Opinion

Recent Posts

Sales pitch too good to be true? Probably, it is

Crisp

My wife just retired, and I have turned 65, which makes us likely marks for professional scammers. Twice this year we have gone to presentations by people who offered to make our lives wealthier, happier and more rewarding. We’re still waiting. The first was a phone call inviting us to a sales pitch for new and improved attic fans and insulation. This drew my interest because the temperature in my attic office soars on summer afternoons and doesn’t cool off until long after the sun goes down. Continue Reading →

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Montana Viewpoint: Memories of Jessie O’Callaghan

Jim

Jessie O’Callaghan looked rougher than a cob when I first met her in 1976. It was at her house on Swamp Creek, near Trout Creek, Mont. She was about 70 years old, short and very heavy with unkempt grey hair, and dressed in what could have once passed as a flower print dress. She was sitting in her kitchen shelling peas. Her eyes were small and blue, encased in folds of skin, and their expression seemed to alternate between skepticism and joy. Continue Reading →

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Opinion: Counting down the Senate’s days of shame

EB

Tick, tick, tick. Today we are counting down on the Republican Senate’s days of shame. The GOP-led U.S. Senate is on a summer break. Count them: For 54 days, from July 14 to Sept. 6, both the House and Senate are on the longest summer break since those breaks were first established in the 1960s. (more…) Continue Reading →

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Opinion: Wyoming’s ‘clean coal’ plans stir false hopes

It’s no secret that the U.S. coal industry’s hopes of revival by exporting its product to Asia via West Coast ports—what Platts has called an “export or die” strategy—have been dashed by the structural decline in global coal markets. 
That’s why Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead’s recent announcement that a new “clean coal” technology partnership between his state and a Japanese consortium could open up plans for exports of Powder River Basin coal only stirs up false hopes. (more…) Continue Reading →

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Perhaps we should expect less sobriety in judges

Crisp

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court justice known to her fans as the Notorious RBG, has apologized to Donald Trump. He apologizes to no one. According to news reports, Ginsburg, 83, called Trump a “faker” and admonished him for failing to release his tax returns. She also said this to the New York Times: “I can’t imagine what this place would be—I can’t imagine what the country would be—with Donald Trump as our president. For the country, it could be four years. Continue Reading →

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Montana Viewpoint: Putting the nation over politics

Elliott

America’s elected legislators could get a lot done if the political parties just got out of the way. Over the past few decades certain politicians, political parties and independent political groups have planted and nurtured the trees of ideological hatred, and the American public harvests that bitter fruit. This is not doing anyone any good and it is time for it to stop. (more…) Continue Reading →

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Opinion: Red Lodge citizens left out in mayor selection

Schoenike

Tuesday night, our democratic principles took a blow in Red Lodge. In an overflowing City Council meeting, the vacant mayoral position and future direction of our city was decided by five city councilmen despite the requests of our citizens to hold a special election allowing us to decide who will serve us as mayor. (more…) Continue Reading →

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