It wasn’t supposed to go down this way. The cynics just knew that three Republicans and three Democrats couldn’t possibly redraw Idaho’s congressional and legislative districts. After all, they noted, three other Republicans and three other Democrats had spent the summer trying to do the job; 92 days later, they adjourned at an impasse. OK, cynics, you owe a big round of applause to the redistricting commission that could: Ron Beitelspacher; Dolores Crow; Shauneen Grange; Randy Hansen; Elmer Martinez; and Sheila Olsen. I list the commissioners in alphabetical order, and eschew the party labels, with good reason. Theirs was a true team effort. The public good trumped partisan interests. It can be done, you know. It happened this time because the commissioners operated by the book/Kevin Richert, Statesman. More here.

Question: Before we echo Kevin Richert's cheer in North Idaho, have any of you checked out the new North Idaho legislative lines? What do you think of them?