This video I found at SadlyNo! I link it here at the risk of invoking Godwin's Law. Its still making me laugh. Its written in the context of the election last week in North Carolina and Indiana when the media all but coronated Obama cause they were sick of dogging the election. Its funny because I can picture her giving this speech. Its in German with English subtitles which are not appropriate for work or children. With dubious appologies to you diehard Clintonistas. Oh and don't miss this pictoral representation of Bush's legacy.

This week I am campaigning in Boise. If you are in Boise Please come.

Thursday, May 15, 12 noon - no host lunch with Debbie at Chicago Connection at 4th and Bannock.
Thursday, May 15, 6:30 PM- 8 PM - ice cream social at Municipal Park
Friday, May 16, 8 - 10 AM, Bagels with Debbie, at Blue Sky Bagels, 407 Main St.

Next week I am taking a road trip to Ketchum and Salmon.

Tuesday, May 20, 12 noon - No host lunch at Ciro's in Ketchum.
Tuesday, May 20, 5 PM, Democratic commission meeting, ski and history museum in Ketchum  read more »

This brings Obama's superdelegate vote total to 279 to Hillary Clinton's 276.5. Roark will be holding a press conference via phone in a few minutes, and we'll try to get you more news as it comes in.

UPDATE #1 12:36PM -- Official press release from the Idaho Democratic Party:

After ‘careful consideration,’ IDP Chairman and superdelegate supports Obama nomination

The following statement was issued today by
Idaho State Democratic Party Chairman R. Keith Roark:

“After several months of careful consideration, I am announcing today that I will cast my vote this August at the Democratic National Convention for the next President of the United States, Senator Barack Obama. I have evaluated the two remaining candidates for our party’s nomination based upon the answers to three critical questions: 1) Who would make the better President of the United of the United States; 2) Who is more electable? 3) Who will run the stronger race in Idaho?  read more »

Realtor Holmes runs for Rep

POCATELLO - Debbie Holmes looks at the problems that afflict America and the world from four different perspectives: as a dispassionate scientist, as a Realtor as a mother of three and as life-long Democrat.  read more »

From an email sent by the Idaho Democratic Party:

Press conference scheduled for Monday

Last Idaho superdelegate before convention to make endorsement

BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Democratic Party officials will gather at Party Headquarters at noon Monday, where Chairman R. Keith Roark, will announce his endorsement democratic presidential nomination.  read more »

"Look, if we had the rules that the Republicans have, I'd already be the nominee."

Let's review ...  read more »

Today the Congress passed the foreclosure prevention act. This is the first real legislation I have seen that looks to help the American Homeowner who is danger of losing his/her home. It gives money so that the loans can be renegotiated at the current value of the homes. This bill could help 1.5 American families stay in their homes. I was so happy....

But wait.... first all but one democrat voted for the bill... Bill Sali and Mike Simpson Voted against the Bill. I guess that Sali and Simpson do not care about homeowners in trouble. It gets worse....  read more »

Bad news in the South East Idaho - Mexican Flag in the trash?

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2008/05/07/news/local_state/136244.txt

Recently, a Minico High School student had a Mexican flag taken from him while celebrating Cinco de Mayo on school grounds. Reportedly, the flag was then thrown in the trash.  read more »

See the full article; click here.

Democratic 2nd Congressional District candidates Debbie Holmes and David Sneddon both live in Boiseand work in real estate, but for political purposes, their similarities pretty much end there.

Holmes, 46, is a newcomer to politics who decided to run for office at the urging of her 21-year-old son,Jesse, a junior studying political science at the College of Idaho. Holmes' stances mirror those of her son, who's serving as her policy researcher, and are generally in line with the platforms of the party's progressive wing.  read more »

From the Walt Minnick for Congress campaign:

Minnick thanks drivers for stopping by, sharing concerns

For immediate release
May 6, 2008
3:00 PM

Walt Minnick this afternoon thanked hundreds of Idahoans for supporting his efforts to call attention to Bill Sali's failed energy policy.

"We heard some amazing stories today," Minnick said. "People told us that high gas prices are forcing choices. For some people that means not being able to visit family or enjoy a trip to the mountains. For others, like one woman we met, the choices are harder. She said that without today's gas discount, she wouldn't have been able to take her kids to school and drive herself to work."  read more »

Its over already. We've all done the math. We can wait to see if Hillary exercizes the nuclear option but its a divisive game for idle speculation. As we go through the end of the primary election cycle things become rote. And we must suffer the the little media children obligated to focus on a story that is dry as dirt. There's nothing salacious, Wright is back in the south side, and there's nothing left for them to do but listen to Hillary's pundits try to spin a victory out of her most assured defeat. But for those of you that must be glued to watch tonight's (yawn) election tally here's a primer to enable you to parse the bullshit.  read more »

You do? Well then, Democratic candidate for congress Walt Minnick is the man with the plan for your thirsty fuel can:

Cheap gas in Boise on Tuesday, May 6

Minnick campaign partners with local business to
offer gas at $2.26 per gallon from 10 to 11 a.m.

The Minnick for Congress campaign is partnering with the Cole Village Chevron station to offer discounted gas for one hour on Tuesday, May 6. Walt Minnick will be at the station tomorrow from 10 to 11 a.m., pumping gas and talking to drivers.

The gas will be discounted Tuesday at the exact time Congressman Bill Sali sits down to a $1,000-a-plate lunch with oil lobbyists in Washington, D.C. The lunchtime fundraiser for the Sali campaign has been advertised via e-mail.

“This is exactly what’s wrong with Washington,” Minnick said Monday. “Idahoans are being pummeled at the pump while their congressman is hobnobbing with the very people who are getting filthy rich from high gas prices. Sali should be taking a tough stance with the oil lobbyists, not looking to them for a handout.”

Regular gasoline at the Cole Village Chevron is currently $3.59 per gallon. From 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, the station will sell regular for $2.26 a gallon, the price in January 2007 when Sali took office. The Minnick for Congress campaign will pay the difference.

“The people of Idaho deserve a man in Washington who will work for them, not someone who works for people making record profits on the backs of Idaho drivers,” Minnick said.

You know you're starting to panic the dark powers-that-be in the Rethuglican Party when somebody or -bodies break into your campaign headquarters (paging G. Gordon Liddy, Mr Liddy, please pick up the red discourtesy phone...). The LaRocco campaign reports:

An unknown person or persons broke into the Boise campaign headquarters of U.S. Senate candidate Larry LaRocco around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

A criminal report was filed with the Boise Police Department, who are investigating. Nothing appeared to be stolen, meaning the intruder or intruders left thousands of dollars of equipment untouched. It is unknown whether campaign documents or computer files were inspected by the intruders.

“We will not know whether this was a politically motivated break-in or just a random act of senseless violence until the Boise police conclude their investigation,” said Bob Stout, campaign manager for LaRocco for Senate. “We would like to thank the police for their prompt and professional work.”

The campaign office is on 919 27th Street, Boise, Idaho. The damage to the door was estimated at over $200.

LaRocco, a former U.S. Representative, was out of town at an event in Idaho Falls. He has 13 paid campaign staff, a multitude of volunteers across the state and a field office in Twin Falls.

D2 and I have an alibi -- we were at the Bonneville County Democrats' Truman Banquet in Idaho Falls, as was Larry LaRocco. Tara Rowe at The Political Game, however...

Not interviewed for this article, Rethuglican U.S. Senate candidate Jim 'Angry Gnome' Risch did not say in his squeaky-high voice, "I certainly can account for my time during the break-in. At 12:30 PM I was... um... doing my "marital duties" with Idaho's Second Lady Mrs. Risch. At 12:31, I completed my husbandly effort and spent the next two and a half hours in deep slumber. I then woke up and attended to my... ah... 'constitutional' for the next hour. Milk of Magnesia and bran -- whooo, boy, you don't wanna know!" Angry Gnome Risch also did not say that, after using nearly an entire pack of Tucks Hemorrhoidal Pads, he shrank in height an additional 3 inches.

Myers' Law says every creationist argument will be built on false premises that expose the arguers ignorance.

• Red State Rebels: New West scoops up Press Club honor
  Congratulations to Jill Kuraitis and everyone at New West for New West Boise's second-place honor in the general excellence category for "print" websites in the Idaho Press Club's 2007 Awards, which were given out Saturday night here in Boise.

• The Unequivocal Notion: A Seasonal Disguise and The Very Most @ Market Limone
  It was a great show in Downtown Nampa last night from two extremely talented songwriters.

• The Political Game: Cutting the Budget, Cutting Access
  An interesting story appeared in the Times-News today, a story that either hasn't been printed or went unnoticed in Pocatello, and should for every reason be disconcerting to students and anyone interested in the accessibility of higher education in rural Idaho.

• NewWest Boise: Idaho’s Village Green Development Files for Bankruptcy
  The Village Green at the Valley Club, a new high-end subdivision and golf course development in Ketchum, Idaho, filed last week for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, owing more than $24 million to its creditors.

• Fort Boise: Press On
  The nice thing about the Idaho Press Club Best of 2007 Annual Awards is that there seems to be something for everybody; looks like more than 400 prizes.

• Ridenbaugh Press: Editing down at the LMT
  The editorial page at the Lewiston Tribune has been - has been literally for decades - one of the region’s newspaper treasures: Uncommonly sharply and brightly written editorials, two of them a day, and a solid roster of columns.

• Arbitrary and Capricious: Mawashi 'ed up
  I can only avert my eyes in awe of the awesome awfulness of a local colleague's Craigslist ad:

• Eye on Boise: Why Risch declined
  In a letter to the organizers of the “Idaho Debates,” Lt. Gov. Jim Risch’s campaign spokesman, his son Jason, wrote, “We chose to participate in the KTVB debate rather than the League of Women Voters debate because of its format, and because of its wide circulation to Idaho voters.

• Morialekafa: What for?
  Anonymous: Of course if 88% of blacks are voting for Obama it is racist. That would seem to go without saying. At the moment this would seem to be in the nature of the case.

• IdaBlue: McCain on economics
  [. . .]

• The MountainGoat Report: Injustice Anywhere . . .
  Boise based PrideDEPOT describes their latest special feature as: a story about queers in rural America, where being out of the closet means facing powerful people who demonize you.

• IdahoRocks: Just Another Day...
  Ah, the days pass quickly and blend into each other all too easily... Last Friday the Boundary County Democrats had a great Spaghetti Fundraiser/Auction.

• Rob's Idaho Perspective: Close Encounters
  This is a continuation of my previous post on our adventures in Yellowstone National Park titled Live, Love, and Die.

• Left Side of the Moon: Dementness
  Just a bit of an update . . . . we’ve been absolutely consumed with the affairs dealing with my dad. We go to the attorney’s office this morning to seek emergency guardianship.

• PaleoMedia.org: The Daily Newsrack
  Is 2nd District Judge John Bradbury’s challenge of Justice Joel Horton a thinly veiled partisan race or is it about cutting court costs?

Jill Kuraitis deserves high marks for breaking the story on the Kuwaiti sand, tainted with lead and depleted uranium, being shipped into the Idaho desert for disposal. This shipment makes little sense. Many have commented that this "sand" has very low levels of radioactivity making it appear not so toxic. Which begs the question of why then was it so important to ship such innocuous sand half way round the world to little ol' Idaho and the site run by publicly traded American Ecology Corporation. On the one hand, AEC states that the Kuwaitis certainly didn't want this bad sand mixed in with their good sand. So why does Idaho need it here when Idahoans already paid in blood and treasure for the privilege of destroying of all those pesky Iraqi tanks for the Kuwaitis?  read more »

Thanks for the earlier post.

There continues to be misinformation circulated regarding this case. I would like to clarify some of those issues.

I moved to District 15 in April of 2007. I am an Idaho native and have lived in Boise for approximately 9 years. I am currently a registered voter of District 15. I was a registered voter of District 15 when I submitted my application for candidacy to the Secretary of States office. I am politically active and have been for many years. I fully intended to vote in the general election in November of 2007, casting my ballot for David Bieter, but circumstances called me out of town at the last minute and I had to leave before I was able to arrange for an absentee ballot. I did not register prior to that time since Idaho allows for same day registration.  read more »

I've figured it out. Conservatives can't read, or comprehend what they've read, for shit. How else to explain them taking a NASA press release that states that a shift in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) may cause a 20-30 year cooling cycle and end up with ridiculous claims like this:

...NASA was also quick to point out that such natural phenomena should not confuse the issue of manmade greenhouse gas induced global warming which apparently will be going on behind the scenes while our teeth are chattering from a decade and a half long cold spell.

Wow, they really make them stupid over at "American Thinker", don't they?  read more »

From Jill at New West (they broke the story):

The U.S. Army is shipping 6,700 tons of contaminated sand to Idaho from Kuwait. It will arrive at American Ecology in Grandview, Idaho, sometime in May.

And then our own Bubbles wades into the comments to compare apples to refried beans:  read more »

Last Monday, April 28, Matt Yost took his case against Secretary of State Ben Ysursa straight to the Idaho Supreme Court. In his Petition, Yost asked the Court to order the Secretary of State to reinstate his candidacy, and to declare that voter registration is not a requirement for candidate eligibility, as the SOS has maintained.

Below is a portion of a story about the case that recently ran in the Idaho Statesman.

At issue are two constitutional provisions, according to legal documents filed in the case.

The first, which covers qualifications for an "elector," or someone who can run for office, reads:

"Every male or female citizen of the United States, eighteen years old, who has resided in this state and in the county where he or she offers to vote for the period of time provided by law, if registered as provided by law, is a qualified elector."

The second covers qualifications for election to the Legislature and requires that a legislator "shall have resided within the legislative district one year next preceding the general election at which he offers his candidacy."  read more »

If you support Debbie Holmes for Congress in CD2 please write a letter to the editor of your local paper (and maybe others). Points to concentrate on might be that I am a main line democrat (if there is such a thing), health care reform, education, climate change, the housing crisis, the recession (OK its not official), the rising cost of energy and food, the war in Iraq. Obviously, pick one or two of your favorites when you write.  read more »