tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-101455842009-02-21T03:41:04.628-07:00missives from the Montana UndergroundSallyTnoreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1159854965430018942006-10-02T22:49:00.000-07:002006-10-02T23:30:53.086-07:00

On Initiatives:Elected Judge Dirk Sandefur has declared voters stupid in his ruling that petition signature gatherers 'manipulated' voters to sign CI-97, CI-98, and I-154. Keep that in mind in the next Dist. 8(D) judicial election. As a signer of all three petitions, brought around by local, long-time residents, I certainly will.On education spending:What are we to make of the $1 billion budget

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1159495592096376372006-09-28T18:52:00.000-07:002006-09-29T22:19:45.856-07:00

Is there something in the air? From lowly bloggers like Matt & Wulfie to the near-hallowed halls of Congress, the Democrats are cracking up like tweakers coming to the end of a four-day run.Can't you see it? It's that haunted look, that blithering rage, that reality slip't from his clawing grasp...they see conspiracies everywhere!Let's compare! From: Senate OKs Terror Detainee BillSo sayeth the

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1158377131058300882006-09-15T20:23:00.000-07:002006-09-15T20:27:11.463-07:00

From WA Times, 9-15:Four Republicans defy Bush over detaineesso, according to John Warner, the truth is that the Supreme Court is in charge of this nation?But most Senate Republicans, including the rest of the committee's members, support the administration's view that Mr. Warner's bill would limit intelligence gathering and expose classified information to terrorists. They have vowed to fight it

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1157163604894273042006-09-01T19:17:00.000-07:002006-09-29T22:20:32.563-07:00

Have Democrats gone bananas? Or does the Tribune, perennial liberal shill, simply edit to maintain the illusion? Might be hard to say at the national level (since national AP stories are initiated by the New York Times or, as some suspect, the Democratic National Committee's DC office), but it's obvious as a Howard Dean howl at the local level.Take Montana's US Senate race. Please.The media bias

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1156903123644999402006-08-29T17:24:00.000-07:002006-08-29T20:00:24.276-07:00

Have you noticed that Democrats huff about national security, and wax indignant that those who denounce their treasonous remarks, speeches, interviews are questioning their 'patriotism?' Yet what, exactly, have they done to promote national security in the last 5 years?The Patriot Act? No...they made that all about you (paranoia rocks!). Reid crowed over 'killing' the Act. The ACLU has waged a

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1155609465349059972006-08-14T19:35:00.000-07:002006-08-14T19:37:45.363-07:00

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1155177551717479792006-08-09T18:52:00.000-07:002006-08-09T19:40:15.286-07:00

...I pant breathlessly as I run by...Know the adoring legions(okay, maybe just La Mayor...& she's probably ill-impressed by my tendentious wit),and maybe David, who keeps track of us Griffles' bloggers & area events(dude. seriously. thanks for caring)have, no doubt, missed me.Well, don't blink.You might miss me again.Progress on The Book (Cable7 @ 7). Gawd, I love talking to myself!Just hope it

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1152753497133394572006-07-12T16:42:00.000-07:002006-07-12T18:36:49.430-07:00

...to the ACLU's suit to stop the Dawson execution.(bg)In case you missed it, two years ago, convicted killer David Dawson asked to end the appeals process and let the state carry out its appointed duty. Recently, he rejected his defense lawyers as insane when they refused to abide by his decision. The Montana Supreme Court has agreed with him, but, like Freddy Krueger, these lawyers keep coming

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1151630314072642332006-06-29T18:10:00.000-07:002006-06-29T18:18:34.086-07:00

don't worry, we'll defend your 'rights'...

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1149554807863681292006-06-05T17:33:00.000-07:002006-06-05T17:51:22.823-07:00

Oops. A whole month got away from me. I've got good excuses--I do! An online auction to build, spring cleaning, gardening, a family reunion...well, anyway, in late April, I posted some thoughts on the Real Energy Crisis (aka illegal immigration) on my other blog. The maddening 'debate' that's continued for, lo, these many months finally spurred me to throw a comment at the White House. Sometimes

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1146020576581002702006-04-25T19:59:00.000-07:002006-04-25T20:04:34.583-07:00

I've been feeling frustrated and discouraged. So many ideas are wandering my brain, but nothing is able to make it coherently to paper.I think the malaise may be due to my allergies acting up, or the spring flu bug chasing me around. Or maybe because of work stresses, or a lack of organization for my projects. I step back, recreate my writing space in the garage, get more rest, refuel body and

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1145510955861698162006-04-19T19:26:00.000-07:002006-04-19T22:51:14.746-07:00

So today's Trib publishes an op-ed piece by one Robyn Blumner, of the St Petersburg Times *, entitled As long as we're discussing good ideas... (or, as originally published, Some simple ways to build a better country) lauding the Service Employees International Union's "Since Sliced Bread" contest.Blumner's column was LOL, especially when she went off into her utopian fantasies...ah, if only she

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1144208180159301722006-04-04T19:50:00.000-07:002006-04-04T20:39:00.133-07:00

Speaking of lousy reporting...This article, Baucus says forest sell-off not needed for rural program, reads like a press-release penned by Mighty Max hisself. Especially since Max Baucus's grand plan isn't revealed until halfway through the article (or, in the Trib rendition, the last line). "The Democratic plan would withhold 3 percent upfront of federal payments for goods and services delivered

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1144115435788991102006-04-03T17:58:00.000-07:002006-04-04T19:50:15.910-07:00

As newspapers go, I'd say the Great Falls Tribune is swiftly becoming a laughingstock. My biggest irritation with the paper (as with most of the antique media) is the selective reporting. The Trib long ago passed the point where garbled or non-existent reports could be written off as merely incompetent journalism. Case in point: Electric City PowerThis is the utility set up by the City,

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1144111550965969542006-04-03T17:11:00.000-07:002006-04-03T17:45:50.990-07:00

Ok. Grand blog-experiment. I'd like to make this a 'thread' for comments about the Great Falls Tribune and a place to share knowledge of 'the rest of the story,' or even announce news that went unreported.I know, I know, the newsier blogs do this already and much better, but I just wanted an open thread for local news, rumors, and press releases. Great Falls bloggers are cordially invited to

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1142305444526079322006-03-13T18:51:00.000-07:002006-03-13T22:28:17.946-07:00

It's been one of them days...I've been so busy on the book that I've neglected my inner smart-ass, so here I am to see if I can toss some firecrackers...I'm about fed up with the Trib's obsession with Abramoff. If only they'd spend even half that energy on the lobbyists/activists who are setting policy for Great Falls & for Montana!Montana Advocacy Program: They have decreed the true meaning of

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1141364916629010662006-03-02T21:54:00.000-07:002006-03-02T23:06:53.643-07:00

I get a chuckle (and some serious inspiration) most days from Letters to the Editor.For instance, the Trib published a letter from Rick Cottingham of Helena on Feb-25-06, bemoaning the eeeevil Bush. First off, a quick google reveals that Mr Cottingham works for Montana DEQ, apparently in water. And Mr Cottingham's "This Isn't Montana" was published in Helena's Independent Record on 2-12-06 (

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1140665089681903172006-02-22T19:41:00.000-07:002006-02-22T20:26:20.343-07:00

Been so busy scribbling that I haven't had the energy to gripe and snipe (God, I love writing!), except on Ecityblog & mtpolitics. Ecity's really the place to go for witty analysis and reasoned argument in this town.* Check out Commissioner Joe Briggs's response to the MAFB 'crash zone' issue. You'll sure realize how half-assed the Trib has become.But I digress.A couple of recent LtoE's in the

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1138598430239634662006-01-29T21:36:00.000-07:002006-01-29T22:21:32.076-07:00

Notes from the Polejewski Persecution:January 28, 2006, Pam Polejewski enters into plea agreement.Animal abuse case ends in $3,000 fineThought this an interesting fact:Polejewski bought land at 77 Wexford Lane in 1998 to create a no-kill animal refuge. But her good intentions clashed with neighbors who repeatedly asked the county to help control the noise from the barking dogs.map to 77 Wexford

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1137996731788071432006-01-22T21:40:00.000-07:002006-01-22T23:14:38.193-07:00

Re: A GF Trib front page feature titled, Disaster jobs emerging as a gold mine for BlackfeetDespite beginning with a lead that should make ya cringe:After making good money this summer as a wildland firefighter, Jeffrey Skunkcap expected to stay home this winter and collect unemployment....the article goes on to describe how the whole Reservation came together to supply and train workers for FEMA

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1137976256981961432006-01-22T17:02:00.000-07:002006-01-22T17:35:17.213-07:00

...but relevant in light of recent Schweitzer moves to establish a civil rights council and global warming panel. Did you notice how none of the news reports included information on whether these advisory groups are volunteer, and, if not, who pays for these meddlers?The people may never know, because the old news is that Kaiser Schweitzer line-item vetoed the spending accountability requirements

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1137654734589723402006-01-18T23:39:00.000-07:002006-01-19T00:12:14.606-07:00

In this story about how Baucus won't support Alito's confirmation, the elder statesman rather lamely regurgitates the Kennedy/Shumer/Biden smears. Max is ever the proud toady for the asses of the east. On the plus side, Maxie inadvertently gave the Republicans a great bumper sticker for 2008:"He's just not right for Montana, he's just not right for America."Yup, that about sums up Baucus, even in

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1137652735066860842006-01-18T22:51:00.000-07:002006-01-18T23:38:55.076-07:00

Headline:Face transplant patient uses new lips to smoke

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1137125680284242352006-01-12T20:29:00.000-07:002006-01-13T11:09:38.566-07:00

So the Trib thinks John Lawton, dauntless City Manager, deserves a front page feature to defend the purchase of his new $5,500 desk. $5,500. That's just the desk. Think about that as you pay your property tax. Please.GeeGuy did a little research & had some spot-on comments to offer, plus "masked & anonymous" added some hilarious observations & a bit of history, readily available & completely

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10145584.post-1136952266874936852006-01-10T19:59:00.000-07:002006-01-10T21:07:25.466-07:00

The case of Pamela Polejewski has really bothered me.She's the lady who operated a refuge of sorts west of town for unwanted animals, only to be arrested & charged with animal abuse after neighbor complaints. (She's also charged with assault on a police officer who went after her own dogs.) Incidentally, I do not know Ms Polejewski, but news accounts didn't reveal any horrific, intentional abuse

SallyTnoreply@blogger.com1