Topic: Politics

Two Iraqi War Veterans who were injured in the line of duty, stop by the MorningNoon&Night show to talk about their experiences in Iraq and life after the war.

Although Idaho State Senate Minority Leader, Clint Stennett, recently began undergoing treatment for cancer, he continues to serve the state and announced that he is seeking a 10th term in the Legislature.

Stennett is the state’s longest serving Minority Leader and serves on the Agricultural Affairs, Resources and Environment, State Affairs and Legislative Councils. He is also a strong advocate for Idaho’s clean air and water, renewable energy and education.

After years of building up media businesses in the Wood River Valley, Senator Stennett is now retired and focused on serving the Senate full time. We wish Senator Stennett a speedy and full recovery.

Today, we celebrate our nation’s presidents. What began as a celebration of George Washington’s Birthday has morphed into a holiday where we honor all of the leaders of our country, mostly due to a push from advertisers and retail businesses who pleaded for the change in the name from Washington’s Birthday to President’s Day; their change has made a pay-off.

While most businesses shut their doors and take the day off on federal holidays, Presidents’ Day is a different story in Sun Valley. With the throngs of visitors in town for the holiday weekend, businesses will be having sales galore. Town as has been packed all weekend, with plenty of people getting up on the mountain as well.

Shopping and skiing aside, Sun Valley does have a bit of history when it comes to U.S. presidents, and politicians in general. Former President Gerald Ford often brought his family out to hit the slopes on Baldy, former presidential nominee John Kerry and his wife Teresa Heinz often frequent the valley, members of the Kennedy clan where known to take ski vacations here, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a part-time resident for years.

While we agree you should take advantage of the long weekend, remember what we are really celebrating, the past and present leaders of our country. And come November, we will have a new leader to honor next year.

Senator Clint Stennett is recovering well after brain surgery and preparing to undergo cancer treatment. There has been an outpouring of support and well wishes to Clint and his wife Michelle from the local community and the entire state of Idaho. While Clint and Michelle have not been able to answer all of the phone calls they have been receiving, they have been keeping in touch with the community online. To read comments or post your own please click here.

Last Tuesday, Blaine County democrats got a taste of democracy in action at the Democratic Caucus. For three hours, democrats came together at the Community Campus to rally behind the presidential candidate of their choice and to make their votes count. The winner in Idaho was Sen. Barack Obama, the only democratic candidate to form a committee and campaign in the state of Idaho. And it definitely paid off; according to the Associated Press, Obama won 34 of the 35 counties in the state

Just in time for Super Tuesday, Plum's Lauren Uhlmann heads to the streets to ask locals their thoughts on the presidential candidates.

Senator Clint Stennett is recovering well after brain surgery and preparing to undergo cancer treatment. There has been a huge outpouring of support and well wishes to Clint and his wife Michelle from the local community and the entire state of Idaho. Clint and Michelle, at this sensitive time, prefer to keep in touch with their wonderfully supportive community via the internet. Clint and Michelle will be checking plumtv.com for your support and words of kindness, so please post your comments for the Stennetts below. From Plum, we wish the best to the Stennetts and look forward to Clint’s speedy recovery.

Senator Stennett will undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments soon. During his treatment, Senator Stennett intends to resume his legislative duties. Former Sun Valley Mayor Jon Thorson has been appointed to fulfill his duties until Senator Stennett returns.

Idaho State Democratic Leader Clint Stennett will be released from the hospital Thursday, Jan. 31 after undergoing surgery on Jan. 29. Senator Stennett is feeling good and is healing better than expected.

Senator Stennett will undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments soon. During his treatment, Senator Stennett intends to resume his legislative duties. Former Sun Valley Mayor Jon Thorson has been appointed to fulfill his duties until Senator Stennett returns.

A long-time resident of Ketchum and popular in the Wood River and Magic valleys, as well as among his colleagues, Senator Stennett has a lot of support and good wishes from around Idaho.

He and his family are grateful for all the prayers and support. wishes should be directed to the Senate Minority Office in Boise.

Mailing address:
Sen. Clint Stennett
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83702
Physical address:
514 W. Jefferson, Room 217
Boise, ID 83702

Clint, our hearts are with you now!

Tuesday, February 5, 2008 is a historic day for Idaho democrats. They’re participating in Super Tuesday for the first time, joining twenty-three others states hosting their presidential primaries and caucuses that day. The decision to move Idaho’s vote up comes at a time when Western states are trying to increase their significance in national politics. The hope is that by voting on the same day as states from other regions, the results of the West will have more political weight.

Blaine County Democrats will send eleven delegates (of 382 to be selected across the state) to the State Convention in June to elect the delegates that will go to the National Convention in Denver, Colorado on August 25-28, where the 2008 Democratic Presidential candidate will finally, officially, be nominated.

The eleven local delegates will be chosen through a Democratic caucus. As we saw in Iowa, the Democratic caucus is democracy in action. In order for their votes to count, Democrats must physically show up, stand in the same room, and be counted. The caucus requires two rounds of voting, the first round to qualify all candidates who receive at least 15% of the vote, the second to determine a winner among those qualifying. The whole event can take anywhere from two to three hours.

And the winner is….only time will tell. Betty Murphy, Chairwoman of the Blaine County Democrats, has no predictions for Tuesday’s outcome. “We’ll take any Democrat,” she told Plum. That being said, Barack Obama is the only Democratic candidate who has formed a committee and established headquarters in the state of Idaho. While predominately based in Boise, the Obama group is very active in Blaine County with weekly meetings and primary results parties.

Blaine County organizers believe Tuesday’s caucus will be a big success. In 2000, fewer than 100 people showed up to caucus. The number jumped to 300 in 2004 when Senator John Kerry, a Sun Valley homeowner, was running for office. This year, however, they think the numbers could double to at least 600.

Anyone who plans to vote for a Democrat in the 2008 presidential election can go to the Community Campus in Hailey on Tuesday, February 5, around 6:30 p.m. You can even register to vote right before the caucus begins. For more information, email or call Betty Murphy (208-726-6423).

Republicans will get their chance, too. But, unlike the Democrats, Idaho Republicans didn’t change their schedule and will hold their primary in the spring.