2008 Idaho primaries “officially” closed for GOP

The Republican Party’s governing body on Jan. 12th exercised its First Amendment Rights placing the Idaho Legislature in its proper role of public servants, not masters.

Big Rattler has been tracking the legal and political events surrounding the closed primary issue.

On Jan. 12, 2008 the Idaho Republican Central Committee (its governing body) with a 70% vote insisted on closing the primary to non-registered Republicans and further authorized party members to sue for closure should the legislature and party officials fail to act. This was accomplished by officially granting the party members legal “standing.”

But one has to read Judge Williams’ Nov. 17, 2007 decision on the Beck vs. Ysursa case, especially page 14:

The court explained that the First Amendment associational rights at issue “belong solely to the association ... the Republican Party, not to any individual candidate or voter.”

The court also noted that even if the state’s election laws violated the associational rules of the party, the party had the ability to define its own remedy.

For example, if the party had adopted a closed party primary rule while the state permitted a blanket primary, the party could voluntarily choose to participate in the blanket primary and adopt the results, or adopt rules deciding who the party’s nominees were following a blanket primary by counting only the votes of registered party members.

The plaintiffs (the Republican Party members who did not have standing to pursue the case) nevertheless were told by Judge Williams that the party’s First Amendment Rights belong “solely” to the party. That does not mean the Idaho Legislature has superiority to the party’s First Amendment Rights.

The Republican Party’s governing body on Jan. 12th exercised its First Amendment Rights placing the Idaho Legislature in its proper role of public servants, not masters.

Judge Williams went on to say if the Legislature, via the election laws, violated the party’s First Amendment Rights, “the party had the ability to define its own remedy.”

Thus, the 2008 Republican Primary is closed. Should a GOP Legislative District organization choose to not abide by the results of a “blanket” (read, open) primary, then they could meet and possibly choose another candidate to represent them in the general election.

Granted, this is somewhat uncharted legal territory, but the fact remains the Legislature is subservient to the constitutionally protected rights of the party. This is the legal end-game, no matter how much some high-headed legislators like Sen. Dean Cameron wish it was otherwise.

Cameron told the Times-News (1/22/08) he prefers an open system where non-Republicans can influence the outcome of party primaries, but if forced to, he prefers the so-called “modified open primary.”

With all due respect to the good Senator Cameron, nobody gives a plug-nickel on what he prefers. He takes an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and that means he is to protect the Republican Party’s and the Democratic Party’s and others’ First Amendment Rights to free association. End of story.

The Idaho GOP has clearly and specifically outlined how it wants to associate via a closed primary. The Idaho Democrats choose an open system to select their general election nominees. Cameron doesn’t need to think about it, or add his input; he was elected to insure these rights are protected.

The state’s job, and his, is to enact a proper process whereby these rights are protected. In other words, his job is to SERVE, not DICTATE. Geeeeeze! They have been in power so long, they forget the basics.

The Idaho Republican Party has exercised its First Amendment Rights. It’s time the legislators climbed down off their high-horses and fulfilled their obligation as duly elected officials. Failure to set aside their supersized Mc-Egos and politicize this issue is dereliction of duty.

The honorable course is to fully enact a state election process that protects the various parties’ constitutional rights. This issue is not up for political maneuverings. Either one does his DUTY as a PUBLIC SERVANT and UPHOLD THE OATH OF OFFICE, or one should resign.

The choice is clear for every Idaho Legislator ... Honor or Dishonor the First Amendment.

That's gonna leave a mark (-)

Hat tip to Boise Guardian for letting us know about a new blog that reveals the "innerd" workings of the Idaho Statesman, a.k.a. the "Idaho Mistakesman," "the Idaho Statistman," or "The Ultra-Liberal Echo Chamber of Idaho."

The blog is called WorkingPressToo (wp2, for shorts) and is clickable at: http://workingpresstoo.wordpress.com/

Apparently, insider info is flowing: angst about McClatchy, Popkey's proclivities and other gooey gossip can be found at the wp2 site.

The Idaho daily fish-wrap seems to be suffering like many other liberal rags across the nation, and it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of crap-slappers.

How "Do-Gooder" Legislators actually Do-Bad ... Attn: Gov. Otter

The Idaho Legislature is back in session with another wrong-headed, do-good, agenda.
How's about leaving us alone and repealing some do-good legislation.

"The nanny state of Idaho wants to hug you. Their tyranny teeth are exposed when you don't want to be hugged." Leave us alone -- Attention Governor Otter!

How Markets Really Work -- Short Video

ABC's John Stossel on Health Care in America

This enlightening program by John Stossel aired on Sept. 14, 2007 on ABC's 20/20.

Keep clicking to the next segment i.e., 1 of 6, then 2 of 6, etc.

Actually, if you click this link, it takes you to the site and the segments are listed on the right side. They are not particularly in order, but you can find them by scrolling.

It is worth the watch if you missed it.

Two interesting stories: Hillary and Hugo

Hillary Clinton on her health care proposal:

"I have been fighting for universal health care for a long time, and I've got to tell you I will never give up on the very fundamental right that Americans should have, to have access to quality, affordable health care, no matter who they are," said Mrs. Clinton, New York Democrat. "Health care is a right, not a privilege."

Venezuela's dictator Hugo Chavez on the state control of private schools:

Education based on capitalist ideology has corrupted children's values, he [Chavez] said. "We want to create our own ideology collectively, creative, diverse." Chavez said Venezuelans --not Cubans as opponents suggest -- have been drawing up the new curriculum, but added that Venezuela could always accept Cuban help in the future.

Hillary on Hillarycare: "If it's free, it's from me!"

TANSTAAFL = There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

Is this a pick up line or what?

Having already downed a few power drinks, she turned around, faced him, looked him straight in the eye and said, "Listen up, Buddy. I screw anybody, any time, anywhere, your place, my place, in the car, front door, back door, on the ground, standing up, sitting down, naked or with clothes on, dirty, clean . . . it doesn't matter to me. I've been doing it ever since I got out of college and I just love it."

Eyes now wide with interest, he responded, "'No kidding. I'm a lawyer, too. What firm are you with?

Should we put on our tin foil hats, or not?

Interesting theory re: Craig from Little Country Lost ...

Excerpts:

Arlen Specter is pissed about the NSA spying program, which allows a wide range of phone calls to be tapped by the Bush administration with no oversight. Another person who has been openly against this program, it turns out, is Larry Craig (go figure that bathroom boy wants to keep his personal life private). Specter wants to challenge the Bush administration on the spying program and is going to need all the votes that he can get, especially from the Republicans. [...]

There is also the revelation that George W. Bush has referred to Larry Craig as "a God damned traitor" and that Bush had instructed the National Republican Senatorial Committee as early as December 2005 to look for someone to run against Larry Craig in 2008. [...]

Why I need a small radio-type production studio

Proposed Ad:

 

Music:  The Old Spice commercial music

 

Do you like whales ... Do you like high-caliber machine guns ...

 

Do you love to partake in cultural events ....

 

Well come on down to Neah Bay, Washington for the cultural experience of a lifetime.

 

Captian Mac the Makah will take you and you family out into the beautiful bay in his luxurious charter boat

 

You and the kiddies can strafe the living hell out of mother natures most beloved gray whale.

 

There the bow mounted 50 caliber for Dad ... a wide assortment of M-16 and AKs for Mom and the teenagers.

 

Captain Mac even has some good old .22's for the youngsters.

 

Daring ... Captain Mac will set you up with a native Makah Tribe harpoon, blessed by the local medicine man.

 

What could be better.

 

See you at Neah Bay and ask for Captain Mac.

 

You will have one whale of a cultural time!

 

Here is the story:  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1893456/posts

Our Public School Kids are Awesome

This is not a homeschooler ...

Updated Seal of United States Government

Here is the link to the official site of the United States Government at:
http://www.usa.gov/gobiernousa/

Here is the official Seal of the United States Government:

Politicians vs. Taxpayers

Politicians from every level prey on taxpayers and their family budgets. Here is a visual from Americans for Prosperity on how this constant pressures looks from the taxpayer's point of view.

What qualities are you looking for in a president?

Hugh Hewitt's interview with Duncan Hunter at the Texas Straw poll, which Hunter won.

My Dirty Dog

Otter should pick Ralph Smeed to US Senate

I can't help it ... but I tend to agree with proposal -- should Craig resign -- that an elder statesman pick to succeed would be a sober idea.

I put forth the name of elder statesman and political philosopher, Ralph Smeed of Caldwell.

He'd never run for election and he'd give those cloistered birds at the Senate some freedom principles to think about.

We would have at least 16 months of great entertainment in its most serious form.

SMEED for SENATE -- Make Statism Unpopular!

Conservatives know what the definition of “is” is. Liberals don’t

Republicans, better yet, conservatives, better yet, God-fearing conservatives hold themselves and elected officials they support to a higher standard. That is good and wholesome.

Democrats, better yet, liberals, better yet, “pants-down” liberals don’t really have much of a standard to which they hold their elected officials.

“Pants-down” liberals do get fabulously loud when they divine hypocrisy.

Witness the “pants-down’ers” calling for Sen. Craig to resign because they divined hypocrisy of his opposition to homosexual marriage and now Craig’s famous bathroom event at a problematic airport restroom.

The “pants-down” crowd deems all homosexuals support legalized gay marriage and any deviation of such is hypocrisy.

This is illogical as God-fearing conservatives deeming all “pants-down” liberals as booger-eating morons, knowing full-well that many “pants-downers” don’t eat boogers.

“Pants-down” liberals squeal against peeking into bedrooms, unless someone is storing a firearm there for protection instead of a box of rubbers – now that’s hypocrisy!

God-fearing conservatives are right to hold themselves and their elected officials to a higher standard. We’ve seen numerous conservative politicians fall from popularity while the “pants-down” politicians get re-elected even after a homosexual diddling of a House page or a “boyfriend” running a prostitution ring out of Rep. Barney “the sword swallower” Frank’s apartment.

God-fearing conservatives are the ones creating the double-standard-standard. And, it is a badge of honor to strive to a higher standard ... it is divine.

Who, but the “pant-down” crowd would even listen to their own ilk without feeling creeped out and in dire need of a shower ... (not a golden shower, favored by the pants-downers.)

Let the creeps have their blue dresses stained in the Oval Office or their publicly exposed trysts and lawsuits like Larry LaRocco.

The “pants-down” troupe doesn’t have to tell God-fearing conservatives what the definition of “is” is, unless they are trying to fool them into thinking creeps are OK, especially if their creeps are serving in government office.

LaRocco likely "Mum" on Craig. Why?

Julie Fanselow works for “pants-down” Larry LaRocco and runs the Red State Rebels blog.

Back when Helen Chenoweth “spanked” incumbent LaRocco, Idaho Statesman’s Dan Popkey outed ol’ Larry and his wandering ways. Larry toured the TV media to explain, but it was too late … he already had a fork in him and he lost.

Julie blogged that in regards to the news about Sen. Craig: “Given my role on the LaRocco campaign, I won't have any comment on the story.”

Don’t look for LaRocco to “comment” on Craig which would open him up for his old news to be recycled.

Sen. Cameron (RINO-Rupert) threatens GOP’ers

Here is more evidence that under the Idaho's current open primary voting scheme anybody and their liberal buddies can “help” Republicans select that party’s nominee at a primary election.

Here comes old “faithful” Dean Cameron, nine-terms of cobwebs and skeletons, with his open threat to the rank-and-file Republicans, who voted to have only Republicans select their nominee at primaries.

GOP’ers voted at the 2006 Idaho State Republican Party Convention to close the primary from just anybody and their liberal buddies. GOP’ers voted at the Central Committee meeting in 2007—and that is the governing body of the Idaho Republican Party – to close the primaries to allow only registered Republicans.

Deano’s threat was reported in the Magic Valley Times on Aug. 16, 2007:

Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, Idaho's second-most tenured senator, said Wednesday that if the case prevails and Idaho's primary system is found unconstitutional, he expects legislation that will allow independent voters to participate in primary elections.

"If the lawsuit is successful, we will draft legislation to open them to independents," said Cameron.

How’s about grand old Republicans just walking away from his threats and the next time arrogant Dean runs, let the Democrats and independents elect him.

Cameron is ripe to be challenged in 2008 Republican "closed" primary.

ID GOP Chair ticks off faithful while closed primary lawsuit is amended

Update from Rod Beck: GOP Chairman’s “update memo,” and we amend our complaint

August 17th, 2007 by grassrootsidgop

Idaho GOP Chairman Sullivan’s “Closed Primary Update” memo annoys many and bolsters Grassroots amended complaint.

Lots of action and quite a bit to cover in this update …

First, many have read or heard about Idaho GOP Chair J. Kirk Sullivan’s recent memo about Closed Primaries. (Click here). His tone is rather condescending and actually, inadvertently, helps our cause.

He starts out by telling all of us why our ideas about closed primaries are bad. Then Mr. Sullivan tells us how he agreed to be a co-sponsor of a Senate bill that didn’t even get a hearing last session. He said time just ran out.

His claim is in direct contrast to that of the chief sponsor of the closed primary bills, Rep. Marv Hagedorn (R-Meridian) who wrote on his blog about Mr. Sullivan’s memo: “[Sullivan] seemed to ‘forget’ that I and others ran a number of versions of legislative bills starting early during the 2007 session … the same bills he covertly worked against in both the House and Senate.” ...

[Amended Complaint]

Read more ...