Thanks for starting your week with The Western Word! Here are the topics for today’s column:

• No Kings Rally – Great Falls
• Cascade County
• Daines Flag Amendment
• Tinpot Toddler
• One More Thing

NO KINGS RALLY – GREAT FALLS:

I heard there were around 29 “No Kings” rallies in Montana on Saturday. I attended the event in Great Falls. I think there were over 1,000 in attendance. It was very peaceful and I loved reading the signs that people made.

Nationwide, millions showed up to voice their disapproval of the way the Trump Administration is running (or is it ruining) the country. 

I posted some photos from the event on my other social media accounts, and the MAGA hate came out in full force. The MAGAs were fixated on the people there saying they don’t have or want jobs (I’m retired), that those in attendance were getting paid (I could not find anyone handing out money), and that many people were shipped in to protest. I walked a half-mile or more to get to the courthouse and did not see any buses or vehicles with plates from outside the region. Other MAGAs made fun of some of the signs and also talked about the rally being a “safety hazard” with drivers being distracted by reading the signs. Some people talked about teaching the protestors on the bridge “how to swim.”

All in all, it was a great day. With so much hate and vitriol from the MAGA folks on social media, I think the rallies were a huge success.

Please click HERE to view some photos that I posted on The Western Word Facebook page. Please Like/Follow the page while you are there. Thanks!  

CASCADE COUNTY:

The Electric reported last week that the Cascade County compensation board recommended zero pay increases for any elected officials during their June 11 meeting.

I agree with the compensation board 100%. I don’t think elected officials should receive more than one pay raise a term. When/if they are reelected, they can get a pay raise for that term. All that should be contingent on the budget. 

The bottom line on all these pay raises is that the taxpayers are being hit hard with increases in taxes, fees, rates, etc.  We can’t handle much more.  

DAINES FLAG AMENDMENT:

The press release from U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ office kind of says it all: “Daines has introduced this Constitutional amendment every year since 2017.” 

Maybe he introduced the amendment every Congress (2 years), but let’s just say he has been persistent. He knows this is red meat for the MAGA faithful. 

As I said many times before, I served in the military so that my fellow citizens have freedom of speech. While I would never desecrate my flag or even kneel during the National Anthem, I served my country so that others have that freedom. 

This is nothing but Daines looking for attention, and since he is up for reelection, he needs publicity. His amendment will never pass – and thank God for that.

TINPOT TODDLER:

Someone on one of the cable news shows said it would be cheaper to buy President Donald Trump a bag of plastic Army soldiers with tanks and guns and let him play with those instead of making the Army put on a parade for his birthday. 

I agree. 

My friend “Moore on Montana” posted THIS CARTOON that shows the same thing. Enjoy!

ONE MORE THING:

Turns out it isn’t orange makeup after all. It’s taco seasoning! (Pinterest)

## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##