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Huckleberries: The Great Opponent of Progress

Things are getting curiouser and curiouser in the uber-conservative attempt to overthrow Coeur d’Alene’s City Hall.

In a debate earlier in the campaign, GOPartisan Chris Fillios claimed his opponent, Amy Evans, was a self-described “progressive liberal.” (This, after she’d called him a nice guy.) Now, a transcript has surfaced on a North Idaho tea party blog containing the word-for-word comments by Evans at the monthly Progressive Dinner at Seasons restaurant in September.

During the dinner, Evans referred to the label hung on her and others who helped start Coeur d’Alene Education Partnership by uber-conservative newspaper letter writers: “progressive liberals.” Seems someone secretly recorded her comments (which is legal but doesn’t pass the smell test). But Evans’ detractors failed to provide the context of her comments.

The label didn’t offend her, she said: “because I do want progress in our community and I do want to move our community forward on things such as a new, wonderful library and public art and the education corridor and the Kroc Center. So to answer that part of your question – I was actually proud of that criticism and wore it with pride. If that’s what I’m labeled as.” Remember the good ol’ days when Republicans supported progress?

Unsinkable Kraliceks

Look up “indomitable” in the dictionary, and you’ll see a photo of Mike and Carrie Kralicek. Mike, as you recall, was the Coeur d’Alene police officer who was shot in the face and critically wounded in a Dec. 28, 2004, shootout with a fugitive. He remains disabled but not beaten. Last week, Carrie wrote on Facebook: “What has happened in my past is overcome by adding something good to it and this is why we continue to public-speak and teach others. What happened did just that – it happened. We don’t blame anyone – we choose to live and learn by understanding we are incapable of escaping being human.” Amazing.

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: “He’s a sadist/and a meanie – /Old Jack Frost killed/our zucchini” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Overnight Vegetable Crime”) … Upon learning that two Athol men had been arrested in that Sept. 22 drive-by shooting at a Coeur d’Alene apartment complex, a wag on the Huckleberries blog dead-panned: “Maybe they just didn’t know, I really don’t think this would be considered illegal in Athol.” … Now, Coeur d’Alene Councilman Dan Gookin is conjuring images of New York’s corrupt Tammany Hall (1865-71) in his social media discussion of the McEuen Field makeover: “The truth is that the park, and all the public money dumped into it, was to benefit key downtown property owners. We knew that all along; it’s just been confirmed. Check out George W. Plunkitt of Tammany Hall for a definition of ‘Honest Graft.’ ” In our last episode of the Devil and Mr. Gookin, the councilman said Coeur d’Alene was run by threats and intimidation. Can’t wait to hear what he comes up with next … Friday Scanner Traffic provided this slice of North Idaho paranoia: “Caller reports two suspicious, ‘Iranian-looking’ males, with stocking caps, in a silver Honda or Hyundai at the entrance to Farragut State Park.” The responding officer asked whether there was a problem – other than the caller being spooked by the men’s ethnicity.

Parting shot

Most of us know about Godwin’s law – the premise by Mike Godwin that the probability of a comparison to Nazis or Hitler approaches 100 percent as an online discussion grows longer. So what would you call the tendency by uber-conservatives running for office in ruby red North Idaho to slime opponents by invoking the name of President Barack Obama, no matter what the subject? Oliveria’s law? It has a nice ring.

Follow Dave Oliveria’s North Idaho blog, Huckleberries Online, at spokesman.com/hbo.

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