Welcome! Here are the topics for today’s commentary:
- Update – Tim Sheehy Lied
- Montana Homeless Shelters
- The Eclipse
UPDATE – TIM SHEEHY LIED:
A few of Tim Sheehy’s supporters tried to come to his rescue since THIS STORY was published in the Washington Post (WaPo). Sheehy is running as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Montana.
In case you were watching for the eclipse and not paying attention to politics, WaPo reported this past weekend that Tim Sheehy was cited for illegally discharging a weapon in a national park but says he made up the gunshot to cover up a bullet wound he received as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan that he never reported to superiors.
Sheehy’s MAGA supporters are angry, but they are angry at the wrong people. They should be angry at Sheehy for lying. His whole campaign has been a bunch of missteps. The head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Steve Daines, is probably wondering what else will be disclosed about the Sheehy in the coming weeks. It looks bad for Daines since he recruited Sheehy.
As I said yesterday, Sheehy should do the honorable thing and drop out of the U.S. Senate race this week. These are not the actions one would expect from a Naval Officer and Navy SEAL. These are not the actions Montanans would expect from a U.S. Senator. To say the least, it’s dishonorable. Can you imagine what the campaign ads will look like this fall if Sheehy sticks around? Brutal.
The stories about Sheehy lying have made it around the world and back and are now recorded in history. It’s embarrassing. It’s not leadership. It’s not patriotism. It’s an officer lying. No matter how his people spin it, he still lied and people need to know what else he has lied about.
The Daily Montanan picked up the story and you can read it HERE. I suggest any stories you see about Sheehy and the gunshot be posted on your social media accounts for all to see.
MONTANA HOMELESS SHELTERS:
The Daily Montanan published a story about homelessness in Montana a few days ago; the numbers are discouraging.
The article begins with the story of Vanessa Bond, who at 20 years old was evicted from her home following an abusive relationship and struggles with addiction. She lived in her car before it was towed and lived for months on the street in Billings before she found shelter and help at the Montana Rescue Mission.
She is now advocating for shelters to have more resources for people going through what she did. Bond, along with shelter providers from across the state, told legislators and the state health department director Thursday that people are staying at facilities longer and are having to break down walls to accommodate the demand during subzero weather events.
One of the more disturbing pieces of information disclosed was that Homeless shelters in Montana are overwhelmed with the demand for services, which they say has increased by upwards of 30% in five years. In a recent study, Montana saw the most increases in chronic homelessness across the country with a 551% spike since 2007.
That’s incredible. It’s time the leaders take notice and do more.
Some money is available to help the homeless. The Daily Montanan reported that legislators are working to divvy up a $300 million investment in behavioral health through the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission, and shelters are hoping to acquire funds to expand and continue services in their communities.
Check out the complete report from the Daily Montanan HERE.
THE ECLIPSE:
I did not get to see much of the eclipse in Great Falls. I guess there was a “special eclipse” near Big Sandy on U.S. Senator Jon Tester’s farm.
Check it out on Facebook HERE. Check it out on X HERE.
The Western Word 
l had a Ruger Bearcat .22 l used to hunt rabbits, l dropped it and put a hole in the roof of my cabin. That was pre-transfer bar. I made sure not to have a shell under the hammer after that. When they checked Sheehy’s pistol and found one round missing did they think he removed it after he shot himself? Seems you’d be too busy being shot.
More questions than answers for Shady Sheehy.
I never liked his face. It’s that simple. I think Republicans choose candidates by looks. He looks like he gets facials. I think the real story of the bullet wound is untold. Hospital visit, years old wound? Citation as if it just happened?
A Colt .45 revolver is a cowboy gun. It’s not really a bear defense weapon unless you’ve got seriously hopped up bear loads, in which case Tim’s arm would be gone. And most modern revolvers have a transfer bar which prevents accidental discharge when dropped. So that kinda narrows down what really happened.
My guess is that Tim might have been doing a Roy Rogers fancy twirling move and forgot the gun was loaded. Lots of people do stupid stuff with guns all the time. Many holes in trucks and bedroom walls to attest to that. And one accidental discharge makes one a much safer gun owner. I know from experience.
But it’s damn hard to admit you did something stupid, especially if you want to run for the senate. So Tim employed the whopper, and ended his career before it started. We can forgive a stupid firearm incident, but a monstrous lie, no.
Tim will have to live with this the rest of his life, unless the MAGA organization has some sort of witness protection program where he can hide out! New name, new identity, and a new run for office somewhere else! No place in Montana to hide.
I agree that the real story is yet to be told. Probably many other things, too. It’s a long way to November. Thanks, JmB