Seth Bodnar - independent US Senate candidate

[406 Wildlife pilot]

I don't believe either party fully represents my views. Both partys have evolved into something completely different than our parents party. Seth was a registered Democrat before running for this office. I get it, Democrats just can't win in Montana these days. The Democratic candidate, Bankhead, stand no chance, She is not Montanan she has only lived here for 3 years. Seth has only lived here since 2018, but his wife is a 5th generation Montanan.

Like Randy, I value my Second Amendment rights, enjoy hunting, and generally lean conservative on those issues. I also believe in personal freedom and limited government involvement. During the COVID pandemic, I felt many of the concerns raised by the political right about government overreach proved valid.

At the same time, if the political right continues to support policies that threaten Montana's public lands and public access, I'll change my vote without hesitation. Protecting our public lands is a core Montana value that transcends party politics. When it comes to the Right and especially Mike Lee and his supporters, Public land will be the sword that I die on.

I really appreciated this conversation and the opportunity to hear Seth speak. Seth and I served at the same time, which gives me additional confidence in his character. I also recognize that, as an Independent, he faces an uphill battle in Montana because of the strength of the two-party system.

I tend to vote differently for national candidates than I do for state and local races. Montana is a unique state. While agriculture remains an important part of our heritage, tourism has become the state's largest economic driver. That reality makes protecting our public lands even more important.

At the end of the day, I vote for candidates—not political parties. The issues that matter most to me are protecting Montana's public lands and preserving our Second Amendment rights.

I do think that we should ask all candidates to show there Montana ALS number. The lower the number the more I respect that candidate. We have elected to many people who do not even hunt or fish. Just like somebody that represents Montana. My 90 year old mother has an ALS number.

If this conversation is where he stands and he can do what he says, he has my vote.

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

I guess my question is What do you want from an Independent? The major in the chamber controls what bills come up and a member can only vote yes or no on a bill. What would you like to see from them?

The majority of the podcast covers very well the "why" I'd sure prefer an independent who supports public lands and conservation, plus other common sense items where normally each senator must toe the party line.

Like any step in a new direction, one can not expect it to be perfect from the beginning as everything in life evolves step by step. For me, even the ideal of having the power of sway votes apart from the binary party platforms is very worth it. We already see that in the D or R whose job security rests on their breaking from party lines in some small way sometimes, however rare that is nowadays.

 

[SAJ-99]

Sure. But whats a pac buy with an independent? Without the committee assignments being set up by the party, how do you buy something and what do you buy?

Nothing. That’s why they can get money from a pac without declaring, or being obvious, about which party they would caucus with. Maybe that could change if we hit 10-20% of sitting congressp pole having an I next to their name.

I don't believe either party fully represents my views.

I would think everyone can say that. We need to get to a point where we can reasonably disagree on the various topics.

 

[jimh406]

It seems to me that so far the Montana Republican Congressmen and Senators are supporters of our public lands. I don't think there is any reason to think Kurt Alme is going to be against public lands.

Maybe you have different info.

 

[SixPoint]

I listened to the podcast today and was very impressed with the interview. Last fall, well before his candidacy, Seth came and spoke to the kids at the middle school my wife teaches at in Dillon on Veterans Day. She came home that night and was extremely impressed with not only his speech but also his resume. I was excited to see him running as an independent and support him fully. From my perspective he is exactly what we need and he represents a lot of my same values. I also agree with him that an independent senator may prove to be extremely effective in getting things done and giving Montana some serious leverage at the table. He is the first federal political candidate in recent history that I am actually excited about and hopeful for. Here’s to hoping he wins in November.

 

[Blowdowner]

Rhodes and Oxford. My guess is he'll be a great leader until we realize the road leads right to the gallows. Trump looked great for a minute.

 

[Irrelevant]

I will absolutely vote for the best candidate in the primary. But there's no way I'm pissing away the only sliver of say I have in nov on a third party cand

 

[R.K.]

I will absolutely vote for the best candidate in the primary. But there's no way I'm pissing away the only sliver of say I have in nov on a third party cand

And that’s exactly why we need a different voting system.