Butch Otter isn't Sally Field or even Dirk Kempthorne ... and during these past four years of Butch's Administration it's seemed to me that Mr. Popkey has been pining for the"likable" Dirk-days of yesteryear. Like the young surfer wondering when Gidget would return, Dan's keyboard hums with a sense of sadness ... And I for one am extremely glad that Butch Otter's maturation as our Governor has been so public...even if it has been personally painful to me. Labeled a "back bencher" for his days in the '70s as a radical voice in Idaho politics, the older version of Butch has NOW been relegated to an ineffective "centrist". Not so. He's just growing up...and leading, not caring what people have to say about him. Otter's bite still leaves an imprint. Good or bad. He simply doesn't care if you "like" him or not. He has a job to do. I know. I've been the recipient of his bite at times over the years/Dennis Mansfield. More here.

Question: Do you agree with Dennis Mansfield that Gov. Butch Otter is growing up into an effective Idaho governor?