MY TURN: IDGOP Presidential Caucus: Shindig or Shenanigan?
Are we ready for the State Republican Presidential “firehouse” caucus held one day only, March 2, 2024? Some Idaho republican citizens think it will be a fabulous shindig. Others worry it may be yet another far-right extremist shenanigan specifically designed for power and control.
In his “common sense” opinion articles, KCRCC Chairman Brent Regan repeatedly blames our Secretary of State, Legislators and Governor for passing a flawed bill that eliminated the March Presidential Primary, thereby disenfranchising all Idaho voters. Regan further claims that a May primary would leave “zero days to hold a convention and certify the Idaho delegates.”
Regan has also attacked North Idaho Republican, Sandy Patano, alleging that she spread “misinformation, half-truths, and outright lies” in her Dec. 15, 2023, Cd'A Press Op-Ed titled “Idaho GOP’s Presidential Caucus Confusion.” Patano’s article thoroughly discussed, among other serious concerns, the fact that scores of republicans throughout our state will be disenfranchised because of caucus regulations.
Switching from ridicule to trumpeting, Regan touts that the IDGOP not only has re-enfranchised Idaho republicans by creating the caucus, but will also be saving Idaho taxpayers $2.7 million. Are his allegations and statements true?
Let’s put on our running shoes and cut to the chase:
Idaho Republican legislators sponsored House Bill 138 on Feb. 13, 2023, for the purpose of saving taxpayers a minimum of $2.7 million every four years, by consolidating the March Republican Presidential Primary with the rest of the state’s primary elections occurring in May;
House Bill 138 passed on March 3, 2023, with 23 Idaho Legislators voting Aye, 11 voting Nay, and 1 absent and excused;
After the bill’s passage, state officials and legislators identified an error which unintentionally eliminated the presidential primary election by failing to include specific language regarding the May date;
On March 17, 2023, Senate (trailer) Bill 1186 was introduced for the purpose of correcting the error with the following language: “Primary elections shall be held on the third Tuesday of May in each even-numbered-year,” which would mean May 21 in 2024. The Republican National Committee’s deadline for submitting certified delegates is May 31, 2024 — 10 days thereafter. There could be more time should the RNC agree to an extension;
The Legislature was poised to reconvene in special session before Oct. 1, 2023, to pass Senate Trailer Bill 1186;
On March 30, 2023, Senate Trailer Bill 1186 died in the House State Affairs Committee after Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon vehemently opposed it. Moon also opposed holding the legislative special session;
Consequently, House Bill 138 was signed into law on March 30, 2023, and the Idaho Legislature adjourned for the year on April 6, 2023;
The IDGOP voted in June, 2023, to create a presidential nominating caucus to be held on March 2, 2024. It occurs one day only and lasts for several hours. There will be no early voting; no absentee voting; no voting for deployed military personnel; no voting for those who must work on Saturdays; curtailed voting for the sick and disabled; curtailed voting for republicans who attend church on Saturdays (Sabath) and feel it is against their convictions to attend a political event on that day.
Whew! That was quite the run, but good exercise!
As an aside, please know that since I will definitely be attending the caucus, I feel the need to focus on my caucus attire for a moment — mainly my foot attire. Despite my age, I’m seriously considering wearing candy apple red platform shoes rather than flatforms. I’m definitely not into Moon Boots.
Now, please feel free to take off your running shoes, sit on the sofa, and read the next caveat regarding the IDGOP-presumed “twice naughty” Republican elected official rule, amended on Jan. 6, 2024, to make it even more strict:
Article XX: Idaho Republican Party Platform Enforcement, Section 3 states:
“The Idaho Republican State Central Committee, Legislative District Committees, and County Central Committees are hereby empowered to call into question the conduct of a Republican elected official; give fair consideration to alleged violations and provide a meaningful opportunity for the official to be heard; determine if substantive violations of Party Platform or Constitutions have occurred; provide censure by motion upon the first determination of substantive violations; and by motion for any substantive violations by the same elected official occurring after the first determination of censure has issued and following the same procedures outlined below, may remove Party support and prohibit the use of Republican Party identifiers on campaign information and advertising from the elected official during any subsequent campaign for Idaho political office for a period of five (5) years.”
Good lord, “Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!”
In a true democracy, every individual has the right to their own beliefs, including Brent Regan and Dorothy Moon. The First Amendment protects the right for all Americans to freely and peacefully express their opinions — including tongue in cheek humor — without fear of government censorship or retaliation. But is it a democracy when leaders of a political party and their lockstep followers hatefully denigrate and punish party members, including our elected officials, for not wholly adhering to their overfocused view of the State Party Platform?
Figuratively speaking, it is my sentiment that the Regan/Moon-styled (formerly elevated) Republican Party Platform appears to have morphed into a sunken authoritarian flatform as they continue to tighten the straps on true republicans throughout our state. At this point, however, they may end up kicking themselves in the bootie.
Regardless of whether this caucus is ultimately identified as a shindig or shenanigan, it is clearly imperative that as many Idaho Republicans as possible show up and vote on March 2. But please, be sure to use your own “common sense.”
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Penelope Harries-Morris is a Coeur d’Alene resident who wears cool shoes.