Ah, a holiday weekend ... and right after it, our Idaho primary Election Day. Every primary, we Idaho Democrats need to decide whether to vote on our side or vote for the least offensive Republicans on the other. (This is, of course, a key reason why Idaho Republicans want to close their primaries.) I have crossed over a time or two in my life, but only when I lived in Twin Falls County, where we rarely had any contested Dem primaries and even left many seats unchallenged in the 1990s.
There's one very good case to be made for voting in the Democratic primary, even if you live in the 1st CD and relish the idea of voting against Bill Sali and Jim Risch. Your Democratic votes help boost the tallies for people like Walt Minnick and Larry LaRocco, showing good levels of support for them even if they are essentially (in LaRocco's case) or literally (in Minnick's) running uncontested races.
And for 2nd District voters, this primary is especially important since we have a real choice between Debbie Holmes - a true progressive - and David Sneddon, who seems more intent on running away from the Democratic Party than joining it. If you haven't yet had a chance to meet Debbie, be sure to stop by her Memorial Day Ice Cream Social from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Boise's Municipal Park, or - if you live somewhere else - check out her website.
Finally, you can vote - again! - in the Democratic presidential nominating contest this Tuesday. True, it's only a "beauty contest" at this point, with no bearing on the nomination - but I for one want to see Barack Obama defeat Hillary Clinton as soundly in our primary as he did in the caucus.
You can find out where to vote here. Polls will be open Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Be sure to vote - and if you're a Democrat or a forward-thinking Independent, please vote Democratic.
Here's some more reading material for your long holiday weekend enjoyment:
See the hottest primary races in Idaho, as picked by Nathaniel Hoffman at Paleomedia, Randy Stapilus at Ridenbaugh Press, and Jasper LiCalzi at the Idaho Statesman.
Why none of the reports of an Obama-Clinton ticket are true - and further evidence (as if we needed more) that the race needs to end, stat.
Oregon superdelegate Jenny Greenleaf announces her support for Obama on the Blue Oregon blog. That's five more so far today, including one who flipped from Clinton.
Add your favorite links - and talk about your weekend plans - in the comments.
Update: Here's info on a Memorial Day event you may want to attend ... Veterans for Peace (VFP) will hold its annual Memorial Day "Circle of Peace" Ceremony and Commemorative Cemetery at Veterans Memorial Park at the corner of Veterans Memorial Parkway and State Street in Boise. The formal ceremony starts at 10 a.m. Monday and will last about 30 - 45 minutes. Headstones, crosses and the "Eyes Wide Open" display will be set up for public viewing and visitation from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. VFP 117 will also staff an information table during the entire day. All are welcome. For more info about the event or volunteering please contact Dwight at 562-1463 or email vfp117@msn.com.
My weekend plans? Lemme see. . .work. . . .school. . .work. . .homework. . .work. . .hooboy. . .
Summer school may be a bummer, but at least it's a fun reasoned discourse class. My professor is the fella who was debate coach 2 years ago when BSU won nationals. I've been thinking about joining the Forensics team. I did it in high school and it was so much fun. Hard to imagine fitting that into my schedule though.
I'm not going to bother trying to get any of my 1st district friends to vote on Tuesday since the races are uncontested and everyone is so busy all the time anyway. I'm going to make sure EVERYONE I know shows up in November, though. Unless they might vote republican.
Does anybody think Salisbury might beat Sali?
I think I'd maybe rather have Minnick running against Sali, just because Sali has been such a dummy the past two years I think he has a good record for running against--especially considering the fact that he's accomplished essentially nothing at all. Who do you all think would be easier to beat? Sali or Salisbury?
BTW, I think Salisbury is a funny name. It's like Salisbury Steak.
Posted by: ReggieH | May 23, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Reggie, I thought BSU was between sessions! Try to have at least a little fun this weekend.
I've seen quite a few pro-Salisbury letters in the Statesman, but Sali has been spending money on slick mailings, he has the name recognition, etc. I'm guessing Sali will still win. It's surprising to me that after the six-way primary in '06, Sali didn't draw more opponents this time around. Yeah, it was an open seat in 06, but this is BILL SALI we're talking about.
Who is easier to beat? Sali is an incumbent, which makes it tough. But Salisbury is a young Iraq War veteran, so he'd be tough, too. Pretty much anywhere outside Idaho, Sali would be doomed, but not here.
Reggie, I think the youth vote will be absolutely pivotal in November, both for Obama and for downballot Democratic candidates. Thanks for all the excellent work you are doing at Boise State, and for all the work I know you'll be doing between now and November to encourage everyone to use their voice (their vote) and ask for change!
As for me, I had an INSANELY busy two days last weekend, just continually booked with volunteer, family, and church obligations from Saturday morning through Sunday night. So I'm looking forward to a considerably more mellow holiday weekend.
Posted by: Julie in Boise | May 23, 2008 at 04:27 PM
There's no way that Matt "Salisbury" Steak will beat Congressman Bill Sali, Hero of the Owyhees (and frontrunner for President in 2012), because Bill Sali is smart and Stands Up To Pelosi, just like Patriotic Idahoans want! Plus, ReggieH proves that Anti-Sali Socialists don't have any original ideas, since I dubbed RINO Matt as Matt "Salisbury" Steak back in March: http://billsalifan.blogspot.com/2008/03/rino-running-against-congressman-bill.html
Posted by: Bill Sali Fan | May 24, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Your Ultra-Jingoistic Uber-Patriotic blog? Yeah. It creeps me out.
Oh yeah, and deriding anyone who disagrees with you as socialist? Hmmm. . .you ever heard of the red scare? McCarthyism? Anything?
Oh. Wait. I forgot. Your a Silly Sali Sheep.
Lemme speak in a language you can more fully understand.
Baaaa! Baa! Baaaaa! Bleeet! Baaaa!
Comprende?
Posted by: ReggieH | May 24, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Well I am a science geek and often annoyed that NASA missions are so overlooked.
For me, I will be in full on geek mode tomorrow, holding my breath with NASA mission control.
The earliest possible time when mission controllers could get confirmation from Phoenix indicating it has survived landing will be at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday (7:53 p.m. Eastern Time). Of 11 previous attempts that various nations have made to land spacecraft on Mars, only five have succeeded.
Phoenix will land farther north on Mars than any previous mission, at a site expected to have ice-rich permafrost beneath the surface, but within reach of the lander's robotic arm.
Remember they have a GREAT site for you and your friends and family to keep up to date with cool science that often is not messy enough to be called "news" located at:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html
t
Posted by: theresa | May 24, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Thanks for the info ! The article is great ;)
Posted by: Mike Williams | May 25, 2008 at 01:29 PM