Six weeks ago, I proposed a remedy to the problem that conservatives have in this year’s Republican Governor’s primary. Just like 3 years ago our incumbent Governor will win the primary with less than 40% of the vote. I suggested a series of debates between the three conservative candidates and any other Republican Primary candidate including Mr. Little. Mr. Humphreys and Mr. Bundy agreed in principle to the proposition, but Mrs. McGeachin said she would debate only if the Governor also agreed to be on stage and debate at the same time. Everyone knows that would never happen.
Any one of the three conservative candidates in my opinion would be far better than our current Governor. Mr. Little is a good man. He loves his family. Unfortunately, my greatest fear has been realized. Like the current Idaho Speaker of the House, he is a legacy politician, who started in politics on third base and now thinks that he has hit a home run! Same with Mr. Speaker. In any field of endeavor those who rise without starting at the bottom invariably have a sense of entitlement regarding their position, and the relationships that are so critical to developing leadership skills and savvy are never learned. One can never have a connection to “We the People” via a special interest group or lobbyist. That is precisely why “process” is more important to them than principle. Just look at the censor debate about Lt. Col Giddings to see the difference. A company man who manages, is very different than a self-made person that leads.
Anyone of our conservative candidates is far better than “Jr. Little”.Janice McGeachin is a wife—mother Lt. Governor—and successful businesswoman. Amon Bundy is a man of great faith and moral and political courage. Ed Humphreys is a self-made millionaire who has leveraged his wealth and family security to fight for the principles that he and his family stand for.
Each conservative candidate has some baggage that needs to be addressed up front. Three debates with each other under terms and conditions that all three would agree to would be an appropriate way to early on address the negatives—early and often and get the one that comes out on top of those debates ready to take on Mr. Little.
There are three people that need to come out and help facilitate a process whereby we can have a one-on-one match in the primary. Robert Neugebauer from the Gem State Patriot, Wayne Hoffman from the Idaho Freedom Foundation, and Kevin Miller from KIDO. These men in addition to being respected in the conservative community, carry a tremendous amount of influence. It is a shame that they don’t all get along better like Rush Limbaugh and Shaun Hannity.
With that in mind I must say that I was disappointed to hear Mr. Miller say this morning on his show,-I paraphrase, that trying to get the three candidates to debate was futile and therefore trying to get a single conservative candidate to run against Brad was going to be impossible. If the Governor was listening as I am told he does often he must have smiled and said, “Thank you Kevin”. I for one was disappointed.
Mr. Hoffman as head of the Freedom Foundation cannot use his organization in a political fashion. They are as I understand a “policy organization”. I must say that I serve at Wayne’s pleasure as their medical advisor, but as an individual speaking for myself, I have every right to voice my political opinions as well as write about policy. Wayne can do the same—just keep the organization and the private opinion separate.
Again, in my humble opinion, Mr. Neugebauer can best serve the conservatives of Idaho by being neutral for as long as possible during this process. He should use his platform to define issues and inform the public when conservative principles are not being adhered too in the campaign or the debate.
I have always preferred the debate solution to the conservative “tri-angulation” primary problem. If the one candidate—who I like and respect very much and who I think could come out on top in this process refuses to debate, then we should refuse to give any contributions to that or any campaign until the candidates meet privately—I will pay for the meeting and the forum, and each pledges to put their own interests aside, and support one candidate to have the ultimate face-off with Mr. Brad. We should start our own “Conservative to beat Brad Campaign fund” All contributions should be made to the fund. Any candidate who refuses to put the people’s desires to beat Brad ahead of their own desire to be Governor will not get a penny of mine and conservatives who want to win and not just make a “Custer last stand” will agree with me.
I agree with Mr. Miller’s comments today on KIDO that there is a lot of time and money and commitment put into these campaigns. I might also add ego. All desire to serve, but service takes on many forms. Strategy first requires tactics to meet the long-term goal. The goal should be to win. Any person that would put their own personal interests and ego ahead of winning is not a winner. We need a leader who will support our cause no matter the cost to themselves.
As Mr. Trump has so often said: “Winning—Winning—Winning”
If it is not about “winning” I am not in with my time or my “investment”
What about You? MIG “Fight Like Hell” “Let’s Go Brandon”
