by Linda Schmitt, Corvallis
Trump is a liability: to our country, our state and our Valley. Nationally he runs off our allies, destroys trust in our nation, turns them into adversaries. Why? Who knows. Do you actually think America can “go it alone”? Who would have our back when China, Russia, Iran see us wobbling and move in? Oh right, Trump is courting Putin, naive in his belief that Putin will hold our hand. “America First” in this administration is “America Foolish.”
In our state, have you talked to anyone in auto, timber or ag businesses? Ask them about tariff effects on their business. Ask your ag guy about his wheat shipments or losing crop insurance or what’s happening at the ports. Ask John Deere, who lost 50% in profit in the last quarter. Think that will affect production? Better change brands. Ask a homebuilder what his lumber prices are. Forget the trades affected: carpenters, plumbers, electricians and the many hands-on skilled workers, not to mention accountants, bookkeepers and most importantly, families!
In our valley, just look at the news regarding huge drops in non-profit funding. One of our most successful non-profits, SAFE, is looking at sharply reduced income. How about the businesses RCEDA advises? Think they’ll be able to provide services that are so needed? That businesses will just bounce back? Look at your renters, fired fed employees having to break their leases. Look at local service businesses who are scrambling to replace orders snatched through Trump’s “chainsaw.”
And don’t tell me “that’s life.” It’s not “life,” it’s an economic rant by a crazy man who cares not in the least about YOU. Kick the bum out, and all his sycophants. Yes, that’s you, Zinke and Daines. And our Montana misguided MAGAs. Focus, people: “It’s the economy, Stupid.”
Bridget H Dolan says
Mike, you still haven’t answered the question about your own education.
Mike Miller says
You should give your college diplomas back. If you had bothered to read my previous replies, you’d know why. SMH.
Bridget H Dolan says
So no university education. Got it
Mike Miller says
Look at your shameless pompousness, trying to put words in my mouth. That is NOT what I said. You go back and read what I wrote three times, and figure it out. Or get a refund on your 6 years of college; makes no difference to me.
Bridget Dolan says
Sure Mike.
BA University of Connecticut Jornalism and Political Science
MA Sacred Heart University Elementary Education
I served in the Peace Corps Lithuania 2000-2002. I have lived in Italy, Lithuania, Egypt, Israel, Colombia, New York City, San Francisco, and New Orleans.
You?
Mike Miller says
I’m not surprised. You should move back to one of those places, among your own, where you most likely fled from because you couldn’t take the liberalism effects, but still voted blue here.
You say you’re educated in “jornalism”, from UCONN… the same college that practically censored a well known public speaker (who, coincidentally, is also involved in journalism and political science) and then offered counseling to students who actually did partake of that heavily restricted 1st Amendment Freedom of Speech. You probably don’t even see that hypocrisy, which is just pathetic, because you haughtily post your majors from a college that heavily restricted a person with your same majors.
You served in the Peace Corps for two years… ahhh, that’s cute. Peace Corps; for those that can’t hack the real “Service To Country”. Many people in this county have REALLY served their country, and paid the price for our freedom, not that peace corps stuff.
Since you missed the simple question/statement I fronted with earlier, I’ll repeat it: Who are you considering “detractors”, and why? Past that, research proves “level of education” doesn’t mean “intelligent”, which many educated people fail to recognize.
You’re really driving home the research of “level of education” doesn’t mean “intelligent”, which many educated people fail to recognize.
If and when you can answer my question (for the second time now), I’ll maybe think about answering yours.
Bridget H Dolan says
I noticed you didn’t tell me about your education. Minor note: Peace Corps is pretty selective. Enlisting on the military is not.
Bridget H Dolan says
I bet your travel outside of MT includes Las Vegas but not much else. I speak Spanish and Lithuanian? You?
Bridget H Dolan says
So Mike, just so I’m clear, you are telling me I shouldn’t live here because I’m educated and well traveled?
Mike Miller says
Wow. For someone with allegedly 6 years of education and a teacher, you’re horrible at even basic paragraph comprehension: twice I’ve asked you a simple question/statement, and twice you’ve failed to answer it; it’s as if you lack the intelligence. Figure that out first, Mrs. “I have six years of college”.
You stated “Peace Corps is pretty selective. Enlisting on the military is not.” Oh, really? 1- what’s your reliable source for that claim (should be easy for someone with an alleged 6 years of college to do); 2- doing PC two years in an established European nation (long before USA was a nation) in peace time is laughable comparable to a valley full of veterans, whom of whom are combat veterans and have spent more than two years doing their best to stay alive in foreign countries where combat/war is going on. Many of them learned at least bits of various Asian languages, European, African, and Middle Eastern.
You know very little of me, so don’t condescendingly presume to know where I’ve lived, traveled, what languages I speak, or what I’ve done. And you won’t, at least until you figure out how to respond to simple questions/statements.
In no way did I infer you shouldn’t live because you’re allegedly “educated” (LOL!) and allegedly “well travelled”. I stated very clearly why you shouldn’t live here, and you certainly continue to reinforce my statement of that. That statement from you infers we are not educated and travelled, and certainly continues to show your haughty, condescending attitude.
You’ve had nothing but an elitist, condescending, racist attitude against this community since you moved here and openly posted that on multiple occasions on at least this site; probably more. You clearly dislike the people here, SO MOVE. Leave Victor, leave Ravalli County, and leave Montana. We are all the things you don’t like. An intelligent person would know this… but you clearly lack intelligence, as your comments continuously show,
Given the fact that you lack the capability to respond to my first set of basic question/statement, I hold no faith that you have the cognizance to answer the 2nd one (four paragraphs up), but maybe you’ll surprise me. I won’t hold my breath.
Mike Miller says
Linda, what allies has Trump into adversaries? Enlighten us, and provide a source if you claim there is one. Will your petulance continue weekly for the remainder of this presidency?
Many of the problems you lament of existed under Biden, but you didn’t cry weekly about it here like you are now. You clearly have an angry bias.
Linda Schmitt says
Well, I wasn’t worried about the President tanking the stock market.
Mike Miller says
“Linda, what allies has Trump into adversaries? Enlighten us, and provide a source if you claim there is one.”
It was simple request… one that you failed to do, so therefore, your words are empty lies.
The market experienced upheaval when biden was in office, but you state you weren’t worried about that; clearly you are biased, I suggest irrationally.
WMA says
Mike, how can you seriously ask such a question? You must have seen Trump and Vance attack President Zelensky in the Oval Office like a couple of schoolyard bullies and then kick him out of the White House. They followed up this insult to a key ally by refusing to share intelligence information with Ukraine. I hope you saw follow-up reporting of how virtually all other NATO nations rallied around Zelensky to pull the US supplied dagger out of his back.
Mike Miller says
I did indeed ask the question, and yes, it’s a serious query. So far, neither Linda nor you have answered it, so I’ll ask again: “Linda/WMA, what allies has Trump turned into adversaries? Go ahead, enlighten us by providing a reliable source to support her claim.
Getting tired of giving freebies and saying ‘enough is enough’ does not make one adversaries; it was simply an angry disagreement. There was/is no knife, The USA is still engaged in peace talks with Ukraine and Russia, as a variety of news sites cover almost daily. Go ahead, look up some and educate yourself; you clearly need that education.
You mention NATO nations… according the the NATO site proper, USA is part of NATO and continues to assist Ukraine. How about that! You’re welcome! There is almost daily news on this from a variety of news sites.
As for Europe, they should be rallying around their neighbor, as Ukraine’s problem can easily overflow into neighboring countries.
All Linda and you bring is drama, lies, hatred, and refusals to provide reliable sources for your ludicrous claims, followed by straw man arguments/diversions. To me, it comes across as bitter and petty.
WMA says
Mike, even the most spineless Trump sycophant will soon have to acknowledge that Trump is a terrible president and a worse human being. NATO leaders don’t like him, don’t trust him and have no respect for his inept bullying leadership style. I suspect Putin is quite fond of the man because the Russian dictator realizes how easy it it to manipulate the childish SOB. China sees Trump as the easiest pathway for them achieving the world economic dominance they have craved for decades.
Mike Miller says
So, you still can’t answer the question and provide only meaningless deflections. Got it.
I bet you can’t provide a reliable source for you empty claim of “China sees Trump as the easiest pathway for them achieving the world economic dominance they have craved for decades.”.
The laughable part is you’re part of that group that thinks they’re tolerant, understanding, and educated, when clearly you’re not.
Dee Tasset says
You have TDS to the extreme. You obviously didn’ speak out about BIDEN and his cognitive issues so you let your anger loose on TRUMP. wait until everything he does results in MAGA for the second time. We will come back and say, I TOLD YOU SO!!
Linda Schmitt says
I can’t wait.
Mike Mercer says
Look to Venezuela, the cartels, Cuba and Iran doing as China commands, the rest is smoke and mirrors…do your own deep dive before “Trump Effect 7”.
Bridget H Dolan says
I would love to know the highest level of education of all the detractors here.
Mike Miller says
Who are you considering “detractors”, and why? Past that, research proves “level of education” doesn’t mean “intelligent”, which many educated people fail to recognize.
Let’s start with your level of education (already not looking good for you) as a litmus test and see how that works out Tell us where you got your education as well, and what’s your major/minor- after all, a pre-med degree from Harvard is much harder than a BA from the local UM. We’ll judge you first.