This year, we were told a lot of things are awful. Politicians were horrible, their policies were worse and we were doomed no matter the outcome. But then the election passed and the majority of us are moving on whether our preferred candidates won. To be sure, not everyone is. People in every state have […]

Folk philosopher Will Rogers commented that “We elect our Presidents, be they Republican or Democrat, then start daring ‘em to make good.” Implicit in Rogers’ observation is that either a Republican or a Democrat is capable of making good. In the modern era when each side assails and demonizes the other we are implored to […]

When is an easement keeping 1,500 acres of state trust lands west of Whitefish “open and undeveloped for all generations to come” not a conservation easement? When it’s a Beaver Lakes Area Deed of Public Recreation Use Easement, of course! Prior to 2001, Montana Code Annotated (MCA) said nothing for or against conservation easements on […]

One of the more daunting challenges for business owners is figuring out how to deal with a diverse group of leads. What’s a lead? Without over-complicating it, a lead is someone who in some way, shape or form has expressed an interest in buying something you do. I know that isn’t very personal and such, […]

As I feared and as this election validates, the tipping point in our nation has been reached and exceeded. Those in favor of big government now outnumber those in favor of limited government. Once this point is reached, if history is any guide, there is no going back. The role of government in every aspect […]

As rational adults, when something we do not like happens, should we really have the attitude of “I am taking my toys and going home?” The fact that there are all these petitions out there from various states that have some residents who wish to secede from the union because President Barack Obama was reelected […]

President Barack Obama lost Montana by 14 percentage points. He lost North Dakota by 19 percentage points. But U.S. Senate races in both states, which Republicans saw as easy pickups six months ago, went to Democrats. The question is why. While Montanans are well known for splitting tickets, and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester enjoyed the […]

By John Fuller Now that the election results are in and the 45th president of the United States will have to wait until 2016 to be elected, this writer has some predictions about the next decade. First, get used to $5 a gallon for gasoline (or more), higher food prices, increased taxes, increased costs for […]

I don’t talk about “b word” too often, but branding is really what a lot of our discussions are ultimately about. One of the more incisive definitions of branding that I’ve seen is “What people think when your business name is mentioned”. If that doesn’t cut right to the bone, I’m not sure what does. […]

Open public lands and the great outdoors are enormous economic drivers for the Flathead Valley. The Daily Inter Lake in an editorial titled “Kidsports is a key city asset” wrote that securing the recreational easement in Kalispell “is an idea that deserves serious attention.” The newspaper wrote in part that, “It could be an entirely […]

Although winter is not technically here until Dec. 21, for those who recreate and work in the winter backcountry, winter is here! Snow cover is well established on the mountain peaks and beginning to accumulate on the valley floor. With that said, if traveling in the winter backcountry this season, we need to start thinking […]

We are all familiar with the children’s tale, the fleecing of a kingdom by swindlers that offer a new royal wardrobe better than all others. Only the worthy can see. And even though it can’t be seen, no-one will admit not seeing it, thereby being unworthy. Just keep paying us, trust us, it is beautiful. […]

Immediately after the election, Tea Partiers and other so-called conservative groups started pointing the fingers and speaking out about how and why they lost the election. Here is one of the more ‘telling’ comments. Richard A. Viguerie, chairman of “ConservatieHQ.com” ended a press conference with these words: “Tea partiers will take over the Republican Party […]

When former Republican Gov. Marc Racicot told me this year’s election was the most important of his lifetime, I believed him. Our conversation a few weeks ago was primarily about Montana’s governor race, but his statement was all encompassing: Tester-Rehberg, Obama-Romney, Bullock-Hill. The list goes on. Tuesday night was a big deal in Montana and […]

Rats! I thought I’d closed the lid on Money Sewer 2012. But then, added to the screaming over Rick Hill’s half million, was news of hundreds of thousands being spent to fake out voters in Montana’s Senate race. Some went for possibly illegal “conservatives should vote for Dan Cox” mailers that came out of Las […]