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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Trib: Not Your Father’s Idaho GOP

In his editorial today, Marty Trillhaase of the Lewiston Tribune harkens back 18 years when the Idaho Republican Party was led by such stalwarts as Phil Batt (pictured), Tom Boyd, Mike Simpson, Bruce Newcomb, the late Jerry Twiggs, Mike Crapo, and Jim Risch. Trillhaase appreciated their ethics and collegiality. That was then. Here's what he sez about the current crop of Idaho GOP leaders: "This is not your father's Idaho Republican Party. In the second decade of one-party rule, Idaho's GOP serves its own interests, not yours. It arrogantly dispatches questions about cronyism, ethical lapses and front-page embarrassments. The GOP brand has been tainted. Not enough to give Idaho's under-financed and poorly organized Democrats an opening to exploit. But that day is getting closer"/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. More here. (SR file photo by Jesse Tinsley)

Question: Are any current Idaho GOP leaders in the same mold as Phil Batt, Bruce Newcomb, and the late Jim McClure?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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