It would be amusing if it weren’t so serious. Last weekend’s expressions of supposed free speech were almost universally called demonstrations by the media and “mostly peaceful” by some. In contrast, the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol was labeled an “insurrection” and “riot” by the media.

Imagine a meeting of your neighborhood watch where the neighbor down the street bursts in, yelling “Help, my house is burning!” You survey the room and another neighbor is sitting there decked out in fire-fighting gear from head to toe.

NHA TRANG, Vietnam - Rod Kjersten has returned to Vietnam for the first time since he was a nurse in the U.S. Air Force hospital in Cam Ranh Bay. Now 77, he recalls the precise date when he left - May 28, 1970. He served at the hospital for two years where he treated wounded American soldiers and saw many die. He says while he was initially "gung-ho" about the U.S. and South Vietnamese war efforts, he has since become "neutral." Asked why, he said it was after seeing the Ku Chi tunnels on this trip. These were some of the tunnels used by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers to hide and "pop up" to shoot at Americans.

The semi-annual Idaho Republican Party Central Committee will convene in Pocatello the weekend of June 20-21. Following a recent “trend,” the topic will not be “How to grow the Party.” Instead, it appears to be “How to whittle the Party down to only the purest compliers with Republican orthodoxy.”

This month, Republicans from throughout the Gem State will come together in beautiful Pocatello, Idaho, to enjoy fellowship and take care of important party business. The Idaho GOP State Central Committee is made up of delegates from every legislative district and county in the state. We gather every six months to hear reports from across Idaho and vote on proposed rules and resolutions.