Candidate Butch

Republican gubernatorial candidate Butch Otter appeared yesterday, his first day as a candidate for the state's highest office, with someone the Idaho Statesman described as "one of Idaho's most famous celebrities:"

That's right, it's everyone's favorite industry mascot, Spuddy Buddy!

Let the silliness that is Idaho neo-con politics begin!

Governor Butch

Republican Congressman C.L. "Butch" Otter of the Idaho First Congressional District filed the necessary paperwork announcing his intention to run for Idaho Governor in 2006.

and so it begins...

So who will be the other Republican candidates I can vote against? Both Governor Kempthorne and Lt. Governor Risch said "ask me next year."

For those of you who don't know Butch, he was Lt. Gov. for 14 years and has been a congressman since 2000. Here is a Idaho Statesman file photo of him in 1977:

He's lost a little hair but I think he still owns...and wears...that coat. Women of the Idaho capital building, watch out!

Recall

So, I keep getting surprised by the stupidity and pettiness of some Americans. At this point in my life (especially since we re-elected the President) I would expect to have a thick skin when it comes to the dumbness of my fellow Yanks...unfortunate for me and my blood pressure, that's not true.

This latest demonstration of American silliness comes from Estes Park, Colorado. The people of Estes Park are planning on recalling one of their city council members for not standing and saying the Pledge of Allegiance at city council meetings. Yes, a recall.

Now for a little side note: as a Boisean, I know a lot about recalls. We tried to recall our former mayor, Brent Coles, for several (many) instances to fraud, deception and misuse of public funds in 2002-2003. I did my part in collecting signatures on the recall petitions. Mayor Coles resigned before he could be recalled.

Now, a recall is a serious matter and should only be used for serious matters, such as the Boise mayoral scandal. You don't recall an official who has done nothing wrong and broken no laws:

That's the official in question, David Habecker, a 12-year councilman for the people of Estes Park. What a heinous office he has committed...not. Now, I could understand the need for a recall if he had a crack pipe in his hand or a 14-year-old boy under the table...but no.

You see, "I have not been standing for the Pledge of Allegiance due to a conflict I have with the wording of the pledge, specifically the words 'under God,'" Habecker said. He believes it's a violation of church and state to include the words in the pledge and for that reason, and that reason alone, he won't stand. He is exercising his first amendment right to free expression, and he's going to be recalled.

I didn't understand the magnitude of the stupidity until I took the online poll provided by the local television station. It asked:

Should a town trustee be recalled because he refuses to stand up and say the Pledge of Allegiance during Town Board meetings?

80%...that's not a typo...80% answered yes, he should be recalled because he refuses to stand up and say the Pledge of Allegiance which he has the right to do.

Only one statement sums up my mindset right now: Serenity Now!

Modern Medicine

I read a very interesting article on CNN.com today. Apparently, letting kids play a Game Boy in the operating room before having surgery helps relax them better than tranquilizers or holding their parent's hand. That's right, the game system many people loath or roll their eyes at has medicinal value:

You can read the article here:Video games calm kids before surgery.

In a study of 78 kids in three groups, the group with only their parents in the room had a 17.5 point increase in anxiety on a 100-point scale; the group with their parents and a tranquillizer showed a 7.5 point jump in anxiety; and the group with their parents and given a Game Boy to play showed no increase in anxiety.

Great State of Idaho

Well, Idaho made national news last week on MSNBC.com. In an article discussing sex laws across the country, Idaho was mentioned among states with old-fashioned sexual modesty laws:

In Idaho, fornication can get you a $300 fine and six months in jail. But that’s a piece of cake compared to the penalty for adultery -- up to a $1,000 fine and three years in the state pen.

Luckily for us Idahoans, the article boils our state down to it's base form:

Idaho, Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas are all conservative “red states.”

Onward Christian Soldiers!

Proud to be a criminal,
Slingshizzle

Le Bois...the twilight zone...

Just more evidence that people in Idaho's beautiful capital city of Boise are out of their minds.

The trial started today for 11 people who were arrested for trying to block the removal of a Ten Commandments monument from a Boise city park in March:

You may have heard about it.

Well, they were cited with resisting and obstructing police which can carry a $300 fine and six months in jail.

They claim that they were practicing their right to free speech and the city's procedure for removal was unlawful. Unfortunately for them and radical neo-con ideologues everywhere, they committed an act of civil disobedience against a perfectly legal act.

Now I like a good act of civil disobedience as much as the next guy, but it is still illegal. And I don't really consider their cause worthy of civil disobedience...it's no Kent State in 1972.

Proud..ahem...to be a Boisean.

take a deep breath...

As promised (defiantly instead of definitely), here is the Slingshizzle position on President Bush’s "Clean Skies Initiatives." Sorry about the wait:

America needs a President who will revive the Clean Air Act and work hard to eliminate the air pollutants in we breathe every day. America needs a President who will unite with world efforts to curb global warming. America needs a President who will ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Finally, America needs a President that will spur research and development into clean-burning renewable fuels. Unfortunately for us, we won’t have a President like this until 2009.

The Clean Air Act (enacted under President Bush in 1990 and strengthened under President Clinton in 1997) has steadily improved our air quality since 1970, but was considerably undermined by special interests acting through the current administration in the form of the “Clean Skies Initiative.”

While several corporations fill their pocketbooks, average Americans face increased health problems and additional expenses for health care that most can ill afford. Nearly half of all Americans are forced to breathe unhealthy air. This should not be tolerated under any circumstances, yet it’s businesses as usual for President Bush’s administration.

The human cost of air pollutants is estimated at as many as 100,000 premature deaths and about $50 billion annually in the United States. (Center for Disease Control) Because we breathe in 3,400 gallons of air every day, chemicals we cannot see, smell, or taste can do irreparable harm over long periods.

The personal cost of air pollution, estimated to average around $200 every year, applies to everyone, everywhere, but is even higher for some regions. For example, a 22-square-mile area north of Fort Wayne has been identified as the most mercury-contaminated spot in the country. In addition, some racial groups are hit harder than others. For instance, 71% of African Americans lived in counties that violated federal air pollution standards in 2002, compared to 58% of the white population. (Center for Disease Control)

It is now crucial that the lethal impacts of air pollution be realized and acted upon. Soot from the oldest and dirtiest power plants kills 30,100 Americans each year; comparatively, drunk driving kills 16,935 and homicides kill 17,893. (Center for Disease Control) These same power plants emit pollution that triggers 603,000 asthma attacks annually, most of which occur in children. The technology to clean up these plants has literally existed for decades. If these old power plants were made to be as clean as newer power plants, we'd save three times as many lives as are saved by seatbelts. (Center for Disease Control)

The Bush Clear Skies Initiative is a step backwards for the quality of the environment. Even the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has admitted that the Clear Skies Initiative will create more pollution from the electric power industry than if the EPA had enforced existing programs. As written, the Clear Skies Initiative will allow 36% more nitrogen oxides, 50% more sulfur dioxide, and as much as 500% more mercury to be released into our air. This will mean millions more asthma attacks, heavier acid rainfalls, and more toxic bodies of water where the fish cannot be eaten. (EPA)

So obviously, the Bush administration has seriously lowered the air quality standards in the United States and the time has come to restore them. So what can we do? As a nation, we must:

▪Reinvigorate the Clean Air Act and reverse the efforts of the Bush administration to impede it.

▪Offer incentives for renewable forms of energy. This will help clean our air and reduce our dependence on polluting forms of energy and on foreign oil and gas.

▪Offer incentives for more efficient devices and systems that use or generate power. Automobiles can be more efficient and safer without being less comfortable. Many of our power plants can be more efficient and produce fewer pollutants. Mega-farms can produce much less toxic gas.

▪Support the Kyoto Treaty and Protocol and join international efforts to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases and curb global warming.

▪Work cooperatively with other nations. Air is a universal resource; our efforts to improve air quality mustn't end at the U.S. borders.

For more information about renewable energy resources and my take on the issue, please check out my post "I love the smell of smog in the morning...if only it didn't sting when I inhale..."

Choosing the Best Path

I've read the sex-ed report released by Rep. Henry Waxman of California (the ranking member on the House Government Reform Committee) several times and I can't really add to what it says.

I encourage everyone to read it here:

THE CONTENT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED ABSTINENCE-ONLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS

and make up their own minds from it.

Roll Tide

I apologize but I'm not going to get around to indicting President Bush's Clean Skies Initiative today. This weekend defiantly. That said, I give you a topical quote from the motion picture Crimson Tide:

My last breath of polluted air for the next sixty-five
days--gonna miss it--I don't trust air I can't see.
Captain Frank Ramsey, USN

Pollution in the 21st Century

So it was reported today that Mt. Saint Helens is Washington state's largest polluter, and if it was a factory, it couldn't get a permit. Apparently, at least according to Washington state officials, you can fine a company to reduce toxic emissions, but not a volcano. "You can't put a cork in it," said Greg Nothstein of the Washington Energy Policy Office. I kid you not.

Mt. Saint Helens is producing about 50 to 250 tons of sulfur dioxide and 500 to 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide each day. To put that in perspective, all of Washington's industries combined produce about 120 tons a day of sulfur dioxide.

Before the volcano began erupting a few months ago, the state's #1 polluter was a coal-fired power plant near Centralia owned by the Canadian firm TransAlta. My condolences go out to the fine employees and shareholders of TransAlta for loosing that prestigious distinction.

The despicable amount of pollution originating from Mt. Saint Helens and the criminally negligent action of Mother Nature in allowing this pollution to be released gives me a great opportunity to discuss the Bush administration "environmental record." Check back tomorrow for the Slingshizzle take on the "Clean Skies" Initiative.

Sex can Wait...Masturbate

Rep. Henry Waxman of California released a report today saying "11 of the 13 most widely used programs underestimate the effectiveness of condoms in preventing pregnancy and the spread of disease, exaggerate the prevalence of emotional and physical distress following abortion, blur science and religion or get fundamental scientific facts wrong."

Since President Bush took office in 2001, abstinence only education funding has more than doubled to $170 million this year alone.

I will be addressing this issue in greater detail tomorrow. In the meantime, I suggest you read my post Rock the Casbah from April 2nd. I take this issue very seriously (it was the topic of my second post on this blog) and the ideology-based leadership of this issue has to stop.