Bluster Just A Bit Overblown

A month late, Seattle’s United Front Against Fascism issued a news release touting its stand here against the third Great Hate Parade. And blasting the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations for urging locals not to attend. In the release, the anti-hate haters quote a protester: “Idaho’s civic and political leaders are aiding and abetting Butler and his ragtag collection of KKKers, women-haters, anti-Semitics, gay-bashers and xenophobes.” Who do you suppose these city slickers think shut down racist Richard Butler? (Hint: It wasn’t they.)

Moe did go

Now that Mayor Bill Moe has felt the wrath of perennially angry Spirit Lake - and been recalled - his mock survival kit will come in handy. It includes: a razor (to keep his wit sharp), hair polish (to protect the few remaining sprouts), Band-Aids (to heal wounds), alcohol hand wash (to wash his hands of the recall mob), Calgon bubble bath, Anusol (ah, next) - and cookies.

Overheard

Ray Giao of Hayden was leaving the polls at Hayden Meadows School when he saw friend Troy James. Ray: “Make sure you vote right, Troy.” Troy: “As opposed to left?” Being Idaho Republicans, both men, of course, voted right … Hey, Huckleberries doesn’t blame the faithful at Republican central for not serenading Sheriff Rocky Watson with “Happy Birthday” - what with the Florida flap going on and all. Then, Capt. Ben Wolfinger didn’t know the boss had turned the double-nickle on Election Day either … A friend in northern England asked Marge Winderman of The Bookery: “How can the richest nation in the world bugger up an election?” He then suggested we contact the United Nations for a team of advisers to oversee our elections. Ouch … Yeah, that was a Ryder truck with Florida plates pulling a trailer and car through town Friday - going west lickety-split. Can’t blame ‘em.

Judd slips noose

Before Election Day, Jerry Mote told Huckleberries that Judge Jim Judd was his next target. Mote, one of the ringleaders in the failed attempt to get Magistrate Gene Marano, is hosed that Judd didn’t send cop killer Scott Yager to the gallows. So are a lot of people, including the Huckleberry Hound. But Mote can fuhgeddaboutit. Judd plans to retire at the end of his term … At GOP central, Mote warned Councilmaniac Chris Copstead he planned to run an “ABC campaign” if Chris ran for re-election: Anyone But Copstead. This, against the CdA Chamber of Commerce’s volunteer of the year? C’mon … Marano was so humbled by his re-election he bought a snoozepaper ad “to thank the voters of this country” … The Hangin’ Judge lost 10 pounds during the stressful campaign …

Huckleberries

County Clerk Dan English reports that 877 of K-County’s 43,965 votes for president, or 1.95 percent, were disqualified. Yeah, for double punching. Also 236 didn’t pick any presidential candidate. There oughta be a “None of the above” option … Alas, Republican Trent Matson, Dick Hyneman’s son-in-law, won’t be going to Capitol Hill to enjoy January’s post-election hysteria. He lost to Democratic incumbent Brian Baird in Washington’s 3rd District … Any guesses when the U.S. Mint is going to produce a special Idaho quarter? How about 2007 - along with Montana, Washington, Wyoming and Utah? Councilmaniac Clay Larkin of Post Falls spotted that factoid on the Web … On a white Ford Bronco with Idaho plates in downtown Spokane: “NOTOJS.” Now, that’s milking an old joke … On a maroon Metro at Golden Dragon Restaurant in Post Falls: “Nice People Come in Small Cars” … So, when’s the Citizens for the (ahem) Right Community Center going to show us its plans? It’s been a year, boys … Davis Donuts got a call Friday suggesting that it change its readerboard from “If you don’t vote, don’t gripe” - to “If you don’t vote right, don’t gripe.” Bingo.

Parting shot

The third time was the charm for Gonzaga U. student Greg Stermer, a computer science major from Sandpoint. On Tuesday, he tried unsuccessfully to vote in his parents’ new town, Lake City. Then, he drove to the wrong poll in Sandpoint. Finally, he was directed across town to the right poll - and voted for Al Gore. If Gore’s Florida campaign had a few more determined voters like Stermer, Al’d be preparing his inaugural speech.