Governor Otter taking the trading route less traveled

As most Idahoans can tell by now, Gov. Butch Otter does things his own way.

So it would make some sense he would want to spend spring break in Cuba.

By the time you read this, Gov. Otter and his 35-member entourage will have begun a four-day trade mission unlike anything this state has ever seen.

"He's going down there to sell groceries," said Otter's spokesman.

Otter is comfortable in the role of "Idaho's salesman in chief." Back in the early 1980s, he met with Phillipine President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila to try to sell the dictator a $50 million French fry processing plant for JR Simplot. He has also visited Cuba with Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, in 2004.

We admire Otter for seeking out new opportunities for Idaho. The whole world is clamoring for hundreds of items produced in this state.

We especially like the fact that he can see a win-win proposition in Cuba when the United States government can't.

Idaho has a lot to offer the world (Litehouse dressing on Cuban salad, for example) and to have a governor and lieutenant governor with their eyes wide open to these possibilities bodes well for Idaho.

Viva la Otter!

David Keyes is publisher of the Daily Bee.