MB's own Montana election
 

A special election in Montana is the focus of a lot of media attention because it is the first post-Trump election in the US. I thought it might be interesting, if MB had its very own election for the Montana seat in the House of Representatives. For those of you who don't live in Montana, here's a quick way to get up to speed before you vote:

i) Montana is famous for its annual crop of dental floss, produced by "raisin' it up 'n' waxin' it down" according to agricultural expert Frank Zappa.
ii) this lady from PBS will explain the two candidates running for office:-



Just as we did for the US Presidential election, how you vote in the MB ballot will remain secret unless you choose to declare it below, and the poll is only open for one day.

^ :laughing: Hey, you could sell that uptown I´m sure!

My vote here won't be much of a secret.

On one hand we have Gianaforte, who resorts to violence when faced with a question he'd rather not answer - a great role model for American kids. But then this is the new generation of Republicans. Whereas once children were asked to look up to people in public office, parents must now be asking their children to look away, as Trump and co. continue to lie shamelessly in public.

And on the other team we have Rob Quist, one-time member of a bluegrass band. Even if Bluegrass is not yr fave genre, you've got to give him credit for that, haven't you? He could almost be a music nerd like one of us! I say fill the White House with music nerds and they will, er, endlessly bicker between themselves...

Gianforte (note spelling) may still win even after this latest fiasco,
because there's been a large early-voting turnout there
(over 60%) and Montana is a state that doesn't allow voters
to change absentee votes after they have been submitted.

Thanks for the spelling correction. That´s what comes from rather hasty posting I'm afraid.
Yes, I heard about the absentee voting which in this case is going to work to Gianforte's advantage. I heard that some early voters are already asking if they can change their votes, but quite understandably, there's no chance of that happening. All they'll get is a severe dose of buyers' remorse I suppose.

Yeah, I think that there are only about 4 to 6 states where you can go back and change your absentee votes. Montana is not one of them.

Where the **** is Montana and why should I care?

Gianaforte named the winner.

Those Music Banter Polls strike again.

The World is America. It's a fact. :rolleyes:

Also known as, who the hell cares about an election in Montana?

^ Well, that was quick and disappointing. :(

^ One reason to care is that the House of Representatives has a Republican majority: 238 Republicans to 193 Democrats. Personally, I'd like to see that majority chipped away, even if it's just one seat at a time.

Another reason is that the vote sends a two-fold message; one about the particular candidates and another about the parties they have allegiance to.
So in this case the messages to America are:
1. Thuggery over Musicianship.
2. Go Trump - we like what you're doing.

I don't subscribe to either of those ideas, so the small comfort I draw from this result is that at least MB voted for the Democratic bluegrass guy.

To be fair, Montana is not a very representative slice of the country as a whole.

He assaults a journalist and still wins. If this doesn't disturb you...

Gianforte

That's the spirit!

Is that an oxymoronic name?

Well, something like 70% of the votes had already been cast via mail-in-ballot prior to the assault. Very common in a state like Montana where a LOT of people live was out in the sticks. Montana is the 4th largest state but ranks 44th in population.

Hell, I've yet to see the guy in a suit and tie. Even last night he looked like he was planning on going hunting right after his acceptance speech. Also, he make what seemed like a pretty sincere apology to his constituants and directly to the reporter using his name.

^ Yes, it's true that "around 60%" [UK newspaper] of people voted before Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault, but those who voted for him were still signalling approval of the Republican party agenda, which is disappointing.

^ I haven´t seen his apology, but I´m cynical enough about Republican politicians to suspect that it was done for motives of self-interest and damage control. Plus, party boss Paul Ryan effectively, and publicly, told him to do it.

I consider Gianforte's first instinct to be more telling; to deny the facts and blame the victim. Gianforte only conceded the truth when three very credible eye-witnesses made it clear that he was lying.

The first response is always a whiplash reaction usually drawn up by his campaign.

^ Aha! That's a point I didn't consider. Thanks.



^ That clip doesn't open for me, but I'm sure I can find it elsewhere on the internet. Will I need to get ready with a box of Kleenex before it starts Chula? ;)

No. But you won't have the urge to masturbate for at least a few hours.

Just google his last name along with "apology".

TFW old people think you need to be told how to use Google.

You forgot the whole Quist having a personal financial history that demonstrates financial illiteracy, no political experience or personal experience that indicates any sort of political acumen, and that the few positions he did elaborate upon he revealed a very left leaning positions (e.g. Single payer healthcare).

Remember all that bs berniebros said about how people wanting a far left outsider? Big surprise, berniebros were wrong.

For those who watch Brooklyn Nine Nine: The title of Batty's sex tape! :laughing: