At Least It’s Sandpoint Smoke They’d Be Breathing
The cancellation of two Sandpoint Winter Carnival events provides another sign that Western civilization is in decline. The chamber of commerce can’t stage its polar bear plunge, without mountains of liability insurance, because (gadzooks!) someone might get hurt. And Sandpointers can’t open the carnival as usual by torching Christmas trees at City Beach because (drum roll please) the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality doesn’t want them to air pollute. Never mind that each fall Bonner County gags on all the second-hand smoke sent northward by Kootenai County grass growers. C’mon, cut the red tape. The mental-health benefits of a large community bonfire and carnival this dreary time of the year easily outweighs the pollution concerns of IDEQ party poopers.
North Idaho still on outside looking in
The whole Republican revolution last November was about change in the way government operates. But you’d never know that by listening to southern Idaho Republicans, who’ve controlled Idaho politics so long they’re drunk with power. Why else would they advise the six North Idaho GOP rookies to be seen and not heard during the 1995 session? Well, here’s a word of advice for House Speaker Mike Simpson, et al: We didn’t send our troops to Boise to do your bidding. Freshman state Sen. Gordon Crow of Coeur d’Alene set the theme for GOP victories in North Idaho during the campaign when he said: “We can no longer afford to send the unheard voice of the opposition to Boise.” Nor can we afford to send the unheard voice of supermajority party loyalists. Anyone for seceding?
3 dead, 2 wounded equals 12 hand slaps
Slap! That’s the sound of the FBI doling out punishment to 12 agents who mishandled the 1992 Randy Weaver standoff. Penalties handed down to the Dirty Dozen ranged from reprimands to 15-day suspensions. Sniper Lon Horiuchi, who blew away Vicki Weaver while she held her baby, got off scot-free. Well, maybe his conscience bothers him a little every now and then. U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, should follow through on his threat to call for a congressional hearing into this government snafu. It’s apparent now that justice won’t be served until someone other than the Justice Department looks into this tragedy.
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