Today, the IFF’s ‘Pride in America’ series highlights a man whose name may not appear on most people’s lists of America’s Finest. Though hindsight proves that he accurately assessed the internal dangers facing the county, in his own time his name was synonymous with political witch hunts. Author Brian Almon traces the rise and fall of this man, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy, and closes with a look at his legacy:
“Time has proven Joseph McCarthy’s concerns correct. There were people in our government who believed that the Soviet model was superior and that the American people should not be trusted with the truth or the ability to vote in any meaningful way. The State Department especially has become the source of statist propaganda that afflicts the entire world–the first impeachment of President Donald Trump demonstrates how they operate completely without accountability.
“Joseph McCarthy had many flaws, but a love of his country was not one of them. He saw the danger of communism spreading throughout our government and tried to stop it. If only his colleagues had taken the threat as seriously.”
The ‘Pride in America’ series is the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s month-long celebration of individuals “who ha[ve] demonstrated and defended American values.” Since June 1, the series has recognized people as diverse as explorer Davy Crockett, entrepreneur Elon Musk, saleswoman Nancy Green, and athlete Riley Gaines.
The full article may be read on the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s website, here.
The City of Chubbuck invites the public to gather for a community celebration on August 12. Their social media post reads:
Parade and Festival – August 12, 2023, Please Join Us!
The Chubbuck Days Festival is scheduled for Saturday, August 12th. The Parade starts at 10:00 AM and the Festival at Cotant Park will follow the parade at 11:00 AM. To register your organization or business, just fill out the forms below and send it to the City of Chubbuck by July 1st. For questions or arrangements call Wendy Butler at 237-2400 ext. 148.
IMPORTANT: You must sign up by July 1! Late sign-ups will not be assured a place and after July 30, no entries will be accepted.
Boise–The Idaho Republican Party announces the resignation of Mr. Damond Watkins, our National Committeeman. With 12 years of service, Mr. Watkins has played a pivotal role in shaping our party’s vision and driving positive change.
During his tenure, Mr. Watkin’s commitment to our shared Republican values and principles has made an impact on our organization and the wider Republican community. As we bid farewell to Mr. Watkins, we express our gratitude for his service and contributions over the years to the Idaho Republican Party.
[Article 1, Section 10: If the office of the National Committeeman or National Committeewoman becomes vacant, by reason or resignation, death or otherwise, the State Chairman shall, within thirty (30) days of the event, call a Republican State Central Committee meeting for the purpose of making an appointment to fill the vacancy. Such appointee shall serve until a successor is duly chosen at the next presidential year Republican State Convention.]
According to our state party bylaws, in the next 30 days the IDGOP Chairwoman will be calling a special meeting of the State Central Committee to fill the vacancy of the position for National Committeeman.
(Bannock County Coroner’s Office Press Release, June 26, 2023)
The Bannock County Coroner’s Office, in cooperation with Idaho State Police, has confirmed the identity of the deceased following the pedestrian fatality collision on Interstate 86 near milepost 60 in Bannock County on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 12:27 a.m.
Deceased: Lance David Perly, 52 of Wyoming (m)
Next of kin has been notified.
The incident remains under investigation by Idaho State Police.
Idaho State Police are investigating a collision that occurred at 12:27 a.m. on Monday, June 26, 2023, on I-86 near milepost 60, in Bannock County.
A 50-year-old male, of Nampa, ID, was driving westbound in a Freightliner semi-truck. A 52-year-old male pedestrian, of Wyoming, was stationary in the right lane of travel. The pedestrian was struck by the semi-truck and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Next of kin has been notified. The Bannock County coroner will release the name at a later date.
The roadway was blocked for approximately five and a half hours.
The incident remains under investigation by Idaho State Police.
George Orwell notoriously observed that language controls thought and thought controls action. If you can control the words you can control people. If there are no words describing “revolution” then there cannot be a conspiracy to revolt because the concept of a revolution cannot be communicated between individuals.
Progressive liberals have been working to change or obliterate the definitions of words to the point that some people are confused over the most basic of concepts. Matt Walsh’s video “What is a Woman” documents the logical gymnastics required to avoid the simple truth that a woman is an adult human female. When asked, “What is a woman?” interviewees claim that a woman is someone who identifies as a woman. This self-referencing circular reasoning is the opposite of a definition. Two plus two equals whatever we say it does.
The plasticity of definitions isn’t just confusing and inconvenient, it can be outright dangerous. Words that may have been acceptably uttered a year ago may now get you canceled, fired, or even incarcerated. A Kellogg High School senior stated a scientific fact that has been true since the beginning of time, which resulted in him being banned from commencement ceremonies. January 6th protesters were incarcerated when “freedom to assemble” was redefined to mean “insurrection.” Jail with no bail for you.
A free society cannot operate based on the fickle whims of wannabe dictators. The rules must be clear and understood by all. This requires standards in the form of laws, taboos and definitions. Imagine trying to operate in a society where the weight of a pound or the length of a mile or the volume of a gallon was arbitrarily changed from one moment to the next.
Our laws must have clear definitions that can be understood by the citizens without requiring interpretation by “experts.” When the current president identified White Supremacy as the greatest threat to democracy without clearly defining what “White Supremacy” means it should have raised concerns among every citizen. Are YOU a White Supremacist? You may only find out at 3:00 AM when the IRS SWAT team shows up at your house.
Many well-meaning citizens have allowed the incremental redefining of our standards, and that allowance has become acceptance and even adoption of the practice. If they can be something simply by claiming it, then why can’t you? Well, you can. If you are a man and want to say you’re a woman, you are free to do so and if others want to participate in your identity then they are also free to do so. The problem comes when you try to force others to participate, thus violating their freedoms.
Without any applicable training you can claim to be a brain surgeon. You can dress in scrubs and ask people to call you “doctor” but if you try to actually perform brain surgery on someone you will be arrested and incarcerated. Your rights end where mine begin.
Similarly, anyone is free to affiliate with the Republican Party. There is no test or requirement other than being a legally registered elector. You simply need to decide that you want to be a Republican and check a box on a form.
But what is a Republican? Political parties have platforms which are a formal set of beliefs and goals that define the party. The Republican Party Platform articulates the essential characteristics of a “Republican.” But how is the platform determined?
Each of the 44 counties in Idaho is divided into precincts containing about 1,000 voters. Each precinct elects a Precinct Committeeman to serve on the county’s Central Committee. Each Republican Central Committee elects delegates to the Republican State Convention, which convenes every 2 years, and those delegates are responsible for crafting and amending the platform. The Republican Party Platform is the ONLY defining standard for what it means to be a Republican.
Some people wrongly believe that if they say they are a Republican they can also define what it means to be a Republican. They may have been a Republican for years, or even decades, but that does not grant them to right or authority to say who is or who isn’t a “true” Republican. The North Idaho Republicans group has carried this to the arrogant extreme of claiming THEY represent what it means to be a Republican while the ACTUAL Republican Party and its Platform does not.
Grassroots Republicans object to politicians who claim to be conservative Republicans but govern as liberal democrats. The party has responded by putting requirements in place and conducting vetting so that if a candidate wishes to get the advantages of the Republican brand they must be actual Republicans who substantially agree with the platform.
Of the over 240 elected offices with taxing authority in Kootenai County, only 9 (<4%) have partisan primaries. The democrats have a stealth policy of running candidates for every office, and they have been successful. Republican vetting exposes these stealth candidates.
For the May election the North Idaho Republicans’ endorsed candidate list was IDENTICAL to the Democrat Party’s list and the opposite of the actual Republican Party recommendations. The antics of the North Idaho Republicans have become so extreme that the Idaho Secretary of State fined them $5,000 and the Republican National Committee has issued them a Cease and Desist letter for falsely using the Republican Party brand.
The Republican Party has a fiduciary obligation to protect the Republican brand from abuse. When a citizen votes for a Republican they should get a Republican and not just a liberal or Democrat claiming to be a Republican.
Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities: Keeping Government Accountable
(Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities, June 25, 2023)
MORE “NEED TO KNOW” information for Pocatello Residents:
Two City of Pocatello Budget Development Meetings are scheduled this week:
Wednesday 06/28/23 – 9 a.m.
Thursday 06/29/23 – 9 a.m.
What is being planned for the FY2024 Budget?
A WHOLE LOT OF NEW SPENDING!
What is the plan to pay for it?
The LARGEST (PROPOSED) TAX ASK PERCENTAGE INCREASE (7%) seen in at least a decade plus increased (estimated) state tax revenue plus the use of reserves.
NOTE: The use of reserves for ongoing expenditures is prohibited by City Financial Policy.
Proposed (Not yet final):
The maximum city levy (tax ask) of 3% + new construction + annexation
+ an additional 1% foregone (for Operating & Materials)
+ an additional 3% foregone for Capital expenditures.
= 7% total increase in the City “Tax Ask”
*Even with all the increased revenue, the budget document reflects a $1M deficit. Also, it is doubtful this 1st draft includes the new “Minimum Revenue Guarantee” (MRG) they’ll need for the new MRG contract with DELTA (est. $1.5 – $1.7M) or that it includes restoration of any of the revenue pilfered away from Fund 78 (capital expenditures) back in FY21.
Challis–Yesterday, members of the Idaho Republican State Central Committee overwhelmingly voted to choose their delegates for the Republican National Convention’s Presidential Nominating contest through a caucus system, adopting a caucus proposal at our summer meeting in Challis, Idaho.
This vote moves Idaho into the early stages of the Republican Presidential nominating fight — allowing Idaho Republicans to vote fifth in the nation and before Super Tuesday.
Commentators and political pundits expect this coming year’s race for the Republican nomination to be hotly contested, with every delegate selected playing a key role in the ultimate outcome.
Earlier this year, some elected Idahoans voted to change and then remove the presidential primary from state statute, leaving Idaho Republican voters with zero ability to vote for their preference in the 2024 Presidential contest.
Recognizing the importance of voter participation and accessibility, the State Central Committee has also passed a resolution urging the legislature to reinstate the March presidential primary. In the event that the March Presidential primary is not restored, the Idaho Republican caucus will serve as our comprehensive plan to ensure a robust Presidential selection process.
In response to the adoption of the caucus proposal, IDGOP Chairwoman Moon said, “Now, more than ever, it’s crucial for everyday hard-working Idahoans to have a voice in determining the direction of our republic and our beloved Idaho. Under the guise of ‘innovation,’ the wealthy and powerful want to manipulate our electoral systems to rig outcomes that favor their interests. The Idaho State Republican Party’s vote this weekend is a full-on rejection of election gimmicks and a full 100% endorsement of a fair, transparent and open process.”
The Idaho Republican Party remains committed to upholding the principles that empower the citizens of Idaho to have a meaningful voice in shaping our nation’s future.
The Road Closure and Traffic Report for the City of Pocatello for the week of June 26 has been posted on the City’s website.
Some of the highlights include:
Street sweepers are performing their spring clean-up
Street Operations is patching potholes and curblines throughout the city
Traffic Operations is repainting crosswalks and arrows throughout the City
The annual hydrant flushing program begins this week
Crews will continue replacing the water main line on Wyeth, Buchanan, and Lander
The Carson St. bridge remains closed for repair
Chubbuck Road will be closed between Pleasant View Dr. and Fairgrounds Rd. as part of the I-86/I-15 System Interchange project, and will remain closed until Fall 2024
Crews are installing upgrades and resurfacing parts of Ammon St.
Crews will be jetting sewer lines throughout the city
The intersection of Hawthorne Rd. and W Quinn Rd. will be closed until August for installation of a traffic signal
Summer Meeting Wrap The conservative wing of the Idaho GOP got work done
By: Brian Almon
Brian Almon
The 2023 summer meeting of the Idaho Republican Party wrapped up early Saturday afternoon after two productive days. A large docket of rules, resolutions, and unfinished business stood before the state central committee.
As a refresher: The Idaho GOP state central committee is the governing body of the party. Precinct committeemen are elected by Republican voters, and those PCs in turn elect leaders who chair legislative district and county committees. The chairs of each of these committees (44 counties and 35 legislative districts) sit on the state central committee, and each county also elects a state committeeman, committeewoman, and committee youth person.
The executive board of the state central committee is composed of the officers elected at the biannual convention – chair, 1st vice chair, 2nd vice chair, treasurer, and secretary – as well as the national committeeman and committeewoman who are elected every four years. They are joined by the seven region chairs, who are elected by the district chairs in each region, as well as four non-elected members: the heads of three private clubs – the Young Republicans, Federation of Republican Women, and College Republicans – as well as the finance chair, who is appointed by the state chair.
This is the committee that met in Challis this weekend.
On Friday night, the Rules Committee and Resolutions Committee each met to consider the proposals that had been submitted by PCs and committees throughout the state. Any PC or committee officer can submit a resolution or rule change for consideration. District 14, for example voted to endorse a resolution condemning US involvement in the wars in Syria and Yemen. While that might seem out of the scope of the state party, the purpose is to inform Sen. Jim Risch, the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, that his constituents are tired of American warmongering.
Ada County submitted several rules and resolutions regarding the new dues structure, which has been a source of conflict with the state party. Each one was defeated in committee, never making it to the floor. Whatever the merits of the issue, the ACRCC has developed a poor reputation, coming across as a bully that wants to dominate the rest of the state. When it comes to the state, however, persuasion is the only way forward.
The general session began with the surprise resignation of National Committeeman Damond Watkins. The executive board was due to hear the findings of a committee tasked with investigating the matter of his residency, so his days might have been numbered anyway. The whole affair – from Watkins taking a job out of state, to the overzealous investigation thereof by fellow party officials – was unfortunate. The seat is now vacant and the state chair must call a special meeting of the state central committee to fill the position.
The committee then picked up the unfinished business from the winter meeting: Rule 2023-7, moving four members of the state executive board from voting to non-voting status. KCRCC State Committee Youth Person Dan Bell gave a convincing presentation as to why this rule was necessary, including a handout that was distributed to attendees.
Due to the sensitive and contentious nature of this issue, the body chose to conduct the vote by secret ballot. The results were announced after lunch: 137-79 in favor of adopting the rule. This was a huge statement by the party that transparency and accountability in leadership are important. The leaders of the IYR, IFRW, and ICR remain on the executive board as ex oficio members, able to offer their perspectives and argue their points, but without the right to vote.
The rest of the meeting might have felt anticlimactic after that, but there was still important work to be done. Among the rules passed Saturday afternoon:
2023-8: This gives committees the ability to hold elected representatives accountable to the Idaho Republican platform. It creates a mechanism for notifying representatives that they have strayed, gives them a chance to respond, and gives committees the power to censure, and even with a supermajority vote to restrict that representative’s right to run under the Republican banner.
2023-13: Clarifying and reforming the proxy vote system for committee meetings. This was becoming an issue in Ada County as officers sometimes walked into meetings carrying more than a dozen proxy votes. Proxies are inherently anti-republican, as the absent PCs miss out on discussion and debate prior to votes. As I read it, the rule eliminates proxy voting entirely in Ada County as we have a system of alternate PCs already in place.
2023-16: This was a followup to a new rule at the last meeting that creates a dues structure for counties to pay toward the state party. This adds an enforcement mechanism, enabling the state party to restrict delegates from counties that have not paid their dues.
Rule 2023-19 would have forced county committee executive boards to include as voting members legislative district chairs within their borders. It was probably for the best, as the relationships of counties and legislative districts varies throughout the state. We in Ada County should be able to fix our own issues without getting the state involved.
The committee also endorsed each of the resolutions that had been passed by the committee the night before. The three most consequential were:
2023-43: This was drafted as a vote of no confidence in the fourteen Republican representatives who voted against overriding Gov. Brad Little’s veto of H314, the School and Library Protection Act. During floor debate, it was amended to include Little himself, and the resolution passed. The Idaho GOP officially condemns Little and the fourteen for failing to protect children.
2023-48: A condemnation of US involvement in the war in Syria. American troops have been active there for a decade now, despite no declaration of war or authorization by Congress, and despite President Trump ordering them withdrawn during his administration. I was proud that LD14 played a part in this resolution being adopted by the central committee.
2023-52: This was a harsh condemnation of the FBI, giving a litany of abuses going back decades, including Ruby Ridge. It demands that the FBI be reformed, and failing that, be abolished. A very strong statement from the Idaho GOP.
This was a productive meeting for the cause of liberty in Idaho. The Republican Party emerges from this stronger and more focused on winning the ideological battle in which we are all engaged.
One other piece of business was settled this weekend: the location of the 2024 State Convention. I will see you next summer in Coeur d’Alene!
Note: A descendant of American pioneers, Brian writes about the importance of culture and about current events in the context of history. His work can be found on Substack, here.
