New political party blends best of Republicans and Democrats
It is high time for a new national political party. Let's call it the Republicrat party.
That was the name I came up with when I arrived at the Bonner County Lincoln Day luncheon last Saturday.
"What are you Democrats doing here?" is how Marlisa and I were greeted by a very enthusiastic Dan Young as we walked into the high school.
The truth is, both of us are neither Dems or GOPs, we truly vote locally for our neighbors who we think will do the best jobs.
On national politics … well, we are at the mercy of what we read or watch. I've never really gotten a good read on anyone running for the White House.
But it's a different story on the homefront.
I was relieved to recognize most of the 150 or so attendees.
There's Shawn Keough, the state senator who is about my age. She used to waitress at the Donkey Jaw and work for the local chamber of commerce and now she has the ear of the governor as our state senator.
There's George Eskridge, who sells real estate and drives around a cool convertible. He has taken the lead on many energy related issues as our state representative.
Rep. Eric Anderson was busy at the luncheon passing our photos of Eurasion Milfoil infestation in Idaho, with the same enthusiasm he would if he were passing out photos of his children.
Sen. Joyce Broadsword and I have known each other for nearly 15 years. Marlisa and I went out several times with she and John before we were married. That's two kids and two dogs ago.
The neighbors and friends I have listed above are all card-carrying Republicans and have done a great job representing us in this one-political party state.
That's where the problem is …
I don't think of Broadsword, Keough and the others as a member of any political party. I know them as parents, volunteers, friendly faces and neighbors who have stepped up to help make things better for the rest of us.
I don't see an elephant, I see people who have made family and financial sacrifices in order to help our communities.
It also hit me that I'm not so sure it makes sense to have our sheriff, coroner or prosecuting attorney as a member of any poltical party.
Is Republican coroner Kathryn Rose going to pronounce a Democrat anymore dead than a Republican? Insert your own punch line.
Are entire slate of county commissioners also have a letter "R" after their names. I'll bet any one of them could pass as a "D" somewhere in the country.
Partisan politics has its place on the national stage. Although, I wouldn't be the first to notice that the half-truth, mud-slinging, skeleton in the closet garbage that we witness during the national campaign trickles down to state or local races.
That's why we need the Republicrats.
The Republicrats would not call up Swift Boat Veterans for anyone to besmirch a candidate. They also wouldn't try to scare old people about if their next social security check is coming.
The Republicrats would take politics back to the neighborhoods and talk to real people about real problems and come up with real answers.
No PAC money, please.
Local politics is where it is at.
Mama goose is back at Arlo's. Scaring the bejeebers out of unsuspecting customers and attracting a crowd.
Jim and Eileen Blake left five Sacajewia coins as a tip there Tuesday. They always do. It's a nice touch. No wonder they have their own table there…
Not doing anything on Saturday?
Come to the Panida about 7:30 p.m. to hear the band Generations as well as swing to the sweet sounds of the Sandpoint High School Girls' Performing Choir.
The choir is trying to raise money and members have vowed to have a great time and to take the audience along with them.
Tickets are on sale at the door or the Image Maker or Monarch Mountain Coffee. I have two tickets to giveaway to the first person who brings in a chai tea from Monarch Mountain Coffee or the first person who says to me: "Hey, I hear you are out of town Saturday night and Mike at the Image Maker gave you a pair of tickets. Can I have them. And while I am at it. Have you lost weight?"
Either one of those greetings will get the first person a pair of tickets.
I'm new to the whole coffee house scene. The fact I don't drink coffee probably accounts for my apprehension about the whole triple shot latte, skim fat, venti world.
Monarch Mountain Coffee and trips to Starbucks with my managing editor have converted me.
I still don't drink coffee but the Chai tea at either place is wonderful.
MMC does have better ambience than Starbucks. But you can't beat Starbucks for running into someone you know and for the extra-caffinated greetings you receive from the baristas. (That's a coffeehouse word for coffee maker.)
I still don't understand the whole venti, grande, tall sizing theory in place at Starbucks, though. I like MMC's small, medium and large sizes better. Might be just me …
E-mail of the week:
WORLD'S EASIEST QUIZ
Passing requires 4 correct answers
1) How long did the Hundred Years' War last?
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
3) From which animal do we get catgut?
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?
7) What was King George VI's first name?
8) What color is a purple finch?
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?
ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ
Passing requires 4 correct answers
1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 116 years.
2) Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador.
3) From which animal do we get cat gut? Sheep and horses.
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? November.
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of? Squirrel fur
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal? Dogs.
7) What was King George VI's first name? Albert
8) What color is a purple finch? Crimson
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand
10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane? Orange, of course.
David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs weekly.