Need some common sense? You’ve come to the right place! Here are the topics for today’s commentary: 

• Seth Bodnar
• Bipartisan Bills
• Formed the Framework
• One More Thing

SETH BODNAR:

Lee Newspapers and other sources are reporting that University of Montana President Seth Bodnar announced on Wednesday he plans to step down from the university’s top office, a role he’s held for more than eight years. The decision is the latest sign that the 46-year-old military veteran, former General Electric executive and higher education administrator could be angling to enter this year’s Senate race as an independent candidate.

While Bodnar did not announce whether he was running for U.S. Senate, the Daily Montanan reported that a Political Action Committee (PAC) called Leadership in Action, which lists Attorney General Austin Knudsen as its honorary chairman, has started running an attack ad against him. You can view the ad HERE. 

That means that the supporters of U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) are worried about Bodnar. The Leadership in Action PAC should also practice the spelling of Bodnar’s last name, as they spelled it two different ways in the ad. 

If Bodnar does enter the U.S. Senate race, it will bring the race to life and possibly make Daines work a little harder. I don’t see too many people who are happy with the work Daines is doing as a U.S. Senator. 

BIPARTISAN BILLS:

The Montana Free Press (MTFP) is reporting that three prominent Republicans, Senate Taxation Committee Chair Greg Hertz, R-Polson, Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, and former state Sen. Keith Regier of Kalispell, the father of Senate President Matt Regier filed a lawsuit Wednesday asking a judge to invalidate one of the two bipartisan bills that reduced 2025 property taxes for many Montana homeowners. They argue the legislative sausage-making that brought the bill to the desk of Gov. Greg Gianforte last year violated procedural requirements in the state Constitution. 

I think the main reason the three Republicans are challenging the bills is that the bills were passed with bipartisan support, and the MAGAs don’t like bipartisanship. The MAGAs in the last Montana Legislative session were butthurt by the bipartisanship that went on. 

FORMED THE FRAMEWORK:

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump posted the following message on Truth Social:

Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region. This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations. Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st. Additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland. Further information will be made available as discussions progress. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and various others, as needed, will be responsible for the negotiations — They will report directly to me. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Nobody can really explain what the “framework” is (not even Trump, himself). 

Trump gave another rambling speech in Switzerland. He often confused Greenland with Iceland. The New Republic Reports: 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wants to pretend that Donald Trump didn’t mix up Greenland and Iceland—but he did. Multiple times.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos Wednesday, Trump repeatedly and erroneously mixed up Greenland with Iceland, a completely separate landmass and independent nation. The gaffe sparked concern that Trump, who has been showing increasing signs of cognitive decline, had no idea what country he was even demanding to own.

Once again demonstrating her fierce commitment to truth-telling, Leavitt tried to defend the president by lying about something that everyone heard.

“President Trump appeared to mix up Greenland and Iceland around three times,” NewsNation’s Libbey Dean wrote on X after the speech.

“No he didn’t, Libby,” Leavitt responded. “His written remarks referred to Greenland as a ‘piece of ice’ because that’s what it is. You’re the only one mixing anything up here.”

See the video for the truth HERE. 

Trump backed down from using force to obtain Greenland, saying, “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be frankly unstoppable. But I won’t do that, OK?” (Source)

That may only last until he gets pissed and posts something on Truth Social in the middle of the night. 

ONE MORE THING:

I strive to live my life in such a way that the word “sarcastic” will be used in my obituary at least once. 

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