A tribute to American toilet paper
As we hunker down in our homes, awaiting the all-clear signal from the epidemiologists, it is fair and right that we pay tribute to a product that has risen to prominence in this crisis. Toilet paper has always been there for us but it usually took its place behind the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Trump has failed to measure up in his response to the coronavirus
When a President is confronted with a serious emergency, the public has a rare chance to see the stuff he’s made of. With the coronavirus (covid-19), Trump had his opportunity to shine. His response has been an unfolding disaster.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
America's intelligence agencies are no longer used or useful
Every day, America’s intelligence agencies work hard to keep Americans safe. Their agents and employees are spread across the world, often in some of the most dangerous places. It is commonplace for our intelligence agents to risk their lives to get vital information on enemy threats for the purpose of …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Legislative issues worth consideration in the 2020 session
The 2020 legislative session has produced a number of proposals worthy of support, including bills relating to wrongful conviction, tenant protection, and medical debt collection. I’m hoping legislators will see the value in these measures.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
The President is a powerful role model for American kids
As we observe Presidents Day this year, it is well to consider the critical role our presidents play in shaping the attitudes and ambitions of America’s young people. Being the most conspicuous public figures of their time, presidents can have a tremendous influence on the future lives of contemporaneous youngsters. …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Idaho's Senators turn a blind eye to the rule of law
I have known both Mike Crapo and Jim Risch for about 4 decades. Both are intelligent men. Both are schooled in the rule of law. Mike Crapo had a strong moral compass when he entered service in the U.S. Senate. Jim Risch knows the difference between right and wrong. Both …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Let's not trivialize non-physical injuries suffered by our troops
The Pentagon disclosed on January 18 that 34 U.S. service personnel had sustained brain injuries from the Iranian ballistic missile attack on their base in Iraq. Half of the service members were returned to Iraq with concussions, while the rest remained under medical care in the U.S. or Germany.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
How can you have a fair jury trial without witnesses?
The object of any trial under American law is to achieve an impartial and just result. In a trial in the judicial system, jurors take a solemn oath to render a true verdict “according to the law and evidence.” That would be practically impossible without sworn testimony from witnesses. Live …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
More Keystone Cops foreign policy
The targeted killing of General Qasem Suleimani was a mixed blessing for the Iranian regime. It eliminated one of Iran’s most celebrated military figures, but at the same time it has strengthened Iran’s hand in the region. It is likely to play out as a net positive for Iranian hard-liners.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Idaho voters can help stop Russian interference in U.S. elections
Idaho voters are uniquely positioned to influence Congressional passage of a bill to stop Russia from trying to corrupt our elections. The bipartisan Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act would impose serious economic sanctions against Russia for election interference. The sanctions would be substantially stronger than those …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO
Former Senator Len Jordan stood up to a vindictive President
Senator Len Jordan, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1962 to 1972, was a rugged individualist who used his own brain and moral compass in representing the State of Idaho. Unlike our current office holders, Jordan was unafraid to stand up to a president who abused his power.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS AGO
If we just open our eyes, we can see the beauty of the American quilt
As Thanksgiving 2019 becomes a pleasant memory, it is a good time to reflect upon the significance of this important holiday. Families and friends gather to break bread, eat turkey and give thanks for the blessings bestowed on us by our remarkable form of government.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS AGO
The President's wild Ukrainian goose chase
President Trump’s obsession with a Ukraine conspiracy theory is almost as troubling as his request that the Ukrainian president investigate the Bidens. His theory is that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the President continues to pursue the non-existent …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS AGO
An impeachment proceeding is not the same as a criminal trial
Despite what the talking heads and others may say, an impeachment is not a garden variety criminal trial. The Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution does not apply to an impeachment proceeding. The confusion may be understandable because there have been only 3 presidential impeachments to date and the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
All American veterans deserve our thanks and respect
My Mom, Eunice Martens Jones, was born just as World War 1 was ending. She grew up in a German-American community south of Eden. Her father was an immigrant from Hamburg, Germany, and her maternal grandmother had immigrated from Bremen. Grandma Martens told me in the 1960s that the community …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Will Mitt Romney strengthen the backbone of other GOP Senators?
I have to admit that I was not particularly impressed with Mitt Romney when he was running for president in 2012. He’d done a great job on the Salt Lake Winter Olympics in 2002 and run a credible campaign for president in 2008, but his core values seemed elusive. Many …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Selling out our Kurdish allies is not a gift to U.S. troops
It broke my heart when South Vietnam fell to Communist forces on April 30, 1975. It was sickening to see the television footage of terrified Vietnamese trying to grab onto evacuation helicopters from the top of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. The debacle was a giant stain on the honor …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
The whistleblower scandal hurts Ukraine and helps Russia
The President’s efforts to prod Ukraine into conducting investigations to help his re-election are hurting that nation’s defense against Russian aggression. While the emphasis in the U.S. is whether the President was guilty of impeachable conduct, Ukraine has a dangerous war on its hands.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
The whistleblower scandal hurts Ukraine and helps Russia
The President’s efforts to prod Ukraine into conducting investigations to help his re-election are hurting that nation’s defense against Russian aggression. While the emphasis in the U.S. is whether the President was guilty of impeachable conduct, Ukraine has a dangerous war on its hands.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Young people want a livable planet, why doesn't Trump?
Millions of young people around the globe stepped forward on September 20 to plead with world leaders to leave them an inhabitable planet--a world not plagued by unbearable heat and catastrophic weather. They got a cold and deaf ear from our President, perhaps the most prominent climate denier on the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Afghanistan heads toward an uncertain and frightening fate
After Osama bin Laden launched his attack against the U.S. on September 11, 2001, we responded with a military operation to destroy him and his terrorist network. We started with an air attack on his bases in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, and soon followed up on the ground with …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
War weapons do not belong on America's streets
During my service in Vietnam, I had the opportunity to witness the use of a variety of weapons that were specifically designed to kill or maim as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time. My heavy artillery battalion could kill hundreds of Communists at a time with …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Trump maneuvers China into a strong position in the trade war
It is apparently dawning on the President that the Chinese may well hold the key to his reelection in 2020. Trump has painted himself into a corner in the trade war he started with China and he now has two unpalatable options--either cut a deal favorable to the Chinese, or …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Senators Risch and Crapo need to step up to protect America's elections
The Senate Intelligence Committee released a bi-partisan report on July 25 that should curl the hair of every patriotic American. The Committee, chaired by Senator Burr, a North Carolina Republican, determined that Russia targeted the election systems of every one of our 50 states in the 2016 presidential election.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
OPINION: The President has delivered on some of his promises
Although President Trump has been criticized for his job performance, he’s done some of what he promised to do. However, that is not necessarily a good thing.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Attorney General William Barr is undermining the rule of law
Ever since William Barr was sworn in as U.S. Attorney General, he has failed to honor the sacred oath he recited to “faithfully discharge the duties” of that high office. Among other things, he has shown a higher allegiance to the President than to the law, has knowingly allowed his …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Trump's fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants foreign policy endangers America
The President’s trip to the G-20 meeting in Japan produced some foreign policy blunders that will prove harmful to America’s national security. The problem is that he just wings it without bothering to develop an understanding of complex international issues.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Magic wand solutions to complex problems
Pointy-headed scientists make life in these United States way too complicated. They always want to study a problem to death and, once they have reached a consensus on how to fix it, they want to spend tons of money on a cure. We need to simplify the process with less …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Mulling over Volume One of the Mueller Report
Debate over what the Mueller Report concluded with regard to Russian interference in the 2016 election has only intensified since Robert Mueller spoke to the nation on May 29. In his sphinx-like manner, the special counsel summarized what he had found, declining to go beyond the confines of his written …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Honoring our Native American service personnel on Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a time set aside for Americans to remember and honor those brave souls who died serving this wonderful country. They include men and women from all walks of life, from every corner of America and of every race, ethnicity, religion and creed. From the beginning, the sons …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
America's credibility chickens are coming home to roost
The Trump Administration is having trouble convincing our allies of the necessity of a confrontation with Iran. Administration claims that Iran is posing an increasing threat to U.S. interests in the region have been met with skepticism by a number of governments.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
The next great mass extinction is upon us!!! Ho-hum
The United Nations just released an alarming report that should knock the socks off of all of those who still wear them. The report, which was approved by the U.S. and 131 other countries, says the Earth is headed into a mass die-off of plant and animal species. Up to …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Forget the election, Mr. President, and focus on Russian aggression
Christopher Wray, the FBI director, warned on April 26 that Russian interference in the 2020 election presents a “significant counterintelligence threat.” His warning followed the Worldwide Threat Assessment (WTA) issued by U.S. intelligence agencies in January.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Let's celebrate America's exceptional legal system on Law Day
The first day of May is Law Day, which was first designated by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958 to celebrate our remarkable legal system. The rule of law is the bedrock of our society. The law protects us, our freedoms and our property against arbitrary government action.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Thanks, Doctor Trump. You cleared up the mystery of my cancer.
Ever since Dr. Gupta called on January 13, 2017 (Friday the 13th, it should be noted) to tell me I had pancreatic cancer, I have racked my brain trying to figure out what on earth could have caused it. Before getting into the details, I should say that the cancer …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Trump's helter-skelter foreign policy endangers our national security
On March 28, a headline on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website proudly declared, “Secretary Nielsen Signs Historic Regional Compact with Central America to Stem Irregular Migration at the Source, Confront U.S. Border Crisis.” The story under the headline told of how El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras would continue …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Climate change--pay now, or pay a lot more later
Thousands of people were forced from their homes when the so-called “bomb cyclone” storm hit the U.S. Midwest in March. The storm caused record flooding and tremendous property damage. On the other side of the world, a record cyclone struck Mozambique and surrounding countries, displacing hundreds of thousands and causing …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Who should we hold up as good examples for our children?
Every decent nation needs leaders who demonstrate a high standard of honesty, morality, patriotism, courage and dedication to the common good. We hold these people up as good examples for our children. Kids are often told to be truthful like George Washington, dedicated to equality like Rev. Martin Luther King, …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
White supremacists are a serious, dangerous and growing threat
In the aftermath of the massacre of fifty Muslims by an avowed white supremacist at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, President Trump was asked whether he saw white nationalism as a growing threat around the world. He replied, “I don’t really. I think it’s a small group of people …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Idaho has a vital stake in an accurate 2020 census count
A federal district court judge ruled on March 6 that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross broke the law by adding a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. A January 15 ruling by a different federal judge reached the same conclusion. The issue is scheduled to be taken up by the U.S. …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
We don't need Shahram Hadian's inflammatory anti-Muslim rhetoric
Here we go again. Shahram Hadian, a tireless anti-Muslim crusader, is coming back to Idaho to spew harmful conspiracy theories about the Islamic faith. On a previous visit, he almost caused serious damage to Idaho’s child support collection system with his false claims.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Idaho's legislative apportionment system ain't broke, it doesn't need fixin'
After much partisan wrangling in the Legislature and lengthy fighting through the courts, Idahoans voted to fix Idaho’s legislative redistricting system by removing it from raw politics. In 1994, the people approved an amendment to the Idaho Constitution empowering an independent panel to divide the State into legislative districts. The …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Short takes -- Brief comments on big issues
With the start of the 2019 legislative session in Idaho and the continual turmoil in Washington, there is an overload of fodder for political commentary. Here are some brief comments on several of the issues swirling around the political sphere.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Idaho should not deprive faith-healers' kids of the right to life
In the 1944 decision of Prince v. Massachusetts, which can be found at 321 U.S. 158, the United States Supreme Court upheld the ability of a state to protect a child against a parent’s harmful religious practices. The Court said “the right to practice religion freely does not include the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
The people have spoken on Medicaid expansion. Let's get it done.
The Idaho Constitution flatly declares: “All political power is inherent in the people.” Those people established a government of elected representatives to carry out regular public business. However, they wisely reserved the right to initiate and pass laws when their representatives balk at carrying out the public’s wishes.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Forget the Wall--Let's try to solve the problem
In July of 1964, I visited East Berlin and learned something about walls. They are ineffective to keep desperate people penned in, or kept out, without the certain use of lethal force against them. Despite strict border security in the late 50s and early 60s, hundreds of thousands of East …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Let's resolve to make America shine again
President Ronald Reagan often characterized America as “the shining city upon a hill.” He explained in his 1989 farewell address, “in my mind, it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace--a city …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Trump's love of coal stymies Santa
It is well known that the President is a big fan of coal. It plays a central part in his energy program. In fact, he has repeatedly called for an increase in the mining and burning of coal. He has promised to revitalize the coal industry and bring back coal-mining …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO
What a contrast in style and substance--Bush and Trump
With the passing of former President George H.W. Bush, much of the nation has reflected upon his life and accomplishments. It was hard for many of us to not make comparisons between Bush 1 and our present chief executive. The things that pop to mind are deliberative vs impulsive, empathetic …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS AGO
On the auction block now-America's moral standing in the world
The United States is showing a new face to the world and it isn’t a pretty one. No more Mr. Nice Guy trying to show the manifest benefits of democracy. No more of this nonsense about a free and unfettered press: Vladie Putin has demonstrated how to deal with them. …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS AGO
When dancing with the devil, the powerful partner should lead
Saudi Arabia may have lots of oil and idle cash, but that country is in the peanut league compared to the economic and military power of the United States. You have to wonder why our President lets the charming Saudi Prince lead him around like a 4H calf.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS AGO
Let's give thanks for the Americans who fought in the Great War
The furor has died down over the President’s failure to attend a ceremony at Belleau Wood on November 10 to honor Americans who fought for us in World War One. But we should know about and never forget those brave souls. The President reportedly blamed his staff for failing to …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS AGO
Nothing is certain in this world except death and taxes
The old saying about the certainty of death and taxes is not entirely true anymore. A talented tax lawyer can help some legislatively-favored individuals and businesses to avoid paying taxes. On the other hand, nobody has yet figured out a way to escape mortal death. But even with that certainty …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Is ticket splitting a mortal sin?
Back in the early 1960s, when I was studying political science at the University of Oregon, I first encountered the term “Yellow Dog Democrat.” These were southern Democrats who would vote for a yellow dog rather than a Republican. Since that time the parties in the south have switched positions, …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
The gaming initiative--deja vu all over again
In the immortal words of that baseball great, Yogi Berra, the historical horse-racing initiative, Proposition One, is “deja vu all over again” for me. In 1986, Idaho voters approved an initiative in the general election to establish a state lottery. As Idaho Attorney General, I had warned earlier in the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Building an unbearable hothouse for future generations
Earth’s future generations will undoubtedly spend a good deal of their time cursing us for condemning them to an unbearably hot planet. They will be confounded by our utter disregard of the present scientific consensus that Earth is headed for a global warming disaster. They will wonder how we could …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Congress should require the President to release his tax returns
The public is entitled to see the federal income tax returns of U.S. presidents, as well as all party nominees for that high office. Disclosure is especially important where a president or presidential nominee has business ventures that may do business with federal governmental entities or where they may reap …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Short takes-the good, the perplexing, and the ugly
Ever since serving as state Attorney General in the 1980s, I have been pleased with the way Idaho’s Sheriffs run their offices. Sure, they run on partisan tickets, but law enforcement should be free of politics and that is the way our Sheriffs generally conduct themselves. I was impressed when …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Another sad endangered species story -- Republican deficit hawks
Informed Potomac observers report that the population of Republican deficit hawks on Capitol Hill has suffered a catastrophic drop since January of 2017. It is not entirely clear what has caused the sudden decline, although some attribute it to incumbency fever, which can be brought on by dread of losing …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Does Judge Kavanaugh have the right stuff for the Supreme Court?
Because of the carnival atmosphere of Supreme Court confirmation proceedings in recent years, it has been increasingly difficult to evaluate a nominee’s qualifications for a lifetime job on the Court. The Senators on either side like to grandstand with questions they know the nominee either will not or should not …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Paula Duncan gets it. Why can't the President?
Paula Duncan, who says she served on the Paul Manafort jury, told Fox News that all but one juror wanted to convict Manafort on all of the 18 counts against him. She indicated she was a Trump supporter, but did not believe “politics had any place in that courtroom.” More …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Is America flirting with ethnic cleansing?
It certainly appears that our great country is embarking on a program to deny entry to immigrants of color and to expel many who are already here, even if they entered legally. The program has two components--a publicity effort to besmirch refugees and other immigrants, and wide-ranging governmental actions to …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Reducing automobile efficiency would be costly and dangerous
The Trump administration wants to substantially reduce the fuel economy standard for new cars. Six years ago, the government and auto makers agreed that cars made in the 2025 model year should get an average of 54.5 miles per gallon (mpg). The President plans to reduce the mileage standard to …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
A fast-growing state like Idaho needs an honest and accurate census
There appears to be some political chicanery afoot with the upcoming 2020 census. On the surface, it might not seem to be unusual for the census questionnaire to ask respondents if family members in their household are citizens. However, the census form has not had a citizenship question since 1950.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Attention Congress: America desperately needs your help
President Ronald Reagan would have been repulsed by the spectacle of an American president kowtowing to a murderous dictator like Vladimir Putin. If Russia had attacked our democracy, Reagan would not have meekly stood by for months denying it. He would have taken swift and effective action to punish the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Russia frustrates U.S. effort to squelch international breastfeeding
Thanks to Russian interference, the United States failed in an effort to strike a blow against mothers’ milk at a United Nations conference this spring. The New York Times reported on July 8 that the U.S. delegation to a World Health Assembly meeting tried unsuccessfully to water down a resolution …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
The disheartening Supreme Court feeding frenzy
It is sad that every vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court sets off a political feeding frenzy in Washington and throughout the country. It is as if a new appointee is intended to be a super legislator, rather than an impartial arbiter of disputes between and among citizens and the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
We are all Americans--Let's debate instead of demonizing each other
As our nation celebrates its 242nd birthday, all of us living in this great country should remember that we are part of the United States. The brave people who signed the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July in 1776, would likely be appalled by the lack of decorum …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Why punish and traumatize the kids of asylum seekers?
One of my earliest memories in life was an event where I was separated from my parents for a short time. I was about four years old and being babysat at my parents’ home just west of Eden. The babysitter, who was the daughter of a hired hand, decided to …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Why punish and traumatize the kids of asylum seekers?
One of my earliest memories in life was an event where I was separated from my parents for a short time. I was about four years old and being babysat at my parents’ home just west of Eden. The babysitter, who was the daughter of a hired hand, decided to …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Who needs friends when you've got Vlad?
Those effete “G-6” people got what was coming to them for questioning our President’s demands and then dissing Vladimir Putin. When that Canadian guy protested and said he was going to stand up for his country, what could a strong guy do but torpedo the joint statement everyone had already …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Some like it hot
While the news outlets were fixated on important topics like Stormy Daniels, Roseanne Barr and Samantha Bee, a boring government agency observed an Earth milepost last month. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, April was our dear old planet’s 400th straight warmer-than-normal month. That is, every one of …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Is it fair to expect the President to be a role model for our children?
Washington teacher Mandy Manning was recognized by the President as 2018 National Teacher of the Year at a White House ceremony on May 2. Manning teaches refugee and immigrant children at the Newcomer Center of Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
The primary election is behind us. Oh, what a relief it is!
It is sooo good to close the door on this year’s primary election. The advertising in the Republican gubernatorial race was wretched. Tommy Ahlquist started early with negative ads and it did not take too long for the contest to degenerate into a mud-slinging match. I don’t recall primary elections …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Why not just send the kids to Gitmo?
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered federal prosecutors to file criminal charges against every person illegally crossing the border. In order to carry out the order he is sending 35 prosecutors and 18 immigration judges to the border states.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Don't mess with a voter-approved initiative, Mr. Labrador
In an Idaho Public TV gubernatorial debate on April 27, Congressman Labrador suggested that, if elected, he might try to overturn the Medicaid expansion initiative if the voters approve it. He later issued a partial walk-back but still said he would treat the initiative “like any other piece of legislation” …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
America's message to the world -- we don't want your huddled masses
Ever since the Statue of Liberty raised her torch in New York Harbor, she has welcomed the “homeless, tempest-tossed” masses from foreign shores. Those masses have played a central role in making America the powerful nation it is and the moral beacon it was. America’s government has decided to pull …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Whatever happened to the law and order party?
When I was growing up in the Republican party, I learned the lesson of responsible fiscal policy by heart--government must live within its means. That did not mean government could refuse or neglect to perform services or fund programs that were required by the constitution because Republicans were not law …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Will young Americans rescue us from the mess we are leaving?
Until I stepped into a few classrooms last October, I had the impression that today’s high school kids were just interested in weird music and various types of social media. After visiting classes of Cindy Wilson at Capital High and Sharon Hanson at Boise High, I came away greatly impressed.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
John Bolton as National Security Adviser? Heaven help us!
John Bolton has been appointed as national security adviser to the President. My advice to investors is to put all of your money in companies that produce weapons of war. Bolton never saw a foreign policy problem that could not be solved with a good war.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
What the collapse of Toys R Us can tell us about immigration
Toys R Us, which once was America’s largest toy store, has gone out of business for a number of reasons. Competition from online retailers and massive company debt certainly played a large part. However, the company’s last annual report also attributed its financial troubles to a declining customer base. The …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
What the President must do to counter Russian aggression
A gentleman recently asked what kind of action I thought the President should take to punish Vladimir Putin for his hostile acts against the United States. The question was in response to my insistence that our top intelligence officials and Congress speak out and demand presidential action to counter Russian …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Russian aggression demands an American response
The President’s national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, said it is “incontrovertible” that the Russians intervened in America’s 2016 elections. The President rebuked McMaster for the statement. Daniel Coats, appointed by the President last year as Director of National Intelligence, joined other top American intelligence officials in warning that the Russians …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Thinking about Idaho Day
On March 4, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill establishing the Idaho Territory. At that time, the Territory included large portions of Montana and Wyoming. By 1868, the Territory had been whittled down to its present somewhat awkward shape.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Investment in early childhood education reduces crime big time
Having served 8 years as Idaho Attorney General (1983-1990) and 12 years as a member of the Idaho Supreme Court (2005-2016), I have gained a good perspective on crime prevention. Idaho has a fairly effective system for detecting crime and prosecuting criminals. However, if crime can be prevented in the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Vietnam: What a difference 50 years makes
The Vietnamese are gearing up to celebrate Tet, the lunar new year, with happy new year signs wherever one looks. It is also the 50-year celebration of the Tet Offensive, which is often cited as the turning point in the Vietnam War. When I returned from my tour of duty …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Idaho went too far on noncompetition agreements
The Legislature put the shoe on the wrong foot in 2016 when it passed a bill requiring employees to prove they did not harm their former employer if they violated a noncompetition agreement. The new law presumes irreparable harm to the employer, unless the employee can present proof to the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
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