Ballot issues worth a yawn for one voter
My Amy Dearest, 18, voted for the first time last week, by absentee ballot. And she wasn’t happy. A University of Portland student, she complained that Kootenai County’s ballot was boring. “Oregon has all kinds of interesting things on the ballot,” she said, huffing. “My friends can vote on same-sex marriage. Medical marijuana. Reserving our forests for wildlife and recreation. Idaho doesn’t have anything.” Well, I replied, that’s not so. We have an advisory vote on our local option sales tax. Her yawn over the phone was audible. “What else?” she demanded. Ah, I ahhed, we voted on term limits quite a bit. And Indian gaming. Before she could yawn again, I blurted: “Well, at least we pump our own gas in Idaho.” Then, I screwed up the nerve to ask her the $64,000 question: Bush, right? She: “Of course.” That’s my girl.
Greater of 2 non-evils?
After wading through several hold-your-nose recommendations for election endorsements, I appreciated the note circulated by Grand High Editorial Page Poohbah Doug Floyd about six wannabes for three spots in southeast Washington’s 9th Legislative District: “It is striking how aboveboard and positive their campaigns are. Some of them carpool to candidate events.” May other campaigns take note … Sour Grapes: “I don’t know what Coeur d’Alene did. I felt we showed a strong case, not just for our community, but for the region” – Meridian Mayor Tammy de Weerd after Coeur d’Alene was selected as Idaho’s finalist for a potential $20 million community center, courtesy of the estate of Ray and Joan Kroc … Overheard, at Post Falls High by Post Falls Uncensored: Mr. Cossette: “Guess a number between one and five.” Student 1: “2.” Student 2: “4.” Student 3: “7.” Seems new math is still in vogue.
Scoring Points
Tyler Smith, the longshot student wannabe running for a North Idaho College trustee spot, scored points with 80 Kootenai County GOPers at a Central Committee meeting last week. While pitching his candidacy, he noted that the trustee position was nonpartisan and refused to ID his political leanings – other than to say he wouldn’t be voting for John Kerry. The herd of partisan Elephants trumpeted loudly … Since that’s the second Huckleberry today that leans toward Bush, I’ll even things out a bit with this bumpersnicker: “11-02-04: End of an error” … Readerboard (at Spokane’s 1st Assembly of God Church near Monroe): “Ballot instructions: 1. Pray, 2. Vote.” Sez the Berry Picker who spotted it: “Seems to me it could work the other way around, too.” Don’t let the IRS catch you, though.
Huckleberries
“Some vampires who prowl,/I think we should note,/Want more than your blood –/They are after your vote” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Spooks – 2004”) … TeeHee shirt message worn by a Post Falls High student: “Detention Getter” … Mike “The Last of the Idaho Democrats” Gridley and I will discuss boring – Amy’s word, not mine - Kootenai County elections with KVNI-AM (1080) newsmeister Dick Haugen at 8:20 this morning … Every election year, someone calls at the last minute and asks if s/he can get a political letter into the paper. Not to name names, but Marshall Mend should have known we’re swamped with letters and his chances weren’t good … Bocabeans Coffee Co. readerboard at Stateline: “Thou shalt not percolate thy coffee.” A clever Berry Picker added: “Must be a quote out of He Brews.”
Parting Shot
“Ever since I can remember,” sez Milt Nelson of Rathdrum, “the Argonne Street Bridge (in Spokane) has been in chaos due to the reconstruction effort. We’ve seen two or three bridges completely rebuilt/strengthened in downtown Spokane during this period – the most recent being the Freya Way job. Why is it that the Argonne Street Bridge is taking so long to get done? Is this a road improvement job or a career?” With local government jobs being lost by the dozens, who can blame the hard hats for dragging their feet?