Chenoweth Takes Debate To New Height

The congressman wore 2-inch heels this time. Yep. Incumbent “Give ‘em Helen” Chenoweth used her height advantage again Thursday when she debated 5-foot-11-inch Democrat Dan Williams in the S-R building in Coeur d’Alene. That’s 5 feet 9-1/2 inches of Helen, 2 inches of heels and a couple more of hair. Two years ago, she towered over Rep. Larry LaRocco when the two squared off. That was part of her strategy - image is everything in TV debates. And she made a visual impact that night with her height edge. In fact, someone from her camp tried to push the two lecterns closer together prior to the debate to highlight the difference. And someone - from LaRocco’s camp, I presume - pushed them back. Of such minor things are elections made.

The great debate

At least one Coeur d’Alene tribal official was happy Thursday after Our Miss Chenoweth had manhandled an Indian sovereignty issue. Spokesman Bob Bostwick said later that he no longer will have to explain why he gave Helen “The George Armstrong Custer Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award” last spring. Shoot, said Bob, U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., earned only “Indian Fighter of the Year.” … Fred Glienna pulled off a rare hat trick. He watched the presidential debate in three states during a 24-hour cross-country trip. Said Fred: “I felt like a politician - or a whiskey drummer.” … Reed Simpson requests, through cyberspace, a front-row seat to the first meeting when county civil lawyers Molenaar, Wayman & Smith try to explain planning law to fiery Chuck Sheroke. This before Chuck’s even elected Kootenai County commissioner.

Because you asked

An agitated Democrat assured me last week that the woman pictured on Northwest Boulevard billboards with U.S. Sen. Larry Craig isn’t wife Suzanne. Alas, she is, assured Craig aide Sandy Patano. And the potential for scandal passes. … By the way, Craig followed the outdoor lights to Barlow Stadium on Oct. 11 and was impressed with the unbeaten Sandpoint High School football team. So was Coeur d’Alene High School, the Bulldogs’ main course that night. … The joke making its way around Sandpoint following the arrests of three locals on bombing charges goes: “Say, did you hear they changed the sign coming into Sandpoint? Yep. It now says, ‘Welcome to Sandpoint. Have a Blast.”’ Onward.

Huckleberries

S-R reporters interviewing candidates routinely ask them why they’re running for office. Joe Blackburn, a Benewah County sheriff’s candidate, spoke for many wannabes when he responded: “I’m probably crazy.” … The headline on a news release from Attorney General Al Lance’s office startled me: “Lance Optimistic Idaho Will Keep Lake Coeur d’Alene.” Is someone trying to move it? … A headline in the Show-No News-Press of Kellogg announced Tuesday: “Beast exam clinic slated Thursday.” Do football husbands count? … A sign below the beer taps at the Ground Round on Government Way reads: “Free Beer Tomorrow.” … Hope Realtor Chuck Ryan was concerned when his child came home from soccer practice wearing a jersey bearing competitor Marshall Mend’s puss and the message: “Marshall Mend is my Realtor.” Ryan’s considering adding a note: “But Chuck Ryan is my Dad.” … Forget cars. If your group really wants to raise money, it should try doing what the American Vet Association did at the Wazzu campus recently: a dog wash.

Parting shot

Patti Sue Dotson wasn’t the only one offended when she found campaign literature under the flag of her Sagle mailbox. So was the U.S. Postal Service. Postmaster Linda McInturff advised Bonner County gendarmes it’s against federal law to put political fliers in or on mailboxes. But I don’t think this case is going any further. The fliers, you see, belonged to Bonner County Prosecutor Tevis Hull.

, 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