I don’t feel reporting on Sali’s voting record is an attack, I feel reporting on his voting record, having no clue what’s actually being debated and what both sides are is an attack, that shows more concern for simply attacking the Congressman than understanding our government and communicating what’s going on to your readers.

My point is not that the majority is always right or always wrong.

However, Julie was clearly making an Argumentum ad populum, ignoring the substance of the issue and appealing to the majority, while ironically in no position to claim to speak for them. The Marriage Amendment stands on its own merits not because a majority approved it.

Good pick up on the frustration, but you missed the source. My frustration isn’t with losing. When it comes to winning elections in Idaho, my candidates have done quite well. I fully expect that Congressman Sali will survive the attacks of the anti-Sali blog alliance.

What’s taken a hit is my opinion and hopes for the blogosphere at least on the left side of Idaho. I’d hoped that we could have a dignified, good-spirited debate, but when we had times and occasions to, we could come together for the interest of the common good of our State.

Sadly, what I’ve found is that the entire left wing of the Idaho blogosphere to be partisans who put party before country or state, and will only tell truth if it’s negative about Republicans. And excessive partisanship kills the possibility of cooperation across party lines. Thus why the Democratic alternative to Governor Risch’s reduction in property taxes combined with a sales tax increase went nowhere. They came up and sold it as partisan hacks looking to find a way to gain seats and the plan lost.

I’ve shown that I’m not shilling for my party. My politics are driven by consistent values and beliefs. You may not like them, but so be it. I’ve called out and defended our state’s Senior Senator at various times, I’ve called out and Defended my Congressman. Yet, what I’m dealing with in the Idaho leftosphere are shills who simply post press releases and worship at the altar of the Golden Donkey. (I exclude W. Lane Startin and Branden Durst from this criticism.)

So, the possibility of working together is limited. But, it’s part of growing up or perhaps just growing older that you realize not every enemy can be a friend, and not every opponent will like you or try to understand you. I’ve come to accept this. I’ll be hated by the Idaho leftwing blogosphere no matter what I do, as long as I stand for Conservative values. I’ll get criticized for calling the Democratic Party, the Democrat Party while the same folks ignore allegations that I’m trying to establish a theocracy. I’ve come to realize it’s nothing more than a game by people who want to play games rather than talk about the issues that matter to our country.

So be it, while someday we might have a liberal blogger that’s more than a partisan hack, I’ll focus my energy on other areas of life, and focus my blogging on defeating my distiniguished opponents.

Also, it is really too bad that you feel that reporting on Sali’s voting record is an attack on him. How else does a voter judge the effectiveness of a congressman? If you see the good things that Sali is doing, you’re free to report on them.

And to your point in the previous comment about the mighty majority not being right, I’m guessing that when the majority of Idahoans passed the marriage amendment you feel that wasn’t right either.

Peace, Adam. Your frustration is showing.

You know his vote against pork barrel projects that Larry Grant would have supported? Tell me, Julie why is it right to give $2 million of my money to Sherwin Williams to fund a project that the Pentagon didn’t ask for and the end of result which will not be owned by the American people but by Sherwin Williams. Your party gave that money away and no one has the guts to address it.

Finally, whether Bill Sali or I in the Majority isn’t up for debate. The voice of the Majority isn’t the voice of God, or indicative of what’s right. Rather, you want to argue ironically that might makes right. If the Majority believe it, that is correct. So when the majority believed in slavery and that women wouldn’t vote were they right?

Of course, the irony comes from the fact that you’re making this argument as the member of a minority in our state, with a Senate delegation with less seats than a Toyota Sequoia. The proof of what the Majority you claim to speak for thinks would seem to come at the ballot box.

It’s about time that Sali’s comments – and his votes – are getting the scrutiny they deserve. His views and yours represent those of a minority of Idaho voters.

The difference here is that I’m being honest about my Congressman’s failings, as well as his strengths. The fact is that you act like there’s nothing Bill Sali has done that’s praiseworthy or commendable. If you just honestly say, “I will criticize Bill Sali no matter what he does and am intentionally overlooking anything he positive he does.” That’d at least be honest rather than pretending to actually be outraged.

I think blind criticism of a member of Congress as a primary focus doesn’t advance the country. In order to achieve your goal, you’re turning a blind eye to the way Democrats are abusing our country. You haven’t even raised a peap about the Democrat efforts to undermine our nation’s military through these blasted defunding efforts, because if you start talking about those things, you find Bill Sali standing on the right side of an issue.

I want to be honest and right for the best interest of the country, which is not served by giving away our country to pork barrel politicians. You’re not making the country better or concerned about, just tearing down a man who’s trying his best to do the right thing. You’re tearing down someone you met in person and said sounded like a reasonable man. Truth is that you haven’t even given Congressman Sali a chance. You’ve focus on gaffes rather than what he’s doing for the nation. You don’t help America by being an idiot partisan. The end of the efforts of Hate Sali folks and Hate Bush folks and Hate Clinton folks is all the same. It’s personality, not principle, and that poisons the well and makes are politics uglier, nastier, and distaseful.

If you succeed, you’ll get a Congressman into power who will vote for more pork, the destruction of our health care system, and if he stays in Congress long enough, and the burdening of all people with more taxes and an ever-increasing amount of taxes. Maybe, it won’t matter to you. Maybe you don’t think Calvary Chapel members are fit to serve in Congress, maybe you think we’d better off with a pro-choice member of Congress no matter what they do. Or maybe you don’t like losing and thing despite that Mr. Grant will melt like before the leadership of the House (which he already took tens of thousands of dollars from) he’s a peachy keen guy. But guess what, but I’m going to be the guy who’ll eventually end up sending 80% of my paycheck to the government.

Seriously, though, why shouldn’t we — the anti-Sali bloggers — want to use whatever “influence” we have to show that Rep. Sali isn’t representing our district as effectively as someone like Larry Grant could? You just had a good post showing that your Congressman isn’t doing as well as you’d like him to; we’re just doing the same thing, but generally in a snarkier way. Plus, Rep. Sali just says so many funny things, it’s hard not to hold him up for public mocking and belittlement.