Get a job with a badge and a gun. While catching drug dealers, start smoking pot and snorting coke. Just to fit in. Find yourself going a little further than your undercover duties require. Snort some more cocaine, then smoke it. Then smoke it. Then smoke it. Take paid leave to go to treatment, turn in your badge and gun – and sue the city of Spokane for $2 million, for getting you hooked on crack cocaine. If you thought the Brad Thoma case was something new under the sun, think again. A quarter-century ago, Spokane was rocked by a case with unmistakable similarities: an addicted cop, a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, and a City Hall that doesn’t want to settle … except it also doesn’t want to lose a lot of money in court. We don’t know the end of the Thoma case, yet. The City Council is showing some backbone, Thoma is suing, and the case will doubtlessly drag on for a good long while/Shawn Vestal, SR. More here. (Spokane police photo of Brad Thoma)

Question: Was the city of Spokane right in rejecting a proposed settlement with fired/disgraced former cop Brad Thoma?

When Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney decided to post a daily arrest list and booking photos on the Internet in 2003, it was to provide a public service — and a deterrent for people about to do something really stupid, like drive drunk. The site has become popular, averaging about 200,000 unique visitors a month, and Raney considers it a complete success. “I don’t know how many times I have heard from people that they got a designated driver so they don’t end up on our website,” he said. “The public deterrence factor is pretty high, especially for DUI driving.” But Raney is now considering removing the site (www.adasheriff.org/ArrestsReport) because of what he sees as an abuse of the public information and service it provides/Patrick Orr, Statesman. More here. (Ada County Jail photo of last person arrested for DUI) H/T: SamC

Question: Would you like to see your sheriff's office publish mug shots of people arrested for DUI?

Idaho State senate leadership, Chuck Winder, left, Brent Hill, center, and Bart Davis announce the resignation of Sen. John McGee during a press conference earlier today at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise, Idaho. Faced with sexual harassment allegations, Republican Sen. John McGee was given two choices: Quit or go before a state Senate ethics panel. The 38-year-old four-term lawmaker opted to resign on Wednesday, capping a political free-fall that began last year with a Father’s Day drunken driving and car theft arrest. Roundup of stories about resignation here. (AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Chris Butler)

The three remaining Senate GOP leaders — Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, Majority Leader Bart Davis, and Assistant Majority Leader Chuck Winder — have announced to a packed press conference that Sen. John McGee (pictured) has resigned from the Senate in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment of a Senate attache. Hill said the harassment charges are being investigated by the Idaho Attorney General, and the attache, a woman who is not a minor, is on paid leave. McGee, R-Caldwell, is a fourth term state senator and also is the chairman of the Canyon County Republican Central Committee. A former aide to then-Sen. and Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, McGee, 39, is the marketing director for West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell, and is married with two young children. He was widely viewed as a rising star in the Idaho GOP before the bizarre incident last June in which he was arrested and convicted of drunken driving/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

• John McGee's letter of resignation/Eye On Boise
• Idaho Statesman version of the story
• Pile on most of Senate leadership but not John McGee/Dennis Mansfield
• Eye On Boise: House emerges from brief caucus on Senate matter

Question: About time?

I've blogged since last summer that John McGee must resign. Today he did so. I've received phone messages from certain Idaho GOP State Senate Leaders who have “politely” called me and left voicemails asking me to “call them”. Really? Summoned by these guys who never had the courage to demand John's resignation? Now, watch what happens. It'll be anti-piling on, in a sense… GOP Senate Leadership (as it is now constructed — other than with Senator Chuck Winder, who is a good man) will today open their ranks and spit out Mr. McGee from its caucus. I refuse to pile on John McGee. His is a journey that now takes him to this distant part of a political desert. I hope he receives help in all areas of his life. The Senate Leadership? Pile on, baby, pile on/Dennis Mansfield. More here.

• In Boise, Mitt says Crapo not fiscal conservative/Adam's Blog
• Maddow highlights Greenwald VanderSloot story/43rd Street Blues
• These guys never made it to presidents day/Many Things Considered
• Trail to the right/Randy Stapilus, Ridenbaugh Press
• Siddoway's live-bait wolf bill passes panel on party-line vote/Rocky Barker

Question: Is Dennis right? Is it time to pile on Senate leadership for not having guts to handle John McGee's bizarre behavior back when?

A deeply divided House State Affairs Committee voted this morning to introduce legislation proposed by Rep. Julie Ellsworth, R-Boise, (pictured) to amend House rules to say that any member of leadership who is convicted of a DUI or drug offense would lose his or her leadership post. “It basically says if you're a member of leadership in your current term, if you're found guilty of a DUI or a drug offense, you're not eligible to complete that current leadership term,” Ellsworth told the committee. “I believe that it creates a standard, it puts it in place so that issues don't come into play when a situation arises. I like the idea of a standard”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

Question: Do you support this bill?

Nine Idaho senators, including Assistant Majority Leader Chuck Winder, R-Boise, said they were outvoted on last week's vote on retaining Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, (pictured) in his No. 4 position in the Senate Republican caucus. The nine, in a statement issued Friday, said they want to clarify how they voted. They said media reports of the vote to retain McGee “led many of our constituents to mistakenly conclude that all members of the Senate GOP caucus voted to affirm support for Sen. McGee. …” “Our constituents expect us to stand up for the convictions, principles and values we have said we represent and … our constituents deserve to be reassured that their confidence in us us not misplaced.” The signers of the statement, in addition to Winder, were Sens. Russ Fulcher, Dean Mortimer, Sheryl Nuxoll, Mitch Toryanski, Monty Pearce, Shirley McKague, Steve Vick and Lee Heider/Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: If you do the math, you'll notice that Steve Vick, R-Hayden Lake, was the only North Idaho senator who wanted John McGee to step down. What's up with the other 4 North Idaho senators?

I just NOW heard from some friends at the capitol that there is a move by certain key GOP Senators to ask John McGee to step down from his GOP Caucus leadership position. Like within the last little bit, my insiders tell me. “C'mon John, do the right thing, for a change,” seems to be their request. If this is accurate and Mr. McGee cannot or will not listen to those who CLEARLY are being impacted by his continued and blind self-focus, then either his “vision” must be altered or he risks a brand new name: Mr. Magoo/Dennis Mansfield. More here. (Wikipedia photo of Mr. Magoo)

Question: Anyone out there remember Mr. Magoo?

It had to have been difficult for Sen. John McGee to meet with his colleagues Wednesday. But it could have been even worse. The Senate Republican caucus met to hear McGee, R-Caldwell, speak to them about what he calls “the worst night of my life:” the night of drinking that landed him in the Ada County Jail last Father’s Day, and resulted in a guilty plea on a DUI charge. Then, Republicans had to decide whether they wanted McGee to remain in leadership, and allow the politically ambitious McGee to serve as the public face of the GOP caucus. I can’t imagine this was easy on McGee — just as, I’m sure, it was difficult for him to break his seven-month silence and talk to reporters about his arrest. There are still holes in the story, particularly the still unsubstantiated claim that McGee suffered a concussion that contributed to his erratic Father’s Day behavior/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Can anyone suggest what a Republican legislator would have to do to be reprimanded by their colleagues and the lenient GOP leadership?

Idaho Senate officials say Republican Sen. John McGee, pictured, will keep his position as caucus chairman, the fourth highest ranking post in the GOP controlled chamber. Republican senators met behind closed doors in the Idaho Capitol Wednesday to determine if McGee should retain his leadership post. Last year, McGee pleaded guilty to drunken driving in a plea deal after being arrested in a Boise neighborhood. The Caldwell Republican has apologized for his behavior and is aware of the disappointment expressed by his senate colleagues/John Miller, AP. More here.

Question: Do you agree with this decision?

Item: Sen. McGee could face challenge to leadership job/Dan Popkey, Statesman, and: A humble McGee speaks out/Mike Butts, Idaho Press Tribune

Dennis Mansfield: I commend Senator McGee for recently meeting with the Press Tribune — for surely he would eventually have to face his hometown paper — his tone and content seem sincere and as re-countable as any person could muster under such an alcohol influence. Wanting to get it “behind him” may sound, to some, like a politically convenient thing to do as the session opens this week. I don't. I've worked with thousands of folks in the clutches of substance abuse. Taking a fierce inventory of who and where they are is vital to future health; moving past one's poor behavior is key. Moving towards complete sobriety is paramount. He can move forward, personally. He will also most likely be held accountable, publicly, by the voters for his actions. Both are needful for healing. More here.

Question: Do you think Sen. John McGree is truly doing soul-searching re: his bizarre DUI arrest last year — or simply trying to save his political career?

On Aug. 14, a fun-filled day at Loon Lake ended in near tragedy for the Santos family. As Angelo Santos; his wife, Alyssa; and children Isabella, Zachary, Annalia, and Nikko, traveled south on U.S. Highway 395, a drunken driver blew through the stop sign at Crawford Road. “I saw him coming,” Angelo Santos said, of the seconds before the crash. “I tried to veer right to avoid him.” But the collision proved inescapable. Alyssa Santos thinks her husband’s 15 years as a UPS driver mitigated the damages. “I believe if anyone else had been behind the wheel, it would have been so much worse,” she said/Cindy Hval, SR. More here. (Colin Mulvany SR photo: from left, Isabella, 17; mother, Alyssa; Zachary, 14; Nikko, 7; father, Angelo; and Annalia, 9)

Also by Cindy: Art class teaches creativity with community in mind

Question: Have you ever been in a car crash with at least one member of your family?

Mandatory ignition interlocks on vehicles for first-time DUI offenders would prevent multiple drunken driving offenses, a Boise Mothers Against Drunk Driving official said Monday. And they would have prevented Wendy Myrick of Nampa from what Meridian police said was her 5th DUI arrest in 10 years, MADD's Miren Aburusa said. Meridian Police say they arrested Myrick, 41, Sunday night for DUI, driving without privileges and transport of an open container. She was later booked into the Ada County jail. MADD advocates mandatory ignition interlocks, or in-car breathalyzers, for all first-time DUI offenders. The devices require convicted drunken drivers to prove they are sober before their vehicles will start/Mike Butts, Idaho Press Tribune. More here.

Question: Should in-car breathalyzers be mandatory for all DUI offenders in Idaho?

I love neighborhoods that subscribe to familiar “watch programs.” It's a case of neighbors helping neighbors. And it works. Often in politics, when citizens are busy living their lives, the only people looking at certain things are lobbyists, politicos, elected officials and (at times) bloggers, including me. So, I decided to look around and see how my “neighborhood” was doing. Were people OK? Anyone sick? I looked at current-State Senator Mike McGee of Idaho to do a follow-up on his illness. Illness? What illness? Well, back when he was arrested for the drunk driving and boorish behavior of grand theft of an auto, part of current-Senator McGee's defense was that he was ill, with a “likely” head problem/Dennis Mansfield. More here. (Illustration courtesy of Dennis Mansfield)

Question: Have the always accommodating Republican leadership of the Idaho Legislature officially swept McGee's misstep under the rug, hoping HucksOnline and loyal supporters, like Dennis Mansfield, won't notice and go away?

President Barack Obama's uncle was stopped on suspicion of drunken driving in Massachusetts, told police he planned to arrange bail through the White House and is being held without bail by federal immigration officials, authorities said Monday. Onyango Obama, 67, was arrested last week in Framingham, about 20 miles west of Boston, after police said he made a rolling stop through a stop sign and nearly caused a cruiser to strike his sport utility vehicle. Police said that after being booked at the police station, Obama was asked whether he wanted to make a telephone call to arrange for bail. “I think I will call the White House,” he stated, according to a police report filed in Framingham District Court/Associated Press. More here.

Question: Do you have an embarrassing relative? Do you want to tell us about him/her w/o naming names?

Authorities in Pullman, Wash., say they arrested University of Idaho receiver Robert Hatchett III for allegedly driving under the influence. The 22-year-old junior from Compton, Calif., was pulled over early Sunday morning and failed two field sobriety tests. Police say Hatchett was initially pulled over because the taillights in his vehicle were not working. KXLY reports that Hatchett was later released on the misdemeanor charge. “We are aware of this matter. It will be handled in a manner consistent with our departmental policy,” Idaho athletic department spokeswoman Becky Paull said in an email to the Idaho Statesman/AP, Idaho Statesman.

Question: Which college team will have more DUIs and criminal activity this year — WSU or UI?

You can watch the video of Sen. John McGee's ap-hollow-gy to the Canyon County Republican Central Committee as well as the discussion about his June run-in with the law on this YouTube video. You'll need to turn up the volume b/c this video was shot from the back of the room. Also, Michael Strickland/43rd State Blues offers some thoughts about it here.

Vice Chairman Steve Kren supports Sen. John McGee remaining as the county party chairman, and said McGee would have been better served with an up-or-down vote Tuesday night. “I think John has the support of the Central Committee,” said Kren, a former GOP lawmaker. “I think that he should have just had a vote and put it behind him. But now this is going to carry on for another month. It was my opinion to end it last night.” Kren said the Caldwell lawmaker and Senate Majority Caucus chairman didn't ask his advice. But McGee did consult with Kren about his plan to refer to the party's Executive Committee a resolution calling for an investigation of McGee's recent DUI guilty plea and a subsequent vote on whether to remove McGee as chairman/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here. (Idaho Press-Tribune photo/Charlie Litchfield, of McGee apologizing to Canyon County Republicans last night)

Question: What would you counsel McGee to do at this point? Or has he reached the point of no return?

Sen. John McGee on Tuesday headed off a vote by the Canyon County GOP Central Committee on a resolution calling for an investigation of his “drunken actions” and a vote next month on whether he should be dismissed as county chairman. Ronalee Linsenmann of Nampa protested McGee’s decision to send her resolution to the 11-member executive committee he chairs for review. McGee acknowledged party rules don’t specify that resolutions be vetted by the committee first but said that’s been the tradition for nine years. “That’s the decision of the chairman and that’s unappealable,” McGee, R-Caldwell, told a standing-room-only crowd of 100 at the county courthouse/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here. (AP file photo: Sen. McGee is arraigned June 20 via video)

Question: Is McGee digging himself a deeper hole?

Neither Sen. John McGee nor his lawyer has responded to requests to release medical records backing up his lawyer's claim in court that a concussion contributed to his bizarre behavior before a Father's Day drunken driving arrest, the Associated Press reports. Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney issued a statement saying no inmate “reported or was diagnosed with a concussion” during the time that McGee was jailed, and that all inmates booked into the jail are screened by a medical professional and provided appropriate treatment/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

• Also: No one treated for concussion while McGee in custody — Ada sheriff/Dan Popkey

Question: What do you make of the refusal by state Sen. John McGee and his record to show McGee's medical records?