Last night I had the privilege of an extended discussion with Scott Syme, who is running for Larry Craig's seat in the United States Senate.

At his real estate office in Caldwell, I also was able to talk extensively about Idaho and national politics with some of his campaign staffers, including Natalie Wallace and Kathleen Pulliam-Jordan.

I reflected on how a record number of people now getting involved in the political process, as we had a chance to break bread with Syme's wife and family.

The first thing that attracted me to this cause is the fact that Syme is running a true grassroots campaign. The people around him don't owe their lives to the government because of political positions.

Syme is not an insider in the Republican Party, and as is consistent with the current national wave, he is committed to bringing new ideas and true leadership to Washington. Syme is working to be an antidote to the entrenched interests that Americans are now disgusted with.

An Iraq war veteran,  this candidate has a workable platform on illegal immigration, Iraq, energy independence, the economy, and other issues.

For example, "first and foremost we must secure our borders," Syme says. "Then we must provide employers with the tools to easily verify the status of employees. We must enforce the law, but at the same time stremline the process of legal immigration to welcome law-abiding immigrants."

Sounds like a completely feasible common-sense approach.

While some pundits continually beat the drum of "political experience," logic begs us to ask: How come our current highly paid congressional leaders can't seem to figure such things out?

It's time for a change.

Having a true election, not a coronation, is not only healthy and good for Idaho, it is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.

Take a serious look at this alternative candidate. The campaign's website is www.symeforsenate.com

-- Michael

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