From My Mailbox

Usually, when I talk about my Mailbox, I’m talking about my e-mail box. This time, I’m talking about my actual mailbox.

• Gail Hartnett may have gained an advantage with her recent mailing. She included an absentee ballot request. Voter turnout should generally be low the day after Memorial Day and Hartnett including the absentee ballot request makes it far easier for voters to cast their vote.  This could be crucial. Last time the 18th had a contested GOP primary, only 1,720 voters participated. If you live in District 18, your vote could make a huge difference. Less than 1500 showed in 2004 in my primary, so this is crucial. Hartnett sending out the absentee application isn’t something I’ve seen in an Idaho GOP primary before.
• I receive a lot of mail for campaign contributions. Two very surprising. I received a mailer from Mike Crapo last week for his 2010 re-election effort and one from Dirk Kempthorne to seek to repay his campaign debts from 2002. 

Kempthorne’s was curious to me because the last time he was on the ballot, I didn’t even live in Idaho. But I guess as a 20-something, I need to get used to paying off debts that were built up before I got here. It’s hard to imagine Kempthorne getting around to campaign debts six years after election.

As for Crapo, last time he ran, he was without Democratic opposition. He won re-election with 99% of the vote, up from 70% in 1998. If I really have to worry about his re-election 2 years out than we’re in more trouble than I thought. I’d gladly sacrifice to keep Crapo in the Senate, I’m just not convinced its needed.

More importantly, these solicitations seem a bit of a distraction. Congressman Sali needs the money as do some great legislative candidates. Money is tight for Republicans across the country, so the mailers are to put it nicely, ill-timed.

• I received my tax rebate by Direct Deposit today. I also received a letter from the IRS, letting me know how much I was going to get. This was after a previous letter, let me and about 100 million other taxpayers know we are getting a tax rebate. The approximate price of these two mailings: $80 million. I think one would have been more than enough.
• I got “The Visitation” (the Movie) in the mail from Netflix and have to admit I’m a tad nervous about it. I read the book and it was interesting (even though it kind of finished flat.) The movie has the same basic plot but when you take a book to the screen, there are bound to be problems. It doesn’t sound like a classic. One big issue that stands out is casting. In the book, Travis is a disgruntled former pastor, and Kyle Sherman is the young new pastor in need of guidance from his predecessor. In the move, Travis is played by 50 year old Martin Donovan, and Kyle is played by 48 year old Randy Travis. It seems a sacrifice of plot in order to get a big name. However, I’ll hope the movie is decent. It’s important to support Peretti’s works when they come to film. It may mean sitting through the Visitation in order to someday be able to see “The Oath” or “Piercing the Darkness/This Present Darkness.” All 3 of which would look fabulous with the right director and good CGI.