by Travis Mateer
11 years ago, at the other blog I contributed to, you can see my funny little progressive heart as it yearned for a true champion of my cherished ideals. Now, I sympathize with Mike’s comment much more than my own progressive ramblings.
Were artists, like Crumley, really as libertarian as Mike claims? Or is the son of a CIA man more accurate in his bourbon-soaked claim?
Hey, Pete, guess who DID take some literature classes? I also know how to used a search engine, Pete, which is how I found this little blurb from Crumley himself (emphasis mine):
JC: I grew up in Texas and I got to Montana as quickly as I could. Once I got here, they were never able to dislodge me. I’ve been in Montana 36 years. Obviously I’m not particularly fond of my childhood, or of some of the political things that happened in Texas, the way the Mexicans are treated and the way the blacks are treated. I’m not “a Texan.” I didn’t grow up believing in the Texas myth. This was a chance to say something about it. In some ways it’s the most personal of my novels, even though none of that shit ever happened to me.
Based on this quote, I’d say James Crumley would probably be AGAINST the euthanizing of a black man in a private hospital room by the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office. I wonder, what might other famous Montana writers have to say, like Norman and Dick? Would they be impressed with the DEMOCRAT Sheriff that scurried away from a Mayoral run like a punk-ass bitch? Probably not.
Moving on, The Pulp has an article about Democrats in Montana and why they suck so bad. One scapegoat being utilized is shitty local media. Funny.
As social policy planks became key for political parties, it became increasingly difficult for politicians to differentiate themselves from national party leaders. It’s a phenomenon Saldin described as the “nationalization” of American politics.
“Those local and statewide considerations don’t resonate for voters in the way that they used to. What’s filled that is the nationalized discourse,” Saldin said. “That’s poison for any Democrat running in Montana.”
Crucial, too, to the dwindling importance of local politics was the rapidly shrinking news media landscape. The United States has lost nearly 1,800 newspapers since 2004, including in Montana. According to a 1986 report by the Montana Historical Society, 14 newspapers were published in Kalispell between 1920 and 1980. Today, there are two.
As local newspapers shuttered amid economic pressure, voters turned increasingly to cable TV and hyper-partisan national news sources, which were devoid of the local and state coverage that once flourished in Montana. Americans became more likely to vote Republican or Democratic down the ballot, regardless of the policy planks of individual candidates.
I’ll have more to say about all this in the coming week, so stay tuned. And if you’re feeling generous, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) hasn’t seen a donation in over a month, so what are you waiting for? When you support me, you support the joy I bring to Zoom Town with my LEGO METH LAB, so donate TODAY! Any little bit helps.
Thanks for reading!
