Montana Articles

What Can Bullock Do to Rally Ahead?

12/2/2015

At this point Bullock is in trouble.

He can’t keep a lieutenant governor;

He can’t make a Senate appointment;

He can’t get infrastructure funded;

He can barely stay in the state.

On that last point I’m talking about him gallivanting off all over the place, probably on the DGA’s dime.

My, that’s a real bummer for all those Montana communities that might want to tell him their problems.

Missoula is one.

Right now there are two petitions going around calling for Royce Engstrom to be fired.

My goodness, how fortunes can change!

On top of this we’ve got the new environmental regulations that are set to close Colstrip – at some point – and all the job losses in other industries that are associated with this.

To make it all worse, there is no real plan to create new jobs to replace these, or for the overwhelming number of people in the state that have simply given up trying to find work.

Not a lot to run on in 2016.

The thing is, who could challenge Bullock?

James Conner kinda hints at that, or maybe he just wanted to, in his post this evening called Ham-handed ouster of McLean hurts Bullock, Democrats.

About the only person that comes to mind that could challenge Bullock is Dirk Adams, but I feel he’s had his wings clipped with the regional party chair position he was given.

Or…was it just a precinct captain?

Gosh, with the kind of money he’s got I’m surprised either of those are good enough.

Oh well. I’ve never been that fond of Adams anyway, mainly because of his East Coast banker times. Maybe they’re not East Coast but I know they’re banker.

What the hell happened to the Montana Democratic Party?

I mentioned yesterday that I left the country in 2008 and didn’t get back until June 2013, but my God, we were on top.

Democrats were damn popular under Schweitzer. More, we could be proud of ourselves.

Not so much anymore. Now it seems we’re scurrying around, trying to cover our tracks, make excuses, or avoiding the discussion entirely.

It doesn’t seem like there are many leaders right now.

Maybe it’s a generational transition period;

Maybe it’s the loss of our young people out of state;

Maybe it’s the culture and how most ignore politics;

Maybe it’s fear about speaking out.

Who knows – I don’t know.

Right now, a full 12 months before the 2016 legislative elections, I’m confident the Montana Legislature will once again be Republican.

That’s a shame because I don’t feel it has to be this way.

We talked about the 2016 Democratic message a few times now, but there doesn’t seem to be one in the state.

That’s troubling.

Maybe if there was a stronger message or something, Bullock could pull ahead.

Hey, maybe that’s not such a bad idea. “Democrats are in damage control mode,” Conner writes, and though “some are losing enthusiasm for Bullock…they recoil in horror” at the thought of Gianforte getting elected.

I don’t blame them. I pretty much soured myself on Gianforte on the day I tried to get into his head and figure out how he’d explain away his ‘issues.’

I kind of felt dirty after that.

Anyways, what are you going to do? Bullock’s plowing ahead and he cannot be stopped.

What would make it easier for him to plow ahead better, in a way that gains trust and earns votes?

First I’d start with a fast lieutenant governor pick. By fast I’m talking the end of this week.

After that, how about a 2016 game plan on what the platform you’re running on will be? That way everyone around the state can have something to run on too.

Then, get vocal in the newspapers. I’ll be getting my newspaper campaign to the Ravalli Republic up and running soon, one that lambasts the hell out of Fred Thomas. I’m sorry, but sending the man that is responsible for Montana deregulation back to Helena is wrong. I’ll tell that to voters each month that I can.

Finally…I don’t know. What else is there?

Well, there better be something. I’ve got no skin in the game as I’m just watching from the sidelines at this point.

As someone living in poverty in Montana, I know that no matter who wins the governor’s office or the presidency, my life will just get worse.

A good example of this is the $13 billion in infrastructure we need, yet we have just half a billion in cash.

There’s no way we can fix all of our problems, and with America broke right now (and sending more troops off to war), it’s not likely things will change.

Will Bullock be able to fix his problems?

I’m not sure, but I’ll eagerly be watching to see what happens next.

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Loyalty and Leverage in Montana Politics

12/2/2015

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I was disappointed to see Jon Sesso’s spiel in the Billings Gazette today.

“Interest rates are so low it is cheaper for the state to go into debt than let construction costs increase while waiting for cash to accrue,” we’re told he argued. “I don’t know what we can do to make that more clear, but we’ll keep trying.”

It’s an article called “Falling short: Montana leaders predict debates over bonding, new revenue.”

So every Democrat in the state has to be shackled to another terrible infrastructure bill, one that gives bankers huge handouts in long-term interest payments.

My God, the bankers are hungry for it too. No new state debt has been authorized since 2005, the article tells us.

For 10 years they’ve waited, licking their lips.

It’s currently 13 months before the 2017 legislative session yet “both sides are analyzing the key debates they expect to resurface,” we’re told in the article.

Montana needs a total of $13 billion in infrastructure spending to meet all the crumbling that’s going on around the state.

We know that our current surplus is about $450 million but Montana firefighting costs for 2015 were $45 million.

We can expect the same next year and also for both those numbers to go up. I haven’t been impressed with revenue or cost estimates from the state lately, myself.

Despite this now $405 million budget surplus, “state programs will provide only $90 to $130 million” for infrastructure projects “over the next two years.”

To add insult to injury, this funding is “mostly loans” that “require many communities to increase local rates to qualify.”

Something else I’m concerned with are the suppliers who are gouging the government.

For some reason cement and asphalt have gone up in price. Don’t ask me why they have, or why other suppliers cannot be contacted. I’d guess it’s because the government is too busy…doing something.

This is a huge pain in the ass for people like me that want to run for the 2017 legislature and want to see infrastructure funded.

Mainly, we’re going to go back to this same tired argument that borrowing is cheaper than paying cash…in the long run, of course.

This is foggy thinking that a grade school kid can see through.

Everyone knows that paying cash is cheaper than borrowing!

Alas, it looks like the Montana Democrats are going to be trying to do more bonding for infrastructure.

The main argument this time is that the costs have increased from just eight months ago.

Please.

I know there are many Democrats that oppose bonding. The problem is that they have more loyalty than leverage.

Let’s look at these two concepts.

Loyalty: Democrats want to be loyal to the governor’s plan or way of thinking. The idea of breaking ranks with the party is so unnerving to many legislators that they’ll remain lock-step in line, lemming-like, as Montana’s long-term finances go over the cliff.

Leverage: Democrats need leverage in the legislature so they can act as an independent branch of government, pulling the governor where they want him to go. This is why it’s so critical to have the infrastructure projects broken into pieces, so we can have an effective give-and-take between the various areas of the state and their representatives.

Despite this need for a ‘pulling of the governor,’ the final vote on Infrastructure was 47-3 in the Senate. It was the House that killed it. “We were one vote shy in the House,” Sesso said.

I don’t feel that will be the case when you have the Romney Hall bill riding on the success of the UM Clapp Building bill. Bozeman and Missoula will come together to get them both passed.

In turn, perhaps Helena could join forces with some legislators from Billings, ensuring we get a new Historical Society building and adequate funding for…whatever the hell it is they need.

What do we need, anyways?

2015 Montana Infrastructure Needs

That’s the list I put together a month ago and while I’ll include on my campaign literature.

Until something better comes along, it’s an accurate telling of what the state wanted last time and what will be up for discussion this time.

It’s something to talk about, and that’s what people want when it comes to infrastructure.

More, they want some work to get done.

To get that work done it’ll probably take most of the money we have.

I say to hell with Moody’s and their damn credit rating – we won’t be borrowing again until 2019 so what do we need a good credit rating for?

Yeah, that’s right, it sounds like we need to do some bonding. Even some Republicans are saying that now.

Fine, but let’s make it as low as possible, with the majority coming from cash.

I feel most Montanans can agree on those points – more cash over bonding and small infrastructure bills.

Will legislators and perhaps the governor have the sense to propose that?

If they want to get elected I think they will.

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Sex in Montana Politics

12/2/2015

5 Comments

By the 1870s Helena was booming. Banks and businesses rose up, as well as a red-light district.

In fact, it was the early brothel owners that did so much to stimulate the local economy when it was first starting.

Chicago Joe Airey was probably the best-known madam at that time. She named her place Josephine’s and went into competition with the only dance hall in town, owned by Fred White.

Airey and White weren’t the only two operating. Big Lou Courselle ran a brothel, as did Carrie Whitney. Eleanor Alphonsine Dumont ran a successful brothel as well, and was called Madame Mustache due to her hairy upper lip.

Without the brothels Helena wouldn’t have grown so quickly in those early years before the rash of businessmen arrived. Over a five year period $50,000 in real estate transactions were entered into by the brothel owners, which made up 44% of all real estate transactions during that time.

There were thirty-seven property-owning prostitutes, and when asked about their earnings twelve reported, with an average of $2,500 in the bank between them. Even a common girl working under a lamppost could expect to make $223 a month, far more than any other job was paying.

There were probably a good many men that joked with each other about becoming prostitutes while they were toiling away. After all, a carpenter could expect to make $100 a month, a bank clerk $125. By accident of sex some of these men were losing $100 a month!

No amount of smarts was going to protect against a natural disaster, however, and that’s exactly what struck Helena on January 9, 1874.

A fire had started in a Chinese gambling den right near Bridge Street. Most of Helena’s important downtown buildings were destroyed, including Chicago Joe’s dance hall and brothel. Citizens probably weren’t as concerned about the archives of the ten-year-old historical society that also went up in flames.

Chicago Joe was determined to rebuild, and she did so while also paying off her loan. The Red Light opened later that year, but she had to change the way her business was run as well.

The legislature had outlawed “dancing saloons or hurdy-gurdy houses” in 1873, so Chicago Joe made all dances with girls free. Drinks would have to be purchased to get a dance. When rail links were completed to Salt Lake City she brought in new women from Chicago, something that saw her profits soar.

Helena’s prostitution business would continue to thrive as the decades pressed on, and the last brothel finally closed in 1973.

Montana Sexual Politics in the 2000s

So that was some Montana sexual politics back in the day. I’m confident that many legislators were going to Dorothy’s right up to 1973.

Unfortunately for the philanderers now, they have to do the hard work of wooing a lady before they can get her clothes off.

Some Montana politicians are better at this than others. Jon Morrison comes to mind.

We all know that Morrison was caught having an affair with Suzanne Harding in 2002 to 2003.

This was the same time period that Morrison was investigating Harding’s husband, David Tacke for bilking “untold numbers of investors in the United States and Canada out of millions of dollars over two decades.”

Thankfully for Tacke, the affair precluded any serious investigation by Morrison or his office. That investigation was suspended for a year before the feds came in and got it going again.

So even though politicians aren’t paying for it, sex is still a costly thing for them.

Morrison tried like hell to get out from under the cloud he created for himself. The affair cost him his U.S. Senate bid to Jon Tester in 2006. More, it cost him whatever political future he might have.

The reason for that is he had another affair.

Back in December 2014 I posted a post called What Ever Happened to Jon Morrison?

Boy, I got jumped on for that.

Eight months later, however, I got an email from a man that said Morrison had been sleeping with his wife too.

“I can tell you EXACTLY what happened to John Morrison. He got caught in yet another affair and he knows that the information hitting the fan this time would make his life so poisonous that he'd have a tough road to continue pretending he's a political success and making money off of it.”

He goes on to say that:

“He's had so many affairs that had never came to light other than the one during his 2006 run, that he was bragging that he had thought that he'd have been ousted by one of his auditor office employees for the many others. Several of whom had left enmass before the election because he'd had an affair with a key auditor office employee and ruined that marriage too. The employee went on to [work – I’d rather not name this high position] at New West (with a great recommendation from him) - which directly interacted with and was regulated by Morrison and his staff (a clear breach of decorum if not ethics).

He's had at least one drunk driving arrest and possible conviction in Colorado. And some self-admitted sex/porn addiction issues including numerous additional affairs within his affairs.”

The person closed their email to me by saying, “Anyway - I wish I could share more...including direct evidence etc., but that would hurt my family and they are more important than even seeing that ass being revealed for the horrible person he really is.”

You can take that for what you will, though it’d probably be best just to leave it where it is. Honestly, if you can’t keep your dick in your pants then you have no business being in politics.

I don’t see Jon Morrison making a comeback anytime soon – it would have happened by now.

Montana Sexual Politics in the 2010s

Now, let’s move on to the recent speculation on affairs in Helena.

Currently there’s some hushed talk that Angela McLean may have left for reasons other than what’s been reported.

For instance, what caused this falling out that the papers are mentioning?

One emailer today suggested:

“Many reporters and people in Helena are hearing that McLean walked in on Bullock while he was "in the act" with a cabinet member.”

Well, the plot thickens.

Who on earth could this cabinet member be? You’ll remember that we profiled all of Steve Bullock’s cabinet and where they come from. Here are the women:

Now, on Monday I saw this Tweet and I thought it was very interesting:

Maybe @GovernorBullock will appoint Meg O'Leary as LtG. Rumor has it he's VERY fond of her... #mtpol #mtleg #mtgov
— Judy Walker (@judyjmt) December 1, 2015

So there are plenty of rumors, plenty of people asking questions.

The newspapers aren’t asking questions. They expect us to accept that McLean stepped down…just because.

I’m sorry, but that’s not good enough.

Until it is good enough people will continue to speculate. If that speculation goes on long enough, the GOP will begin to speculate.

Perhaps they’ll even do so over the airwaves. After all, when we get nothing but silence on this rather troubling departure what are we supposed to do?

And in that regard…who is to blame? Me and others like me for wanting to get at the truth…or those in power who want to hide it?

Why did McLean quit?

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Some Thoughts on the Montana Tumult

12/1/2015

2 Comments

From What's Up, Doc?

There’s a lot of confusion and disorder in Montana politics right now.

The way I see it, there are a few issues that are stirring this tumult up.

First, we have the Angela McLean departure and the speculation on who will replace her.

Next, we have the continual bad stream of news from UM to deal with. How long that shitty mess can stay off shiny shoes in Helena is yet to be seen.

After that, our fourth branch of government continues to disintegrate. Yes, I’m talking about the Montana media.

Finally, there’s nothing to run on in 2016.

Let’s discuss these issues and some possible ways to solve them.

Lt. Gov

I don’t want to get much into the Angela Mclean story because there’s not much to get into.

In terms of her replacement, that decision will be made behind closed doors.

Hey, I’m not confident about it at all.

I feel we have a small group of people that make all the decisions, that’s all.

Personally, I’d like to see more people involved in the decision-making process.

Now, I will add that I’ve heard Bullock will be polling to find out a suitable replacement.

What the hell does that mean?

I guess it means a select-few, those closest to him, will be asked what they think.

That sucks.

Mostly I’m expecting someone that will be able to help Bullock raise lots of money for his 2016 gubernatorial bid.

And is that such a bad thing? Most people that can raise money are able administrators.

I guess what bothers me is that so many are able for the kind of people I don’t like – rich Wall Street-types that walk all over the poor man.

Damn it – Democrats are supposed to fight against that, not be a part of it!

When I see people raising money all the time, pandering to the bankers that got us into the financial crisis, then I have to shake my head.

Who the hell are we?

We need to stop raising so much money, put those bankers in jail, and start asking people what their problems are and how we can solve them.

Instead, though, it’s raising money all the time.

It makes you sick, it really does.

Now, perhaps I’m not the most knowledgeable on these things.

First, in the early-2000s I was in college and didn’t pay much attention to political goings-on.

Then, I was out of Montana from 2008 to 2013. Hell, I left before Schweitzer got elected to his second term. And when you’re living outside the US you just don’t focus that much on US news, and certainly not Montana news.

Finally, maybe there isn’t some widespread Wall-Street buying of politicians in the guise of campaign donations going on and I’m just confused.

Perhaps this situation I describe is not what exists in Montana at all. Maybe I’m putting some of my disdain of National Democrats onto those in Montana.

Something tells me that I’m not far off, however.

UM Troubles All…the…Time

Is UM ever going to get better? I was reading the comments on the Missoulian article today, the one telling us of the upcoming budget cuts.

God, why do we put up with this bloated UM administration?

I don’t see how they benefit me or countless other Montana families.

That administration is benefiting someone, however. I bet it’s rich people, like those getting those $100,000+ salaries.

I’m sorry, is that not a lot of money at a top school?

Wake up – UM is not a top school and hasn’t been for some time! It is a state liberal arts school that has a terrible problem with rape, alcohol, and student debt, however.

But we don’t want to talk about that.

Fuck that – let’s talk about it!

et’s camp out on the Oval and talk about it all night and use loudspeakers to talk about it the next day.

Oh, we couldn’t do that, however. Jobs might be lost!

I’ll close by saying that the problems at UM disturb me greatly. I’ve written about them in detail many times.

But so what?

I’m not a student, I don’t work at UM, and I have no student loans.

Why the hell should I care?

That’s the attitude most of Montana has and that’s why the problems persist.

It's also a good excuse for UM faculty members and staff to use, hoping someone else will do the dirty work for them.

Good luck with that.

The Decaying Montana Press

In terms of the media, what I’m getting at is the departure today of long-time Missoulian editor Sherry Devlin.

I checked out the Missoulian article on it and it says she’s worked there since 1979.

Damn, that’s a long time.

Think about the institutional memory there, and the value that brings to an organization.

I mean, here’s someone with nearly 40 years of perspective on people, places, and problems in Montana.

Besides that, she has tons of connections and perspective and historical knowledge that can lend itself to well-crafted, head-nodding stories.

I might as well be speaking about Chuck Johnson or Mike Dennison, or some of the other quality Montana reporters that are no longer with us.

We’ve had a lot of shake-ups with the fourth branch of government over the past year or so.

It hurts.

This is where stories come from. More and more, however, large corporate boards – like that of Lee Enterprises – view cost-cutting measures as more important than reporting.

That’s why we get young editors brought in, like we saw at the Missoulian, and I’m not sure that helps us.

There was a lot of talk about the chem-trail editorial recently, and I guess that’s one aspect of this problem that I’m getting at.

Mainly, though, we’re ditching talented reporters and then not replacing them. When we do replace them it’s usually with some out-of-state cub reporter that’s just passing through.

They’re thinking more about the next market than long-term consequences. They don’t have the memory of state issues to give us an accurate story, either.

So it’s frustrating. Will this problem end? I don’t think so.

The world is changing. Just the other day it was reported that online shopping was higher than in-store shopping for Black Friday.

Maybe it’ll take 10 years, but stores will close. Distribution centers will get larger. Lives will change.

If we make it that far. The world is not in a good place right now, and we’re sending more troops into Iraq.

Perhaps people like Devlin are glad to be done with all of that nonsense. I can’t blame ‘em.

What are the Issues?

What the hell am I supposed to run on in 2016 when I decide to run for the legislature again?

Beats me.

There are no major party issues, that I can see.

I’ve talked about this problem before, blamed it on the National Democrats. It’s a presidential election year and since we have a primary the top candidates will say whatever the hell they need to say.

How does that help me?

I suppose the Montana Democrats won’t come up with platform issues until next summer, a few months before the general election.

Is it any wonder they can’t take the state?

My God, the level of disorganization with this group is appalling.

Election 2016 started in November 2014 you dolts – wake up!

Candidates need issues, especially legislative candidates. I’d like to run on some infrastructure things myself, but what are they?

I will credit some of the newspapers with profiling infrastructure a bit this week, before the tumult broke out, but so what?

It seems there is no plan and right now Bullock is trying to fund as much of the failed 2015 infrastructure bill with discretionary spending.

That’s of course when he can be bothered to be in the state at all.

Jesus, someone tell that man to get in his desk and get to work. If he needs to hit the road, stop raising money out of state and start going to small communities to listen to problems.

But Bullock’s a Wall Street Democrat and raising money’s in his blood.

One consequence of this is that the 2017 Legislature will go to Republicans. Bullock will spend yet another session in defense-mode because of it.

Who does that benefit?

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Forward>>

What Can Bullock Do to Rally Ahead?

Loyalty and Leverage in Montana Politics

Sex in Montana Politics

Montana Sexual Politics in the 2000s

Montana Sexual Politics in the 2010s

Some Thoughts on the Montana Tumult

Lt. Gov

UM Troubles All…the…Time

The Decaying Montana Press

What are the Issues?

MT Book 7

Montana Blog

Popular Posts

Categories

Archives

My MT History Books

My Montana Novels

My Montana Short Fiction

What Can Bullock Do to Rally Ahead?

Loyalty and Leverage in Montana Politics

Sex in Montana Politics

Montana Sexual Politics in the 2000s

​Montana Sexual Politics in the 2010s

Some Thoughts on the Montana Tumult

​Lt. Gov

​UM Troubles All…the…Time

The Decaying Montana Press

What are the Issues?

MT Book 7

​Montana Blog

​Popular Posts

Categories

Archives

​My MT History Books

My Montana Novels

My Montana Short Fiction

Montana Sexual Politics in the 2010s

Lt. Gov

UM Troubles All…the…Time

Montana Blog

Popular Posts

My MT History Books