Quote for the Day…
I think I figured out why our generation is common-sense smart. We had lawn darts and clacker balls to take out the stupid ones. – Unknown
Welcome to 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:
- Zinke’s Blown Deadline
- AG Austin Knudsen
- The Western Word Poll Results
- Reading Assignments
ZINKE’S BLOWN DEADLINE:
Lee Newspapers reported earlier this week that Republican Ryan Zinke’s campaign for Montana’s western congressional seat acknowledged this week that it blew a deadline to submit a report detailing the former Interior Secretary’s finances and promised to file the disclosure statement “in a timely manner.”
When I posted the article on my Twitter feed, it received lots of likes and many retweets. Many people dislike Zinke because of his ties to former President Donald Trump and for his time as Secretary of the Interior.
Zinke may have screwed up filing his report, but I think it will take more than blowing a disclosure deadline for him to lose this race. I just don’t see anyone left or right at this time who can compete with him. It is a long time until election day, so a lot can happen.
One thing I did notice in the article is that so far the race is ripe with rich people. Do we really need more millionaires representing us?
Read the complete article from Lee Newspapers HERE.
ATTORNEY GENERAL AUSTIN KNUDSEN:
It seems every few days there’s an article about Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen getting involved in some sketchy stuff – stuff that makes most political observers shake their heads in disbelief.
The latest is a report from MTN News. Here are some of the details:
Helena restaurant manager John Schneider says he feared for his life last November when a patron upset about being told to leave the premises for not wearing a mask fought with him and then allegedly threatened him with a gun.
And now that Attorney General Austin Knudsen has agreed to a plea deal giving the customer a $50 fine for disorderly conduct – Schneider told MTN News he doesn’t think justice is being done.
According to MTN News, Rodney Smith, the man charged in the Nov. 6, 2020, incident at the Hokkaido Restaurant in downtown Helena, initially faced charges of felony assault, misdemeanor assault, and two counts of illegally carrying a concealed weapon.
Those charges were reduced to a $50 fine by Knudsen. I guess it pays to have friends in high places.
A judge will have to approve it, according to the article. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9 before state District Judge Kathy Seeley, on whether to approve the plea deal.
In my humble opinion, there’s no way that Seeley should approve this plea deal. I hope she puts Knudsen in his place and tells him to stay in his lane. Somebody needs to do it.
Read the complete article from MTN News HERE.
THE WESTERN WORD POLL:
The University of Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State University Bobcats both made the FCS football playoffs. They both earned first-round byes and will next play on December 3 & 4.
This week’s poll question asked, “Which team will go further in the FCS Playoffs?” Here are the results:
MONTANA GRIZZLIES: 35.29%
MONTANA STATE BOBCATS: 26.47%
ELIMINATED IN SAME ROUND: 23.53%
I DON’T CARE/UNDECIDED: 14.71%
Thanks for participating!
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Here are a few articles that you should read…
St. Peter’s responds to special counsel report, stands by claims of threats from state officials
Shame on the state officials…
Donors raise more than $950,000 to help Missouri man wrongfully convicted in 1979
Missouri needs to change its laws to help people like Kevin Strickland…
Marjorie Taylor Greene introduces bill to award Congressional Gold Medal to Rittenhouse
I don’t think so…
The Western Word 
For me, the pivot point on Zinke’s run (again) for Congress is that the Trumpsky administration was compelled to force him to resign as Interior Secretary. He was too corrupt and incompetent to tolerate. ………………that administration found Zinke too corrupt and incompetent????? Think about that……….
Fred – good point. Something that his opponent should use in ads Thanks, JmB
If the penalty for “felony assault, misdemeanor assault, and two counts of illegally carrying a concealed weapon” in threatening someone with a gun is just $50 in Knudsen’s Montana, what’s the penalty for actually shooting someone if you don’t like some rule at some private business? 25 hours community service?
No doubt Knudsen will also intervene in the case of the drunk DEA agent threatening with a gun at the Bozeman bar and order Gallatin county officials to reduce that. Maybe down to the special “friend of the AG” rate, just a low low $10. If not dropped altogether.
And speaking of Knudsen, if the St. Peters investigation found that various State officials were going on about lawsuits and sending law enforcement to intervene, how are those not threats?
Terry – all great points. It’s the Wild, Wild, West! Thanks, JmB
Good blog. Another Trump acolyte running for office. Born in Montana, lives in California. D.V.F.T. P. ( don’t vote for these people) Career military, low rank. Fired from Interior (Investigation concluded?). Bears Ears (should tell you about public lands). At the very least, find a better Republican.————– D.V.F.T.P.
John – I think the Republicans like the name recognition and his ability to raise tons of money, not only for his race, but for the Montana Republicans. They will overlook the warts.
Thanks, JmB
At least Zinke has not sucker-punched a reporter. A sucker-puncher is a person of low-repute. D.V.F.T.P.
John – that’s true. But the guy who sucker punched the reporter was easily elected. The Republicans don’t like most reporters, so, sadly, this was a positive to them. Thanks, JmB
I should have said. Anyone who sucker-punches anyone is a person of low-repute. Certainly a disqualifier for anyone’s vote. D.V.F.T.P.
Good Morning Jackie,
I hope your Thanksgiving was enjyable and uneventful.
I agree with you on the need for someone to pull some reins on AG Knudson. He continues to demonstrate that he is using his office to serve the interests of a select few rather than all Montanan’s.
Unfortunately, this puts Judge Seeley in a pretty tough position. The AG has already challenged her only supervisors the Montana Supreme Court and I don’t think anyone is sure the complete status of that situation. It is pretty tough for a local Judge to stand up to high powered politicians. I think the last time it happened was when Judge Gorden Bennett stood up to Marc Raciot on a book banning issue back in the “80’s. I am not sure if Judge Seeley has the backbone and confidence to follow in Judge Bennett’s footsteps,
Sadly, we are all living in interesting times.”
Have a great weekend,
Old Line Democrat- good points with some history! Thanks for reading and commenting. -JmB