And now I’m glad I didn’t know
The way it all would end, the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I’d have to miss the dance
-The Dance (Garth Brooks)

Welcome to the big column to end the week, “Caught My Eye” (CME)!

If you are a first-time visitor, welcome! CME is the once a week column that is posted here every Friday morning. This is when I take a look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week. There may be some sarcasm and pointed independent commentary so be warned!

Here are the topics that “Caught My Eye” this week:

• Gianforte – Governor
• Stapleton vs Bullock
• Trump at Normandy
• One More Thing

Gianforte – Governor:

According to MTN News, U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte (R-MT AL) late Thursday made his 2020 run for Montana governor all but official, filing campaign fundraising paperwork with the state Political Practices Office.

MTN also reported that three other Republicans have announced that they’re running for governor in 2020: Attorney General Tim Fox, state Sen. Al Olszewski of Kalispell and Secretary of State Corey Stapleton.

We’ll see how many candidates there are when the filing season opens next year (Candidate filing opens in January and closes in March).

I think this is a stupid move by Gianforte. He would probably win reelection to the U.S. House pretty easily, but he may not make it out of a three or four-way (or more) Republican primary for governor. Also, Montana has not elected a Republican Governor since 2000.

As I have said before, Gianforte is screwing over Montana in giving up the seniority he has in the U.S. House and whoever succeeds him will be at the bottom. Steve Daines did the same thing. I know many people who won’t vote for either of them because of this.

I’m hoping that someone announces their candidacy for U.S. House who really wants to be in the U.S. House.

We’re left waiting for the Montana Democrats to find some viable candidates for Governor and U.S. Senate. They better hurry because they are missing out on some great months to fundraise.

Stapleton vs Bullock:

Last Friday I wrote about the pissing match between Secretary of State and candidate for Governor Cory Stapleton (R) and Governor and Presidential Candidate Steve Bullock (D) over whether a bill was correctly vetoed by the Governor.

As was reported by MTN News, Stapleton contends the bill (House Bill 132) that redefines “wild bison” in Montana, was not vetoed by Bullock because it missed a deadline in getting to his office. Bullock stands by his veto.

I concluded my comments about the saying I did a review of the issue, and I think Stapleton will lose. I used common sense as a guide in making my ruling, which is something that is lacking in Helena.

The issue was brought before a state district court judge this week. Can you guess what happened? Yep, Stapleton lost.

It was so bad for Stapleton that the Montana Free Press (MTFP) reported it with this headline:

Judge blasts SoS Stapleton position in veto dispute 

One paragraph in the MTFP story stood out to me, and it was comments from the judge:

“When I look at whether the governor has a legitimate cause, I tend to agree with him,” said Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike McMahon. “I just do not see a good faith argument by Secretary of State Stapleton.”

We’ll see if Stapleton surrenders or if he wants the Montana Supreme Court to embarrass him even more.

Trump at Normandy:

The New York Times reported that President Donald Trump marked the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy at a ceremony at the grave site of more than 9,380 American service members who were killed in the World War II landings and the operations that followed.

That was the nice part of his trip. From what I heard, Trump’s speech went well.

The President should have shut up while he was ahead, but Trump can’t shut up.

The New York Times reported it this way:

With marble crosses and Stars of David marking the graves of those who died fighting the Nazis on D-Day visible in the background, Mr. Trump used the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy to bash the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, in an interview with Fox News.

Trump said of Mueller, who is a decorated war Vietnam veteran, “He made such a fool out of himself.”

Trump did not stop there. He then went after Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who was also attending the event, telling Fox News that Pelosi is a “nasty, vindictive, horrible person” — after saying he had “tried to be nice to her.”

He continued about Pelosi, saying, “I think she’s a disgrace. I actually don’t think she’s a talented person, I’ve tried to be nice to her because I would have liked to have gotten some deals done.”

As for Pelosi, when she was asked about impeachment and Trump she said she preferred on this day to focus on veterans.

Good for her.

Trump has no decency or respect for people. He soiled the ground by bringing up the problems from home while visiting the sacred ground of Normandy.

I am beginning to believe Trump has some mental problems.

One More Thing:

There was some breaking news this week from the Great Falls (MT) Police Department. Big smelly breaking news!

No, they are not producing another Lip Sync Battle video.

On their Facebook page, they revealed that it is against “Municipal Code” to “dumpster dive” in Great Falls. Yes, you read that correctly.

Here is what they said:

ATTENTION DUMPSTER DIVERS! According to City of Great Falls Municipal Code 8.8.190 – Salvaging is prohibited and it could land you in jail, with a hefty fine, or both.

“No person may pick over, sort, segregate, or salvage any refuse deposited in an authorized disposal area, refuse container or refuse pile.”

Please be respectful, and law abiding, by leaving other people’s trash alone.

Great googly moogly! What am I suppose to do with my Saturdays now?

I took a bag of trash to the dumpster today and made myself look away because I was afraid I’d see something good inside the dumpster.

I wonder how many people have been busted in Great Falls for dumpster diving? I also wonder if this code includes the sanitation workers, who find a lot of good stuff on their routes and place their treasures in the cab of the truck?

The bottom line to me about this is I think it is another one of those ridiculous codes (like the cell phone one) that someone dreamed up to make a little money for the city. I have my doubts that the code would hold up in court if challenged – nor should it.

 

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