I thought, in order to mix things up a little bit, I would, each week, give a short description of a book I find particularly interesting. Since this blog is supposed to be on Idaho Politics, I though at least the first book should be on that subject.

Phil Batt, who has served in both chambers of the state legislature and as both lieutenant governor and governor, is one of the giants of Idaho politics in the last half of the 20th century.

Besides winning these races, he also lost a heart-breaking election for governor in 1982.

If one wants to give credit to one person for the present dominance of the Republican Party in Idaho, it is Phil Batt.

Katie Couric asked the presidential candidates: What book, besides the Bible, do you keep nearby?

Both Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani named The Federalist Papers.

I really doubt either of them could tell me how James Madison, in the most famous paper, #10, explained how factions could not be eliminated but only controlled.

It is a nice answer but I doubt they know much about the arguments over the ratification of the Constitution.

I teach a class on The Federalists and Anti-Federalists and have the students read not only The Federalist Papers but also those written by the Anti-Federalists who were against ratification of the Constitution.

I found some of the actions and comments concerning Senator Tim Corder’s bill to make discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodations to be inconsistent at best.

One legislator stated, “I don’t know if we want to broaden those characteristics (for discrimination) to include lifestyle choices like that (the bill) does.”

The problem is the law already includes lifestyle choices since it protects religion.

One’s religious affiliation, though affected by family and upbringing, is clearly a choice.

Also, I don’t believe sexual orientation is a choice.

After spending the last two months watching the Rudy Giuliani campaign implode, I was wondering where his campaign would rank among the worst in the history of the country.

As such, here are my 10 worst presidential election campaigns (with due respect to David Letterman) with lessons candidates should have learned from them.

#10: Michael Dukakis – 1988 – General Election

Dukakis was almost 20 points ahead of Bush the Elder (no great campaigner himself) after his convention and still managed to get soundly humiliated in November.

Lesson: Don’t ride around in a tank and look like a dork.

I really don’t know what I am doing but I am told it is blogging.

Most people will probably see this as LiCalzi blathering away as usual but doing it in prose and on a computer.

I have always liked an audience, which is one reason I am a teacher, so this should fulfill my need for people to listen to me while I am on sabbatical.

I thought I would briefly write about sabbaticals because most people don’t get to experience them in their jobs.

As a faculty member at The College of Idaho, I am evaluated in three categories: teaching, service, and scholarship.

Since the faculty at the college spends so much time teaching, advising and interacting with students, we have little time to do research and scholarship.