Idaho's primary is two months away. The general election is eight months off. Yet the just-closed candidate filing all but completes the Idaho Republican Party's purge of its moderates in the state Senate. Conservative excess once restrained by pragmatism will find its fullest expression yet in the 2013 Idaho Legislature. The only question now is who — if anyone — will rise to check it. For some time, the Idaho House has been a hotbed of right-wing radicalism, irresponsibly passing bills it knew — or counted on — the Senate would reject. If the U.S. Constitution could not discipline the House against attempts to defy the federal health reform act, the Senate could. If House members insisted upon enabling college students to carry concealed pistols into classrooms, dormitories and sporting events, the Senate would play the grown-up and say no. … Little by little, however, the moderate majority in the Senate eroded. It may have no more than a two — or even one — vote margin/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. More here.

Question: Trillhaase asks a good question: Who — if anyone — will rise to check the right-wing radicalism that has taken over the Idaho Republican Party?

Jonathan Parker, now executive director of the Idaho Republican Party, arranged a meeting between consultant Arup Patranabish and Idaho’s top purchasing official shortly after GOP Gov. Butch Otter took office in 2007. At the time, Parker was president of Idaho Young Republicans and a lobbyist for the Idaho Water Users Association. He is now a possible candidate to succeed GOP Chairman Norm Semanko should Semanko be elected Eagle mayor in November. Patranabish’s Boise company, AnalyzeSoft, has been disqualified from doing business with the state for one year because it allegedly double-billed the Idaho Department of Correction, charging $2 million for an inmate tracking system that remains incomplete. The disqualification period began in July/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here. (Jonathan Parker's Facebook photo)

Reaction?

Today marks the start of the trial in Federal Court between the Republican Party of the State of Idaho Vs. the Idaho Secretary of State. Say what? Yep, in Federal Court the GOP is suing  the Sec. of State for Idaho (who is a Republican). Yes. in a way, it’s like Mad Magazine’s old Spy vs Spy. … So what? It is a trial of huge perportions, because it is a trial the outcome of which will mold the future of the state — who will run for office, who will serve in office and what policies will be followed for education, for the sanctity of life, for spending and for so many other vital issues. It’s a big deal. Big enough to go to Federal Court/Dennis Mansfield. More here.

Question: Do you agree with the attempt by the state Republican Party to close primaries?

Dear Friend, As Chairman of the Idaho Republican Party, I need your help. The Idaho Republican Central Committee and I realize that we can always improve how we listen to our supporters, how we communicate our message to all Idaho Republicans and how we put our resources to work as we serve Idaho. We are here to reaffirm our Party’s core values; and we are looking for your input in ways to enhance those values. We want to ensure that we understand which are the most critical changes needed in our Party. We also want your ideas for the most necessary changes required to promote responsible government/GOP Chairman Norm Semanko, in e-mail to Idaho Press-Tribune newsroom. More here. H/T: Editor Vickie Holbrook.

• Vickie Holbrook’s response to Semanko SOS 

Question: Is Semanko jumping at shadows here? Obviously, the Idaho Republican Party continues to dominate state politics. What do you consider to be the party’s strengths? Weaknesses?