Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

Don't you just love when people bring up a subject that you are not real sure why it's important. Cliff Mason questions my knowledge of firefighting as compared to Conrad Burns knowledge of firefighting in relation to my memories of a large fire on my place and what triggered those memories.

Well Cliff Mason, I don't know how to respond to your comment. I am not sure of the total extent of Conrad Burns knowledge of firefighting so you will have to explain to me what his knowledge is. I know from Conrad's outburst last year, I feel his knowledge is a little lacking but since you somehow think his knowledge of firefighting is important to my memories of a fire you will have to come up with the information for me. We can then compare Conrad's knowledge to my 20+ years of firefighting knowledge and experience, which I will provide, and decide who has the most knowledge and insight. To do this though I would also require that you, Cliff Mason, present your credentials and knowledge of firefighting so that everybody knows that you have the background to judge who has the most knowledge.

Why you feel this is necessary, Cliff Mason, I would really like to know. I mean if you have a problem with something I said, please point out the problem and where I am wrong. Then we might be able to engage in a conversation like intelligent people. By throwing a comment out about my knowledge compared to someone else's knowledge of firefighting is not an intelligent way to start a conversation. It seems to me that you have no intelligent point to make but just want to make yourself feel superior by throwing out a comment that has nothing to do with what I said.

Intelligent people make real criticism on what is said and don't hide behind comments that are just designed to try to hide the real issue and have nothing to do with what the story is about. Cliff, I would really like to hear where my memories of the fire I had here are wrong and what inspired you to make a comment that has no bearing on my memories or on my feelings of those memories. I did not realize as a blogger memories and feelings weren't allowed.

A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side. Joseph Addison

UPDATE: Cliff Mason, I'm still waiting for the information requested or an intelligent comment.

Sen. Burns needs to suck it up and act like a man, not a whining little baby.

Burns says media dishonest to him

He stopped only briefly to chastise Montana reporters, saying he was "taken advantage of."
"Look you guys, I hate to tell you this, but I don't have anything to say, OK," he angrily told reporters from The Associated Press and Gazette State Bureau. "I want to thank you all for your good humor and everything ... you weren't very honest with me and the only way I can be honest with you is not to say anything."

Blaming the media for his loss isn't sucking it up and accepting responsibility for his actions. If Burns wouldn't have been accepting money/bribes from Abramoff he might not have been in this position.

The real killer for his re-election bid? Burns's own big mouth, not the media. They just reported things he said. If Conrad wouldn't have criticized and belittled firefighters like he did he might have won the campaign. His little "faux pas" when he berated the firefighters changed enough votes that he lost the election.

Be a man Sen. Burns, accept responsibility for your actions and quit blaming others. It's sickening.

A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be. Albert Einstein

Unlicensed Tester butchered neighbor's animals, wasn't cited

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester never had a state-required license for the butchering business he ran at his Big Sandy-area farm, but state records show an inspector visited the shop, but did not cite Tester for breaking the law.

Tester cut meat on an outbuilding on his family farm beginning in the late 1970s. He took the butcher business over from his father, Tester said, who first started cutting meat in the family's basement in the 1950s to make extra money. Tester took the business over after he and his wife assumed the family farm, he said, and realized they couldn't make enough money farming.

Sorry, I might not be a fan of Tester but this is nothing. One Neighbor helping out others, even if money changed hands, is the Montana way of doing things and is no big deal. Being visited by inspectors and never being ticketed again is not a surprise. Sounds like the way I am used to things being done in Montana. The only weird thing here is Jon's decision to close down the business when he ran for State Senate. Being as a Montana legislator is a part time job, they meet for 90 days every other year and get paid peanuts, you would think he could be able to keep it open. Did he know he was breaking the law and that was the reason for getting out of the buisness? I doubt it, but it's still curious.

You want much ado about something, here it is.

Abramoff friend describes Burns staff's ties to lobbyist

A Republican media consultant and friend of indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff recently wrote a letter to a Montana newspaper saying Burns' staff ate so many free meals at Abramoff's restaurant, people joked they would have "starved to death" without the lobbyist.

"Frankly, it was widely viewed in D.C. that Mr. Abramoff effectively exerted implicit control over Mr. Burns whenever he and his team needed to get something accomplished," reads the letter, which was sent to the Whitefish Pilot last week.

Now this is a lot more damning than the claims against Tester. I will point out that just because Burns's staff cozied up to Abramoff doesn't mean Burns himself did. The implication is there and the appearance of impropriety is there which really makes it hard to doubt, but a does not always equal b so who knows. This is something of significance though where the Tester claims are smoke.

Politics, much ado about nothing.

Take our politicians: they're a bunch of yo-yos. The presidency is now a cross between a popularity contest and a high school debate, with an encyclopedia of cliches the first prize. Saul Bellow

In Montana's Senate Race, Jon Tester keeps portraying himself as fiscally conservative and wanting to balance the Federal budget. He continually blasts Sen Burns for cutting taxes and spending money that the country doesn't have. Now Tester has all kinds of ideas on how to spend money, extending CHIPS to all children, but I have never heard him once say how he would balance the budget. He never talks about raising taxes or cutting spending to get the deficit under control, just criticizes Burns for not doing it while proposing spending increases by the Federal government. I've really wondered about all of this since it doesn't really add up. Now, what do I see today?

Tester proposes homeowner tax break

State Sen. Jon Tester, D-Big Sandy, in front of the James and Catherine Bentler home in Billings on Wednesday, outlined federal tax proposals to help homeowners, college students and families.

Tester is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate opposing U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., who is running for his fourth term. Libertarian Stan Jones of Bozeman is also on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.

Tester said his "Real Tax Relief" plan would provide targeted property tax relief from the federal government, "an idea that has never been tried in Washington." He said the importance of the idea is that it is fair and benefits Montana families and homeowners.

So, Tester wants to cut taxes and increase spending as his platform for getting into the Senate. Doesn't this just sound like Sen Burns's strategy? I'll admit, the tax breaks are different from the ones Burns supports but the strategy is the same. How does this help balance the Federal budget like Tester has been campaigning on? I wish somebody could answer this for me but I'm sure the Tester fanatics out there will just ignore me.

I find the one tax break very interesting.

* Establish a 5 percent tax credit for life for any honorably discharged service member.

As a disclaimer, I will admit this is one that would benefit me personally if they grandfather in anybody that has ever served, but why should a person get this for service to their country? What makes them so special? I served my country for two reasons, one is for the education that was offered and the other was because it was the right thing to do. I am very proud of my service to my country and what I did for my country. I have never asked for any special treatment for this service and I don't think veterans should receive any, unless they were injured while in the service, for their service. I know, I am in the minority on this opinion but pandering to the veterans this way to me demeans their service.

Sorry, I got off track. My whole point here is that Jon Tester is following Conrad Burns right down the same path. Reduce taxes while increasing spending. How does this help Montanans or the country? The short answer is, it doesn't. People need to remember this.

There are three principles in a man's being and life, the principle of thought, the principle of speech, and the principle of action. Martin Buber

A big part of Sen. Conrad Burns re-election campign, is how he delivers money to the state with his senority and how if Tester were elected, it wouldn't happen. So, how is Conrad's latest effort to bring the bacon home going?

Senate leaders turn back Conrad disaster bill

The third time was not a charm as Senate Republican leaders once again blocked efforts by a bipartisan group of farm-state senators to provide assistance to farmers and ranchers hammered by weather disasters in 2005 and 2006.

“A fair vote has been denied here in the Senate and the party in power has turned its back on American farmers,” said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. Conrad and Conrad Burns, R-Mont., Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and other senators introduced two other emergency assistance bills for 2005 and 2006 that have not become law.

“This fight is far from over,” said Conrad, a member of the Agriculture Committee, following the action or lack of action in the Senate on Thursday. “I won’t stand by and let this be swept under the rug. The livelihoods of thousands of farm families are at stake.”

You Bet, that seniority is really helping out now isn't it.

This indicates to me that the Senate leadership has effectively written off Sen. Burns as a lost cause. If they were serious about a Republican holding the seat they would be at least considering the disaster aid since it would help Burns in his race.

Now, let's be truthful, Jon Tester would not be able to do any better on this issue so It's really not a positive point for him, just a negative point for Burns. If Tester is elected he definitely wouldn't have the seniority and clout to do anything about the disaster aid. This just goes to show that the Seniority idea, that Burns keeps touting, isn't all it is cracked up to be. It might help some but it isn't a magic wand that will solve all the problems a Senator faces. Poor Conrad, nothing is breaking very good for him this year.

The only real influence I've ever had was myself. Edward Hopper

Burns' fire request comes late

U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns urged Gov. Brian Schweitzer to declare a fire state of emergency Thursday and activate the Montana Army National Guard for firefighting - more than a month after Schweitzer had already done so.

In a brief letter faxed to the governor's office Thursday, Burns, a Republican up for re-election in November, expressed his concern for the gravity of the 80,000-acre Derby fire in Stillwater and Sweet Grass counties.

I would think that Sen. Burns would have enough staff in his office to inform him that the Governor had all ready declared a state of Emergency because of wild fires instead of letting the Senator put his foot firmly in his mouth. Then again maybe senility is just setting in and the Senator was told and forgot. Which ever The good Senator screwed up yet again.

Always late: thus I make you the prisoner of my freedom. Mason Cooley

It sure looks to me like Senator Burns is trying to lose this election.

Comments Haunt Another Senator

In a moment of unusual candor for a veteran senator fighting for his political life, Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) offered this blunt self-assessment a few months ago: "I can self-destruct in one sentence," he told supporters. "Sometimes in one word."

It seems Burns has spent a good part of the summer testing his theory.

I don't have any use for the man but he could at least make it sporting instead of doing what he is doing. But then he has to open his mouth to eat so something stupod would probably come out.

A politician is a statesman who approaches every question with an open mouth. Adlai Stevenson

Burns criticizes firefighters, says they didn't heed ranchers

Republican Sen. Conrad Burns chastised a group of firefighters over the weekend for doing a "poor job" dousing a 92,000-acre blaze near Billings, a state report shows.

Burns and the firefighters - members of the Augusta Hot Shots from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest in Virginia -were at Billings Logan International Airport awaiting flights, according to Burns and Forest Service representatives.

Burns approached the firefighters and told them they had "done a poor job" and "should have listened to the ranchers," according to a report prepared by Paula Rosenthal, a state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation employee who was sent to the airport to speak with the senator.

This is a bad deal. Senator Burns needs to get his head out of his ass and talk to the right people. Criticizing the firefighting crews for how they fight the fire is like criticizing the troops for how the war is being fought in Iraq. The crews, like the troops, have no control over how they are used. They just do the job they are given by their superiors and do it to the best of their ability.

Senator Burns needs to be taking his complaint up with the management team that ran the fire fighting efforts, not the crews. When I had the big 30,000+ acre fire out in this country a few years ago I had a lot of complaints about the way the stupid idiots in the management team fought the fire. They didn't listen to what the landowner had to say and they did, time and time again try to chase me off the fire lines and leave the fire to them. I always ignored them when they told me to leave and I continued to voice my opinions even when they were ignored.

After they had the fire contained I warned the guys in charge repeatedly that the one area was dangerous and they needed to do a better job putting the fire out and fire lining it. They kept patting me on the head and saying everything was all right. I told them it was going to blow up there and that something needed done. They ignored me and went about there business. Two days later, while they were still mopping up the fire, the area I was concerned with blew up on them. It scorched an additional 2000-3000 acres before they got it under control again. I very politely told them, "I told you that was going to happen, why didn't you listen to me." They never would respond to what I said.

So I know what the Senator was talking about. The fire managers don't listen to landowners and do try to chase them off. But chewing in the crews is wrong. All you do with the crews is thank them profusely for fighting the fire and helping you out. They are under their boss's orders and if they don't do what they are told, they don't get paid so criticizing them is useless.

Burns never did strike me as very intelligent and this just proves it. Shooting his mouth off like this is just like shooting himself in the foot. It's only going to hurt him and show people that he is not very careful or thoughtful person.

One last thing. The fire fighting crews did a great job in getting the fires in the area under control and I thank them for it even if our Senator doesn't.

There is nothing wrong with America that faith, love of freedom, intelligence, and energy of her citizens cannot cure. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Burns backs federal aid for Cobb Field

Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., announced Monday that a $500,000 appropriation to help defray the cost of rebuilding Cobb Field will be included a federal spending bill.

The proposed federal appropriation is included in the 2007 Treasury, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. If approved, the federal money would help offset the cost of rebuilding the aging downtown baseball stadium. A bond issue to replace the downtown baseball stadium will likely go before Billings voters in November.

What business is it of the Feds to ante up funding to replace Cobb field in Billings? That I'm aware of they have no interest in it so they should keep there nose out of it.

Silly me, I forgot. Burns is trying to buy votes to get re-elected. That's the overriding Federal concern. This is no better than bribery Sen Burns, which you have intimate knowledge of, and anybody that falls for it ought to be ashamed of themselves.

No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power. P. J. O'Rourke

I have not commented on the latest cow with BSE in Canada because testing caught it and it was an older cow born before the 1997 feed ban. In a way the whole BSE thing has become a non issue to the public and with other things going on I didn't say anything.

Now R-Calf has come out with it's take on the situation and I share parts of it here.

Latest BSE Case Shows Canadian BSE Problem Worse Than First Thought

The Canadian government confirmed another positive case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) on July 4, 2006. Canada’s total reported BSE cases now number eight – one detected in a cow imported from Great Britain in 1993 and seven detected in native-born Canadian cattle.

“It is clear that Canada’s BSE problem is making it more difficult for U.S. beef to get back into the markets of South Korea and Japan,” said R-CALF USA President Chuck Kiker. “We need to be able to differentiate high-quality U.S. beef from Canadian beef to gain full resumption of U.S. exports. I hope that President Bush will ask the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make this important policy change. I also ask the President to urge Canadian Prime Minister Harper to increase BSE testing and take other mitigation measures to get this problem under control,” Kiker continued.

South Korea recently informed the U.S. that it was delaying the resumption of imports of U.S. beef because it was concerned that the U.S. was commingling Canadian beef with U.S. beef.

I've talked about the South Korea situation and Canada so I won't belabor the point here. American producers are being screwed over by the USDA in favor of Canadian producers for no apparent reason other than to benefit the Meat Packers. This just again shows that to be happening.

The press release also talks about the prevalence of BSE in the Canadian herd and gives numbers. The numbers get a little mind numbing after a while but it brings up the point I have wondered about for a while. Why is the prevalence of BSE so much higher in Canadian cattle than American cattle? The Canadians have a lot smaller herd size yet they have more cases than the US. What is the cause of the difference? I wish somebody could answer this question for my idle curiosity but I haven't been able to find the information.

I do worry about the prevalence of BSE in the Canadian herd causing problems for Americans via our export market since the USDA lets Canadian cattle in willy nilly to co-mingle with the American herd but there doesn't be much i can appear to do about the situation. All American consumers care about is the price of beef and letting Canadian cattle in helps hold the price of beef down for the consumer so the Government condones the whole situation.

I've asked both of Montana's Senate candidates, Conrad Burns and Jon Tester, about there thoughts on Canadian cattle, Bse and our cattle export markets and both have not responded to the question at all. Typical politicians, ask a tough question and they ignore or duck the question. That tells me that they both don't care about Montana, or US, cattlemen. It doesn't leave me much option when the election comes. Typical.

Common sense is judgment without reflection, shared by an entire class, an entire nation, or the entire human race. Giambattista Vico

I again post my woes about trying to get the Democratic US Senate candidate Jon Tester to answer my questions regarding agricultural issues at the Federal level and his positions on them. The reason I bring this up again is the excellent response the Monica Lindeen campaign, the Democratic candidate for the US House, returned when I asked the same questions to her. A few of the issues are still outstanding with her but the majority of the questions I have received an answer to.

I've asked this question before, received no adequate response except the comment to leave Tester alone, he's busy, and I ask it again. If Tester is such a man of the people, especially agricultural folks, why won't he answer simple questions like his position on NAIS or his position on the farm bill and the goals the farm bill should be supporting? These aren't tough questions to answer so why can't I, a registered voter in Montana, get an answer? The Lindeen campaign feels my vote is important enough to respond to the questions with useful information. Why not Tester? Am I not supposed to vote for Tester on the issues he supports or am I just supposed to vote for him because Conrad Burns is a liar and a crook?

I personally want more information on the issues and am getting sick and tired of waiting for it. If the Lindeen campaign can respond to my questions in less than 12 hours why can't the Tester campaign do the same? The only reason I can figure is Tester doesn't want to talk about the issues, just about whether he's prettier than Burns or not. A beauty contest, how sickening.

Voters don't decide issues, they decide who will decide issues. George Will

Voters trust Burns, politician says

Trust. Burns. Two words that are used in one sentence that make me laugh.

I love to laugh-and I do, whenever I find something funny or have a reason to laugh. Paul Getty

Is Conrad Burns really a person? Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y. is asking this question with his new legislation called the B.U.R.N.S. (Better Urban Recording Number System) Act.

Truthfully it is a very good question whether he is a person or not. I'm not real sure a politician qualifies for the label of person. They might qualify as heartless, lying pond scum but a person, not so sure.

Man becomes man only by his intelligence, but he is man only by his heart. Henri Frederic Amiel