Herb: It is not difficult for me as a modrately conservative voter, to laugh at some of my own party's efforts at trying to convince the middle that they are not Republicans. It is clear, as it was when I resided in Orange County, California in the sixties, that extremism always stalks the edges of the Republican Party. In Orange County, it was the John Birch Society. Here, God only knows, but some of the same absolute garbage that was puked out in the sixties is still around, and around in both parties. ... I have always enjoyed the reparte of politics in the past, but currently and from both extremes, a meannest has surfaced. Instead of debating issues, we debate character. Instead of issue orientated discussion, we have a preface of personal putdowns.

Question: Is Kootenai County becoming as conservative as the old Orange County, California?