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Posts published in “Day: October 31, 2007”

Bombastic, in a good way

October 31, 2007
Chick Bilyeu

Chick Bilyeu/Idaho State University

Some descriptive words go negative over time. "Bombastic" - you typically associate that, especially when linked to someone involved in politics, with self-importance, arrogance, self-righteousness, humorlessness . . .

But that's where you have to be careful, because you could fairly, sort of, describe as "bombastic" the style employed by Charles E. "Chick" Bilyeu, and yet none of those associated descriptors came close to fitting him. His oratory in the state Senate or on the stump often went beyond "hearty," sometimes approaching full roar. But it wasn't expression of ego, or affectation, either; it was a carefully crafted device, a tool he used for bringing the particular kind of attention he wanted to the points he was trying to make.

Bilyeu, who turned 90 not long ago, died Tuesday, was one of the beloved figures of Pocatello-area politics, and had been for half a century. A Democrat, he came up in the era when politicians knew which side they were on, and knew who the opposition was, but also knew enough not to turn either into saints or demons. Bilyeu was a politician partly because of interest in public affairs but also because he simply liked people.

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Curtis and the 18th

October 31, 2007

UPDATE We presumed in the post below, from this morning, that Curtis would resign "before long." He certainly did: Has already, as of this afternoon.

We've seen more than enough of the lurid - almost unbelievably lurid - story of Washington Representative Richard Curtis, R-La Center, which (as one blog commenter wrote) has become strange enough to redefine downward that of Idaho Senator Larry Craig.

There is another matter to consider here, though, and that is the nature of the legislative district Curtis represents, and its political future - because an earthquake like this is going to have repercussions. Curtis personally is not among the most prominent of Washington legislators, and he hasn't been there especially long - he's in his second term. Before that, he served on the La Center city council, but that's the extent of his political record. We'd guess that, unlike Craig, who had invested his whole adult life in politics before scandal hit, Curtis will depart public office before long.

If he does, that would trigger an appointment of a new Republican legislator for the seat. And there's a line of thought that might end the story. But maybe not.

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