Creating chaos has made Dad mighty proud
It isn’t every day a father is proud of his son for being a propagandist. But ex-CdA Press editor Mike Feiler has a good reason to bust buttons about his offspring, John, who’s training Idaho National Guard troops at Fort Bliss, Texas. Make that Sgt. 1st Class John Feiler of Fort Carson, Colo., a combat engineer and Gulf War vet. John writes faux news releases on behalf of “Eljazeera” TV and others that’ll incite riots or quell unrest among local “Iraqi civilians.” The goal? The military wants to create scenarios to help soldiers prepare for the kinds of complex issues they’ll face in Iraq. Mike, now manager of Lutheran Community Services, provided samples of John’s work. Sez Mike, cheek firmly tongued: “Creating chaos, making up stories, complicating lives, confounding communities! Ain’t it great when a kid follows in his father’s footsteps?” Now, there’s something they don’t teach you in journalism class.
Hell to pay
The odds aren’t good, according to many of you, that late, not-so-great racist Richard Butler is enjoying the afterlife. “If God is a black Jew,” e-mails CdA’s Tom Hearn, “Butler may have some serious problems right now. I hope he is packing a lunch. He may be at the Pearly Gates for awhile and likely has a lot of explaining to do.” I’d place Tom in the optimist category … A reader of my blog (www.spokesmanreview. com/blogs/nhb) who calls himself The Edge speaks for the vigilantes: “I hope God gives Richard Butler Auschwitz” … Then, there’s The Bard of Sherman Avenue who couldn’t pass up the opportunity to offer his two pennies re: Butler’s death: “Now he and the Fuhrer/At last get to meet/And together complain/Of the unpleasant heat.” Burn, baby, burn?
Precious metals
In a superb column about Russia’s “9/11” last week, columnist David Bond of the Wallace Street Journal (silverminers.com) resurrected a quote from a friend: “In times such as these, there are only three precious metals worth owning: silver, brass and Winchester blue.” Adds David: “All else is froth” … Small placard in front of the 7-Eleven at Fourth and Best advertises two gallons of milk for $5 – or “one for $2.50.” Must be trying to sucker the tourists … CdA’s Mike Mahon, “the ninth caller,” thought it was too good to be true when he was offered two free tickets back stage to that recent Peter Frampton concert at the first Roar in Core motorcycle rally. And it was. Mike couldn’t find the KZZU contact person at the K-County fairgrounds. And settled for a booby prize – two free tickets to the Spokane fair. Not bad. But not exactly “Frampton Comes Alive.”
Huckleberries
On Thursday, I celebrated my 20th anniversary in CdA with The S-R. Don’t think I have another 20 years in me. But I’m still having fun. And there’s still a herd of oxen to gore. Onward … Isuzu Trooper license holder: “If you don’t like the way I drive, you should see me putt” … Poet’s Corner: “The yellow buses came today/And carried summertime away” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Back to School”) … The response of Hayden Mayor Ron McIntire, who owns Ron’s Super 1, upon hearing about the death of Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler? Ron: “He’s been a customer for a long time.” This time, the customer was wrong … “He still plays rec ball,” said a schmoozer from the second floor as he watched 50-something ex-Idaho Lt. Gov. Jack Riggs help Darrell Dlouhy remove a Moose on the Loose from the lawn in front of The S-R’s CdA building. “He’s a shameless gunner. He never passes the ball.” Ouch … Young Bonner County partiers had better find a new hangout. Authorities are wise to them climbing onto the roof of the Ponderay Wal-Mart to do their thing …After reading about that pot bust in the Burke Canyon, above Wallace, an office wag asked: “So, the B.C. in B.C. Bud stands for Burke Canyon?” Ah, try again.
Parting shot
Remember how Kootenai County D’s huffed when the R’s circulated that loopy bumper sticker dubbing John Kerry and Ted Kennedy as the “KK Klan”? Well, UI student Henry Johnston (from Sandpoint) Googled the words: “Bush” and “Nazi.” And found 443,000 documents containing both words. Now that Richard Butler’s pushing up daisies, both elephants and donkeys should consider the neo-Nazi rhetoric verboten.