Quote for the day…
Somewhere on your journey don’t forget to turn around and enjoy the view. – Unknown
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:
- Subpoenas & the Supremes
- Colstrip Power Plant
- Safest States COVID-19
- Dumbass of The Week
SUBPOENAS & THE SUPREMES:
Lee Newspapers reported Thursday that the Republican legislative leadership issued a new round of subpoenas for all seven Montana Supreme Court justices and the court administrator in an ongoing inquiry into GOP claims of misconduct through the court’s email system.
I said earlier this week to get your popcorn ready – now I hope you don’t choke on it from laughing at the Republicans as they try to take on the Montana Supreme Court.
I think the Republicans know that the last outpost of liberals and progressives in Montana is alive and well in the Montana Supreme Court. To completely dominate politics, they need to go after them because many laws that are enacted in this session will be challenged in court. The Republicans seem to want to soften up Montana’s higher court for this fight.
The Republicans also don’t seem to like that the Montana judges have political views. They are freaking politicians like the Republicans and Democrats. They prostitute themselves every few years for votes. After being elected or reelected, they go back to the castle and look down on us peons.
I don’t believe that a bunch of Republican Howdy Doodys in the Montana Legislature stand much of a chance against the Supremes, but they are at least getting some attention. It’s kind of like the lone mosquito at the picnic messing with you. You won’t let it ruin the picnic and you’ll crush it quickly.
Read the Lee Newspapers report HERE.
Read the MTN News report HERE.
COLSTRIP POWER PLANT:
I have followed the issues with the Colstrip Power plant for years. I think it is way past time to move on from coal and put those who support it out of their misery and move on to something else.
Maybe we can hire the people who work there now to start the demolition process. After removing the plant, they can level the area and plant some native grasses.
Then they can add solar panels and windmills to generate energy.
If the former plant needs to be remembered, build a museum to honor it and charge an entrance fee.
See how easy that was…
SAFEST STATES COVID-19:
I think Montana Governor Greg Gianforte probably recites the line from “Braveheart” throughout the day to pump himself up about how he is handling the pandemic:
“They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!”
He has talked a lot about freedom, liberty, and personal responsibility during his press conferences and releases.
Gianforte even acquired COVID for being so irresponsible and ignorant.
The personal financial website “WalletHub” announced the safest states during the pandemic. Montana did not make the top 10. Montana did not make the top 20. Montana did not make the top 30.
Montana is ranked as the 37th safest state during the COVID pandemic.
According to WalletHub:
WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics. Our data set includes the rates of COVID-19 transmission, positive testing, hospitalizations, and death, as well as the share of the eligible population getting vaccinated.
Congratulations Governor Gianforte!
Read the full report from WalletHub HERE.
Note: Late Thursday MTN News reported that floor sessions on Friday at the Montana Legislature will be postponed after a member of the “government affairs community” tested positive for COVID-19.
Check out the MTN News report by clicking HERE.
DUMBASS OF THE WEEK:
This week’s “Dumbass of the Week” or “Dumbasses of the Week” are the folks in the Montana Legislature who voted for Senate Joint Resolution No. 8 (SJ 8).
SJ 8 is a Joint Resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of Montana urging the members of the United States Congress to propose the “keep nine” amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require that the United States Supreme Court be composed of nine justices.
Earlier this week I wrote about this saying I’m sure the U.S Congress will drop what they are doing and take notice of what a bunch of morons from Montana are urging them to do. I also said that this was a waste of time. They could probably keep the session at 60 days if they stuck to the things they actually need to do.
The 66 members of the Montana House and 31 members of the Montana Senate who voted “YEA” on SJ 8 are the “Dumbasses of the Week.”
The Western Word 
MT Supreme Court: IMHO the legislative Repubs are looking for excuses to work themselves into a frenzy about MT Supreme Court judges and impeach them so Gianforte can directly appoint new ones under the new Republican law that did away with the judicial selection commission. Once again trampling the votes we cast. They have the 2/3 majority in the House and almost in the Senate. The going-nowhere court packing show by the Dems in Congress is nothing compared to the drunk-on-power machinations playing out in Helena. And while this is happening the legislature has the gall to issue its JR 8 – “WHEREAS, an independent United States Supreme Court is an essential element of America’s system of checks and balances that protects our constitutional rights …but independent fooey we don’t want that in Montana”.
Colstrip: The Repubs in the legislature are trying to pass Fitzpatrick’s poison pill SB 379 to stick us all with huge ongoing costs even if the plant shuts down. What hard-working Montanan would want a power plant to shut down if they’re going to be stuck paying hundreds of millions or even a billion for it to Northwestern even if it closes? So let’s just make sure that’s exactly what would happen.
Terry – you are correct. Thanks, JmB