The Shady MT Capitol
I’m running for the Montana Legislature as a Democrat.
The Montana Democratic Party hates this.
They won’t help me. In fact, they attack me.
We’ve seen that for months on Twitter as the Party brass sics their out-of-state paid staffers on me.
Fake twitter accounts, yeah…I’ve had three directed at me.
All this because I’m a poverty-ridden history major from Missoula that’s not afraid to speak his mind.
Few in the state are as brave as I.
At this point, however, why stop?
Why stop attacking Bullock? Why stop pointing out the incompetence of Democrats?
Hell, it’s not like it’s gonna cause ‘em to lose – they do that already.
Oh, that’s right – winning the legislature isn’t really important…just the governor’s office.
I’m so sick of that point of view.
Keeping incompetent and corrupt Steve Bullock in office isn’t going to benefit me.
In fact, that’s going to keep the same “leadership” in place that’s currently attacking me and prohibiting my access to the Voter Access Network.
So I’ll keep attacking.
There’s no reason for me not to.
It’s the only leverage I have.
You see, I have a platform and people around the state know that. They know I’ll print what they tell me.
They like that.
So please, keep your stories coming. So long as the Montana Democratic Party continues to play in the weeds, I’ll point it out.
We cannot have corruption, nepotism, and shady dealings. We cannot.
The Montana Democratic Party hates this.
They won’t help me. In fact, they attack me.
We’ve seen that for months on Twitter as the Party brass sics their out-of-state paid staffers on me.
Fake twitter accounts, yeah…I’ve had three directed at me.
All this because I’m a poverty-ridden history major from Missoula that’s not afraid to speak his mind.
Few in the state are as brave as I.
At this point, however, why stop?
Why stop attacking Bullock? Why stop pointing out the incompetence of Democrats?
Hell, it’s not like it’s gonna cause ‘em to lose – they do that already.
Oh, that’s right – winning the legislature isn’t really important…just the governor’s office.
I’m so sick of that point of view.
Keeping incompetent and corrupt Steve Bullock in office isn’t going to benefit me.
In fact, that’s going to keep the same “leadership” in place that’s currently attacking me and prohibiting my access to the Voter Access Network.
So I’ll keep attacking.
There’s no reason for me not to.
It’s the only leverage I have.
You see, I have a platform and people around the state know that. They know I’ll print what they tell me.
They like that.
So please, keep your stories coming. So long as the Montana Democratic Party continues to play in the weeds, I’ll point it out.
We cannot have corruption, nepotism, and shady dealings. We cannot.
As you well know, the political appointment process is rife with cronyism.
No one furthers this corrupt cronyism more than Steve Bullock.
Consider the appointment of DeeAnn Cooney as judge.
First, one of the members of the Judicial Nominating Committee is Hal Harper. Harper and Mike Cooney are long-time legislative and political buddies.
Guess who strongly supported DeeAnn's nomination? Yep – Harper.
DeeAnn was the least qualified person among those whose names were passed on to the governor.
In fact, as far as I’ve been told…DeeAnn has never tried a case in court. She has no criminal law experience!
On top of this her law practice wasn't very successful. I mean, if it was…why would you apply for a few attorney jobs or other appointments over the years?
Of course, Hal Harper is no stranger to political cronyism.
When Bullock was Attorney General, he gave Harper's wife a “temporary” state job as a crime analyst.
She had no background for that position whatsoever.
Legally, temporary state jobs expire in a year and are intended to fill critical positions immediately.
I know this because I held a temporary position once, one that lasted three months.
Well, Harper's wife certainly didn't fit the bill. Moreover, the AG's office ‘gamed’ the temporary job system so that Harper's wife could be a “semi-permanent” temp and serve more than one temporary term.
Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney also is no stranger to the temporary job system.
He was given a $72,000 temp job at DOA back in 2006 when was still a legislator.
How could that have been a critical, emergency hire if Cooney couldn't even report for work when the legislature was in session?
Once that job became permanent, guess who got it?
Do you think the Democrats will let me use the Voter Access Network now?
Yeah, probably not.
Here’s another question:
Should I reveal this information…or should I leave it covered up?
Is it your right to know the shady, behind-the-scenes dealing going on up at the Capitol?
I guess only you can answer that question, though I hope your party loyalties don’t get in the way.
At what point do you speak out against wrongs within government?
Only when it’s the other party? If so, what does that say about you?
We have this idea in Montana that a handshake is good enough, that a man’s word is his bond.
It gets to the concept of honor.
Well, do Montana Democrats have honor anymore?
I hope many ask themselves this tonight as they head to Helena for their dinner.
I went last year. I will not be going this year.
I just can’t take a night of singing our praises and patting ourselves on the back when beneath the surface, things are rotten.
Will things change?
I’m not confident, but I still hope they do.
