Say no to ‘R’

by Archie Thomas & Merry Schrumpf, Corvallis

“Just say NO!” Nancy Reagan’s antiquated 1980’s answer to sex is the only way forward for Montana voters, Republican candidates and office holders. This is a summary of recent Republican crazy right-wing news stories. 

• Ravalli county commissioners demanded to overlook the rule of law to enable paper ballots for 2024 elections. 

• John Birch Society overruns local Republican Central Committee and claims everyone but Mad Dog Senator Manzella is a RINO.

• Governor Gianforte is attacked by national rightwing social media trolls after defending Montana Department of Health involving suicidal youth. 

• Montana State GOP invited Florida Trump lapdog Bruesewitz to speak at state convention. Trump advisor Bruesewitz attacked Rosendale, calling him a “poser” after Bruesewitz earlier supported Rosendale against Tester in 2018 election. Bruesewitz is attacked by local Mad Dog Senator Manzella. 

• Matt Rosendale tours Montana with Florida Representative Matt Gaetz enhancing gene pool of right-wing grapefruits. What’s with Floridian grapefruits coming to Montana? 

• Senate Daines plays lap dog to Trump or McConnell just as long as he doesn’t have to attend a Montana town hall listening to actual Montanans’ concerns. Daines offers fresh “primary not prime” beef in the form of Sheehy as Tester challenger; he placed Sheehy raw on the political grill using Sheehy’s and the National Republican Party’s money as heat; Sheehy’s election recipe includes suck up Trump marinade, military service for garnish, family money smoke flavoring, leaving a half baked candidate; while the average Montanan is not given any meaningful choices. 

Starting with antiquated paper ballots and ending with Republican candidate selections, the Republican county, state or national office holders, with rare exceptions, have not had the conviction to publicly say “No” to the Trump movement, Christian nationalism or right-wing media. 

It is time Montana voters take a deeper look into the “R” after a candidate’s name and declare the straight “R” voting ticket dead. Montana voter’s choice is simply “NO” to Republican craziness and “Yes” to any other choice preserving our democracy.