Mary Souza
April 20, 2022
Stories this photo appears in:
MY TURN: Killing the Idaho Republican Party
Here's who's behind the division and destruction
OPINION: A pig's tale, revisited
Orwell's porkers, KCRCC bear some resemblance
MY TURN: Start at bottom of ballot to fix mess
Former Cd'A senator implores GOP voters to return to traditional Republican values, practices
OPINION: They’ve sold out your vote
Dorothy Moon, Chair of the Idaho State Republican Party (IDGOP), cares much more about the national spotlight than she does about the votes of Idaho’s registered Republicans. She is excited to change our primary voting system to an early caucus which she thinks might attract visits from presidential candidates. Dorothy wants national media attention on her leadership of the IDGOP and does not seem to care about Idaho’s Republican voter turnout.
OPINION: Power grab for your vote
Dear Idaho Republican Voters, Bjorn Handeen wants to cut you out of choosing the Republican candidates who will be in the General Election.
Treasurer talks assessor’s recordings, new Kootenai Health CEO
Treasurer talks assessor’s recordings, new Kootenai Health CEO
OPINION: Who's the boss?
During my eight years serving in the Idaho Senate, I was incredibly impressed with the respectful nature of the Senate’s legislative process. Decades of tradition insured thoughtful decorum so ideas could be debated, often vigorously, but without personal attacks. After coming from the “blood sport” politics of North Idaho back then, I was relieved to find such rational behavior among my peers in the Senate and appreciated it throughout my time representing Coeur d'Alene.
OPINION: Don’t be fooled by fake fear
As our seasons change, COVID, or its much weaker version, is showing up again. But some folks here in Idaho are spreading fear and propaganda about the possible return of shutdowns, mandates, and masking. New Senator Brian Lenney, for example, was on social media recently claiming “After seeing the despicable way our government handled the ‘pandemic,’ I promised to hit the statehouse and battle for our health, education, and financial freedom…Promise kept.”
OPINION: KCRCC’s 'vetting' scam
Yes, I’m back at it after a wonderful summer of family celebrations and travel. It has been great to ignore the political angst and focus on what is truly important in life. We are so blessed to live in Idaho!
OPINION: It’s a small club, and you’re not in it
Dear Idaho Republican citizens, So sorry to interrupt your summer activities, but you need to pay ATTENTION to some scary Rules and Resolutions designed to take away YOUR rights. It is happening this week, June 23 and 24, in a tiny town tucked away in the very middle of Idaho’s mountains.
OPINION: The art of conversation
In the furor of our divisive Idaho politics right now, we have lost the important ability to talk with each other as people. We have lost the art of conversation. TV and internet news is full of reports and images of angry people yelling nasty names at those who disagree with them. Is anything constructive accomplished by the screaming? No. And even those who organize the fight know this.
OPINION: The KCRCC/IFF: A pig’s tale
The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) and its conjoined twin, the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF), remind me of the pigs in George Orwell’s prophetic novel, "Animal Farm."
OPINION: Tucker vs. KCRCC Town Hall
Tucker Carlson has suddenly left Fox News. This is upsetting to hear because he was considered by many as a trusted source for conservative information.
OPINION: Don’t be a useful idiot
When any political supporters blindly follow the lead of the authoritarians in charge, and don’t question or understand the reasons, yet still carry out their orders, they could be called “useful idiots.” The term sounds like a mean slur, but is actually a longtime political concept rooted in communist history and has been powerfully applied by leaders from Carl Marx to Saul Alinsky.
OPINION: IFF files, Part 8: Donations and conversations
Idaho Freedom Foundation’s board member, Heather Lauer, tried to twist the truth and misstate my intentions. She wrote a quick response to my column last week, claiming I want to “expose and target Idaho residents who support charities, churches, or advocacy organizations.” NO, I do not. Current law does NOT require those donors to be publicly reported. Please let me restate this to be very clear: Under current law, donors to nonprofit groups in Idaho do NOT have their names reported to the public.
OPINION: IFF files, Part 7: Don’t take our sunshine away
There’s a bold new strategy in Idaho politics: Avoid reporting donations. Idaho’s new People United for Privacy Foundation (PUFPF) wants increased privacy for donations to “protect free speech,” and by speech they mean money. This group is led by Heather Lauer, one of the founding, and still current, board members of the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF). “Without the new foundation,” Heather writes, “You and I are at risk of being exposed to politically motivated harassment.”
OPINION: IFF files, Part 6: Why are they hiding?
I’d like to start this column with an apology. I’ve been referring to IFF/KCRCC and their associated groups as Libertarians, and that’s not fair to real Libertarians. According to referenced sources, Libertarians believe people should be free to think as they choose. Nowhere do the references even hint at true Libertarians being demanding, bullying, and penalizing others for thinking for themselves. But that’s exactly what the IFF/KCRCC does, so we will have to find a different description for them. Authoritarians, perhaps?
OPINION: IFF Files, Part 5 — When they tell you who they are, believe them
Organized groups from all over the country are converging on Idaho. They have been drawn to our state because of our conservative politics, but now declare we are not conservative enough. Some of the most outspoken groups have berated our existing state government as RINOs (Republican In Name Only), then openly admit that they, themselves, are not Republicans. They are aggressive Libertarians who want to use the Republican Party in Idaho as their vehicle for success. Think Ron Paul meets Attila the Hun. Let’s look at what they say about themselves.
OPINION: IFF files, Part 4: 'Skittles' kill kids
We have friends who recently lost their son to fentanyl. It was devastating. We have other friends who are seriously worried about their teens experimenting with drugs and unknowingly taking fentanyl camouflaged as a different street pill or, even more sinister, made to look like candy Skittles. One local Mom of an addicted teen told me that fentanyl is now cheaper than meth or heroin and is readily available. She’s very upset.
OPINION: All the bills?: IFF files, Part 3
During my eight years serving in the Idaho Senate, one issue was always a top priority for our Republican members: Right to Life. Every year we tried to protect the unborn, but the US Supreme Court decision from 1973 blocked any attempt to stop abortion in our state. Many of us were literally in tears as we stood up on the floor of the Senate to express our frustration. Finally, last year, the US Supreme Court ruled that abortion law will be left to the states. Now the Idaho legislature can craft effective legislation to protect our unborn babies.
OPINION: It’s not what you think it is: IFF files, Part 2
Last year, we were up in the majestic mountains of Idaho, in a tiny town way off the beaten path. We were attending a Republican event with several speakers. This was not a fancy dinner in plush surroundings, it was a sandwich in an old wooden grange hall. Much to my surprise, Wayne Hoffman, president of Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) got up to speak with great pride and said IFF analyzes every bill so you don’t have to. That was an outright lie. I almost jumped up from my chair. IFF does not analyze every bill, and in the next edition of this column, I will explain which bills they analyze, and which they do not, and why. Does the bill sponsor make a difference? We’ll discuss it next time.
OPINION: Fraudulent 'Freedom:' The IFF Files, Part 1
The Idaho Freedom Foundation started back in 2009 with the noble intention of helping beleaguered legislators who have little staff and even less time to research issues. IFF offered information, ideas and support.
OPINION: Rules, rules, rules!
I want you to know about the rules and what the State GOP, and possibly your county central committees, have been doing. It is important that you know because you elected them.
OPINION: Ready to be 'duped' again?
“I was duped!” This exclamation came from a Kootenai County voter after last May’s Republican primary election. Many other voters have said the same as they realized the information they were given by their Republican central committees, about Republican primary candidates, was manipulated, twisted, embellished or suppressed.
OPINION: Pulling back the curtain on state government
Mary Souza is back, with a new newsletter and no professional filters.
MY TURN: Republican cancel culture exposed
Some small but powerful Republican groups across the state are demanding absolute loyalty to their choice of candidates for the upcoming Idaho primary.