Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up. — Brené Brown

Welcome to another exciting edition of Caught My Eye (CME)!

CME is the once-a-week column that is posted 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.

Here are some of the things that “Caught My Eye” this week:

• The Montana Legislature
• The Trump Post
• Dumbass of the Week
• One More Thing

THE MONTANA LEGISLATURE:

The Republicans of the Montana Legislature are unleashing 16 years of frustration and passing bills that would have no chance when there was a Democratic Governor. With the new Republican Governor, it seems no right-wing idea is too wild.

Republicans in the Montana Legislature remind me of this quote:

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups. ― George Carlin

The Democrats in Montana are in one hell of a pickle. Besides U.S. Senator Jon Tester, they got nothing.

So far, the Republicans have not formed the circular firing squad as they have in the past.

Here are a few items that caught my eye:

House Bill 102:

MTN News is reporting that permitless concealed carry of firearms – also known as constitutional carry – is now legal in Montana, following Governor Greg Gianforte signing House Bill 102 into law. The new law allows people to carry concealed firearms without a permit in most locations, and with a permit in state and local government facilities such as the State Capitol Building.

I expect we’ll see a Wild West shootout soon. Hee Haw!

House Bill 371:

This bill would remove the requirement that the Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction has a degree in education.

Who comes up with this stupid shit? I know, the bill sponsor.

House Bill 457:

This bill would delay the implementation of recreational marijuana laws. It looks like they want to delay it until October 2022. They are screwing with the will of the people because they don’t agree that we should allow recreational marijuana.

Shame on State Rep. Bill Mercer for sponsoring this crap.

THE TRUMP POST:

I’ve been seeing THIS POST on many Trump supporters’ social media sites. It made me laugh, so I had to share.

I won’t share the whole thing, but it starts with:

I love my democratic friends and family and always will but, you see it your way and I see it mine. You saw Trump’s arrogance, I saw Trump’s confidence. You saw Trump’s nationalism, I saw Trump’s patriotism. You heard Trump’s unsophisticated words, I heard Trump’s honesty. You saw Trump’s racism, I saw Trump’s words being misconstrued and twisted by the media daily to fit their narrative.

The fact is Trump was a racist pig who divided America. He was a one-term President. He was impeached twice. He lied all the time. He will be known as one of the worst Presidents in history. People who support Trump are some of the most gullible and uneducated people in our society.

DUMBASS OF THE WEEK:

It was a very close contest for this week’s “Dumbass of the Week” award.

We had U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) head to Cancun, Mexico, as his state of Texas was suffering through a winter disaster.

After several glasses of wine and deep discussion, here are the winners:

The winners this week are the two members of the Cascade County City-County Board of Health who voted against the plan to require masks. Luckily it passed 5-2.

The Western Word’s “Dumbass of the Week” award goes to Cascade County Commissioner Joe Briggs and Great Falls City Commissioner Owen Robinson for their vote against requiring masks in Cascade County. Shame on you.

ONE MORE THING:

Society has become so fake that the truth actually bothers people. ― Chanda Kaushik

Have a great weekend!

## WEAR A MASK TODAY ##