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Posts published in “Day: July 24, 2011”

Self-consumption

July 24, 2011

Further evidence that the Idaho Republican Party is seriously into a process of consuming itself:

State Senators Shawn Keough of Sandpoint and Joyce Broadsword of Sagle, representing two of the Panhandle districts, have proposed a redistricting option for their area. As veteran Republican officeholders and candidates from the area (Keough, now a budget committee co-chair, since 1996), you'd expect that their take, whether or not accepted by all other Republicans, would get at least a respectful hearing.

What it got was this, according to the Bonner County Daily Bee:

The Region 1 Republican Central Committee passed a “no confidence” statement against them, explaining this way:

“As elected state officials, your actions have demonstrated that you do not understand, care about, or are acting in a manner that is consistent in the best interests of your constituents ... Instead, (you) have used your political positions to further personal agendas and promote the best interests of the opposing political party in direct opposition to the Republican ideals we hold dearly.”

It's not enough to say that they disagree with some element or other of the map Keough and Broadsword produced. No, they also had to describe them as dishonest officeholders and traitors to their party.

No great surprise, though, coming from a cadre (the Idaho Republican organization) seemingly seized by the idea that a conservative Republican governor (C.L. "Butch" Otter) taking normal and usual steps to boost the state's economy and foster trade between Idaho and China is trying to sell out their state to the communists.

Which elected Republican will they turn on next? Really, at this point it could be any of them.

ADDENDUM Or, put another way: Are people in Idaho starting to live in fear of being reported to the party (there being only one) central committee for lack of ideological purity and for becoming a security risk? A question: What does that remind you of?

If Wu resigned

July 24, 2011

The uproar around Representative David Wu, the Democrat of Oregon's 1st district, exploded again last week - after several quiet months - with a report in the Oregonian that a young woman (evidently 18 or 19 years old) in southern California alleged that Wu had made unwanted sexual advances toward her. Many details are missing, including what exactly Wu was accused of doing, but the congressman seems to have acknowledged that an affair occurred. This adding a sexual dimension to the Wu story, calls for resignation have arisen from many quarters.

Our view is that calls for congressional resignation have gotten remarkably quick whenever something sexual gets into headlines with public officials, and that such people as New York Representatives Anthony Weiner and Christopher Lee, and former Idaho Senator Larry Craig, had no ethical need to resign (and Craig did not). That's not to judge the Wu case yet at least, since so many details are missing and many gaps are likely to be filled in over coming weeks.

But the calls for resignation are intense enough, both from national levels (Democratic leadership apparently has at least discussed the option with Wu) and within Oregon, that resignation clearly is on the table; we just don't know yet what Wu will do.

What are the political implications?

If Democrats seem to be taking the lead in calling for Wu's resignation, it's not hard to see what the incentive would be.

Wu has been raising money for a 2012 campaign, and he has indicated he's planning to run. But after all that's happening, both early this year and last week, re-election has to be considered a long shot. He has a loyal core of supporters, polling has shown, but they are likely to wear away as time goes on. And a rough primary contest next May, in which Democrats spend a good deal of time and money battling each other, could benefit Republicans considerably. The 1st district is strongly Democratic, but a breaking point could always arrive with enough provocation.

On the other hand, a Wu resignation could cement the Democratic advantage. One Democrat - state Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian - has been in the field for a while, has had good fundraising (for a primary challenger), is well-organized and has been working. He would be well-positioned to win primary and general if a special election were held. State Representative Brad Witt is also in, newer to the race and well behind Avakian in money and organization, but would provide an option for Democrats.

No Republican has entered yet, or apparently made any serious moves toward entry. A Republican would have to start from scratch, ramp up in a big hurry, and overcome formidable odds in an unfavorable district. The best Republican scenario seems to be a run against Wu in November 2012. A win for a Democrat in a special election this summer or fall would give Democrats nationally some good headlines and momentum, and would cement Avakian (or Witt) as the incumbent come November 2012 - a much tougher challenge for a Republican than running for a de facto open seat.