JEERS ... to Idaho Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter. As columnist Chris Carlson so aptly put it this week, Otter has been "mailing it in." The evidence is starting to pile up. For instance, Idaho's elected leadership gathered in Boise Thursday for the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho annual conference. Traditionally the opening round of the legislative season - lawmakers formally convene Jan. 9 - the ATI forum telegraphs what's ahead. With the state's top echelon attending, governors use that platform to at least foreshadow what they may have in mind. After his office last week merely announced there would be "no public events or meetings scheduled," Otter left Tuesday for Orlando, Fla., where he is attending a meeting of the Republican Governors Association. Reports the Idaho Statesman's Dan Popkey: The RGA is paying for the trip. Good thing, too, considering Idaho's too broke to pay Otter's dues to the National Governors Association/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. Complete Cheers & Jeers column here.

Question: Is it such a bad thing that Gov. Butch Otter appears to be semi-retired this early in his second term?