(Kootenai County GOP Central Committee Chairwoman Tina) Jacobson is demanding the identity of one or more people she believes have accused her of a crime. Of particular displeasure to the county's Republican Party leader was this question, posed on Dave Oliveria's “Huckleberries” blog after Oliveria posted a photo that included Jacobson on a stage with other Republicans: “Is that the missing $10,000 in Kootenai County Central Committee funds actually stuffed inside Tina's blouse??? Let's not try to find out.” The Spokesman-Review's attorneys argue that the comment doesn't constitute a factual assertion that Jacobson stole any money - or even that any money had gone missing. But even if it did, our question is this: How damaging is an anonymous opinion stated on a blog that makes no claim to the information being accurate or even substantially true? If someone had spray-painted the same thing on a downtown wall, would Jacobson sue the building's owner? Because what's happened here is very much like graffiti; the comment may be eye-catching but it lacks credibility because nobody is owning up to it/Coeur d'Alene Press Editorial Board. More here.

Thoughts?

First, I have to say that Editor Mike Patrick and the Coeur d'Alene Press have done a decent job staying neutral in the Coeur d'Alene recall attempt. Too decent. I wish Mike would take sides and slam the attempted overthrow of our properly elected mayor and three council members. But all the trying by Mike and his news staff to thread the needle on this tough issue has been for naught as far as cranky Bill McCrory and OpenCDA.com is concerned. McCrory grouses in his latest rant that the Recallers have been deceived by a Press editorial defending its neutral stand. The source of his whine? A letter by Ken Burchell in today's Coeur d'Alene Press. Grouses McCrory: “We at OpenCdA were wrong, and we sadly admit today that we, like others in the community,  bought into the deception game the Coeur d’Alene Press is playing with  its readers.” Full McCrory complaint here.

Thoughts?

City Administrator Wendy Gabriel provided this response to Councilman Gookin's complaint about a critical letter to the Coeur d'Alene Press editor from Arts Commission Chairwoman Eden Irgens:

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.  However, I think we should be careful about going there. Has Jeff Connaway, Chair of the City’s Sign Board, disgraced and disrespected the Mayor and three Council members by his signature on the petition in favor of a recall?  How is his signature on a public document in favor of a recall accusing the Mayor and three Council members of wrongdoing any different than a Letter to the Editor accusing you of wrong doing? Has Kathy Sims who represents the citizens of CdA disgraced and disrespected the citizens of Cd’A by her signature on the recall petition?  The citizens of CdA voted for the Mayor and the three Council members and Sims now wants them recalled.  She has expressed her views in several public venues. More below.

Thoughts?

Councilman Dan Gookin sent the following letter to City Administrator Wendy Gabriel complaining about a letter to the editor of the Coeur d'Alene Press from Eden Irgens, who chairs the city's Art Commission: “A citizen has pointed out a concern to me. I understand that there's a lot of political B.S. floating around out there, but Mr. Irgens has written a letter to the Editor, published in today's CDA Press, wherein she states, “I personally cannot trust [Councilman Gookin] now.” I've learned that Ms. Irgens is chair of the City's Arts Commission. I find it disturbing that the City would allow or tolerate a committee member, let alone a committee chair, to publicly criticize a councilman in that way. In know that Ms. Irgens has every right to criticize me as an elected official, and I would encourage anyone to express their rights to criticize the government. But this situation presents an incongruity I'd like to address. More below.

DFO: Eden Irgens is a woman, BTW.

Question: Should a member of a Coeur d'Alene city committee be prevented from writing letters to a newspaper or speaking openly re: opposition to a City Council member?

If Coeur d’Alene feels like a city divided, it is, according to CDAPress.com’s most recent poll. A majority (44 percent) of this paper’s online readers who voted said they will not sign the petitions that seek a recall election. However, a large minority (39 percent) said they will put their names on the documents seeking to put the referendum before voters in November. When asked whether they will sign the petitions calling for a recall election of Coeur d’Alene City Council members Mike Kennedy, Woody McEvers, Deanna Goodlander and Mayor Sandi Bloem, here’s how readers responded: 854 voters (38 percent) said “Yes” 981 voters (44 percent) said “No” 56 voters (3 percent) said “Undecided” More here.

Question: Do you expect percentage of opposition to recall to go up as Stop the Recall gets organized and is able to combat strong opening push by Souza-Sims-Orzell & Co?

Wrestling with the mere idea of a person being shot repeatedly by multiple individuals in close proximity of homes and families is not ordinarily a topic society discusses at the breakfast table, and for obvious reasons. It’s morbid, barbaric and discerningly incomprehensible taken in sane context. Yet, our movie cinemas, video games and televisions endlessly characterize this exact behavior and much worse, all for the sake of amusement. At 2:38 a.m. on Monday, March 12, our quiet cul de sac became a virtual movie set, complete with blaring sirens, flashing lights and a cacophony of gunfire. Having been awakened by approaching sirens, my wife was immediately out of bed and pulled our window blinds up as I scrambled from the other side of the bedroom to see what all the commotion was about. Suddenly the roar of gunfire sent us both to the floor below our window. After the shooting had stopped, we witnessed the aftermath of one of the most dramatic and intensely real death scenes we’ve ever seen. Needless to say, our lives have been forever affected by this unfortunate event/Troy Evans, Coeur d'Alene Press My Turn article. More here including home video of shootout.

Thoughts?

Richard Mack, the controversial speaker for the Kootenai County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner March 24, sent this response to the Coeur d'Alene Press editorial (“What's behind Mack attack”) this week: “You entirely used things about me that have very little to do with my record and what I've done. You brought up “militias” and “legalized drugs.” Well, I have never been involved with any militia group in my life and you have seen nothing to support that I have. You attempt to make me the “black eye” when I have never committed a crime and have not forged anything relating to this entire situation. But someone appears to have done that there and you focused on me? Whether I am too far right for your tastes has nothing to do with the fact that the dishonesty displayed by some of the neocons in your backyard have nothing to do with my 'extremist' views.” More here.

Thoughts?

Take a deep breath, Republicans. Lasting seven excruciating hours, the caucus Tuesday night was far from perfect; on that point, everyone agrees. But it was the first of its kind, and like a kid learning to ride a bicycle - well, did you really expect there wouldn't be some bumps, bruises and bad words? Ron Lahr, president of the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans, nailed it when he told The Press that caucuses are naturally drawn-out processes. In fact, that's part of the fun; just ask any Iowan. … In our view, the biggest problem had less to do with time and more to do with timing. Even before some Kootenai County precincts really got under way with their caucusing, Ada County-dominated southern Idaho was already reporting that Mitt Romney had captured enough votes to ensure all 32 state delegates were his. When the outcome has already been determined, why bother to stick around?/Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: What would local & state Republicans have to do to get you back to a caucus site in 2016?

Take a walk on Tubbs Hill or the North Idaho Centennial Trail. It's almost guaranteed you'll meet someone with a dog, and many times, the dog won't be on a leash. So, man's best friend will come running toward you, the intruder, sometimes barking, sometimes growling. Here, most often, is what the owner will say:  “Don't worry, he doesn't bite.” “He just wants to play.” “He's friendly.” Somehow, in the owner's mind, that makes it OK for the dog to roam free. That makes it fine for the dog to charge up, chase after you. That makes it no problem for Spot or Rover to romp and bounce in front of anyone who comes its direction. It's not/Mike Patrick, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Would you have the nerve to confront a owner who is disobeying dog leash or other laws — or allowing his dog to poop in a public area without picking it up?

A superb trustee has been booted from the Coeur d'Alene School Board because two new board members objected to the manner in which she was appointed. Removing Wanda Quinn hurts in the short run, but this is the right call and the district's patrons will benefit in the long run. This newspaper ardently supported Quinn, one of the state's most respected education officials, to replace Edie (Brooks) McLachlan. Last May, McLachlan announced she was resigning from the board, but she stayed on long enough to help ensure Quinn took her place. As superb as Quinn is, the process used in her appointment was legally and ethically flawed - and the board's newly elected members, Tom Hamilton, left, and Terri Seymour, right, filed a complaint in district court last June to have it nullified. A district court judge this week agreed/Mike Patrick, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: What kind of candidate would you like to see fill the board vacancy?

The editorial in today's Coeur d'Alene Press is urging Independents and others to register and vote Republican in the Idaho GOP primary in order to have his/her voice heard in the Kootenai County sheriff's race: “Democrats aren't the only enemy in the eyes of some in Republican leadership; moderate-leaning independent voters can also derail the dreams of extremists. But what will you do about it? If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. We're not suggesting Democrats formally switch their political affiliation just so they can join the primary fun, but we do urge independent voters, especially those who lean Republican anyway, to fill out a Republican party affiliation form pronto.”

Question (for Democrats, Independents, and third-party readers): Are you planning to vote Republican this spring, to have a voice in local elections?

Denney (left) and Semanko (right) got caught up in trying to out-conservative their own conservative party. We have seen this attitude play out too often right here in Kootenai County, and inevitably, it serves neither the citizens at large nor the Republican Party itself. This Constitutionalist/Libertarian wing of the party represents a political splinter group so contrary to the basics of good government that the county's Reagan Republicans have distanced themselves from their alleged party mates. … We're hopeful that the Republican Party will find leaders more in tune with this great state's ideals, and we offer a sincere suggestion for those who argue that the party isn't conservative enough: Declare yourself a Constitutionalist, a Libertarian or even an anarchist, but stop masquerading as something you're not/Mike Patrick, Coeur d'Alene Press Editorial Board. More here.

Question: What do you make of Mike's point that the Constitutionalists/Libertarians/militia, etc., embedded in the local Republican Party should be honest enough to quit masquerading as something they're not?

Duncan Koler (pictured), an outspoken opponent of the Coeur d'Alene School District's International Baccalaureate program, reacted strongly to recent Press stories criticizing his positions, including opposition to school social programs. Fumes Koler: “Unfortunately, this is not the first time our Press has abandoned journalistic ethics (an oxymoron?) to feature false, defamatory attacks dressed up as 'news.'” Then this: “Mike Patrick’s editorial ran online on 1/14, and in print as his lead editorial on 1/15.  First the title: 'Empty stomachs, vacant hearts.' Are you kidding me? (I considered titling this My Turn “Bleeding hearts, empty heads,” but decided that would only be half-true.)” Later, Koler says: “I accurately used the term 'social services bureaucracy' to describe the vast scope of undertaking by our school district.  I also impliedly questioned whether combining education and social services responsibilities was the best way to deliver both education and the necessary social services, stating, 'I’m not sure that’s how I would do it, but that’s a fact about what our education system is today.'  I did not state that needy children should go hungry or otherwise be deprived of necessary support.” More here.

Question: Doth Koler protesteth too much?

The man who's leading the charge against subversive education — otherwise known as International Baccalaureate - is trying to muster support for his position that compassion and the opportunity to actually educate less fortunate children is a cross that should not be borne by public schools. What's sad is that Duncan Koler probably isn't the only Coeur d'Alene School District patron who feels that way. When Koler railed last week against what he called the “social services bureaucracy” that he alleges the school district is becoming, he packaged feeding, clothing and providing health care for children into his list of mistaken steps the district is taking, leading it down the slippery slope of socialism. Duncan's sarcastic rant Monday (you can hear it on cdapress.com) followed a December presentation on a backpack program that's gaining a strong foothold in Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls/Mike Patrick, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here. (SR file photo: Sean Glenn, 8, and his sister Jenna Glenn, 6, eat breakfast at Ramsey Elementary in Coeur d'Alene. Ramsey is a summer meal site, part of a federal program to provide free breakfast and lunch to any child who shows up)

Question: Should schools be involved in meeting social services needs of children?

We're not happy with the federal government, either. But in the winter of their discontent, some citizens are going too far in condemning the very role of federalism in our daily lives. At their most extreme, some of these people consider themselves patriots and constitutional purists - assessments we doubt our founding fathers would share. Nullification is one of the hot-button issues of the anti-federalists, and while we agree that federal backers of sweeping health-care reform have overstepped their authority, the proper remedy is taking place right now through Idaho's and other states' attorneys general. State legislative attempts to reject national health-care reform are exercises in political pandering with no legal bases. In their zeal to give themselves credit and the president and Congress a black eye, the legislative backers of nullification are arguing against the very constitutional foundation they purport to support/Mike Patrick, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Do you think “feds” is a four-letter word?

H/T to David Cole /Coeur d'Alene Press for that gift-wrapped pot story that now has gone national. Here's the first two graphs from Washington Post online story: “A Washington state man faces felony marijuana trafficking charges after an officer found 3.3 pounds of marijuana wrapped up as Christmas gifts during a traffic stop in northern Idaho. Jason D. Palmer, 36, of Springdale, Wash., was arrested Dec. 22 as he returned from a trip to Montana, where he had been visiting family, the Coeur d’Alene Press. Kootenai County sheriff’s officials said Palmer was stopped east of Coeur d’Alene because his vehicle was repeatedly changing lanes and following other drivers too closely. The officer said he smelled marijuana as he approached the vehicle.” More here.

Question: Izzit just me, or does this guy resemble the actor in those Geico Caveman commercials?

A whopping 92 people attended the open government seminar in Coeur d'Alene last night, sponsored by IDOG, Idahoans for Openness in Government, and co-sponsored by the Spokesman-Review and the Coeur d'Alene Press. Press Managing Editor Mike Patrick told the crowd it was the first time he could remember the two competing newspapers co-sponsoring an event. Among those attending were numerous local government officials and staffers, reporters for a variety of news media, political activists, several former state legislators and lots of interested citizens. Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden singled out an audience member, former state Rep. Gary Ingram (left in photo, huddling with Wasden), for special recognition: Ingram is the author of much of the Idaho Open Meeting Law/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

Question: What other types of events would you like to see the Coeur d'Alene Press and Spokesman-Review jointly involved in?

If you're looking for someone who disagrees with something Mayor Sandi Bloem has voted for, voted against or decided on her own, count us in. We've criticized her decisions before, and we're pretty sure we'll do it again. But we're not jumping on the bandwagon of those who are taking personal potshots at the mayor because of differences in perspective. We wonder how many people lambasting Bloem for the kind of person they think she is have actually sat down and talked with her, one on one. Because McEuen Park is the municipal powderkeg of public opinion, and the mayor happens to have a very strong sense of what that property should become, she has somehow earned the title of Public Enemy No. 1/Mike Patrick, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Why do people today tend to demonize those with whom they disagree, rather than simply realize that good people can have opposing views?

There's a groundswell of excitement over the election of Dan Gookin and Steve Adams to the Coeur d'Alene City Council, and there should be. Whether or not the existing council is actually guilty of routinely applying the rubber stamp to important decisions, the entry of Dan and Steve to future deliberations promises to be entertaining and engaging. But we admit to feeling a sense of loss in the defeat of John Bruning, and not just because newspapering is in his family's blood. John's father, Rollie, became editor of the Coeur d'Alene Press in 1956, when John and the rest of the family moved to Coeur d'Alene from Wallace. This quiet, thoughtful man who enjoyed a 40-year career with the U.S. Forest Service has sunk some of the deepest roots in his community. John holds volunteer leadership positions with St. Vincent de Paul and served on the St. Pius X Catholic Church parish council for six years. He has taken his civic duties even further/Coeur d'Alene Press Editorial Board. More here.

DFO: I couldn't agree with this editorial more.

Question: Do you expect the involvement of Dan Gookin and Steve Adams on the Coeur d'Alene City Council to be “entertaining and engaging”?

Coeur d'Alene City Clerk Susan Weathers sent this response to Jeff Ward of the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans moments ago: “Thank you for your inquiry.  After investigating your complaint it has been shown that the actual advertisement to the C d’A Press did comply with I.C. 67-6614A and met the requirement of indicating the party responsible for the communication of that ad.  Somehow, between the advertisement being sent to the Cd’A Press by Savvy Marketing (who prepared and submitted the ad), and the publication in the Cd’A Press the last line of the ad was cut off. ”

Update: Ward's response: “Thank you for your looking into this.  Could you (answer a) couple of quick questions? 1. Who actually paid for the ad? 2. The ad has an ad code number on the very bottom(right corner.) Those codes are on the outer edges of all the ads in the Press. How did a disclaimer get cut off from in-between the last line and the ad code number?”

Update: Coeur d'Alene Press Editor Mike Patrick: We're checking with Savvy Marketing right now to find out who paid for the ad, and who that entity's treasurer is. I'm going to publish a clarification in tomorrow's paper. As Susan indicated and I can have someone in my graphics department explain to you if you wish, the disclaimer was on the ad, between the citizens' names at the very bottom and the banner across the bottom (“Please join …” with the ad code). When more names were added to that part of the ad at the last minute, those names were overlaid on top of the disclaimer. You don't have to take my word for it, but there was no intent to deceive by Savvy, which has tons of experience with political advertising. Regardless, I'm going to clarify the matter in tomorrow's Press.

Reaction?