DFO: What exactly is the Idaho Republican Victory 2010 campaign about?
Phil Hardy (Idaho Republican Victory 2010 director): The word “Victory” campaign is a designation Republican Party uses every campaign. We haven’t had a victory campaign with staff here before. Victory and Idaho Republican Party is synonymous.
DFO: Are you focusing on a specific race?
Phil Hardy: Absolutely, it’s the 1st Congressional District race.
DFO: At this point, that race for Republicans seems like an uphill battle?
Phil Hardy: I think that’s the general impression for those who don’t necessarily follow politics that closely. This is such a solidly Republican district that we feel once we let voters know who real Republican is, we’ll have very few people to convince to vote for Raul Labrador. Rather, it’ll always be an uphill battle for Democrat to win 1st Congressional District.
DFO: What do you make of the $1M advantage Walt Minnick has in terms of warchests?
Phil Hardy: I have this vision in my head that the people of this district have been so well educated that a vote for Walt Minnick is a vote for Nancy Pelosi. That every time (Minnick) runs a TV ad for himself, it’s going to remind voters that they need to vote for Raul Labrador.
More in dropdown box
DFO: Has the Idaho Republican Party been taken over by the Tea Party wing?
Phil Hardy: It’s not the Tea Party people who have taken over. The state of the country has become such that more people than ever want to get involved in the political process. What we see is a lot of new folks coming in. Someone used the phrase that I’m going to use now: Regressive is the new progressive. In my lifetime, I can’t remember people going back to the federalist papers and the Constitution and reading this stuff. Perfect case in point is the 10th amendment. Over last year, I’ve been forced to read the 10th amendment. It’s in the bill of rights. Framers were pressured to come up with Bill of Rights to get the Constitution passed. Either we repeal (the 10th amendment) or enforce it and these people are asking these questions.
DFO: How can Idaho Republicans support repeal of the 17th amendment?
Phil Hardy: I go back to the phrase regressive is progressive. People want to go back to what framers originally constructed. They’re looking at it and wonder if that’s a better way to go. It’s a fascinating question. It’s amazing that we’re even talking about it.
DFO: A Coeur d’Alene Press poll that’s currently running shows that their readers believe that the Idaho Republican Party is in terrible shape. What do you make of that?
Phil Hardy: My first question would be how many of those guys identify themselves as Republicans? Maybe this is a time of evolution in the party. I’m enthusiastic re: how much people are thinking. Some of the ideas are pretty fragrant. But I’m happy to be involved in a party that isn’t just a social club. These are people who want to make a difference in their state and country.
“Phil Hardy: I have this vision in my head that the people of this district have been so well educated that a vote for Walt Minnick is a vote for Nancy Pelosi.”
Ha! I think Phil needs to concentrate more on reality, and less on his “visions”!
DFO: How can Idaho Republicans support repeal of the 17th amendment? Phil Hardy: I go back to the phrase regressive is progressive. People want to go back to what framers originally constructed. They’re looking at it and wonder if that’s a better way to go. It’s a fascinating question. It’s amazing that we’re even talking about it. __________
Great idea! I think I’ll go buy some slaves at an auction. I can use the men to do yardwork, and the women can be my whores when I’m not using them to clean the house and care for my children! Also, I’m excited that women won’t be able to vote anymore, and that people who rent instead owning can just go suck it.
Yay, framers!
What I find really funny is that if most of the Palinite/Paulites/Beckites got their way, most of them would be disenfranchised because they are not the educated “elite” that the framers envisioned running this country.
How can you suffer so much cognitive dissonance and still live?
This guy is a bit of a tool, eh? Not offering any ideas or solutions in the slightest, no “vision” at all, just hollow puffery about the supposed brilliance and infallibility of his own party, despite much evidence to the contrary. Barfy!
People who “want to go back to what the framers originally constructed” are looking backwards through rose colored glasses.
The good old days weren’t that great, if you were a person of color, a woman, a person with a disability or a person of limited means. And it was really bad if you were a Native American. I guess it was only good if you were a white, Christian, male of means.
Regressive is not progressive any more than peace is war.
Instant classic! “Regressive is the new progressive.” They wanna take economic policy back to the time when there was a teeny middle class and there was major conflict between the very rich and the dirt poor and the rich controlled government through little tools like state legislatures picking senators. They wanna take America back to a time when the party of rich white middle aged men knew who they were better than. Having Obama in the White House mucks that all up.
America will have a clear choice in November. Backwards or forwards.
Sis, If by moving forward you mean a jobless recovery, declining value of the dollar, continued occupation of Muslim lands, throwing away money on propping up states in order to keep their union members happy,making the Wall Street banks happy with regulation reform and ginning-up false racism charges, then by all means, we are moving forward.
There was indeed scooter. And the absence of that story from HBO is glaring, particularly in the context of addressing whether IR is a legitimate news source.
Rather than getting into a huff about what is or isn’t here, Sis … you should e-mail or post a link in the comments section, if you want something posted out front. I’ll decide from there, one way or another, if it’s worthy. Local/state stories are almost always more worthy than national/international stuff here. There’s a lot of worthy things that go on beyond the boundaries of the HBO blogosphere that I ignore …
I guess we cross-posted, Sis … Again, what’s the local/state angle to this story? I can’t recall ever mentioning Breitbart here. If you want to tee off on him, you can use this thread to do so. Meanwhile, I’ll get back to the regular programming …
ginning up racism charges? wasn’t that all started by a “tool party” blogger who edited the vid to suit his slant and the Faux News channel ran with it?
“Local/state stories are almost always more worthy than national/international stuff here. There’s a lot of worthy things that go on beyond the boundaries of the HBO blogosphere that I ignore …”
And thank God for that, DFO - most of us appreciate that. I am sympathetic to Sis, though, because people like GDR are beating certain things to death without an informed counterpoint - and I am glad Sis is willing to do the work to bring such items to HBO, too.
@ Moscow … I don’t mind Sis working things into the threads here, as many of you do, but the way he worked this one in, insinuating that I dropped the ball by not putting this story out front, is irritating. I make a lot of judgment calls based on my seat at the controls of this 3-ring cyber circus. Whereas the Breitbart thing might irritate the left, I know that the NAACP’s accusation of racism against the Tea Party ticks off the right. I weigh both of those against the background of all the racist things that we deal with in North Idaho w/o the aid of bloggers that aren’t part of this blogosphere. Mebbe on another day, I would have posted that out front. On any given day, any one of you could accuse me of not posting something in the national/international realm that you consider of utmost concern. I have intentionally pulled back on national political posts here b/c the debate had become same-o among same-o combatants.
He actually is admitting to being regressive? Wow!
re·gres·sive/riˈgresiv/Adjective 1. Becoming less advanced; returning to a former or less developed state. 2. Of, relating to, or marked by psychological regression.
Sorry for my petulance Dave. I’m blogging at the speed of light. But the local angle, as I stated, was the HBO poll you proudly trumpeted this morning over the legitimacy of “journalists” with right wing agendas getting play in the traditional media. Breitbart has egg all over his face for his hatchet job. Worse, so does the trad med and the White House for acting on it. The administration is sorry but the trad med doesn’t seem to be since they don’t seem to be correcting the record.
@ Phaedrus … re: “DFO, what right-winger do you have stopping by tomorrow?”
Hmm. Let’s see. How about Steve Vick, Vito Barbieri, and Phil Hart, followed by Bob Nonini, Dick Harwood, and Jeff Ward. Then, we could go with Raul Labrador, Tom Luna, and — to make your head explode — Norm Semanko. I know how to make you squawk. Actually, I’ll be on vacation for two weeks beginning Monday. So you guys’ll have to bug Cindy for front-page play …
BTW, I thought Phil Hardy was candid in responding to my questions and made a decent interview. I’m still trying to figure out the regressive is the new progressive thing. I understand where they’re coming from. Average folks are interested in the founding papers and the philosophy behind them. However, I reminded Phil that the founding fathers originally allowed only the people with property to vote. So the regressive as progressive approach only goes so far — not to mention the silliness with 17th amendment repeal.
I forgot to mention that Jeff Ward of the Reagan Republicans listened in during the online interview. I’ve talked with Jeff on the phone but never met him. Good guy. I think that the Rally Right guys have added Jeff to their growing list of liberals. Mebbe Reagan Republicans are the new moderates? RINOs? Onward Rally Ri-i-i-ighters marching off to war …
I was just gonna say this morning that I’ve missed our Hval-ley girl. Now I get to have her for two weeks. I’m so excited I could pee my pants. I promise, no hmoafs.
@ Cindy re: “Thanks for the lovely parting gift, DFO :-( ”
I wouldn’t hand the controls over to just anyone. However, I must warn you that the turnstiles are humming big time this midsummer … The regulars are buzzing like Charlotte Hornets and trolls are even dropping by. I’ve had to drop kick a couple of fly-bys in the last week or so. But you can handle it.
BTW, I really like Sis’s Hval-ley Girl nickname for you.
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
Spokane7
35°
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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moscow_minidoka on July 22 at 11:34 a.m.
“Phil Hardy: I have this vision in my head that the people of this district have been so well educated that a vote for Walt Minnick is a vote for Nancy Pelosi.”
Ha! I think Phil needs to concentrate more on reality, and less on his “visions”!
Sisyphus on July 22 at 11:35 a.m.
Those are better questions Dave.
I love Republicans with visions in their heads. More like delusions. “Once we let Republicans know….”
What’s their budget?
moscow_minidoka on July 22 at 11:41 a.m.
DFO: How can Idaho Republicans support repeal of the 17th amendment?
Phil Hardy: I go back to the phrase regressive is progressive. People want to go back to what framers originally constructed. They’re looking at it and wonder if that’s a better way to go. It’s a fascinating question. It’s amazing that we’re even talking about it.
__________
Great idea! I think I’ll go buy some slaves at an auction. I can use the men to do yardwork, and the women can be my whores when I’m not using them to clean the house and care for my children! Also, I’m excited that women won’t be able to vote anymore, and that people who rent instead owning can just go suck it.
Yay, framers!
What I find really funny is that if most of the Palinite/Paulites/Beckites got their way, most of them would be disenfranchised because they are not the educated “elite” that the framers envisioned running this country.
How can you suffer so much cognitive dissonance and still live?
OrangeTV on July 22 at 11:45 a.m.
This guy is a bit of a tool, eh? Not offering any ideas or solutions in the slightest, no “vision” at all, just hollow puffery about the supposed brilliance and infallibility of his own party, despite much evidence to the contrary. Barfy!
scootermom on July 22 at 11:48 a.m.
People who “want to go back to what the framers originally constructed” are looking backwards through rose colored glasses.
The good old days weren’t that great, if you were a person of color, a woman, a person with a disability or a person of limited means. And it was really bad if you were a Native American. I guess it was only good if you were a white, Christian, male of means.
Regressive is not progressive any more than peace is war.
Sisyphus on July 22 at 11:59 a.m.
Instant classic! “Regressive is the new progressive.” They wanna take economic policy back to the time when there was a teeny middle class and there was major conflict between the very rich and the dirt poor and the rich controlled government through little tools like state legislatures picking senators. They wanna take America back to a time when the party of rich white middle aged men knew who they were better than. Having Obama in the White House mucks that all up.
America will have a clear choice in November. Backwards or forwards.
Gary D Rhodes on July 22 at 12:10 p.m.
Sis, If by moving forward you mean a jobless recovery, declining value of the dollar, continued occupation of Muslim lands, throwing away money on propping up states in order to keep their union members happy,making the Wall Street banks happy with regulation reform and ginning-up false racism charges, then by all means, we are moving forward.
scootermom on July 22 at 12:25 p.m.
“Ginning up false racism charges.”
Hmmm. Wasn’t there a story about that recently? Just yesterday, I think.
Sisyphus on July 22 at 12:35 p.m.
There was indeed scooter. And the absence of that story from HBO is glaring, particularly in the context of addressing whether IR is a legitimate news source.
Sisyphus on July 22 at 12:44 p.m.
That damned liberal media seems to be giving Breitbart a pass.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/07/a_question_for_the_press_corps.html
DFO on July 22 at 12:50 p.m.
Rather than getting into a huff about what is or isn’t here, Sis … you should e-mail or post a link in the comments section, if you want something posted out front. I’ll decide from there, one way or another, if it’s worthy. Local/state stories are almost always more worthy than national/international stuff here. There’s a lot of worthy things that go on beyond the boundaries of the HBO blogosphere that I ignore …
DFO on July 22 at 12:53 p.m.
I guess we cross-posted, Sis … Again, what’s the local/state angle to this story? I can’t recall ever mentioning Breitbart here. If you want to tee off on him, you can use this thread to do so. Meanwhile, I’ll get back to the regular programming …
powderfarmer on July 22 at 1:01 p.m.
ginning up racism charges? wasn’t that all started by a “tool party” blogger who edited the vid to suit his slant and the Faux News channel ran with it?
moscow_minidoka on July 22 at 1:09 p.m.
“Local/state stories are almost always more worthy than national/international stuff here. There’s a lot of worthy things that go on beyond the boundaries of the HBO blogosphere that I ignore …”
And thank God for that, DFO - most of us appreciate that. I am sympathetic to Sis, though, because people like GDR are beating certain things to death without an informed counterpoint - and I am glad Sis is willing to do the work to bring such items to HBO, too.
DFO on July 22 at 1:29 p.m.
@ Moscow … I don’t mind Sis working things into the threads here, as many of you do, but the way he worked this one in, insinuating that I dropped the ball by not putting this story out front, is irritating. I make a lot of judgment calls based on my seat at the controls of this 3-ring cyber circus. Whereas the Breitbart thing might irritate the left, I know that the NAACP’s accusation of racism against the Tea Party ticks off the right. I weigh both of those against the background of all the racist things that we deal with in North Idaho w/o the aid of bloggers that aren’t part of this blogosphere. Mebbe on another day, I would have posted that out front. On any given day, any one of you could accuse me of not posting something in the national/international realm that you consider of utmost concern. I have intentionally pulled back on national political posts here b/c the debate had become same-o among same-o combatants.
sue on July 22 at 1:30 p.m.
Somebody needs a vacation….
Phaedrus on July 22 at 1:31 p.m.
“Maybe this is a time of evolution in the party”
I didn’t think these folks believed in evolution?
Phaedrus on July 22 at 1:34 p.m.
“Regressive is the new progressive.”—
He actually is admitting to being regressive? Wow!
re·gres·sive/riˈgresiv/Adjective
1. Becoming less advanced; returning to a former or less developed state.
2. Of, relating to, or marked by psychological regression.
Phaedrus on July 22 at 1:35 p.m.
DFO, what right-winger do you have stopping by tomorrow?
Maybe you could make this a new daily feature “5Q’s with a Tea Bagger”
fortboise on July 22 at 1:53 p.m.
First I heard of Phil Hardy, but I have to say he made a heck of a first impression.
Regressive is the new progressive. Sounds like a Karl Rovism. Let’s clear the skies for a healthy forest.
Sisyphus on July 22 at 2:04 p.m.
Sorry for my petulance Dave. I’m blogging at the speed of light. But the local angle, as I stated, was the HBO poll you proudly trumpeted this morning over the legitimacy of “journalists” with right wing agendas getting play in the traditional media. Breitbart has egg all over his face for his hatchet job. Worse, so does the trad med and the White House for acting on it. The administration is sorry but the trad med doesn’t seem to be since they don’t seem to be correcting the record.
DFO on July 22 at 2:14 p.m.
@ Phaedrus … re: “DFO, what right-winger do you have stopping by tomorrow?”
Hmm. Let’s see. How about Steve Vick, Vito Barbieri, and Phil Hart, followed by Bob Nonini, Dick Harwood, and Jeff Ward. Then, we could go with Raul Labrador, Tom Luna, and — to make your head explode — Norm Semanko. I know how to make you squawk. Actually, I’ll be on vacation for two weeks beginning Monday. So you guys’ll have to bug Cindy for front-page play …
DFO on July 22 at 2:17 p.m.
BTW, I thought Phil Hardy was candid in responding to my questions and made a decent interview. I’m still trying to figure out the regressive is the new progressive thing. I understand where they’re coming from. Average folks are interested in the founding papers and the philosophy behind them. However, I reminded Phil that the founding fathers originally allowed only the people with property to vote. So the regressive as progressive approach only goes so far — not to mention the silliness with 17th amendment repeal.
DFO on July 22 at 2:19 p.m.
I forgot to mention that Jeff Ward of the Reagan Republicans listened in during the online interview. I’ve talked with Jeff on the phone but never met him. Good guy. I think that the Rally Right guys have added Jeff to their growing list of liberals. Mebbe Reagan Republicans are the new moderates? RINOs? Onward Rally Ri-i-i-ighters marching off to war …
Sisyphus on July 22 at 2:22 p.m.
“I’m still trying to figure out the regressive is the new progressive thing. “—And I didn’t get him anything. We love him.
Phaedrus on July 22 at 2:24 p.m.
regressive is the new progressive—Phil Hardy
“I’m tired of pretending that ‘stupid’ is a virtue.” - Leonard Pitts, Jr. …
Phaedrus on July 22 at 2:28 p.m.
If you get Vick and Vito ask them if they agree with Hart’s non-payment of taxes and violation of his fiduciary responsibility?
Ask Dick how to spell his last name.
Ask Bob Nonini is he has a pilot’s license and a passport.
Ask Raul if the $60K in the bank is before or after he pays back his own loan.
Ask Luna if he’s taking any post graduate work.
Ask Norman is he’s current on his mortgage.
Cindy_H on July 22 at 2:30 p.m.
“So you guys’ll have to bug Cindy for front-page play …”
Thanks for the lovely parting gift, DFO :-(
DFO on July 22 at 2:34 p.m.
@ Phaedrus re: … Ask Bob Nonini is he has a pilot’s license and a passport.”
you dog ;-)
Sisyphus on July 22 at 2:37 p.m.
I was just gonna say this morning that I’ve missed our Hval-ley girl. Now I get to have her for two weeks. I’m so excited I could pee my pants. I promise, no hmoafs.
DFO on July 22 at 2:54 p.m.
@ Cindy re: “Thanks for the lovely parting gift, DFO :-( ”
I wouldn’t hand the controls over to just anyone. However, I must warn you that the turnstiles are humming big time this midsummer … The regulars are buzzing like Charlotte Hornets and trolls are even dropping by. I’ve had to drop kick a couple of fly-bys in the last week or so. But you can handle it.
BTW, I really like Sis’s Hval-ley Girl nickname for you.