Trick or Treat is over

Now we’re eating the leftover candy, and we’re taking a few pieces of candy from our children’s stash.

My daughter did well this year. She was dressed as a pirate. Her pumpkin-shaped bucket was overflowing. I commended her for her hard work as I “checked” out the candy. I performed a few “tests” and proclaimed the candy fit to eat. I will perform a few “tests” throughout the next few days to ensure the candy stays edible. It’s a father’s duty.

Speaking of pirates, pork pirates that is…

The Wall Street Journal did a story on Tuesday about the work Rep. John Murtha, D- PA, and his work as chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Maybe Murtha is not a pirate, but he seems to be the new king of pork. Of course, when you are becoming the new king of pork, people will be looking at your earmarks really closely.

It looks like if Congress ever passes a Defense Appropriations bill this year, Montana will get about $30 million less than in previous years. Conrad Burns was a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee. That missing $30 million is probably heading to Murtha’s district. He’s scheduled to get about $166 million. Wow!

I thought this was an interesting quote in the story:

“Much of this money will dry up when Mr. Murtha leaves office, an event local officials fear…”

It appears the folks up in Cut Bank, Montana, are feeling the same way since Burns left office in regards to funding for their airport. This was according to a story called, “Airport is key to area’s economic development.”

A former Cut Bank resident Dave Anderson said, “…the Airport Authority had cultivated a great working relationship with U.S. Senator Conrad Burns, but with his defeat to Democrat Jon Tester, they are back to square one in having support at the national level. Developing relationships with Tester, U.S. Senator Max Baucus and Gov. Brian Schweitzer have been slow in coming, but the board has retained the support of U.S. Congressman Dennis Rehberg.”

The fact is that the pork from Washington is still there for folks to grab as in the case with Rep. Murtha and his support for his district in Pennsylvania. But, it is now coming from the left and from those on the “really powerful” Appropriations committees.

The Westboro Baptist Church case

Update. The Jurors awarded Albert Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages. Yesterday I said the total was $2.9 million. Wonderful! Good for Mr. Snyder!

Grassroots?

There are more updates to Missoulapolis’ outstanding post called: “Forward Montana: A Tentacle of the Machine”

Now Mr. Dave Budge of DaveBudge.com has found some more interesting information about the left’s grassroots involvement here in little ol’ Montana. It’s a good read. It’s amazing what one can find with a little research.