Thoughts on elections

This Monday morning, I read an opinion “Let democracy play out,” by Roger Hopkins in The Daily Inter Lake.

I know Roger and consider him a thoughtful person that cares about our democracy and this upcoming November election as I do. That said I’ll try to give readers my targeted opinion of this next election.

For background purposes, I belong to the “None of the Above” party. Unfortunately, as a None of the Above voter I feel it’s my civic duty to ‘vote’. Translation – for at least the last 10 years one of the two major parties available for my vote has become so corrupt, so Mob power hungry, so disingenuous, so spend tax payer money today – forget about tomorrow and so thoughtlessly negligent toward our grandchildren that I’ve been left with “hold my nose and vote for the Democrat.”

It’s not that Democrats are awful people. I find them to be just the opposite. It’s that again and again they fall on their sword and “Snatch Defeat from Victory.” It’s like their political behavior is so ingrained in their DNA that they can’t help themselves. In other words, to be right but lose every election is not some kind of victory. It’s not!

My humble opinion for thoughtful and interested voters to think outside of the box and realize in our current political environment the only OUTCOME in this upcoming Senatorial election is to WIN! Yes, the ONLY outcome we all should tolerate is to WIN and defeat Mr. Alme.

It would be nice if we lived in a past era that would allow us to, as Roger suggests, stand by and let democracy play out. But our foe (the Enemy) is not about democracy NO they’re about power and only power.

Exhibit A - Our departing Senator Daines waits for the last minute to step out of the race clearing the deck for the MAGA hand-picked Alme character to step in and register to run for his senate seat.

NO interested Republican need to apply for their primary (because there will not be one) as MONEY has decided for you who and which so called Republican will run for this Senate seat.

Unfortunately for the rest of us to have a chance for a WIN only one candidate should run this cycle against Mr. Alme. All other interested politicians and voters need to coalesce as one and get out their voters for A WIN. No time right now for moral victories and another defeat. NO, I believe the only possible strategy is for one solid candidate to run. I’ve been to a meet and greet for Mr. Bodnar. I found him well spoken and committed to defeating Alme. I haven’t been exposed to Alani Bankhead, but from what I’ve read and heard she too is eminently qualified to be our next Senator.

Recent Montana elections are littered with the bones of very qualified Democrats that could not stand up and WIN vs. the Montana MAGA money machine. Seth Bodnar probably has the best chance for a WIN especially if all Alani Bankhead voters decide to choose WIN vs. what they wish/hope could be. For now, money does the talking and if you don’t have it (For this election cycle) hitch your wagon to someone that does have some.

Since Covid hit I’ve often reminded myself how our lives and our children’s lives have changed — “That was then, Now is now, Now is different.”

 This senatorial election opportunity is way too important for Montanan’s to lose. It’s different and we all can win if we are united in the fight to win vs themmmmm

Dave Petersen

Columbia Falls