Moscow senator endorses end-times author for Congress

Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, on Wednesday endorsed conservative activist and end-times author Michael Snyder, of Bonners Ferry, in Idaho’s 1st District GOP congressional primary, a race already crowded with a slew of better-known Idaho Republicans.

Snyder held a news conference on the Statehouse steps alongside Foreman to announce the endorsement, backed by eight sign-waving supporters. “I want to thank my supporters for coming from all over southwestern Idaho today on this cold Wednesday morning,” Snyder said. “Even though people acknowledged that I had a large national following, they thought, ‘There’s no way he can compete with the big boys.’ ”

Those “big boys” already running in the race include former Idaho Lt. Gov. David Leroy; former state Sen. Russ Fulcher, of Meridian; and current state Reps. Luke Malek, of Coeur d’Alene, and Christy Perry, of Nampa. Nick Henderson, of Post Falls, has also filed as a Republican. On the Democratic side, three hopefuls – James Vandermaas, of Eagle; Michael Smith, of Post Falls; and Donald Roy Miller, of Meridian – have filed to run in the race for the open seat that Rep. Raul Labrador is leaving to run for governor.

Foreman, an outspoken and combative conservative, said, “I’m honored and excited to offer my unqualified endorsement of Michael Snyder for Idaho’s 1st Congressional District seat. … I am proud to be associated with a man of such high integrity, moral fiber and courage.”

Foreman added, “I’ve heard the stereotypical comments: ‘He can’t win,’ ‘He’s too extreme, too radical.’ And I say to the folks, ‘Are you describing me or are you describing Michael Snyder?’ ” Snyder’s backers greeted that comment with appreciative laughter.

Snyder writes the “Economic Collapse” blog, and is the author of four books, including “The Rapture Verdict,” “Get Prepared Now: Why a Great Crisis is Coming & How You Can Survive It,” and “The Beginning of the End.”

While Foreman was speaking, perennial Idaho political candidate “Pro-Life,” who legally changed his name from Marvin Richardson, arrived and joined the news conference, holding a huge sign proclaiming, “Socialism is Collective Theft.”

Snyder said he plans to investigate his GOP rivals and “expose” them. “I have come to the conclusion that I am the only true conservative in this race,” he declared. “Every RINO has got to go.”

Oddly, some large and rather sophisticated-looking equipment was being set up on the steps as Snyder prepared for and held his news conference. It turned out to have nothing to do with him; Black Sage, a Boise business, had reserved the Capitol steps all day Wednesday for a rehearsal for its planned Feb. 21 demonstration of its drone-response technology.

Jack Hruby, director of government and defense operations for Black Sage and an Air Force fighter pilot for 21 years, said the demonstration will involve drones flying down Capitol Boulevard “like they’re attacking the Capitol,” and a demonstration of how those drones will be tracked and defeated through technological means. There won’t be any shooting, he noted.

Hruby said, “Ninety-nine percent of drones are for hobbyists, but there’s that 1 percent” of drones that are used for nefarious purposes, from dropping drugs and weapons into prisons to carrying explosives in Syria.

Hruby said Black Sage had no objection to Snyder holding his news conference despite their prior reservation of the steps; they planned to work on their rehearsal all day, he said.