In a blog post this morning, Dennis Mansfield shares thoughts re: the possible return of former Idaho governor Dirk Kempthorne to the political fray: “The pecking order of politics is named that for a reason. Incumbent officials are always on guard against new people coming onto their turf — pecking at newbies. Every new bird is viewed as a threat. Kempthorne first ran for office in Idaho in '85 (think Ronald Reagan's era) and last ran for office in '03 - almost a decade ago. Kerrey, much the same. Many new cocks have crowed since then. A race in Idaho would pit Kempthorne against Labrador, Risch, Crapo or Otter. These roosters waited long enough for his exit that I doubt they have ANY interest in seeing his return to the barnyard.” More here.

Question: Would you like to see Dirk Kempthorne run for political office in Idaho again? Which one?

Dirk Kempthorne is profiled in the latest edition of the subscription-only “CEO Update,” a magazine covering national associations like the one run by the former Idaho governor. Since 2010, Kempthorne has been CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers, where he says the job is a good place to “recharge my batteries” and enjoy life away from public office. “I can actually have a friend buy my sandwich,” Kempthorne told reporter Mark Tarallo. But Tarallo writes that the CEO life hasn't extinguished the political ambition that has put Kempthorne on lists as a potential Republican candidate for president or vice president. Tarallo asked Kempthorne whether he might again seek elected office, as is his former U.S. Senate colleague, Democrat Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, who left the presidency of The New School in New York to run for the Senate this year/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Would you like to see former Gov. Dirk Kempthorne return to politics?

When C.L. (Butch) Otter became Idaho's governor in 2007, one thing seemed certain: He'd shine in comparison to his predecessor, Dirk Kempthorne. … Five years later, Otter has yet to deliver any major initiative through the Legislature. After failing miserably to persuade his own party to back a badly needed infusion of cash into transportation in 2009, Otter has ceded the stage. Lawmakers have dominated spending issues. Others have usurped the governor's traditional role of setting the political agenda, whether it was schools Superintendent Tom Luna's school reform package or the Tea Party's effort to defy national health care reform through the discredited tactic of nullification. Five years later, it's Kempthorne who gets points for engineering a successful rebooting in his fifth year, while Otter's fifth year shows no turnaround/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. More to come. (AP file photo: Dirk Kempthorne, as Interior secretary in 2008, testifies in Washington)

Question: How do you consider to be the better governor — Dirk Kempthorne or Butch Otter?

In this Sept. 18, 2008, AP file photo by Susan Walsh, then secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne left, seated next to Interior Department inspector General Earl Devaney, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, during a House Natural Resources Committee oversight hearing. Now, the former agency director will become a life insurance lobbyist. See story below.

• Kempthorne takes job as life insurance lobbyist/Associated Press
• UCDavis, Cal Poly to join Big Sky for football/Associated Press
• Spokane police release Deputy Hirzel’s statements re: shooting/KREM
• Boise State earns high TV ratings, praise from around USA/Brian Murphy, Statesman
• Hokies’ fan gets 2000 followers by urging potato boycott/Katy Moeller, Statesman
• Sandpoint Bypass girder work to begin this week/Keith Kinnaird, Bonner County Bee
• Path of the Hiawatha attracts record usage/Nicole Nolan, Shoshone News-Press

Question: Is a job as a life insurance lobbyist a fitting next step for former U.S. senator/Idaho governor/Interior secretary Dirk Kempthorne?

Randy Stapilus/Ridenbaugh Press explains why Dirk Kempthorne was summoned to Washington to testify re: oil spill: During Kempthorne’s tenure, which ran for two and a half years up until January 2009, the agency had a string of problems. The New York Times reported this in September 2008 (after he’d been in charge more than two years): “As Congress prepares to debate expansion of drilling in taxpayer-owned coastal waters, the Interior Department agency that collects oil and gas royalties has been caught up in a wide-ranging ethics scandal — including allegations of financial self-dealing, accepting gifts from energy companies, cocaine use and sexual misconduct… . The reports portray a dysfunctional organization that has been riddled with conflicts of interest, unprofessional behavior and a free-for-all atmosphere for much of the Bush administration’s watch.” More here.

• Kempthorne: Big spill never considered; pressure was building for more drilling/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
  

Question: Which adjective would you use to sum up Dirk Kempthorne’s career as a politician?

Item: Kempthorne credits Idaho with success: Former governor’s homecoming marked by appreciation for state/Alecia Warren, CDA Press

More Info: Before he settles back to rest, (the former secretary of Interior will) stop by Coeur d’Alene on Thursday to open up about his achievements and stumbles with the federal government at a public luncheon and forum. Hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce and The Coeur d’Alene Resort, the event will run from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at The Coeur d’Alene Resort Convention Center. “This is a homecoming — I’ll be able to talk about some of the issues we tackled and were successful with,” Kempthorne said.

Question: Would you say that Dirk Kempthorne’s political career was successful or otherwise?

The restroom fiasco may prove to be the most prominent moment in Kempthorne’s 20-month legacy as interior secretary. Let’s face it, an interior secretary doesn’t command the profile of, say, a treasury secretary. While Westerners are interested in Interior’s policies on endangered species, national parks and Indian tribes, that buzz doesn’t translate nationally. For some Americans, the first and only thing they will know about the former Boise mayor and Idaho governor is the $236,000 bathroom story – an unflattering tale, and one skeptical taxpayers can relate to easily. Maybe that isn’t fair, but that is the reality/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Is it fair that another Idaho politician on the national scene may be remembered for his misjudgment involving a bathroom?

He’s not telling. Among the many questions Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne received from the audience at the Boise City Club/Idaho Environmental Forum today was what nickname President George W. Bush had for Kempthorne as a member of his cabinet. After much laughter, including plenty from the secretary, he seemed to hesitate a moment, and then said, “Some things stay in the Cabinet”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise.

*Kempthorne: And she said ‘Sweetheart’

*Prison riot wrecks unit

Question: What do you think was President Bush’s nickname for Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne? What job do you think Kempthorne will seek next?