Letters to the editor March 19

Constitutional law

Mark Racicot, our former RINO governor, published a guest opinion March 3 criticizing President Trump, this time  for his effort to defang Iran, a terrorist Islamic Theocracy that would like nothing better than to assassinate our president and gain the capability of lobbing nuclear weapons against its perceived enemies.  

Racicot’s Trump Derangement Syndrome is not surprising, since as a so-called Republican Mr. Racicot endorsed Joe Biden for president in 2020.  

Mr. Racicot declares Trump’s action along with Israel to neuter Iran’s war-making ability unconstitutional and a violation of international law. He states, “There is no reported evidence that prior to the assault upon Iran, there had been any armed force initiated by Iran against the U.S.”

Between 1983 and 2025 I was able to easily find 43 incidents of Iranian backed terrorist groups killing American citizens and soldiers, not to mention Israel’s justification based on the Hamas massacre of Oct. 7 which in the latest accounting included 43 Americans. Perhaps Racicot would feel differently if his family member had been raped and murdered on Oct. 7.

I know Racicot is a lawyer and supposedly a Republican, which liberals will use to justify his declaration that Mr. Trump’s action is illegal, but perhaps he should listen to the opinion of professor Jonathan Turley, a true constitutional lawyer and the youngest endowed chair professor at George Washington University Law School.

Having lost the argument against Obama’s Libyan war in the D.C. Circuit on behalf of 10 Congress member, Mr. Turley states that Trump has the same justification that Obama had for acting without congressional approval. Funny, few Democrats objected to that war.

Mr. Racicot, as many former politicians, should return to his lobbying gig and leave constitutional law for the heavy weights.

— David Myerowitz, Columbia Falls

Sprunger made it happen

I spent 2024 unsuccessfully attempting to get help from anyone in my federal government pipeline about the situation with the BIA managed Hot Springs Irrigation District. In the spring of 2024, there was no water captured in the reservoirs from Hubbart Reservoir to Lonepine Reservoir and thus the instigators did not receive the water that they had paid for. This economic disaster for these ranchers also negatively affected lake levels in Little Bitterroot Lake.

I wrote for a year without any responses. I broadened my outreach, including state legislators. Rep. Courtenay Sprunger walked into my office one day and asked, “What can I do to help? Tell me what’s going on.” I explained the situation and the apparent reluctance to challenge the BIA. That did not slow Courtenay down.

Within a week, I was able to meet with U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke’s team. They have worked as fast as government can work and resolution is on the way.

Courtenay has her roots firmly planted here in the Flathead with a strong work ethic, a great network of support and she is respected by those at the federal level. When I could not get action, Courtenay made it happen.

— Dave Heine, Kalispell