I started back in January when I got my Legislative campaign going. I lost that, did some podcasts for a month that were wildly unpopular, and then got back into writing articles, which have become quite popular, getting about 100 hits on the day they’re published…if I’m lucky.
I’m glad people are reading, and I’ll keep trying to have relevant issues about our economy and our future. I’d rather have content with numbers and facts and figures…the kind people can read in a few months and still find some use in.
You’ll also get lots of opinions, but that’s why you’re here, right?
Today I’d like to look at a few of the other Montana political blogs in the state, pretty much in an attempt to create an ‘evergreen article’ that will come up on Google for months or years to come when people type in “Montana political blogs.”
Anyways, this doesn’t really need to be a long article because there aren’t that many Montana political blogs. Well, there are, but just like our landscape, many are old and forgotten relics with bones bleaching in the electronic sun.
Yep, they’re abandoned, the fate many Montana political blogs suffer. Overall, the state of Montana blogs is bad. There are few and those that try to start usually end in misery and failure within a couple months, if not sooner. Many sites only post once a week or once a month…sometimes even once a quarter. All in all, not much to get excited about.
Some are still kicking, however, and getting up to 100 posts is a good sign that you’ve got some staying power. Many of these leading blogs have done that, and they’re pretty good, but some are also close-minded and fearful.
I’d like to talk about those Montana political blogs that have some staying power as well as throw some general philosophies out there. Hell, I’ll probably offend a few people as well, but I think that’s to be expected.
Let’s get to it, huh?
Intelligent Discontent
For instance, this site really hates John Bohlinger. You saw that before the primary. What’s more, oftentimes Democratic ideology blinds this writer and the site comes off sounding quite silly at times.
I see this a bit now in Pogreba’s reticence to go after Walsh, which strikes me as strange since he’s a teacher and plagiarism should offend him more than I think it currently is.
Like most Montana political bloggers, Pogreba also has a bit of a snarky and belligerent attitude at times, one that kind of says “what the hell are you doing here making a comment anyway?”
Most blogs are like that, but this blog is good because they put stuff up on Twitter, are fast to respond to breaking news articles around the state, and point out Republican BS. One of my main requirements of a good Montana blog is that they point out Republican BS regularly, and this Montana blog does it admirably.
4&20 Blackbirds
I guess the site is run by someone named William Skink out of Missoula, although like many Montana sites, they go by pseudonyms there. I asked about this once, as if anyone really cared who these people really were, and they got all angry at me. In fact, I’ve angered this site a great deal, so much so that they didn’t support my candidacy for the House.
I was so overjoyed to see that! Like most sane Montana blogs, I decided not to put this one on my sidebar because…well, I’m sure you’ve got enough crazy in your life already. But I went back and decided to throw them up, just so you can have a complete picture of politics in Montana.
I don’t visit them anymore myself, but you’re more than welcome to. Just be prepared for lots of conspiracy, blood-letting and tomfoolery.
Montana Cowgirl
- Slow: This site is slow in loading, even before the upgrade, and it’s slow to post. Now, sometimes you get a day with three new posts, but that in no way makes up for the four to five days that will go by with no posts. This site also has the silly idea that not posting on the weekend is alright.
- Scared: This site is very afraid of losing its position and also of losing respect. Both of those might be hard to believe, but you see this in a couple things. First, Democratic news at the expense of all else, and viewpoints that often ensure Democrats won’t take the legislature. See, it’s all doom and gloom and all Republicans are idiots. Since this is the most-read blog in the state that sends a bad impression and ensures Democrats in tough areas won’t be elected.
- Sacred: Much like the problems that go along with being scared, when a site is seen as sacred it’s hard to have objectivity. Anyone who hears “Montana Cowgirl” will immediately think Democratic blog, and that ensures lots of people won’t tune in or just won’t buy into anything that’s there…no matter how sensible. When you’re sacred you’re also seen as infallible, something loyal users and commentors on a site can run into problems with.
Overall this site is good and I enjoy reading news stories there. They get fast scoops and tend to know more than a lot of other people. I don’t know who runs it or from where, but I hope it stays up for some time. I also hope I can steal some of their traffic.
Flathead Memo
See, if you’re not allowing comments it means you’re afraid. Either you’re afraid you’ll be inundated with spam and bad comments or worse…you’ll get no comments at all. I think it’s that latter that James Connor is worried about the most.
What’s more, you again get one-sided stuff and nothing that really gets to the heart of the problems in the state. This is the case with all Montana blogs – they spew opinions but rarely put up facts. For instance, instead of complaining about prisons, why not offer up some facts on Montana prisons?
That’s just one example of something many sites in the state do. The Flathead Memo overall has good analysis, however. They’re also reliable in that they put up a post each night, even if It’s just a photo. Well, most nights.
If James Connor would just start using Twitter and also allow comments I think the site could be a lot better. But that’s just me.
Peculiarities of Montana Blogs
I’ve got pictures, I’ve got analysis, and I’ve got research. I have a biting style and I have no comments…no one can argue with me and survive.
Most Montana blogs are scared of me, as they should be. They don’t list me on their blogroll because they know that if Montana residents discovered my site they wouldn’t go back to those hokey ones.
This is fine with me – greatness can’t be kept down forever, and pretty soon Montanans will realize that the best place to get in-depth reporting that the newspapers are afraid to touch is right here on Big Sky Words.