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.

So Far Three Extreme Right Republicans Want Rematches In 2010

Corrupt Republican lobbyist Mitchell Wade is in prison but Virgil Goode still isn't-- and he wants his old job back

Bill Sali (R-ID) can certainly make the case in he western Idaho district he used to represent that the Democrat who beat him in November, Walt Minnick, votes like a Republican on all the key issues but hampers the GOP's ability to govern on a national basis by supporting a Democratic organization of the House (and the boogie-man... err... woman: Nancy Pelosi). ID-01 is one of the most backward and reactionary districts in the country and includes the Nazi and KKK redoubts around Lake Hayden and Coeur D'Alene. Obama only scored 36% in the district at the same time Sali lost his seat to Minnick, 175,567 (51%) to 171,324 (49%). That represented a lot of serious ticket-splitting, indicating that anyone who wasn't a card-carrying member of Aryan Nations probably had had it with Sali. But he's going to try again. He sure can't accuse Minnick of supporting Obama. Well... he can and, no doubt he will. But it isn't true. In fact, Idaho Democrats have more reasons to stay home than Republican voters have to turn on Minnick and bring back the intensely disliked Sali.

Steve Chabot (OH-01) was also defeated in November-- by moderate Democrat Steve Driehaus, 143,743 (51%) to 135,376 (49%) in the Cincinnati-based district where Obama beat McCain 55-44% (a huge turn around from Bush victories in 2000 and 2004). Unlike Minnick's reactionary Republican voting record, Driehaus has consistently stood up for the Ohio working families who elected him. Cincinnati voters who wanted change have no reason to be disappointed. Chabot will have no leg to stand on except that he wants his career back.

This morning a third defeated wingnut-- this one also a crook-- Virgil Goode, has announced he wants a rematch. VA-05 is the heart of Virginia and it leans Republican but Obama did far better (48%) than Gore (41%) or Kerry (43%) and voters ousted Goode after a dozen unsatisfactory corruption-filled years of right-wing extremism. It was one of the closest, down-to-the-wire races in the country, Tom Perriello beating him 158,712 to 157,967. Perriello has been one of the most conscientious of this year's freshmen, extremely careful to balance his own progressive inclinations with the sensitivities of his district. His voting record has been moderate and tends to reflect opinion in southern Virginia. Goode is still screaming for the rejected far right ideology that devastated the region's economy. And he is also claiming credit for earmarks in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill that will bring around $10 million to VA-05. Perriello voted for the bill-- and for most of the legislation needed to implement President Obama's rescue plan for the nation. Goode insists he opposes everything and there is no doubt that if voters in central Virginia want a pointless obstructionist representing them, Goode is their man. Others might want to consider making an early donation to Tom Perriello's re-election campaign.

Dick Gregory explains what the policies rubber stamped by Goode, Sali and Chabot have wrought. If these guys-- and others like them-- somehow get back into Congress, we could wind up with lots more like this: