I Am Liberal

I found this blog at Liberal Idaho... the author began with "Hopefully this will ring true with many of you." Oh, yes, it DID. (Except for the part about the church... my PASTOR doesn't preach politics but many people in the church object to my beliefs and one person even requested my removal from our church... I strongly encourage others who consider themselves Christians to check out the links under "Jesus: The First Liberal".)

I am a rare breed in Idaho. I attend church every weekend. I have three kids and a dog. I work Monday through Friday at a small Internet software company. I love my wife. I have a college education and will pay for it over the next twenty years. So what's so rare about me? I have chosen to follow an ideology that is rare in my social circles and rare in our great State. I am liberal.

"I'm so glad God won this election," a friend said to me as I sat in our Sunday School room on a Sunday in the Fall of 2004. I cringed inside and thought to myself, "Oh how mistaken you are." You see, my church background is such that I was expected to vote Republican. Thankfully the church that I and my family attend does not preach politics from the pulpit, but it is assumed that everyone leans to the Right. Afterall, doesn't Jesus?

The answer is no, he doesn't, and he doesn't lean to the Left either. He cares for the plight of the disenfranchised and the causes of the needy and downtrodden. He cries out with the pain of the U.S. marine dying in a ditch and weeps the tears of the Iraqi mother clutching her dying child to her breast. His battle cry is not created in an election war room but is formed on the lips of a child as she sobs a prayer asking for someone to love her in her abusive world. He seeks to break molds, tear down walls, and destroy stereotypes. The Jesus I know sets people free - free from the dogma, the bigotry and the fear of the unknown. He leads me forward, opens my mind to new possibilities and grants me the opportunity to see others as I want them to see me - as a human being with the desire to be truly free and to be fully loved.

So you see, I am a liberal, not because of the way I vote, but because I have taken on the burden of loving, caring, and working to ensure that others can enjoy the freedom that I do.

SEMPRA coverage in the Times-News

I wasn't able to have a letter printed in the Times-News because I'd already had one published for February, but I still wanted to express my opinion to the editors about the recent coverage about SEMPRA. This is the letter I sent to Chris Steinbach, Editor.

While reading the articles, I realized the people in Texas were pleased about the economic benefit of their coal plant. The first thing that came to my mind is that they sold themselves (and their future generations) for a temporary economic "fix". They were obviously a poor rural area and were limited on options--maybe they didn't have any other choice but to prostitute themselves. However, to truly address the concerns of those of us who are protesting the coal plant, the reporter should have included opinions of health workers or scientists. The concerns expressed by many highly intelligent and experienced individuals here in the Magic Valley were NOT addressed by similar counterparts in Texas. The Texans interviewed were so happy by the green that they don't see the black. In each photograph, I looked for the coal plant in the background... not one picture included it. Was that deliberate or an oversight? As for our struggling economy, I believe we have intelligent and educated leaders in our communities who are researching new industries which will BENEFIT our economy, not destroy our air and water.

As for the local supporters interviewed in today's Times-News, I also lived in a home with a coal furnace. I don't know if it had "filters" or not, but I do know that we had many respiratory issues during the winter and I had to wash black residue off of the walls regularly. To think of similar smoke settling over our valley makes me very frightened for our future. I don't mean to be snide or judgmental, but surely that couple wasn't the best you find to find a "supporter" for the coal plant? Was it impossible to locate someone who was educated in science (water, air, ag science, whatever!) or economic growth/impact or ??

I will not pretend to understand how people measure impacts of certain toxins and pollutants on our water, air, soil, and health. However, it doesn't take a scientist to recognize that our society has been ignorant of the repercussions of toxins (whether related to dairies, fish hatcheries, nuclear power plants, etc.) in the past. Many of those who were not ignorant have unforgivably looked the other way in order to increase their profits. It is so difficult and expensive to clean up these messes (nuclear waste, damage to the water table and Snake River, air pollution, etc.). Usually by the time the public recognizes the need to repair the damage, the people who created it are long gone. We are cleaning up after our grandparent's decisions (whether through ignorance or deliberate... does it matter?) and our own grandchildren will have to clean up after us.

Right now pregnant women are told to limit their diet of fish due to the impact upon their babies from the mercury they will ingest. How can we blow off mercury pollution when we already are aware of this impact? Pollutions and toxins are being researched to see how they've impacted the high rate of learning disabilities, autism, attention deficit disorders and more. How can we in good conscience approve this plant with the knowledge we DO have at this time? We should learn from the past and not repeat our mistakes.

Personally, I would prefer that before we consider allowing another toxic industry in Idaho, that we finish cleaning up the nuclear waste that has built up over the years. One toxic mess at a time, for the sake of our children.

"Spittin' In The Snake"

Check out "Spittin' In The Snake"--a blog filled with wonderful and intelligent writings!

Bumper Stickers

I needed a chuckle! I checked out Peter Hansen's website today (I haven't been there for a while and needed to catch up) and found a great link. The title alone made me laugh (and cry!):

"Of Course It Hurts;
You are Being Screwed
by an Elephant"

Needless to say, I had to look into it! I discovered that the link refers to bumper stickers and how someone once said, "if you are going to get an idea across to Americans, it has to fit on a bumper sticker."

Unfortunately, I believe that to be true... that is the only way I can comprehend how so many Americans still think that my brother died to keep America free, to save us from terrorists, and as revenge for 9/11. (If you didn't know, my brother was killed in IRAQ... not Afghanistan.) Bush cannot say anything sensibly using words that aren't printed in "My Pet Goat", so he doesn't have to work hard at "dumbing it down" for the general population of Americans. And they slurp it up like Jell-O pudding. No chewing required.

But, anyway, back to Bumper Stickers... despite the critical words I said above, there are still bumper stickers that make me laugh! I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours!! (And if you like bumper stickers, you can even buy a book called "Actions Speak Louder Than Bumper Stickers"!)

Slower Minds Keep Right

Police State:

Coming Soon to a Democracy Near You

My Kid is an Honor Student;

My President is a Moron.

Paris for President!

(She's smarter than Bush.)

The righteous were wrong

in Jesus' time, too.

Jesus was a liberal.

Now, what was your point?

GOP does not spell GOD.

Don't Blame Me!

I didn't vote for his father either.

ELECTION 2004

Never underestimate the power

of stupid people in large groups.

Doing my part to piss off the radical right.

What exactly are the conservatives
CONSERVING?

CHRISTIAN by CHOICE.

Democrat by the grace of God.

Drink Liberally!

One of my frustrations about being blue in a red state is the lack of people who I can talk to...

I get most of my interaction with other blues via e-mail and blogs, such as this one and Red State Rebels and the others on the list along the right side of your screen. (Under Idaho Dems: UNITE! )

I just learned about a group in Boise that sounded like fun. It's called "Drinking Liberally". As I looked into it, I realized it is a NATIONAL organization. Basically, people get together to have a drink and discuss liberal thoughts, concerns, and issues.

For the folks who live in my area... what do you think? Would you be interested? Do you think we could get one started? I was thinking that we could meet at Rowdy's on Thursday nights and have a pop or a beer? Even though some of the groups I looked into really do drink, too many of us around here don't, so I wasn't crazy about the name... but I think that we can live with it, especially since we would then have the support and identification of the national organization. It's not like anybody is going to FORCE you to drink alcohol!! Tell me what you think!!

As for those of you who live elsewhere, I included a link for starting your OWN chapter over on the right as well! (Under TAKE ACTION)

Ten months out...

I think I've found a new blog that I will enjoy: Thoughts from Idaho

I found a US map that shows our "colors" ten months prior to the next election. Sadly, most of Idaho still thinks Bush is doing a good job. On a happy note, the rest of America seems to notice that the Emperor isn't wearing any clothes!

Fellow Idahoans, I don't care if you are a Democrat or Republican or an Independent or a Martian... we MUST start talking about what is going on. We MUST start educating our fellow Idahoans. We cannot afford to continue going in this direction...

What's wrong with this picture?

Okay, I'm not proud of my reaction... it was insensitive and heartless... but I couldn't help but begin laughing hysterically when I heard on the news about Cheney filling his millionaire friend's face with peppershot in Texas this weekend. I mean, it isn't like Cheney hasn't been taking potshots at American citizens for how many years now? And one of his buddies forgot to ID himself and Cheney pulled the trigger. Oooops!

After I caught my breath and started paying attention to the newscast, a little snippet stood out. It seems that Cheney, God bless him, has his own medical team that goes wherever he goes... even hunting for quail!

Wait... my family doesn't even have insurance but Cheney has his OWN personal medical team? I want to know who is paying for this!! If it is coming from our taxes, then I want an explanation!

UPDATE: Now people are discussing Cheney's blaming the victim, how the incident was publicized, Cheney's 70 kill count for the day (um, can we spell OVERKILL?), and his lack of legal stamp.

Maybe this incident will be the poster child of how this administration is:

• unable to take responsibility for its actions,
• how it lies and avoids accountability to the American public,
• how greed is the driving motivation behind its actions,
• and how it thinks it doesn't need to follow the same laws as we do.
  
  Other links re: this incident:
  Red State Rebels: Still More Fun With Dick
  All Hat/No Cattle: Guns Don't Shoot People... Cheney Does!
  TIME Magazine: The Man Who Dick Cheney Shot (and other articles)
  
  
  Since I know I won't get an explanation that will make me feel better, how about sharing our favorite jokes about the incident?
  
  
  

On sale! T-shirt riddled with holes that says:
"My Lawyer Went Hunting With Dick Cheney And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt!"

..."no wonder he got five deferments from VietNam."

Flip Flop?

Senator Brent Hill replied to the letter I sent the Senate. He stated that

"... I am committed to let the people of Idaho make a decision as important as this one."

At first I thought, "How nice, he CARES what Idahoans want..." but then something in the back of my mind kept knock, knock, knocking...

Didn't Idahoans vote for term limits in 1994 and in 1998? Didn't our legislators fight against it? Didn't they repeal OUR vote in 2002? Hmmm... was Senator Hill (who wants Idahoans to make our own decisions for what we want in Idaho) one of those legislators who did NOT support what Idahoans wanted in Idaho back then (when we wanted something that wasn't in his own interest)? Gee...! He WAS!! I guess its been a long three years and he's forgotten? Or thought we had forgotten?

Here is a basic summary of how Idaho legislators respect the opinion of the people (or "See How Our Legislators Abuse Their Power"):
{I'm open to corrections if any of this is incorrect!}

In 1994, Idaho voters instituted term limits through a voter referendum. The measure passed with 59% of the vote.

Stunned, lawmakers put the measure on the ballot again in 1998. Despite a brutal campaign of political rhetoric and lies, the Idaho voters reaffirmed the measure with 54% of the vote, in favor of term limits.

Not to be dissuaded, lawmakers sued to overturn the term limits in 1999, on the grounds that term limits unconstitutionally denied voters the right to suffrage. The Legislature won their lawsuit, and term limits were struck down.

The decision was appealed to the Idaho Supreme Court, which ruled that the term limits law was indeed constitutional, and term limits were upheld.

Just days after the Idaho Supreme Court affirmed the term limits referendum, the Legislature drafted a bill to override the term limits.

Naturally it passed, and term limits were repealed.

Enter the Governor. The Governor sided with the will of the people, and vetoed the legislation. Term limits were upheld.

Within 36 hours, the Legislature overrode the Governor's veto. Term limits were repealed.

Down but not out, the citizens of Idaho have put a referendum on the 2002 ballot to restore term limits AGAIN.

However adding insult to the Idaho voters, the legislature used taxpayer
dollars to fund a misinformation campaign, and thanks to confusing wording on the ballot referendum (a "no" vote meant "yes"), term limits were defeated at the ballot box.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
My own District #25 Senator Stennett and Representative Jaquet RESPECTED THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE and voted "NAY"!! REMEMBER THIS if the majority of the Idaho legislature decides to actually respond to the will of the people regarding term limits... because we can still WRITE IN!!!

You need to know who the current Representatives and Senators are who NOW declare that "YES!"-- they believe Idaho citizens should decide for themselves regarding same-sex marriages-- but OVERTURNED our previous demand for TERM LIMITS previously...

HOUSE Representatives who repealed the vote of Idahoans:
Barraclough, Barrett, Bedke, Bell, Black, Block, Bradford, Clark, Collins, Crow, Deal, Denney, Eskridge, Field(13), Field(20), McKague, Moyle, Raybould, Schaefer, Shepherd (8), Stevenson, Trail, Wood, Mr. Speaker
{Contact info HERE. Contact your Representative and see if they can explain this inconsistency. Of course, those of us in District #25 can just send our thanks to Representative Jaquet for respecting the will of the people!!}

SENATORS who repealed the vote of Idahoans:
Andreason, Brandt, Bunderson, Burtenshaw, Cameron, Darrington, Davis, Geddes, Goedde, Hill, Keough, Lodge, Richardson, Schroeder, Stegner, Williams
{Contact info HERE. Contact your Senator and see if they can explain this inconsistency. Of course, those of us in District #25 can just send our thanks to Senator Stennett for respecting the will of the people!!}

Does anybody want to take a WILD guess as to how many Democrats are on this list?????? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

{See House Bill #25 here.)

More about how our State Legislature respects the will of the people...

From US Term Limits

"Idaho voters passed term limits on their legislature, statewide officeholders and local officeholders in 1994 by 59% of the vote. In 1998, the legislature placed an "advisory" question on the ballot, asking voters to reaffirm their support of term limits. Voters did so. In 2001, state and local office holders sued Idaho voters in a case that made its way to the Idaho Supreme Court, where the court ruled term limits constitutional. In February 2002, the Idaho Legislature ignored the vote of the people and became the first state in the nation to repeal their term limits law." (Emphasis mine.)

From National Conference of State Legislatures

"Idaho made history today, becoming the first state to repeal term limits. The governor vetoed the bill, but the Legislature overrode the veto on a vote of 26-8 in the Senate and 50-20 in the House. Idaho lawmakers said they felt that term limits proponents had been dishonest in their campaign to impose term limits, and that voters didn't get fair information about the real consequences of term limits."

(Can we use this excuse to repeal an initiative for a ban on same sex marriage? I don't think it's fair to pretend that Idaho chooses this ban to support "family values"... that is DISHONEST. It's bigotry and homophobia in its simplest form.)

Top Ten Lousiest Excuses Used by Idaho Legislature to Overrule the Will of the PEOPLE
Here are the top two... check out the full article for the rest... it's funny!

#2 The 1994 Idaho Term Limits Initiative media campaign was bought with money coming from outside the state of Idaho.

FACT: So are most of our legislators. Sounds as if you are suggesting the people can be bought, but elected officials can't.

#1 The legislature is on an equal footing with the people and has the power to override a citizen initiative.

FACT: In Luker v. Idaho, (1943), the Idaho Supreme Court held that the legislature and the people are on equal footing. The legislature has the power to override an initiative because of this. It is pointed out in this court case, and many others, that there are legitimate reasons why the legislature has this power. Citizen initiatives may be constitutionally unsound or statutorily or fiscally impossible. However, the 1994 Term Limits initiative has been found to be sound, both constitutionally, and statutorily. Although the legislature has the POWER to repeal an initiative without legitimate reason, they do NOT have the moral authority. To do so is an ABUSE of power.

Family Values? Or Homophobic?

To Idaho Senate Committee on State Affairs,

As Idaho's government considers putting a ban on same-sex marriage, I hope that we also consider other laws which will also be needed to protect our "family values" in Idaho.

What is the current status of laws against adultery? How many are arrested each year and what is the average prison sentence? If we started throwing adulterers in jail, perhaps they would think twice about cheating next time and we'd have fewer divorces, fewer single parent families, etc. That would be GOOD FOR IDAHO'S FAMILIES!

We also need to beef up the laws which are designed to enforce the payment of child support because we all know that many noncustodial parents are not current with their support. We should develop a registry of delinquent parents and have their pictures printed in the newspapers. If we started punishing those who do not support their children, then maybe the rest would either make their payments or maybe even stay married! That would be GOOD FOR IDAHO'S FAMILIES! (We need to also SEVERELY punish the employers who "pay under the table" so the State can't catch them.)

We should also start punishing all individuals who conceive babies out of wedlock. Oh, and also, according to the Bible, divorce is prohibited unless it is based upon immorality--so let's repeal any laws allowing no-contest divorces. Jesus said that,

"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

(Mark 10) So we've got a lot of Idaho men and women we need to prosecute as well. That would be GOOD FOR IDAHO FAMILIES!

Let's close our bars because drunkenness is not in the best interest of our families either. No more Playboy magazines and porno channels via our satellite... let's make it against the law to have any sexual references on our local channels as well. Let's clean up Idaho and make it a FAMILY VALUE state!! That would be GOOD FOR IDAHO FAMILIES!

Obviously, you know I'm being sarcastic... but if Idahoans are not truly just being "homophobic" but REALLY want to have our laws protect our "family values", then let's at least be consistent!!

{Internet favorite, originally "written" to Dr. Laura, altered to fit Idaho's legislature.}

Dear Idaho:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them.

1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual cleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

A proud Idahoan,
"Spud"

Politicians, please PRIORITIZE!

The State of Idaho is one of many who keep trying to make it illegal for same-sex marriage. My friend Julie at Red State Rebels provided an update about current activities at the state level as well as an address to send letters. This is just MY opinion but I wanted to share. It is important that we protect the freedoms for ALL, because some day "them" may be "us".

If you wish to send your own letter, go to Red State Rebels and see what the "latest" info is, or just e-mail the committee (AND your own reps).

To: HSTA@house.idaho.gov
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 10:08 AM
Subject: Marriage definitions etc.
To Whom It May Concern:

I would really like to know why our government officials are spending so much time, energy, and money on attempting to prevent marriages between gays and lesbians.

Is this REALLY a threat to our morals and sensibilities? Is this the BIGGEST threat to Idaho families and children? To have two adults allowed to officially declare their commitment to each other?

If this is a religious issue (you know, because you think God won't approve or the Bible says "no" or something), then leave it up to the churches to make their own decisions. That is not the business of our government--let churches reinforce God's instructions. Or are you planning on following through on many of the other biblical instructions as well? Because I know quite a few people who have committed adultery, if you want to start throwing them in jail or something.

If this is not a religious issue, then what is it? It cannot be because you truly believe that Idahoans cannot handle the concept of two men or two women being married to each other, could it? We seem to be able to handle "dial 1-800 to flirt" commercials, sexual and pornographic magazines, etc. Please, if you really want to protect Idahoans from "filth", eliminate all of the sexual entertainment/advertisements/etc. which advertise and sell sex without love or commitment before you start attacking adult Idahoans who wish to declare their love and commitment to each other. I find it much more offensive to have "Girls Gone Wild" commercials thrust at me in my home than I would if the two men living next door to me were married.

Actually, I would prefer more adults start celebrating and valuing love and commitment. I think that it would be awesome if Idaho could stand up and say "As Idahoans, we celebrate individuals who honor their commitments and promises." It seems that society is so full of people who steal, cheat, lie, and take advantage of their positions, that it is asinine that our government would spend so much time and energy to prevent a segment of our population making their own commitments to another human being.

Speaking of love and commitment... two same sex adult partners getting married is not a threat to our family lifestyles in Idaho. It's the unbelievable amount of single parents usually women) in Idaho. It's the noncustodial parents who are not paying their child support. It is the struggle to jump through the hoops for what assistance IS available for our working poor and then to find out that your income is $48 over the limit and you aren't qualified after all. It is the poor families who have to live in substandard housing because Idaho does not enforce its own State Codes. We may have low unemployment rates here in Idaho but that says more about the qualities of hardworking Idahoans than it does about the quality of jobs available. People are working for low wages, no benefits, more than one part time job, and they still can't make ends meet. How can same-sex marriage be more offensive than the knowledge that CEO annual incomes have gone up 1000% in the past 20 years? If minimum wage increased at the same rate as CEO incomes, it would be $23/hour! Now THAT should be something to spend your attention on!!!

So why are you spending so much time about this marriage thing? As public servants for the people of Idaho, are you really acting in the best interest of the citizens? Do you not have other areas of concern that could benefit from your time and energy and our money? Please focus our resources on solving problems like teacher's pay, senior citizens in poverty, the war on drugs, health care, employers who pay living wages, water issues, handling the state's population increase in the schools/roads/etc..

When you have all that taken care of and you have extra time and energy, then you can go back to trying to prevent gays and lesbians from legally and officially making lifelong commitments together, if you still really think that is important. Personally, I think that people are just having knee-jerk reactions to loud vocal Christian Conservative agendas.


P.S. If you REALLY want to govern in a Christian manner (again, I'm assuming that the bias against same-sex marriage is based on religious aspects), may I recommend the guidelines from the National Council of Churches (USA)?

Sen. Larry Craig croons for... ALITO?

As usual, I find the greatest stuff at Julie Fanselow's blog, Red State Rebels. She is able to locate and share information that isn't available via Idaho mainstream media... such as Senator Craig's lovefest over Judge Alita, Bush with Spuddy (includes a caption contest... the entries thus far are HILARIOUS!), and more. Bookmark her site and check back often!

Dirty little secret?

There is a column by Maureen Dowd in today's Times-News which included something that surprised me... I thought for sure that she had to be making it up!!

So I did some Google research (they are coming to take me away, ha ha!) and actually found documentation that proved that Ms. Dowd wasn't "telling stories"... it's TRUE! It's even listed in her bio at Wikipedia!

Lynne Cheney's Lesbian Sex Novel
If you look around hard enough on the Web you find some humorous stuff. Everyone knows that our Vice President, Dick Cheney, has a lesbian daughter, Mary, about whom he rarely speaks openly even though the poor girl has to work for his re-election committee. But did you know that Dick’s wife Lynne, wrote a sizzling western novel called “Sisters” which is filled with hot, steamy stuff like lesbian love, prostitution and rape, and supports a sweeping pro-feminist agenda?

“Sisters” was penned in 1981. It’s hard to find a copy today, but Amazon says they will give it a shot for you if you want a copy. [Download your FREE copy HERE.] Like most of the indiscretions of the Bush administration that they don’t want you to know about, “Sisters” will be kept from public scrutiny wherever possible.

P.S. From the excerpts I've scanned and from reading the "reviews" of others, it's probably being kept secret because it is poorly written!

Kempthorne responds...

I’ve received a response from the governor regarding my opinions about alternate ways to assist Idahoans with the increasing costs of energy.

Kempthorne states he wants to help "every resident in the State of Idaho". His mindset must be that families who are building 6000 square foot homes and bringing home six-figure incomes need their $50 as much as those who live in 50+ year old homes and don’t even have health insurance.

He also stated he has established a “clear path” to set aside monies for the future (whose future? children? educators? seniors? Idahoans in poverty? WHO?) and invest in infrastructure. I admit to my mental limitations, because the only thing clear to me is if Idahoans get warm and fuzzy with $50 refunds, then maybe we won’t notice where the rest of the surplus monies go. Am I the only one who isn’t “clear” on his “path”? Am I the only one who struggles with faith in our government’s decisions on how they spend our money?

He also stated that by putting this money back in our hands, we can "control its destiny"... what control do we have if we pay it right back to Idaho Power, Intermountain Gas, and put it in our fuel tanks? That doesn't help us for very long at all. It only helps the CEOs of those corporations. The families who suffer most will continue to suffer after their $50 per person has been spent.

He states people can get assistance for rising energy costs by going to Community Action. Does he not realize that Community Action Agency has such limited funds that they are not able to help all of the families who are considered low-income? Families who ARE eligible to have Weatherization Assistance are on waiting lists for YEARS because of the lack of funding. Ten percent of Idaho citizens live in poverty... but Kempthorne wants the remaining 90% benefit from his plan. Who needs help more? (He must realize low income residents aren’t as likely to vote as the rest of the Idahoans…)

Kempthorne closes by telling me that if I "believe that the money is better spent in another area", I can donate it to whatever cause or charity I choose.

Well, Mr. Kempthorne, I "choose" to have my government cut out the "middleman" and take care of our neediest residents to help them meet their energy costs.



If you want a copy of Mr. Kempthorne's letter, e-mail me and I will send it to you. SUBJECT: "Kempthorne" so it doesn't get confused with spam!

Horse Sex Porn Candy Teens!

I can just picture us Googling "hot topics" and having a swarm of men in black suits invade our homes... Maybe if they needed to increase the numbers of homefront security personnel, they might decide to bring some of our military home from Iraq? It would be worth it!
-drp

Inside! Fresh Google search terms to confound Dubya and the FBI. Also: Is Bush a fascist?
By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist
Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Attention, all who are reading this column right now, please put down your drink and leap up off the couch and put your pants back on and log in to Google and type the words "hot bunny terrorist fluffer banana" into the comely and world-beloved Google search engine. Do it. Do it now.

Oh no wait, make it "Osama butt pancake lube explosives yay." Or better yet, try "homemade nuke porn lollipop kiddie nipple bomb!!!" (Be sure to include extra exclamation points because as we all know, Dubya isn't the brightest of presidents and these will add zing and personality to your entry and make your
search terms -- the very ones the Bush administration is right now subpoenaing the Google corporation to gain access to -- really stand out to the FBI and the Department of Justice, which are always in need of a little zing).

It shall be a mini-movement. It shall be called "Operation Screw With the DOJ and Make Lynne
Cheney Squirm." It shall be a big national gigglefest as we watch George W. Bush's gummint work to force and coerce the search engines of the nation to turn over their massive logs of search terms, all in an effort to see what perverted and criminal-minded people like you are really searching for, and sure you can defend yourself and claim it's pictures of Brangelina or recipes for blood orange/vodka body shots or just what the hell is wrong with Samuel Alito to make him look so wan and malicious, when we all know you're really looking for, of course, massive amounts of porn. And so are your kids…

BushCo's latest move against the citizenry is indeed a new and disturbing salvo, sending a shiver down the spine of civil rights proponents everywhere. Are you concerned? No?

Then try this: Simply couple this latest move with BushCo's outright love and defense of torture, along with Dubya's recent enthusiastic declaration that his team of flying monkeys has been secretly wiretapping whomever it wants in this nation for the past four years without any sort of warrant and, well, you've got yourself one hell of a big sticky taste of happy neofascism.

What, not enough? Fine. How about how Bush's insane rate of issuing those now-infamous "signing statements," those little firebombs of judicial misprision wherein your mumbling president gets to reserve for himself the right to ignore any law he signs -- yes, any law he desires: anti-torture, surveillance, you name it -- whenever he feels like it, if he deems that law
unconstitutional. Screw Congress. Screw the system of law. And screw, well, you…

Want to know if the government is spying on you?

Use www.FOIArequest.org to find out.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), anyone has the right to request information from the government. Last strengthened by Congress in response to the Watergate scandal, FOIA gives citizens a way to demand transparency from the Bush administration -- and take the government to court if necessary.

The Bush administration is trying to keep the details of its illegal domestic surveillance program under wraps, even refusing to say how many Americans they've eavesdropped on. Many Americans -- especially those with family and friends abroad -- are wondering whether government agents have been listening to their phone conversations or reading their email.

If you're worried this has happened to you, People For the American Way has created a new tool: www.FOIArequest.org

You can file a Freedom of Information Act request quickly, accurately, and easily.
We can't guarantee that the Bush administration will disclose all this information in compliance with the law, but we can help you through the process. By filing a FOIA request, you will send a strong signal that American citizens believe in the rule of law and aren't afraid to stand up to the President when he violates the Constitution!

The New Red, White and Blue

The New York Times January 6, 2006
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

As we enter 2006, we find ourselves in trouble, at home and abroad. We are in trouble because we are led by defeatists - wimps, actually.

What's so disturbing about President Bush and Dick Cheney is that they talk tough about the necessity of invading Iraq, torturing terror suspects and engaging in domestic spying - all to defend our way of life and promote democracy around the globe.

But when it comes to what is actually the most important issue in U.S. foreign and domestic policy today - making ourselves energy efficient and independent, and environmentally green - they ridicule it as something only liberals, tree-huggers and sissies believe is possible or necessary.

Sorry, but being green, focusing the nation on greater energy efficiency and conservation, is not some girlie-man issue. It is actually the most tough-minded, geostrategic, pro-growth and patriotic thing we can do. Living green is not for sissies. Sticking with oil, and basically saying that a country that can double the speed of microchips every 18 months is somehow incapable of innovating its way to energy independence - that is for sissies, defeatists and people who are ready to see American values eroded at home and abroad.

Living green is not just a "personal virtue," as Mr. Cheney says. It's a national security imperative.

The biggest threat to America and its values today is not communism, authoritarianism or Islamism. It's petrolism. Petrolism is my term for the corrupting, antidemocratic governing practices - in oil states from Russia to Nigeria and Iran - that result from a long run of $60-a-barrel oil. Petrolism is the politics of using oil income to buy off one's citizens with subsidies and government jobs, using oil and gas exports to intimidate or buy off one's enemies, and using oil profits to build up one's internal security forces and army to keep oneself ensconced in power, without any transparency or checks and balances.

When a nation's leaders can practice petrolism, they never have to tap their people's energy and creativity; they simply have to tap an oil well. And therefore politics in a petrolist state is not about building a society or an educational system that maximizes its people's ability to innovate, export and compete. It is simply about who controls the oil tap.

In petrolist states like Russia, Iran, Venezuela and Sudan, people get rich by being in government and sucking the treasury dry - so they never want to cede power. In non-petrolist states, like Taiwan, Singapore and Korea, people get rich by staying outside government and building real businesses.

Our energy gluttony fosters and strengthens various kinds of petrolist regimes. It emboldens authoritarian petrolism in Russia, Venezuela, Nigeria, Sudan and Central Asia. It empowers Islamist petrolism in Sudan, Iran and Saudi Arabia. It even helps sustain communism in Castro's Cuba, which survives today in part thanks to cheap oil from Venezuela. Most of these petrolist regimes would have collapsed long ago, having proved utterly incapable of delivering a modern future for their people, but they have been saved by our energy excesses.

No matter what happens in Iraq, we cannot dry up the swamps of authoritarianism and violent Islamism in the Middle East without also drying up our consumption of oil - thereby bringing down the price of crude. A democratization policy in the Middle East without a different energy policy at home is a waste of time, money and, most important, the lives of our young people.

That's because there is a huge difference in what these bad regimes can do with $20-a-barrel oil compared with the current $60-a-barrel oil. It is no accident that the reform era in Russia under Boris Yeltsin, and in Iran under Mohammad Khatami, coincided with low oil prices. When prices soared again, petrolist authoritarians in both societies reasserted themselves.

We need a president and a Congress with the guts not just to invade Iraq, but to also impose a gasoline tax and inspire conservation at home. That takes a real energy policy with long-term incentives for renewable energy - wind, solar, biofuels - rather than the welfare-for-oil-companies-and-special-interests that masqueraded last year as an energy bill.

Enough of this Bush-Cheney nonsense that conservation, energy efficiency and environmentalism are some hobby we can't afford. I can't think of anything more cowardly or un-American. Real patriots, real advocates of spreading democracy around the world, live green. Green is the new red, white and blue.

Dear Mr. Kempthorne

Regarding your proposal to spend some of the surplus tax money on Idaho citizens to assist with the higher costs of energy. Our own family would receive $300 under your proposal. $300 for one year.

The $300 you want to send us would be NICE, but it really wouldn't be much help for our family's financial and energy problems.

What I would suggest is that instead of sending a one-time "bonus" to Idahoans to assist with high energy bills, a better investment would be to appropriate the funds to Community Action Agencies to assist low-income families to weatherize their own homes with better windows, insulation, system repairs/upgrades, etc., so their energy costs can be lowered (for this year AND years to come!).

Even if it won't help my family, it will help many other families who really DO need the assistance for high energy expenses, and I would prefer our taxes to be invested in that way instead.

I also would like to see Idaho to appropriate some of those funds to ENFORCE Idaho State Code so landlords would be required to repair the windows, insulation, heating systems, etc. for the homes and apartments they collect rent from. I am not talking landlords in general (many are honest and ethical), but the OTHER ones... with the broken windows, leaking roofs, inadequate insulation, etc. Why should taxpayers be subsidizing the additional heating costs and repairs for properties which provide income to landlords? They should be responsible for maintaining their income property but nobody enforces the law.

The people who NEED energy assistance should be able to receive it... I'm sure we can all think of people who NEED the money ($300 is a LOT of money) vs. people who may not need it as desperately ("pocket change", country club dues, etc.).

I would much prefer our TAX dollars assist with a long-term fix, rather than a short-term "band-aid". I truly doubt that our energy costs will get any cheaper in the years to come... wouldn't it be wiser to help the people who won't be able to afford it next year either?

Sincerely,
Diana Rowe Pauls
Gooding, ID

Write your OWN letter to Mr. Kempthorne here...

Why, why, Mr. President, why?

New lyrics sung to the tune of American Pie that one "car" of people came up with on the way to the action.

Why, why, Mr. President, why?
The levees all broke...
Now the water's too high...
Spent all our cash on a war that's a lie...
You don't care if poor people die...
You don't care if Iraqis die...
You don't care if our soldiers die...
Just as long as your profits are high...

CODE PINK!

One more time... why are we at war with IRAQ?

Earlier this fall, in the midst of some intense discussion regarding my personal opinions toward Bush and the war in Iraq, a very dear friend of mine sent me the pictures which are being sent around via e-mail (with soldiers, little children, smiles, etc.) and the note:

"I hope these come through! I know it seems like a waste of lives to you and others, but to the children in Iraq those troops who volunteered to defend our freedoms and fight for theirs give them hope.That makes those who have been lost in the line of duty true heroes who died with honor. No matter what else you believe, please believe that their sacrifice is justified. I guarantee they bellieved it. So do those that served the first time."

How do you respond to people who attempt to justify the humanitarian aspect of the war in Iraq? This was my attempt...

Dearest {friend},
You aren't understanding our points... if you don't think that a bleeding heart liberal like me wouldn't celebrate helping people in need? But as long as people continue to believe that is why our soldiers are being killed (just like they believed that it was to "protect America from terrorists"), then we will continue to donate the lives of our soldiers to this "noble cause" that some people must continue to believe in order to accept what is going on and to avoid asking themselves the hard questions. Our points are NOT that some Iraqis aren't very grateful for our soldiers... we aren't confused about THAT... our questions are related to the following facts...

• Some soldiers enlisted to protect America after 9/11...
• Our country was attacked and supposedly that is our reason to be at war... "War on Terror", remember?
• The focus at the last election was "PROTECT AMERICA" not "HELP BABY IRAQIs"
• There is NO reason to be in Iraq... except NOW they are saying for democracy...
• If we wanted to do it RIGHT, like it REALLY mattered, when the General requested more troops, Bush would have OK'd it rather than fired him.
• If it is THAT noble of a cause, then how come neither Bush, nor Rove, nor Cheney, nor Rumsfield have children serving?
• Doesn't it scare anybody that of the main people deciding that this "noble cause" is worth having our soldiers die (see above list), not ONE of them served in Viet Nam? They all made excuses... even RUSH LIMBAUGH wiggled out of it.

So, if 2157 lives can be lost (two families are being notified as I write this) for democracy for a country that wasn't asking for our help in the first place, and wasn't the mission until enough people started complaining that the "War on Terror" belonged in different countries, and now we are saying that liberating these poor people is a "noble cause", then please tell me which country we will be liberating next from the horrible leadership of THEIR dictators (read more here): Sudan, North Korea, Burma, China, Saudi Arabia (!!), Libya, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Zimbabwe, or Equatorial Guinea?

Oh, just an FYI... in 2003, Saddam was only #3 on the list -- there were two dictators WORSE than he was... why didn't we go after them? #1 was North Korea, and #2 was SAUDI ARABIA. You remember that country? The same one who provided us with 9/11 TERRORISTS.

If being "noble" means going into other countries, capturing their dictator, and helping them rebuild... and this is NOT a personal agenda for Bush and cronies, then tell me which country is next... and then tell me what happened to the "war on terror" because that is what has been shoved down my throat since 9/11 and I'm still waiting to hear how we are winning that.

Osama bin Laden was more of a threat to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA than Saddam was... how did we get off track?

Tell me again... how does liberating IRAQ help us with the terrorists from Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan?

Do they need small words and pictures too?

Today's media hot discussion is regarding Bush's explanation and justification for his need to eavesdrop and wiretap... he thinks it will help prevent another 9/11...????

Okay, am I the only one who remembers the daily report Rice brought to Bush in Crawford which stated something like... "bin Laden plans to attack US"? Didn't it even mention the use of hijacked planes?

So, if Bush ignores information already provided to him (legally), then what would he do with more?

Considering so many previous explanations used to put us in Iraq have turned out to be less than reliable, I find it really difficult to trust Bush's justifications about anything. This feels "icky", "Big Brother", and a lot like what countries WITHOUT democracy have to deal with in their daily lives...

So here are my requests for our government to prevent another 9/11...

• Find a President with his/her own brain (not a Rove brain).
• Provide a cabinet with their own brains, consciences, and voices... do not place puppets in those positions because they know how to suck up.
• When experts in their fields come to the President with their opinions and suggestions, LISTEN TO THEM. Don't remove them and replcce them with aforementioned SUCK UPS.

This is just a start...I'm sure you can come up with others...?