It’s a tried and true method in political campaigns – scare senior citizens into believing that their benefits are going to be reduced or taken away and that your opponent is the horrible dude who will lead the way in gutting those benefits if he/she is elected. For good measure, throw in the word “privatization” and senior citizens will spring out of their comfy chairs to get to the polls like an Olympic diver in the three meter springboard competition. Continue reading
Category Archives: Tester
Montana Senate 2012: Battleground Areas
In what some folks are calling a heavyweight matchup, the 2012 U.S. Senate race in Montana will feature two statewide office holders running against each other: Congressman Denny Rehberg versus U.S. Senator Jon Tester for the junior U.S. Senate seat.
As most people who follow Montana politics know there are certain areas in the state that are pretty much a given to go to one political party or the other meaning the area swings either to the Democrats or the Republicans during the elections.
For example, the Butte area is considered Democratic territory just as the Kalispell area is considered Republican territory.
This does not mean that less populated areas are not important. This race looks like it will be close, so even a few dozen votes here and there could spell victory. To keep this column somewhat short, I take a look at the seven major areas (Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Great Falls, Missoula, and Kalispell) in the state and go in depth about a couple.
I also pick the one area that could decide the 2012 Senate race in Montana. So you really need to read on… Continue reading
Finding a Hero
It was nice to see that someone else believes those representing the Great Falls area in regard to the military were more or less surrendering to the decision to move the F-15 fighter mission from Montana to California. I had previously written about Montana’s military in the column called, “We Need a Hero.” You can read it HERE.
Montana State Senator Ed Buttrey lays it all out in an over 1100 word Guest Opinion that appeared in today’s Great Falls Tribune (not on-line as of my deadline) and recently in the Fairfield Sun Times (available online HERE).
Buttrey begins his Guest Opinion with: Continue reading
Monday Morning Politics
Here’s a look at some of the recent political happenings that caught my attention over the weekend and this morning.
Today I take a look at a new poll, a kick-off, a fire suit, another candidate, and Medicare! Continue reading
Helpfulness and Jockeying
When disasters hit, politicians use them to show their constituents they really care about them. They also want to prevent their opponents from using the disaster against them in political advertisements during the next election – and for some politicians this is the only reason they lift a hand to help.
Of course, there are a few elected officials who genuinely do care.
It’s important for politicians to show they care because we all remember President Bush and Hurricane Katrina. Bush was strongly criticized for almost every move he made during the disaster. Most of it was not deserved, but damage was done. Politicians from every level understand that disasters are their time to shine or to fail miserably in the eyes of their constituents (and give their opponents some traction).
While Montana has not been hit by a disaster such as what Joplin (MO) suffered, Montanans are feeling the effects of too much rain and a spring thaw from an above-average snowpack. Montana politicians have sprung into action to “offer assistance” to those affected by “historic flooding.”
So, let’s take a look at their responses: Continue reading
Patriot Act
I happened to receive an e-mail from U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., yesterday afternoon telling me he was voting against extending the Patriot Act. Then I read in today’s local paper that both Tester and U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., voted against bringing the re-authorization to the floor (Cloture on the Motion to Proceed). They were part of the eight senators who (thankfully) lost that vote 74-8. Eighteen senators took that vote off.
The Great Falls Tribune thinks it is so neat that they have a poll up asking, “Do you agree with Montana’s congressional delegation that the Patriot Act should expire?”
I voted NO.
I also found it disturbing to read that U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., will probably not support the extension of the Patriot Act in the House.
These things happen when people have no experience in the world of national security, defense, or military issues. Continue reading
Monday Morning Politics
Here’s a look at some of the political news that caught my attention recently. Of course, I offer my commentary…
Public Service Commission:
Last week I wrote about the feud on the Public Service Commission (PSC). Some more commentary has popped up, this time from former PSC commissioner and Chairman Greg Jergeson (a Democrat). It is pretty good and you can read it HERE.
Jergeson writes the following about current commissioners Brad Molnar and Bill Gallagher (Republicans):
Brad Molnar has long had a reputation for a shoot-from-the-hip style when it comes to the PSC. He doesn’t do his reading, ignores advice of the PSC’s professional staff, and disregards evidence presented at hearings before the commission. It’s a shame that Bill Gallagher appears to be have allied himself with Molnar’s political antics.
In regards to Republican Commissioner Travis Kavulla, Jergeson writes:
I am more and more impressed with Kavulla’s work ethic and determination to ferret out the facts. He has rapidly established a reputation for decisiveness, integrity and thoughtfulness. Continue reading
The Tracking Poll
I receive a lot of information from political parties and candidates. Normally I subscribe to their newsletters, e-mails, and follow many of them on Facebook and Twitter. Often I share the information I receive so my readers can be better informed. I also offer my personal commentary.
By the way, I don’t donate to any of these people, groups, or political organizations.
So I was not too surprised when I went to my mailbox yesterday and found the May 2011 Voter Approval Ratings envelope from the Republican National Committee (RNC). Continue reading
Getting Run Over?
When I first saw the Montana GOP press release in my inbox with the subject, “Jon Tester Runs Over Montana GOP Staffer” I thought, “Holy Cow!”
Then I figured there had to be an all you can eat buffet between the GOP staffer and Jon Tester that caused the incident, so I quickly read the press release and then clicked on the video to watch the whole thing. It lasted a grand total of 18 seconds. You can watch it HERE (if you have time).
If you stop the video at the 15 second mark, you can see a foot (with a sandal on it) and the tire of Tester’s vehicle getting extremely close to the foot, but I could not actually see from the video if the foot was actually run over by Tester’s vehicle. Continue reading
Monday Morning Politics
Here’s a look at some of the political news that caught my attention recently. Of course, I offer my commentary about each!
Public Service Commission Continue reading
