Will Bill Sali Ride To Walt Minnick's Rescue In Idaho?

Bill Sali predicted that God would destroy America, alienating even some Republicans

Freshman Democrat, Walt Minnick (Blue Dog-ID), has done everything short of switching parties to let his western Idaho constituents know that to him being a ConservaDem is 99% about being Conservative and 1% about being a Democrat. No one thinks he's likely to be embraced by the KKK and Aryan Nation folks in the Hayden Lake/Coeur d'Alene northern end of the district, but the prima facie reactionaries down around Boise, Nampa and Meridian are perfectly comfortable with Minnick's overwhelmingly Republican voting record-- even if he doesn't serve endangered species at his campaign dinners and send coded messages of support to violent right-wing militias about black helicopters the way a former representative from the district, Helen Chenoweth (the Michele Bachmann of her day) used to do. One of the most solidly Republican district's in the country-- Bush won every county in 2000 and 2004 and the folks there gave Gore 28%, Kerry 30% and Obama 36%-- Minnick's ProgressivePunch score of 22.95 on substantive issues leaves little room for complaint. The only Democrats who have crossed the aisle to vote with the GOP more frequently than Minnick are seven died-in-the-wool neo-Confederate shitheads, Travis Childers (Blue Dog-MS-14.75), Parker Griffith (Blue Dog-AL-16.39), Dan Boren (Blue Dog-OK-16.39), Gene Taylor (Blue Dog-MS-16.95), Jim Marshall (Blue Dog-GA-19.67), Bobby Bright (Blue Dog-AL-19.67) and Charlie Melancon (Blue Dog-LA-21.67). One of the original Boehner Boys, Minnick can be counted on by the GOP on all the really big issues. This past week, in fact, he was given the honor-- in much the same way that Bart Stupak carried the right's anti-choice amendment a few weeks ago-- to present the GOP position against financial reform. Although Minnick's amendment that would have left bank customers to the tender mercies of determined Wall Street predators (who, by the way, have rewarded him handsomely for his undying devotion-- to the tune of $566,208), failed 208-223, he was able to persuade 32 Democrats to cross the aisle with him and vote with every single Republican against their own constituents' interests).

Interestingly, that $566,208 the Finance/Insurance/Real Estate sector has invested in Minnick is considerably more than they've given to any other Idaho congressmen... ever. His current colleague, Mike Simpson (R-ID), was only given $255,650 in his entire career and Minnick's immediate predecessor, Bill Sali (R-ID) only saw $155,762. The two other Republicans who represented ID-01 in recent times, Butch Otter and Helen Chenoweth pulled in $192,590 and $150,464, respectively. Yep, Wall Street certainly loves Minnick, but in a district with a PVI of R+19, he needs all the help he can get. Last year he beat Sali 175,898 (51%) to 171,687 (49%) in a stunning upset, with thousands of Republican voters splitting their ticket, voting for McCain for president, Risch for Senate and Minnick for Representative. It didn't hurt that the wealthy, self-financing Minnick outspent Sali $2,599,953 to $1,168,536.

So far Minnick has raised $885,842 this year. He'll need it. Although Minnick seems safe from a Democratic primary opponent, he's a major target for the Republicans, despite his consistent record of supporting them. The Boise and the Washington GOP Establishments have largely gotten behind Iraq War vet Vaughn Ward. A local state Rep, Raul Labrador, is also running but he's being marginalized as an "immigrant supporter," a death sentence in Idaho politics. Both are mainstream conservatives, just slightly to the right of Minnick. The Hayden Lake crowd wants a birther/deather teabagger in the race. And it looks like they're about to get their wish. One of Congress' fringiest members since Chenoweth, Bill Sali, is likely to demand a rematch. Sali is so extreme, in fact, that his presence in the race next year is probably the only thing that could save Minnick's neck. The NRCC is petrified he'll jump in again-- but also petrified of antagonizing the teabaggers by doing anything to turn Sali into a martyr for fascism.

Republicans in Washington don’t expect Sali to run for the seat, but the two sides have antagonized each other enough that the party isn’t counting on anything just yet.
 
A national GOP operative said Friday that Sali has made it known that he will decide on the race in January.
 
“He’s told state and D.C. folks that he won’t pull the trigger, but no one trusts him,” the source said.

There's no good outcome in Idaho for 2010.