The state of things
The Inconvenience, The Girl Child and I made an appearance at the local GOP event last night. Ken Roberts and a spokesman for Vaughn Ward were in attendance to talk about the upcoming primary for the 1st District Congressional seat – currently held by Walt Minnick, D.
Ward’s spokesman was a guy probably not much older than myself. While he was in a bit of a difficult position, speaking on behalf of his candidate while the other was present in the flesh, he was also using a playbook a little too reminiscent of my College Republican days. I hate, hate, HATE that brand of politicking.
I’ve met Ken before, as he’s the uncle of a good friend. I like him. He’s shifted libertarian since I first knew of him, and I think it is genuine. He is going to have a hell of a campaign ahead of him. Ward has already been endorsed by John McCain and people connected to Sarah Palin. He’s also a USMC vet.
I’m getting a bad vibe off the Ward campaign. It feels entirely too DC. I don’t want to elect someone savvy in beltway politics to represent Idaho – I want to elect an Idahoan.
Anyway, The Inconvenience kinda stole the show when he let them have it with both barrels during the Q&A. He told the candidates he didn’t want a leader, he wanted to be left alone. He criticized members of the local GOP for giving us a bad time about open carrying at a party function. He laid into the Republican city councilmen – one of whom was in attendance! – for being cowardly private-business disrespecting “little Obamas” for voting for the smoking ban in Moscow. He said at least he openly knows Pelosi and Obama and company are his enemies – they don’t pretend otherwise, like the Republicans. He received several rounds of applause, a nasty look from that councilman (Walter Steed, if you’re keeping score) and many thanks and handshakes afterward. It was rather motivational.
Other highlights of the evening were connecting with several women who would like to learn how to shoot from another woman, so I guess I’m their gal. Also, Ken Roberts said we could quote him on swearing if he’d been governor when grey wolves were introduced into Idaho back in ‘95, he would have called up the National Guard to shoot them all as they came out of the cages.
So. Anyone who advocates using the National Guard in defiance of the FedGov is generally gonna get a big +10 in my book.
Anyway, it was an enlightening event, and I’m glad we attended. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. Frankly, I’m not even sure the GOP deserves the seat – Minnick has served us well thus far. My only concern is that he might move left if the Dems lose their wide majority, so he doesn’t have the luxury of casting Idaho-friendly votes anymore. I’m not 100% convinced of his loyalties or convictions.
Shooting the wolves as soon as the came out of their cages? Hmmm thats a gelding offense.
Palin/The Inconvenience 2012!
I’m 100% convinced of Minnick’s loyalties and convictions. He’s a pure statist. He is just a conservative one (not politically conservative, the dictionary definition). He just favors incremental an government takeover instead of a left-wing revolution.
I heard him in a radio interview about health care, and that was enough for me, because it was clear how he thinks.
Of course, I don’t know who will be running against him, but I doubt I would feel any compunction about pulling the lever to reduce the Pelosi majority by one. One-party rule is scarier than any particular congresscritter.
BTW I’m glad you guys did that! Kudos to Mike!
**Thumbs up** for The Inconvenience!
[...] attitude was illustrated on an Idaho blog back in November on a blog here in Idaho: Politics, Guns, and Beer where the blogger and his son, nicknamed “the inconvenience” went to a town meeting. [...]