Can a leopard change its spots?

We’re back in one of my favorite seasons. Elections. The debate running through the Opinion pages for several weeks was all about debates. The Democrats want some, the Republicans, not so much. What’s the big deal? Do we really learn anything from the candidates as to their true stance on the issues?

The last time we had a Democrat as a county commissioner, he went around to all the various organizations, prior to the election, introducing himself as a moderate, willing to work with both sides in a common effort to meet the goals necessary to bring Flathead County back to prosperity.

That lasted right up to the moment he took the oath of office. Then for six years the public had to live with their mistake. He never listened to the public. When his constituents voted two to one against more wilderness and roadless areas, he denounced the results as a “straw poll” and would not recognize the vote as legitimate. When his re-election came up, he lost by an overwhelming margin.

My point, nothing in his speeches or debates gave the slightest clue where his real loyalties were.

I am particularly inspired by Bill Baum’s repeated letters to the editor. In case you forgot, Bill was the one who wanted all of the Democrats to crossover vote for Cal Scott, Republican, in the primary. For all of you who have forgotten, Commissioner Cal Scott, Republican (?) was the one who, after he was soundly defeated in the primary, wanted all of the Republicans to vote for Stacey Schnebel, Democrat, in the upcoming election.

In any case I am tickled by Bill’s constant complaining about the “70-30 Republican Party advantage” in the Flathead. Apparently we are too stubborn to heed his wisdom, and he tends to get frustrated by the fact we don’t just roll over on our backs and wag our tails in submission to the superiority of the Democratic Ideal. If Bill is looking for that, I might suggest he look into property in Missoula.

And one final note, I don’t believe Daffy Duck, R, could not have performed any worse than our last Commissioner, D. —Richard Funk, Kalispell