Quote for the Day…
I hate people generally, but I like people individually. – Anonymous
Caught My Eye (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:
- Troubling Times
- Gary Buchanan
- Tougher Gun Laws
- Roe v. Wade
- One More Thing
TROUBLING TIMES:
Two court cases caught my eye this week…
The first was a sentence handed down by Cascade County District Judge John Parker. He gave Jason Michael Day, who was accused of sexually molesting two small children, 30 years with the Montana Department of Corrections with 25 years suspended. (GF Tribune)
Parker was once the Cascade County Attorney. I have never liked the idea of someone going from county attorney to judge. It seems the new judge would need to recuse him or herself from many cases. Plus, it makes me wonder when I see sentences like this one what went on in the courthouse.
Social media was not very kind to Parker and that is good. It was a weak sentence. Cascade County has a problem with children being abused. Imposing the five-year sentence won’t deter it.
The other case that caught my eye was that of Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen. She was fined $100 after she pleaded no contest to a citation alleging she illegally passed a stopped school bus while children were boarding. (AP)
Montana is for sure weak when it comes to drunk driving. Now we’ve shown the nation that we are weak in holding our elected officials accountable when they break the law. In this case, she could have killed children. One hundred dollars seems like a slap on the wrist.
GARY BUCHANAN:
It appears that Independent U.S. House candidate Gary Buchanan has more than enough signatures to have his name on the ballot in November.
The Montana Free Press (MTFP) is reporting that according to a report from the Montana secretary of state, current as of 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, indicates that county election officials have accepted 13,313 signatures from petitioners supporting Buchanan’s candidacy. Before Buchanan is officially qualified for the ballot, those signatures must also be certified by the secretary of state’s office.
I signed the petition last week in Great Falls. As faithful readers know, I think the hoops people need to jump through to get on the ballot in Montana as an independent candidate is bullshit.
Read the MTFP article HERE.
TOUGHER GUN LAWS:
President Joe Biden addressed the nation last night about all the mass shootings.
I have my doubts that anything will happen to prevent mass shootings, but I hope something does. We have created a hell of a mess.
One thing I found interesting is this line from Biden reported by the Associated Press: If legislators fail to act, he warned, voters should use their “outrage” to turn it into a central issue in November’s midterm elections.
A few weeks ago, I thought the Republicans would clean house in November. Now with the Roe v. Wade issue, mass killings, and the January 6 issue, they may not clean house as thoroughly as I first thought.
I agree with many of Biden’s requests for Congress – ban the sale of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, keep firearms from mentally ill people, and strengthen background checks so there are no loopholes.
The Democrats and Republicans may agree on just one of those things and that is keeping firearms from the mentally ill which would be a red flag-like law.
Other than that, the next time you hear sirens, someone might be doing a mass shooting in your community. That’s a sad fact in 2022.
You can watch President Biden’s remarks from last night by clicking HERE.
ROE V. WADE:
Gallup Polling reported this week that Americans remain largely opposed to overturning Roe v. Wade, as a steady 58% majority believe that the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that recognized abortion as a constitutional right should stand, while 35% want it to be reversed. These sentiments are essentially unchanged since 2019.
I don’t think the U.S. Supreme Court pays attention to polls, but we know that politicians do…
ONE MORE THING:
Our locally elected officials in Cascade County spend a lot of time bloviating on social media. We even have one who acts like a mini-Donald Trump. Some have been very cold-hearted toward the homeless population in the city.
Most of the homeless people need help, and just a few might be able to work. It’s more than telling them to get a job or to disappear under the bridge.
Maybe we could develop a bingo-like card and sell it to raise money for the First United Methodist Church. That church is doing something to help the homeless.
We could put the following words on it and when elected officials say or write it we take a drink of our favorite beverage. Here are some words to get you started:
- Virtue Signaling
- Out of Touch
- Southside
- Thoughts and Prayers
- Individual Fulfillment
- Moral Relativism
- Gum Flapping
- Grandpa Joe
The Western Word 
Good Morning
Missoula and MDT had a huge problem with homeless people living in an encampment under the Reserve St. bridge. People were removed and tons of garbage hauled away. The city wanted to prosecute MDT for allowing” the camp. MDT has put up fencing and has now sued the city of Missoula to force them to police the homeless. Missoula has created some “camps” for the homeless on city property and is providing some basic services but that too is controversial.
The bottomline is that this is not a problem unique to Great Falls and certainly attacking the churches who willingly provide room or the agencies that own attractive properties is not the answer. This is a huge problem across the state and country and it is necessary for elected officials to address it in a constructive way. It is not going away for sure.
I think feelings toward the homeless camp are directly proportional to how far you live from it. Walmart doesn’t allow overnight camping now. I have absolutely now idea how this can be fixed.
Bill – Thanks. I think the church is doing all it can. The homeless need food, shelter, medical and mental health care, and job assistance for when they are back on their feet.
Reading some comments from folks who say push them out of the city or tell them live under the bridge.
Our leaders need to show compassion instead of hate.
Thanks, JmB
There are plenty of bridges outside the City limits on County land. There. Problem solved.
“Virtue Signaling” – Dismissive term meaning someone else suggested approaching a problem in a manner Jesus would have approved of, and is generally bandied about by people displaying “Proud Christian!” or equivalent on their Facebook profile. Similar in nature to RINO or Libtard as a term sufficient in itself to divert the subject and totally invalidate someone else’s idea/position without any further argument.