Red State Rebels

Divided on bailout...

One can’t help but be surprised that Simpson and Holmes (myself) were in agreement with the bailout and Sali and Minnick were in agreement against the bailout.  The Republicans were against each other as were the Democrats.  This is just a microcosm of what is happening nationally.  Perhaps, if the bailout is as important as we are told our leaders should explain it to the populace better.  I have been on the campaign trail and have been talking to the voters and they are furious (as they should be, as I am).  This situation should never have been allowed to develop.  Some agree that action needs to be taken, others are skeptical. Yesterday, I spent 30 minutes on the phone with a fellow Democrat, who tried to convince me to change my stance.   

What do I want in the two day break of Rosh Hashana?  I want economists who are not connected to Wall Street to explain whether this is necessary, to me, and the people of Idaho, and our country.  I want this bailout to not look like the lead up to the Iraq War.  I, like other voters, would like to be sure I could trust our leaders to tell us the truth.  I want the people protected against Wall Street.  I want everyone to take a deep breath.  I want to know if credit will really freeze up.  Will we be in a deep recession, resembling the Great Depression, if we fail to act?  I fear the answer is yes, which is why I support the bailout.  Our leaders owe it to us to provide this information.

You know she'll drive you to drink, so you may as well join Drinking Liberally for the debate.

Greetings, all!

The Blogmother has asked me to update you, My Fellow Sympathetic Americans, about the fun that my little group has been having, and to invite you along.  I write, of course, about Drinking Liberally Boise.  The nation's third chapter of this legendary group (there are now almost 300 chapters!), we're Boise's best venue for kvetching safely to pals old and new about anything from anti-gravity legislation to canned salmon to the political wisdom of chaining oneself to a hunk of granite.  Plus, we like beers (and soda, water, wine and Manhattans over ice) and feature 30% better looks, 40% more brains, and 75% more snark than your average Idaho political get-together (especially since the average Idaho political get-together is filled with nutty conservatives).

Our regular meetups are every third Wednesday at Pengilly's.  Sign up for regular (but not abundant) email reminders in the upper left corner of this page: drinkingliberally.org.

The big news?  For the first time in our four year history, we're sponsoring Debate Parties! Join us for the VP debate this THURSDAY, October 2 at 6:30 PM in the bowels of the City Grill, 199 N. 8th St.

The response to our first ever Drink-N-Groan Debate Party was amazing! Dozens of optimistic liberals met last week at the City Grill to compare notes, exclaim "I can see Canada from my HOUSE!" and admire our really hot AND smart Presidential candidate.  Check out images of last week's shenanigans here.

You KNOW this Thursday's VP debate will be the debate of the season.  We're already wagering how long it will take after the debate for the cries of sexism to come out from the McSame camp.  Any takers?

End of an era - go kick some ass, please

I started Red State Rebels - the original one - in November 2003, and converted it to this multi-author blog last September. Now I am saying another farewell. This one is for real since, starting October 1, I'll be communications director for the Idaho Democratic Party. (You may have read it here first. Thanks, Jill.)

First, let me convey my appreciation for everyone who has made Red State Rebels a regular stop on their cyberspace travels. Whether or not we've agreed on all issues, you've kept the oxygen flowing here, and I salute your passion for our state and country.

About three dozen people have made posts at the multi-author Red State Rebels over the past year, and I know many will continue to write and organize here. As I step back, I hope others will step up and make their voices heard, too - at Red State Rebels and across the Idaho blogosphere. Also, if you'd like to do something to pay homage to what I've been doing here for the past five years, please consider a donation to the candidate(s) of your choice or the state Democratic Party as a whole at this page.

The video says "this opportunity comes once in a lifetime," but returning effective two-party government to Idaho will take longer than the next five weeks. After five years working for change in the netroots and the grassroots, I am thrilled about the opportunity to help build the Idaho Democratic Party from the inside out. I'll see you at the IDP - and don't forget to check out the work of the many other Idaho bloggers listed on this page, too.

A Tale of Two Candidate Forums

Last week I attended two candidate forums. One was at Treasure Valley Baptist Church, attended primarily by Republicans. The other was at Boise State, attended primarily by Democrats. They were very different, and I learned a lot from each.

I was a little worried about the Treasure Valley Baptist event -- Daniel entering the lions' den, as it were -- but their invitation assured me that everyone would be treated respectfully, and we were. Many church officials made a point of shaking my hand and telling me how glad they were I was there. We all got the same badges, the same gifts, women got the same corsages, and we were all placed at identical tables equitably in the gym.

Besides, there was pie. :) Apple, of course.

I met and talked with a number of people from my district, most of them accompanied by their children, and we had interesting, in-depth conversations on issues. Needless to say, education was a big one, and as the mother of a school-age child, that's a big issue for me, too.

The Boise State event, sponsored by a number of nonprofit organizations in the Valley, was more formal, with submitted questions by the sponsors that we answered. My opponent, who did attend the Treasure Valley Baptist event, was listed in the program as attending, but he didn't show up.

I was disappointed that my opponent chose not to attend. I'm sure it might have been challenging for him to attend an event with predominantly Democrats. On the other hand, I was willing to attend an event with predominantly Republicans, because I know that as a Representative, I *represent* everyone in my district, not just the people with whom I feel the most affinity, and it's important for me to learn everyone's views, not just the ones I already know. I wasn't afraid of the challenge, but looked at it as an opportunity.

What does that tell you about my candidacy? And about the kind of legislator I'll be?

Meanwhile, I'm hearing interesting stories in my district, like the people who were discussing my opponent and expressing concern about the overly conservative, religious-based legislation they thought he would enact. One of my supporters told them they could vote for me, and they responded, oh, yes, we're already planning to. Moreover, at least one of them was a lifelong Republican.

Yesterday was candidates' day at the Kuna Farmers Market (where my opponent also did not show up), and I had one of those experiences I like so much, when someone asks whether I'm a Republican and I say, actually, I'm a Democrat, and they exclaim, "Oh, thank God!" I'm getting more and more of these.

10 races to change Idaho

While most of our attention has been fixated on the upticket races, it's time to focus on electing our downballot Democrats, too. Idahoans have an opportunity this fall to shift the lopsided balance of the Idaho Legislature toward more effective two-party representation ... not just for Boise but also in North Idaho,  Valley County, Idaho Falls, and the western Treasure Valley.

Check out this new ActBlue fundraising page featuring 10 races to change Idaho politics. Read about the candidates and donate what you can to your favorites. Or contribute to the Idaho Democratic Party and help our Democratic candidates run strong statewide.

Weekend edition 9/26-28 and open thread

So, the presidential staring contest has concluded and John McCain has deigned that the debate will go on after all, even though the bailout negotiations continue. At least 65 million of us will be setting the DVR or hunkering down at 7 Mountain/6 Pacific to watch the big show. RSR will NOT be live blogging the debate tonight, but you can use this as an open thread to record your thoughts and impressions during and/or after the event. Also, have a gander at what Twitter and Current have teamed up to do.

Two big debate-watching parties are planned in Boise. Idaho for Obama is taking over the Taj Mahal Restaurant at 10548 Fairview in west Boise, while the Drinking Liberally chapter will gather at the City Grill, 199 N. 8th St. downtown. Other parties are planned in Hailey, McCall, and Post Falls. More details here.

The 1st CD race between Walt Minnick and Bill Sali continues to heat up, as the Minnick campaign continues to find ways in which Sali has repeatedly failed to vote for legislation that would have stemmed the mortgage and credit crises.

In the Idaho Senate race, Brian Ertz at Ralph Maughan's Wildlife News blog has the story of how the U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals ruled Jim Risch and other members of the Idaho Land Board could face trail for civil rights violations in the Lazy Y Ranch case. Meanwhile, independent Senate candidate Rex Rammell has filed a felony complaint against Risch in Fremont County over the temporary gov's handling of the 2006 incident in which Risch ordered the slaughter of 109 elk that escaped from Rammell's ranch.

It's going to be a beautiful weekend. Have fun, but be sure to spend some time volunteering for the campaign of your choice. And if you're in Boise, don't forget Sunday's fundraiser at The Record Exchange to help the Conservation Voters of Idaho elect candidates who will preserve and improve our precious Idaho quality of life.

Otter orders holdbacks; Obama would help states

Talk about trickle-down economics: The national financial crisis hit home in Idaho today as Gov. Butch Otter ordered statewide budget hold backs and cautioned all state agencies to reserve another 1.5 percent of their budget for possible further cuts. Jill has more at New West .

Meanwhile, a McClatchy Newspapers article in the Idaho Statesman today noted how Barack Obama wants to provide $25 billion in relief to state and local governments to be used on whatever the states and municipalities need most, along with another $25 billion for public works projects like roads and bridges. Whatever Idaho's share, it would go a long way toward relieving our current budget gaps and infrastructure needs, wouldn't it?

John McCain calls it a gimmick, and of course he of all people should know a gimmick when he sees one. But maybe Otter and his fellow Republicans ought to consider whether voting GOP is the best move this fall, or whether it's time to give Democrats a chance to put the country together again.

'Suspended' campaign, eh?

John McCain made a big show yesterday of saying he'd "suspend" his campaign to work on the financial crisis. Many Americans immediately suspected that McCain was throwing his second "Hail Mary" pass in a month - and indeed, we learned today, as Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said:

John McCain did not “suspend” his campaign.  He just turned a national crisis into an occasion to promote his campaign.  It’s become just another political stunt, aimed more at shoring up the Senator’s political fortunes than the nation’s economy.  And it does nothing to help advance this critical legislation to protect the American people during this time of economic crisis.

There was ample evidence today - in commercials aired, surrogates spinning, and volunteers welcomed - that the former "Straight Talk Express" has lost whatever credibility it still had. You have to wonder: What's the real reason John McCain doesn't want to debate Barack Obama? This is pathetic.

Update, Friday morning: The debate is on. McCain is accusing Obama of political posturing during Thursday's White House meeting (at which the hapless McCain reportedly sat mute for 40 minutes). Such leadership.

Streaming live at 7 MT: U.S. Senate debate

The debate has concluded. Here's a link to the archived footage.

New Minnick ad calls out Sali

The Walt Minnick for Congress campaign debuted this hard-hitting ad against Bill Sali earlier this week. Predictably, the Sali campaign called foul. But as its lead story last night, KTVB in Boise fact-checked the ad and found it to be 100 percent accurate. It's too bad that, at the end of its piece, KTVB noted a poll showing Sali ahead of Minnick - but not the one that has Minnick ahead. There are plenty more stories on the 1st CD race on Minnick's campaign blog.