Greetings, Idaho Democrats. Red State Rebels is live at The Mode Building in beautiful downtown Boise, where Jackie Groves Twilegar has opened her office for an election returns watch party. Everyone is here ... Jerry Brady, Larry Grant, Jim Hansen, Richard and Renee Stallings, Mac the awesome DJ guy, Bob Wallace, Jackie T, a passel of state legislative candidates, tons of TV people, and a whole bunch of fired-up Democrats.
I'll be blogging live for the next few hours, and feel free to post what you know, because I am actually sitting BEHIND one of the big-screen TVs.
9:29 p.m. Richard Stallings took the stage a few minutes ago and said that there's word that quite a few Republicans crossed over to vote the Democratic ballot today. The room is filling up!
9:52 p.m. Jim Hansen just spoke, and now Jerry Brady is onstage. My connection here is lousy, so the blogging is slow going ... sorry. Jerry says he spoke with his primary opponent Lon Lee Chaney, who conceded, and he is speaking forcefully about how Idaho is NOT for sale.
9:59 p.m. Bob Wallace is up now, talking about his life as a lawyer, protecting people's rights "and helping them live their real lives as much as possible." He's also talking about Idaho continues to wind up in court - at taxpayer expense - because the GOP-dominated legiuslature keeps passing unconstitutional laws.
I'm taking a lot of photos, but I'll probably have to post most of 'em later. Sorry.
10:42 p.m. Larry LaRocco is onstage now, claiming his victory in the Lt Gov race. Idahoans want balance and accountability, he says, and he'll give them to us. "I'm going to shake 25,000 hands and I am going to hear 25000 stories, and make sure those people are represented," he said. " ... I am going to be an activist lieutenant governor ... the era of low expectations is over."
Butch Otter just said "Bring it on!" referring to his opponent's challenge. Nice.
Posted by: Alan | May 23, 2006 at 09:42 PM
Bring it on huh?
Clicky my name...
Posted by: Chris | May 23, 2006 at 09:44 PM
U-S House 1
Republican
Precincts: 27 of 451 ( 6%) reporting
Candidate Percent
Skip Brandt 9%
Keith Johnson 21%
Bill Sali 28%
Norm Semanko 10%
Sheila Sorensen 18%
Robert Vasquez 14%
- Let's hope things turn around..
Posted by: Chris | May 23, 2006 at 09:58 PM
I sure wish I was in Boise right now!
Posted by: Tara A. Rowe | May 23, 2006 at 10:14 PM
I'm feeling pretty bummed here in Gooding... we have a couple RINOs running for local offices and I've talked to several people who voted the Republican ticket in order to vote for them. Arrghh! These people keep telling me that there aren't any contested races on the Dem ticket... well, hellooooo? Where have YOU been?
Is there a site that posts election results besides waiting for the newspaper in the morning?
Posted by: Diana Rowe Pauls | May 23, 2006 at 10:19 PM
Channel 7 has trotted out Jim Weatherby for its analyst. The dude is wearing a brown plaid suit (the same one he wears every election), a salmon shirt and a green tie. His sartorial acumen shouldn't reflect on his political insight, but I just can't get past the color clash to listen to what he's saying.
Posted by: Alan | May 23, 2006 at 10:22 PM
Diana,
http://www.sos.idaho.gov/online/ElectionNightReporting/
Posted by: Tara A. Rowe | May 23, 2006 at 10:22 PM
Diana, see Randy Stapilus's links to county online results. http://www.ridenbaugh.com/index.php/2006/05/23/election-night-2/
Posted by: Alan | May 23, 2006 at 10:25 PM
Statesman updates quicker than SOS.
Posted by: Jessica | May 23, 2006 at 10:26 PM
Unfortunately, in order to get any local stations (not counting Twin Falls KMVT...), I have to climb a two story house and adjust the antennae whenever the wind blows... needless to say, I don't receive local stations!! So I won't be able to suffer Weatherby's fashion faux pas!
Posted by: Diana Rowe Pauls | May 23, 2006 at 10:27 PM
I am glad you guys are having fun. I guess this is the place to be, but my connection sucks and I can't get any photos up for y'all!
Posted by: Julie in Boise | May 23, 2006 at 10:31 PM
KTVB.com is pretty good it updates every 90 seconds.
Posted by: chris | May 23, 2006 at 10:34 PM
KTVB keps bragging about their website having the best updates; you might try it. ktvb.com
Posted by: Alan | May 23, 2006 at 10:35 PM
KTVB is the best one...
Posted by: Jessica | May 23, 2006 at 10:36 PM
For those of you with more experience of election night watches than I do, how does tonight compare so far? Too early to tell?
Posted by: Diana Rowe Pauls | May 23, 2006 at 10:37 PM
Channel 7 is interviewing Bruce Newcomb; he just said "The undecideds are going to decide the race."
Posted by: Alan | May 23, 2006 at 10:39 PM
So the undeciders will become the deciders, in a country run by the Decider.
I think that maybe I need to have a drink...
Posted by: Diana Rowe Pauls | May 23, 2006 at 10:41 PM
Larry Larocco is giving his acceptance speech, and he keeps saying he's going to be an "activist" Lt. Gov. I'm not sure that really works so well; it sounds too much like "activist judge", a phrase that the right wingers have managed to vilify.
Posted by: Alan | May 23, 2006 at 10:45 PM
Good call, Alan.
Posted by: Julie in Boise | May 23, 2006 at 10:47 PM
I am glad I voted for Dan Romero.
Posted by: Jessica | May 23, 2006 at 10:47 PM
Hey Jessica! We have something in common!! I did also, but I also thought that I would be happy with either...
Posted by: Diana Rowe Pauls | May 23, 2006 at 10:51 PM
Larry was mocking Jana and that pissed me off. Anyone who runs deserves some respect. Dan was a great guy, was/is more in touch with Idaho and our concerns.
Posted by: Jessica | May 23, 2006 at 10:53 PM
what happened?
Posted by: Diana Rowe Pauls | May 23, 2006 at 10:58 PM
At the Richard Stallings dinner in January in Pocatello, a professor at ISU and Larry were in the men's bathroom mocking Jana and how bad of a candidate she was and how she was going to lose. No respect for her, very sad.
Posted by: Jessica | May 23, 2006 at 11:01 PM
Well, Channel 7, KTVB, is way out ahead of the pack in coverage, which is not surprising since NO OTHER CHANNEL is covering the returns. Good grief.
Unfortunately, 7s analyst Jim Weatherby is leaning so far to his right he's about to fall over. Literally. Maybe he's tired, maybe he's trying to signal that he's not leaning left, who knows. Maybe Ms. Holley has bad breath and he's trying to back off from it.
Posted by: Alan | May 23, 2006 at 11:04 PM