Would He Feel This Way If The Tables Were Turned?

Surprise, surprise! Kootenai County Prosecutor Bill Douglas, a DEMOCRAT, believes Idaho law clearly sides with his fellow DEMOCRATS in nominating possible successors to the late assessor, Tom Moore. Never mind that Moore embraced Republicanism on his death bed so his job would go to the most qualified candidate, Deputy Assessor Mike McDowell, a REPUBLICAN. Ruled Bill: “It is my opinion that the duly recorded document entitled, ‘Declaration of Candidacy,’ is the only official designation of Mr. Moore’s political party recognized by Idaho law.” Blah, blah, blah. The key words here? “My opinion.” A prosecutor’s opinion carries less weight than an attorney general’s opinion. And an attorney general’s opinion isn’t law. It’d be interesting to see if REPUBLICAN Attorney General Al Lance agreed with Douglas. For some reason, I think Al would respect Moore’s dying wish. Call it a hunch.

Voters deny Senate seat to Daddies Warbuck

Money can’t buy you love - nor, sometimes, a U.S. Senate seat. Ask Mark Warner, Guy Millner and our own Walt Minnick. Democrat Warner spent a whopping $7,145,000 of his own money in his failed bid to defeat Sen. John Warner, R-Virginia. Republican Millner dumped $4,456,000 of his $100 million fortune in an unsuccessful try to claim the open seat vacated by retiring Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Georgia. Then, there’s Democrat Minnick, who pumped about $1 million of his own cash into his campaign against Idaho Republican “Lyin’ Larry” Craig (his term, not mine). Now, ordinary guys like you and me probably could think of other things to do with a million bucks. Like buy a new house. Or a BMW. Or see the world. That’s why it’s hard to feel sorry for these U.S. Senate wannabes. Anyone who’d waste $1 million to win a $133,600 job can’t begin to feel my pain.

9th Circuit too big, too off-the-wall

With the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in our back yard, it’s hard to respect judicial rulings from on high. First, with 28 judges, the court is too big. Then, its jurisdiction is too broad, taking in nine western states including Idaho. Finally, it’s too liberal. And too activist. During the 1995-96 session, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned rulings by the 9th Circuit 10 of 12 times, a whopping 83 percent failure rate. Don’t be surprised if the U.S. Supreme Court also rejects the 9th Circuit’s new-age ruling in a Washington case that gives terminally ill patients a right to die with a doctor’s help. Too bad we Inland Northwesterners don’t have a right to a better appeals court.

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