Otter has grown testy at questions about what message he's sending, biting off one reporter's head at Tuesday's veto-fest. He thinks everybody should know by now what's been driving him for two years: an unshakable conviction that more money is necessary, even in dire economic times, to fulfill a core duty to protect public safety and promote commerce. In his youth, Otter served in the House. Were the clock turned back, he would have been among the crowd saying no to any tax increase. The mature Otter knows taxpayers are tired of extending the second-longest session in Idaho history. He knows the risk of pressing so forcefully for taxes during a brutal recession. He knows he might not have winning cards/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: To continue the gambling analogy, is it time that Gov. Otter folds and survives to play another hand?