Huckleberries:Sali sallies forth…

A funny thing happened to Republican Congressman-elect Bill Sali on his way to a meeting with fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill. He arrived a day early and at the wrong place – to the delight of a small group of Idaho Democratic bloggers. Everything was going fine after a prayer meeting until Sali asked the House Administration Committee for directions to the GOP get-together, reported Peter Bell/Congressional Daily. He was directed to room 345 in the Cannon House Office Building. Meanwhile, the partisans in room 345 were preparing to elect new majority leaders. If you’ll think back to the election results on Nov. 7, you’ll realize the problem Idaho’s future 1st District congressman encountered. The majority party is no longer Republican. He almost party-crashed the Democrat Caucus. But was prevented from doing so. A caucus spokesman told reporter Bell that Sali was treated cordially. Quoth he: “What’s the word … he was pleasantly redirected.” The Donkeys weren’t particularly helpful when “the goateed, conservative state legislator whose reputation for political combat preceded him to Washington” asked for directions to the Republican meeting. The Democrats claimed they didn’t know. Sali rebounded from the snafu by being elected president of the small Republican freshman class of 2007-08. Still, “Serephin” of the 43rd State Blues blog laments: “If (the Democrats) had only pointed Billy-boy toward the Potomac, we could’ve discovered if he can swim.” We’ll see soon enough whether Sali sinks or swims.