Quote for the Day…

I accidentally drank invisible ink; I am now in the hospital waiting to be seen. -Unknown

Today’s independent commentary deals with these people/issues:

• Montana’s Leadership Vacuum
• University of Providence
• The Western Word Poll
• Reading Assignments

MONTANA’S LEADERSHIP VACUUM:

In case you missed it, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle’s editorial board chimed in with their thoughts about the current leadership in Montana:

Montana is making headlines again for all the wrong reasons. It recently garnered national attention as the only state legally barring employers from requiring employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Then the state was singled out last week for the fastest growing COVID-19 infection rate — up 55% over the previous week. The Montana Free Press reported, as of Friday, there were 1,877 Montana COVID deaths since the pandemic began, including some 35 in the previous week alone.

They closed their editorial with this advice:

This is serious stuff. People are dying and you’re just sitting on your hands. Use your influence as much as possible to make a difference. People of all political persuasions will thank you.

The freedom and personal responsibility that Governor Greg Gianforte is preaching is bullshit. He is not leading. He’s killing Montanans by his lack of action.

The bottom line is mask up Montana and get vaccinated or you may die a horrendous death.

Read the complete editorial by clicking HERE.

UNIVERSITY OF PROVIDENCE:

Upfront – I am a graduate of the University of Great Falls (BS 96), which is now called the University of Providence.

Some right-wingers in Great Falls are up in arms about an “Argos Pledge” that was posted on a local blog. The information was from the University of Providence about dealing with COVID. The person providing it wanted to remain anonymous.

I found the same information on the homepage of the University of Providence under the coronavirus link that can be accessed by students and faculty, so it’s not a top-secret document that you must sign in blood:

The Together as Argos Pledge allows residential and commuter students, as well as faculty and staff, the opportunity to acknowledge responsibilities associated with being a member of the University of Providence campus community in the age of COVID-19.

I think the outrage is a nothingburger.

The University is a private Roman Catholic university. If you don’t want to sign the pledge, I’m sure some other college/university will take your money.

By the way, freedom is not free!

THE WESTERN WORD POLL:

Last week the Washington Post (WaP0) reported that twice in the final months of the Trump administration, Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was so fearful that the president’s actions might spark a war with China that he moved urgently to avert armed conflict.

This information was from a new book called “Peril” by Washington Post associate editor Bob Woodward and national political reporter Robert Costa.

WaPo also reported that Milley also summoned senior officers to review the procedures for launching nuclear weapons, saying the president alone could give the order — but, crucially, that he, Milley, also had to be involved. Looking each in the eye, Milley asked the officers to affirm that they had understood, the authors write, in what he considered an “oath.”

Read the complete WaPo article HERE.

This week’s poll question asks, “Do you agree with the actions taken by General Mark Milley?”

The results will be posted Thursday.

READING ASSIGNMENTS:

Here are some articles that you should read:

Governor sued for denying records request
I see a lot of lawsuits in Gianforte’s future…

House OKs debt and funding plan, inviting clash with GOP
It looks like the Senate Republicans will shut down the federal government…

Howard Stern slams Joe Rogan, tells skeptics to get vaccinated or leave the country
Stern might feel that Rogan is trespassing on his talk show territory…

Body found in Wyoming identified as missing Gabby Petito
This is so sad – prayers for Gabby’s friends and family…

## MASK UP – GET VACCINATED ##