Did you enjoy the Super Bowl? I don’t ususally watch the whole thing, but I did yesterday. It was a great game! The commercials are usually the best part, for me, but this year I was disturbed by one of them. Did you see the Audi car commercial about the “Green Police”? What kind of statement were they making about our future? Was is sarcastic, because I didn’t think so, or was it predictive? Click HERE to see it.
PLEASE don’t forget the fundraiser for Jim Brannon’s legal challenge, this evening at 5:00 at Greenbriar.
Any other thoughts to start out this week?
THANK YOU to all who attended the fundraiser for Jim Brannon’s election legal challenge last night! The Greenbriar was full, and we all enjoyed the inspirational speech by Brent Reagan and the informative report on election laws and process by Jim Doty. All of your support, involvement and donations are deeply appreciated.
For anyone who missed the event but still wants to donate* to the cause, checks can be sent to:
CHRG
PMB 119, 212 Ironwood Drive
CdA, ID 83814
(*CHRG is a non-profit association, registered with the state, but does not qualify for tax deduction status)
Comment by mary — February 9, 2010 @ 7:26 am
Many thanks to Chris and her husband for the great hostessing of the event at the Greenbriar. The food was amazing and the service excellent.
The point that hit me strongest was that if we do not fight to protect the sanctity of our vote in Kootenai County then we have no right to complain about ACORN.
This issue goes beyond the city borders. The officials that made a mockery of our voting system in the city election are the very same people that will run our Kootenai County elections.
Jai Nelson lost the last primary to Rick Curry by 15 votes. What a sickening feeling to think that this election may have been mismanaged.
I ask all of you who live in Kootenai County to dig in your wallet and send some money to CHRG. The fight is not to put Jim Brannon in office. The fight is to clean up our mismanaged elections. Court battles are expensive and the city legal department is doing everything possible to make it expensive for CHRG. Lots of small dollar donations add up and will help the cause.
Comment by citizen — February 9, 2010 @ 8:10 am
Over on the Gossip Blog they’re spreading a lot of Pelosi about what CHRG is and is not. As Ronald Reagan used to say, “It isn’t that liberals are ignorant, it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so!”
Comment by Gary Ingram — February 9, 2010 @ 5:48 pm
Obviously this site is irrelevant.
Comment by Dan — February 9, 2010 @ 6:24 pm
What a drain on life it would be to deal with that other site; I’d be ready to jump off a tall building if I had to face such absurdity every day.
Comment by mary — February 9, 2010 @ 9:40 pm
I left that ugly blog site several years ago. It was nasty. I never returned. I refused to “feed that beast”.
Comment by citizen — February 10, 2010 @ 7:31 am
The wonderful thing is that we live in a free country (still) and can address our issues and concerns in public; we can openly discuss the behavior and effectiveness of our government, at all levels.
Comment by mary — February 10, 2010 @ 8:33 am
That is true – I decided to rework a portion of the city minutes over at my blog for really my own benefit – because I did not like how at least two citizens were received, at that last city hall meeting which was televised – over at my site.
Also, I heard that Mike Kennedy is requesting more money for his legal defense through donations that will stop him from sending out photos of him in a speedo. Is that true? Then something about the police department needing that photo to the fire department? Is he really posing in speedos to raise money? What’s next Deanna and Mayor Bloem in bikinis? ICK.
Comment by Stebbijo — February 10, 2010 @ 9:05 am
I might add that this is the draft of the issue that Adams brought up.
Comment by Stebbijo — February 10, 2010 @ 9:28 am
Dan, re: your post #4, did you really mean to say “this site”? You’re one of the Founding Fathers of OpenCDA. I hope you still think this site is very relevant.
Comment by Gary Ingram — February 10, 2010 @ 11:35 am
Hello Citizen,
While your opinion about myself, the elections office, or my staff or our poll workers are of course your own prerogative, I was curious as to the source of your information about only having a 15 vote difference between Jai Nelson and Rick Currie in the ’08 primary election.
I come up with a 455 vote difference (from our website) with Jai getting 2,911 votes to Rick’s 3,366. There was a third candidate, Tom Cronin, who also got 3,196 votes. So while it was a very competitive three way race, hopefully you’ll agree that 455 is quite a larger spread than 15.
Thanks.
Comment by Dan English — February 10, 2010 @ 3:20 pm
Confessions of a Blurker
Mary, I confess – I fell off the wagon and blurked – you know where. 🙁 I don’t think Gary and I can really help ourselves. This might be classified as a behavior addiction, however, I would rather view my activity over at that gossip blog as UBI or Undercover Blurker Intelligence.
However, may I define “blurker” – as one who reads lots of blogs and never commemnts. So in that vein, I am not a blurker – because I comment on lots of blogs – just not that horrific gossip blog where our own city council member, Mike Kennedy runs recklessy into public records territory with claims to send his photo out – wearing a speedo! The thong man now has competition! Doesn’t lend much to the professional image of our city leaders, in fact it makes him sound really narcisstic – not really funny. Really he should just put up or shut up – and with that said, I really do hope he makes the fireman calendar and Chief Longo posts it in his office. But, I doubt if I would buy any of that kind of illicit depiction of himself, that might be suggestive of poor taste and most likely at the same time, borderline pornography – of our elected leaders who barely win and then questionably so to boot!
But, you know I am just one who blurks and gathers information that I may need someday in the future for another blog post on MY blog. May I thank that gossip blog for driving my (our) hits up – they are OUTRAGEOUS! I think it might be wize of some of us to hit up some advertizers – those guys are really helping my (our) stats – not that they were not exceedingly great before they decided to make me a topic of their blurking blog.
Also, there is hope for me, I don’t blurk at least 2-4 days of the week, so I am getting better! 😉
Comment by Stebbijo — February 10, 2010 @ 3:39 pm
Dan, 455 is a big spread from 15. I sounds as if my source was incorrect or I heard it wrong. I am glad you straightened it out. Many are concerned about making sure our elections are carefully monitored and that people living outside the voting area do not vote illegally. People voting illegally should be turned into law enforcement. Democracy can only work if we have fair and accurate elections.
Comment by citizen — February 10, 2010 @ 4:13 pm
It sounds like we’re actually on the same page on that citizen and thanks for the update on your numbers.
Comment by Dan English — February 10, 2010 @ 5:42 pm
What Steb said in 12
Comment by Gary Ingram — February 10, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
Dan, Does this mean your office would report persons voting illegally in our county and city elections to law enforcement? If so, to whom would you report the offence?
Comment by citizen — February 10, 2010 @ 9:10 pm
Yes, if we had someone we felt had really voted fraudulently we refer those names to the prosecutor’s office. Then they review, investigate, and prosecute as they determine appropriate.
Comment by Dan English — February 11, 2010 @ 6:14 am
I hope next week will be better, than this week has been.
Comment by kageman — February 11, 2010 @ 10:32 am
Have you ever, in the many years you’ve been County Clerk, referred any names to the prosecutor Dan?
(I realize you can’t give details)
Comment by mary — February 11, 2010 @ 12:37 pm
Yes, about 4 or 5 come to mind right off the top.
While none of those resulted in a formal prosecution, the responses ranged from just having the information reviewed but they didn’t feel there was any thing to warrant action to at least one case where people were interviewed by their investigator but ultimately the prosecutor didn’t feel it met the requirements for a formal complaint. One involved sunshine violations where an agreement was worked out with the PA for a voluntary fine.
There was at least one case I’m aware of before I became Clerk where an individual was investigated and formally prosecuted. I believe they were from Washington and if I remember right, they also ended up with charges relating to welfare fraud.
Comment by Dan English — February 11, 2010 @ 1:47 pm
The vote is the most important thing in a democratic republic government. Countless men have died defending our democracy. An illegally cast vote voids or cancells another person’s vote. How can a prosecutor dismiss this action or merely issue a fine? This is crazy.
How can anyone in this county be shocked about ACORN if we tolerate the same behavior here.
Will you promise to follow through on violations and recommend serious action by prosecutors if this happens on your watch again?
Comment by citizen — February 11, 2010 @ 3:48 pm
Citizen, to whom is your question in post #21 directed?
Comment by Gary Ingram — February 11, 2010 @ 4:29 pm
Well Citizen, I always treat these situations seriously and yes I already do recommend that the prosecutor take them seriously too. I will continue to do so. As you’re likely aware, many factors go into their decision to prosecute a case and which actions best serve the public in their view. Sunshine violations relating to financial disclosure requirements for candidates and issue groups are most commonly dealt with by warnings and fines.
And yes, I’m acutely and personally aware of the price being paid by our service men and women to defend our democracy. For most of the last four years either our adult son or daughter has been in Iraq. Our son is there now nearing completion of his second tour. We fully expect one or both of them will likely add Afghanistan to their future tours of duty.
Comment by Dan English — February 11, 2010 @ 4:42 pm
Also citizen, I recognize it’s kind of tough to really answer all of someones question via this kind of forum. You (or anyone else reading this) can always feel free to stop and and talk through any questions or concerns in person where we could discuss them in more depth if you like.
I’ve also spoken to various political groups, civic organizations, and/or central committee meetings for both parties and am always more than happy to do so.
Comment by Dan English — February 11, 2010 @ 5:00 pm
Dan,
Thanks for commenting over here. Can you tell us why there were no poll books for the absentee ballots or if I have that incorrect, please inform us. Thank-you.
Comment by Stebbijo — February 11, 2010 @ 5:48 pm
Dan English,
Is it true that the state has passed a law that a state issued photo I.D. is now required at the polls before voting?
Comment by citizen — February 11, 2010 @ 6:25 pm
There aren’t poll books for absentee precincts because what is referred to as an “absentee precinct” is not an actual physical location like a regular precinct that you walk into on Election Day. An absentee precinct refers to all those who voted absentee (by mail or in-person early voting)in a given election. Most of the time it is for all absentee voters in a taxing district. In our large countywide elections we have one for each legislative district. When someone fills out an absentee ballot request they essentially complete the same information that is contained in a poll book like name, address, etc. and they must sign their request.
As far as the voter ID bill, it’s HB 496. It’s not law yet and was just introduced for a print hearing this week in the House State Affairs Committee. However, I think it’s got a very good chance of passing. It has the support of many legislators and I made a motion to support it at our state Clerk’s meeting last week in Boise. That resolution of support by the Clerks passed and I don’t believe there were any dissenting votes. If passed it would be in place in time for the General Election in November but not for the May Primary.
Even though I believe this is a great deal of public support for a reasonable voter ID provision there will certainly need to be a robust public information campaign to let folks know as this will be quite a change for voters in Idaho. Although I personally think it’s time has come as a necessary change.
Comment by Dan English — February 11, 2010 @ 6:49 pm
Am I the only one who is concerned with Susan Weather’s minutes in which public comments appear to be edited? This is not the first time. She once edited my comments as well adding words that I never said as well as transposing paragraphs. Unfortunately, I noticed the changes too late to demand clarification prior to approval. If Steve’s comments are incorrect, he should return to the council meeting and request amendment of those minutes. Minutes are the written public record and should be accurate.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — February 13, 2010 @ 8:17 am