Quote for the Day…

If you have to brag about all the material things in your life, there probably isn’t much else to it. – Unknown

In today’s column, I take a quick look at these people/issues:

• Biden Bans Russian Oil
• Put Them Away
• Great Falls Tribune
• The Western Word Poll

BIDEN BANS RUSSIAN OIL:

Striking harder at Russia’s economy, President Joe Biden on Tuesday ordered a ban on Russian oil imports in retaliation for Vladimir Putin’s onslaught in Ukraine. The major trade action, responding to the pleas of Ukraine’s embattled leader, thrust the U.S. out front as Western nations seek to halt Putin’s invasion. Americans will feel pain, too — at the gas pump — Biden acknowledged, declaring, “Defending freedom is going to cost.” (AP)

Get ready for the whiners to complain about gas prices and blame the current President. It’s what they do when they place politics above the country.

Like I said yesterday, globalpetrolprices.com reports that 46 countries have gas prices that are $6 a gallon or more, 26 have prices that are at least $7 a gallon, and eight countries have gas prices that are $8 a gallon or more. (Source)

I’m all for drilling for more gas and oil in the USA. MTN News reported this week that with oil prices surging, Montana Petroleum Association says oil wells are going back online in the Bakken oil fields in eastern Montana and North Dakota – but the lack of personnel and a shortage of supplies provides a challenge to the industry. (Source)

It’s a sad deal they were not better prepared. I hope they can ramp up their production quickly.

Click HERE to read how the elected officials in Montana responded.

PUT THEM AWAY:

Back when I was in the Air Force and carried a weapon for a living, there were signs on the fences around priority resources (missile sites, planes, weapon storage areas) that stated, “Restricted Area – Use of Deadly Force Is Authorized.”

Maybe next time insurrectionists are trying to overturn an election in the U.S. Capitol and the police put up fences, the police should place those signs on the fences. We’ll see how many are brave enough to climb over the fence, then.

The Associated Press reported that a Texas man was convicted on Tuesday of storming the U.S. Capitol with a holstered handgun, a milestone victory for federal prosecutors in the first trial among hundreds of cases arising from last year’s riot. A jury also convicted Guy Wesley Reffitt of obstructing Congress’ joint session to certify the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021, of interfering with police officers who were guarding the Capitol and of threatening his two teenage children if they reported him to law enforcement after the attack. Jurors deliberated about three hours and convicted him on all counts.

All these people should suffer grave consequences for their actions. Of all the people who have pleaded guilty, the longest sentence so far is five years and three months. That’s weak.

All these short sentences are doing is making them heroes to their kind.

GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE:

I have been a subscriber to the Great Falls Tribune for over 30 years. For the last 10 or so years, I have subscribed only to the digital version.

Recently my card expired, so I was unable to access my digital version. I tried to update my information, but I was unable. I called their customer service number.

I’m not sure if I renewed my subscription or purchased an elephant from India, (neither has arrived), but I tried to chat with someone there again on Tuesday and was told my renewal takes 24 hours.

So, I wait.

While I was waiting, it got me thinking. The Tribune was doing well when they were using my columns on their opinion page (for free). That was back around 2014. Over several months I think they used 30-40 of my columns on their opinion page. Now they don’t have the people to copy and paste stuff from other publications.

It’s a sad situation for newspapers.

THE WESTERN WORD POLL:

This week’s poll question is getting a lot of attention on Twitter, so be sure to take part!

This week’s poll question asks, “Which statewide elected official in Montana has embarrassed you the most?”

The results will be posted on Thursday.

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