Minnick’s chances underrated

Demo Congressman Walt Minnick has been at the top of almost every political pontificator’s list as being vulnerable for defeat in a 2010. Now, Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza puts the Idaho congressman at the top of the list of vulnerable gubernatorial wannabes. Cillizza, of The Fix blog, says that the Democrats virtually have no chance of holding the governor’s seat in (drum roll, puh-leez) Wyoming. Quoth Cillizza: “Don’t be fooled by the election of Rep. Walt Minnick (D) last November. Wyoming is still rock-ribbed Republican country and without term-limited Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) on the ticket, this is going to be an almost impossible hold for Democrats. Minnick gets some mention as a possible candidate but he seems likely to revel in the House majority for the next two years. Beyond Minnick there is virtually no Democratic bench in the state.” Serephin of the 43rd State Blues blog had some fun at Cillizza’s expense before the blogger corrected his post: “Google Maps can save you from future embarrassments. Please note that Wyoming is that rectangular state to the lower right of Idaho, the state shaped vaguely like a pork chop whose borders were apparently designed by a surveyor on a two-month bender.”

Swing and miss

A boxscore that shows Babe Ruth had two hits in three official at-bats during a game in 1921 isn’t as valuable as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Corey Shamburg of CdA found that out when he asked a sports memorabilia answer man for the Redding (Calif.) Record-Searchlight about a discovery made by his brother recently. Brother Ken was dumping some construction waste in Shreveport, La., when he noticed wood debris in the trash pile. He investigated further and found some old newspapers in prime condition, including the 1921 New York Yankee boxscore with Ruth’s name in it. According to Babe Waxpack of the Record-Searchlight, the newspaper clip has value only as a conversation piece. In his column Sunday, Waxpack responded to an inquiry about the clipping from Corey Shamburg: “Alas, there’s not much of a market for complete newspapers,” Waxpack responded. “Single articles or clips really have no value. It’s more of a conversation piece, although it would probably look nice trimmed up, matted and framed with a photo of the Bambino.” Now, a 1921 baseball card of the great Bambino would be another story.

Huckleberries

Among the “10 Commandments of Driving” proposed by Editor Vickie Holbrook of the Idaho Press-Tribune (Nampa) are: Thou shalt not – go without a seatbelt; hold your cell phone or text; smoke/eat/watch videos/read/tend children while driving … To which Merry Huckster Cindy Hval added: “Thou shalt not sport annoying or obscene bumper sticker on your vehicle that causes me to tailgate in order to read it so that I can be suitably annoyed or offended” … Other “shalt nots” of driving from Huckleberries commenters: Thou shalt not occupy the passing lane at the speed limit” – Sisyphus … And: “Thou shalt get off my back and mind thine own business and stop telling me how to drive” Toadman … Factoid: 20 percent of fall freshman at the University of Idaho are failing – from the UI Argonaut. Factoid No. 2: University of Idaho to cut 80 faculty and staff positions – from Eye On Boise. NIC’s looking better and better, huh?

Parting shot

If you don’t read Huckleberries Online, you’re missing Scanner Traffic each weekday. Here’s a sampling of news you didn’t know from Tuesday: 10:04 a.m. Sunset Towing reports a rollover accident involving a Toyota Corolla on Millsap Loop, a half mile from Riverview. 9:49 a.m. Several motorists report that there’s a body under the I-90/McGuire Road/Post Falls overpass. 9:48 a.m. It’s snowing again. 9:33 a.m. A trucker is pulled over on the w/b off-ramp @ I-90 & Spokane/Post Falls. He has fallen, hurt his back, and can’t get up. 8:57 a.m. A dead horse is on the roadway on Hayden Avenue and Atlas, possibly with a blue tarp over it. 8:50 a.m. A homeless person, in a blue jacket and red pants, is sleeping under the overpass @ I-90 and Pleasant View. So what’s keeping you from reading Scanner Traffic and joining the fun at Huckleberries Online ( www.spokesman.com/ blogs/hbo)?