Howdy! Here are the topics for today’s commentary:
- Election Administration Duties
- Jury Questionnaire Noncompliant List
- George Santos
- Football Roundup
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION DUTIES:
This made me smile…
The Electric is reporting that Cascade County Commissioner Joe Briggs said during the Dec. 6 work session that he is proposing a resolution to remove election duties from the Cascade County Clerk and Recorder’s office. His resolution will be considered during the Dec. 12 commission meeting and would place election duties under a new staff election administrator within the commission office.
With all the issues Cascade County Clerk and Recorder Sandra Merchant and her team have had running the local elections, I think this is a smart move by Briggs. Apparently, Commissioner Jim Larson will support the resolution.
We should thank them for trying to avoid the train wreck.
The Cascade County Elections office posted this “Notice” in bold red letters on their website:
To all registered voters in Cascade County- your right to vote is in jeopardy! Two of the County Commissioners have stated their intention to nullify the 14,000+ votes that were cast November 8, 2022, for the current Clerk & Recorder/Elections Administrator. They have on the agenda for the Commission meeting on December 12, 2023, a resolution to remove the Elections Administrator duties from the Clerk & Recorder position, overthrowing the election that took place and appointing a person of their choosing-not chosen by the people-to run the elections in the future. See the link below for the resolution and contact the Commissioners to let them know if you want your vote to count!
I doubt we have heard the end of this. The next election for county commissioner just got a little more interesting.
JURY QUESTIONNAIRE NONCOMPLIANT LIST:
In case you missed it, the Cascade County Sheriff’s office has posted a list of Cascade County individuals who have not returned their jury selection questionnaire to the Clerk of Court by the designated date.
You can view the list HERE.
Is this a great country or what?
GEORGE SANTOS:
Although this happened when I was recovering from surgery, I wanted to comment.
I believe former Congressman George Santos did a lot of things wrong when he was running for Congress and did a lot of things wrong after he was elected. As you probably know, Santos was expelled from Congress on December 1, 2023, making Santos the sixth person to be expelled in the history of the House of Representatives.
Several sources reported that Santos is the only Republican ever expelled from the House, and the only representative expelled without first being convicted of a federal crime or having supported the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Before Santos, the House expelled James “Beam me Up, Scotty” Traficant. He was expelled from the House on July 24, 2002, AFTER BEING CONVICTED of ten felony counts, including taking bribes, filing false tax returns, racketeering, and forcing his congressional staff to perform chores at his farm in Ohio and houseboat in Washington, D.C.
Before his expulsion, Santos said he was not running for reelection. It would have been wise for the House of Representatives to wait until Santos had his day in court. Then pounce.
With the 311-114 vote to expel Santos, the House created a slippery slope.
By the way, Montana’s two members of the House split their votes. Matt Rosendale voted “NAY” and Ryan Zinke voted “YEA.” (Source)
FOOTBALL ROUNDUP:
The Montana Grizzlies get some national attention tonight (Friday) as they host Furman in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2. (Source)
The Montana State Bobcats lost last week to North Dakota State (NDSU) in overtime and their season has ended. NDSU tied the game late in the fourth quarter to set up the overtime showdown. The Bison (10-3) took the football first in the extra stanza. A 3-yard score by Cam Miller made the score 35-28. On the Bobcats (8-4) first chance with the ball, Scottre Humphrey dashed untouched 25 yards to cut the lead to 35-34. On the ensuing extra point attempt to tie the game, Hunter Poncius, a 6-foot-8, 315-pound defensive lineman for NDSU, put up his huge hand to block the kick and end MSU’s season.
Although Bobcats star Tommy Mellott accounted for 355 total yards and four touchdowns, he was injured in the fourth quarter. As someone said on social media, I hope Mellott learns to slide in the off-season. If he could remain healthy, the Bobcats could go far.
The four teams for the BCS National Championship were picked and I had picked the same four teams as the experts: Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama.
The NFL schedule gets a little funky from here on out. For example, there are two Monday Night Football games this week. On Saturday, December 16, there are three NFL games.
The Western Word 
Look Jackie, Koopman on Tester’s opponent. Forgive me for being off topic. https://dailycaller.com/2023/12/08/koopman-republican-establishmeht-loser-candidate-fake-conservative/
Thank you. People may be getting tired of Sheehy before the election. The problem is that the NRSC controls a lot of the funding, so it will be interesting how the GOP primary pans out. -JmB
ummm… roger koopman is a lunatic
was that not clear in this article?
It’s fun to watch. -JmB
Re: Santos – He said he wouldn’t run for re-election with the expectation that the House at large would say to themselves, “Well, since it’s only a few months, we don’t really need to do anything, do we?” Whereupon Santos would have a sudden revelation just before the filing deadline that he really owed it to his constituents and the entire country to run again, so he could continue to “serve the people.”
That’s the sort of slimy maneuvering he’s engaged in his entire life. Why would he not continue?
That might be true. Politicians are always changing their minds. I just think it was a waste of time and I don’t like that he was expelled without being convicted of anything.
I understand, and (partly) agree with your concern about lack of a formal conviction of Santos.
However….. His actual track record and the incredible volume of lies and fabrications that he has poured out throughout his entire life constitute, I believe, more than sufficient justification for his expulsion. In point of fact, as he has not been convicted or sentenced in a judicial setting, he remains non-incarcerated. That, I feel, satisfies the concern about due process.
I can relinquish (reluctantly, I admit) my considered opinion that he should be occupying a cell in Riker’s Island.
Julie Bass is the author I bet. There is a group 5 for 5, she seems to lead.
I’ve read her emails to the group that have this wording. Exact wording.
In my opinion, the elections department should be nonpartisan. Whoever posted that notice saying that the election was going to be overturned by simply changing Ms merchants job description was making a purely partisan statement, and should be relieved of their duties. There seems to be a lack of understanding of how government works, if a certain segment felt they were electing an election administrator and not a clerk and recorder.
I agree. It should be pretty easy to find out who posted the notice. Thanks, JmB
My understanding from reading other articles on this issue, the notice was posted by Ms. Merchant herself. Apparently, as a rallying cry to her supporters.
It seems she is more intent on screwing up the voting processes in Cascade County than anything else. Maybe create a self-fulfilling prophecy of the argument that elections are all rigged and may need to be done away with.
I fear for the residents of Cascade County but you might be only be the tip of the iceberg on troubled times ahead in Montana.