Quote for the day…
I finally figured out what I want to be when I get older…younger. -Unknown
Today’s independent commentary deals with these issues:
- The Western Word Poll
- Montana’s Election
- Western Governors
- Fireworks
- Reading Assignments
THE WESTERN WORD POLL:
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd, was sentenced Friday to 22 and a half years in prison. (NBC News)
This week’s poll question asks, “Do you agree with the sentence given to Derek Chauvin?”
Results will be posted later this week.
MONTANA’S ELECTION:
Apparently, former President Donald Trump thinks there were some problems with Montana’s last election.
By the way, Trump won Montana by 16 points. Maybe he forgot.
The only problem I saw with the last election was that too many Republicans, especially some on the extreme far-right, won races. That’s the way it goes some years.
Here is what Trump said at a rally in Ohio over the weekend:
“In Montana, over 6% of a certain county’s mail-in ballots are missing, evidence to prove that they were legitimate or not. They are missing all this evidence. Think of it, Montana, you know, a lot of, a lot of mail-in ballots. Where do you have the mail-in ballots, by the way?”
I can’t wait to hear Trump’s buddies, Steve Daines, Matt Rosendale, and Greg Gianforte talk about Trump’s claim.
KULR8.com covered the story HERE.
Business Insider has the story HERE.
WESTERN GOVERNORS:
On Friday, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R) tweeted about not being invited to the White House to meet with the President about wildfire season:
Disappointed to learn in news stories that @POTUS didn’t offer a seat at the table to Montana and other states facing a severe wildfire season.
I hope his call for working together wasn’t just lip service and Montana’s invitation is just lost in the mail.
According to The Spokesman-Review, five Democratic governors – Oregon’s Kate Brown, California’s Gavin Newsom, New Mexico’s Michelle Lujan Grisham, Colorado’s Jared Polis, and Nevada’s Steve Sisolak – are set to attend the gathering, along with two Republicans, Govs. Mark Gordon of Wyoming and Spencer Cox of Utah.
Of course, some of Gianforte’s paid minions and his partisan supporters on Twitter thought not being invited was the worst thing to ever happen. Oh, the outrage!
Here’s the deal – It’s easy to see that Gianforte has shown no indication that he wants to work with the Biden Administration on any issue, even if his state is burning. Even if he were invited, Gianforte would bitch and moan about something. The mission of Republicans like Gianforte, Steve Daines, and Matt Rosendale is to make sure Biden does not win a second term.
Gianforte should ask Wyoming Governor Gordon to take notes for him…
Read the complete story from The Spokesman-Review HERE.
FIREWORKS:
It’s going to get hot in Montana this week. My weather app says it will be 90 degrees or hotter for the next week or so. It may be 100 degrees on Thursday.
There’s very little chance of rain. We’re baking on high heat through Independence Day.
ABC/Fox Montana is reporting that fireworks that were once illegal statewide are making a comeback thanks to a law change. As booths pop up in your neighborhood, you may find roman candles, sky and bottle rockets on sale.
As of posting time, the City of Great Falls website says these fireworks are illegal. (Source)
Bottle rocket and roman candle wars were all part of my childhood – Don’t try this at home!
With fires already springing up around Montana and the west, this would be a good time to suspend the personal shooting of fireworks within the city and county for safety reasons. The whole state should probably suspend the personal use of fireworks for this year.
Let the professionals handle it.
I doubt our elected officials will have the guts to stop it, so keep your garden hose handy.
In the immortal words of Smokey Bear, “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires!”
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Here are some articles that I think you will find interesting…
Rosendale: Why conservatives think Juneteenth vote is a disaster
Republicans are watching their states back weed — and they’re not sold
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week
Pastor Greg Locke Says Biden Is ‘Demon-Possessed,’ Insists Trump Is ‘Legitimate President’
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I whole heartly agree
fireworks should have been baned this year as nearly every area of Montana is in a horrible drought. I live near Flathead Lake and we have had fair moisture causing our grass and underbrush to grow. But with a week of heat up in 100’s things will dry out quickly and the fires will start. We have already had some big fires in central and eastern Montana. I believe Gianforte will be tested this year by the drought and fires. He will need to take strong early action and his right wing moaning and groaning and blame it on Democrats climate change supporters won’t cut it. His actions this summer and fall will really show if he is truly interested in leading and helping our Big Sky State or he just bought his office as another trophy on the mantel.
Dennis – Thank you! – JmB
Chris Hayes made an interesting point the other evening. He said that conservatives like Rosendale constantly trying to scare people with racial issues like Juneteenth, Critical Race Theory, naturally culminating in that great bugaboo reparations, and making race issues like CRT the centerpiece of their 2022 strategy, simply proves the central tenet of Critical Race Theory, that race is and has been historically the central political conflict in America. So nice job Matt.
Between this op-ed and his statements explaining why he voted against Juneteeth Matt seems preternaturally concerned with these issues. Perhaps that stems from his slave state Maryland roots, with the family farm in the historically tobacco-growing Tidewater region? “He doth protest too much” whatever the case.
Terry – great points. Thanks, JmB