Andrus Says Idaho Parties Aint What they Used to Be

LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — He's one of Idaho's most-recognized political faces, a former Democratic governor in a Republican-dominated state. But Cecil Andrus blames both parties for creating a leadership void — and calls for a return to what he thinks were the good old days when public servants were interested in solving problems, rather than just raising money or getting re-elected. He told the Lewiston Tribune that leadership at the national level is at "almost zero" for both of America's dominant political parties. Andrus, elected four times in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, is also unhappy with Idaho's political direction, insisting a one-party system has emerged that's in the hands of a few powerful people like House Speaker Lawerence Denney who dictate the message. Andrus says GOP leaders don't even allow dissent from within.