Quote for the Day…
Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives. ― Ronald Reagan
Today’s independent commentary deals with these people/issues:
- Biden – Change the Rules
- Fauci v. Paul
- The Western Word Poll
- Reading Assignments
BIDEN – CHANGE THE RULES:
The Associated Press (AP) reported that President Joe Biden challenged senators Tuesday to “stand against voter suppression” by changing Senate rules to pass voting rights legislation that Republicans are blocking from debate and votes.
Biden was quoted saying, “Not a single Republican has displayed the courage to stand up to a defeated president to protect America’s right to vote. Not one. Not one.”
A little later, Biden said, “But as an institutionalist, I believe that the threat to our democracy is so grave that we must find a way to pass these voting rights bills, debate them, vote. Let the majority prevail. And if that bare minimum is blocked, we have no option but to change the Senate rules, including getting rid of the filibuster for this.”
I guess Biden figures it is time to go big or go home. They need some big legislative victories in the next few months to even have a small chance of hanging on to the majorities in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
The big question is can Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Biden get all the Democrats to go big…
You can read the AP story HERE.
You can read the White House transcript HERE.
FAUCI V. PAUL:
There were some fireworks on Tuesday at a U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing when it came time for U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to question Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Fauci brought up that Paul was raising campaign donations on his webpage with a “Fire Dr. Fauci” link that raises money and that he and his family had received death threats.
Fauci told the following story:
Because as some of you may know, just about three or four weeks ago, on December 21, a person was arrested who was on their way from Sacramento to Washington, DC, at a speed stop in Iowa. And they asked the police asked him where he was going. And he was going to Washington DC to kill Dr. Fauci. And they found in his car an AR-15 and multiple magazines of ammunition. Because he thinks that maybe I’m killing people.
It’s a shame that politicians like Paul have relentlessly attacked Fauci who is trying to help our country through this pandemic. I trust Dr. Fauci more than I do any politician.
You can read the transcript of the exchange HERE.
THE WESTERN WORD POLL:
Governor Greg Gianforte (R-MT) just completed his first year in office. To mark the occasion, he gave a speech and held a press conference in Helena. There are some articles about his speech HERE and HERE.
This week’s poll question asks, “Do you approve or disapprove of the first year of the Gianforte Administration?”
The results will be posted Thursday.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Here are some articles you might find interesting…
KC Star – Dr. Fauci calls Kansas Senator Roger Marshall a ‘moron’ after tense exchange
It appears Fauci is correct…
Rolling Stone – Here’s the Racism and Cruelty Fox News Rewarded When It Promoted Jesse Watters
Fox News viewers don’t care…
Al.com – Bill Maher on why he actually loves red states, and why democracy is in big trouble
Maher tells it like it is…
USA Today – NBC reporter Michele Tafoya’s final broadcast on ‘Sunday Night Football’ will be Super Bowl 56
Tafoya is one of the best…
The Western Word 
Looks as if the only victim around these parts is lil Knudsen who’s fallen for the whole Q baloney. He can’t define it, but if you “trust your gut”, you might see it. Sheesh. It’s the silly season at the AG office. For those of you that hang around truck stops, Autie needs your help. Try not to look like a pervert though. Look official.
https://www.krtv.com/news/crime-and-courts/raising-awareness-of-human-trafficking-in-montana
Larry,
I think you are missing the mark on this one. Increased awareness of human trafficikng has been a focus of the MT Department of Justice for many years including the Bullock administration. While AG Knudson’s messaging is weak, it is nonetheless appropriate under the circumstances. Most folks are just not aware of the issue and its prevelance in Montana. (Although mostly as a pass-through state) The numbers as a percentage are exacerbated by the previously failure to recognize the issue.
Unfortunately, most of this activity is connected with methamphetamine use and trafficikng which was central to Knudson’s campaign but seems to have completely fallen off his radar in favor of crazy positions on voting, the judiciary etc.
I am sure that the clip in question was set up by his PR folks who fed him a script that he poorly delivered.
Please be aware of the message, not the messenger.
Although human trafficking occurs in other countries, in the U.S. it is mainly immigrants, both legal and illegal, that get sucked into horrible working situations in which they are unable to free themselves due to threats of violence.
Other than that, it has become a right wing recruiting tool full of bizarre exaggerations and claims. I’m not buying it. A little proof from Knudsen would go a long way to supporting the extreme right wing claims. Until then, count me very skeptical.
Lots of articles out there on this topic. Just google right wing and human trafficking.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/01/children-sex-trafficking-conspiracy-epidemic/620845/