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Bitterroot embarrassment

September 2, 2025 by Guest Post

by David Leslie, Corvallis

The 2025 Ravalli County Fair is history, and by all I’ve heard, a very successful event. Thank you Melissa Saville.

But I write to highlight an unsatisfying anecdote that we all need to address. Russell Cleveland, a Stevensville son, and candidate for our congressional district #1 seat, had a booth at the fair. He was physically present for most of Saturday, the 31st. What shocked me was that he reported that more than one or two people passionately called him a “baby killer” and other disgusting epithets. All MAGA crap.

It should worry us all that we still have, in this valley, voters of such wrong-headed beliefs about our politics, civil discourse and the basic respect due everyone. I am deeply embarrassed that my valley neighbors feel that such behavior is acceptable. MAGA leaders, I’m talking to you.

We can, and must, demand better behavior of ourselves and each other.

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Filed Under: Opinion

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bill LaCroix says

    September 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM

    Every post I see from this Bill Cavanaugh guy is uneducated to bigoted to hateful and divisive where none of those things need apply. I think the Star should screen these things so people don’t have to keep writing in to protest such belligerent stupidity. Think about your community that has to put up with this crap.

    • Mike Mercer says

      September 8, 2025 at 1:01 AM

      I get the distinct impression that if someone took a subservient posture and offered to wash your feet you would complain about the water temperature.

  2. Mike Mercer says

    September 5, 2025 at 8:19 AM

    For those who thought change would come with a gentle rain are shocked by the hurricane smashing open the doors of generational corruption. Having a conversation with anyone even remotely against this hurricane does not understand the need for such forces and must still wear flowers in their hair. It is not about the wind or the rain but what it strips away and uncovers, don’t blame the hurricane for doing what it was meant to do. So go protest the hurricane and then find a judge to hold it in contempt…that should do it.
    Now thats anthropogenic climate change.

    • Gomez says

      September 5, 2025 at 9:10 AM

      Talk about generational corruption, since Trump took office in January his family has gained 5 billions dollars in wealth. But hey, if he’s your guy, perhaps you’d like to PayPal him the $15 he begged his supporters to send him yesterday to make sure that he gets to heaven. We are officially in the Pat Robertson/Peter Popoff stage of the con.

      • Bill Cav says

        September 6, 2025 at 8:48 AM

        Says Who Gomez? name me another president Who’s wealth dropped during his term (Trump’s First)…. I’ll wait. Clearly Your TDS warrants you from discussing the BILLIONS made by the Biden Cartel during their 4 year boondoggle.
        Turn out the lights dude, your party is over.

  3. Not Jim Crews says

    September 4, 2025 at 12:03 PM

    We live in a predominately Christian valley with low level IQs. What did you expect lol

  4. Tracy says

    September 3, 2025 at 1:17 PM

    That is NOT just MAGA that believe that of democrats.

    • John Weston says

      September 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM

      Huh?

    • David Leslie says

      September 3, 2025 at 7:27 PM

      Tracy, that is very disappointing news.

      Does that mean that many of my Republican friends think that the best approach to understanding and reducing unwanted pregnancies is to call Democrats “baby killers”?

      • Tracy says

        September 5, 2025 at 1:41 PM

        I said “think that” never said anything about saying it.

  5. Gomez says

    September 2, 2025 at 5:27 PM

    Well, they worship a guy that has all the class of a wet jock strap, so what do you expect? Orange Grandpa grabs women by the crotch, hung around with a convicted sex trafficker, is self obsessed and vain, believes that he has nothing to apologize to god for and thinks vets are suckers. Why would we expect any class from anyone who flies his flag? Hopefully one day they will realize that he’s conned them, wake up and quietly sulk away.

    • Linda Schmitt says

      September 3, 2025 at 8:28 AM

      Not only that, but has collapsed our intelligence apparatus, placed idiots as heads of Dept Defense and FBI and NSA, pardoned insurgents who attacked Capitol….exposed US to external & internal attacks. Pull the covers over your head. We’re screwed

      • Bill Cavanaugh says

        September 4, 2025 at 7:28 PM

        Yes Linda please go hide in your closet for four years, we could use a break from your misery posts

        • Linda Schmitt says

          September 4, 2025 at 9:03 PM

          What do you think happens when our Intelligence services are cut by 40%? Or, how about the fact that the National Guard reenlistment rate has dropped from the normal 60% to only 20%? Or when the President has embraced another world leader who poisons or defenestrates (look it up) his opponents? You think you’re just fine, do you. Good luck.

          • Mike Miller says

            September 5, 2025 at 8:57 AM

            It’s one thing to say something, it’s another thing to actually mention the source of said item. I look forward to your posted source of the NG reenlistment rates.

          • Bill Cavanaugh says

            September 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM

            Military enlistment is up exponentially across the board, Stop spreading lies. Too Many “Intelligence agents” were working for the deep state, leaking info to newspapers, trying to take down a duly elected president so in my opinion Hasta La Vista to them

    • Bill Cavanaugh says

      September 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM

      Amazing, only a dimwit would reply to a post about name calling, with 3rd grade level name calling.

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