Daily Poll- Graphic Images for Cigarette Packages?

Should the FDA put graphic images of cancer patients and diseased lungs on cigarette packages? Take our Daily Poll and tell us what you think.

Man in Wheelchair Tackles Would-Be Thief

The next time you think that someone who is "disabled" can't "stand up" and do what's right...think again. This guy is awesome!

NLS: November 5

Alright folks, what do you think....should Sarah Palin run for President in 2012? Pundits have mixed opinions, but what about you? Tune in to the Neal Larson Show today and we'll talk about it!

She may be a Mama Grizzly, but at least she can do math...








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NLS: November 4

We'll be taking your calls today on the Neal Larson Show as we talk about the issues affecting us locally and abroad. Tune in from noon to 1 p.m! Feel free to participate by calling 524-TALK that's 524-8255.

Why Idaho went with Butch and Tom

I got duped, by a poll. I honestly thought that both the governor’s and education superintendent’s races would be closer. Not necessarily close, but closer than the 60-40 split we witnessed Tuesday in each of the races.

So what happened? I try, perhaps too hard, to perform a post-mortem on the most interesting races, but these are a little tough to figure out.

Let’s first go with the Allred-Otter race. First of all, it must be horribly frustrating to Democrats to put so much effort and time and money into a race, and not be able to pull in even a third of the votes. I followed Keith Allred’s campaign and for the most part I think it was pretty well-executed. Allred didn’t make any fatal gaffes during his campaign. He was articulate, eloquent, centrist. Those are key ingredients for any Democrat to win a statewide office in Idaho.

So why did his final numbers come in at the low 30’s? I can think of a few reasons, some more tangible than others. The tea party tsunami/wave/earthquake/ (insert your own natural disaster here) simply translated to a lot of votes for the “R” candidate. The second reason is that Keith Allred was very good at keeping his ideology – if he has one – to himself. In my several interviews with Allred I tried to find out where he stood on issues. He was adept at pushing each answer into his well-touted “consensus” paradigm. Idahoans want leadership based on principle and, yes, ideology, to get us to a brighter place. Allred’s “let’s just find a way to get along” platform wasn’t enough for many in Idaho. The third reason. I would call it the “cognitive dissonance-inducing campaign message”. Rolls off the tongue, huh? Allred put himself out there as an Idaho kid, a rancher, a guy like you and me. But he also touted his experience as a Harvard professor. Two personas without a lot of overlap.

While finding consensus and getting along is great, right now folks want bold, clear, decisive leadership.

Now let’s talk about Luna and Olson. In essence, Luna kicked the crap out of him. In retrospect, this post-mortem is easy. Idahoans are largely sick of the whiny we-need-more-money mantra that so predictably spews from the mouths of the IEA and their minions every four years. Like clockwork. The IEA’s playbook is obsolete. The IEA is obsolete. Why is it that everyone -- everyone -- has to tighten their belts in tough times, except for education?

We love our kids. We all want to give them the best education possible. What we also understand as is that during a recession we cancel cable, stop eating out, set the thermostat a little lower in winter and a little higher in the summer, and wait a year or two before we buy the new car. Our kids will not be worse off because of it. In fact they get back to basics, which is healthy and good. Education is no different. So they miss a field trip here and there. So they have to raise their own money for athletics. Maybe they’ll go to school for four days a week instead of five. Challenging to their education? Maybe. Fatal? Hardly.

If I may use a Sharron Angle-ism, it’s time for education to man-up. As long as they allow the IEA to protect Idaho’s worst teachers in a counterproductive tenure system, and as long as they robotically chant the more-money mantra every four years, and as long as they put up candidates who can’t – by his own admission - do tenth grade math, they’ll get what they got on Tuesday.

And that’s why Tom Luna won.

NLS: November 3

Today on the Neal Larson Show: What did you think of the Election Results? Harry Reid stays in the Senate, but Republicans made big leads in elections across the country as well as Idaho. We'll take your calls and talk about the issues that matter to you the most.

Election Day Hot Links

Idaho Secretary of State Election Results
Real Clear Politics
Politico
Drudge Report
Foxnews
The Note

Wondering where you need to vote? Try this...

NLS: November 2

Its Election Day Eastern Idaho! Exercise your civic responsibility and vote. On today's Neal Larson Show...lots of parodies, entertainment, and election coverage. Is it time for Democrats to say goodbye? You'll find out today from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on the Neal Larson Show.