Happy Friday! There is a lot to talk about today, so here are the topics:
- “Jackass” Brown
- New Elections Administrator
- Rosendale Quits
- One More Thing
“JACKASS” BROWN:
It seems my commentary about the department leaders in the city of Great Falls “whining” about their budgets did not sit well with Great Falls City Commissioner Rick Tryon. I wrote that I did manage to watch part of the three-hour “special meeting” and I don’t think I could find more whining at a local kennel.
Tryon then says, “So Chief Newton, Chief Jeremy Jones, Judge Bolstad, and City Attorney Dennis are whiny dogs??? What???”
Yes, Commissioner, they sounded to me like they were whining about their funding. I did not say anything about the rank-and-file officers and firefighters. The leaders need a new tune. Chief Jones contacted me via the blog comment section and I responded to him.
Thanks for the traffic!
Tryon then says that I should find another community to live in since I have so little regard for this one.
I did not think Tryon was that sensitive.
Not to brag, but I have probably done more for this community than Tryon.
Then Tryon attacks my work for U.S. Senator Conrad Burns saying:
Apparently he’s a Missouri transplant who rode in on the coattails of Conrad Burns a couple of decades ago and thinks he’s some kind of political guru because he fetched coffee and carried Senator Burns bags for him when he came to GF.
I was born in Missouri and have lived in Montana longer than any place. The fact is that I “rode” into Montana with the Air Force in 1989 (Security/Law Enforcement). I served my country honorably for almost 12 years and in 1994 I volunteered for Burns reelection campaign. After his reelection, I was hired on his senate staff. I worked on military and veterans issues and was his Deputy State Director until January 2007. Malmstrom is still here because of Burns with many new facilities and housing that are because of his work. I am proud I was there to help. People can read my bio anytime on this website under “About Jackie M. (Mike) Brown.”
The funny thing is that Tryon knows who I am. For some reason, he’s a friend on Facebook and we have many similar friends. He’s picked on this blog before. He wanted me on his radio show. He got really mad when I called him a sore loser in a commission race. Great Falls may be his hometown, but it’s too bad he can’t represent it professionally and quit acting like he is a mini Trump.
NEW ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR:
Cascade County has a new elections administrator. The Daily Montanan reported that Cascade County Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to select former CEO of the Great Falls Association of Realtors Terry Thompson to take over as elections administrator after removing the job from Clerk and Recorder Sandra Merchant in December.
Thompson was the safe choice, but she has no experience. She has less experience than former Elections Administrator Sandra Merchant.
In my opinion, the best choice was Rina Fontana Moore.
My guess is the problems will continue in the elections office. I hope I am pleasantly surprised.
ROSENDALE QUITS:
This news was like something from The Godfather. We all remember the part when the movie producer was made to change his mind after refusing to cast a Corleone family member in the film, he woke up to find his prized racehorse’s head in his bed. The producer changed his mind.
Matt Rosendale changed his mind about the U.S. Senate race after finding a horse’s head in his bed – not really, but it was the quick endorsement of his opponent by Donald Trump that did it.
This is what politics has become. It’s a nasty game. People were spending millions for and against Rosendale. Instead of settling it at the ballot box, it was planned to have Trump endorse Sheehy if Rosendale treaded on the party’s pick. Bada Bing…
I imagine Rosendale will run for reelection in the House. That’s the smart thing to do. Montana needs some seniority there.
ONE MORE THING:
A few people have asked me about my recovery from my rotator cuff surgery, so here is an update. I am about eight sessions into physical therapy and feel pretty good. They have me doing a bunch of fun things! I attend sessions twice per week.
My surgery was on November 30. I have another appointment later this month with my surgeon and I should be good to go!
Remember – chicks dig scars….
The Western Word 
I retired in December and my rotator cuffs are healing very nicely.
I didn’t know exactly how bad they were until I actually gave them a rest – I know it’s only been a few months now but I can lift my arms above my shoulders w/out pain – this is the first time I’ve been able to do that in about 4 years
Good deal. It’s amazing how they affect your daily life. -JmB
Tryon: Still apparently looking around for anyone / everyone else to lash out at over the failure of his public safety levy, instead of accepting any responsibility whatsoever for the commission crafting the thing in a little city bubble and not asking the public what they actually expected after his Crime Task Force, wanted to see IF there was going to be a levy, and thought might be affordable.
Rosendale: Was fun imagining the reaction at “Nope” HQ when Trump told Matt “nope” and re-endorsed Sheehy, just 4 hrs after Matt announced. In my mind it went a lot like George Costanza’s reaction after his man crush Tony told him to “step off”.
If running in the senatorial primary hinged entirely on having Trump’s endorsement it seems like very poor political judgment to have jumped in and announced without knowing for sure you had that wrapped up ahead of time. And then bailing out just a week later - weak. Perhaps a less than deafening sound of pennies hitting the tin cup over the past several days?
And what about the downstream fallout, like Elsie Arntzen? Whatever will she do now for her next spot at the public trough?
George Costanza:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbHrAMGLkYU
Maybe Mr Tryon thinks he can bully all those against his plan to leave town or maybe they will stop being against him if he calls them jackasses and morons. Sensitive fella.
Someone mentioned that maybe Rosendale was offered a cabinet position with Trump if he withdrew. Could be.
Thanks for your comments. -JmB
Did commissioner Strapon actually call you a jackass! Wow. Rick needs to up his game if he’s going to appear intelligent, which is nearly impossible for a MAGA to do. Jackass lacks creativity and class, kinda like Rick himself.
But in any event, I’ll offer a brief tutorial to Rick on how to insult your constituents without looking like a moron. For you see, in order to really insult the voters, your bosses, the people who elect you, you have to insult them in such a way as to differentiate your critics from your MAGA base. Heck, many MAGAs could be considered jackasses. But what they can’t be considered are “nattering nabobs negativism”, the term Spiro Agnew used for his critics.
It’s the perfect insult! MAGAs have no clue what that means, and hence won’t be offended at all. They realize that only pointed headed liberals fit that category, whatever it is. And it’s catchy. And, best of all, it’ll make Rick seem a whole lot smarter than he is! And he can sure use the help!
Larry Kralj
Yes he did and other names. The link to his post is in my column. -JmB
They lost fairly and by quite a bit. I think think describing their reaction to losing the election as whining is pretty fair. I remember Rick’s’ outrage when you called Slaughter a “rookie”. I’ll bet your blog is one of the first thing he reads.
Haha. Yes, I forgot the “rookie” outrage! Thanks, JmB
So apparently did Rick conveniently “forget” about rookie-gate, too. But his two timeless ECB classics from Sept 2020 taking you to some woodshed of his mind are still right there, at ECB, as proof he quite obviously knew who you were/are. And FYI he called you a jackass then too. At least he is consistent, if not particularly imaginative.
Thanks for the research. I guess I’ve been living rent free in his head for quite some time now. -JmB