Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. – C. S. Lewis

Today’s independent commentary deals with these people/issues:

• Mail Collection Boxes
• Montana Governor’s Race
• Montana Speaker of the House
• Republican National Convention
• Under God

MAIL COLLECTION BOXES:

On Saturday, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported seven of eight mail collection boxes removed in Gallatin County were in precincts that voted for Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in Montana’s 2018 Senate election at a higher percentage than the rest of the county.

In the immortal words of Gomer Pyle, “Sur-prise, sur-prise, sur-prise!”

I think the damage has already been done. People are delayed in getting their mail and the Postmaster said they were not going to reinstate the sorting machines that were taken down.

Trump and his people are going to try to suppress the vote.

I think the best thing people can do is if they don’t mail the ballots back seven days before Election Day, they should take their ballot to the election office in person to be safe.

MONTANA GOVERNOR’S RACE:

MTN News reported Friday that in the race for Montana Governor, Greg Gianforte, Montana’s U.S. congressman and a wealthy businessman from Bozeman, has loaned or donated about $2.6 million to his campaign – almost half of his $5.4 million total.

That’s $2.6 million he has loaned or donated to his campaign. In other words, Gianforte is trying to buy the office.

As for his opponent, Democrat Mike Cooney who is also the current Lt. Governor, he has done fine in the fundraising department.

The thing I am noticing is that I don’t know if Cooney has the “it” factor to beat the out-of-stater Gianforte. Maybe Montanans want a Governor who plays rock-em sock-em with reporters.

If Gianforte wins, the Republican-controlled legislature will run wild. Sometimes when Republicans and Democrats control everything they implode or form a circular firing squad. I can see that happening.

MONTANA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE:

Montana Speaker of the House Greg Hertz (R) has a guest column making its way around the Montana newspaper circuit. Not surprisingly, Hertz is upset at Democratic Governor Steve Bullock and wants to do some damage to him in his race for U.S. Senate.

Hertz lists a potpourri of items about Bullock that mostly can be boiled down to the fact that Hertz did not always get his way in the last few legislative sessions. Of course, he uses the old standby name to try and soil Bullock: liberal.

Then Hertz alludes to rumors about why former Lt. Governor Angela “McClain” left the Bullock administration but fails to even spell her last name correctly (McLean) which should entitle Hertz, the Speaker of the Montana House, to the dipshit of the week award or something.

2020 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION:

In case you forgot, the 2020 Republican National Convention starts today (August 24) and ends Thursday, August 27.

I guess we can call this “Promises Part II.”

As the Democratic convention, the Republican convention will be unique, to say the least.

Most events from 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. ET every night will be televised or streamed. Click HERE for information.

It is being reported that President Donald Trump will appear every night during the convention. To see who is speaking, click HERE. CBS News is reporting that among those set to appear are Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their St. Louis mansion in late June.

The website for the convention can be found HERE.

UNDER GOD:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Here at The Western Word, we love the pledge and God!

There were some more fake news stories circulating on social media by President Donald Trump and his supporters. Trump tweeted:

“The Democrats took the word GOD out of the Pledge of Allegiance at the Democrat National Convention. At first I thought they made a mistake, but it wasn’t. It was done on purpose. Remember Evangelical Christians, and ALL, this is where they are coming from-it’s done. Vote Nov 3!”

The Associated Press (AP) reported:

That’s a misleading accusation. The central programming of the convention featured the entire pledge, complete with “under God.”

I watched most of the convention and remember hearing the pledge each night.

The AP also reported that during two caucuses before the evening conventions started, the Muslim Delegates and Allies Assembly and the LGBTQ Caucus meeting, both Tuesday, left out “under God,” from the pledge.

There are also fake stories going around that during the Democratic candidates’ debates there were no flags. There were. They were waving on the screen above the candidates and many candidates wore flag pins on their lapels.

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