If you are like a lot of Montanans, your primary healthcare provider is an advanced practice clinician, not a doctor. But under Montana law that same clinician may not be able to provide an abortion, a safe and common medical procedure. (more…) Continue Reading →
Supreme Court
Recent Posts
Opinion: Forward Montana works to rekindle democracy
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In a national survey of 4,000 high school and college students and 100 in-depth interviews conducted by political science professors Jennifer Lawless and Richard Fox, young Americans were found to feel completely alienated from politics. In their book “Running from Office,” Lawless and Fox report that the mean-spirited, dysfunctional political system that now characterizes American politics has wrought long-term, deeply-embedded damage on U.S. democracy and its youngest citizens. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, Chuck Tooley, Forward Montana, Neil Gorsuch, Supreme Court
Montana Viewpoint: Reflections on a futile filibuster
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The recent attempt by Senate Democrats to keep Neil Gorsuch off the Supreme Court puzzles me, largely because the results were predictable, and even Democratic senators should have been able to see that. First, the tactic the Democrats used, the filibuster, has never been successful in defeating a nominee for associate justice of the Supreme Court. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, Neil Gorsuch, President Trump, Supreme Court, U.S. Senate
Parents in Crow reservation death still seeking justice
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Since the death of their son Steven Bearcrane-Cole on the Crow Indian Reservation in 2005, Cletus and Earline Cole have fought for the justice they feel their son deserves. They continue to believe that there was compelling evidence of murder, and that his death was never investigated properly by federal agents in charge of dealing with serious crimes on the reservation. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Montana, News, Bobby Holcomb, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Cletus and Earline Cole, Crown Indian Reservation, FBI, Jean Bearcrane
Montana Viewpoint: Trumped—in spades
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Well, the election is over, the dust has sort of settled, and the most obvious post-mortem on it is that political pundits didn’t have a clue as to how it would turn out. During the primaries Trump was dead meat. How could he win against all those qualified Republican candidates? OK, he won that primary, but if he continues to say outlandish things people will get wise to him and his support will plummet. OK, he won the nomination, but he can’t possibly win the election. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, Donald Trump, Republican Party, Supreme Court
Montana Viewpoint: It’s time to ‘un-rig’ the system
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If we are to judge from the supporters of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders it would appear that if there is anything that the American public agrees on is that the system—political and economic—is rigged against the little guy. And I agree. If there is anything to be learned from the recent history of corporate greed and the economic harm suffered by Americans because of that greed, whether from jobs lost through trade agreements or homes lost through mortgage fraud, it is that corporate America has the interests of corporate America at heart, and none other. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, Citizens United, Supreme Court, Wall Street
Opinion: Time to cull the herd of bipedal mammals
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Being somewhat familiar with the intricacies of United States’ public land law and the extent of the federal authority to manage said property, including the wildlife therein, I believe a ready solution is available to the increasing conflicts within Yellowstone National Park. The action proposed here would be the systematic and routine culling of the bipedal mammals which seasonally invade Yellowstone National Park, also referred to as tourists. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Diversions, Opinion, National Park Service, Supreme Court, U.S. Constitution, Yellowstone National Park
Opinion: Power to the people? It will take some work
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“The people,” said a farmer’s wife in a Minnesota country store while
her husband was buying a new post-hole digger,
“The people,” she went on, “will stick around a long time. “The people run the works, only they don’t know it yet — you wait and see.”
— Carl Sandburg in “The People, Yes” (1936) —
The people running things. Powerful thought. But, is it just a nice sentiment or could it be a reality? Is it a genuine possibility, or just rhetorical candy for the masses, distracting them from the harsh reality that money rules the roost in America? Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, Carl Sandburg, Citizens United, Evan Barrett, Great Depression, Supreme Court
David Crisp: America, Trump style, a frightening place
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Our long national nightmare must finally come to an end. It is time to impeach President Trump and put a stop to his failed presidency. Sorry. Just practicing. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, Donald Trump, First Amendment, New York Times vs. Sullivan, Supreme Court
Montana Viewpoint: Ammon Bundy and a separate reality
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I have a friend who believes that reality is a set of mutually agreed upon illusions. That’s a deep thought, and maybe deeper than necessary, but it does bring up a basic fact of society, namely that we tend to associate with people who agree with us on important issues; sports teams, politics, religion … you get my drift. (more…) Continue Reading →