My circle is small because I’m into quality, not quantity. –Anonymous

Today’s independent commentary deals with these issues:

• COVID-19 Vaccine
• State District Court Judges
• Jezebel

COVID-19 VACCINE:

Here is a new poll from The Western Word:

 

The results will be posted later this week.

STATE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES:

The Great Falls Tribune ran a story on Sunday about a senate bill passed by both chambers of the Montana Legislature that may make it possible for the Montana Senate to remove three appointed district court judges and replace them with appointees chosen by Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican.

As mentioned before here at The Western Word and reported by the Tribune, the bill would dissolve the seven-member Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC) and place the appointment process for choosing interim district judges and Montana Supreme Court justices directly in the hands of the governor.

I have said from the beginning when I heard about this bill that I have never been a fan of Montana Supreme Court justices and State District court judges being politicians. I think it lowers the respect people have for them. It has that effect on me. It is like they prostitute themselves every few years raising money and campaigning and then they go back to acting all professional and a notch above us commoners. I also said that maybe Gianforte was on to something – they just need to make it where the judges are appointed for a certain length (four years/eight years) and then they go on their merry way and we get a fresh face.

Democrats are upset about this new way. Fielding weak candidates for state-wide office sometimes has consequences. This may be one.

Like many Montana Legislative bills being voted on with the right-wing heart and not taking into consideration the constitution, I am not sure it will stand a court challenge, but we will see. I predict the courts will be busy here in Montana.

JEZEBEL:

I happened to see a few posts on Facebook with a photo of Kamala Harris taking the oath to be the Vice President of the United States. The photo had a verse from Revelation 17:4 posted with it. The verse goes like this:

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.

It has been reported that several Southern Baptist pastors, like Tom Buck, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lindale, Texas, equated Kamala Harris with the biblical Jezebel.

“I can’t imagine any truly God-fearing Israelite who would’ve wanted their daughters to view Jezebel as an inspirational role model because she was a woman in power.”

Steve Swofford, of Rockwall First Baptist Church in Texas, preached about President Biden, calling him “cognitively dysfunctional,” and adding:

“What if something happens to him? Jezebel has to take over — Jezebel Harris; isn’t that her name?”

Click HERE for the source.

There is a lot of hatred being spewed by these “pastors.” I see it daily from many who are Southern Baptists and attend Southern Baptist churches. I do not speak for God, but I think he would be saddened by all the hatred from these so-called Christians.

To top it off, Religion News Service reports that in the United States, Jezebel has become a racist trope for a sexually promiscuous Black woman — a description that began in slavery, extended through the Jim Crow period and continues today.

At one time I was a member of a Southern Baptist Church. After hearing and reading what some of their pastors and members are saying and posting, I am really ashamed that I was part of that denomination.

## WEAR A MASK TODAY ##