Shoshone Conservative: I've always wondered what happened to Otter in the last few years - as Congressman, he (along with Larry Craig, too, actually) was couragous in speaking out against the abuses of the Patriot Act (being the only Republican besides Ron Paul to vote against it), and did a fairly good job of trying to resist federal encroachment on State powers. He was on the Right Wing of the Republican Party, leaning toward libertarian, but he wasn't radical or a wingnut, either. Now, he reminds me of the Governor on the old TV show Benson. He's even gotten a FEDERAL Judge to swear him in as Governor both times, for Heaven's sake. He's gone from “maverick” (to use a tired cliche) to very much “establishment.”

Question: Has Butch Otter changed from his days as a maverick Idaho congressman?