I entered this cycle truly hoping that Mike Huckabee would run for President, but in May it became clear that wouldn’t happen. I’ve considered several candidates since then: Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Perry, and Michelle Bachmann. I’ve remained on the fence until now. I’m firmly on the Herman Cain train. I laid out what I was looking for in a Presidential candidate in this column and what I believed a Republican Candidate: political courage, character, the confidence of the base in his intentions, and the ability to inspire optomism in Americans. Herman Cain is the man who best represents this ideal. When I look at other main contenders, their courage to address tough issues is definitely in question.  Cain’s is not/Adam Graham, Adam's Blog. More here.((AP file photo)

• JFK: A man forgotten by time?/Dennis Mansfield
• The big business of education/Fort Boise
• Conversation w/Butch Otter, Part 2/Idaho Conservative Blogger
• Supercommittee fails, country burns/The Johnson Post
• Rhoades' postscript/The Political Game
• Yellowstone rethinks grizzly policy after 2 deaths/Rocky Barker

Question (for Right Wing): If you had to choose a presidential candidate among GOP candidates right now, who would it be?

US Senator Jon Tester is now hated, it appears,  by many of the Dem's who helped launch him into the US Senate. They are calling him a “sell out” because he will not follow the President and his party like a blind man. He's a non-Democrat in many ways. At least he's more of an old-school Democrat, which makes him light years distant from today's East Coast D's. He's a mountain states guy…and the east coast has NEVER gotten the wild west. Watch this race/Dennis Mansfield. More here.

• On the death of Osama bin Laden/Adam's Blog
• Park Service & Alaska/Chris Carlson, Andrus Center
• Best states for decomposition/Blush Response
• The president's speech/The Stupid Shall Be Punished
• Osama bin Laden no more/Aletheia, 43rd State Blues
• Feds clarify Clean Water Act guidelines/Sara Arkle, ICL
• Credit where credit is due/Idaho Conservative Blogger
• Did Rex Rammell tamper w/Idaho Falls Jury?/Dan Popkey, Statesman
• Gutsy call: Getting Bin Laden/Marc Johnson, The Johnson Post
• Hoffman's 'market solution' logic hits snag/Randy Stapilus, Ridenbaugh Press
• Otter, Salazar want gets to get outside more/Rocky Barker, Statesman

Question: Do you know much about the politics or politicians of other Northwest states?

The House has voted 48-21 in favor of HB 216a, the “pharmacist conscience” bill, after an hour-long debate. Rep. Sue Chew, D-Boise, who is a pharmacist, said, “This bill really makes things much more complicated for us in a world that’s already much too complicated.” Other opponents argued that the bill would hurt businesses, by forcing employers to stand by while a rogue employee denied people access to prescriptions left and right, offending customers and reducing the business’ profits. The objections could be to any medication, for any reason, though the bill was promoted by groups that oppose abortion and contraception/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here. How they voted here.

• Sunshine Law wins unanimous approval/Eye On Boise
• Idaho education cuts not deep enough/Adam’s Blog
• Does liquor bill water down laws against under-age drinking/Kevin Richert
• Dyson’s climate skepticism forces believers to test meddle/Rocky Barker
• Monday 3.30/Unequivocal Notion

Question: To you agree with the House vote on the ‘pharmacist conscience’ bill?