Welcome to February! Here are the topics for today’s column:
- Defeat House Bill 207
- Ten Commandments in School
- Trump’s Trade Wars
- Mount Rushmore
DEFEAT HOUSE BILL 207:
It appears the MAGA members of the Montana Legislature want to make it harder for independent and minor party candidates to run for office.
I have always said that the Montana Legislature should make it easier for independent candidates to run for office. It is almost impossible at this time.
The Montana Free Press (MTFP) reported late last week that House lawmakers gave early approval to House Bill 207, which would double the number of signatures independent and minor-party candidates need to qualify for office. The bill would also shorten by 50 days the amount of time candidates had to gather signatures.
Of course, a Republican is the sponsor of this bill.
I encourage the Montana Legislature to defeat this bill. Competition is good for the legislature and good for Montana.
TEN COMMANDMENTS IN SCHOOL:
I am a Christian and I believe in the 10 Commandments, but I don’t think the 10 Commandments should be displayed in public schools.
The Daily Montanan is reporting that in the Montana State Senate, Senate Bill 114, would require public school trustees to post the Ten Commandments — on a minimum 11” by 14” poster or framed document — in each classroom in every public school in Montana. It passed 6-3 on party lines Friday without amendment after being heard in committee the same day.
Back in June, Louisiana passed a similar law. It is being challenged in court.
In 1980, the Associated Press (AP) reported that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar Kentucky law was unconstitutional and violated the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress can “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” The high court found that the law had no secular purpose but rather served a plainly religious purpose.
Today’s U.S. Supreme Court is significantly different from the 1980 court. Who knows what will happen?
There are many different religions and beliefs in our country. We should not promote one over another. Religion is a personal matter. We have to keep government and religion separate.
TRUMP’S TRADE WARS:
Get ready to start paying more for things like fuel, groceries, automobiles, etc., because our ignorant President, Donald Trump, has started a trade war with Canada, Mexico, and China.
The Associated Press (AP) is reporting that President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an order to impose stiff tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, drawing swift retaliation and an undeniable sense of betrayal from the country’s North American neighbors as a trade war erupted among the longtime allies.
Trump claims he is imposing these tariffs to hold these countries accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country. (Source)
MOUNT RUSHMORE:
I get a lot of exercise, shaking my head in disbelief…
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) introduced legislation to arrange the carving of President Donald J. Trump on the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.
In her press release, Luna stated:
“President Trump’s bold leadership and steadfast dedication to America’s greatness have cemented his place in history. Mount Rushmore, a timeless symbol of our nation’s freedom and strength, deserves to reflect his towering legacy—a legacy further solidified by the powerful start to his second term. He will be forever remembered among the great like Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.”
As the late great Congressman Jim Traficant used to say, “Beam me up!”
## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##
The Western Word 
Trudeau and his government has lowered penalties on fentanyl and has allowed the free flow of the drug components coming into his country.
https://x.com/mazemoore/status/1885914109566177647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1885914109566177647%7Ctwgr%5Ecf61fad09525bbf1314ae8b27d1b1664b9d05371%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fncrenegade.com%2Fpage%2F3%2F
Another highly edited X posting of an opposition politician’s sound bites. X: The most solid, solid news source. 🤣
If anyone wants to read some more complete and nuanced coverage of Trudeau’s drug policy or regulation of fentanyl precursors in Canada, the following are available.
https://filtermag.org/justin-trudeau-drug-policy-legacy/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/detecting-precursor-chemicals-opioids-fentanyl-border-1.7414563
Update Terry.
Both Panama and Mexico caves.
Mexico will put 10,000 armed military defenders on their northern border.
10,000 extra soldiers to interdict the unrestricted flow of US guns to Mexico that Trump refuses to address. That’s great for Mexico.
Meanwhile, OPEC told the wannabe king of the world to take a hike. Their oil output not going up just because he ordered them to.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/opec-likely-stick-oil-output-hike-plan-sources-say-2025-02-03/
Holy smokes, the new Panama deal to allow free canal transit for US military ships will save the USA a whopping $2.5 to $3M per year! About enough to pay for one maybe two of Tubby’s many golf outings on the taxpayer dime. It’s a new golden age.
https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/panama-offers-us-navy-ships-free-passage-through-panama-canal-report-says-trump-marco-rubio-china-maritime-trade-waterway
Canada just folded to Trump Terry.
Are they sending troops to guard against the evil gun runners too?
Yes Canada totally folded. Agreed to name a Fentanyl czar. Agreed to label Mexican cartels terrorist organizations. Agreed to join some yet-to-be-defined joint crime task force with U.S.
All that outlay plus $1.50 you might get yourself a cup of coffee.
And by the way, DJT also folded to Mexico in that he agreed to crack down on those guns flowing south. Look for Fed jackboots to start visiting some Texas and Arizona gun shops soon. If the Mexicans can get it the Canadians should demand it too. Crack down on these Montana gun shows and shops sending the hardware north.
Two questions:
If the National Park Service proceeds with adding trumpsky’s swollen head to the monument, will they then plant sage brush over the top? It would certainly look better than what he has glued on his own head.
If PM Trudeau announced that Canada would begin bussing all their convicted felons to Texas and Florida, would trumpsky go to Guantanamo to keep Abbott and DeSantis company?
The sponsor of the Ten Commandments bill (SB114), Bob Phalen, uttered the most contradictory statement yet: “It’s a great day for religious freedom in America.” Hard to believe he said this while proposing to foist Biblical doctrine on every student in Montana.
It makes one wonder if he has any common sense. -JmB