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 […]

Do you know how much the secretary of defense makes per year? It is just a hair under $200,000. Now I want you to guess how much the postmaster general makes per year. Until lately he made almost twice what the secretary of defense makes. Sen. Jon Tester got a bill passed to reduce the […]

As contractors, we rely on predictability and certainty to grow our businesses, especially as construction season gets underway in Montana. Without a long-term plan to rebuild our infrastructure, contractors like us won’t be able to put more Montanans to work upgrading our roads and bridges. Without a long-term extension, we can’t sign new contracts, hire […]

The governor of Montana has made quite a bit of news the last few weeks – from his comments on polygamy to his proposed pension fix to scenes of him passing out beef jerky in Times Square – once again raising the question of what Brian Schweitzer’s intentions are after he leaves office. For his […]