This picture is of me because this post is about me because, for legal reasons, I need to consider how famous I am, and I’m not simply talking about the inflated self-regard I may have developed after traveling the country and writing a book that no one has read yet.
I first suspected I was getting famous, locally, when a person working at a coffee shop recognized me from some reference in a college class she had. She asked me if I was that guy who commented at City Council a lot, and I said yes, that sounded like me. What class was this? I still need to figure that out.
I’m also getting some recognition from a guy who gets VERY stand-offish with authorities, of which he thinks I’m a member. How does a public access video I did while working Missoula Aging Services prove I’m a DIRTY FED? I don’t know, ask the guy with the name that rhymes with Fed and maybe he can tell you, because fame in his circle doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun.
My interest in defending myself against what I thought was an actionable, malicious depiction of me (contributing to serious consequences for me behind the scenes) was effectively deflated earlier this week when I got some much-appreciated feedback from a legal source about how I need to consider how locally famous I am. Huh?
Yes, I guess it might not matter that Kidston’s depiction of me has become a Missoulian opportunity to associate my name with hate speech because I might easily be considered, for legal purposes, something called a “limited purpose public figure”. What the hell does that mean? I don’t know, I just copy and pasted this:
Typically, these are individuals who have gained prominence in a particular field or in connection with a particular controversy. Plaintiffs classified as limited-purpose public figures must prove actual malice only for defamatory statements that relate to matters in which they are considered public figures.
What this means, I was told, is don’t waste your money on fighting this LEGAL fight, so that’s probably good advice. Thankfully, some other ideas are starting to come together, and this series of ideas will be kicking off October 29th, at 3pm, at the XXXXs on north Higgins. That is the location in time and space where your time-traveling tour guide (me) will be providing the FIRST Zoom Town Walking Tour, which I’m hoping to continue on a regular basis, but on Wednesdays.
The other ideas are still forming, but I have this cool studio with a Lego world to make use of, and some other things that might be useful for getting out information that I think is important.
To prove I did once get opportunities to talk on podcasts, here are some the ones you can check out to assess for yourself how I successfully I took these opportunities and became so damn famous that my chances at successful litigation against my favorite propagandist are basically now zero.
I’m excited for the new ideas and the new people I’m meeting. It’s going to be, I am hoping, educational AND funny.
If you’d like to help keep my independent journalism rocking and rolling, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way you can help, or you can make a donation at my about page.
The first big red flag for Jon Tester’s efforts to keep his seat this election cycle, and help Democrats maintain control of the Senate, is this article from the Wall Street Journal. From the link (emphasis mine):
Tester’s race is critical for Democrats to have any chance of holding on to the U.S. Senate, where they have a 51-49 majority but are defending far more competitive seats than Republicans. GOP campaign officials see Montana as one of their most promising potential pickups, along with West Virginia and Ohio, all states Trump won in 2020.
In dozens of interviews across the state, voters said they are more worried about local issues—land development, agriculture, energy and Native American priorities—than the national political concerns that are expected to shape other competitive Senate contests.
Tester’s appeal as a native Montanan speaks to the wave of pandemic migration that has helped Montana’s growth outpace the rest of the U.S. The state of 1.1 million people picked up a net of 24,000 people from other states in 2021-22, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, giving it a migration growth rate that exceeded that of Florida, a magnet for pandemic relocations.
Yes, Montana in 2023 is a MUCH different place than the Montana that first elected Jon Tester all the way back in 2005/2006. For a quick breakdown of that race, here’s an excerpt from Tester’s Wikipedia page:
Tester announced his candidacy in May 2005 for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican incumbent Senator Conrad Burns. Tester was the second Democrat to jump into the race, after state auditor John Morrison. While Tester was seen as having a greater following among his fellow legislators,[20] his opponent, whose grandfather was governor of Nebraska, was able to raise significantly more money and had greater statewide name recognition.
Morrison had collected $1.05 million as of the start of 2006, including $409,241 in the last three months of 2005,[21] but “Morrison’s advantages in fundraising and name identification [did] not translate into a lead in the polls,”[22] most of which showed the race as being exceedingly tight, some calling it a “deadlock” as of late May.[23]
In June 2006, Tester won the Democratic nomination by more than 25 percentage points in a six-way primary.[24] Tester was described as having “gained momentum in closing weeks of the campaign through an extensive grass-roots effort“.
Yes, the “grass-roots” of environmentalism provided the boost that got Tester over the finish-line, and to show his gratitude, Tester quickly (and strategically) forgot who gave him this boost, regularly bashing the very people who helped get him elected when it was politically expedient to do so.
We heel-nipping bloggers at 4&20 Blackbirds documented much of this political tension with posts like this one by JC, titled On Principles, Policies and Politicians; Speaking Truth to Power: a Message to You, Jon Tester. In this post, which you should read in full, JC details how Paul Richards levied his environmental supporters to help give Tester the momentum to achieve victory. Here’s a lengthy excerpt from the post:
Paul Richards, for all intents and purposes, is a progressive environmental and social justice advocate’s dream candidate. Paul was elected to the Montana House in 1974, and was the youngest sitting legislator in history. He advocates strong progressive and environmental values. To this day Paul has been a fearless and fierce voice for the beliefs and principles he advances, and has dedicated his life’s work to that effect.
Those of us who rallied behind Paul had known him for decades, and had worked with him on many environmental issues, including wildland and wildlife issues. Suffice it to say that Paul is a known entity among what has become known as the progressive, leftist environmental movement in Montana.
While it is easy to pigeon hole those of us as “extremists” as Senator Tester has recently done, that belies the knowledge of who we are: your neighbors, farmers, ranchers, businessmen, policemen, teachers, laborers, clerks, lawyers… everyday people, but I digress (many stories, too little space).
Back to that poll number. Along with that number was the knowledge that the Montana Senate race was seen as one of the closest in the U.S., and that its outcome could well tip the balance of the Senate to Democrats. The 2004 Senate had 55 Republicans. And we were tired of them, each and every one.
A week or so before the primary, Paul Richards made the decision that if he could meet with Jon Tester, and work out an arrangement–an agreement of principles–that he would drop out of the race and support him in his primary, and if he won that, in his general election campaign against Conrad Burns.
Paul received ascension from his supporters that if Jon were to agree to certain principles, and he endorsed him, that they would follow Paul. It was an historic moment, as a leftist environmental contingent had never come out of the woodwork to work politically in this way in Montana.
Jon Tester agreed to that meeting and Pauls’ terms, and on May 31st, Paul Richards dropped out of the race and publicly endorsed Jon Tester. During that meeting, Jon agreed if elected to abide to the following terms and principles:
Help stop the Iraq War, withdraw U.S. troops in Iraq, and work for peace.
Work to protect all of Montana’s remaining roadless wildlands. Tester said he would talk with Michael Garrity of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and he would “look at” the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.
Work to significantly enhance national applications of sustainable agriculture.
Work to significantly enhance national use of renewable energy. Tester said he would support the Apollo Alliance’s programs for renewable energy.
Work to settle outstanding Native American claims, particularly in regard to the Cobell lawsuit.
Establish public financing for all federal elections.
Support universal health insurance, specifically “Medicare-for-all.”
So, what happened? For more context on what JC is referring to, I suggest clicking on some of the following links (fyi, my posts were written under two pseudonyms, lizard and William Skink)
Having watched the arc of Jon Tester’s NATIONAL political trajectory, I can say with confidence that the Montanans who have “had it with rich outsiders” will NOT be feeling any real enthusiasm for Jon Tester, if they vote for him at all.
After burning Burns all those years ago, Jon has scraped by, from my perspective, due to a variety of factors, like Libertarians weakening Republican challengers, who are themselves unimpressive. Then there’s Veterans, whom Tester is genuinely responsive to, and students, who too often just need a little Pearl Jam reminder to be like, cool, we’ll vote for Flattop guy.
Will those factors help him maintain political power this go around?
The Wall Street Journal article touches on the Mayor’s race in Missoula, so I will touch it to (ew, gross) by sharing some hilarious political gossip I stumbled onto last week after going to the WRONG coffee shop for a coffee date.
But first, the Wall Street Journal:
Democrats could be helped by a large and growing share of college graduates in the state. A third of Montanans 25 or older hold at least a college degree, as do two-thirds of new arrivals of that age, Census figures show.
Interviews with voters here indicate that the candidate who is able to convince voters they can help protect their way of life is most likely to win, a theme echoed in local races. Mike Nugent, a Democrat running for mayor of the college town of Missoula, said his campaign is focused on homelessness, housing costs and property taxes.
And now, the gossip.
Who was the fundraiser woman, and who was the non-profit man meeting for the first time for a political feel-out? I never saw their faces, so honestly I don’t know, but the perspective I got before I realized I was at the wrong coffee shop was fascinating.
The woman, who is going to be doing some work for Monica Tranel, WAS a Jordan Hess supporter, but Andrea Davis won her over by caving on some point of criticism she brought to Davis personally, probably one of those conversations that makes Davis question her choice to enter politics in the first place.
The man pointed out Nugent’s support among businesses, and the fire endorsement, but if the previous glee they both expressed over Gwen Nicholson’s demographics is any indication, Mike definitely has a penis problem with these people.
The man acknowledged being personally closer to Davis, something about her Swedish husband and getting a family ride from the airport in Geneva. What’s that about rich outsiders? Also, obligatory kid/college social sniffing, and then the woman’s excitement that her brother is moving to Missoula and, crazy, bought the house Gwen Jones grew up in, which is very close to her.
A perfect, quiet place for fundraisers, she said. If me outing this cozy spot messes up this woman’s plans, GOOD! It’s what I’m willing to do for the plumbing I’m supporting for Mayor.
That’s right, I’m endorsing PENIS for Mayor, and not just because of what he’s packing, but ALSO because Mike Nugent has told me several times that my public comments on Rollerblades was awesome. I agree, Mike.
If you appreciate my mix of gossip and history going back over a decade in a race that people who care about national politics think is meaningful, then support Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF), or find the donation button at my about page to click.
Before taking this picture of the FREE Top Hat show “brought to you by” Groove Solventless, I heard a rumor, and this rumor aligns with a conspiracy theory I floated to MANY Cannabis dispensaries across America as I drove around and around.
First, the rumor: did Nick Checota purchase a controlling interest in Montana’s biggest Cannabis producer? And is that producer Bloom? If Checota is making a move to control more Cannabis production in Montana, could there be a reason for that?
There already appears to be a Groove/Bloom relationship, which the Bloom website proudly describes here.
If Checota is expanding his production capacity for weed, could the BIG deal with Live Nation, announced this past summer, have anything to do with it? I think it could.
Here’s some of the reporting on this deal from Digital Music News (emphasis mine):
The Live Nation partnership centers on the company’s entertainment operations and promoter activities, while local Montana brick-and-mortar venues, including the Wilma Theater and the Top Hat, remain entirely owned by the Checota family. Additionally, the KettleHouse Amphitheater and ELM — designed, developed, and constructed by the Checotas — will remain under long-term leases with their respective local landowners.
“We now have access to world-renowned entertainment resources while maintaining our current management team and all of our more than 300 local staff. The structure of this partnership allows Logjam to retain its culture and continue to operate with the same ethos and spirit that we always have,” adds Ryan Torres, vice president of marketing for Logjam.
I put the emphasis on ACCESS TO RESOURCES because I think it’s going to be much more than musical artists that Checota will get access to. Since Cannabis sales seems to be where Checota is transitioning his business growth, I suspect access to Live Nation venues could include Cannabis sales in those venues, to the exclusion of people bringing in their own, more affordable stashes of weed for the show.
That’s it, that’s my conspiracy theory. Is there merit to my conspiracy theory? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
For any NEW Zoom Chron readers tuning in, you should know that my history in this town, and knowledge of its movers and shakers, is extensive, so make sure to use the SEARCH bar if you’d like to find out more. The search bar is located on top of the blogroll, in the upper right hand corner of your screen.
Now, here are the links tracking Nick Checota’s impact on Missoula. Dig in!
Ok, I’m pretty sure these 26 links comprise most, if not all of, my Checota coverage. I hope THE PULP appreciates what this blogger has done to document this town’s transformation during a period where Missoula’s media landscape has never been worse.
If you appreciate my work, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way to support it, or you can make a donation at my about page.
I found this hilarious image, which makes meth look like crystals of Amethyst, because a recent article about a man recently sentenced for meth trafficking in Missoula included something I hadn’t thought of until seeing this (emphasis mine):
A Missoula man admitted to trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl in after a traffic stop where officers found drugs, a firearm and cash.
Eric Anthony Navarro was sentenced to six years and six months in prison followed by five years supervised release. Allegedly in court documents Navarro imported meth and fentanyl in Montana to be sold in Missoula using short term property rentals.
Hopefully Mr. Navarro wasn’t actually SMOKING the meth in those short-term rentals, because that could be VERY bad for future tenants, or the owners, since most insurance doesn’t cover meth damage.
You own a rental property, and your renters seem to be stellar people. But upon vacating their house, you discover that they have been cooking methamphetamine (meth) in your pristine place. The meth leaves a residue on surfaces and is difficult to clean. You may need to remove sheetrock, flooring, the ceiling, curtains, appliances, and any other porous material. These are now hazardous materials so you can’t just throw them away. Appropriate disposal is more expensive. You will likely need to hire a mitigation company. The costs are adding up, so you decide to file an insurance claim but alas, the claim is denied! Why? Smoking meth is an illegal activity and illegal activities are not typically covered by insurance. You are now out hundreds of thousands of dollars. You did dodge a bullet as cooking meth is a fire hazard and could cause a total loss of your home from a fire. A lot of people do not realize that meth contamination is not covered by most insurance companies. This is a scenario that plays out all over the country.
The main news this week regarding short-term rentals had nothing to do with meth. No, instead, it’s a little housing crisis we’re currently experience in Missoula, so that’s why Daniel Carlino is making banning short-term rentals in residential areas an issue:
In his proposal, council member Daniel Carlino looks to change several portions of city code, particularly in residential areas. Certain businesses, such as some commercial, civic, storage and vacation rentals are currently permitted in such areas, though he wants the later removed as a permitted use.
Existing vacation rentals would be grandfathered in, he said.
“I’m proposing we eliminate tourist homes from a permitted use in residential districts,” Carlino said. “I’m asking us to no longer allow them to be permitted in residential zones. We’re seeing a housing shortage in supply.”
While housing might be in short supply, it certainly doesn’t appear that METH is in short supply, even though one of my favorite tweakers is back in jail. Don’t worry, Mr. Spence isn’t using any short-term rentals for HIS illicit drug activity.
This is the individual I’ve been tracking for over a year now, so before the week’s links, I’m going to provide the Todd Spence sub-section of this blog:
The City Council “horseshoe” in Spokane is backed by a mural featuring two Magpies. Why two Magpies? Well, I looked into it, and would you believe there seems to be some significance behind having two Magpies featured in this Council chambers?
Across different cultures, magpies have taken on varied symbolic roles. In Western tales, they’re often painted as cunning tricksters or omens of good and bad fortune. The age-old rhyme, “One for sorrow, two for joy,” which counts the number of magpies seen to predict one’s fate, underscores their mythical stature. In contrast, Eastern traditions, especially in China, view magpies as harbingers of joy and happiness, often associated with the tale of two star-crossed lovers represented by the stars Altair and Vega, meeting once a year with the magpie’s help.
How do Magpies help Altair and Vega hookup? They form a bridge to assist the lovers in crossing the celestial river created as a barrier by angry sky gods to keep them apart. Isn’t that nice?
Before entering chambers I was given a flyer about Fluoride because apparently that is one issue riling up some people in Spokane. Several public comments were made asking Council to JUST SAY NO to the cost of putting this shit in the water.
Since the place I’m currently living has a newspaper associating my name with White Supremacists and hate speech, I took special interest in the comments defending Mayor Nadine Woodward from the controversy that ensued after she attended a Sean Feught prayer event where State Representative, Matt Shea, was present.
Did you know this controversy made national headlines? Here’s how the Rolling Stone reported on it:
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN you combine a Christian nationalist musician and a disgraced former state representative-turned-pastor accused of domestic terrorism? According to local lawmakers and faith leaders in Washington state, it’s a recipe for “bigotry” cloaked “in religious language.”
Controversy has erupted in Spokane after Mayor Nadine Woodward appeared at a “Let Us Worship” event on Aug. 20, hosted by Christian singer Sean Feucht with special guest Matt Shea, a former state representative in Washington accused of domestic terrorism. The mayor’s appearance alongside Shea, as well as comments made by Feuch about a religious “wildfire” ravaging Spokane — while actual fires destroyed parts of the county — has angered members of the community.
For some additional context on Shea, let’s see what NPR has to say about him (emphasis mine):
Six-term Washington state Rep. Matt Shea is accused of participating “in an act of domestic terrorism against the United States,” according to a report released Thursday.
Independent investigators commissioned by the Washington State House of Representatives found that Shea, as a leader of the Patriot Movement, “planned, engaged in, and promoted a total of three armed conflicts of political violence against the United States government” between 2014 and 2016.
The report also concluded that Shea was involved in training young people to fight a “holy war.” He created a pamphlet called Biblical Basis for War and advocated replacing the government with a theocracy and “the killing of all males who do not agree.”
Chat messages showed Shea, a lawyer who was first elected in 2008, condoned intimidation of opponents, political activists, government officials and Muslims. He also offered to conduct background checks on political opponents.
Hmmm, didn’t Council member, Gwen Jones, conduct informal background checks on local activists? Yes she did, and that little fact came out in court, during the trial where local activist, Brandon Bryant, was facing FELONY criminal charges and up to 10 years in prison.
What else happened at the Spokane City Council? A homeless woman spoke, and some other people mentioned a war or something happening far, far away. When one of them spoke, they all silently stood up, then sat down. Impressive.
Did I meet up with any White Supremacists? While I don’t generally ask how supremely awesome the fellow whites I speak with think they are, no, I don’t think any of the people I interacted with White Supremacists.
I wasn’t able to make any comments because I missed the cut-off, so I’ll have to wait until next time to introduce myself. Yes, there WILL be a next time, because Spokane continues to fascinate me.
If you appreciate the expanding scope of my interests, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way to support my work, and making a donation at my about page is another.
