Gop Celebrates In High-Rolling, High-Tech Style

So, what’s the difference between Kootenai County Democrats and Republicans - besides basic philosophy? While the D’s scrounged for a TV set to watch election results Tuesday at the Iron Horse, the R’s gathered at Agency One and watched television and political Web sites projected on a wall. Also, they had wireless microphones - which allowed party leaders to point out significant results in stereo sound - plus a barbecue served by Rustler’s Roost. The Democrats settled for a small buffet - and a giant whuppin’. Indeed, money is the mother’s milk of politics.

Election reflections

On the other hand, Ada County Republicans weren’t as well-prepared, reports Our Woman in Boise. Seems a convention forced them into a ballroom at the Red Lion Riverside hotel about half the size of 1994’s gathering place. Horrified, GOP Chairman Ron McMurray ordered tables removed from the room. But the crush of bodies sent the room temperature soaring. Most of the faithful retreated to hotel hallways. … Our Woman in Boise also reports that McMurray and head Democrat Bill Mauk were upset that network TV projected U.S. Republican Sen. Larry Craig’s win before Idaho polls had closed. So was I. … By the way, while other candidates greeted their fans, Craig played hard to get in a Boise hotel room until the late news. So what else is new? North Idaho hasn’t seen him yet.

More reflections

So, whatever happened to Steve Massey, mild-mannered S-R editor who was foiled in his first try to buy a hunting license? He got his license. Then he bagged the election night pool by guessing the outcomes of all 16 featured races correctly. The deer don’t have a chance. … After waiting in line for 20 minutes at St. Pius Catholic Church, Coeur d’Alene High School instructor Eileen Bieber discovered she was in the wrong precinct voting place. As she walked out of sight, she muttered, “I would have known better if I’d voted in the primary.” … A tip of the cap to the fellow in the antique pickup who was picking up campaign signs along Northwest Boulevard at 11:45 p.m. election night. Based on the description of the pickup, I’m guessing it was Scott Reed.

Huckleberries

At the recent anniversary bash for Bayview’s Navy Acoustic Research Detachment, the science nerds flashed their sense of humor. Demonstrations included computerized records of such underwater sounds as humpbacked whales, cracking ice and the local legendary monster. So what does “The Pend Oreille Paddler” sound like? A loud, long gurgle. … Bumpersnicker on a new red Chevy pickup spotted on Fourth: “How’s my driving - http://www.byte.me.com.” … Hmmm. City cops should stop spotlighting deer in my part of Coeur d’Alene - or quit talking about it on the scanner. … Then there’s the 911 dispatcher who, upon hearing from a sheriff’s deputy that he’d found a dead elk, switched to the U.S. Forest Service channel. At that point, the dispatcher mentioned he had an extra elk tag and wouldn’t mind using it. (See advice in previous Huckleberry.) … Bumpersnicker on a van parked at City Hall: “Live your life so the preacher doesn’t have to lie when you die.” … When Gov. Phil Batt ordered all state institutions to tighten their belts, according to the University of Idaho’s Women’s Center newsletter, the collective response in higher education was: “Please send belts.” … A nice touch was added to the project next door when Larry Polin’s company placed a construction hat on the giant Paul Bunyan.

Sa-a-a-lute.

Parting shot

If Walt Minnick had run against “Give-‘em-Helen” Chenoweth instead of against Larry Craig, the Democrats would have won that seat. But it never was an option with him. At his endorsement interview in Sandpoint, I asked him why. Said he: “There’s too much grunt work to being a House freshman.” Besides, he said, it takes too long to build up seniority in the House. So spoke the Fortune 1000 Moses - before he led the children of Jackson and Jefferson into the wilderness for 40 years.

, DataTimes MEMO: Got a Huckleberry? Call the Huckleberry Hound hotline at (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125 or send e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria The Spokesman-Review