Before we get started tonight I’d like to point out a great story on an ongoing corruption scandal in Missoula that’s being swept under the rug.
It’s called Bad News Griz and I encourage you to give it a read – it’s disturbing.
Now, let’s get to our current problem. That revolves around business as usual in Montana…and it looks like nothing is changing there.
I’m talking about Election 2015 in Montana and the country.
One of the best places to get information on Montana 2015 elections is Montana NBC. They have all the state races listed there.
Bozeman
Early on, or at about 8:30 PM, we saw they had most of the Bozeman races tallied. It was clear that Bozeman was passing both it’s Hawthorne and Sacajawea school bonds, with 70% approval rates.
Belgrade also voted to approve funding for Ridge View Elementary.
The Bozeman Mayoral race wasn’t very close, with Cyndy Andrus taking 58% early to Brett Potter’s 42%.
Missoula
It looked like the Frenchtown school levy was quite close, with 52% approving of the measure.
For the City Council races the Missoulian had the headline early that progressives would be keeping the City Council.
Here’s how that breaks down, as all six seats were without incumbents running, save Ward 4:
The main change is seeing Patrick Weasel Head voted out in Ward 4. He was never voted in, as the City Council appointed him following Caitlin Copple’s abrupt resignation in January.
For the school bonds it looked like this at 8:45 PM:
So it looks like Missoulians are sending a mixed message. On the one hand they want students to have the facilities and tools they need. On the other they want to see Administration clean up its act, start acting accountable.
Will the schools listen?
I doubt it. Instead they’ll prime their guns, get the New York marketing firms working sooner, and come back in 2017 to get the job done, with even less accountability as to where the money’s going than this time (and there was none).
It’s called Bad News Griz and I encourage you to give it a read – it’s disturbing.
Now, let’s get to our current problem. That revolves around business as usual in Montana…and it looks like nothing is changing there.
I’m talking about Election 2015 in Montana and the country.
One of the best places to get information on Montana 2015 elections is Montana NBC. They have all the state races listed there.
Bozeman
Early on, or at about 8:30 PM, we saw they had most of the Bozeman races tallied. It was clear that Bozeman was passing both it’s Hawthorne and Sacajawea school bonds, with 70% approval rates.
Belgrade also voted to approve funding for Ridge View Elementary.
The Bozeman Mayoral race wasn’t very close, with Cyndy Andrus taking 58% early to Brett Potter’s 42%.
Missoula
It looked like the Frenchtown school levy was quite close, with 52% approving of the measure.
For the City Council races the Missoulian had the headline early that progressives would be keeping the City Council.
Here’s how that breaks down, as all six seats were without incumbents running, save Ward 4:
- Ward 1: Heidi West at 64%
- Ward 2: Harlan Wells at 61%
- Ward 3: Gwen Jones at 79%
- Ward 4: John Dibari at 55%
- Ward 5: Julie Armstrong at 57%
- Ward 6: Michelle Cares at 59%
The main change is seeing Patrick Weasel Head voted out in Ward 4. He was never voted in, as the City Council appointed him following Caitlin Copple’s abrupt resignation in January.
For the school bonds it looked like this at 8:45 PM:
- High School: 51% No
- Elementary School: 56% Yes
So it looks like Missoulians are sending a mixed message. On the one hand they want students to have the facilities and tools they need. On the other they want to see Administration clean up its act, start acting accountable.
Will the schools listen?
I doubt it. Instead they’ll prime their guns, get the New York marketing firms working sooner, and come back in 2017 to get the job done, with even less accountability as to where the money’s going than this time (and there was none).
National
There was a lot of chatter on Twitter about the Kentucky governor’s race…as if anyone had been following this before.
In addition to raising millions in dark $ @GovernorBullock's record as #DGA Chair now includes losing #KYGOV race #DarkMoneyBullock #mtpol
— MT Republican Party (@MTGOP) November 4, 2015
C'mon @GovernorBullock you had one job tonight: Win #KYGOV. You couldn't even manage that. #DGA #mtpol
— MT Republican Party (@MTGOP) November 4, 2015
Yep, it’s a way to kick Bullock in the balls and the Montana GOPers were enjoying themselves to the utmost.
I particularly enjoyed seeing Matthew Monforton come out, as well as Mike Miller. Both are likely working pro-bono as their party has no money.
Jeff Essman was out, salvaging what self-respect he still has. Aaron Flint was working the ol’ #mtpol feed for Gianforte.
Oh yeah – Republicans were riled-up and excited. And why not? They’d won a few city council seats, maybe a mayoral position. That’s big stuff. I’m sure the donors will come to the rescue.
No, there’s really not a whole lot for Bullock to be worried about. He’s still out there raising a shit-ton of money, however, and will likely continue to do so.
Besides the Kentucky race, Mississippi’s Republican governor managed to hang on against the truck driver the Dems threw at him.
Ohio rejected legalized marijuana, but you know the dominoes are setup to fall, just as they did with gay marriage. Soon everyone will be smoking pot outside (not just in the back alley behind the dumpster).
That said, the Montana Supreme Court is ruling on medical marijuana in Helena tomorrow morning, or maybe Thursday morning…I can’t really remember.
I sure hope they don’t shoot this industry down. Does the $120 million black market Montana marijuana industry in the state need anymore help?
Eventually we’ll legalize marijuana in Montana. Sensible legislators will work with the DPHHS to craft rules and regulations and an oversight body.
We’ll mainly morph the current medical marijuana bureaucracy into legal marijuana. Hell, maybe we’ll even use the old State Liquor Warehouse for some of the stuff, though that’s taken up by Print Services now.
Anyways, it’s coming.
I particularly enjoyed seeing Matthew Monforton come out, as well as Mike Miller. Both are likely working pro-bono as their party has no money.
Jeff Essman was out, salvaging what self-respect he still has. Aaron Flint was working the ol’ #mtpol feed for Gianforte.
Oh yeah – Republicans were riled-up and excited. And why not? They’d won a few city council seats, maybe a mayoral position. That’s big stuff. I’m sure the donors will come to the rescue.
No, there’s really not a whole lot for Bullock to be worried about. He’s still out there raising a shit-ton of money, however, and will likely continue to do so.
Besides the Kentucky race, Mississippi’s Republican governor managed to hang on against the truck driver the Dems threw at him.
Ohio rejected legalized marijuana, but you know the dominoes are setup to fall, just as they did with gay marriage. Soon everyone will be smoking pot outside (not just in the back alley behind the dumpster).
That said, the Montana Supreme Court is ruling on medical marijuana in Helena tomorrow morning, or maybe Thursday morning…I can’t really remember.
I sure hope they don’t shoot this industry down. Does the $120 million black market Montana marijuana industry in the state need anymore help?
Eventually we’ll legalize marijuana in Montana. Sensible legislators will work with the DPHHS to craft rules and regulations and an oversight body.
We’ll mainly morph the current medical marijuana bureaucracy into legal marijuana. Hell, maybe we’ll even use the old State Liquor Warehouse for some of the stuff, though that’s taken up by Print Services now.
Anyways, it’s coming.
Conclusion
Not too much to get excited about tonight unless you follow politics closely.
I’m disappointed in a lot of things:
What do you do in the face of this?
If you’re like most younger people, most people that aren’t in the system, and most people that aren’t profiting off this corruption and collusion, then you’re damn pissed!
Besides that there’s nothing much you can do.
You don’t control this country. Hell, look at these abysmal voting numbers. In my Ward we had a turnout of about 1,000. Thousands of people can’t even be bothered to vote.
So what point is there in any of this? The corrupt assholes will continue to laugh at us in their smoke-filled rooms and our lives will only get worse, more abysmal.
Why do we put up with this?
Well, what can you do? People don’t vote!
Maybe it wouldn’t matter anyways. We know nationally all the votes have to be tallied in a central location so they can rig the count.
What hope is there at all?
Mainly, you have to realize these 3 things:
That’s about all you can do. So watch and wait and remain vigilant.
Thomas Jefferson told us that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Make ‘ol Tom proud – watch, wait, and be ready.
Not too much to get excited about tonight unless you follow politics closely.
I’m disappointed in a lot of things:
- When Bullock is reelected next year business as usual will continue. We’ll have the same crappy compromise policies that create terrible programs like the Montana Medicaid expansion. Check out MT Cowturd’s comments to see what “Medicaid slamming” is.
- The reason for these crappy compromises is because home-grown sell-out Max Baucus decided it’d be better to join his cronies to vote out single payer healthcare, effectively doing in the American people.
- He did this because he cares more about the bankers that scratch his back than he does about you and your family. In that regard he’s no different than Marc Racicot, another Montana native that sold out to the global corporate interests.
What do you do in the face of this?
If you’re like most younger people, most people that aren’t in the system, and most people that aren’t profiting off this corruption and collusion, then you’re damn pissed!
Besides that there’s nothing much you can do.
You don’t control this country. Hell, look at these abysmal voting numbers. In my Ward we had a turnout of about 1,000. Thousands of people can’t even be bothered to vote.
So what point is there in any of this? The corrupt assholes will continue to laugh at us in their smoke-filled rooms and our lives will only get worse, more abysmal.
Why do we put up with this?
Well, what can you do? People don’t vote!
Maybe it wouldn’t matter anyways. We know nationally all the votes have to be tallied in a central location so they can rig the count.
What hope is there at all?
Mainly, you have to realize these 3 things:
- Keep getting up each morning and going to work. Save up your money and stock up your food.
- Keep your head down and wait and watch. Those in charge will fuck up bad, as those in charge have always done throughout history.
- Support whoever rides in to rid us of them. Support them 110%, and even better, pretend you’re going to support and help those in charge. When those in charge come to your house looking to hide turn them in, and to the same authorities they started to try and turn against us.
That’s about all you can do. So watch and wait and remain vigilant.
Thomas Jefferson told us that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Make ‘ol Tom proud – watch, wait, and be ready.
