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

• Montana Officials React
• Football Playoffs
• Oxford Word of the Year

MONTANA OFFICIALS REACT:

I saw that NBC News in Montana put together a story with reactions from Montana elected officials about President Joe Biden pardoning his son, Hunter. 

Of course, since most of them are Republicans they did not like it. Republican U.S. Senator-elect Tim Sheehy issued a statement, but apparently he is still afraid to talk to the press in person. 

I suggest that Sheehy use U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ press people. They will be voting the same way, so why waste the money? 

NBC posted a statement from U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale but did not get one from his replacement, Troy Downing. I found a post on X from Downing with his thoughts. They did not get one from U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke. I could not find one. 

To sum up the Republicans’ concerns about the pardon, the MAGAs in Montana were upset that President Biden lied about giving his son a pardon. They forget that the man they supported lied over 30,000 times during his first term. He is a convicted felon. He pardoned some scum during his first term and I expect he will continue pardoning scum.

The best response was from outgoing Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Tester. Raw Story reported:

The internet began to chime in moments after Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) was asked by reporters what he made of President Joe Biden issuing a pardon for his son Hunter as backlash to the decision continued to grow.

“I’m one month from getting the f— out of here,” CNN’s Raju reported Tester saying with a smile. “Ask somebody who counts.”

Raw Story also reported that Mike Nellis, a former senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, summed it up a different way. “Jon Tester is officially out of f—s. Respect,” Nellis told his followers.

FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS:

In the FCS playoffs, the Montana Grizzlies beat Tennessee State 41-27. (Box Score)

This week the Grizzlies next play at South Dakota State. That game starts at noon (Mountain Time). 

The Montana State Bobcats are seeded #1 and they will host UT Martin. That game starts at 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). 

It’s terrible scheduling by the NCAA to have these games starting an hour apart. Plus, you may need to sign up for ESPN+ to watch them. 

In the NAIA playoffs, Montana Western is in the quarterfinals and they get to host Morningside (IA). Montana Western beat Dickinson State 41-14 last week. That game is set to kickoff at noon (Mountain Time). (Source) 

By the way, there are nine FBS Conference Championship games this weekend, with three on Friday and six on Saturday. (Source) 

2024 OXFORD WORD OF THE YEAR:

The Oxford word of the year for 2024 is BRAIN ROT. 

(n.) Supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as a result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging. Also: something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration. (Source)

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