[Vision2020] MCA debates

[Joan Opyr]

A big, fat, public shame on you to Barrett Schroeder and the Republican Party from me, Auntie Establishment.  If the MCA were a biased, one-sided, lefty, liberal, Democratic, commie, pinko political party machine, I'd be its President.  No -- I'd be it's very butch queen.  But that is not what the MCA is; the MCA is the Moscow Civic Association, with an emphasis on the "civic," and instead of bad-tempered me, the lovely and accomplished Lois Blackburn heads the MCA.  She and her board work damned hard to ensure that MCA-sponsored forums are both fair and fairly moderated -- a fact to which those who either participated in or attended the Moscow City Council forum should readily attest.   

In the interest of full disclosure, my much nicer partner, Melynda Huskey, occasionally moderates for the MCA.  She's a fully-trained facilitator and mediator, and, in the MCA forums, she is notoriously even-handed.  This drives Rose and me mad.  "You've got all of Moscow's politicians together in a room?" we ask.  "Republicans, too?  Hit them with sticks!"  But she never does.  Instead, just like at the dentist's office, everyone gets a lollipop.

Also in the interest of full disclosure, it's true that I was a founding member of the MCA, but I've long since ceased be anything more than an occasional source of accolades and fifteen-dollar checks.  Why?  Because though I support their work, they're far too fair for the likes of me.  I'm a fighter, not a lover.  I don't want to be fair.  I want to take a big juicy bite out of the radical right-wing behind.  Or the not-so-radical Moscow Republican behind.  Sorry, Barrett.  I've met you, I like you, and I have endorsed and frequently voted for your dad, Gary, but you're way off base here.  Shame, shame, and for shame.

Now, as soon as you pry my fangs out of your gluteus maximus, please send them back to me, C.O.D.  It's the least I can do.    

Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment

----- Original Message -----
From: Bill London
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 5:05 PM
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] MCA debates

  
Moscow Civic Association Debate Will Be Held  
  
Despite a boycott threat from Latah County Republican Party Chair Barrett Schroeder, the Moscow Civic Association (MCA) will sponsor two nights of candidate debates, on Monday, October 25, and Wednesday, October 27, both beginning at 7pm at the 1912 Building in Moscow.   
All candidates have been invited and originally agreed to attend.  No individual Republican candidates have indicated to the MCA whether or not they will boycott the debate.   
Schroeder presented a list of demands to which the MCA could not agree, explained Bruce Livingston, the MCA board member who is organizing the events.  Schroeder wanted to eliminate the MCA as debate sponsor, change the format from one-on-one debates to a multi-candidate forum, eliminate questions from the audience, and include candidates, including County Prosecutor Bill Thompson and State Senator Gary Schroeder, who are not facing any opposition.  
The MCA did agree that questions from the audience should come from the audience members and not from the candidates themselves.  The MCA also agreed to pick a neutral moderator from a list supplied by Nathan Alford, publisher of the “Daily News.”   
The MCA debates will provide the candidates for each Latah County race with an opportunity for an hour-long, one-on-one, in-depth discussion of the issues.   This format will be a true debate, instead of a candidate panel discussion where each candidate is offered little more than a few minutes of introduction.
On October 25, the following candidates have been invited:  
7pm, Latah County Sheriff candidates: Crouch, Overstreet, Rausch
8pm, Latah County Commissioner, district 2: Stroschein, Harkins
9pm, Latah County Commissioner, district 3: Nelson, Pike
On October 27, the following candidates have been invited:
7pm, Idaho State Representative, position A: Trail, Solomon
8pm, Idaho State Representative, position B: Ringo, Bennett
The Moscow Civic Association is a non-profit citizen’s organization that strives to improve the quality of life for Moscow residents.  More information is available on the MCA website, www.moscowcivic.org
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