgeous florals, and sensuous woods,” and “Lovely, a modern, silky white amber fragrance.” Using color - green, white, amber - to describe an odor can’t be olfactorally accurate. Plus, do you associate S.J. Parker with lovely?



The men weren’t left out. Sean Jean suggests “Unforgivable, for men and women,” with the tag line “Together they embody the essence of sensuality that is sure to intoxicate the senses.” Okay, a scent that can be worn by men or women? Not in Idaho, baby. No metrosexuals here.



There was also “Usher, a fresh woody musk scent.” Does this guy look fresh, woody and musky? Would he want to?

Britney Spears had “believe,” no description, no sniffer card. Spray this on, take of your underwear, hit the town and start partying.

Last, Mariah Carey tenders “M,” and invites you to “Celebrate the season with decadence.” Nothing says Christmas like decadence.

Season's Greetings, from Idaho

From Daily Kos, the title and picture. Will it ever end?

How sad

It was raining this morning as I drove to work, and was in the high 30s. Cold and wet, with a bit of a breeze. During the winter there will be mornings of bitter cold, often with wind to add bite.

As I drive through my neighborhood and toward Meridian Road, I pass an elementary school and the high school. I drive to work the same time as kids are walking to school. On mornings such as today I see the kids walking along, huddled against the cold and rain, and I think I ought to offer a ride. I go right by their destination. It seems only common courtesy.

But of course, I don't make the offer. I'm a middle aged man. If I offered a ride, because as a parent I have empathy for the kids, the child would probably recoil, shy away, and decline. Later in the day I'd get a visit by the authorities, and possibly suffer many negative ramifications. An example of "No good deed goes unpunished."

So I just drive by them, leaving them to walk in the cold and rain. How sad.

Oops. I did it again.

Huckleberries online reports here about a visit by the Gov and Lt Gov to a Couer d'Alene library. DFO writes "The Otters are in town today to participate in the Governor's Ball at the Coeur d'Alene Resort." I'm not sure whether this means the Rischs aren't going to the ball.

I think attending a Governor's Ball is probably in the line of duty for the Governor. Lt. Gov., probably not so much. What it smacks to me of is that Risch may once again be using state resources to get around the state to promote his campaign, especially if he doesn't actually attend the ball.

Maybe this is in the line of duty and Risch's trip is totally justified. Even if his attendance was not really part of his duties, I don't know what the travel arrangements were. Maybe Risch drove himself on his own dime. Maybe Risch's campaign will reimburse the state, if they used the state plane.

I guess he doesn't have to worry about the critics who alleged that he used the office of Governor to campaign for the Lt. Gov position. Discharging his Lt. Gov. duties will entail activity that will put him in the public eye, thus assisting his senatorial campaign.

I know I'm waffling here, but I don't think I can out and out accuse him of misusing state resources just because of this trip. Still, Risch is running for the Senate and there is little check on his actions, certainly not in a one-party super majority Republican state. I just think this bears watching.

Update: I reworked this a bit to clarify my point.

Later Update: Betsy Russell reports that it was indeed a fundraiser, so travel ought to be paid for by the Otter and Risch campaigns.

Rating the run; Boise Greenbelt vs. San Antonio River Walk

Just got back from a couple of days in San Antonio Texas, and had a chance to run along the famed River Walk, so I'd thought I'd compare them. Pictures below. 1) Weather: Boise, 39 deg, SA 70 deg; no contest, SA. 2) Running surface: Both are paved the entire length, but Boise has some portions of dirt or grass. Since I prefer a softer surface, Boise wins. 3) Interesting stuff to look at: Boise's river and vegetation is pretty good, but there's not a lot of variety. SA is lined with with shops, curves, landscaping, buildings, and lights. SA wins. 4) Running room: SA is very narrow, Boise has plenty of width. Boise wins. 5) Length. I figure the River Walk is about a mile from end to end. Way too short. Boise's is what, 15 miles or so? No contest. Overall, if you're running for exercise, Boise wins. If you want an interesting stroll, SA is the place.

Here's a pic of the river walk. You can't actually see the sidewalk, but it runs along the river on both sides.



Here's another pic.



Note the lower left corner in the picture above. Here's a better look at that bird. The light squiggles on the water look kind of cool.



It's X-mas time, and downtown had a bunch of lights hanging down from the trees. The pic doesn't do it justice. It looked pretty magical.



Finally, what I facetiously call the headwaters of the San Antonio river. The city has stopped the "river" and is pumping it past a dry portion in order to do some maintenance or improvements. It's just funny to me that the river flow comes from a pipe.