Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, today endorsed conservative activist and end-times author Michael Snyder of Bonners Ferry in the 1^st District GOP congressional primary, which already is crowded with a slew of other better-known Idaho Republicans; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com. Snyder held a press conference on the Statehouse steps today with Foreman to announce the endorsement, backed by eight sign-waving supporters. “I want to thank my supporters for coming from all over southwestern Idaho today on this cold Wednesday morning,” Snyder said. “Even though people acknowledged that I had a large national following, they thought there’s no way he can compete with the big boys.”

Those “big boys” already running in the race include former Idaho Lt. Gov. David Leroy; former state Sen. Russ Fulcher of Meridian; and current state Reps. Luke Malek of Coeur d’Alene and Christy Perry of Nampa. Nick Henderson of Post Falls also has filed as a Republican. On the Democratic side, three hopefuls have filed to run in the race for the open seat that Rep. Raul Labrador is leaving to run for governor: James Vandermaas of Eagle; Michael Smith of Post Falls; and Donald Roy Miller of Meridian.

Foreman, an outspoken and combative conservative, said, “I’m honored and excited to offer my unqualified endorsement of Michael Snyder for Idaho’s 1^st  Congressional District seat. … I am proud to be associated with a man of such high integrity, moral fiber and courage.”

Foreman added, “I’ve heard the stereotypical comments: ‘He can’t win,’ ‘He’s too extreme, too radical.’ And I say to the folks, ‘Are you describing me or are you describing Michael Snyder?’” Snyder’s backers greeted that comment with appreciative laughter.

While Foreman was speaking, perennial Idaho political candidate “Pro-Life,” who legally changed his name from Marvin Richardson, arrived and joined the press conference, holding a huge sign proclaiming, “Socialism is Collective Theft.”

Snyder said he plans to investigate his GOP rivals and “expose” them. “I have come to the conclusion that I am the only true conservative in this race,” he declared. “Every RINO has got to go.”

Oddly, some large and rather sophisticated-looking equipment was being set up on the steps as Snyder prepared for his press conference. It turned out to have nothing to do with him; Black Sage, a Boise business, had reserved the Capitol steps all day today for a rehearsal for its planned Feb. 21 demonstration of its drone-response technology.

Jack Hruby, director of government and defense operations for Black Sage and an Air Force fighter pilot for 21 years, said the demonstration will involve drones flying down Capitol Boulevard “like they’re attacking the Capitol,” and a demonstration of how those drones will be tracked and defeated through technological means. There won’t be any shooting, he noted.

Hruby said, “Ninety-nine percent of drones are for hobbyists, but there’s that 1 percent,” in which drones are used for nefarious purposes from dropping drugs and weapons into prisons to carrying explosives in Syria.

Hruby said Black Sage had no objection to Snyder holding his press conference despite their prior reservation of the steps; they’ll be working on their rehearsal all day, he said.