by Jim Hamilton, Florence
I’d like to commend the publisher and editor of the Bitterroot Star for putting together a very good Opinion Page each week in their paper. It’s truly fair and balanced and even allows some local citizens to be frequent contributors to the weekly newsprint.
While I don’t share the same feelings many folks have for certain politicians, I learn a lot by reading why they support someone. For example, I personally find Mr. Trump to be one of the most morally repugnant individuals in the world, but I understand why some taxpayers and religious leaders support him.
But, as a thirty-year military combat veteran, I don’t appreciate when politicians try using past military service to enhance their net worth as a patriot while running for public office. A case in point to demonstrate this would be two Montana retired Navy Frogmen, Ryan Zinke and Tim Sheehy, who like to wave their Seal Team flag around whenever possible. Both had questionable careers in the Navy and at best, they should just say they served honorably while on active duty in a War Zone.
My experience as a Staff and Command Officer in the Army is the observation that the more certain veterans bluster about what they did in the War, the less actually was performed. Just remember, Hell Hath No Fury Like a Military Bull-Shooter.