Larry Grant for Congress

Our county fair is still going. Our Democratic booth doesn't get a lot of play but it does get some. A few people, newcomers of which we have quite a few, expressed surprise that there even was a Democratic party in Bonners Ferry, and were pleased to learn there was. The county is changing. Larry Grant, our candidate for Congress put in an appearance for a few hours and we had a pleasant interlude with him later. He is articulate, knowledgeable, pleasant, intelligent, willing to listen, and a pleasure to be with. I cannot honestly describe him as a genuinely "Progressive" Democrat but he is certainly a fine candidate and has a great chance of winning (imagine, a Democratic Congressman from Idaho). He is clearly a "moderate." But remember, this is Idaho, and even a moderate Democrat has to be seen as a great leap forward from the Republican dinosaurs that currently rule the state.

This is all the more true when you consider his opponent, Bill Sali. Sali has been described by members of his own Republican party as "an idiot's idiot." He is so bad even members of his party refuse to support him and have formed a Republicans for Grant organization. Sali clings to a belief that abortion causes breast cancer (for which, of course, there is no evidence whatsoever). He is opposed to abortion even in cases of incest or rape. He is homophobic in the extreme. While I am not certain of this, I believe he probably believes education is basically a waste of money. Certainly our Republican legislature has not been interested in funding education (and indeed, one Republican suggested changing the Idaho Constitution so the state would not even be responsbible for education). Dick Cheney came to Boise the other day to raise money for Sali. I have been told that only 200 people showed up. Two hundred people to see the vice-president of the U.S. Incredible. Hastert is supposed to appear in Post Falls in support of Sali. Bear in mind they are not necessarily supporting Sali the person but, rather, Sali the candidate. They are terrified of losing a Congressional seat, especially in a red state like Idaho. If Sali, an extremist's extremist, should win over an honorable decent candidate like Grant, Idaho would fall even deeper into a pit of mindless shame. But remember, we're still struggling here to enter the 20th century.