Nov 3 - Independents’ Day?

[BrentD]

I am sure most are well aware of my dislike of the corrupt two-party duopoly. My effort in future political activities is to do what I can to oppose the stranglehold the two parties have that results in people who have a 10% approval rating getting reelected 95% of the time.

This is my second of three podcasts I intend to do with Seth Bodnar. Most people tell me I am wasting my time to think that independent candidates have a chance, whether here in Montana or in Nebraska or anywhere else. I guess I’m too bullheaded to listen to their advice.

When it comes to the issues of hunting, shooting, public lands, and conservation the two parties provide lip service to whatever degree they find useful for their own reelection. If I wanted any lip service out of them, I could probably scrape it off the zipper of their donors and their lobbyist.

Podcast number two, a shorter version than the last one, is below. To hell with the Rs and to hell with the Ds.

Nov. 3 - Independents’ Day? | Hunt Talk Radio Episode 296

This seems like a very strange subject for your podcast, but okay. Have you looked into voting theory and mathematics? The reason we have two parties, and only two parties, is because we have an incredibly primitive voting system.

 

[INMT]

Said no politician ever…

 

[Nick87]

Said no politician ever…


View attachment 420708

Unless hes pulling out his middle finger...

 

[Big Fin]

This seems like a very strange subject for your podcast, but okay. Have you looked into voting theory and mathematics? The reason we have two parties, and only two parties, is because we have an incredibly primitive voting system.

Not strange at all. I spend most of my offseason engaged with elected officials who have a huge influence on conservation policy, funding, and public land decisions. I've grown frustrated with both sides.

If I can contribute to an effort to change this system that works against hunting, shooting, and conservation, it could be a much better use of my time than engaging with our elected officials who are beholden to donors and party bosses to a degree that I could have never imagined.

 

[BrentD]

Not strange at all. I spend most of my offseason engaged with elected officials who have a huge influence on conservation policy, funding, and public land decisions. I've grown frustrated with both sides.

If I can contribute to an effort to change this system that works against hunting, shooting, and conservation, it could be a much better use of my time than engaging with our elected officials who are beholden to donors and party bosses to a degree that I could have never imagined.

Well look into voting math. It explains a lot.

 

[SAJ-99]

I don't know how to make sense of anything in polls, even if we ignore the 5-10% of the people who answer "Don't know". The one below is a great example. 53% of Montanans thought the state was headed in the wrong direction.
Overall approval ratings (splitting obviously by party lines, showing the letter after the name is a "cheat code")
Trump 42%
Gianforte 46%
Daines 41%
Sheehy 43%
Zinke 33%
Downing 43%

What did Zinke do to get such disapproval? Did I miss something?

This demonstrates my point and the point Big Fin made in the podcast. People may be upset but they don't change their vote. More than half disapprove of the state's direction but people are not willing to change the driver of the bus, locally or nationally. Blaming the party system is a cop out. Change the election system so you go to a run off and the winner has to receive more than 50% of the vote. Some states do that but I wouldn't say it has changed their political profile. You want money out of politics? They run all the ads because they work. Again, we are sheep. Are brains default to what is easiest. You want more parties? There are 4 people running for the MT Senate : R, D, L, I. There were 10 candidates in 2024 for President of the US.

More parties, or zero parties, just makes it harder for voters to differentiate candidates. Much of how we got here was voter apathy. I default to higher turnout being better than lower turnout given we are a democracy. Run off, rank choice, anything new, I am all for trying anything, except maybe the state picking the candidates, which is where this is headed.

New poll shows voter concern over state’s direction, partisan divide regarding elected officials

Montana voters give low marks to elected officials, say state is on the “wrong track.”

montanafreepress.org

 

[Laszlo Cravensworth]

I don't know how to make sense of anything in polls, even if we ignore the 5-10% of the people who answer "Don't know". The one below is a great example. 53% of Montanans thought the state was headed in the wrong direction.
Overall approval ratings (splitting obviously by party lines, showing the letter after the name is a "cheat code")
Trump 42%
Gianforte 46%
Daines 41%
Sheehy 43%
Zinke 33%
Downing 43%

What did Zinke do together such disapproval? Did I miss something?

This demonstrates my point and the point Big Fin made in the podcast. People may be upset but they don't change their vote. More than half disapprove of the state's direction but people are not willing to change the driver of the bus, locally or nationally. Blaming the party system is a cop out. Change the election system so you go to a run off and the winner has to receive more than 50% of the vote. Some states do that but I wouldn't say it has changed their political profile. You want money out of politics? They run all the ads because they work. Again, we are sheep. Are brains default to what is easiest. You want more parties? There are 4 people running for the MT Senate : R, D, L, I. There were 10 candidates in 2024 for President of the US.

More parties, or zero parties, just makes it harder for voters to differentiate candidates. Much of how we got here was voter apathy. I default to higher turnout being better than lower turnout given we are a democracy. Run off, rank choice, anything new, I am all for trying anything, except maybe the state picking the candidates, which is where this is headed.

New poll shows voter concern over state’s direction, partisan divide regarding elected officials

Montana voters give low marks to elected officials, say state is on the “wrong track.”

montanafreepress.org

Ranked choice or proportional representation seems like a much better solution to me than trying to elect an independent candidate that will have a hell of a time accomplishing things in Washington.

We've beaten the dead horse of polarization hundreds of times here. Everyone claims to hate the party extremes brought on by closed primaries. Ranked choice voting could help there. Everyone claims to hate gerrymandering, especially when they're aligned with the party that's been redisctricted out. Proportional representation would be a solution to that. No states party in power is interested in either though because it would reduce the power of their delegation.

 

[jimh406]

Feel free to show a ranked choice election that makes sense.

 

[R.K.]

Feel free to show a ranked choice election that makes sense.

There’s plenty, if you can understand math.

Nothing is perfect, but we shouldn’t let “not perfect” stop us from finding something better than the current illusion of choice.

 

[Southern Elk]

I don't know how to make sense of anything in polls, even if we ignore the 5-10% of the people who answer "Don't know". The one below is a great example. 53% of Montanans thought the state was headed in the wrong direction.
Overall approval ratings (splitting obviously by party lines, showing the letter after the name is a "cheat code")
Trump 42%
Gianforte 46%
Daines 41%
Sheehy 43%
Zinke 33%
Downing 43%

What did Zinke do to get such disapproval? Did I miss something?

This demonstrates my point and the point Big Fin made in the podcast. People may be upset but they don't change their vote. More than half disapprove of the state's direction but people are not willing to change the driver of the bus, locally or nationally. Blaming the party system is a cop out. Change the election system so you go to a run off and the winner has to receive more than 50% of the vote. Some states do that but I wouldn't say it has changed their political profile. You want money out of politics? They run all the ads because they work. Again, we are sheep. Are brains default to what is easiest. You want more parties? There are 4 people running for the MT Senate : R, D, L, I. There were 10 candidates in 2024 for President of the US.

More parties, or zero parties, just makes it harder for voters to differentiate candidates. Much of how we got here was voter apathy. I default to higher turnout being better than lower turnout given we are a democracy. Run off, rank choice, anything new, I am all for trying anything, except maybe the state picking the candidates, which is where this is headed.

New poll shows voter concern over state’s direction, partisan divide regarding elected officials

Montana voters give low marks to elected officials, say state is on the “wrong track.”

montanafreepress.org

What I find interesting is that Forstag (D) has a slight lead on Flint (R) for Zinke’s old seat. That will be interesting to watch. I’m sure the Rs felt like that seat was safe.

 

[DFS]

Honestly what would you be voting if you if you don’t at least question the Republicans? High gas prices, new wars, subsidies and tax cuts for the wealthiest of the Americans? Huge increase to the budget deficit. I’m an independent and the republicans didn’t do what they said they would do. Energy development on public land which you knew that was coming. There is a lot of stuff that happened that I didn’t vote for. I stay out of these threads so be nice to me. It just is easy for me to see why people would question the path we are headed down. I doubt the other side is any better but it definitely makes me question how I voted in the last election. And that’s just national there is a lot going on at the state level.

 

[Sytes]

Who ever thought an Independant didn't have swagger is a lost pup.

Bodnar is changing views whether he takes the seat or not. Dems still blame everyone but themselves as they are yet again losing... not only to the Red but an Independent. That says volumes how disconnected the party is from the voters.

Even still - Tight for an Indepentant in a Red flipped State. The Steel Wheels, "Stuck In The Middle With You", Montanan's are recognizing the need for a level mind versus entrenched Reds.

More $ to Bodnar: Make your stand buddy! Coming from a Montanan returning once the Pension is maxed in this beautiful State called California messed up by the other entrenched side - Blue.

Life.

Bodnar statement in Whitefish, my defined home turf... Reflecting on a parallel Army event as lieutenant (And former UM Prez!).

"We've got seven days," Bodnar told a crowd of several dozen people gathered in the barroom. "Seven days. We're stacked on a wall outside a door. Behind that door is a very high value target, nothing less than the future of this country itself."