There are so many on substack that I would like to subscribe to but cant afford the $$ . I support you & Monica & hope u both run in 2026! I have over 200 emails to Sheehy & a number to Daines & Zinke. I call & write several times a day! This is about saving our Constitutional republic as was the last election. We need to get rid of the electoral college that was used to elect the felon!
There were between 12 and 20 protesters in LIBBY last Friday!
The Democratic Party has lost rural America. Montana, which was a largely "purple" state has swung to the right for a multitude of reasons.
I probably spend too much time reading history. I passed out a dozen copies of Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny after felon47's first election. His current book, On Freedom, delves into the difference between "the freedom from vs the freedom to" thrive, etc.
If you're here, these books are worth your time.
If reading isn't your thing, watch Ezra Klein talk about goverance:
Thanks David! I'm a close follower of Ezra! There is going to be a huge backlash against what is going on now and its up to us to pour the gas to the fire!
Love Snyder & his books. He’s a real leader for us in these times. I former two On Tyranny book groups after Nov 5th. One local one interstate Zoom. People are FIRED UP!! We have no division, no argument amongst us NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!
This all rings very true to me. And while I think fighting back is doable the Democrats don't seem to have gotten that message. When Al Green called out Trump, Hakeem Jeffries didn't back him up, he called him and others into his office to hector them about shutting up and playing nice. When I call my own rep they seem desperately unwilling to act, even as the real damage ramps up. It is like Casey at the bat they are so overconfident that they won't ever swing.
If the Democrats don't start acting all this rage will go nowhere and 2026 will never matter.
The voters we need to reach are not dialed into this stuff. They just aren’t. So they really did not vote for it. That’s hopefully, and dems need to embrace it and then go get them.
I agree they need to go after them hard. I just don't see Dem leadership doing that. My own state party seems to be sitting on its hands and my elected Rep seems unwilling to act without "leadership" and the "leadership" like Jeffries is embracing a path of silence.
I certainly hope you can turn your party around and go after them. I have been trying within my circle. But I have given up on the party as a vehicle to do that.
Democrats would probably stuggle to find a cohesive message to sell water in the desert. That does not mean they won't be handed a message that unites people against terrorists who are stealing the water and killing everyone.
I'm really glad that I read this piece and, while I'm truly sorry for the people of Montana and what they're going to have to go through, discounting "they got what they voted for" is disingenuous.
While it's true that Elon and DOGE were sprung on us all following the Election, Trump was very much a known entity, as was Project 2025, the playbook that all of this has come out of.
We all knew that Donald Trump was a petty, vindictive and selfish man who would punish anyone who he imagined had slighted him. We watched as he ran scam after scam during the Election to grift from his supporters, most of whom could ill afford the cheap, Chinese made, trinkets that he sold them for exorbitant amounts. This is a man who planned and watched (because he, himself, was too much of a personal coward to lead them as he'd promised) an insurrection that literally caused the deaths of Police Officers at the United States Capitol.
He's the first President in modern history to not even make a pretense at divesting himself, or creating a blind trust or his business interests.
All of this was absolutely predictable (Hell, Kamala Harris laid it all out in October). We've always known that Trump was lazy, so it was predictable that he'd find someone to actually do the work. He's gone to Mar-a-Lago to play golf (at $3 million in taxpayer dollars a trip though the GAO estimated $13.6 mil per trip during his first term) every weekend but one since the Inauguration. His Trip to half a Super Bowl (which no other sitting President has done because of Taxpayer expense) has been estimated at between $10-20 million. Then there was the Daytona 500 where we don't even have even rough estimates of the taxpayer expenses yet.
So, we have laziness, greed and utter selfishness. When you combine these with Trump's insistence on cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans (including himself). All of the "cost saving efficiency measures" that are devastating everything and everyone the Federal Government touches are in order to pay to further enrich Trump and his friends.
All of this was predictable. Trump voters, including those in Montana, fucked around in November and now, unfortunately, they're finding out just what they've done to themselves — and everyone else in this country.
We’ve been protesting in Billings, we’re having an open seat town hall on the 21st of March. We’re working on missing posters for our reps. They’ve been formally invited but you know they won’t show. So we will show them. I call every rep/sen everyday sometimes 2x a day. Keep it up folks! Thank goodness you have a Substack Ryan we are still behind you!
Good to see a red state having some fight in them. I live in one of the worst. I “guess” no one voted for this but it all seemed to be pretty well laid out except the details. It was willful ignorance. No one here paid any attention to all the flashing red lights cuz their team was winning. Who’s winning now. I guess I need to let go of the resentment and be happy at least some people are coming out of the fog.
"no one" is an admitted stretch becuase there are some maga loyalists who would literally vote for rape murder arson and rape (line from blazing saddles). But the point here is the vast majority of voters do not follow this stuff like we do. And even if they did, DOGE was never mentioned - ever - so its impossible for them to have voted for it. These are the people we need to reach - not the rape-murder-arson folks - we ain't ever turning them
Your statement is technically correct, but it's undeniable that there were mentions of Musk's involvement in government efficiency initiatives and cost-cutting measures during the election campaign, which hinted at the creation of DOGE. Voters, supporters and enablers of trump cannot DOdGE this one bit.
Now's your moment! Take a look at Indivisible.org - find others in your vicinity who are as angry, dismayed, as you are and get a resistance growing. It's only going to get worse as Medicaid and Social Security are cut. Food costs are going to continue escalating. We in Canada are depending on every able-bodied person in the US who understands what's happening and the pain it's now (and will continue to) cause every-day Americans to build a strong resistance. Please take up the cause!
Let's go! I have always enjoyed a good fight. Town Hall for the Flathead by the Flathead on April 17 is in the planning stage. Should have details squared up in a week. Would like to see 1000 people show up. Bring your friends, Ryan.
I donated to Jon Tester’s campaign even though I don’t live in Montana. I know Montana received a lot of money to elect Sheehy. Did Tester lose because he lost support or was it because he was on the Democratic Party ticket?
It was the party brand. But I now sense a reversal. What Republicans are doing is proving extremely unpopular. Not with everyone yet. But it’s expanding and we do t need everyone. That’s my point. We need about 3-5%. And I think it’s going to be far more broad than that.
Best way to overcome feeling helpless is to take one small step everyday to be part of the fight to save our democracy. Calling your members of congress is important and to make that easy download the app 5 Calls. By entering your zip code the app lists your Senators and House Representatives with their phone numbers and provides scripts for lots of issues to choose from. Of course you can choose your own issue and use your own words but using the app gets you started. All the feedback says that calling our reps is critical. If you can attend rallies that’s a great way to support your community. Hope that helps! It’s great that you care!
I’m from Indiana and I think we need people like you on the national leave and a new party. I don’t know what to call it but I like “A little bit hippy and a little bit redneck”.
As a staunch Canadian, I'm conveying my sympathy. The tariffs are affecting Canadian workers, in just the same way. We've got to join forces and elevate the resistance. We're doing our part here with a grassroots boycott of US goods - that unfortunately will add to the misery of average US citizens. We're sorry about that. But our boycott may help your cause, by allowing more people to understand the lunacy of the all out WAR being waged against Canada - not with guns (yet) but an economic war on a scale far greater than the damages you're experiencing. Protest as loudly as you can. We're cheering you on because we know this mess is in your hands. Only you, citizens of the US, are going to be able to change trump's mind!
Grateful to read this! I love Montana, went to college and lived there for many years. Made me who I am and is part of me. So glad you’re fighting back against this insanity ! ❤️
There are so many on substack that I would like to subscribe to but cant afford the $$ . I support you & Monica & hope u both run in 2026! I have over 200 emails to Sheehy & a number to Daines & Zinke. I call & write several times a day! This is about saving our Constitutional republic as was the last election. We need to get rid of the electoral college that was used to elect the felon!
Footnotes - a thing of beauty!
There were between 12 and 20 protesters in LIBBY last Friday!
The Democratic Party has lost rural America. Montana, which was a largely "purple" state has swung to the right for a multitude of reasons.
I probably spend too much time reading history. I passed out a dozen copies of Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny after felon47's first election. His current book, On Freedom, delves into the difference between "the freedom from vs the freedom to" thrive, etc.
If you're here, these books are worth your time.
If reading isn't your thing, watch Ezra Klein talk about goverance:
https://youtu.be/VwjxVRfUV_4?si=w5TWr-gpYjmxQYpo
Mr. Busse, thanks for staying in the fight - we need and support you!
David
West of Whitefish
Thanks David! I'm a close follower of Ezra! There is going to be a huge backlash against what is going on now and its up to us to pour the gas to the fire!
Love Snyder & his books. He’s a real leader for us in these times. I former two On Tyranny book groups after Nov 5th. One local one interstate Zoom. People are FIRED UP!! We have no division, no argument amongst us NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!
This all rings very true to me. And while I think fighting back is doable the Democrats don't seem to have gotten that message. When Al Green called out Trump, Hakeem Jeffries didn't back him up, he called him and others into his office to hector them about shutting up and playing nice. When I call my own rep they seem desperately unwilling to act, even as the real damage ramps up. It is like Casey at the bat they are so overconfident that they won't ever swing.
If the Democrats don't start acting all this rage will go nowhere and 2026 will never matter.
The voters we need to reach are not dialed into this stuff. They just aren’t. So they really did not vote for it. That’s hopefully, and dems need to embrace it and then go get them.
I agree they need to go after them hard. I just don't see Dem leadership doing that. My own state party seems to be sitting on its hands and my elected Rep seems unwilling to act without "leadership" and the "leadership" like Jeffries is embracing a path of silence.
I certainly hope you can turn your party around and go after them. I have been trying within my circle. But I have given up on the party as a vehicle to do that.
Democrats would probably stuggle to find a cohesive message to sell water in the desert. That does not mean they won't be handed a message that unites people against terrorists who are stealing the water and killing everyone.
I'm really glad that I read this piece and, while I'm truly sorry for the people of Montana and what they're going to have to go through, discounting "they got what they voted for" is disingenuous.
While it's true that Elon and DOGE were sprung on us all following the Election, Trump was very much a known entity, as was Project 2025, the playbook that all of this has come out of.
We all knew that Donald Trump was a petty, vindictive and selfish man who would punish anyone who he imagined had slighted him. We watched as he ran scam after scam during the Election to grift from his supporters, most of whom could ill afford the cheap, Chinese made, trinkets that he sold them for exorbitant amounts. This is a man who planned and watched (because he, himself, was too much of a personal coward to lead them as he'd promised) an insurrection that literally caused the deaths of Police Officers at the United States Capitol.
He's the first President in modern history to not even make a pretense at divesting himself, or creating a blind trust or his business interests.
All of this was absolutely predictable (Hell, Kamala Harris laid it all out in October). We've always known that Trump was lazy, so it was predictable that he'd find someone to actually do the work. He's gone to Mar-a-Lago to play golf (at $3 million in taxpayer dollars a trip though the GAO estimated $13.6 mil per trip during his first term) every weekend but one since the Inauguration. His Trip to half a Super Bowl (which no other sitting President has done because of Taxpayer expense) has been estimated at between $10-20 million. Then there was the Daytona 500 where we don't even have even rough estimates of the taxpayer expenses yet.
So, we have laziness, greed and utter selfishness. When you combine these with Trump's insistence on cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans (including himself). All of the "cost saving efficiency measures" that are devastating everything and everyone the Federal Government touches are in order to pay to further enrich Trump and his friends.
All of this was predictable. Trump voters, including those in Montana, fucked around in November and now, unfortunately, they're finding out just what they've done to themselves — and everyone else in this country.
We’ve been protesting in Billings, we’re having an open seat town hall on the 21st of March. We’re working on missing posters for our reps. They’ve been formally invited but you know they won’t show. So we will show them. I call every rep/sen everyday sometimes 2x a day. Keep it up folks! Thank goodness you have a Substack Ryan we are still behind you!
Great Darci! Would love to see any pics you have from your good trouble in Billings
I don’t know how to upload pictures on here.
Good to see a red state having some fight in them. I live in one of the worst. I “guess” no one voted for this but it all seemed to be pretty well laid out except the details. It was willful ignorance. No one here paid any attention to all the flashing red lights cuz their team was winning. Who’s winning now. I guess I need to let go of the resentment and be happy at least some people are coming out of the fog.
"no one" is an admitted stretch becuase there are some maga loyalists who would literally vote for rape murder arson and rape (line from blazing saddles). But the point here is the vast majority of voters do not follow this stuff like we do. And even if they did, DOGE was never mentioned - ever - so its impossible for them to have voted for it. These are the people we need to reach - not the rape-murder-arson folks - we ain't ever turning them
Your statement is technically correct, but it's undeniable that there were mentions of Musk's involvement in government efficiency initiatives and cost-cutting measures during the election campaign, which hinted at the creation of DOGE. Voters, supporters and enablers of trump cannot DOdGE this one bit.
Now's your moment! Take a look at Indivisible.org - find others in your vicinity who are as angry, dismayed, as you are and get a resistance growing. It's only going to get worse as Medicaid and Social Security are cut. Food costs are going to continue escalating. We in Canada are depending on every able-bodied person in the US who understands what's happening and the pain it's now (and will continue to) cause every-day Americans to build a strong resistance. Please take up the cause!
Let's go! I have always enjoyed a good fight. Town Hall for the Flathead by the Flathead on April 17 is in the planning stage. Should have details squared up in a week. Would like to see 1000 people show up. Bring your friends, Ryan.
So glad to see your byline again. We need your voice in this storm. Thanks.
Thanks Maggie!
Thanks for posting! I'm convinced that the western house district is winnable by a Democrat.
I donated to Jon Tester’s campaign even though I don’t live in Montana. I know Montana received a lot of money to elect Sheehy. Did Tester lose because he lost support or was it because he was on the Democratic Party ticket?
It was the party brand. But I now sense a reversal. What Republicans are doing is proving extremely unpopular. Not with everyone yet. But it’s expanding and we do t need everyone. That’s my point. We need about 3-5%. And I think it’s going to be far more broad than that.
What’s the best way someone can overcome the feeling of helplessness?
Best way to overcome feeling helpless is to take one small step everyday to be part of the fight to save our democracy. Calling your members of congress is important and to make that easy download the app 5 Calls. By entering your zip code the app lists your Senators and House Representatives with their phone numbers and provides scripts for lots of issues to choose from. Of course you can choose your own issue and use your own words but using the app gets you started. All the feedback says that calling our reps is critical. If you can attend rallies that’s a great way to support your community. Hope that helps! It’s great that you care!
Project 2025. Montana might want to try and ween its citizens from Fox News.
Montana majority voted for Trump, they were warned, but they are so obsessed with “woke” that they see nothing else!!!
I’m from Indiana and I think we need people like you on the national leave and a new party. I don’t know what to call it but I like “A little bit hippy and a little bit redneck”.
Hah! Thanks Beth. Well…that’s what I am. I’m proud of it all. We ought to just leaning to being real people!!
Love you Busse!! Thnx for stepping out! We need some strong voices well connected to our communities!! Keep it up! 👍🏼
As a staunch Canadian, I'm conveying my sympathy. The tariffs are affecting Canadian workers, in just the same way. We've got to join forces and elevate the resistance. We're doing our part here with a grassroots boycott of US goods - that unfortunately will add to the misery of average US citizens. We're sorry about that. But our boycott may help your cause, by allowing more people to understand the lunacy of the all out WAR being waged against Canada - not with guns (yet) but an economic war on a scale far greater than the damages you're experiencing. Protest as loudly as you can. We're cheering you on because we know this mess is in your hands. Only you, citizens of the US, are going to be able to change trump's mind!
So many Canadian friends and I’m so embarrassed and pissed.
Grateful to read this! I love Montana, went to college and lived there for many years. Made me who I am and is part of me. So glad you’re fighting back against this insanity ! ❤️