Greetings! Here are the topics for today’s column:
- Venezuelan Migrant Family in Kalispell
- Cascade County Republican Primary
- Sheehy: Let’s talk…about what they won’t
- Noem on Face the Nation
VENEZUELAN MIGRANT FAMILY IN KALISPELL:
The MAGA Republicans in and around Kalispell showed their hatred last week when it was reported that a Venezuelan migrant family had arrived in Kalispell.
The Flathead Beacon reported:
According to Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino, a family from Venezuela arrived at the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday night after flying to Kalispell from New York. The family purportedly crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas before flying to New York and then Kalispell. Heino said they arrived at the sheriff’s office after being turned away at a local homeless shelter, which had no space. Valley Neighbors arrived to offer assistance and hotel accommodations shortly thereafter.
I think the biggest asshole in the whole situation is none other than Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-MT). It was reported that he fired off a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding DHS detain and deport the family. (Zinke PR)
Good grief. At ease, Commander. Stand (TF) down.
Zinke supposedly blamed a nonprofit called Valley Neighbors for bringing the family to the Flathead, but they contend they had nothing to do with it.
I applaud Valley Neighbors for helping the family after they arrived. They issued a statement that in part says:
“…we were made aware of an immigrant family in need after their arrival and responded by providing them assistance in accordance with our mission and the support of our community. We are saddened that our organization and the vulnerable families that we work with are being targeted and used for political gain through ill-informed and false statements made by some of our state’s elected officials.”
Montanans should be embarrassed by the actions and remarks of our elected officials. Shame on them. They need to show kindness and humanity, instead of acting like Donald Trump.
If you wish to donate to Valley Neighbors, click HERE.
CASCADE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY:
Over at the “What the Funk” blog, Ken Toole brings up a valid point about the upcoming primary election on June 7.
Toole writes:
That brings us to the talk around town urging Democrats in Cascade County to vote in the Republican primary for the more reasonable of those candidates. Some folks are arguing that a few votes could make the difference between more nuts and more reasonable people in public office. They may be right, and the fact is that there is really nothing to lose given the lack of contested Democratic primaries here. Advocates of Democrats voting in the Republican primary, which is perfectly legal, say, “desperate times call for desperate measures.”
Toole goes on to provide a list of the “Far Right” Republicans and the “more reasonable” Republicans.
I have voted in primaries for Republicans and Democrats over the years and did not feel one ounce of sadness either way.
Check out the column from Toole HERE.
SHEEHY: LET’S TALK…ABOUT WHAT THEY WON’T:
Montana Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy has an opinion column making the rounds in the state and most of the papers it appeared in have placed the column behind a paywall.
But here at The Western Word (TWW), we can usually find the info we are looking for somewhere. It’s too bad that some candidates exclude TWW from their press list.
I was hoping that Sheehy would explain the situation with the gunshot wound and other interesting things. Still, he basically blamed every negative thing on the liberal press, which I am sure he took from the Donald Trump playbook.
Sheehy writes:
As I travel across the state, Montanans have made clear that our country is facing serious problems, and we need serious people to solve them.
I give Sheehy credit for closing the column strongly:
Montanans want safe streets, cheap gas, a secure border, a balanced budget, strong foreign policy, and boys are boys, girls are girls. Let’s get to work.
I’m in this race to save America and create a better future for our kids. Join me, before it’s too late.
I humbly ask for your vote.
Until Sheehy does some explaining, his plan for Montana and the USA will never get any traction with the moderates and independents. There are too many doubts.
NOEM ON FACE THE NATION:
I’m thinking Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem should suspend her book tour. She was on Face the Nation Sunday and crashed and burned. Afterward, she used the Donald Trump excuse of “Fake News” after she failed to answer many questions.
The Daily Beast reported:
Noem struggled to keep to her talking points in the CBS interview, insisting to Brennan—who opened by asking whether the governor had actually ever met Kim Jong Un, as her upcoming book claimed—that she wasn’t going to talk about her “specific” encounters with world leaders, of whom she’d met “many, many.”
She wrote the book and did the audio recording of it. She also said she had been to North Korea.
Noem also suggested in her book that President Biden’s dog “Commander” should meet a similar fate as her dog Cricket.
I think that when this situation is all sorted out, Noem will say that Kim Jong Un traveled to South Dakota and was responsible for the killing of Cricket and the goat.
Stranger things have happened.
The Western Word 
I feel so much more safe knowing two former Navy Seals(Zinke and Sheehy) are ready to take out a Venezuelan family who speak no English and who were last Wednesday night only seeking a night of shelter in Kalispell and who had been shuffled all across the USA , branded as terrorist with zero proof. Venezuela has lost 7.7 million citizens fleeing as of August 2023 due to democratic breakdown,repression,a lack of basic human rights due to authoritarian regimes pf President Nicolas Maduro. Once a very wealthy country Venezuela due to vast oil deposits now suffers lack of food,medicine and essential services due to government mismanagement of oil funds. Well all the MEGA politicians have proved themselves well in the eyes of todays MEGA ,Republican Party, statements without proof, usually lies but then double down on those lies and stoke fear where none is called for and offer no rational solutions to any problems. I was not impressed by Senator Testers statement on this situation,I had expected a little more understanding of this families situation but I understand he is in a tough reelection race in a state that has gone MEGA crazy and Tester needs some of the sane Republicans to cross over vote for him so he is trying to thread the needle,not to harsh not to soft. Hopefully the Venezuelan family didn’t have a dog,as there are many gravel pits in Flathead County.
Great points. I agree. – JmB
If they flew from Texas to NY and then to Montana, they must currently be in this country legally because it takes at least DHS immigration documentation to get on a commercial airplane. No matter how they crossed initially, legally through a port of entry, or elsewise. So they must have had contact with DHS, been initially vetted, got some papers, and allowed to stay for now.
They might even be part of the expanded work permit program that was announced last Fall for the Venezuelans fleeing that oppressive commit regime.
Big Sky Country hospitality in action.
Stand down order for Tester too, Mike?
A spokesperson for Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said he is working with state officials to monitor the situation, telling Fox News Digital that it “undermines our national security” when migrants are allowed to enter the U.S. illegally.
“Senator Tester is in touch with local officials in Flathead County and is closely monitoring this ongoing situation,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “He believes that allowing anyone to enter the country without being properly vetted or going through a legal process undermines our national security, which is why he voted for bipartisan border security legislation that would give law enforcement the tools to crack down on individuals entering the country illegally and keep Montana and our country safe.”
Yes, of course. The politicians know immigration is a top issue, so they treat the situation in the Flathead (one family) like it’s a battalion coming over the continental divide and pillaging our villages. Thanks, JmB
Yikes! I didn’t know big Swede was still alive! Great job, Swede. Me and Swede we’re neighbors at one time. Swede is a good guy for a demented trumper. He has a great ranch down by Billings. Actually, some pretty sacred land out by the Indian Caves, and the prettiest land in Crow country. I used to trespass all over that country in my younger days. Swede gets right to the core of a debate. And I used to appreciate that. He never got personal, just unabashed right wing argument. Not sure how he found this site, but he’s never abrasive or personally abusive. Good guy gone bad. In other words, we could drink beer together and enjoy each other’s company.
There were many Republicans who chose the Dem primary ballot to vote for Edwards over Castle for Sheriff – can’t remember the year, don’t care enough to look it up.
I think that was in 2010. -JmB
In regard to Sheehey’s comments on what he wants to see:
Safe Streets – Provide funding for mental health care and the homeless.
Secure Borders – support the bill passed by the Senate, blocked by House Republicans.
Cheap Gas – Stop price manipulation by oil companies especially as an election ploy. No fuel cost increases near elections.
Balanced Budget- Raise income limit on Social Security deductions,
Close tax loop holes like agricultural property like his hobby ranch,
institute equity in taxation, billionaires should not pay less than average working Americans.
Strong Foreign Policy – fully funded Ukraine, Taiwan and measure support for Israel.
Boys are Boys, Girls are Girls – a deminimus problem with no substantial affect on others. Leave medical decisions to medical professionals.
See Tim, you could be part of the solution by supporting Democratic policies.
Great points. Thanks, JmB
No need to fret about choosing R or D primary ballot.
According to the ECB Staff brain trust over at ECity Bleat, “All of the local Great Falls/Cascade County legislative and county commission candidates appearing on the upcoming June 4 primary election ballot will be Republicans.”
Probably a surprise to the folks over at cascadecountydemocrats.org but the Bleat says so.
Good point. I hope their friends in the election office know the facts. 😂-JmB
As I watch Tall Tale Timmy, an avowed Trumper who’s pledged his undying allegiance to the Orange Don instead of to our country, I’m reminded that he has become exactly like the rest of the trumpers in trumps’s army of trump firsters as mentioned in this article. In other words, the guy is totally unfit to be a U.S. senator. His endless personal attacks on our beloved Sen. Tester simply highlight the fact that he stands for nothing exact trump talking points, and his endless lies indicate a core value system anathema to our form of government. He needs to be convincingly run out of Montana politics.
A very important article follows. Watch the videos. It’s where we’re at, unfortunately. Tim possesses all the attributes of these other losers.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-running-mate-2668174022/