<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2523" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>Debbie, Dan, Tom, et al,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>Mark Solomon has already politely answered
the main issue of this thread. But I will clumsily try to explain why I
believe the failure of certain candidates to appear at the MCA forum is
quite indicative of aspects of their real characters.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>I have been to many, many political
candidate forums in the past. Except for the one I previously described in
a recent V 2020 post, most were not very informative for a number of
reasons:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>1. Most issues are
sufficiently complex that a 2 - 3 minute response by a candidate is hardly
enough time to demonstrate even a fundamental understanding of the many
facets of and perspectives on the issue. For example, how to structure a
policy for high speed pursuits by law enforcement officers, or whether to or
which dams to breach are issues that cannot be addressed by a few simple
statements; there are many possible scenarios that must be thought
out/discussed/debated and many factors to consider.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>2. Part of being a public
official, especially a law enforcement officer, commissioner, or
congressperson, is dealing with hostility, opposing viewpoints, and the
unexpected from citizens, each of which is entitled to have their views heard
and considered. If a candidate is afraid (read cowardly) to do that during
the pre-election process in the open air of a well attended public forum, then
you can bet they will not do it well if they are elected.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>3. Some candidates
exaggerate or simply lie about their qualifications, past experience, and other
personal factors. An MCA type forum not only gives citizens a chance to
possibly hear about such defalcations, but to observe the demeanor of the
candidates under moderate fire, and possibly even witness a meaningful direct
discussion/debate/confrontation between the opposing candidates, and with
the focus on them and not on 10 - 20 others on the stage, some overtly/covertly
doing things to attract/distract the audience's attention.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>In my opinion, not appearing at the MCA
forum is a tacit admission by a candidate that they are afraid that their views,
background, qualifications, personalities, etc. will not bear up in the heat of
a semi-searching public scrutiny.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>I don't think even the MCA forum is open
enough, but it is a great improvement over the other milk toast affairs.
At least the MCA forum is structured so that a lengthy debate can be held on
selected issues and the candidate's mettle can be tested a little.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>Because it opens candidates up to showing
their ignorance, facing untruths they have uttered, and performing under
some pressure, I think it cowardly of them not to attend the only real
forum in the local political arena that offers such exposure to
voters. If you read the Schroeder column defending the boycott and
the article about the no-shows in last night's DN, you may well think their
position not only childish but arrogant for two reasons:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>1. The arguments they
offer are so unbelievable, they insult our intelligence to even offer them (see
the short post below that restarted this thread today);</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>2. They do not think that
the voters that might attend the MCA forum deserve their consideration
and/or an opportunity to observe and to hear a more in-depth exposition and
defense of their views/records/qualifications, etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>[For a real revelation, read carefully the
DN article again where the no-shows give their reasons for not
attending.]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>For reasons that will subsequently appear,
I did not think that Wayne Rausch would have the courage to appear.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>I was really disappointed that Jeff Harkins
did not appear; he has some ideas that, if refined, appear, when expressed
in brief, to have merit. I was looking forward to the kind of discussion
that might further elucidate his ideas and, also perhaps, might show some of the
problems they may have at this point.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>I agree with Mark. Until the MCA
forum, there was little opportunity to witness a meaningful debate. As a
believer in the "marketplace of ideas" and the freedom and necessity of
searching discussions as a method of progress/evaluation, I find the behavior of
the no-shows to be a cowardly poke-in-the-eye to concerned and sincere
voters.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>I do not like to buy a pig-in-the
poke. Perhaps though, I am off-base in thinking that good citizenship
means at least having a fundamental grasp of the main issues, knowing where
candidates stand on the issues, their background, experience, and personal
traits, and being able to assess the probability they can and will make good on
their campaign assertions. My hope is that all the local forums in the
next election will follow the lead of the MCA so that we all may
benefit.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>Wayne</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>Wayne A. Fox<BR></FONT><A
href="mailto:waf@moscow.com"><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>waf@moscow.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>PO Box
9421<BR>Moscow, ID 83843<BR>208 882-7975</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>______________________________________________</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>All,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>Re: The MCA Debates: a
statement to voters about the woeful local GOP --a lunge from the heights
of respectability to the depths of cowardice, arrogance, and
childishness (except Jack Nelson!).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a democracy.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Statements by candidates about their
qualifications/views and critical analyses thereof are an indispensable element
of that expression.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>The local GOP is boycotting the MCA forum, thus depriving deserving
voters of a more searching look at their candidacies than other
forums.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>Their publicly expressed reasons:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>fear of "planted" hostile questions, non-allowance of unopposed
candidates, and fear of "personal attacks" (read: <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>close scrutiny of claimed
qualifications).</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>Lame.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Juvenile.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>"Planted" hostile questions do not occur at other forums?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Yeah, right. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Would it alter election results if an
unopposed candidate doesn't appear?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Is it a "personal attack" to show a candidate has egregiously lied about
his qualifications?</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>The real GOP reason is the well-founded fear that two of their
candidates, Tom Trail and sheriff wanna-be, Wayne Rausch, will fair poorly in a
face-to-face debate.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>And the GOP is correct about what would happen.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mark Solomon has an articulate,
prodigious grasp of the issues.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Sheriff Jeff Crouch's leadership has served us very well, including the
successful solution of two difficult murder cases.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>The public is also entitled to see how candidates react under pressure –
pressure like what they may many times face as part of public office.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is particularly true of a candidate
for sheriff.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana Ref'"><FONT size=4>The local GOP behavior is
anti-democratic, dishonest, and cowardly.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Childish scaredy-cats who boycott the MCA forum are unworthy of our
votes.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana Ref'"><o:p><FONT
size=4> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana Ref'"><FONT size=4>I am particularly appalled at
Rausch's craven attitude.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The least
desirable traits of a potential sheriff are puerility, lack of partisan
independence, and cowardice.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana Ref'"><o:p><FONT
size=4> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana Ref'"><o:p><FONT
size=4> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Verdana Ref"><FONT size=4>/s/ Wayne A. Fox<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face="Verdana Ref" size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Verdana Ref"><FONT size=4><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Wayne
A. Fo</SPAN>x<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Verdana Ref"><FONT size=4>1009 Karen Lane<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Verdana Ref"><FONT size=4>P.O. Box 9421<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Verdana Ref"><FONT size=4>Moscow, ID<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>83843<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face="Verdana Ref" size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Verdana Ref"><FONT size=4>(208) 882-7975<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A
href="mailto:waf@moscow.com"><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>waf@moscow.com</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></P></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>