You decide: What would you like to see in the future?

Billings Tea Party group challenges Montana’s political-reporting laws

 

Russian Communist vs. Capitalism

Ever wonder what it’s like to grow up in Russia?  Take a look here through this Russian woman’s eyes and find out how bad it really is.

 

 

and part 2 here

 

Montana Tea Party Group Sues to Protect its Free Speech

James Madison Center for Free Speech
1 South 6th Street
Terre Haute, IN 47807-3510
www.jamesmadisoncenter.org

PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Contact: James Bopp, Jr.
Phone: 812/232-2434; Fax 812/235-3685; jboppjr@aol.com

Montana Tea Party Group Sues to Protect its Free Speech

A father and daughter concerned with runaway government spending started a group called Montana Shrugged in 2009. It organizes, educates, and activates people to promote the understanding and execution of the United States Constitution. Such activities, however, are heavily regulated in Montana and are banned if done by corporations.

Montana law bans any corporation from spending money to influence an election. The Supreme Court unequivocally declared in its recent Citizens United decision that states have no legitimate interest in such prohibitions. Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock, a defendant in this case, said “corporations aren’t censored here.” We agree, they cannot speak at all.

Montana law also requires any corporation “incidentally” spending money to influence elections to comply with political committee burdens such as appointing a treasurer, establishing a separate bank account, and registering and filing regular reports with the Commissioner of Political Practices. Citizens United held that these burdens also violate free speech rights.

Because these regulations infringe on its right to free speech under the Constitution, Montana Shrugged filed suit today in federal court.

James Bopp, Jr., counsel for Montana Shrugged, explained that “these heavy burdens are exactly the types of burdens the Supreme Court has held do not apply to groups who occasionally mention candidates while rallying for issues of concern to them.”

The case is Montana Shrugged v. Unsworth. Copies of the complaint and other documents relating to the case are available in pdf online at the James Madison Center’s website.

Lead Counsel, James Bopp, Jr,. has a national federal and state election law practice. He is general counsel for the James Madison Center for Free Speech and former Co-Chairman of the Election Law Subcommittee of the Federalist Society. He has also successfully argued numerous times before the United States Supreme Court.

Local Counsel, James E. Brown, is a native of Dillon, Montana and is an attorney at Doney, Crowley, Bloomquist, Payne, and Uda, P.C. His practice includes representing clients in cases before the Commissioner of Political Practices and he advocates free speech protection.

7 days…..

What have you done to effect real change on November 2?

Whether or not you helped by talking to your neighbors, helping a candidate with a literature drop, making phone calls for your candidate of choice, or placing a bumper sticker on your car, there has been no better year than now to effect real change in both Washington as well as locally at home.

With only 7 days left until the election, political ads are everywhere!  Whether they be funny, attack-like, or just regular old ads, you can’t miss them.

Here is an ad that you must watch if you have not already!  Remember a while back when Barbara Boxer suggested he “worked hard for the title of Senator”?

Or how about this ad where Barney Frank’s opponent Sean Bielat released this video “Disco Dancing Queen”.

I don’t know about you but I will be pleased when November 2 comes and goes and TV is back to ‘normal’.  Then again, it’ll be on to 2012….

THE moment has come

We’ve all seen campaigns where one party has all the momentum — races with real enthusiasm gaps. But you’re proving that’s just not the case in this election.

I’ve read reports about the work you’re already doing to contact voters — it’s unbelievable for an election like this.

But there are nine days left. Whether you’re one of the folks who’ve already helped reach out to 15 million voters or if you’re one of those who has been waiting for a time to get involved, that moment has come.

Will you contribute to a crucial get-out-the-vote shift in the final four days of our Vote 2010 campaign?

Let me tell you why this is so important. It’s not just that there are people out there who don’t know what’s at stake in this election.

It’s not just that there are folks who need one of us to call them and make the case.

The truth is that there are people in this country who are doing everything they can to make sure our supporters don’t make it out.

We’re up against more than apathy. What this election demands from us is an effort nothing short of extraordinary.

But I know we’re all ready to deliver just that.

Can you commit to pitching in to get out the vote?

 

What does Western Kentucky have in common with Montana?

What do you think of when you think of our dear Senator, Jon Tester?  Certainly what does NOT pop up into my mind is open town halls, transparency, or professionalism.

We’ve seen him hold his town halls with handpicked audiences just as Baucus and the President do.  But can we blame him?  Who would want to come home to Montana and opening discuss his agenda with outraged constituents?  Maybe he should have thought about the people of Montana before voting in such a way?  But then, that’s just common sense.  Of which he has none.

So when this article came out that Jonny Boy would be campaigning in Kentucky it came as no surprise to me.  At least the Kentucky people aren’t outraged with his voting record.  Why not go to Kentucky?  Oh, wait!  That’s why, we pay his salary.  We expect him to spend what time he has talking to people of Montana…..NOT Kentucky!

Let’s get through the election in November and then we can begin focusing on 2012 and getting rid of people like Jon Tester who don’t seem to care an ounce about the people in Montana.

‘Jon Tester, D-Montana, is to campaign with Conway next week in Hopkinsville. Conway said Tester is a farmer and will be discussing farm issues with him in Western Kentucky. Meanwhile, Paul said he will announce at a campaign stop in …’

See Article Here.

 

What’s on your Congressman’s mind?

Some how the state of Montana ended up with a Republican Congressman who hosts townhalls in every single county every single year and two Democrat Senators who refuse to host any townhalls let alone show up in a public place in the state of Montana that has not got a crowd that is specifically handpicked by their staff members.

Do you see a problem there?  What happened to being a ‘public servant’?  Don’t Baucus and Tester realize they work for US?  We might not all agree with their agendas…..and some folks may strongly disagree…..but those ‘public servants’ should always be working with the people’s best interests in mind.  Not working for the best interests of their pocketbooks.

We had the honor of intervewing our sole Congressman, Denny Rehberg, on our TV show for the second time.  It’s not that I have never invited Baucus and Tester…..they have never have accepted our requests.  Same goes for the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Democrat legislative candidates…..get the picture?

We drove all the way to Bozeman for Jon Tester’s small business workshop to invite him on our show.  Did he accept?  No.  We even drove to Butte and attended the “Economic Summit” to invite Baucus on to our show and did he accept?  Of course not.  Although Baucus did say that if we tried to talk politics outside of the “free speech zone” that he’d cut us off at the knees.  Oh, and don’t forget the Giddyup speech!

So, here is your chance to watch our episode of the Patriot Chronicles.  There are 2 parts below.

Thanks for watching!

“The Tea Party” on MontanaPBS Oct 28

MontanaPBS’ Montana Focus presents “The Tea Party: Taxed Enough Already?” on October 28 at 7 p.m. The show airs again on Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.; Oct.31 at 3:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.; and election night, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m.

Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged is at the top of their recommended reading list. They are passionate about property rights and the constitution. Montana Focus examines the potential impact that the Tea Party might have in the outcome of the November election. Will the Tea Party succeed as a viable third party in American politics?

Montana Focus is an in-depth news and public affairs series hosted by Gene Brodeur which tackles issues across the state relating to politics and government, natural resources, business development and social changes. It is produced by Gene Brodeur and Scott Sterling for KUSM-TV/MontanaPBS at Montana State University.

As you may already know, PBS has visited Billings twice now to tape members of Montana Shrugged during rallies and interviewed several of them for this documentary.  So, mark your calendars.  You have 3 chances to watch this one…..

Tea Party TV – The Patriot Chronicles

I’ve decided that we do not get as many views as I’d like of the Patriot Chronicles which is the television program sponsored by Montana Shrugged.

So, I will now be including that information here on our blog.

Our guest this past Thursday was a canddiate for District 13 Judge in Yellowstone County, Mary Jane McCalla Knisely.

You can view Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Enjoy!

Thanks for watching and continuing to support our group!