I'm hoping perhaps we can have a civilized discussion as to why Tester or Rosendale should be the next Montana senator.

Personally, I'm planning to vote for Tester. The simplest reason comes down to the fact I think he's a true Montanan and has our best interests at heart. I don't feel as comfortable about Rosendale. And I don't trust the negative ads (against anyone) on TV and such.

What is your opinion?

If you are for or against either, let us know why we should vote that way.

I met Tester in 2005 or 06, briefly spoke with him and listened to him speak on a couple of occasions. I decided that he was who he appeared to be - someone who grew up east of Billings. A family farmer, teacher, small town Montanan, who felt he needed to step up and give something back to Montana. From what I’ve saw of his time in DC he done well at looking out for Montana – he’s given it a good shot.

The impression I have of Rosendale, formed without having met the man in person, is that he’s not a Montanan. That he understands Montana from an outside perspective – he's someone who grew up a long ways east of Montana. The impression I have is that he is in Montana running for office because he feels he has the money and resources to buy the office.

I’ll vote for Tester, the Montanan.

I know, I haven't addressed ideology, "party purity," and all the hot-button issues - but if that's what folks need to hear, there's a boatload of stuff like that out there - have at it.

As a lawyer, practicing 45 years, I have been involved in several matters that required contacting the State Auditor’s office. Most, if not all, involved an insurance company’s refusal to follow the law or pure malfeasance.

This spring I again contacted the State Auditor’s office because an insurance company obviously didn’t understand that Montana is a made whole state. I received no real assistance. Furthermore, it took 31 days for a response from the agency. I do not recall it ever taking over a week for action in the past. Is Rosendale too busy campaigning to take care of business when he hasn’t even been there long enough to find the bathroom? He couldn’t care less about this state or our citizens. Tester is the man for Montana!

For the last year or so I have been receiving phone calls on my cell phone.When I check the caller ID,it comes up as a Montana number.When I answer,it is a recorded message telling me that this is my last chance to consolidate my credit card debt.Push one to talk to a representative,or two to be removed from calling list.Pressing two doesn't help,same call the next day.Trying to reason or downright threaten the rep doesn't help either.When I call the Montana cell number that the call supposedly came from,its either a non valid number or I talk to someone who has no idea that someone is using their number.To me,this is another form of identity theft.I have a tracfone,so it costs me for every call.
I emailed John Testor,Gianforte and Daines offices and told them my story.Within four days,i received a lengthy reply from Testor.He agreed on the identity theft aspect and said he was not only aware of the problem,but was actively exploring possible legislation to combat such acts.
Gianforte and Daines? Three weeks later,the only thing I received from either was to be put on a GOP political drivel mailing list.Not a word on my complaint.
Montana is so Republican that Testor is in for a real fight.You would think that a native Montana farmer vs a Maryland land developer would not even be a challenge,

Since being elected, Tester had quadrupled his net worth by 2015, according to Opensecrets. He managed to do that on an annual salary of $174,000. It has been well documented that Tester takes large donations from Washington lobbyists.

https://billingsgazette.c...29dee.html

In the sake of maintaining civility, I'll refrain from any further comments. You all know what my opinion of Tester is. Do the research and draw your own conclusions.

I always thought that John McCain had a message for all of us and I purchased his book that came out after his funeral. The book, "The Restless Wave" is probably one of the best books you will ever read. He noted that he was a Ronald Reagan Republican. He loved our Country and our Freedom beyond words. In his work he found that many people in many countries envied our freedom and Dictators hated it as it did not fit their scheme of things.

A quote from him, "There is nothing "America First" about taking the word of a KGB Colonel over that of the American Intelligence Community" He had ZERO respect for Vladimer Putin who 1) damaged our last election and 2) Encouraged our Governments's dysfunction: disaffection and distrust in the Polity were his main objectives. Our Polarization and gridlock please Putin every day. The world is learning to live without our leadership which is not good.

"Human Rights advocacy isn't naive idealism, it's the truest kind of realism."
"Governments that protect the rights of their citizens are more likely to play a peaceful, construtive role in world affairs." "Governments that are unjust, that cheat, lie, steal and use violence against their own people, are more likely to do the same to other nations.....John McCain".

The book is so excellent and such a great reminder of how much our Democracy has given hope to other countries that we have been involved with,how it was accomplished and how important it is for the good of all of us. THEREFORE, I plan to vote for Senator Tester who will fight to uphold what is important for all of us. His experience is imperative. If you are waivering, let yourself read, Michael Lewis's book, "The Fifth Risk" and Chris Hedges book, "America: The Farewell Tour". There are many more but these are most recent observations of the depth of what is at stake. VOTE☺

I have moderate political leanings with a slight bent towards historic Democrat blue collar values. As such, Jon Tester represents me very well. That the progressive liberal wing of the Democratic party doesn't like him, that's fine with me.

Matt Rosendale is all in on Trump. Trump is terrible. Divisive, lies, running up the deficit, you name it. Broke his campaign promises on the best infrastructure and healthcare ever. All he's good at, is manipulating his followers.

If you want to further run up our national debt by building some trillion dollar wall that will serve no purpose, you probably should vote for Rosendale.

For me this race seems to be about ethics... Tester came forward and effectively told the truth about the emperor's hand picked man to be head of the VA. Now, as a result of pissing off a very vengeful emperor he has become a personal target of the said emperor. This is the same emperor who has no concept of honesty, integrity, or true loyalty. I can only imagine what thoughts must go thru the minds of women when he shakes their hand or hugs them.... Our wannabe emperor, aka groper in chief, is not a man to be selecting who represents my interests and values in the US Senate.

There was a brief period following the last election when I had hoped that maybe the new President could be transformed into a statesman, leader and President of all. However, this has simply not happened. Rather his self-serving actions and erratic choices have diminished the office he holds while simultaneously diminishing our standing on the world stage. There is simply no way in Hell that I could ever vote for someone who embraces our current President and all that he embodies...

Give me a man who stands with our veterans, a man who has had grease under his nails, a man who has worked the soil and made his living as a Farmer. Tester understands the value of taking care of those who have risked their lives so that we can have this discussion. Tester is an honest man, trying to represent our state to the best of his abilities. He is not afraid to be a bit more independent than perhaps the National Democratic Party prefers. What a concept! He realizes that his job requires that HE use HIS best judgement and that as a US Senator he is expected to act the part of a statesman, that he is more than a pet on a leash. Check your history.. lots of farmers have built this country since the very beginning. I hope there will be more honest men and women coming forward in the future.

I do not expect any one elected official to represent my views 100%, but I do expect him to be thoughtful, honest, and finally a man who will not bring dishonor to his elected position.

Amen, brother!

Tester has a "D" rating from gun owners and his 2nd amendment votes...that alone used to ensure that Montanan's wouldn't elect him as their Senator. Scary how his 2nd Amendment views have changed.

Exactly Ed. Tester votes anti guns consistently. As far as one of the biggest Idiot of the Senate. Right up there with Al Franken. Tester doesn't come close to the Democratic Statemen he replaced Mr. Max Baucus.(who lead the writing of Obama CARE) BAUCUS always got my vote up until then. Poor Baucus got thrown under the bus by OBAMA when OBAMACARE rolled out. BAUCUS said "It is rolling out wrong and headed for a wreck" THATS HOW WE GOT STUCK WITH TESTER!!!
Other than his consistantly vote with Liberals, my greatest concern is he learned from his staff and crowney Democrate cohorts how to get political points. He reminds me of Conrad Burns (Republican), Kinda a little slow on the uptake. A little too much country bumken.
Obviously Rosendale is sharp, yeah he hit a big chunk $$$ in technology of some kind,,yet self made.
Tester inherited his farm only kept it,, with a side line job as a teacher.

Simply stated TESTER JUST ISN'T UP TO THE JOB IN THESE TIMES.

Sorry Snowy, you got a couple of things wrong. Tester did not beat Max. Max retired as a senator and went on to become an ambassador to, I think China. Rosendale did not have some tech thing. It was Gianforte that sold his tech company. Rosendale is a land developer from Maryland. It would be a good idea to look at all their records. Please read.

And Tester had an A- rating from the NRA until recently when they decided to downgrade him to a D because they thought it was politically expedient in their effort to install Baltimore Matt in the Senate. Because Maryland knows much more about being a Montanan than Montana does.

Native mc ..yes Baucus got sent to China as Ambassador by Obama after he said Obamacare was headed for a wreck.
Your right Rosendale is realty, I BAD...Yet still better educated and not a phoney gas bag like TESTER..SO how is Tester so much richer than he was.

I'm voting for Tester because:
He's from Montana, worked an actual job that wasn't as a lawyer or finance. His interest is focused toward the land and the people. Can't say that for Rosendale. An immigrant to the state with a make a buck opportunism that puts profit ahead of the common good.

Veterans affairs. Hardly any other Senator has worked harder for Vets. There is a lot of lip service about respecting the troops and helping veterans, but Tester has backed up his words with action. Rosendale would just be another GOP advocate for handing out money to the rich.

2nd Amendment. Oh please. No one is coming to take your guns away. Take a breath and relax.

Obamacare. Yep, he voted for it and that's a good thing. The economic argument a national healthcare system is one that has long been settled. What this comes down to is greed. The GOP doesn't want to tax their rich friends what it would take, so put the onus and the cost on working folks. No one should have to go on Facebook and beg their friends and neighbors to help them pay for healthcare, no one should have to declare bankruptcy because of medical bills. The GOP has been promising a "beautiful healthcare plan", but that is a lie, they've done nothing. Rosendale would just be another co-conspirator in this lie.

Taxes - Tester voted against the Trump tax cut, a tax cut that added $1.5 trillion to the National debt. Where oh where are those hand wringing deficit hawks that decried any Democratic initiative on the basis of adding to the deficit?

Social Security and Medicare. It has long been a GOP goal to get rid of Social Security and Medicare. What they envision is "privatization" which means funneling more of our tax money to Wall Street money managers. Because of the tax cuts they now believe that they can use the very deficit they created and exacerbated as an excuse to do away with both programs. Rosendale will be more than happy to help Wall Street pick your grandparents pocket.

Campaign finance. Just by the volume of ads on the internet alone, Rosendale is trying to buy this election, or rather, others are trying to buy the election for him. Oh yes, Tester has outside help as well, but nothing it seems like the spending that Rosendale is getting. That make me suspicious as to where Rosendale's sympathies and allegiances lie. He is not from Montana and has no deep roots here. The money behind him has interest in Montana only so far as how much money they can take out of the state. Electing Tester would send a message to these outside interests that we want someone who knows us, knows our state, to represent us and that we cannot be bought.

I wonder what the frequent visitations from "our" president and Jr. are costing taxpayers. All of the attention from the Trumps smacks of desperation.

John Tester is a lazy phony

https://testersgonewashington.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwguDeBRDCARIsAGxuU8ZqLFrVQBDnlFla29wxa0s3GCyEHiEog44-by2ikmQyg83woQ0RYLMaAgBVEALw_wcB

Snowy posts a link from an anti-Tester website. Recall all the times he went after MCD for fake news links from CNN and the like. One could point out the irony, but Snowy would idignantly retort that he's part Mexican, not Irish.

Paid for by some wealthy, former politician from Indiana who has probably never even set foot in Montana. He's presently pushing Donald Trump to give him a capital gains tax cut so that the Federal government can run up bigger deficits and/or cut your services.

Snowy, he thanks you for your willingness to accept less and pay more so that he doesn't have to.

The biggest danger is the Liaision with the NSM (Nationalist Socialist Movement)...and, I see Mr. Rosendale with his arm around Alt-Right Steve Bannon. Stephen Miller is the right hand man in the Whitehouse...and, Mr. Trump announced that he is a Nationalist. Many are involved to help persuade you.

I received literature from a Dr. Ralph Reed seeking money for their Evangelical fund raising for Mr. Trump. It points out the the White Catholics were the Pop that gave Mr. Trump the Presidency...and, not the Catholic Hispanics. He tells what Mr. Trump told the Evangelicals for one thing that Hillary would be allowing Abortions all over the WORLD, along with other unusual things...and, that was a trade off for his former discretions. I have copies if one questions.

If anyone is noticing the Tariff situation, the Troops being sent to the Border and to build Tent Cities, to try to change the Constitution which he cannot...and, Mr. Rosendale prides himself in that he plans to totally support the Radical behaviors. We need to be thankful that there is an opportunity to vote for someone like Jon Tester so we can hopefully work toward the restoration of a degree of normalcy in what used to be our Government. There is so much more going on...and, I have a list of book titles I would be happy to share with you. A quick history lesson in regard to Tariffs and Troops dispensed can be found if you google Herbert Hoover and his history as a President.

And...be honest...unless you are a Billionaire and a radical one...you are part of the 99%. Thanks for the place to expound but I am seriously worried for the sake of our Youth. Their future is at stake.

Amen Jeri ....

I support Jon Tester because I believe that he looks at the whole package of a bill and votes based on his conscience as to whether it is good for Montana and/or the nation. As a bill progresses through the legislative process, there are amendments, riders, etc. Many times these adulterate the original purpose of the bill or add something that is so wrong that a person such as Senator Tester could not support it, even though he may have agreed to the original, unchanged bill.

During voting on appointments, he looks at the individuals (nominees for cabinet positions and the Supreme Court). There can be issues with those individuals that are totally incompatible with our values. Again, I believe he votes for whom he believes is best for the people who will be served by that position.

I will vote for a person who thinks for his/her self and is not a self-declared "Trump Conservative" as is Gianforte or who will "Support President Trump" as Rosendale has declared. I want a person representing me who has the courage to vote their conscience and not follow in lockstep with the party.

Contrary to what ads for Rosendale and Gianforte say, neither Jon Tester nor Kathleen Williams has said that they are "Pelosi Conservatives" or that they will support the "Democratic Party no matter what".

Remember all of our freedoms are precious and this administration seems to want to curb any that get in the way of its purposes. As I said in an earlier post, read Madeleine Albright's book - "Facism, a Warning". The parallels are disturbing.

Congratulations to Senator Tester and to Montana voters for repudiating the best efforts of a fear-mongering demagogue.

I wish Kathleen Williams would have won, but when she came out and said she supported an assault rifle ban I knew she was toast.

Isn't it true that he voted for sanctuary cities? If so he hasn't any right to be a senator in my opinion.

Seems the majority of voters disagreed with your opinion.

Maybe instead of blindly repeating the Trump mantra, one should do some simple fact checking. I was able to find the following with little effort. Of course there were significantly more articles with partial truth or skewed views of the actual facts.

"The Trump administration and others have tagged Tester with supporting so-called “sanctuary cities.” These are places, often large cities like New York and Los Angeles, that prohibit police from questioning people about their immigration status or refusing requests by national immigration authorities to detain people beyond their release date. The Senate considered two bills that would financially punish cities for pursuing such policies. Both bills needed to attract 60 votes in the Senate to move to a final vote and Tester voted against ending debate." (Missoulian)

"The vote that Trump refers to frequently was not in support of so-called “sanctuary cities,” or cities that would not comply with strict checks for undocumented immigrants. Instead, the vote which Trump cites would have allowed the federal government to cut off funding for sanctuary cities. Tester, along with 44 other senators, voted against the motion. In other words, he voted to preserve funding already promised to the cities. (Billings Gazette)"

TiredofBS wrote:

Isn't it true that he voted for sanctuary cities? If so he hasn't any right to be a senator in my opinion.

Let's dissect this post. It begins with "isn't it true" then proceeds with a Trump talking point.

Anyone else see something wrong with that?

"Some people might say that is misleading, but I'm not going to say that. Some people might say that, though, that it's misleading."

In doing a little research regarding the Sanctuary Cities, I found this:

Border Security

Trump repeatedly accused Democrats of being the party of “open borders” and supporting elimination of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. He also repeatedly tied Tester to the issue, saying he will vote with national Democrats on immigration, including voting to protect so-called “sanctuary cities.”

But last month the union that represents Border Patrol agents endorsed Tester for re-election, saying “Senator Jon Tester is a relentless defender of our border and our country,” adding the group stand, ”with him in his re-election for a safer and more secure border.”

The same group has assailed what they call the “Democrats’ dream of open borders and their unrelenting opposition to securing our border.”

The Trump administration and others have tagged Tester with supporting so-called “sanctuary cities.” These are places, often large cities like New York and Los Angeles, that prohibit police from questioning people about their immigration status or refusing requests by national immigration authorities to detain people beyond their release date. *** The Senate considered two bills that would financially punish cities for pursuing such policies. Both bills needed to attract 60 votes in the Senate to move to a final vote and Tester voted against ending debate.***

If you do not want to read all of it..The words between the ***'s tell the story. I think it is always good to know what really transpires☺

In the imaginations of the most heated immigration hawks, “sanctuary” cities and states are places where the rule of law simply doesn’t apply — where Democratic-controlled governments have allied with “open borders radicals” (as Sessions put it Wednesday) to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting unauthorized immigrants even when they’ve been convicted of crimes.

In the imaginations of some progressives, it’s kind of a mirror image of the same idea: “Sanctuary” policies have become a way for Democratic-governed parts of the US to demonstrate that they reject the Trump administration’s immigration agenda and the idea of America it projects, and want to protect everyone who lives within their jurisdiction regardless of legal status.

The wonky truth is that neither of these is exactly right.

Read more:

Vox: Sanctuary cities, explained
The stereotype and the reality.
by Dara Lind

The Montana Liberal Students, taught by the Montana Liberal Professors brain washing is the only reason Tester got reelected.
Tester overcame Trump's attacks with help from moderates, women and younger voters http://billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/article_a15847ab-90c5-54f3-ade9-aa04d67a2ec6.html

Snowy makes a good point. Time to end women's suffrage!

You know the old adage...."Just mention my name and spell it right"...and, that is what must have happened. All we heard for months..."Tester, Tester, Testoooooor".

For the first time, Tester won over 50% of the vote. If Trump would have shut his mouth and not stumped so hard for Maryland Matt, I believe Tester would have lost the election. Seeing a narcissistic jerk from Queens bad mouthing a Montana native, working farmer and overall good man, probably didn't go over real well with a lot of moderate Montanans. And probably a lot of Montana conservatives as well. Every time Trump came to Montana to spew his lies and demagoguery, a few more people decided to vote for Tester.

Thank you President Trump for helping re-elect John Tester.

[Edited by tom regan (11/9/2018 1:51:55 PM)]

Chump Junior didn't help the cause by calling Tester 'A piece of garbage" either.

Not to mention Pence. The toadiest toad in the history of gutless sycophants.

We also fail to mention that Rosendale has the personality of Ted Cruz with a bad meth hangover.

I was struck by the photo of Rosendale that was on the front page of the October 25th Miles City Star. Do you think he wore big belt buckles like that in Baltimore?

Matt Rosendale

Excellent oped piece on this election in the NYT:

https://www.nytimes.com/2...-race.html

And read the comments from hundreds of Montanans, including my wife who teared up writing her comment (KarenE).

We are slowly starting to make America great again.

Just as I suspected. Trump and Trump Jr's visits to Montana had the opposite effect on unaffiliated voters. Also, at least 7% of Republicans aren't blind Fox news sheep. It's a start.

"Parker said those results are important because they indicate that Montanans are independent-minded, they don’t necessarily approve of the job Trump is doing and a small amount of moderate Republicans are willing to break ranks to support an opposition candidate who they think is doing a good job."

It's probably difficult to see in rural areas, but Trump and his administration is thoroughly despised by the majority of Americans.

https://www.bozemandailyc...69e2b.html

That was simply awesome. Thanks for the link!