Letters to the editor Jan. 27

Self-serving lawsuit

I enjoyed the article about the constitutional challenge to SB 542 by State Sens. Tom McGillvray and Greg Hertz, along with former state legislator Keith Regier. The hilarity of this lawsuit has me doubled over with laughter. 

Here we have three individuals, whom during their time in the Montana Legislature are/were responsible for passing more unconstitutional bills in the last several years than any Daily Inter Lake reader has in fingers and toes. Yet, now there is a piece of legislation that affects their pocketbooks, and they howl like a pack of coyotes on a cold winter night. 

The pure arrogance, the pure self-interest screams from their lawsuit. 

Lest Daily Inter Lake readers have forgotten, back in 2021 this trio was part of the do-pass crowd that created legislation that was in such clear violation of the U.S. Constitution’s commerce clause it cost us taxpayers over $1 million of our money. That doesn’t even begin to mention the other 15 laws they passed that same session that were also ruled unconstitutional, and cost us untold millions to settle the lawsuits that were brought against the state (we the people). 

We are who we elect, and when we elect such obvious self-serving individuals who wouldn’t know the Constitution from constipation, that speaks volumes about ourselves.

— John Marshall, Hot Springs

Unborn children

I read that Susan Cahill (Silence is deafening, Jan. 19), retired abortionist, is bewailing the death of the anti-ICE protester who attempted to run down the officer with her SUV.  

I wonder whether Cahill has as much empathy for the many unborn children whose lives she terminated?

— Cy Appel, Whitefish

Lack of courage

I whole heartedly agree with Susan Cahill’s letter (Silence is deafening, Jan. 19). It amazes me that our congressional delegation is nowhere to be found and is unwilling to speak out against our inept and deranged president.  

I have written to them directly but I only receive form letters from their staffs that often don’t pertain to anything I have addressed. Can our congressional delegation live with a clear conscience when they watch Trump dismantling our Constitution, dividing our country and making the United States the laughingstock of the world?  

I expect Sen. Steve Daines to hide in a corner and not say anything as that has been his mode of operation the entire tenure that he’s been a senator.  

However, Rep. Ryan Zinke and Sen. Tim Sheehey have taken oaths to defend the Constitution multiple times as both Navy SEALs and as congressmen. Are their oaths meaningless? I thought defending the Constitution meant to uphold free speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble and due process, among numerous other things. 

Yet they cower in the presence of a man who avoided the draft because of bone spurs and who is maybe the least educated president this country has ever had. He has called veterans losers and even degraded Sen. John McCain for being a POW during the Vietnam War. 

I used to have the greatest admiration and respect for our Navy SEALs. Unfortunately, our congressmen have tarnished that view since they are power hungry, simply don’t care, or lack the courage to stand up to a bully who is doing everything in his power to make the United States an authoritarian government.

— Fred Longhart, Kalispell