[Vision2020] Unconfirmed Rumors About Latah Republicans Repeated

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (October 9, 2010) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with
special thanks to the INKster Vera White.

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INK: Unconfirmed rumors about Latah Republicans repeated

October 9, 2010

The INKster was pleased to have received a personal invitation to Friday's
groundbreaking celebration for the Veterinary Medical Research Center at
Washington State University. She wasn't able to attend, but it gives her
an opportunity to once again say good things about the wonderful works
performed at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, one of the top schools
in the country.

As readers may remember, the INKster's beloved pet, the late Cookie, was
rushed there about a decade ago when she tumbled down a long flight of
steps from the deck and messed up her back. After going through a lengthy
surgery and subsequent therapy treatments, she returned home as good as
new.

The Cookster never forgot the wonderful care she received there and the
kindnesses extended by staff to her mistress.

The new research center will only enhance the great works being
accomplished by those dedicated folks at the Vet School.

As sad as it sounds, many people are calling and asking for Gary Schroeder
yard signs, according to son, Barrett.

In the primary, Gresham Bouma defeated the longtime District 6 Republican
senator.

"Most people don't seem to realize dad lost," Barrett recently told the
INKster.

Barrett, a Republican precinct committeeman who served a decade as vice
chairman of the Latah County Republicans, urged people to get out and vote
on Election Day otherwise "they might get surprised the day after the
election."

In a recent Daily News letter to the editor, Tom Anderson of Moscow urged
people to not cast their vote for Republican Raul Labrador who is running
for the U.S. House of Representatives in Idaho's 1st Congressional
District against Democrat Walt Minnick.

Anderson blasts Labrador for his shabby treatment of Minnick, accusing him
of lying about his Vietnam War record. The INKster also has posed
questions about Minnick's military record in earlier columns, but she
found Anderson's letter interesting since he is vice chairman of the Latah
County Republicans.

And to compound seeming unrest within the Latah County GOP, the INKster
learned last week that Shelley McGuire and Brian Croston resigned from the
Republican executive committee, leaving only six members remaining.

Although she couldn't nail it down, it would be the Inkster's guess these
two couldn't support Bouma, who is running as a Republican but appears to
me to be more strongly affiliated with the Tea Party.

Although Anderson couldn't bring himself to vote for Minnick since it
"might help (House Speaker Nancy) Pelosi," he intends to write-in the name
of Vaughn Ward, an Iraq War veteran who lost in the primaries.

The INKster finds it disturbing those Republican Party officials are
leaving their posts so soon before election, because it sounds like there
is definitely a split in the ranks.

"I hope the Democrats are working hard as it seems this election is going
to be handed to them on a silver platter," one Republican friend predicted
recently.

Like him or not, and the INKster doesn't, Bouma appears to be making waves
in his run for the District 6 senate seat.

The latest rumor to come across the INKster's desk is that Bouma campaign
manager Paula Bauer recently had a "come to Jesus" talk with Republican
Latah County Commissioner candidate Bill Goesling who is running against
Democrat Commissioner Tom Stroschein.

"She (Bauer) sat him down and made him change his mind on abortion or they
wouldn't let him put up his yard signs in their locations," one anonymous
source told the INKster.

In an attempt to confirm this, the INKster called a friend in the
commission district to see if this rumor was true.

"Apparently it is," said the person who didn't want to be identified. "His
(Goesling) position now appears to be pro-life."

Although she doesn't know Goesling and if this is indeed true, the INKster
doesn't think this says much about the strength of his convictions.

If ever there was a time for sane people in Latah County to get out and
vote, it is the Nov. 2 election.


.the blotter rests.

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Seeya at the polls, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown