When we called up City Council candidates this week in a last-minute attempt to round up some political ads, Ron Tussing turned us down. His reason: He said that I am “an apologist” for Al Garver.
I can’t think of anything I wrote in The Outpost that would deserve that label, and I assume he wasn’t referring to this. So it must have to this, in which I labeled a loaded question posed by a Tussing supporter as a “cheap shot” and “dumb.”
Since Tussing ran a couple of 2-by-4 ads before the primary, and since we charge a flat $10 per column inch for political ads, my comment may have cost me $160 or so. That makes it the most expensive opinion in the history of the Montana blogosphere, I’m guessing. Can anybody top it?
I’m working on a freelance piece that, with luck, may pay me 20 cents a word. My three-word “apology” for Garver may have cost me $53.33 a word. If Larry Kralj had to pay those kind of rates each times he gives offense, he would be bankrupt after a paragraph or two.
I wrote the offending lines about 13 hours into a 22-hour day. If I had been a little less tired, I might have been more circumspect. But after considerable reflection and discussion, I haven’t found a reason to doubt my initial judgment about the question. It was dumb. And, since the bill already has been paid: dumb, dumb, dumb.
At any rate, this development has put a serious crimp into the profitability of this blog. The latest P&L:
Expenses
Hosting $0
Compensation to author $0
Total $0
Revenues
Gross income $0
Intemperate opinion penalty ($160)
Total ($160)
Total net income: ($160).
As usual, my business plan appears to have some holes in it.
The oddest thing is that Tussing seems to think I have something against him and his campaign. Nothing could be further from the truth. I need him in the public eye. Until he came along, I was Donald Cyphers’ public enemy No. 1.
Heck, I probably should apologize. But then Garver might pull his ads. I don’t think I can afford any more apologies.
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Maybe, but that prediction was based on pretty conventional political reasoning. I figured that Tussing was the best-known candidate in the race and also the most polarizing. Both factors worked in his favor in the primary because his supporters came out in force and the anybody-but-Tussing voters split their vote among five other candidates -- and he still won by only 5 points. Once past the primary, I figured, Garver would be better known and the Tussing opponents would rally behind Garver.
Now I'm not so sure, for several reasons:
1. Garver scares my liberal friends.
2. His mill levy position may have some merit, but where does it go politically? Nowhere, I suspect.
3. He stumbled on the firefighter and police endorsement issue.
4. The Sunday profile in the Gazette did him no good.
5. When I was delivering papers on Thursday, I saw far more Tussing signs than Garver signs. Considering how much money Garver has raised, Tussing's ability to beat him on signage could indicate a lot of underlying support.
6. The Tony factor. When an ex-police chief gets the support of aging hippie leftists with attitude, then who's left to vote against him?
Moi??? Offensive?? Ah, Dave. Truthful maybe. Opinionated, surely. Blunt and plainspoken, always. But offensive? No! I only offend those that NEED offending! It's my nature. And those types NEED offending! I had a friend one time that was attempting to explain my behavior to some folks unfamiliar with with my writing. I liked very much what he had to say. He said that I'm not offensive, just colorful! THAT I'll accept! But ya know, I am beginning to agree with you not so much because I like Garver, but that I dislike anyone who covorts with a fox! This camaign is NOT so much of a choice between two evils, but a choice between two weazels! I wish that the Chief hadn't aligned himself with such a zorra. Makes me wonder about his bonafides. But take heart. You have the cojones to do what many couldn't do. Namely, run an alternative paper. AND, allowed me to speak truth to bullsh*t! And for that I thank you! P.s. If my pal Tony don't like the Chief, there's GOTTA be some smoke to that fire! Tony don't B.S. either!
Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers!
P.S. I want to publicly state that the above opinion is my own, and that I am NOT embedded with ANYONE, particularly anyone named focks from the Racicrotch "administration", such as it was! (I get the distinct impression that someone who posts on this forum doesn't LIKE me very much. And for that, I am eternally thankful!)
If I was Ron Tussing, I wouldnt be making an enemies with the press. It might be a long 4 years.
winning by 5 percent in a 6 candidate race is pretty damn good.
Individuals may contribute $130.00 to municipal candidates in an election. Of course, a spouse may contribute an additional $130.00.
Purchases of campaign ads, literature or other campaign material on behalf a candidate must be reported as an "in kind" contribution in the candidate's finance report and must not exceed $130 for each individual.
If Tussing is a "black and white" guy and calls himself a straight shooter, why did he not just tell David that he didn't like his campaign prediction? Using the word "apologist", when there has been nothing that David has written that comes close to being an apology for Garver, reinforces the idea that maybe Tussing will be vindictive or revengeful. The "you are either for me or against me" attitude which is definitely not what the city council needs right now. I realize that the word vindictive is a little strong for his comment to David, but there does seem to be some rancor coming from something.
Ray, great point! Like the old saying goes, it's good to be king! But in the case of law enforecment, "it's good to be chief"! Cause ya see, if somebody messes with you, YOU CAN MESS BACK! Happens all the time! Boys in blue come around and exact a little revenge! Hell, like they say, even a ham sandwich is guilty of sumthin'! Nope. Me thinks that it's time for the ex-chief to hang up the badge, the bluster, and the b.s.! In the grand scheme of things, maybe a Garver type fellow will be better for my beloved Billings. The chief without a doubt will STILL think that he's the big cheese, and that's not good. A chief is a chief, and a mayor is a mayor, and never the two shall meet! If the chief is truly concerned about Billings (which I highly doubt), he'll do the noble thing and step aside. But he won't. Like a cop who's been wronged, he'll wait. And wait. AND WAIT for that miscreant bastard who offended him to screw up! Hell, noT even screw up. APPEAR to have screwed up! And then he'll nail him REAL good with all the "legal" contrivances at his command! You know the types. Cop don't like a guy, so he waits outside the bar until he sees the guy leave. Then nails him! Or follows him around town until he fails to use his turn signal! Nope. The chief is nothing more than a cop who thinks he's been wronged, and he wants a little dirty harry justice! Is THAT what's best for Billings? I don't THINK so. So, Billings, the choice is yours. Do you REALLY want make-my-day-punk leadership? Or would you prefer simply an al garver type, who won't seek revenge? PUT ME IN FOR GARVER! GARVER'S THE ONE!
LK
P.S. for Al Garver campaign. Here's a little free advice from a pundit. If you really want to defeat Dirty Ronny, emphasize, hammer, hit home, and NAIL the fact that he was a C-O-P! The average joe don't LIKE cops much! And everyone can relate. Everyone has a cop story. Everyone has been treated unfairly by a cop at some time or another. HAMMER IT HOME! Use the line, Do You Want dirty harry As Your Next Mayor?! THAT is the question! And goog luck, Al. Tussing took the money, now it's time to run!
Hey, whaddayknow! I finally did it! Focks and I are on opposite sides again. AND IT FEELS DAMN GOOD! (Ooops! I should know better than to criticize some of that "stature"!..........BUT I DON'T!)
lifers are pretty much unemployable outside the military. Ask any Headhunter. Their skill set applies only to the military and isnt transferable. Even if they are working on a liberal studies degree from Eastern Oregon University.
Oh good. Larry Kreepy Krawly is giving his valuable political advice to Al Garver! Yes, Al should stress that Ron Tussing is a former cop! Gasp! No one in Billings knows that yet. That'll be the atom bomb in this election.. ah hem. But wait! Al goes around calling himself a COP, too. Oopsies, Larry. What to do about that? OH well, no one will remember, I'm sure.
And yes, the mayor can wait outside someone's door (whose? I don't know) to exact revenge by pulling out his trusty ceremonial mayoral scissors and cut the person to ribbons! Right, Larry! Yes, a mayor in a weak mayor form of government can really, really stir things up all by himself as one vote among 10 others. Yes, Larry! Your brilliance astounds me. Thank God I'm sitting down to absorb it all slowly. So much to learn from you. So much!
so choosing NOT to spend your own money on an advertisement qualifies as revenge now, hmmm? Whatever.
a pol'o'gist, n. one who makes an apology or speaks in defense of, or to make an excuse for something or someone.
a pol' o' gy, n. something said or written in defense; an argument to show that some idea, religion, etc. is right.
Okay, let's add them up for Al Garver's advisory team: Don Cyphers www.montanasnews.com
Larry Kralj, Janet (Donnie Cypher's trusty sidekick and ace reporter-at-large), Larry Brewster, David Bovee, Cliff Hansen, Phyllis Schlafley.
Don Cyphers www.montanasnews.com
Larry Kralj, Janet (Donnie Cypher's trusty sidekick and ace reporter-at-large), Larry Brewster, David Bovee, Cliff Hansen, Phyllis Schlafley
add Stan Simmons to the list and you have:
All The Presidents Men...
Hey Fox! Give it a rest! What's your agenda if Tussing gets elected? City Manager? Here's a guy that's cost us a $160,000 buyout and, whose already playing fast and loose with his spin doctoring as to whether or not being Mayor cancels his buyout promise. Don't we have enough spin doctors on the council and other government entities without electing another one? I also resent the fact that it cost we taxpayers more than $75,000 for an investigation of the PD, the result of which the "investigator" verified 8 of the 14 allegations and the acting CA, at hearing, determined that most if not all were warranted! Then, we have the view of the former "Chief" shoving a "reporter" around. The reporter may have been a pain in the a-- but movie stars put up with paparrazi who are even worse without using storm trooper tactics to avoid them. Ever wonder if maybe the "Chief" looked the other way when allegations of police "overreacting" were overlooked by their "Chief." If I remember correctly, the "Chief" also encouraged the Crime Prevention Council (CCC)to turn all their programs over to the PD because they could do it better. But, thanks to his hand picked "volunteer coordinator," and under his watch, they've managed to run out of volunteers and have had to close two Cop Shops, are bragging about having 30 Neighborhood Watches in town when there had been hundreds and, have taken down all the Neighborhood Watch signs the people in the neighborhoods, not the City or the PD paid for. And finally, your being "elected" to the school board by default doesn't make you and "expert" as far as qualifications for Mayor go either. Apparently, having not yet seen a funding increase, mill levy proposal or tax increase you didn't like on behalf of schools, doesn't enhamnce your qualifications either in my opinion. Giving, as a minimum, the above record and who knows how much we don't know thanks to the mayor and council's constant attempts at hiding the truth from the citizens, I'll vote for Garver and am willing to even give someone with an unproven record a chance against what we already know about "The Chief!"
Second verse, same as the first.
Richard Simmons is advising Al Garver??? What? Is there a new exercise video in the works? Sweatin to the Wingnuts???
No, no, no. It's Gene Simmons. Pay ATTENTION, people!
The chief tried to infiltrate the SDS as a young man???? What a piece of not shinola! And he didn't apologize for this action?? What a piece of not shinola! The Gazoo endorsed Garver. Good for them. Sumthin' stinks about Tussing, and it AIN'T just the company he keeps! Why didn't he have his arse in Vietnam like the REST of us????????.........instead of infiltrating the SDS? What a bozo! GO AL! Billings DOES need a FRESH START!
"One of his early jobs on the force - this was 1969 - was posing as a college student on the University of Nebraska campus and trying to infiltrate the Students for a Democratic Society, a radical anti-war group. At one SDS rally he covered, his job was to file a report on a speech by a Vietnam vet named Bob Kerrey, who went on to be a senator from Nebraska and a presidential candidate." Billings Gazette
Big deal, Larry. It was a work assignment for Ron's police department in Nebraska. He wrote a report about a speech Bob Kerry gave.. OMG! And Kerry later encouraged Ron to run for governor? so, obviously Kerry didn't see a problem with it. What an idiot you are, Larry. Every day you seem to go to greater lengths to prove it.
Look, there's something to be said for honesty. For example, Rick Hill is a man who in my estimation is beneath contempt. He's slime, sleazy, and no good. But by God I respect Rick Hill because he's as honest as the day is long. One time, after an exchange of ideas, he flat said that this was where he stood and he wasn't going to change. He said that if we didn't like it, vote for someone else. I have never forgotten that. Al Garver is that way. He's honest. He'll tell you what he believes and what he thinks. If you don't like it, tough. But at least with Al we know where he stands. With the chief, I'm not so sure. Anyone who would attempt to infiltrate "a radical peace group" is bout as cheesy as they come! Sorry, if judgement was that pisspoor then, what is it now?? Al's the one!
Okay, Al. You can stop patting yourself on the back now. If you'd actually been a cop as you so often claim to have been, you would know what it means to follow an order from your chief. But then again, you tend to quit jobs as soon as you're not happy with what you're told to do. What a loser. The NFIB booted you. The Metra Foundation booted you. The Cobb Field leadership almost booted you but certainly won't ask you back. Your track record is very interesting--a failure wherever you go. I've heard your consulting job is floundering, too. Why didn't Ed Kemmick talk about General Dynamics? Phony. Baloney.
One question. Did the "chief" cross his fingers behind his back when he agreed to and signed his buy out? Aren't we the victims, every day, of politicians, government officials and political wannbees who say one thing and then spin doctor it to try and mean something else? Kinda like a school trustee who was gonna watch out for the taxpayers but has beaten the "more money from you taxpayers for SD2 drum" ever since being appointed, uh, annointed uh "elected" by default? And, didn't that person jump around in jobs for at least two state administrations? Thought all the snakes in the grass were supposed to have hibernated by this time of year!
He's slime, sleazy, and no good. But by God I respect Rick Hill because he's as honest as the day is long.
Someone please make sense of this nonsense. A slimy, sleaze is honest as the day is long? WTF?
Now that the Gazette has endorsed Garver, is Tussing going to have them remove his ad from the City Lights section
I was Governor Marc Racicot's media director for campaign #1. I was asked back to manage campaign #2. After our win with 74% of the vote and a surplus of $70K, I was asked by Governor Racicot to serve as his policy advisor for Health and Human Services and Corrections. I was also asked to be legislative liaison for Racicot's second term. Governor Racicot then increased my salary by almost double and added the responsibility of writing all his speeches and serving as media director for his second term. When Governor Martz came into office and Governor Racicot was term limited out, I stayed in my same office doing the same things for Governor Martz: media director, speech writer, policy advisor for Corrections and Human Services. The only change was in governors. My office stayed the same, along with job duties.
I will also never apologize for promoting the financial needs of School District 2 when necessary. Voters can accept or reject the proposals as they see fit. I respect their decision.
Just shows to go ya, that two goofy women can't do the job of one man!! Way to go, speechwriter!...........they were pathetic speeches by the way, long on BS, short on actual substance. But they DID fit Racicrotch's style perfectly! And for that you are to be commended!
WIN ONE FOR THE GARVER! Send Dirty Harry (ronny) back to the unemployment line! But remember that famous line from Dirty Harr? "This is a .44 cal handgun, the largest handgun in the world. Feelin' lucky, Punk? Go ahead, make my day!" Or those lines from that Dirty Ronny movie. "This is the largest settlement in the city's history. Feelin' stupid, Billings? Go ahead, MAKE MY DAY!" Go, Al. Go on and be a fine governor! You have the tools. Tussing has the baggage! Hey, I like that. Maybe even I could write speeches, like the poster above. USE MY LINE, Al. I have the tools, Ronny has the baggage! I like that one myself! Or how bout this one. Ronny has mary jo. I have jojo the monkey boy. So WE'RE EVEN! That's it!!!
In Larry's universe winning with 74% of the vote as Racicot did was a failure. Leaving office with a 74% approval rating as Racicot did is a failure. Please introduce me to ANY politician who'd reject those numbers, Lar. You're such a parody. Truly.
Ron Tussing has a long and distinguised law enforcement career. Leary Krajl was a dog catcher for the Billings Police Department. NOW THAT'S PARDOY!
Was Larry really a dog catcher for Billings? Really?
yep.
isn't the animal shelter part of the police department? if so, then isn't the police chief over the animal shelter? how many animals died under Tussing's watch because he didn't put together a "no-kill" program?
I wonder if every bad thing that has ever happened in the history of the world can be traced back to Ron Tussing? Marc Racicot? I'm guessing some people may think so around here. Now that's rich.
Well, I can't speak about Tussing, but didn't dereg happen on marcy's watch????? Just wondering. That alone is enough to make me a believer that YES, all bad things happened on marcy's watch!
Well MJF, (re: your anonymous post), you don't have to worry.
"Promoting the financial needs of School District 2 when necessary." is guaranteed job security for you because they will never have enough!
And,as far as your statement that "Voters can accept or reject the proposals as they see fit."
That's if they can see through the spin doctoring, false, misleading statements and and BS while they squander hard earned tax money, over spend, promote levies for pay raises, let costs for repairs run over budget etc etc!
I think "The City" the PD and FD all took lessons from SD2 for their mill levy. And now, that they've been caught weasel wording, are scared to death of letting us vote on it again, now that we know what the true costs would be.
Would that we could all hide behind the "need" of children for our own personal gain!
The best statement to come out of the whole crummy teacher's strike, "for the children" was the guy driving by the pickets who shouted, "I have to work two jobs!"
Thank goodness the legislature passed the law of only one School District mill levy a year. Otherswise we'd still be paying for 3 or 4 elections a year for the same thing until everybody got fed up and it passed.
Now if only we could get the legislature to pass a law requiring school mill levies to be held only during the regularly scheduled primary or general elections. Enough of this BS of having to vote at odd times of the year. But that is the way they like it -- catch the voters off guard and hope the teachers turn out in force. Not much difference in my eyes between that and a deceptively worded ballot.
A friend of mine has been a Chief Election Judge at one of the schools for quite a few years. Where there is a school mill levy on the ballot the teachers are running out to the polling table every two minutes. When there isnt a mill levy on the ballot you dont see them and they dont bother to vote.
Anon, despite that fact that your use (or non-use) of grammar indicates that you are indeed a moron, let me ask you a question. If not teachers, just WHO will advocate on behalf of the children of our state?! Answer that one, you moron! Where are the OTHER groups out there that advocate on behalf of kids??
OOps! Did I hit a moron's nerve? I'd have no problem if all those "educational mill levies" went to the greater good of the kids. But, you, I and I'm sure many others know that the biggest portion both asked for and received mill levy proposals goes to the "educators." TaDa! After your last strike and the self defeating and mistaken revelations of administrator's and teacher's salaries trying to gain the public's sympathy for each other's cause, the voters have stuck it in your ear on every mill levy proposal since. GET REAL! YOU ARE NOT UNDERPAID! But, like yourself, your fellow crybabies lost a lot of respect and future support acting like a bunch of goons, chasing people who didn't agree with your "plight," calling people names stalking and stigmatizing those who had the kids' true interests at heart and crossed the picket lines to teach them. Thanks to you and others like your performance, it'll be a long time before you get any mill levy passed in this town.Oh, by the way...MORON..def. "mental defective who has a potential mental age of between 6 and 8 years." Careful! your responses indicate that you're obviously performing below your expected capacity!
I wonder why the people who are whining loudest about the public safety levy have not instigated an initiative? Is it a good precedent to set aside the results of an election based on nothing but conjecture, anecdote, assumptions and political ambition? It worries me to hear Garver call everyone else morons, crybabies and deceptive. He doesn't sound like a consensus builder to me. And he still hasn't identified where in the budget he will shift money from to cover the new officers, firefighters and operating expenses for the new firehall. Mr. Garver, when are you going to answer this question. You've had a year to come up with an answer but you keep dodging it. You promise a rebate in taxes, no new taxes AND all the new public safety people, too. I think Billings deserves to hear your answer in concrete detail.
Sorry, moron, but I am NOT a Billings teacher! And here, let me help you out a little. Moron= One who can't/won't/isn't capable of answering a simple question. So, moron, let me repeat it. WHO WILL ADVOCATE FOR KIDS IN THIS STATE IF NOT THE TEACHERS?! You seem to suggest the "people who crossed the picket lines!" BRILLIAN ANSWER! From a moron. You truly are pathetic. Let's face it, moron. You HATE public education! You don't WANT public education! You don't THINK that teachers should be paid at all! So, moron, here's another question. Answer these two and I'll retract my moron comment. Who will advocate for kids if NOT teachers?! And just what IS an adequate wage in your estimation for teachers? Here's you big chance, peabrain. Show the world what you've got!.........or don't have! And for God's sake. Stop whining. Makes you look pathetic!
the only advocating going on during that 3 week strike was for more MONEY!
Larry, we know you're not a BILLINGS school teacher. You're a teacher at Great Falls Central http://www.greatfallscentral.org/Cross_Country.htm. But I've yet to meet many teachers that don't have their hands out, wanting more more more. Inquiring minds want to know Larry, you are so pro-taxes, but do you own any property? I can't seem to find any record of property ownership in your name. It is certainly easier to advocate for higher property taxes when you don't own property yourself.
Gee, why can't you just answer the guy's questions instead of getting personal. Makes you look kinda like a fool. So, please answer. WHO will advocate for the kids of this state if not for teachers? I take the fact that you won't answer as the fact that you CAN'T answer, making you even a sadder case than I originally suspected. You are to be pitied! But please post your name. For you see, you've posted that this individual has no property. I want to be able to see HOW many times you yourself are on record for testifying in Helena on behalf of kids!...........or do you just like to pass gas on open forums?????? Peeeeeeeeew!
Hey, sad case, post the number of acres YOU own, then I'll do the same! Put up or shut up! As the guy says, we'll see who's just passin' gas!
LK
Um...how about the PARENTS?! Parents have a far bigger interest in their children's education than do teachers (unless the teacher is also a parent) and no monetary conflict as in the case of teachers. Come se dice "money grabber" in espanol? Now, you didn't answer the question posed to you...
Sad case, explain for me, I'm a leetle slow, just WHERE is the "monetary conflict of interest" with teachers! Sheesh. What a goober. And saddy, tell me just HOW big is the "parent's" lobby in Helena where all the money is doled out! Saddy, why don't you just admit it instead of looking like a lyin' fool. You don't LIKE public education! You don't LIKE teachers! You don't LIKE teachers making a living! And you ARE simply an ignorant bully who likes to bash easy targets! Does this shoe fit, little fella??? Como se dice "dumbarse" in English?!
So you're saying that teachers are easy targets? Being a little slow as you freely admit to being, I don't think I know enough small words to explain the errors in your thinking in terms you would grasp.
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