REASONABLE REPUBLICANS ONLY

To clarify matters, which I have managed to confuse, there will be a Republican candidates meet & greet at the Captain's Wheel in Bayview, Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00 PM. It dose not include Rally Right, recent converts from the Constitution Party, nor libertarians.

The previous plan was to hold it at the Community Center, but with the provision that everyone had to be invited. The Community Center cancelled due to a lack of candidates. Again that was my fault, due to the wrong list of candidates invited, some or most of which weren't in our legislative district.

Since this  became a private gathering, I was able to limit the participation to those that are "Reasonable Republicans" not whacked out on issues uch as repeal of the 17th amendment to the US Constitution, back to the gold standard, Nullification . For those not familiar with the jargon, Nullification would prevent federal laws from being enforced in the state of Idaho.

While obviously, improvements could be made between the ever growing federal government and the ever shrinking authority of the states, none of the above rants represent reality. The Civil War was fought over nullification. The confederacy lost. End of argument.

For those of you that do not remember which amendment the 17th is, it took the early U.S. out of selecting senators by the state legislatures, and gave people to right to vote individually for those offices. A extremist legislature would most likely end up electing other extremists. Bottom line is very few people with any sense at all, would vote to lose their vote.

The guests that will be appearing, are: For legislature, Fritz Weidenhoff and Ed Morse. County Commissioner, Tim Herzog. County Clerk, Don Pischner, Kootenai County Treasurer, Laurie Thomas and myself running for precinct 4 committeeman. Precinct 4 is Bayview, Cape Horn and most of the land between Farragut State Park and Hwy 95, or to make it simpler, if you vote at the Bayview Community Center you are in Precinct 4.  Many of you probably don't know that while county clerk, Dan created precinct 4, eliminating the need to drive to Athol for voting

Come on down to the Captain's Wheel and get to know these candidates that either are or may be serving you in an elected capacity.Oh, I almost forgot to mention a guest of honor that used to be a democrat and County Clerk, Dan English. Dan and his wife lived on a float home in Bayview for several years. Dan isn't running for anything currently but you never know.

Kootenai County Precinct 52

Nevada has it's Area 51 with strange mysterious things alluded to. Kootenai County has it's counterpart in Area ... er, Precinct 52, where strange and mysterious things are happening. It all started when Bjorn Handeen moved to that precinct from Minnesota where he was associated with fringe political groups. He joined the Constitution Party in 2003 and moved to Kootenai County at the same time as several other Constitutionalists and Libertarians also relocated here, 2007.

Apparently Idaho was considered the new battleground to save the world through super patriots taking control. Well, they have. In 2010 the local Republican Central Committee was caught off guard while these fringe players walked the precincts looking for support as precinct committeeman. Most voters are interested in county, state and federal elections but seldom pay any attention to precinct committeemen.

That little box at the end of the ballot usually has a name few recognize and many skip over it. I know I have been guilty of that myself. It is however, the vital heart of the party. It endorses candidates, raises funds for campaigns and most importantly, names replacements for all offices vacated during a term. An example of that is our new county Clerk. The previously voted in clerk suddenly died leaving a vacancy.

Our law requires that the party to which the predecessor belonged to must submit three names to the county commissioners from which they picked from. Three guesses. All were of the same extremist ilk.
Several of us looked for someone that would actually be qualified to serve. None in our opinion did. They were more interested in control than quality government.

A vast majority of traditional Republicans or what is becoming more in use, "Reasonable Republicans," suddenly realized that the central committee had been hijacked by these newcomers from other states that took time only to remove their coats before embarking upon changing things around so thy would have control. They did and it worked.

Word on the street is that nobody would run against the entrenched recent republicans/constitutionalists. We don't know the why, but do know that he was unopposed at filing deadline.

Some of the well known goals of these people, repeal of the 17th amendment to the US constitution. For those  of you that have forgotten, at the beginning of our nation, with distances being great and transportation slow, The state legislatures picked the senators, which is where the term "Statesman" came from. Back in the early 1900's it was decided that all of these problems were in the past. A bill was passed by congress and ratified by the states for the people to have the vote instead of congress where in many cases, Tamany Hall in New York, many other areas had corrupt legislatures, too easy to buy off in picking the senate.

Now these charitable people want you to vote for people that will take away your right to elect senators.

Another issue is what is called "Nullification." In a nut shell, (no pun intended) is to take the right of the federal government to apply federal law to the states. You may remember that last time that happened. South Carolina fired on Fort Sumter and the Civil War began. Then there is a wish for the return of the gold standard.

By this time if you have read this far the thought comes to mind, "where are their minds. They are out chasing their tail with issues that have not a chance of succeeding. As elected officials instead of doing the people's business, they are chasing a pipe dream. Handeen has even accused our party as having Stockholm Syndrome, or loving your captors.

Comes now a woman, who lives in precinct 52. she, Susan Manthey is the mother of three including a 21 year old Marine corporal. She, hearing from her son at Camp Pendleton, was urged by her son to participate. Filing had closed, but Susan couldn't live with representation by a 17th amendment repeal, gold standard and nullification advocate.  Party members were contacted and a write-in candidacy was born. Her name is Susan Manthey. If you live in Hayden Lake are area and are in precinct 52, this is important and you can make a difference. She will appear on the ballot as a write-in. Be sure that in addition to her name, check the box too. MANTHEY.

Labrador, Nonini

Raul Labrador will be hosted by Bob Nonini at a meet and greet Friday to be held at the Post Falls American Legion Post. The event will start at 11:30

Candidate Meet & Greet

We are holding a meet and greet with several candidates that are running in the primary election May 20. We will meet at the Captain's Wheel Restaurant Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00 pm in Bayview.

This may be your only chance to meet new candidates and some old ones too. Ed Morse will be there along with Fritz Weidenhoff, Laurie Thomas, Tim Herzog and whoever else shows up. Other than Morse, these are candidates for county offices.

The importance of getting to know not only the canddiates, but the issues as well cannot be understated. The "Reasonable Republicans," or traditional if you prefer is attempting an all out campaign to oust the Constitutionalists or Rally right extremists from  local offices.

We got rid of Phil Hart, who had disgraced himself and embarrassed the Republican Party, but there are more. These people want to repeal your right to vote for US Senator and hand it back to state legislatures as it was during the nation's early days. This is know as the 17th amendment to the constitution.

They also believe in returning to the gold standard and "nullification." Nullification is the term for shedding federal government from the state of Idaho. This would mean civil war, as it did during the 1800's. Obviously none of these issues will win out, but while other office holders are dilligently doing their jobs, these kooks are addressing issues that require a constitutional act which is somewhere between a waste of taxpayers time and money, and an impossible dream.

The candidates attending this meet and greet are all reasonable republicans. Come on down and let them tell you what's happening.

CAMPAIGNING WE WILL GO

I was greatly surprised that when logging on to spokesman.com/blogs/hbo Friday, there at the top was a ringing endorsement of my precinct committeeman campaign. Along with the very nice things said about me, was a photo of my campaign signs which I had shared with Dave Oliveria, moderator of the blog.

Aside from an ex wife or two, I seem to be gathering some momentum here. You may ask, why such a big deal over a bottom rung office of precinct committee person? Here's why. The 70 precincts in Kootenai County form as a group called the Kootenai County Central Committee. Since four years ago, reasonable republicans, or traditional if you wish, were bushwhacked.

A large contingent of the members of both Libertarian and Constitutional party members, realizing that they were in the minority by a bunch, invaded Kootenai County, entered the precinct races pretty  much unopposed,  then re-registered as Republicans. Kind of like the wolf in sheep's clothing of nursery rhymes fame.

The central committee had successfully been invaded and occupied. Some of their issues are, repeal of the 17th amendment to the U.S Constitution. This is to reverse a citizen's right to vote directly for U.S. Senator. The good old boys in the state legislature want to take that right back that was only popular in early days of our country because of ancient travel and communications problems.

Then there is Nullification. Don't recognize the term? Nullification is what the south fought the civil war over. The right of a state to overrule the federal government. Actually we already have the right to self rule in those areas that the states haven't ceded their authority to the feds.

These are state and county candidates for office, not for the U.S. house or senate. While being paid to do the state or county business, they are tilting at windmills in a way not seen for over 100 years. Wasting the public's time on issues they cannot win. These are what I sometimes refer to as Wackos. People who have lost track of reality.

There are other issues, but this one is why I am seriously running for precinct committeeman along with a ground swell of traditional party members that want to reclaim their party. I'll have more as we approach the all important closed Republican primary, which is another issue.

If you still think you don't make a difference then this is what your legacy will be.

BLANCHE JONES, R.I.P.

I read her obituary today and just didn't see Mom there. I called her Mom, but she was actually the mother of Ralph Jones, owner of Ralph's Coffee House and Eatery in Bayview, Idaho. Since she moved to Bayview from her prior home in California she has been a fixture in Bayview.

She loved to gamble at the Coeur d'Alene Casino, watch Mariner games and just hang out at Ralph's. She hit a jackpot for several hundred dollars just days before she was felled by Pneumonia, and went quickly with her family at her side. Just three days previously she was holding court at Ralph's Café.

People that didn't know her would be in a world of hurt if they spoke ill of son Ralph when she was present. They were either very brave or very foolish. Mom was extremely loyal and in addition to being Ralph's Mom was was also his best friend and cheer leader. In her mind Ralph could do anything.  She was usually right.

Mom died at a ripe age of 90 years old.  She smoked incessantly throughout her life, but it never affected her health until of course the end. Blanche will be carried home to California by her son Ralph later this week where she will spend eternity next to her husband Bryon who died in 1984.

Up until I first met Blanche I never called anyone Mom but my own. Somehow it just seemed natural. Mom, you will be missed by many.

HANK AARON & THE KKK

Yesterday's declaration that those in the GOP are all KKK members or sympathizers was a sorry end to a great athlete's career. How any objective person come up with this conclusion says litle about logical conclusions and perhaps more about dementia of an 80 year old.

I have been a fan of three great players, all of which played during my adult lifetime. Hammering Hank, Willie Mays and most of all, Jackie Robinson. They were/are all black. I have never thought about race when picking favorites. That he spun this frustration and bitterness, however deserved, does not do him as proud as the career he had under, yes, some terrible racial prejudice.

That many on Huckleberries chose to either spin it into another area, rather than objectively stayed on the issue, was  sad. I thought there were more sensible people on the blog than were observed.

I did not question his great career, nor his fight against racial prejudice. The point was, "are all Republicans that oppose President Obama members of KKK." That so many thought to dodge this in favor of shooting at the right is a testimony to the rank prejudice of the left against any beliefs other than theirs even to the extent of falsifying an issue.

I am a Republican. I am not a racist. I have never belonged to, or sympathized with the KKK. I dislike the president on his own lack of merit, not the color of his skin. This was the issue, not any other that some chose to spin. Disagree with me? Fine. Call me names? not fine.

Yesterday and today showed that there are more people that need to get a life than I ever thought before.

OUTRAGEOUS PC

The co-founder of Mozilla, a very successful internet  entity, Firefox was forced out of his position as Mozilla CEO. Brendan Eich who's imagination and tenacity made Firefox the nation's most popular internet window was forced out because six years ago, 2008, he donated $1000 to a political group that supported heterosexual marriage.

It was pointed out by a conservative wag tonight that even Obama in 2008 favored only a man and a woman as a legitimate marriage. This, fascist, lynch mob attack on an honorable man not because he didn't perform his duties properly, but because he fell to the groundswell of righteous same sex proponents of marriage.

I am not coming out in favor of banning any marriages between two consenting adults. (with a possible exception to marriages between brother and sister.) How about  the church of later day saints. Will they explore a return to poligamy? After all, the U.S. Government forced Utah to ban pluralistic marriages as the price of statehood.That principle is out the window for sure.

It isn't good enough for these people that won their fight for legality to just marry. Now they are hell bent for apparently outlawing the rest of us. Attitudes change, but in one generation we are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. What gave the liberal press and their ilk the right to essentially change everything that has gone before in order to achieve liberties that our founding fathers would have not even thought an issue.

Sudenly families don't matter, regigious people are being ridiculed and values no longer count. I would bet that a majority of homosexuals and lesbians would be aghast at the ouster of this inovater just because he donated money where his values lie.

The danger here isn't Mr. Eich's beliefs. It is that an entire civilization is teetering at the abyss, throwing out long standing values without a new road map to take it's place.  I am totally against, not persons of non-standard sexuality. I believe these folks were born this way and did not choose.  Having said that, they do not have a license for revolutionary war either. And is it they that did this, or was it the ultra-liberal mantra that pervades in silicon valley and the rest of that pit of  revolutionaries.

The sixties have caught up with us even more disruptively than we thought back then. The permissive attitude that ;prevailed carried on to parenthood, now nothing is sacred anymore. Not even the sacred.

Flight 370

The constant press coverage of the loss of flight 370 has kind of turned into a hysterical need for news. that the entire search is being held in ridicule due to the old "Calling Wolf," syndrome.

The coupling of diverse countries not used to coordinating, has made the search even more bizarre.

Finally, the hard news of the frequency of the pings from the flight recorders has everyone cautious.
The frequency of 37.5 is one that is not replicated in any other use. If the Chinese ship picked up the  signals from this place, it is a known factor, not a rumour. This frequency was chosen so that other radio influences and biologicals would not interfere.

The bottom line is how helpful the Chinese are in sharing specific coordinates. The world wide use of the satellite system of navigation is very precise. Triangulating signals should not be a problem, unless, the Chinese use this as a political tool. We have only 2 or 3 days before the batteries will have died.

We can only hope that the Chi-Coms do not have an unusual plan.

NIMBY

It seems that the neighborhood between Howard Road and Lone Moose Road, are up in arms over an attempt by Verizon to erect a cell tower. It seems that regardless of the need of others, these people are aghast that They might glance over and see the blinking lights on the tower.

Another issue is the proximity of an air field on Howard Road. The obvious danger to aircraft in the area is real.

What isn't, is the attitude of the cellular company. The residents of Bayview and other areas nearby are starving for cell service. Recent offers by both Bayview Sewer & Water District and land owner, Dick Hansen reveal a willingness to have such a tower on their land.

In the mean time, the Log B & B plus neighbors are still bleating over having a cell tower blend in with their trees. I see a smidgen of selfishness here, but hey, I live in Bayview.