Congressman Denny Rehberg has taken some heat over his support of H.R. 1505, a bill that strengthens America’s ability to protect itself by securing our borders against illegal aliens, drug and human traffickers, and terrorists. Rehberg’s opponents have conjured up a bunch of false attacks that this bill will cut off hunters from public lands, […]

Now that President Barack Obama is out of the closet on gay marriage, I may as well come out, too: I oppose gay marriage or civil unions. Sorry, but that’s the way it is. Oh, my upbringing was plenty “diverse.” My New York family almost all worked in show business, specifically Broadway, and our social […]

One of the more common things you’ll see from a business that’s differentiating themselves using things other than price is their use of a unique selling proposition (USP) and in the strongest cases, a “core story” that backs it up. You’ve probably heard USP described before. Domino’s Pizza’s USP is a well-known example: “Fresh, Hot […]

The presidential election is just four-and-a-half months away and few politicians will risk giving up ground before they know the results. So, until November and beyond, expect a lot of complaints about nothing getting done by the people in Washington, DC who aren’t getting anything done. But there still is what most of us would […]

The Keystone pipeline debacle is symptomatic of a deep systemic problem in the United States. The federal environmental laws and regulations created since the 1960s act as barriers to progress. In the case of the Keystone, progress would look like reduced dependency on our enemies for oil, breathing time for the development of significant domestically […]

As a former small-town journalist, I know that one major role of the news-media – especially in a small community like ours – is to “herald” the outstanding citizens who make this valley the wonderful place that it is. I was disappointed in a recent article that failed to accomplish just that. “Montana Beef, it’s […]

In the sweltering heat of August in San Diego a stocky and brawny Sen. Richard Lugar barreled past me, sweat glistening on his brow and soaking his T-shirt. He was jogging with several young staffers during a break at the 1996 Republican National Convention. Lugar was 64 then, but his boyish face and muscular conditioning […]

Are you wasting those carefully planned advertising investments? The most expensive investment we can make is one that’s wasted. You’ve studied, sifted and listened intently to figure out the perfect message for a certain group of people interested in what you make or do. As you hoped, it resonates with just the right people at […]

Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer joined Republican Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger and 93-year-old former Republican Secretary of State Verner Bertelsen in signing a citizens’ initiative to place on the November ballot a policy that states, “corporations are not entitled to constitutional rights because they are not human beings.” The ballot initiative seeks Montana policy that charges […]

I recently arrived at my parents’ Spokane home. Before grabbing my suitcase, Mom was already standing on her front porch waving at me. It’s the same scene every time I visit. And it never gets old. Yes, this mother of three is still eager to see me after all those years of torture. As a […]

How many congressmen does it take to connect two dots? A historic oil boom is underway in North Dakota. Unemployed Montanans are moving there for jobs. New businesses are booming in Williston yet the same massive Bakken oil formation lies in Montana, just 20 miles away. What is wrong with Montana oil? Ask yourself this […]

Most of us do not like it when one person controls things, controls our actions, blocks us, and holds power over our heads. But an interesting psychological phenomenon takes place even in such rather blatant abuses of our freedom to make our own choices. Case in point: Grover Norquist’s hold over the Republican members of […]

Few Americans would disagree that our nation’s flag is a symbol of great importance, especially to those of us who have served and fought under its stars and stripes, or who have known a member of our military who has given his or her life for our country. Sadly, there are some who have taken […]

On April 24, Nick Gevock of the Montana Standard reported the city of Butte is pumping water out of Basin Creek Reservoir to make up a shortfall from its main filtration plant on the Big Hole River. As the Big Hole mucks up with runoff, the main plant can filter less water per day. Big […]

In part two of this series, we figured out that the buying signals customers (and prospects) send us are sometimes subtle, if not almost invisible. One good example is the sometimes joyous, sometimes annoying as all get out process of buying a car. Question: How does the salesperson know when their prospect has gotten past […]