Quote for the day…
I believe in you. I also believe in Bigfoot so don’t get too excited. ― Anonymous
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 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:
- Ryan Zinke
- Montana Legislature
- Dumbass of The Week
- One More Thing
RYAN ZINKE:
The news came out of right field – the Associated Press (AP) and several other organizations reported that former Interior Secretary and Montana congressman Ryan Zinke filed paperwork Thursday signaling his interest in running for the second U.S. House seat that was awarded to the state earlier this week. The AP said that Zinke filed documents with the Federal Election Commission to organize the “Zinke for Congress” campaign committee.
I think he has a good chance of winning the seat. He would have to be considered the frontrunner. His winning depends on things like how the new district is made up and how dirty the Democrats can make him look during his time at Interior. If he can get an endorsement from former President Trump, he could pull it off. I don’t know of a Democrat in the western part of the state that can compete with Zinke’s name recognition.
With Zinke indicating his desire to run, will that affect the way the redistricting committee does its job?
Read the full story from the AP by clicking HERE.
MONTANA LEGISLATURE:
The Associated Press (AP) reported it this way:
The Montana Legislature wrapped up its 2021 session Thursday having passed a $12 billion two-year budget, set a framework for spending $2 billion in federal stimulus money over the next four years and implemented policy to enact the state’s voter-approved recreational marijuana law.
Right after I heard of the session being over I Tweeted:
Montana Legislature- What a freaking historical mess. #MTPOL #mtleg #circus
I did not see a lot of compromise. When the votes are predominately the majority party all voting “Yea” and the minority party all voting “Nay” that is not legislating.
Several moderate Republicans abandoned their principles and went along with the wackos of their party. Shame on you. I lost my respect for several moderates.
We’re going to see just how much damage was done by the majority party in the coming weeks and months. Many of the bills passed and signed into law were unconstitutional. Those could cost the state millions.
The good thing is the circus and the clowns are leaving Helena.
Read the full report from the AP by clicking HERE.
DUMBASS OF THE WEEK:
This week’s “Dumbass of the Week” is Tucker Carlson of Fox News.
The Atlantic and several other sources reported that Carlson recently told his audience:
“As for forcing children to wear masks outside, that should be illegal,” Carlson sputters. “Your response when you see children wearing masks as they play should be no different from seeing someone beating a kid at Walmart: Call the police immediately; contact child protective services. Keep calling until someone arrives. What you’re looking at is abuse. It’s child abuse, and you’re morally obligated to attempt to prevent it.”
The CDC reports (this was updated last week) that:
- When you wear a mask, you protect others as well as yourself. Masks work best when everyone wears one.
- A mask is NOT a substitute for social distancing. Masks should still be worn in addition to staying at least 6 feet apart, especially when indoors around people who don’t live in your household.
- Masks should completely cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of the face without gaps.
- People age 2 and older should wear masks in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household.
For his comments about masks and turning parents into child protective services if their child is wearing one, Tucker Carlson of Fox News is The Western Word’s “Dumbass of the Week.”
ONE MORE THING:
In case you missed it, Jimmy Kimmel interviewed MyPillow CEO and Trump supporter Mike Lindell this week.
Click HERE to view.
The Western Word 
The Zinke announcement to seek the new Montana U.S. house seat certainly comes as a surprise even to seasoned political watchers. This is devastating news for the Montana Democrats,who thought they had a chance at this seat with mostly unknown candidates from both parties. It makes no difference how the new district is drawn now. There just won’t be enough Democrat voters from the blue cities to overcome all the new red voters in the Flathead and Bitterroot. This race is now over before it begins. Zinke is basically a incumbent,let alone a decorated Veteran, everyone knows his name,he will be able to raise huge out of state money. Hell Trump probably will come here for him and surely Don Jr. will stump for him. All the problems that arose during his term as Sec. of Interior will get little press and will to most of Trump base( 98% of the Montana Republicans) be a badge of honor or in another words fake news.
Steve Bullock isn’t going to have his arm twisted this time to run. One may wonder why Zinke is giving up his plum lobbying jobs for this. Well the man has a huge ego and this is one way to keep his name in the 2024 field for maybe that two spot.
Thank God the Montana Republican leadership(as_es) had the wisdom to end the 2021 legisative session 10 days early saving all of us more embarrassment in national media. Besides a great share of the asinine bills they passed will end up before Montana Supreme Court and found blantly unconstitutional.
Dennis – great points. Thanks, JmB
Tucker’s viewers should indeed call the police on parents with their kids masked up. Then stick around until the police arrive to make sure they don’t get away. Then when the police dp arrive announce loudly and proudly, “Hey officers! I’m the one who called you about a kid wearing a mask!” The cops could issue the caller a jr. patrolman medal on the spot.
Went to Big R and bought a couple hundred in supplies, the cashier wasn’t wearing a mask. My wife and I were wearing ours and we have both been vaccinated plus she had Covid in October. My wife is a nurse and cares for Covid patients. When it was time to sign the receipt our pen didn’t work and the cashier went to look for one. Noticed she had a pile of them next to the register so we used one of them. She saw that and said she doesn’t allow customers to use her pens. Safety reasons she said. Only for her I imagine.
Bill – that is crazy. There are too many people out and about who think they know all about COVID. Thanks for sharing, JmB