Governor’s Race: Brady vs. Otter

I’m looking at both Jerry Brady and Clem Otter from a past performance perspective and it doesn’t look good for Clem. Otter is a “Career” Politician and from what I have determined he sure hasn’t done much for the people of Idaho, from serving in Idaho or in Washington but he has voted himself nice pay raises while the minimum wage has stayed wayyy below the poverty level.

Please bare with me. Our temorary Governor, Jim Risch, has pledged to work on the Idaho’s Registered Nurse shortage, he went as far as forming a committee that even has several REAL Nurses, the rest are political lackies, all from the Boise area. When the little temp guy made one of his many recent campaign trips to our area, he told the ISU Nursing Program that they needed to increase their student load, double it, but when Risch was told that more qualified instructors were needed for that to happen his reponse was just a flat “Do it anyway”. Now recently I brought this situation to Clem Otter’s attention, he was totally unaware of any nursing shortage.

I take people at first impressions. Jerry Brady is a well mannered man, a mature man with wisdon, with a vision for Idaho. Clem Otter is an old guy that still thinks he looks good in tight jeans with a BIG shiney belt buckle, cowboy boots and taylored shirt. Has anyone else had images of Ronald Regen when they have seen Clem’s campaign ad with him leaning on the fence, old cowboy hat cocked back, gazing off into the sunset? Yeppers Jerry Brady gets my vote!.

“My impression of Otter is he is very polished and jovial, certainly a nice guy.”

I guess what I mean to say is I think Butch Otter has lots of style, but I don’t think he has much substance.

What do we want in our leader, style or substance?

My wife made an interesting comment about Butch’s campaign ad the other day. It was him sitting in the middle of a potato field saying something like “Everybody knows that Idaho grows a great potato, but …” then he went on to talk about Idaho’s Tech boom.

To the both of us, this ad was pretty indicative of Butch’s perspective on Idaho’s farming heritage - almost as if he’s ashamed of our famous potatoes!

After much though, I have concluded that I will most likely vote for Jerry Brady. While I don’t agree with all of his policies and take issue with a lot of his stances, his tax plan seems to favor the middle-class rather than being designed to attract bigger business (I mean, do we really need more Best Buys?). I adore Mr. Brady’s opinion that schools should decide how to fund and teach in their schools on a local level, and this concept seems to show Brady’s understanding of the federalist system.

I would have voted for Otter many years ago when he favored more libertarian policies, but the otter of today is just another part-clown Republican.

I love Christina’s use of Mr. Otter’s name, “Clem.” He certainly doesn’t promote his real name and I haven’t seen much that connects him to his ex-wife either.

I,too, wondered how Clem found a partner about 30 years younger than himself. I still wonder if he wasn’t running for Gov. if he would have gotten married.

In my opinion, when Otter made the statement about “wasted the last few years in Washington, D.C.,” I thought he should be disqualified from running for any public office, except maybe working as a volunteer at the animal shelter.

His words were unbelievable. If he wasted his time, that translates iinto our dollars? How about Clem writing a check back to even the State of ID, if not he indivduals, for his salary during his wasted time? That money could be applied to education in the state.

Does anyone know how this part works? It’s my understanding that after those in Congress leave ther public service in D.C., their salares continue. So if Clem is voted in 4 Gov., how would that all work out? Would he get a salary in ID as Gov, and then his benefits still as a former member of the House?

If Clem wins, I wonder where he’ll live. It boggles my brain to live with his new wife, in his former in-law’s mansionm that they donated to the state. I wonder if the Simplots left any clauses in their gift stating that “exs” may not live there, if elected Governor?

This race seems to be moving at a snail’s pace, at least to me. Both candidates have spent a great deal of time in D.C.

I haven’t seen nearly as much about Brady’s campaign. I don’t think he would forget eastern ID quite as quickly as Clem. But, I do wonder why Brady had to have his videos made in VA instead of ID. That bothers me.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I learn more here than from the organizations the candidates are utilizing for their campaigns.

Butch has been doing some desperate things:

1. He claims Jerry wants to tax services.
2. He said Jerry would take away medicare and social security
3. He said Jerry hates guns and loves wolves.

None of this is true. Looks like Butch is getting scared eh? The Statesman did a poll recently that puts Jerry and Butch in a a dead heat. I’ve seen other polls that puts Jerry in the lead.

However, let’s not forget, if Jerry wins, it will be because of the people who support him. The campaign needs more volunteers!

Call 208.424.8800 to help out.

I think values like the ones expressed in this commercial is what has put Jerry in the lead in this governor’s race.

A recent poll commissioned by the Idaho Business Review and KTVB has Jerry in the lead by five points with a margin of error of +/- four points.