Something to keep an eye on...

Thanks for the heads-up on this go out to Seeing Red AZ (of all places! :) ) Evidently there is at least one thing that both Democratic and Republican bloggers can agree on...

From the Idaho Statesman -

State Rep. Steve Hartgen, a former newspaper publisher, says he might introduce a bill to force people to use their real names when posting comments on the Internet.

"A modest proposal that simply required the posting of a true name with respect to comments and blogs would go a long way," Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, told the Times-News, adding that the absence of such a provision "discourages people from participating in civil life. To me, it reflects a coarsening and cheapening of public debate, which I think is not healthy for Idaho."

Yes, this loon is from the land of Larry Craig, survivalists, and white supremacists, which means that one of the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed types on West Washington could pick up on the notion and try to run with it here.

Note that I'm not specifying party here - any one of our state's finest is capable of coming up with the idea of encouraging free expression by restricting it.

Later...