Parade? No, It’S Harassment

I ‘m a firm believer in the First Amendment. But I don’t think the U.S. Constitution defends the right of the Aryan Nations to destroy a resort town’s summer by marching downtown any time it pleases. The hatemongers exercised their free-speech rights by rallying in City Park and marching down Sherman Avenue on consecutive July weekends. The fact that Richard Butler wants to march again because he mustered only 18 followers for his July 10 “parade” is pure harassment. The city should reject his permit application for a Labor Day parade - and force Butler and his American Civil Liberties Union buddies to take it to court again.

At least one kid enjoyed growing up here

My college-age son would be surprised to learn that the Children’s Rights Council of Washington, D.C. has designated Idaho as one of the worst places in the nation to raise kids. He’s spending the summer in Oregon - and sorely missing North … Hey, didn’t you used to be a Major League Baseball umpires’ strike?

Hmm. Shaun E. Altman, 20, of Athol gets arrested twice for having consensual sex with a 14-year-old (her Daddy said it was OK) - and he gets probation? This, after Altman was ordered not to see the girl again? Yep, First District Judge Craig Kosonen is slapping wrists again. What do you suppose Daddy Dearest will get in this sordid case? A medal of honor?

Independents pass D’s on Dirk’s list

GQov. Dirk Kempthorne dissed Idaho Democrats, the Rodney Dangerfields of state politics, by naming two Independents and two fellow Republicans to the state F&G commission. That means the seven-member panel has no Democratic members now, for the first time since the 1970s. State D’s should have marched on the capitol in protest - all three of them … I couldn’t figure out why there are so many $30,000-plus sport utility vehicles in tourist-dependent North Idaho - until I saw a news story that said 40 percent of the U.S. lives beyond its means. In the old days, that was called, “keeping up with the Joneses.” I call it foolish living … Take your sweetie to Independence Point and watch the sun set one of these warm summer evenings. You can thank me later.