Special Note: This is the 250th post on this Montana blog
Zinke and Juneau
Is Denise Juneau running for the U.S. House?
That’s all the talk on social media and on the TV news.
In case you don’t know, Denise Juneau is the director of the Office of Public Instruction. That means she’s the boss of the schools, in effect.
I’m not sure what her chances against Zinke would be…if she decides to run.
Yep, she’s not in it yet. That won’t stop me from speculating, however.
What’s more, it won’t stop me from compiling the most useful resources for our underpaid and underappreciated media.
Don’t get me started on the national media’s steamrolling over Bernie Sanders in favor of Clinton. Was Joe Biden really the last wall in her way?
Thankfully our media in Montana isn’t so corporate-controlled that it jumps to conclusions when the money tells them.
Instead they usually miss the story, under-report it, or get things wrong.
Oh well. Maybe these sources will help.
That’s all the talk on social media and on the TV news.
In case you don’t know, Denise Juneau is the director of the Office of Public Instruction. That means she’s the boss of the schools, in effect.
I’m not sure what her chances against Zinke would be…if she decides to run.
Yep, she’s not in it yet. That won’t stop me from speculating, however.
What’s more, it won’t stop me from compiling the most useful resources for our underpaid and underappreciated media.
Don’t get me started on the national media’s steamrolling over Bernie Sanders in favor of Clinton. Was Joe Biden really the last wall in her way?
Thankfully our media in Montana isn’t so corporate-controlled that it jumps to conclusions when the money tells them.
Instead they usually miss the story, under-report it, or get things wrong.
Oh well. Maybe these sources will help.
Resources on Denise Juneau
Biographical Info
You can find the usual biographic information on Denise Juneau’s Wikipedia page.
Another good source for biographic information on Juneau is this 2012 Montana article from the Nation.
State/Personal Website
Denise Juneau’s website consists of a blog that she updates about once or twice a week, though sometimes she has multiple posts each day.
I’m not sure if she writes this or if staff do, perhaps based on her notes or discussions with her.
I wonder how this state website will play into a possible campaign. Will Motl go after it as an unjust mouthpiece, one other candidates (Zinke) don’t have?
Well, Zinke has his House platform and whatever blog is associated with that. Whether he uses the options on the table that are available to him or not is his own choice.
Fundraising
If you’re interested in Denise Juneau’s fundraising history and past campaigns, check out Ballotpedia.
Vote Smart is another great website to see Denise Juneau’s industry fundraising and top contributors.
The Right’s Take
Missoula’s conservative radio talk show News Talk KGVO has 2 pages of posts on Denise Juneau, giving you a different perspective.
Koch-funded Media Trackers also has 2 pages of posts on Denise Juneau.
The Left’s Take
On the left, Montana Cowgirl has 3 pages of posts on Denise Juneau, though this is mainly party talking points.
Huffington Post has a few articles dating back to 2011 that deal with education in Montana and Denise Juneau.
You can see Denise Juneau’s 2015 State of Education Address on the MEA-MFT website.
Common Core
Zinke will hit Juneau hard on Common Core, as that’s a GOP issue and his financial backers fully expect him to support charter schools at the expense of state schools.
Why they think this strategy will win baffles me.
Back in the 80s the Montana Supreme Court ruled that education funding had to be adequate. I’m not sure it is and funding charter schools over public schools will create judicial backlash.
Maybe that’s the idea, as that’ll make the lawyers and consultants a shit-ton of money.
Courts and lawyers also kill efficiency and the ability to get things done quickly. When you’re charging by the hour this is great.
The Flathead Beacon had a good article on Common Core problems in Montana in April.
There are 9 comments and if I was one of the staff members working for Juneau – we know that Emilie Saunders will transition over to the campaign, if she hasn’t already – I’d start compiling these comments, and answers to them.
That’s where your speeches on this issue will come from.
Conclusion
Well, that’s what a quick search of Google revealed to me. I’m not going to go through all that information.
I’m not that interested in this race.
Sure, I think it’s great we have a woman running and I think it’s great we can have an Indian running. God knows we need to give more of our Indians a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Oh, and let's not discount the idea that Juneau is running just to drive up Indian turnout for Bullock. Could she be a sacrificial lamb for him?
It's an interesting thought, but how do you use it? The GOP could argue that, but it'd just cost them the Indian vote most likely. The argument also smells like BS to me.
Maybe my lack of interest also stems from past female performances. I’m just thinking of the devastating loss that our women have suffered in statewide races for national office.
Yeah, we haven’t done too well in the past.
I’m also convinced that the money will double-down on Zinke. They have a good lapdog they can tell what to do, and that’s worth investing in.
We’ll see what happens.
At this point I’m much more interested in getting that legislature, as this is where the most change for Montanans will be felt.
- First, it’s not my job;
- Next, Denise Juneau isn’t running for anything;
- Then, I’m not that interested in this race right now;
- Finally, I don’t care.
I’m not that interested in this race.
Sure, I think it’s great we have a woman running and I think it’s great we can have an Indian running. God knows we need to give more of our Indians a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Oh, and let's not discount the idea that Juneau is running just to drive up Indian turnout for Bullock. Could she be a sacrificial lamb for him?
It's an interesting thought, but how do you use it? The GOP could argue that, but it'd just cost them the Indian vote most likely. The argument also smells like BS to me.
Maybe my lack of interest also stems from past female performances. I’m just thinking of the devastating loss that our women have suffered in statewide races for national office.
Yeah, we haven’t done too well in the past.
I’m also convinced that the money will double-down on Zinke. They have a good lapdog they can tell what to do, and that’s worth investing in.
We’ll see what happens.
At this point I’m much more interested in getting that legislature, as this is where the most change for Montanans will be felt.
