Saturday, January 7, 2017

A recent political survey

My Dem Senator, Jon Tester, who I worked for in his last campaign and actually had a couple shots of Headframe Whiskey, sent a survey, asking us to pose questions to the potential cabinet positions president Trump has submitted.

I like Jon, a lot. Like all politicians, he's learned to survive in his environment.  It's Montana. We won't elect Bernie Sanders. So he carefully treads middle ground mostly. But lord, look at our other Senator, the one I've sent so many 'nasty emails', as Bruce reminded me, that he may be behind our recent sub-zero temps.

Anyway, here's my reply to Jon. It asked for questions to give to the potential cabinet members.

M. Mulligan mm5.montana@gmail.com

7:35 PM (6 minutes ago)
to Senator
Senator Tester/Jon
I have serious questions about damn near every one. More than one have previously stated, on the record, that the department they are now being selected to head, should be abolished. What more is there to ask?  "Oh, I was just kidding", "Um, changed my mind", or they could pull a 'Trump' "I never said that. I don't give a damn what the recording says.". 

Sessions. Perhaps he could answer for his statements on racism in the 60's through the 80's. Enough that his peers, peers, mind you, in Republican years, said he was too racist for the judicial job he was trying for. 

What does he say to that? Basically, he has two potential, truthful, answers. One: "I've changed my views, I was wrong. Yes, I can enforce the laws of the the United States", or, "No, that's what I still think. I'll use my position to try to bring the country's laws and enforcement back  to what I think it should be." 

I mean the rest of them, for a Democrat, are repulsive. We're going to lose a lot of ground in the next few years. 

What I don't want to see is you being dragged to the center, then the right, of the party. I know we're a rare breed in Montana, but hell, your principals gotta start and end somewhere, pal. 

Cheers,
Mike Mulligan
Butte, MT

12 comments:

  1. Good letter. Thanks for sharing. We need a lot of that kind of direct constituent to Senate/House member dialogue to help establish safety bumpers for the incoming gang.

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    1. yeah, i do wonder though, if the time has passed when the legislature listens, and to whom. Does the NRA, that donated 400K to your re-election counts more than the emails counting 2K.
      We have something resembling, in some ways, democracy. but it's not. It's what Trump represents, and he as one hell of a marketing and public relations departments to recognise the message wanted, and the time to deliver it.

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  2. Good letter, Mike. I'll be interested to see what he writes, if he replies.

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    1. Nothing yet, Bruce. These things go to low level staffers, who read the sending address, and the first few words. then there is the 'delete' key.

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  3. That reminds me, having two Democratic Senators and a Democratic congressman, I need to write them similar letters, reminding them to stay to the left, or go farther to the left.

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    1. You're about the only place in the country that a voter can say that without snickering.

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  4. He seems like a good man at a time when you need a few good men.

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    1. He is. I like Jon, a nice guy, reminds me of my high school basketball coach, only younger.

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  5. I sure hope the few Democrats still left to ask the questions, ask them. Not that I'm optimistic.

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    1. Nor should you be, kiddo. Though in an emerging country and economy, a good Psych, if they spoke Spanish, might be valuable.........

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  6. I love the West but the politicians there are almost as bad as some of them here, down south. I'm glad you have one that is sensible and with whom you can dialogue.

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    1. Montana, like sometimes Nevada (Harry Reid) are the odd stepchild out. We voted for the idiot trump, but also for Steve Bullock, a moderate dem for guv.

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