Welcome! Here are the topics for today’s independent commentary: 

• Annual Christmas Ornament
• MAGA & Media
• Influx of Outsiders & Money

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT:

I think it’s kind of funny that the Great Falls-Cascade County Historic Preservation Advisory Commission announced that the annual commemorative Christmas ornament for 2024 is the Great Falls Public Library. (Source) 

The Electric probably said it best:

They [sic] city formally announced the ornament two days after the City Commission voted to reduce funding for the library after months of discussions. (Source)

It’s too bad the city commission does not support our wonderful public library. 

I hope the City Commission does not try to take the money from the sale of ornaments to use for public safety! 

MAGA & MEDIA:

I’ve seen it in the national media and with the state media. When they report something the MAGA folks don’t like, they complain about the “liberal” media, the “legacy” media, or the MainStream Media (MSM). Senator-Elect Tim Sheehy based his whole campaign on dodging reporters. 

Now a group of local MAGAs are whining about the local news site called “The Electric” because of the reporting done about the library issue. 

City Commissioner Rick Tryon posted on his personal Facebook page and on The Electric Facebook page the following:

Jenn Rowell deserves credit for her longtime efforts to fill the local news void left as a result of the decline and fall of the Great Falls Tribune empire, and she has done some good work on local issues.

However, the comments made here by Tony Rosales, Dodd Jen and Chris Smyth are valid points about the journalistic integrity and objectivity of this piece.

When publishing “news” articles concerning the Great Falls Public Library, perhaps Rowell should disclose in a disclaimer or editor’s note that she was named “Media Member of the Year” last April at the 2024 Montana Library Association awards banquet, being nominated by GFPL Director Susie McIntyre with letters of support from the Library Board and former Mayor Bob Kelly.

Not disclosing that fact confirms concerns about the local Good Old Boys & Gals Club.

This is sour grapes. If they had their way, all media would be like Fox News. 

I hope The Electric keeps up the good work. 

INFLUX OF OUTSIDERS & MONEY:

The Associated Press (AP) published a story on Friday about how an influx of money and outsiders turned Montana Republican. It’s a great read and one that Democrats in the state should read and study. 

The AP reported:

Democrats’ crushing loss in Montana’s nationally important U.S. Senate race settled a fierce political debate over whether a surge of newcomers in the past decade favored Republicans — and if one of the new arrivals could even take high office.

Voters answered both questions with an emphatic “yes” with Tim Sheehy’s defeat of three-term Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, helping deliver a GOP Senate majority and laying bare a drastic cultural shift in a state that long prided itself on electing home-grown candidates based on personal qualifications, not party affiliation.

One part of the article is incorrect:

Sheehy’s win came after the party ran the table in recent Montana elections where voters installed other wealthy Republicans including Gov. Greg Gianforte, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. Rep.-elect Troy Downing.

Daines is the only one of the group originally from Montana — once a virtual requirement for gaining high office in the state.

Daines is not originally from Montana. He was born in California. One of the state MAGAs posted, “And this story recognizes that @SteveDaines is originally from Montana. Only @mtdem Twitter doesn’t.”

I said that the AP erred. Finally, U.S. Senator Steve Daines posted the following:

This all makes me chuckle.  I was two months away from being born in Missoula. Mom was seven months pregnant with me, living in Missoula putting my dad through school at UM, working at the Missoula Mercantile, when he graduated. (Source)

I responded with, “Thanks for clarifying that you were born in California (barely).”

I contacted the Associated Press to correct the story. 

You can read the whole article HERE. 

## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##