Politics: LaRocco on Idaho

In Idaho, It’s Trendy to be Anti

By Larry LaRocco, 12-30-06

Governor-elect Butch Otter took the oath of office in a very private ceremony without press or the public. Historians debated whether it's the first time in Idaho history. What's going on here? That's easy. It's trendy to be "anti." Feel a song coming on?

Remember the anti-Clinton moves by George W. Bush? It was very Texas and very anti-DC: Bush nailed double points for trips to Camp David and Crawford, Texas in the same week. Dullsville at the White House. Lights out at 10:00 sharp and no pillow fights. There were style and policy anti-actions: CEO-style management was de rigueur; meetings started on time; no sloth and late night pizza parties. On policy we had non-engagement with Israelis and Palestinians, and we didn't believe in surgical strikes against Bin Laden. That was tooooooo Clinton. Full-on war is very neo-con and anti-Clinton.

Here in Idaho, we had the anti-Kempthorne tenure of Jim Risch. Cozy pics with the new first lady everywhere to remind us of a new moral superiority and family values. No motorcycles or leather for the temporary crowd. No issue or policy was too small for an executive order, proclamation or news conference. (Golf week in December?) Department and administrative heads were put in the deep freeze. In fact, one was put on administrative leave for seven months with pay. Ubiquity was the name of the game. Whoooooshhhhh! Was that the governor? Yep, he's everywhere, he's everywhere. Don't get between Jim Risch and a TV camera. Whooooooossshhhh! The energy and dedication to the constitution were so anti. Decisions that were surely to be overturned in a matter of months were made with great aplomb and decisiveness. All very anti-Kempthorne.

Speaker of the House Lawerence Denney is playing anti-Newcomb. Newcomb would have given Democrats the seats on JFAC they earned in the last election. Not Denney. New sheriff in town with new math. Rural interests versus urban interests is so anti. Idaho is changing daily but being anti-Newcomb is too tempting. Nobody will notice. That's so anti.

And along comes C.L. “Butch” Otter ducking into a private room to raise his right hand to take the oath of office as governor of Idaho without the glare of cameras or smothering relatives. That's so anti-Risch. Remember the recent ceremony on the steps of the Capitol for the short-term governor? Cannons booming, jets overhead, red tie, weight of the world on the shoulders. The "agenda." What next for the anti-Risch? A solo picture of the new governor on the official website? Enjoying some time and a Pronto Pup with Idahoans instead of the 24/7 schedule in suit and tie? The Risch Administration never slept. Ever vigilant, ever serious. No time for fairs, handshaking or debates. On the job with the state plane on ready alert to reach the smallest town with the biggest check.

What if Otter is taking the oath in private because he's humble?

Now that's anti.

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Former Idaho Congressman Larry LaRocco is an occasional columnist at New West. You can read more about Larry here.

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