We made it to Friday – good job! Here are the topics for today’s column:
- Great Falls Public Library
- Sheehy & China
- Job Approval
- Football Roundup
GREAT FALLS PUBLIC LIBRARY:
I wrote about this yesterday and there’s some new information, first from The Electric:
During the Jan. 2 work session, (City Commissioner Rick) Tryon said that he wanted to consider updating the 1993 library management agreement and take back those seven mills for public safety needs after the city’s public safety levy and bond both failed in November.
Then it appears that Commissioner Tryon heard some of the comments and posted the following on his Facebook page:
I’m getting quite a lot of feedback about my comments and questions at Tuesday’s Great Falls city commission work session concerning the library levy implementation.
Just a reminder – as a city commissioner I’m seeking niether pats on the back nor kicks in the butt. 😂
I have done and will continue to do what I think is best for this community, which I love and have pledged to serve to the best of my ability.
Sometimes the folks who pay attention to City business cheer, sometimes they jeer.
Sometimes the folks who cheer one week jeer the next, and vice-a-versa.
This isn’t a popularity contest, our city has serious issues to deal with and I will continue to do what I think is right without worrying about who may or may not like it.
Peace out. 🙂
Tryon is using the martyr angle again to appease his blind followers. He seems to think he is the Donald Trump of Great Falls. Trump has said many times, “In the end, they’re not coming after me. They’re coming after you — and I’m just standing in their way.”
Tryon is trying to save us from the big bad library and from all those who like books…
SHEEHY & CHINA:
I happened to catch a campaign ad on local TV from the “Last Best Place PAC” that talks about Montana Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Tim Sheehy and his ties to China.
It is pretty eye-opening. I am wondering if the Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), U.S. Senator Steve Daines, is regretting his pick.
The campaign ad seems to follow the Huff Post article from December that reported:
Tim Sheehy, a front-runner for the Republican Senate nomination in Montana, sold off thousands of dollars’ worth of stock in companies with reported ties to the Chinese Communist Party before launching a campaign that, like those of many other Republicans, has been full of “tough on China” rhetoric.
You can read the Huff Post article HERE. As with many Political Action Committees (PACs), they don’t seem to like to show their work before it hits the airways. Maybe a faithful reader with forward the link of the commercial to me. I might write about it later.
A little bit of advice from someone who has been involved in politics since I placed a hand-drawn “Nixon is the One” index card on the windshield of my dad’s Pontiac – Although PACs spend millions of dollars, a simple post of the video to YouTube and a quick email with the link to blogs might help spread the word – and this advice is for campaigns/PACs from the right and left – because as you know, I am a proud independent.
JOB APPROVAL:
Gallup is reporting that as Congress and the Supreme Court return from holiday break, none of the leading elected or appointed figures of the U.S. federal government receives majority approval from Americans. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts fares best, with 48% approving of his job performance, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is a close second, at 46%.
Gallup also reports that Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has no competition for the distinction of being the least well-regarded, garnering a 27% job approval rating. The next lowest is President Joe Biden at 39%. (Source)
Is this a great country or what?
FOOTBALL ROUNDUP:
Last night was the first Thursday in a long time that there wasn’t a football game on television. I think I am already going through a little withdrawal as we are getting down toward the end of the season.
There will be two NFL games on Saturday. The Steelers and Ravens play at 2:30 p.m. and the Texans and the Colts play at 6:15 p.m. Both games will be on ABC/ESPN. There are 14 games on Sunday and the final game of the regular season pits the Bills at the Dolphins. That game is at 6:20 p.m. and will be televised on NBC. (Source)
The Montana Grizzlies play Sunday as well against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits for the 2023-24 FCS Championship. The kickoff is at noon Montana time. It will be televised on ABC. I cannot understand why this game is being played on the last day of the NFL schedule. (Source)
On Monday we have the College Football Playoff championship game with Michigan and Washington playing. The game is being played in Houston. The game starts at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN.
I think the semifinal games between Michigan/Alabama and Washington/Texas might have been the best semifinal games in history. I hope the championship is that good.
I have to give a shoutout to my Missouri Tigers who beat Ohio State 14-3 in the Cotton Bowl.
The Western Word 
Nixon is the One
Our grade school chant was “Nixon Nixon he’s the one. Throw Kenedy in the garbage can!” Thank God my Irish grandmothers didn’t hear me saying it. Just a reminder the politics was never polite.
Very true, Mary. A few days after I put the index card in the corner of the windshield, we had an accident and totaled the car. Several months later we went to the junkyard to look for something in the car, and there was my sign. It was a bit sun-dried, but young could still read it. Thanks, JmB
A friend of mine sang and played an instrument on some of Rick’s ‘music’ offerings. He has a romantic vision of the ‘blue’. Even sings about it. Nothing about libraries.
Haha – I wonder if he has any songs about banned books! Thanks, JmB
Nothing wrong with Tryon considering moving money around in the City budget. That is his job. Nothing wrong with warning a department head well ahead of time, either. Disappointing yes considering he just approved the whole library spending plan less than a year ago at the same time he was considering his own safety levy and said nothing then about clawing back those library mills should his own pet levy go down in flames. But understandable.
The main issue the other night was the belligerent browbeating/bullying of a City department head (and unsurprisingly for him a woman) for not taking into account certain factors in a budget. And then when being informed those those factors had only materialized well after that budget had been prepared, failing to do what any decent human being, Christian or otherwise, would do by backing up to say, “Oh duh. My bad. I apologize.”
Apparently when you aspire to be mini-Trump you go all in and never admit you had any facts wrong, and never apologize, because you think you need to appear “strong”. Maybe he will show up to next work session with a timeline of history all marked up in black sharpie that moves the electricity rate increase and the 8% pay raise back into 2022.
It is disappointing. Probably a done deal considering how the commission works. Thanks for all the info you provide! – JmB
Maybe Rick would be more convincing if he does his own “God made Rick” commercial. Just make sure you watch it before eating breakfast. Otherwise, you’ll lose it!
https://www.rawstory.com/god-made-trump-video/
Hard to believe that this is what the country has come to. But then again, look at our local MAGAs.