The referendum on Students Comes First will take place on the date of the general election, the first Tuesday of November, 2012. Word on the street is that John Foster has been tapped to lead the political efforts for Republicans against the initiatives, and in favor of leaving intact the draconian education reform legislation. John Foster is the former executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party. Foster is most notorious for his role as a staffer for Idaho's blue dog Congressman Walt Minnick, and leading Minnick's 2010 re-election campaign to an ignoble defeat. Since then, Foster has headed the office for a lobbying group./Sisyphus, 43rd State Blues. More here.

• More invaders in North Idaho waters/Susan Drumheller, ICL
• Idaho GOP presidential nomination caucus/Idaho Conservative Blogger
• Got $2000? Join 4 major wannabes on Idaho prez caucus ballot/Dan Popkey
• The politically undead walk among us, zombies who win the presidency/Dennis Mansfield
• Phil Hart is Idaho's gold standard for lunacy/Sean Riley, iSightonline
• Journo blog gives Idaho Press Tribune 15 minutes of uneasy fame/Kevin Richert
• The delicate dance of a former president/Marc Johnson
• 'High in the sunlit silence'/Political Game
• Idaho's big helicopter districts/Randy Stapilus

On Wednesday, the critics of the Students Come First education overhaul got what they wanted. And the plan’s stealth architect, State Superintendent Tom Luna, got what he deserved. Opponents said they have collected the 47,432 voter signatures necessary to put the three laws on the November 2012 ballot. The apparent success of the referendum drive — nearly two weeks before the deadline — illustrates that the Students Come First furor didn’t subside when the Legislature left town in April. Both the content and the process remain controversial/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: On Thursday, GOP Chairman Norm Semanko issued a press release that basically said he wasn't surprised that opponents of Superintendent Tom Luna's reforms were able to collect enough signatures to get three referendums on the 2012 ballot. Do you believe the Idaho GOP is unconcerned about the referendums?