Although he's certainly drawn plenty of my wrath and disdain, indeed, I find him repellent in many ways, there is no other choice for Idahoans if they even want a small piece of the hope pie. Vote for Walt Minnick today. I know, I know, he's sold out many of [...]
Congressman Walt Minnick (DINO-ID) gets his 2-cents in:
“Tonight’s address was a positive step forward toward returning the health-care debate to a collaborative process focused on consensus. Idahoans expect Congress and the president to pull back from the disagreements, cut the partisan bickering, focus on the basics and be willing to [...]
Attention blue lap dogs. Mandating that Americans buy insurance they don't want, with subsidies you're supposed to stand against, from insurance companies which are already bleeding us, is not your answer to staying in office. Just ask those insurance company lobbyists who've been greasing your palms' [...]
Yesterday, TJ Thomson was endorsed by the Boise City Police Department Union in his race for Seat #4 on the Boise City Council.
TJ was honored by the endorsement and looks forward to working closely with Boise Police Chief, Michael Masterson, and the Boise City Police Department to keep our [...]
This is very sad. A 4% cut in education, 6% cut in College and Universities and a 39% cut in the Dept. of Labor. I wonder if the Governor realizes we have a Hurricane here. It is time to use the rainy day fund.
Right now Idaho is hurting and [...]
This is the image of "Sticky the cat" that has been haunting and outraging the internets all week. My opinion - if your cat is broken try to fix it correctly. I once saw a horse held together by vise grips. Not a pretty sight.
On Tuesday, the White House released a report showing that health insurance premiums in every state - including Idaho - are growing far in excess of wage growth. The report shows that premiums for employer-sponsored insurance in Idaho have risen by 96 percent since 1999 while wage growth in that [...]
This is how it begins. The crazed teabaggers are now killing. Glenn Beck go fuck yourself. Rush Limbaugh here's to hoping your next fistful of Oxycontin will Michael Jackson you into the netherworld you fat fucking pig.
Teabaggers killed a 51 year old part-time US Census worker in Kaintucky. [...]
Many people are lost on ACORN and why Glen Beck goes into hysterics over it. Republicans wrongly blame ACORN for Obama's election and will do anything to demonize the low income organization. Its part of their crusade against racial minorities and poor people. Lately they've sought and received a funding' [...]
Following up on my post from yesterday describing Idaho's allegedly-Democratic congressman from CD-1, Walt Minnick, and his cute little attempt at trying to squash President Obama's creation of a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency. This agency would be charged with protecting Americans from predatory financial institutions, something Rep. Minnick [...]
Our Government bailed out the bankers to save the economy. Ask the person unemployed or losing his home -- is the economy saving you? The financial market was saved in order to save a class... just not your class.
Treasured Valley: Daily politics briefDear Walt,
The Democrats called. We want our (D-ID) back:
Backers of President Obama's cornerstone financial regulatory reform proposal pushed back Monday against the Blue Dog Coalition, which is promoting a counter-proposal to the Consumer Financial Protection Agency in the House Financial Services Committee.
The proposal, being championed by Blue Dog Walt [...]
The vote was clear by a wide margin:
Blake Hall's home Republican County Committee has no confidence in him.
Other such votes, across Idaho, are to follow soon.
And Bonneville Republican Central Committee Chairman Damond Watkins might want to clarify his thoughts about politics and character, after his very radical break' [...]
H/T-- City Desk: The White House just sent out updated health care stats for Idaho:
The status quo is not an option. The number of uninsured in Idaho has increased from 204,000 in 2001 to 236,000 in 2008. The percent of non-elderly adults without insurance increased from 20.3 % to [...]
Boise Mayor Dave Bieter cast the deciding vote to pass a resolution supporting the President's health care reform package--including the need for a public option.
As I predicted, Boise Councilors Eberle, Clegg and Jordan voted for the resolution. Tibbs, Bisterfeldt and Shealy voted against. Bieter broke the 3-3 tie in [...]
Before their handlers started winding up the wingnuts, givin' 'em flags, and let them loose on the populace with slogans like "socialized medicine" I'd confront one or two who'd reflexively utilize the term like it was a two bit shot a vitriol and ask them why they [...]
Teabagging radio host Nate Shelman is banging the drum hard on this...
He's also opened up a pro-resolution line for the call-in show: 336-3711.
I've just learned that Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has drafted a resolution asking Congress to support health care reform--including the public option. While these resolutions are non-binding, I [...]
The rhetoric and debate has risen slightly beyond a feverish pitch in Pocatello.
Observers wonder what will happen next.
43rd State Blues host Serephin spoke of this heat in his entry: Controversy being engineered at Idaho State University.
Since then, the flames have gotten worse. Professor of Civil Engineering Habib Sadid [...]
Godspeed Mr. Patrick Swayze. As crass as this sounds, you do remind me of why I quit smoking. That shit'll get you. But this isn't about that, it's about my favorite and least fave Swayze movies.
God knows I am no movie critic, and I've not seen all the Swayze movieography,' [...]
On September 8, 2009 a group of dedicated Oregon physicians took the message of Universal Health Care "on the road" in a wrapped and branded Motor Home headed for Washington D.C. Theeir cross-country mission: to stop in big cities and whistle stops alike, holding rallies for Single Payer Health Care [...]
Another poll out today showing that America's trust in its traditional media is being undermined. And while I await the refrains upon my ears for the collective "no shit" most assuredly emanating from those reading these words, the deleterious effects could not come at a worse time. Its' [...]
I slipped into the lake yesterday, the water refreshing and near perfectly swimmable. I swam around for a bit and hauled myself onto the dock, somewhat amazed. I told my friend I couldn't ever remember swimming this late, in mid September. The sky was cloudless and the temp 90ish. Swimming' [...]
I attended the Boise Tea Party rally this afternoon as part of an organized counter-demonstration. I was holding a sign and didn’t take notes, so I can't report in detail about what was said ... Let's just say I feel alarmed.
First, there were more people than I expected. A lot' [...]
It takes a real macho Rethuglican he-man to terrorize a woman to the level that a court of law -- of which he is a member -- orders him to get nowhere near her for 12 months. As Sisyphus wrote earlier this month, Republican Blake Hall continues [...]
Idaho: fighting for its right to be poor since 1995
Treasured Valley: In case you missed itA heckler is a person who shouts a disparaging comment at aperformance or event, or interrupting set-piece speeches, for example at a political meeting, with intent to disturb its performers or
participants.
Heckling appears to be the Republicants primary strategy for countering Obama's health care plan. They've used it in [...]
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
September 9, 2009
Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
Address to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
Washington, DC
Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, [...]
A few minutes ago on Daily Kos, in their "Late Afternoon/Early Evening Open Thread" (posted by former Idahoan and all-around wonderful lady mcjoan), I watched a YouTube video produced by MoveOn.Org and the band R.E.M. titled "We Can't Afford To Wait".
The video highlights people from all across the country' [...]
I finally got around to reading Palin's op-ed piece in the Wall St. Journal.
The lady has either been much smarter and a more willing student than I have been led to believe, or she didn't write a single line of this, and has a ghost-writing beard who's going to do' [...]
Jonathan Landay, senior national security correspondent with McClatchy Newspapers' Washington Bureau, writes a gripping first-person story of being caught in a fire-fight yesterday in Afghanistan.
"We are pinned down. We are running low on ammo. We have no air. We've lost today," Marine Maj. Kevin Williams, 37, said through his [...]
This may be my last transmission. God bless all of you.
Yesterday the POTUS and his mass hypnotic tele-suggestion matrix was beamed into classrooms all across America.
Our rebel forces of Godliness and Goodliness could not marshal enough resistance amongst the parental units of America to keep their spawn home and away [...]
Here's how to fight for real health care reform: click here and lock and load with more ammunition here.
[...]Updated 9/9: Media Matters updates its myths and falsehoods on the health care debate.
Updated 9/8: MGR adds some resources to the cause of truth.
As Obama prepares to launch the counter attack on health care reform at a pivotal place and a pivotal juncture, a joint [...]
I just had to advise my tenant to declare bankruptcy due to medical expenses. They had/have good insurance but he became sick a couple of years ago and hit the $1,000,000 mark. He couldn't work and they lost their home. The hospital just started garnishing her wages for the $150,000' [...]
Today I read that apparently there is a movement afoot to not listen to the President of the United States when he addresses the students of our great country. How can people consider themselves patriotic if they refuse to listen an 8 minutes address that is meant to inspire our [...]
65 year old Medicare recipient and opponent of health care reform slugs health care supporter in face then gets finger bitten off in return.
Stay classy, teabaggers.
Oregon Ducks RB sucker punches BSU player after Ducks get ass whipped 19-8.
Stay classy, Ducks.
read more »
Joker on September 03 at 2:49 p.m.
I disagree Redman.
The Dems who oppose Minnick are insignificant and powerless.
Minnick should be fine as long as he continues to reflect the political values in Idaho. I almost feel bad for the guy, he's everybody's favorite whipping boy.
Interpretation: The CDA Tribe finds progressive [...]
And now for some good news!
The following message is from our friends at the Boise State Women’s Center:
This year marks the 10th anniversary for the Women Making History publication, a special section developed by the Idaho Statesman newspaper in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Since 2001, this publication has [...]
The Governor Candidate With The Porn Star Name gave two long, strange, rambling press conferences yesterday in Boise and Idaho Falls where he refused to apologize for joking about buying a hunting tag to shoot President Obama. He did, however, demand that just about every other human being in the [...]
*BEEEEP* -- "Congressman Minnick, you have one new message from The MountainGoat Report. Please put down the bran muffin and prune smoothie, then press 1 and the pound sign to listen. Yes, it's that important."
Congressman Minnick, I'd like to introduce you to Tom and Karen. They are third-generation wheat' [...]
My chainsaw doesn’t howl or bark as much as sings
happy fierce work chewing through 53 growth rings of red fir.
I counted them while sitting on my Igloo cooler,
drinking a beer, imagining a seedling on a clearcut hillside
in the winter of 1958 when I shit in my diapers and cried for [...]
Joker is still Marc Stewart, spokeshack for the CDA Tribe.
Hmoffsuite is rich dude, wingnut extraordinaire, and trust fund baby Rick Cooper.
Redman is Phil Thompson of Confidential Investigations who got his ass banned from HBO for months following his possible misuse/abuse of his private investigation powers when he typed nasty personal [...]
Not Rex Rammell's press conference today in Boise, but an incredible simulation!
"The strawberries... Otter... the CIA said... then Risch... strawberries, the elk ate all the strawberries..."
UPDATE 9/1/09 4:57PM -- Hay-soos Marimba! Here I was joshing around about The Governor Candidate With The Porn Star Name talking crazy,' [...]
Compared to the controversy currently brewing in the College of Engineering at Idaho State University, our little family fracas here recently at 43SB is a pleasant walk in the park. (H/T Diana Marie Painter)
Window on College's Troubled Soul
Habib Sadid has made himself an easy target. For many of his 22 [...]
And so it begins: the obligatory Rex Rammell-induced Idaho bashing from the media wrote Kevin Richert on Friday.
"Whoa, Nellie. Who saw it coming? Perhaps the first (but sadly, unlikely the last) snarky little blog lumping Idahoans in the kooky camp with Rex "Obama tags" Rammell." [...]
Y'know, I grew up in the Reagan years very aware of this stuff, but it just continues to amaze me how passionate these wingnuts and teabaggers are about inequality. That is, about preserving and, wherever possible, advancing our most morally-repugnant inequities. All in the name of Free Market GI Jesus.
I' [...]
Those darn wacky kids! What tomfoolery will they come up with next?
Idaho’s Congressmen, Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick appeared side-by-side at City Club of Boise last week, agreeing with one another an awful lot and even joking about who should sit on the right side of the dais.
The [...]
Last week Virginia's Orange County Board of Supervisors vote to approve the building of a new Wal-Mart Supercenter within the historic boundaries of the Wilderness Battlefield -- and one of the most significant battlefields of the Civil War. The Civil War Preservation Trust has been fighting Wal-Mart on this location [...]
Here's a YouTube video of a conservative voter in Idaho, uhh, I mean Ohio -- umm, dammit, Iowa, yeah, Iowa!
*tap-tap-tap* Hullo, Walter -- anybody in there? Hullo? Here's one of your kind of Democrats, Rep. Minnick -- a Republican. Mayhaps you'll pay a bit more attention to what he' [...]
Here's what I heard today from Representatives Minnick and Simpson at the City Club lunch.
"Blah blah blah blah."
"I agree with Mike."
"Blah blah blah blah."
"I agree with Walt."
"Blah blah blah blah."
"Blah blah blah Dan Popkey blah blah blah blah." [Popkey was sitting right at the front table. They both kissed his [...]
Greetings
I saw your web site and wanted to ask if I could get some suggestions. I am moving to Boise in mid-2010 from western Tennessee/eastern Arkansas area .I have accepted a new position in the Federal government. I am 60 and single. Wondered if I could find some ideas [...]
Being the “yang” to D2's administrative “yin” here at 43SB, I will continue on with the discussion started with the post titled “Regarding BinkyBoy.” Although I can easily live without this meta, bloggerish navel-gazing foofaraw, I accept it's one of those things one must on occasion do, [...]
Reality is a crutch for people who do not have access to a copy of Photoshop.
Treasured Valley: Friday’s politics briefBenefits of America’s Affordable Health Choices Act
In the 1st and 2nd Congressional District of Idaho
by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce,
July 2009
This analysis is based upon the following sources: the Gallup-Healthways Survey (data on the uninsured); the U.S. Census (data on small businesses); [...]
After lambasting Democrats for primarying Lieberman, they now backtrack. From Glennzilla:
Rahm Emanuel, Tom Delay, and the Bush/Cheney White House have left no doubt that where there's a will to influence the actions of Senators and House members in one's own party, there's a way. But the Obama White House [...]
Rammell's remarks on Otter came in an interview Wednesday after the Times-News asked about comments Rammell made Tuesday night at a local Republican party event.
After an audience member shouted a question about "Obama tags" during a discussion on wolves, Rammell responded, "The Obama tags? We'd buy some of those."' [...]
Former Idaho Transportation Department Director Pamela Lowe’s dismissal and her subsequent legal action raise new concerns over ongoing mismanagement of the public’s trust by Gov. Butch Otter and other top Republicans.
“This is just the latest example of rampant Republican cronyism, mismanagement and favoritism toward special interests,” said Jim Hansen, executive [...]
What the hell am I gonna do with you mooks?
Since Bink's rants about this weekend came to my attention this PM, I've been rereading old posts seeking examples or context. Digging up the flamethrower moments is less easy than it might seem, given there are literally thousands of stories and' [...]
Congressman Walt Minnick (?-ID) is scheduled to appear at a health care forum tonight, August 25th in Coeur d'Alene. The forum takes place at the Schuler Auditorium (on the N. Idaho College campus) from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.
If I read the Idaho Democratic Party press release correctly, Minnick will' [...]
After gleaning all the low hanging fruit on the entertainment factor generated by the Town Hall protesters, at least one traditional media outlet is focusing on the other major actor in the debate, the health insurance companies:
The half-dozen leading overhaul proposals circulating in Congress would require all citizens to [...]
Tom Coburn, scum-sucking Rethuglican senator from Oklahoma (where the wingnuts come sweeping down the plain), and Club for Growth buddy of Walt Minnick, held a town hall meeting yesterday. A woman in the audience begged him for help with her brain-damaged husband who had been kicked out of a [...]
A few months ago, I was hearing from concerned folk that, as long as supposedly-Democratic Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick was voting over 50% of the time for Democratically-supported bills in Congress, we Idaho progressives should minimize our criticism of him.
Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey, in the video below, states that [...]
Y'know, I grew up in the Reagan years very aware of this stuff, but it just continues to amaze me how passionate these people are about inequality. That is, about preserving and, wherever possible, advancing our most morally-repugnant inequities. All in the name of Free Market GI Jesus.
I mean, think' [...]
The banning of the nativity scene from Washington state's capitol will no doubt further cement our reputation here in the Evergreen Mushroom People Rainyland Basalt Monster State as a confederacy of godless commies and send the legions of teabaggers-wingnutters-birthers-deniers-born againers storming off into early battle for the War [...]
Paul makes some good cases about how Reaganism has led the US to this point in time, the misguided line that government is bad. Regardless of whether or not that was Reagan's actual quote, the Randian/Romulan/Teabagging portion of the populace firmly believes that any government, not of Conservative origins, [...]
Leadership has been defined as "process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". It implies courage in the face of adversity. On August 22, Minnick was lauded for his courage as a Democrat in [...]
This, of course, is a must read. A really good write-up on the Minnick teabagger meeting.
I also liked this account
More Republican Hypocrisy read more »
[...]Wittgenstein said "the common behavior of mankind is the system of reference by means of which we interpret an unknown language."
read more »
It is clear now that a recent upsurge in violence and aggression has little to do with issues, and a lot to do with fear. That fear is being manipulated by hundreds of corporations and interests that are being called astroturfers. These corporations and political interests have a lot [...]
I love Taylor Mali, poet and teacher. Alone in McCall on a Saturday night (yeah yeah boo hoo I'm lucky as hell and I know it), I just spent an hour watching videos of his performances on YouTube. I'm a teacher. I have an 8th grader. So these are my [...]
but I'm outing another regular on the Spokesman Review's flagship blog "Huckleberries Online." This time it is the big guy, the head honcho: DFO.
DFO is actually this guy below -
Brigham "Lil Tater Loc" Hinckley, Jr. originally of Rexburg Idaho now serving 5 years at the North' [...]
The Political Game observes:
What is even more unconscionable than Republicans lying about reform efforts to keep average Idahoans from supporting any of those efforts is the fact that Congressman Walt Minnick (D-Idaho) is going to speak to those who have halted civil discourse across this nation--teabaggers. Our one and [...]
Challis McAffee is reportedly an Idaho and Ada County Republican Central Committee, member albeit of the Ronulan variety, and a serious teabagger. His day job is to exploit the Republican legacy and document the condition of foreclosures. He was just moseying along minding other people's business when a resident' [...]
For the love of sweet baby Jesus, read This
Ruh-roh! Minnick to attend. . .tea party?! read more »
[...]Evidently Whole Foods is already feeling the sting from their Ass-Whole CEO Mackey's Op-Ed:
Whole Foods aficionados who assumed the company's management was as crunchy as the brand are feeling betrayed. read more »
[...]The Boise Weekly tells me that:
Advocates for single-payer national insurance will stage a die-in [August 19] from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. outside Regence Blue Shield of Idaho, 1211 W Myrtle St., in Boise.
The organizers claim that 60 Americans die every day from a lack of health coverage [...]
Let's steal the (insert-name-here)Care meme from the right-wing. read more »
[...]Pterosaurs used prehistoric runways when taking off and landing. This just creeps the shit out of me and I'm unsure why. Something about flying dinosaurs, or as our more Godly Idaho readers living on ramshackle trailer compounds in somewhat non-standard marital structures of one man and 14 related wives' [...]
Average "gamer" is 35, fat and depressed. Gaming causes "lower extraversion."
Study of 552 Seattle/Tacoma area gamers. This one is straight out of the No Shit Sherlock School of Scientific Obviosities.
Here is an Open Thread for anything anyone wants to talk about. We can post links here or just shoot the shit. I have to go to work in a couple minutes, but am hoping to have some content up after work or tomorrow morning. Seems like I do all [...]
I just thought I would offer a helping hand to all the wingnuts that think that carrying their semi-automatic assault rifles to a discussion is "heroic" or whatever.
Write your apologies and ass covering blog posts now, so you don't get caught not having one quickly enough when someone' [...]
The polling data between the two groups are eerily similar. And yup, deathers are just as fringey as birthers. These are the same idiots that blindly supported Bush and were handily defeated in the last election. Yet despite their paltry numbers, they're controlling the national meme, and cowing Congressman' [...]
Since I'm blogging here now I thought I'd intro myself in a rare example of a self awareness of cyber social skills.
My name is Bob and I am a six foot three 240 lb liberal candyassed treehugging motherfucker who refuses to use logic and reason and rules when arguing [...]
Shorter owner of Ass-Whole Foods John Mackey on Medical Reform:
Deregulate health care, decrease coverage of Medicare, shoot fat people and buy from my stores. That will solve the health care crisis.
Evidently John Mackey is a first rate jackass Conservative with a penchant for sadomasochism and flax seed enemas.
At [...]
"Rock legend Bob Dylan was treated like a complete unknown by police in a New Jersey shore community when a resident called to report someone wandering around the neighborhood," writes Stew Milne of The Associated Press. "Dylan was in Long Branch, about a two-hour drive south of New York City," [...]
What kind of asshole doesn't want all Americans to have health care?
' [...]So, I just finished watching today's Hardball Clip with Lawrence O'Donnell. O'Donnell was substituting for Chris Matthews. I love it when this happens b/c O'donnell is a hard hitting son of a gun. He takes no quarter and he is one of the best cable news debaters on the scene.' [...]
Damn, I hope word doesn't get out on this. If they start thinking intelligently instead of just using the reptilian part of their brain that responds only to fear based messages, they might become downright reasonable. Definitely worth the read.
In my opinion, conservative activists, who seem to believe' [...]
Perhaps Otter's unequivocal statement on his intent to seek reelection will help others in making their decision on whether to run for governor.
[...]
