Dan Of The County: I was very impressed with (Keith Allred, who spoke at Kootenai County Demo Club lunch Friday) and his approach. More than many folks, I know what it means to run as well as win with a “Blue D” after your name in very red places. You certainly can't win by only appealing to (or being appealing to) just Democrats. You have to be able to work with Republicans and Independents. They must trust you and experience that you treat them with respect and treat their viewpoints as just as legitimate as yours even when you have mutual disagreements. That's the approach he appears to be taking and yet he drew some clear, even sharp, distinctions about how his approach to governance would differ from current practice.

Question: Which politician, at any level or any party, best typifies what a politician should be? Why?

On point one; yes I did have a shrimp cocktail, good for the protein thing.

Two, I was very impressed with him and his approach. More than many folks, I know what it means to run as well as win with a “Blue D” after your name in very red places. You certainly can't win by only appealing to (or being appealing to) just Democrats.

You have to be able to work with Republicans and Independents. They must trust you and experience that you treat them with respect and treat their viewpoints as just as legitimate as yours even when you have mutual disagreements.

That's the approach he appears to be taking and yet he drew some clear, even sharp, distinctions about how his approach to governance would differ from current practice.

I noted Dan Gookin there as well and had hoped to catch him before he left (I didn't) to see what his take was, particularly in response to Allred's emphasis on the wisdom of the founding fathers and their admonitions to avoid special interests vs. the interests of the broad scope of citizens.

I obviously enjoyed it and think this election will likely be much more engaging than any we've seen for some time.

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