Campaign ‘96

Peter Pan Politics?

The word “truth” was invoked more often than anything in a recent debate between U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth and Democratic challenger Dan Williams in Coeur d’Alene. And while both incumbent and challenger tried to portray themselves as truest to the truth, Chenoweth definitely walked away with the crown for the most flowery delivery. “I respect you enough to never twinkle dust you,” Chenoweth said. Tinkerbell, is that you?

Sparing no expense for justice

The Kootenai County commissioners made no move when they received a claim from Magistrate Eugene Marano for an $80 fountain pen. Instead they passed the bill to County Clerk Dan English, who, we hear, paid up. The other judges? Still using cheap ballpoint pens, we’re told. And the supposedly conservative commissioners? Apparently they are campaigning for the One Percent Initiative. Actions speak louder than words, after all.

Potty-sans politics

There’s the Democratic adage of a chicken in every pot and the Republican adage of a tax cut in every campaign promise. Bonner County’s one-upped them all. It happened at a recent candidates forum at the Oden Grange. Problem number one: It’s October and there’s no indoor plumbing. John Campbell, candidate for state representative, capitalized on the pottyless situation. “If I’m elected I’m going to Boise and lobby for a grant - for a bathroom,” he said in his closing statement. Hopefully state coffers are flush.

Pushy polling

Pollsters recently contacted a group of Kootenai County voters to inquire if they favored Republican Jack Riggs for the Idaho State Senate over incumbent Democrat Mary Lou Reed. If they answered Reed, the pollster hit them with something like, “would you vote for Reed if you knew that she votes against timber jobs?” That technique, in the old school, is called a push poll. The Kootenai County Democrats, of course, held a press conference on the matter and blame Riggs. Riggs says “no way” and his spending reports don’t leave any evidence. State Republicans also deny taking part. So would the real push pollster please stand up?

Strange campaign fellows?

Bud Mueller, candidate for Bonner County commissioner on the Republican ticket, may find things, well, ideologically conflicting at home. His wife, Carol, not only is a Democrat but she’s running the county headquarters. It gets better. The Democrats and Republicans are renting out space in the same building on Fifth Avenue in Sandpoint. Maybe they should just merge and declare themselves a third party?

This just in from Moscow … Idaho, that is

Idaho’s state Democratic Party chairman, Bill Mauk, is cranking up his media blitz to declare that the Republican National Committee is pumping way too much money into Idaho’s Legislative races. It’s just an attempt to buy many of the races, Mauk claims, in order to “create a Politburo of Republicans” in Idaho. His examples include the bucks going to defeat North Idaho Democratic Sen. Mary Lou Reed. Mauk is so serious about this effort he’s getting ready to have a press conference charging that the Republican races are largely financed by big corporations, the national committee and PACS. “This is not a campaign of little people,” he said. The only surprise? Mauk didn’t mention that vodka made from Idaho potatoes is gaining prominence. It’s even called Teton Glacier Potato Vodka. Fur hats anyone?

Web site of the week

If the campaign seems to be dragging on a few weeks too long and everything seems pretty nasty, take heart. There are hundreds of parodies, satires and humorous political sites listed on Yahoo, the ubiquitous search engine. Tap into them by typing http://www.yahoo.com/Government/Politics/Humor. And smile, there are only 16 days until the election.

, DataTimes MEMO: Campaign ‘96 is published regularly during the campaign season and is compiled by Ken Olsen from staff reports. To submit information on a political event or a question you want the candidates to answer, write us c/o The Idaho Spokesman-Review, 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. Or call Cityline at (208) 765-8811 on a Touch-Tone phone, then press 9893 to leave a message, your name and phone number.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Ken Olsen from staff reports