Note: Thanks to all the well-wishers for my upcoming surgery. You made my day! -JmB
Quote for the day…
Every risk is an opportunity to learn something new in life. – Unknown
Today’s independent commentary deals with these issues:
- ESPN’s College GameDay
- Cascade County Nutjobs
- Democrats Keep Senate
- The Squad
ESPN’S COLLEGE GAMEDAY:
If you follow me on Twitter, then you were one of the first to know that ESPN’s College Gameday will be in Bozeman this Saturday. Here is the report from ESPN:
ESPN’s College GameDay announced on Sunday morning that the show will be making the trip to Bozeman for the 121st Brawl of the Wild next Saturday between Montana and Montana State. It’ll be the first time the popular pregame show has made the trek to either Montana school.
Check out the full article HERE.
CASCADE COUNTY NUTJOBS:
I live in Cascade County in the city of Great Falls. I picked this place to live when I exited the military way back in 1992. I could have lived anywhere. I was stationed at Malmstrom AFB, which is in Cascade County, from 1989-92.
Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, Cascade County was a Democratic stronghold. Republicans could not win the county. Now, the county is run by MAGA Republicans – and many of them are nutjobs and are not even remotely qualified for any elective office.
The Daily Montanan reports about Cascade County going “bright red” on election night HERE.
In another article about Cascade County, the Daily Montanan reported:
Law enforcement was called Friday after a group of election integrity skeptics in Cascade County escalated tactics, circling the county office and waiting for election officials and staff to come outside, according to County Clerk and Recorder Rina Moore.
The office was closed because it was a holiday. The nutjobs were worried that a close race for Clerk and Recorder was being fixed.
The Daily Montanan also reported:
Moore said the group took videos and photos of staff along with their car license plate numbers and that the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office was called.
“They’re horrible people,” Moore said. “They circled our building. We just kept seeing a white car going up and down, you know, by the alley over and over again. There was a guy out there in camouflage.”
The commonsense folks left in the Cascade County Republican party should get control of these MAGA nutjobs before they harm someone.
Read the complete article from the Daily Montanan HERE.
DEMOCRATS KEEP SENATE:
The Democrats will keep control of the U.S. Senate which means U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) saw his shadow and we will have two more years of him sending out mean tweets about the majority.
There are talks that it is time for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to go. I’ve had my doubts about McConnell being in any leadership position since 2006.
If the Republicans need a leader in the Senate, I propose U.S. Senator John Thune as the leader. Thune leans to the right, but he has common sense. Plus, and this is a big plus, he is one of the few current elected officials left who has ridden in my vehicle. Of course, there are many former elected officials (governor, senators, representatives, sanitation head) who have graced the interior of my 2005 Ford Explorer XLT.
THE SQUAD:
Some of my friends on the right rail against “The Squad” for being so far to the left. Some of those friends hate that women are in power and some hate that some are Muslim. Some don’t like them because their skin is a different color.
I took a look at how they did on election night:
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, NY-14 – She received 70.6% of the vote.
- Ilhan Omar, MN-5 – She received 75.3% of the vote.
- Ayanna Pressley, MA-7 – She received 84.5% of the vote.
- Rashida Tlaib, MI-13 – She received 70.8% of the vote.
- Jamaal Bowman, NY-16 – He received 64.2% of the vote.
- Cori Bush, MO-1 – She received 72.8% of the vote.
By the way, for those keeping score at home, Nancy Pelosi received 83.3% of the vote for her reelection.
The Western Word 
Jasmine Taylor at wtf406.com recounted her day at the Cascade County fairgrounds Monday watching and talking to some election deniers as R’s and D’s observed the final votes being counted.
Most interesting is one of the comments on Ms.Taylor’s blog, obviously from one of the conspiracy theory types: “If there’s no problems then prove it.” Of course. But that’s akin to, “Space aliens are among us! Prove it’s not true!”
Proof of an accusation is always up to the accuser. Who in this case naturally failed to back with any facts up her claim, “Other states have found fraud in machines, why would Montana be any different.” I don’t think there’s been any credible reports of “fraud in machines” in other states, have there? Where “credible” = not crazy debunked pillow guy, etc.
Right there’s the whole issue with the election fraud/denial claims.
An interesting read at any rate.
https://wtf406.com/2022/11/election-deniers-must-decide/
I saw the story. It really showed how batshit crazy the majority party in Montana is. Thanks, JmB
I’ve been informed that Ms. Merchant is one of the election denial crazies. Allegedly.
So apparently that’s who we’ve got running our election office and elections from now on, as well as in charge of security for the county election equipment. Gosh I wonder if she’ll open those $120,000 machines up to be poked, prodded, and compromised by the crazies now, where Rina would not.
I hope some people with experience stay so it won’t be too messed up. Thanks, JmB
Speaking of remotely qualified, the only qualifications that this lady appears to posses is the ability to drive and run her mouth. When you make the most horrible slanderous accusations against decent hardworking people, you really should provide at least a shred of evidence supporting your outrageous claims or look the fool. Merchant has accused the folks currently in office of lacking integrity, honesty, and truth. Those of us from here and not new york like Merchant know that this is a completely false and unwarranted attack, and speaks volumes to her lack of character and fitness for the job. Being a bald faced liar and loud mouth has never been a Montana value that I’m aware of. Guess it’s more of a MAGA value!
Ms. Merchant, or someone purporting to be her, came to our neighborhood council meeting to introduce herself. She told us she was eminently qualified to run the Clerk and Recorder office because she had raised horses. Told us about the horses at some length. Seemed like a regular enough person aside from the droning on about horses.
Then again, so did Rae Grulkowski at the same meeting seem like a mostly regular person. She mentioned her drain cleaning and/or septic systems business, which apparently is what specially qualifies her for county commissioner. Dealing with crap.
Aside from that, neither one really said much of anything about what they believe. Definitely no fiery wingnut blather.
Would have been nice if some of the Dem candidates had also come out to the neighborhood council meetings and told us about crocheting or their roses or something, but they missed that boat.
Terry – great points. In local races it is important to meet people and let them hear your positions on the issues. Thanks, JmB
Prior to attacking the election office, the MAGA warrior in camo was spotted in his customary training position. I’m surprised he was even noticed in his camo it blends so well with the area outside the office.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=509591601225394&set=a.102317501952808&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZUhR6SFuh_VddraoC3iTZgAaEX7emuwBbIZGhIH5V87tsrFsKDl1w-emip7D7S1fsJuIs_4XFAM0WprEoYd3SFz2e7VCBAkiWyDFeNutR7LAtCvebh1gE1vbM7qZsJugTeQEL48Y2NzWA2t9RMA6l4KwIjI_CCr2josePpdCQDpFQ&__tn__=EH-R
Haha. Funny.