Great to see you! Ready for your daily shot of common sense? Let’s get right to it—here are today’s topics:

• 2026 Campaign News
• Fight of the Week
• For Planning Purposes
• One More Thing

2026 CAMPAIGN NEWS: 

There’s more campaign 2026 news today! You should subscribe to The Western Word (TWW) to get notified as soon as my column is posted. You can also follow me on X @TheWesternWord and on TWW Facebook page HERE. 

As of early Wednesday evening, there were 184 candidates listed on the Secretary of State’s website who have filed for office in Montana. 

You can keep track of who files for office by clicking HERE.

In Great Falls, City Commissioner Rick Tryon voiced his concerns on his Facebook page about two former Libertarian candidates who just filed to run as Republicans. The candidates are Tony Rosales (HD-20) and Kevin Leatherbarrow (HD-22). 

Tryon wants to know why they are running as Republicans when they previously ran as Libertarians. Tryon also wants the candidates to clarify their positions on the role of local law enforcement, especially regarding the Cascade County Sheriff/Coroner’s Office. I would probably tell Tryon where he could put his questions! 

I don’t care about Rosales and Leatherbarrow switching political parties. They are not running in my district. We should vote for people who will represent their constituents first and not the party. 

Tryon did give them some publicity, with his MAGA faithful attacking them. That was probably Tryon’s motive from the start. 

In the comment section, someone mentioned that Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter and Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party a few years ago. Tryon went quickly to their defense. 

While Slaughter and Racki provided their own justifications at the time, it’s difficult not to view their defection as purely tactical. In a county where almost any Republican candidate was guaranteed a win, their decision feels less like a change of heart and more like a calculated move to ensure their own political survival—at the expense of their personal integrity.

FIGHT OF THE WEEK: 

Over at WTF406.com, Ken Toole writes about “Fight of the Week– Sleazy Jake Eaton vs. Pugnacious George Nikolakakos” regarding their back-and-forth on Facebook about taxes and being a real Republican. 

I have known Eaton for many years and respect his work in electing candidates. If I were running for office, I would want Eaton on my side. 

As for Nikolakakos, I had heard of him, and now that he is running in my district, I am checking into his work and votes.  

The interactions between Eaton and Nikolakakos on Facebook show just how the Republican Party is imploding. You can read the whole column HERE. 

Just about every time the Republicans take charge, they screw it up. We saw it last legislative session with the “nasty nine” Republican senators who worked across party lines. The Republicans are even forming groups to get rid of those who are not pure enough, like this one:

The RINO Removal Project (RRP) is a national grassroots movement dedicated to restoring the Republican Party’s conservative, America First roots. We focus on identifying, exposing, and removing Republicans In Name Only (RINOs)—career politicians who campaign as conservatives but vote like Democrats.

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES:

As of February 18, 2026, reports indicate that the U.S. military is prepared to strike Iran as early as this weekend, though President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on whether to authorize the attack. (Source)

CBS reports senior officials say the US military is ready for potential Iran strikes as soon as Saturday. (Source)

Some people say that as soon as the Olympics end, Trump will give the OK to start attacking Iran. The Olympics end Saturday. 

Why strike Iran? 

One reason may be Iran’s nuclear program. Trump wants Iran to give it up. Another reason may be human rights concerns, as Iran has killed several thousand protestors. One other reason is the sponsorship of terrorism by Iran. 

I’m wary of the decisions being made at the top, but I’m fully behind our military personnel and praying they stay out of harm’s way.

ONE MORE THING:

The city should hire the guy who salts the fries at McDonald’s to do the roads. 

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