Letters to the editor Jan. 20

Party leadership

Is the Emperor beginning to lose his clothes?

Montana Senate Majority Leader Matt Regier’s reportedly fiery response to losing the rules fight sounds like he is starting to run scared. How dare they, those Republicans that bucked his party leadership.

For it means that he may now have to regularly compromise to get legislation passed. For it means that like the chastened national Democrats that moved too far to the left for a majority of Americans, he may now have moved too far to the right of Montanans in general and almost a third of his party’s caucus in particular. For it means that either he can’t count votes or is stupid enough to take a vote he can’t win. For it means that a big chunk of his armor has just fallen off.

For when you see vehement public anger, the private driving emotion is commonly fear.

— Andy Palchak, Kalispell

MLK a peacemaker

I will be celebrating the life and legacy of a great leader on Monday.

This leader was not perfect, however, in his time on this earth he brought more people together peacefully than anyone else on this soil, past or present. This leader was an educated peacemaker, not a divisive dealmaker. On Monday, go out or stay in, do good and make the day one of celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

Peace on earth, good will for all.

— Skeeter Johnston, Whitefish

11th province

Canada the 51st state? How about Montana the 11th province?

Politics is a lively topic in any country, especially so in western democracies. Typically allies and friends refrain from commenting on each other for fear of interfering with internal politics. President-elect Donald Trump has no such shyness.

He goes out of his way to belittle neighbors and allies, including those of us here in Canada.

Trump’s recent provocations include referring to our prime minister as a governor, and suggesting Canada (with whom the U.S. has a long-standing free trade agreement) can avoid his threatened 25% tariffs by joining the U.S. as its 51st state. 

We Canadians are a proud people, and take offence at Mr. Trump’s jabs.

While we are going through political changes here prior to a federal election, we feel sorry for those Americans living along the border with Canada who think more like us than like Trump. Here’s a thought: Why not Montana join the Canadian confederation as our 11th province?

— Brad Harness, Ontario