Keeping the blogosphere posted on the goings on of the world of submarines since late 2004... and mocking and belittling general foolishness wherever it may be found. Idaho's first and foremost submarine blog. (If you don't like something on this blog, please E-mail me; don't call me at home.)

Monday, October 16, 2006

More Questions For Mr. Sali

Back in August, I sent some questions to Mr. Bill Sali, the Republican candidate for the open 1st Congressional District seat here in Idaho. While a staffer did acknowledge receipt of my E-mail, I haven't heard anything else back. Since I'm basically an optimistic sort, though, I'll try again:

Mr. Sali,
In my last letter to you, I indicated that it seemed as though your campaign was "massaging" the numbers of attendees at campaign events with national big-wigs in order to make it seem like actual Idahoans were monetarily supporting your campaign. I notice your web site has a picture of a nice couple at the Vice President Cheney fundraiser who were said to be "in line for a picture with Vice President Dick Cheney". The inference a reasonable person could draw from that caption was that this young couple had paid the $2100 required to get a picture with the Vice President. I note with interest, however, that in your most recent disclosure of contributions, they aren't listed as having contributed the required amount; in fact, they aren't listed for any itemized contributions. Can you explain this discrepancy? I also note that there were only three $2100 contributions listed in the middle of August, when the event was held. Did only three couples get their pictures taken with the Veep? Most importantly, did the Coleman's get the picture you said they were waiting for? (As an aside -- it seems like most of your money is coming from out of state. How does this square with your stated desire to represent Idaho?)

In a recent guest opinion in the Lewiston Tribune, you implied that your opponents don't have a basic understanding of the military -- I take this to mean that you feel you do have an understanding of the military. Would you be willing to publicly answer some questions from veterans to determine your actual level of understanding of today's military? We'd start with some simple ones -- how many active duty divisions are in the U.S. Army, how many commissioned aircraft carriers do we have -- and then move on to some other basic questions. How did you do on those first two questions, Mr. Sali? (The answer, in both cases, is 12.)

Your biography indicates your faith plays a great role in your life, and I respect that. Many people in this district feel the same way. Do you feel that you could effectively represent those in this district who don't share your beliefs? I'm a little concerned about this because the national leader of your church, Calvary Chapel, doesn't believe that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are Christians. Considering that over 25% of Idahoans are Mormons, I think it would be of interest to us to know if you believe the teachings of Chuck Smith in this regard: do you personally believe that Mormons are Christian?

Lastly, considering that you have only a small 6 point lead in a district that went 69% for President Bush, are you going to continue with your negative campaigning and self-admitted lies about your opponent, Larry Grant? And do you really expect us to believe that you didn't know about the aggressive "robo-calls" that have been bothering District residents? And when are you going to update your web site? One press release in 2 1/2 weeks during October makes it almost seem like you're afraid to say anything because it'll probably lose you votes. (Actually, I note that you are keeping the Upcoming Events section fairly up-to-date, but I admit I'm puzzled by the statement in the blurb to tomorrow's Meridian Forum: "
I will be paying for Bill's lunch." I thought you were Bill; are you paying for lunch for everyone named William? Very strange...)

Update 2335 17 Oct: I guess they got my E-mail -- they removed the "lunch" comment from the post about the Meridian Forum.

9 Comments:

Blogger Julie Fanselow said...

Bubblehead, this leaves me chuckling, especially the "I will pay for Bill's lunch" line. Hilarious. And you ask great questions.

We know for sure the Sali camp will be continuing its negative campaigning. According to an AP story on page 1 of today's Idaho Statesman, the campaign has made huge ad buys all across the state, with what Max Cleland last night called "smears and fears" ready to hit the airwaves today. The story also notes two other very interestings things that raise a few more questions:

1) The Sali campaign has paid almost $120K in the last year to a media consulting firm headed by Christ Troupis. The firm was created last Nov 7 and got its first check from Sali three days later.

Setting aside the fact that $120K is a whole lot of money, voters need to look at the other ties between Troupis and Sali. Troupis is the attorney for the Keep the Commandments Coalition, which has wasted untold taxpayer time and money in its efforts to force the City of Boise to return a commandments monument to Julia Davis Park. And Sali was the floor sponsor of a bill passed last session by the Idaho House to "let elected officials and government bodies publicly display their religious beliefs and to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court ruling prohibiting Ten Commandments displays on public property."

2) The story ID'd Jesseca Sali as campaign treasurer and spokeswoman. Hey, last I heard she was campaign manager! So if she's not manager, who is? The recent FEC complaint against the Sali campaign suggested his campaign is largely being run out of DC, and the RNCC's recent expenditures on Sali's behalf bolster that idea. Idahoans deserve to know who's behind Saliu's curtain.

10/17/2006 8:09 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You should be asking Sali basic questions about the U.S. Constitution since he doesn't seem to have any idea of the role of the U.S. Supreme Court vis-a-vis the Idaho House of Representatives. I'm glad to hear that Idaho doesn't have any real problems and can afford to have its reps sit back and waste their time with moronic bills that accomplish nothing.

The Sali-Troupis connection is troubling. Sali donors deserve to know what they got for the money they donated to Sali. For a race in Idaho, that's big, big money. Whole campaigns have been run on less than that. I haven't seen the level of campaign from Sali to suggest that that money was well spent and well used.

Idaho GOP voters should take a pass on Sali. He's going to be a huge embarrassment for the state in Idaho. You can't just vote for any idiot simply because he's got an R next to him at the ballot box.

10/18/2006 8:59 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The point about how Sali's church thinks Mormons aren't Christians deserves more legs.

My father (yes the Candidate's son) has worked with several Mormons in the Idaho community and respected every one of them.

Once elected, a representative in the House of Representatives has a duty to represent all of the voters, and not just those of a specific church, business interest, etc...

My dad taught me those values, and the values that Mormons are Christians and deserve respect just as, yes, Mr. Sali's church goers do.

Doubt his children could say as much.

10/18/2006 12:27 PM

 
Blogger Bubblehead said...

Ron,
Thanks for stopping by! Fellow submariner Dale over at Right Mind is supporting Mr. Sali, and he's got a post up where he mentions in this comment why he doesn't think Mormons are Christians. I'm starting to see a pattern here. I really think my fellow Mormons would be interested in if Mr. Sali thinks about this.

10/18/2006 11:32 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have my own questions and concerns about the LDS religion, but I really admire many of their family and community values. Would I let my concerns affect my vote? I'd have to evaluate the individual first... I don't believe many of the politicians who claim to be Christian are actually Christian either... it comes right down to the person's ethics and how they practice their spirituality... not the label of their religion or the name of their church.

Just my humble opinion.

10/31/2006 11:38 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Considering that most protestant denominations, including Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, Pentecostals, as well as the Roman Catholic Church officially consider Mormonism to be a cult, is your point really an issue?

By the way, do Mormons really believe all who identify themselves as "Christians" belong to the same faith? No, they in fact do not. In a matter of semantics, they say one thing to non-Mormons and another thing within their own circles.

I know that you have other complaints against Sali but the "poor Mormon" card will get very little sympathy from those within the 1st District, which is not as influenced by Mormons as is the 2nd District. Furthermore, the LDS Organization is the only source that claims 25% of Idaho's population to be Mormon ... whereas a study by CUNY, which I'm far more inclined to believe, had the number at 12% statewide in 2000.

http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_studies/aris.pdf

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