Never let it be said that I never gave anybody anything. In the spirit of gifting (and in the time-honored journalistic tradition of the year-in-review story), let’s hand out a few awards:
The Big-Time Bare-Knuckle Political Battle of the Year Award: To state schools Superintendent Tom Luna. As soon as the 2011 legislative session opened, Luna took over the show with a far-reaching and bitterly debated plan to overhaul K-12 education — to rewrite the teacher contract process, install a merit pay plan and ramp up online education, among other items. Idahoans packed committee rooms to testify, passionately, on both sides of the issue. Readers crammed opinion pages (like these) with letters debating the plan’s merits and the architect’s motives. Luna even managed to make student walkouts chic again.
And since his three laws will be the subject of a voter referendum in 10 months, his Students Come First construction could prove to be the political battle of 2012 as well. Now there’s an unlikely (and unintended) twofer.
The “No, Really, It Was a Blindsiding” Award: To Luna, who continues to tell anyone who’ll listen (unchallengingly) to his claims that he talked about his Students Come First ideas during the 2010 election and before the 2011 legislative session.
Um, no.
Unless some vendor has cooked up an online course in revisionist history, that dog just isn’t gonna hunt.
The Good Case for Remedial Math Education Award: To the folks behind the Luna recall campaign. To the surprise of no one, the group fell far short of collecting the 158,107 signatures needed to get a recall on the ballot. That’s an awfully high hurdle — representing 20 percent of the votes cast in the November 2010 election — but there’s a good reason for it. Recalls really should be reserved for politicians who are accused of breaking the law or violating basic standards of ethics — you know, luminaries like nontaxpaying Rep. Phil Hart or, before he resigned, Canyon County Prosecutor John Bujak.
The Luna recall group says it will be back at it in 2012. Sure, I could have given these guys the Try, Try Again Award. But, alas, I fail, failed again.
The Ill-Advised Walk of the Year Award: Sen. John McGee wins, going away. After a golf tournament, the Caldwell Republican spent the evening drinking in a clubhouse, then spent the early hours of Father’s Day wandering a Boise neighborhood. Police arrested the barefoot solon and took him to jail. McGee ultimately pleaded guilty to DUI and paid $12,000 in damages, after police charged him with stealing an SUV.
McGee’s self-described search for “the promised land” has left a rising star in political limbo. All in all, a good walk spoiled.
The Political Thud of the Year Award: To Norm Semanko. A City Council incumbent and state GOP chairman runs for mayor of Eagle. He secures some prominent local endorsements. Then he goes out and gets 22 percent of the vote. The word “ouch” somehow rings inadequate.
The Word Consigned to the Ash Heap of History Award: To “supercommittee.” The less said now, the better.
The Word That I Wish Would Be Consigned to the Ash Heap of History Award: To “nullification.” This loopy little debate provided a change of pace from the battle over the Luna laws, as some legislators convinced themselves that they had the ability to pick and choose which federal laws they would obey — or ignore. Trouble is, we could have a sequel in 2012, as the Statehouse’s “nullifiers” take one more run at federal health care law.
The “Yeah, I Know It’s Only 2011, But ...” Award: To Gov. Butch Otter. Earlier this month, he told a group of supporters that he is planning to run again ... in 2014.
Reactions ranged from the skeptical (Otter is merely trying to avoid looking like a lame duck) to the cynical (Otter is keeping up appearances so he can retire old campaign debts). The snarkiest reaction came from the Idaho Democratic Party Twitter feed: “Governor Otter for a third term? He isn’t even present for his second term.”
See, Democrats can lay a glove on Otter — if only on social media.
The Money 7, Geography 0 Award: To Boise State, for its tectonic football shift from the Mountain West Conference to what is still referred to, advisedly, as the Big East Conference. All about the bucks, and the potential for a big-money BCS berth. Our editorial board ripped this move when it was in the planning stage, but considering the way the Broncos got stiffed in this year’s BCS selection process, I’ve changed my mind. I for one will call a do-over.
The Ripped from the Idaho Headlines Band Name Award: To The Megaloads. It could work for metal, for punk, for indie. But megaloads, shipments of oversized equipment, just don’t work as well for a scenic corridor of U.S. 12.
The Unexpected Boise Brush with Fame Award: To baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez, sighted in the City of Trees during Christmas week. Fear not, sports fans. He’ll still do his annual vanishing act come October.
Kevin Richert: 377-6437
