Again within the previous days there was a slapstick comedy present about three goofy males whose steady bungling introduced laughs to tens of millions. It was known as “The Three Stooges.” Now, Montanans get their very own model, as three of the highest Republican politicians within the state bungle their means by means of what looks like poorly-scripted political vaudeville. However there’s nothing humorous about it as a result of the implications of their actions are so tragic.
Solely two weeks in the past Montanans have been subjected to a right-wing “I like weapons” act by Congressman Matt Rosendale. He trumpeted his assist for a invoice that may dismantle a long-standing minimal excise tax on firearms and ammunition saying it was “taxing” our Second Modification proper to bear arms. And my oh my, we will’t have that.
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The depth of ignorance exhibited by Rosendale was gorgeous since he appeared to not perceive that the tax was returned to the states for use for the conservation of our lands, waters, fish and wildlife. As a substitute, he needed to substitute cash from oil and gasoline improvement — an exercise that’s antithetical to the conservation of lands, waters, fish and wildlife. It’s honest to say his ill-fated transfer backfired spectacularly — not simply in Montana, however throughout the nation. If there was any humor in Rosendale’s debacle, it was watching his fellow right-wing supporters fleeing the invoice like rats leaping off a sinking ship.
To not be outdone, our junior senator, Steve Daines, needed to strut his second on the stage. And when he did, the consequence was nationwide condemnation for “fist-bumping” Texas senator Ted Cruz when the Republicans killed a invoice sponsored by Montana’s Democratic Senator Jon Tester that would offer billions in funding for veterans affected by sicknesses attributable to their deployments. That would come with cancers attributable to the notoriously poisonous “burn pits” in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, in addition to the panoply of debilitating results from the defoliant Agent Orange that continues to plague many Vietnam veterans.
Depart it to the flag-waving politicians who frequently throw their phony patriotism in our faces to be those to show their again on the veterans they so willingly ship to battle. Like Rosendale, Daines quickly came upon that his low-cost political theater blew up in his face, too. Once more, it wasn’t simply Montana’s veterans who rose up in indignation, it was a nationwide repudiation heaped upon Daines, Cruz, and their fellow Republicans for therefore callously disregarding the struggling veterans they endlessly declare to assist. Like a canine together with his tail tucked between his legs, Daines was pressured to reverse his blunder and vote to go the measure.
After which got here Governor Gianforte with a request to Montana’s Supreme Courtroom to overturn its 1999 choice that the Montana structure’s clearcut “proper of privateness” utilized to a girl’s choice whether or not or to not carry a being pregnant to time period. That is nothing wanting Gianforte pushing his spiritual beliefs upon the great folks of Montana and abandoning the structure he swore an oath to uphold.
What may very well be extra non-public than a girl’s proper to selected? Overturning Roe v. Wade by a right-wing spiritual majority on the U.S. Supreme Courtroom doesn’t overturn the Montana structure’s proper to privateness. Gianforte may need to take a look at the election leads to “deep purple” Kansas, the place the residents simply crushed a measure to amend their consitution to restrict abortion rights.
But that is what passes for governance in Montana proper now. However governance isn’t vaudeville. And the nationwide disgrace these three flailing politicians are bringing us isn’t one bit humorous — to not Montana’s veterans, Montana’s girls, or Montana’s conservation legacy.
George Ochenski is a longtime Helena resident, an environmental activist and Montana’s longest operating columnist.
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