October 2007

Helena City Commission: Endorsements

by Don Pogreba on October 27, 2007 · 155 comments

I’ve really had to think about this, to the point that my endorsement probably is coming awfully late to influence anyone’s thinking, in the event that it would have done so. It’s certainly a testament to the quality of these candidates that I have really struggled with this decision, and at one point or another, became certain I would vote for all four candidates. After a great deal of discussion and thought, I plan to cast my ballot for Paul Cartwright and Jack Stults.

Paul Cartwright was the easy part of the decision for me. In a number of difficult and contentious issues, from the Walking Mall to the deer “problem,” I have found Commissioner Cartwright to be a conscientious and thoughtful member of the Commission, even when I have disagreed with his decisions. What separates Cartwright from the pack is that his answers on tough questions avoid simplistic responses that might to appeal to voting blocs; when asked about the importance of keeping Blue Cross/Blue Shield downtown, for example, he avoided the temptation to make a politically safe response, and offered a sensible one: from a cost benefit calculation, it would have to benefit the city. Commissioner Cartwright may not have the most dramatic platform, but I am confident he will continue to be a strong, sensible voice for controlled development and balanced budgets.

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The conscience of a liberal: why I am considering abstaining in the Iraqi War Referendum vote…

by J N on October 27, 2007 · 14 comments

I wasn’t even sure I wanted to post anything about this. In fact, despite strong opinions, I often will avoid talking about issues that I have strong feelings about if they criticize the left-of-center political movement because I really want progressives to create as large of a tent as possible. Part of that effort is acknowledging that some folks will not act in a way that I would to get the message out.

That said, I received my ballot this week for Helena’s municipal election and for the first time since I began voting, I am really struggling with my vote. There are a number of interesting choices on this ballot that leave me both confused and conflicted but the one that I am struggling most with is referendum 2007-1, the Iraqi War Referendum.

Let me be clear. I have not, at any point, supported this war. I don’t support it now. I believe in a quick and swift withdrawal and my vote in next year’s Democratic primary will reflect that. This war has hurt my soul from the very start .

But the war itself is not the issue for me on that ballot.

Don’t get me wrong…there are a lot of
silly arguments against these initiatives. Is it the city’s
business? Yeah, it is. Do I think this trivializes the
decision-making process (something the Missoulian claimed)? Nope.
And I certainly don’t believe that this referendum sends a message that we don’t support the troops. But, there are a number of reasons why I want anti-war advocates to
drop this effort and redirect its time and energy elsewhere…

First, it is a misdirected effort. There have been countless cities that have voted, either by the citizen’s voice or the voice of their elected officials, to condemn this war. Yet, the war continues. Despite the power of the symbolic gesture (which does seem late to me), it seems that these moments of citizen outcry have absolutely baring on the course of the war.

Second, it is a wasted effort. I have been asked to donate on a number of occasions to local efforts to end this war, including fund raising efforts on behalf of this campaign. I am not against spending money on politics, despite my general disgust of our campaign finance laws and the sheer amount. But I don’t get the need to raise money to advertise against a war that hopefully a majority of citizens are already against. At the risk of sounding naive, I am certain that money could be directed towards efforts that actually impact the war, including direct aid organizations that are supporting the plight of Iraqis or even better, organizations for veterans coming back after exposure to violence and toxins.

Next, could we direct this effort to the people that could end this war? I am speaking of Baucus, Tester and Rehberg. Tester has been a disappointment on ending this war and Max and Dennis voted for it without much public regret over the issue. Couldn’t we spend time and effort on directing those folks to putting an end to this?

And…last…my biggest fear. After the ballots are counted, if the citizens of Helena agree that this war should end, what happens? I worry about the false sense of accomplishment that might exist in those that vote for this referendum. If this referendum wins, even by a large majority, the war continues… The senseless death continues… The bottomless expense continues…

I know that I am in the minority among progressives. I am certainly in the minority among progressive bloggers progressive bloggers (although Don and I agree when he points out his distaste of the “self importance of the promoters”). After a long discussion with some very smart and intelligent friends of mine last night, the choice for me now is either “yes” or abstaining entirely.

In the dozens of ballots I have filled out, this is the first one that I have spent the most time considering. Perhaps I am lucky that Helena opted for mail ballots. It will probably sit in a prominent place on my desk right up to the deadline…

Helena City Elections: Referenda and Bond Issues

by Don Pogreba on October 25, 2007 · 5 comments

Park and Recreational Facilities Bond

I support this measure, though not without some hesitation. In general terms, providing quality recreational opportunities for the community is a reasonable function of local government, and some of the proposed spending, like improvements at Memorial Park and the transformation of the old dump site into a much improved park facility, are great ideas.

So why the hesitation? I’m less thrilled about the proposed $1.12 million dollars for Kindrick-Legion Field. While the facility does provide a home for American Legion high school teams, the primary impetus for the expenditure is to improve the revenue making potential for the Helena Brewers baseball team. From major league teams down to the minors, sports organizations have been shaking down municipalities for the past twenty years, getting substantial public payouts for limited return. The General Manager of the Helena Brewers may be, as the IR noted, concerned about the workout facilities of the stadium, but I suggest that those costs should be born by Major League Baseball and the Brewers rather than the people of Helena.

Another concern is that I think the City of Helena has spent enough time and energy recently on the center of town and the Great Northern Town Center area. Improving neighborhood parks and park parcels, some of which have not been developed in as many as ten years, should also be a priority. Neighborhood parks are critical to provide recreation for Helena’s kids, and I’d like to see the City Commission move to improve areas that are perhaps not as politically important in the future.

Referendum 2007-1: Iraq Withdrawal

Will Helena voting for the withdrawal of American troops matter to the policymakers who refuse to listen to the majority of the American people matter? No. Am I occasionally troubled by the self importance of the promoters of initiatives like this? Yes. That being said, I intend to vote for this resolution, because futile though the gesture might be, voting to bring American service members home is the right thing to do, and I will not lend my voice to support this war.

Referendum 2007-2: Funding Our Troops Without Conditions

This is perhaps the worst proposal ever put before voters in the city of Helena, and I definitely recommend a ‘no’ vote. For citizens in a democratic society to ever, even rhetorically, support government action “without condition” would be horrifying, and in the case of a nebulous war against an enemy that cannot be defined, it’s unimaginable. It’s enough to have zealots in Washington advocating endless war; we certainly don’t need to support it from Helena.

City Commission Endorsements Tomorrow…

Dennis Rehberg: Candidate of Substance

by Don Pogreba on October 25, 2007 · 2 comments

in Denny Rehberg

It’s hard to say what stinks more about the Montana Republican Party’s attacks against Bill Kennedy–the whiff of desperation emanating from a party that has been battered so badly the past four years that they are already going negative against a potential opponent for their four term Congressman, or the spectacle of Republicans trying to “be cool” and use the Internet to campaign.

This is what has become of the Montana Republican Party, under Erik Iverson’s attempt to re-fashion the image of a Party increasingly out of touch with voters. On one hand, you have ham-handed, juvenile attacks, and on the other people who still use the word “socialism” in a non-ironic fashion, because they fear the Commie menace.

Here’s a thought. Shouldn’t someone in his fourth term have a record of achievement to run on instead of hiding behind painfully unfunny attacks on his opponent?

Krayton Kerns: Keep the Crazy Coming

by Don Pogreba on October 24, 2007 · 147 comments

in Montana Politics, Those Wacky Republicans

Your Montana Republican Party in action.

It looks like Yellowstone County has another potential Senate candidate.

Conservative Blogs Are Fun

October 22, 2007

For my money, the worst conservative blog in America (and thus, likely the worst blog in country) is Red State. Today, they are angry because Hilary Clinton was fundraising in Hollywood while wildfires are burning in California. What I want to know is where was Michael Brown? Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on [...]

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Montana Blog Roundup

October 22, 2007

Inspired by Jay’s always interesting ‘Links’ posts and even The Montana Misanthrope’s new “Writing Rightly” selections, I’ve decided to add a little feature of my own, a roundup of some of the most interesting posts in the Montana Blog world. I don’t anticipate my choices being fair or entirely rational, but the posts themselves are [...]

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Things Have Never Looked So Bad When They Look So Good

October 21, 2007

I think the Democrats are going to lose. Not the 2008 election, but the 2012 election. It seems as if the corporate news analysts who pull the strings in our deceptively free and democratic society have painted this instant in world affairs as a unique opportunity for a Democratic victory. Maybe so, but only in [...]

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