Mailbag: We Want … Jim Risch

JimmyMac: Is there anyway to keep this guy instead of bringing on Otter or Brady?

DFO: Risch certainly has made a good second impression in North Idaho. As his bad first one, I count his resistance in the Idaho Senate to Indian gaming against him, especially when he successfully gummed up the works for a gaming compact between the state and Indian tribes, in revenge for being passed over by Dirk Kempthorne for the lt. gov. appointment in favor of Jack Riggs. I don’t believe a leopard changes its spots. Risch is still Risch. However, that doesn’t mean he’s simply whispering sweet nothings to North Idaho now. He enjoys being governor. And I think that role has given him an opportunity, which he’s taking big time, to court the north. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, I believe, he’s setting the stage with his aggressive interim governorship and appointment of Mark Ricks as lt. gov. later today to win re-election easily and position himself for a future successful run for governor, possibly even against whoever succeeds him, if he stumbles at all. I and other SR editorialists will meet with Risch next Thursday afternoon. I’m not completely sold on him yet. But he has been a pleasant surprise so far.