Montana Jones

Good Government

Sometimes your state government does something right. This post is a kudo to those that helped pass House Bill 531.

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/05/06/news/10cameras.txt

Gov. Brian Schweitzer Tuesday signed into a law a bill that bans the use of red-light cameras in Montana

Labels: bill, good, government, governor, House Bill 531, law, politics

Posted by: Montana Jones / 12:21 PM 1 comments

Tea Party

I have a horrible urge to go to a local tea party with a giant banner that reads:

"But apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"

Someone stop me before I go get my ass kicked.

Labels: humor, Monty Python, politics, taxes, tea party, video, youtube

Posted by: Montana Jones / 11:30 AM 0 comments

Representing the west

Dad:

It's that whole attitude of thinking people need to be told what to do.

Me:

Now that's an east coast idea if I ever heard one. Wouldn't fly in Montana. The western myth is too strong here. People move here for the independence and freedom. You don't find many people in western states that tolerate being told what to do. You know, that is probably what is wrong with the country right now. When is the last time we had a president from a western state?

Dad:

Bush is from Texas.

Me:

That may be his address, but he does not embody the western myth. Both of the Bushes got their money and their status from the east coast.

Dad:

Reagan was from California.

Me:

Does California count as western?

Dad:

I'm not sure it does. At least it doesn't fit very well with the western myth that we have been talking about.

Me:

Carter was from the south. Where did Ford come from?

Dad:

Midwest. Illinois or Michigan. One of those.

Me:

And what about Nixon?

Dad:

California.

Me:

Makes sense. Have we ever had a president from a western state?

Dad:

Well, LBJ was another Texican.

Me:

Kennedy was east coast.

Dad:

I think Truman and Roosevelt were midwest. You may have to go all the way back to Teddy Roosevelt to find a president that embodied the western myth.

Me:

Yeah, he lived up to it. I think that is the root of all the troubles this country is having. Belief in personal independence and strength and freedom are missing from our government. I think the world would be a better place if a Montanan were to become president.

Dad:

Schweitzer might decide to run someday.

Me:

Hmmm. Well, a western president would still be an improvement.

Labels: conversation, dad, history, politics, president, western myth

Posted by: Montana Jones / 8:13 AM 0 comments

That legislature

Me:

So is your staff all lined up for the summer? Everyone ready to go?

BP:

Oh, let me tell you. I had everything ready and all lined up and then, well… You see, K_ works as a _ for the legislature and the damn legislature didn't do their jobs. They have to go to this special session now.

Me:

Yeah, I saw that.

BP:

I haven't heard from K_ yet, but his schedule may be shot. He is so angry. I am angry.

Me:

Everyone is.

BP:

All they had to do was work together and get the job done and they couldn't. And now they have to go do a special session because they were more interested in posing and posturing than in getting the work done. It makes me so mad. All of them; democrats and republicans. None of them could work together.

Me:

I have some opinions about that myself.

BP:

And it is going to cost the taxpayers $37,000 or something to do this special session and no one knows yet when it will be.

Me:

It's in the Montana constitution that the legislature is supposed to make a budget. It's the law. I think the governor should have 'em all arrested and make them finish the budget in jail.

BP:

I think the special session shouldn't happen. At least not on our dime. Make them do coffee roundtables until they have the budget done. Make them do it with Email. Make them finish the job at their own expense and don't let them get together again until it is done and ready to sign. They should do it all with Email, send as many Emails as it takes to get their work done. Just send that damn budget back and forth until they grow up enough to do their job.

Me:

That's a good idea.

BP:

But anyway, my staff is on hold until I hear from K_ about what his schedule will be. And I don't know when he is going to call. He was really looking forward to getting out here this summer and now who knows. And all because of that legislature, it affects us you know.

Labels: budget, business, conversation, governor, legislature, Montana, opinion, politics, special session, staff, work

Posted by: Montana Jones / 8:55 AM 0 comments

Voting is a waste of time

Why should we even bother casting a vote if the initiative we vote for is altered after the fact?

Labels: links, missoulian.com, news, politics, voting

Posted by: Montana Jones / 9:32 AM 0 comments

Happy Presidents Day

Dear President Bush,

Happy Presidents Day!

Yes, it is that time of year again. That joyous occasion for sending Presidents Day cards, eating chocolate presidents heads, and pretending for one day out of the year that we actually like our relatives and our president. Did you get my card? I sent it the other week to make sure it would get to you in time. It's the red one with white lace that says "I [heart] president" on it. For some reason all the cards at the store were red and frilly with hearts and stuff so I had to write "president" with my black magic marker. That black smudge down in the corner is where I censored out the little naked kid trying to shoot your heart with an arrow. I didn't want you to think I was sending a terrorist threat or anything. It really wasn't the best choice of cards for you but my selection was limited. I'm sure this is just an oversight by the Hallmark Company and next year we will get better, more patriotic Presidents Day cards.

I know a lot of people that completely forget about this holiday until they discover they have a three day weekend. Then they usually blow it by getting drunk on Sunday night and don't bother to send you so much as a thank you note for all your hard work. In fact I remember having a conversation last year with someone I thought was super intelligent, she had a Ph.D. and everything. Not only did she not celebrate Presidents Day or send you a thank you note, but she didn't even vote. Can you believe it? Some smartypants trying to tell me that voting was a waste of time because there is no way to know what a candidate will do or who they will represent once in office. My friend said that politics was so rife with dishonesty and hypocrisy and that every candidate would go back on their promises, lie and screw up somehow. She said there was no point to voting because no matter whom you vote for you still get a screw up that wont represent you in Washington.

To be honest, I didn't vote for you either. But at least I did my patriotic duty. Besides, I think she might be right; Ralph Nader would probably have screwed up just as bad as you have, just in different ways is all. If only Ross Perot would run again. But hey, Presidents Day is a good day to put all that behind us.

So best of luck to you in convincing people to believe you when you give speeches and stuff. Since it is your big holiday and all I hope you get to take a break from all the politics and screwing up that you do. You can count on me to keep reminding people to send Presidents Day cards and to do their patriotic duty of voting. I hate to think of what would happen if we put the wrong screw up in office.

Happy Presidents Day and don't forget...

I [heart] president.

Montana Jones

Labels: cards, holiday, patriotic, politics, president, presidents day

Posted by: Montana Jones / 9:21 AM 0 comments