While trolling the web today, I came across some information about a couple more people who have decided (or are planning) to throw their hats into the ring for Montana’s U.S. Congressional seat (Montana-At Large).  

From the left, we now have Melinda Gopher running.  Gopher joins Dennis McDonald and Tyler Gernant seeking the Democratic nomination.

Surprisingly, from the right, we now have Dr. A.J. Otjen throwing her hat into the ring, against Congressman Denny Rehberg, who won his last election with about 64% of the vote in a three-way race.  I don’t believe Rehberg has had a primary challenger for the U.S. House since he’s held the seat.  It looks like he will now.

Congratulations to all those who have taken this big step.

In reading Otjen’s information from her website, there’s a lot I can agree with –especially the part where she writes, “Our fellow Republicans have been acting badly.”  Exactly.  Of course we can trade name for name, Democrat and Republican, who have acted badly.

She, like me, was a huge fan of Ronald Reagan.  I think that Reagan put the spirit back in America after four long years of Carter. He was the reason I raised my right hand to join the military.  I split with her on Bush 43.  He got my vote, twice.  I also split with her on McCain/Palin.  I did not vote for Obama.  I did not vote for McCain because of Palin.

Let me crawl up on my soapbox.
Today, too many righties try to be like Reagan, but they have lost sight of what he stood for and more importantly, the 11th Commandment, “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

I’ve watched the so-called leaders of the political parties decide by themselves who will and will not get funding for their campaigns, I’ve watched these leaders tell others in their states not to fund an incumbent Republican because he can’t win.  I seen it in local elections, where a group of people decide who will run and then convince others not to run “for the good of the party.”

These same national GOP leaders have taken a majority in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate and turned it into a minority.   In most jobs, they would have been fired.  They should be.

Let me step off the soapbox.

At the end the Issues section on her website, she writes, “Denny is a great guy.  We all like him.  He and I have a lot in common, like being Republicans, loving horses, and loving Montana.  The best thing would be for Montana to have two Congressmen. My goal is to move forward new or good ideas for the Republican Party.”

I can agree with that.