Quote for the Day…
I’ve been hearing a lot about Karen these days, but whatever happened to Felicia? Did she finally leave? – Unknown
Today’s independent commentary deals with these people/issues:
- Great Falls Municipal General Election
- Virginia is for…
- Arntzen & Crosspoint Church
- The Western Word Poll
GREAT FALLS MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION:
There was an election in Great Falls on Tuesday to elect a mayor for a two-year term and two commission candidates for a four-year term. They also elected Neighborhood Council members.
There was a lot of partisan crap thrown at incumbent Mayor Bob Kelly in the non-partisan election. Kelly was running for reelection. Fred Burow was his opponent.
With over 90% of the votes counted and with “The Electric” reporting there were only about 200 ballots left to count, Kelly was beating Burow by 3,373 votes.
The top two commission candidates receiving the most votes are Susan Wolff with 6,185 votes and Joe McKenney with 4,886 votes. Again, this is with only about 200 ballots left to be counted. No other candidate was within 200 votes of McKenney.
An interesting fact is this is the first Municipal General Election that I can remember voting for all the candidates who are projected to win.
So yes, that is a smile on my face…
VIRGINIA IS FOR…
In Virginia, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, a former governor, and Republican Glenn Youngkin were in a tight race. Early in the evening, it looked like Youngkin would run away with it. Later in the evening, the race tightened up some and some news organizations were saying it was “Too Close to Call.”
About 10:30 p.m (MT Time), NBC News called the race for Youngkin.
No matter how the Democrats slice it, this hurts them. The Democrats are blowing a good chance to lead the nation and are spending more time fighting with each other than accomplishing anything.
The midterms of 2022 may be more brutal than I imagined.
ARNTZEN & CROSSPOINT CHURCH:
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen attended a meeting at Crosspoint Church in Missoula this week. The Missoula Current reported that about 80 people gathered at the church on Monday night to hear Arntzen address their opposition to COVID masking, vaccinations, and other issues related to public schools.
The Current reported that the event was sponsored by the Western Montana Liberty Coalition.
One of the more interesting things reported was the following:
Arntzen said her office is working on a rule to allow parents to opt out of school board policies, such as mask mandates. But it probably won’t be final until April because she’s having to work with Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Arntzen said.
“You will have the opportunity to champion your child and say, “Don’t have to wear a mask. Don’t have to have that boy in that girls’ locker room,” Arntzen said.
Earlier, it was reported that Arntzen told those in attendance to run for school board, but she and Knudsen want to tie the hands of school board members.
That is craziness.
Read the full story from the Missoula Current HERE.
THE WESTERN WORD POLL:
This week’s poll question asks, “If a candidate receives most of their donations from out of state, how does that affect your vote?”
Results will be released Thursday.
The Western Word 
I’m not a particularly religious person, but I know enough about the Bible to understand when the teachings of Jesus have been totally bastardized and manipulated for malicious intents. Such is the Crosspoint Community Church in Missoula where Arntzen recently spoke. I have provided a link to their beliefs about covid. ‘Bout as bizarre as it can get. Listen to one Dr. Ardis for example who states that Dr. Fauci is purposely murdering people. This is the new Montana, a place full of ignorance and hate. The new Republican Party.
https://crosspointmt.com/covid-resources
And Jesus said if thou disagree, shoot the offenders.
https://dailymontanan.com/2021/11/03/superintendent-arntzen-condemns-comment-to-shoot-as-egregious/
Larry – It seems Arntzen took her time to find an excuse to say she was not in the room when the shooting remark was made.
That’s what can happen when you attend fringe meetings with the extremists.
Thanks, JmB
And hey that new “opt-out” deal from local school board policies sounds just great. No more paying any attention whatsoever to local policies on guns/weapons, dress codes, gambling, cell phones, fighting, music players, attendance, chemicals/drugs/tobacco, head lice, gangs, non-discrimination/hate/bullying/hazing, etc. Just let your little darling do whatever he or she wishes, wherever and whenever, no matter the impact on other people’s kids or the educators trying to teach them.
Those Republicans in Helena are all about local control, aren’t they? At least this new policy should save taxpayers a ton of money on vice-principal salaries – no longer necessary.
Terry – there are some strange things being proposed. That meeting at the church revealed some interesting and concerning ideas. Thanks, JmB
The big winner in last night’s elections would appear to be urban chickens, with the towns of Cascade and Belgrade joining other enlightened Montana communities such as Billings, Miles City, Bozeman, Three Forks, Livingston, Manhattan, Helena, Missoula, Whitefish and Kalispell in allowing local residents to do with their own back yards as they see fit.
The big loser in last night’s elections would appear to be the editor at the local right wing extremist blog, whose numerous yellow journalism smear attacks on commission candidates Kelly and Wolff were utterly rejected by the voters of Great Falls.
Terry – Thanks for pointing out the chicken issue. I forgot about that. Freedom!
It is kind of fun to see candidates win after there was so much crap thrown at them. I’m glad people saw through the bull.
Thanks, JmB