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

• Transparent Election Initiative
• Minneapolis 
• Greenland
• Playoff Football
• One More Thing

TRANSPARENT ELECTION INITIATIVE:

The Montana Supreme Court has thrown a roadblock into the plan to get corporate and dark money out of Montana’s elections.

Lee Newspapers and other media outlets reported that the Montana Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a ballot initiative that sought to rein in the spending of corporate and secret donor money in the state’s political races. The unanimous decision from the high court upholds Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s initial determination from late last year that the initiative contains too many changes to be legally put before voters as one single question. 

It was probably a proud moment for Knudsen, finally winning one in front of the Montana Supreme Court and not being admonished. It kind of reminds me of the saying, “even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.”

The good news is this is not over yet. Jeff Mangan, the initiative’s primary advocate and former state commissioner of political practices, said the group will file a revamped initiative by the end of the week. 

To find out more, you can visit the Transparent Election Initiative website HERE. 

MINNEAPOLIS:

The Associated Press reported that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a Minneapolis motorist on Wednesday — a shooting that federal officials claimed was an act of self-defense but that the city’s mayor described as “reckless” and unnecessary. A hospital record obtained by the Associated Press identified the woman as 37-year-old Renae Macklin-Good, though business records spelled her name as Renee Nicole Macklin Good.

It is a sad situation. It’s too early to say the shooting was justified, but Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem did just that. She said any death is a tragedy, but the shooting was justified. She also said, “Our officer followed his training, did exactly what he’s been taught to do in that situation.” 

I want to know what happened (if anything) before the shooting occurred and before the video. Did Ms. Good do something before the shooting to draw the attention of ICE agents?  

I did hear the ICE agents order her to get out of the car. I’ve been roasted on social media several times for saying people should obey orders from law enforcement personnel, and there would be fewer problems. I heard former Vice President Mike Pence say basically the same thing during an interview last night. 

While I may not agree with all the methods being used by the Trump administration to find illegal people in our country, my bottom line is that if you are here illegally, you have already broken the law and should leave or face arrest and deportation. If you are arrested for being here illegally, the chances of coming back to the USA legally are very slim.

GREENLAND:

Every day, the talk from President Donald Trump and his staff about Greenland goes further off the rails. Some recent crazy talk from the Trump administration says they might want to use the military to take Greenland. There’s also talk of buying it from Denmark. I guess we’ll put that on the credit card, too. 

Former United States ambassador to Russia and Montana native, Michael McFaul, has been commenting on Trump’s desire to take Greenland. On social media, he recently stated:

The U.S. does not need to annex Greenland! We can access bases for our soldiers and mines for minerals through treaties and contracts without invading!  This is the 21st century. 19th-century imperialism rightfully ended. This “debate” is truly unhinged. Rational people in DC, please stop it.

He also stated:

There is nothing more gangster than threatening to invade Greenland as a strategy to get Denmark to sell Greenland to us. Embarrassed to be an American right now. Hoping this crazy moment in our history will pass soon.

PLAYOFF FOOTBALL:

We’ve had a few days off since the exciting ending to the Montana State win over Illinois State for the FCS National Championship on Monday night. 

It’s time to get back in the saddle! 

Starting tonight (Thursday), we have the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Miami and Ole Miss collide. The game is on ESPN and starts at 5:30 (Montana time). 

Friday night, we have the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Oregon takes on Indiana. The game is on ESPN and starts at 5:30 (Montana time).  

There are six NFL Wildcard games this weekend. There are two on Saturday, three on Sunday, and one on Monday. Check out the schedule HERE. 

Is this a great country or what? 

ONE MORE THING:

If a tree falls in the forest, and everyone saw Trump cut it down, is it still Biden’s fault?  

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