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.

 

[Irrelevant]

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

I keep donating a dollars to the campaign trying to get WA to switch to ranked choice voting

 

[SAJ-99]

I keep donating a dollars to the campaign trying to get WA to switch to ranked choice voting

RCV couldn’t hurt. But I think we underestimated the amount of crazy out there.

 

[MT Super Puncher]

I for one just think it would be nice if we had actual Montanans running for Montana seats ...

The bigger problem to me is the lack of term limits. Being a politician was never designed to be a career. You were supposed to "do your civic duty," stay in office for a couple of years, and then head back home. I think that would fix a lot of our problems.

Make no mistake, Bodnar, if he wins, will caucus as a dem, receive money from their groups and be beholden to their interests. I'm not saying Alme is the right choice either, as he comes across as the most unlikeable candidate for a senate seat I can remember in a long time. Lastly, the dem party in MT is in such shambles that the best they could do was an out of stater no one ever heard of who has zero chance to win.

Someone pointed out voting differently at a national level as opposed to a local level, and I think this is the correct approach. I generally lean more conservative on a federal level, but can't think of a single state legislator with an (R) that I've supported in the last decade or so.

 

[SAJ-99]

I for one just think it would be nice if we had actual Montanans running for Montana seats ...

The bigger problem to me is the lack of term limits.

The is an artificial constraint. A person can come in and tell you exactly what you want to hear and then you discover they weren't born there so it changes your view/vote? This is what I mean when I say people find reasons not to like candidates and then complain that no one represents them.

Term limits are both good and bad. It takes a while for people to learn how the processes work in DC. Regardless whether you dislike the process, it has and will always exist in some form. However, age limits and term limits need to be debated.

 

[cityslicker]

Coincidentally, there's a G. Elliott Morris story up today about Bodnar's race in Montana. Worth the read for those of you interested in the polling dynamics of the race-

To defeat Republicans, Democrats may have to sit some races out

An exclusive poll shared first with Strength In Numbers shows Independent Seth Bodnar in Montana runs ahead of the Democrat in a hypothetical Senate horse-race

www.gelliottmorris.com

 

[Big Fin]

The bigger problem to me is the lack of term limits. Being a politician was never designed to be a career. You were supposed to "do your civic duty," stay in office for a couple of years, and then head back home. I think that would fix a lot of our problems.

To your point of term limits, if you scroll down through Bodnar's platform, he is for term limits and age limits.

Link here - https://www.sethformontana.com/Platform



Personally, I'm not in favor of term limits. Looking at the MT legislature and term limits, we have a lot of newbies who have no idea how a legislature is to be run, so they get led around by the lobbyists. At the Congressional level, it would be even worse. We would have new Congressional members who would have no idea how things work, only to be directed by lobbyists and staffers. It would be a field day for lobbyists if we had short term limits at the Federal level. If the term limits were longer than in MT, maybe it would work.

At the time I voted for our term limits, yet in the totality, I think it was a mistake. Our legislature and their accomplishments have not improved with term limits. It was a feel good vote, at least in my opinion.

I would support age limits. Especially on the Federal bench and the USSC.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I for one just think it would be nice if we had actual Montanans running for can't think of a single state legislator with an (R) that I've supported in the last decade or so.

Curious - is that due to wildlife/conservation? Or lack of action on conservative issues? Or both?

I struggle willingly sending more R to the state legislature. We have an OUTRAGEOUS income tax - no action by them in several years of control of the legislature and gov office. Further, if all they are going to do is chum up with lobbyists, moga board members, and special interest - i personally have no interest in sending them.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Looking at the MT legislature and term limits, we have a lot of newbies who have no idea how a legislature is to be run, so they get led around by the lobbyists.

How much of that is lobbyist reform?

As an example - i know of a lobbyist that did not register. The penalty/fine was under a few hundred dollars.

Striking when i compare what would happen if folks in my field practiced without registering or getting licensing to practice.

 

[antlerradar]

To your point of term limits, if you scroll down through Bodnar's platform, he is for term limits and age limits.

Link here - https://www.sethformontana.com/Platform

View attachment 413366

Personally, I'm not in favor of term limits. Looking at the MT legislature and term limits, we have a lot of newbies who have no idea how a legislature is to be run, so they get led around by the lobbyists. At the Congressional level, it would be even worse. We would have new Congressional members who would have no idea how things work, only to be directed by lobbyists and staffers. It would be a field day for lobbyists if we had short term limits at the Federal level. If the term limits were longer than in MT, maybe it would work.

At the time I voted for our term limits, yet in the totality, I think it was a mistake. Our legislature and their accomplishments have not improved with term limits. It was a feel good vote, at least in my opinion.

I would support age limits. Especially on the Federal bench and the USSC.

I was also once in favor of term limits, but the results have not been overwhelmingly great. As an alternative I think that residency requirements would be better way to go. After a few terms, congressional members would have to return to the district they represent and reestablish residency by actually living there for a year or better instead of Washington DC. Once they have reestablished residency they can run again to represent their district.

 

[Straight Arrow]

At the time I voted for our term limits, yet in the totality, I think it was a mistake.

Fundamentally, I have thought term limits to be of value. However, the reality of political influence at the national and state level shows that at least several terms are required to "earn" the respect and sway to serve on key committees and to gain support for important legislation. In particular, I recall the life and importance of Senator Mike Mansfield of Montana in providing the political maturity and wisdom to influence key good decisions for our state and nation.

 

[TOGIE]

Someone pointed out voting differently at a national level as opposed to a local level, and I think this is the correct approach. I generally lean more conservative on a federal level, but can't think of a single state legislator with an (R) that I've supported in the last decade or so.

It's so interesting how one's locale and experience shifts how one lands on that.

I've drifted left federally - though, from my perspective, I think the right has just kinda drifted away from me. Meanwhile, at the state level, sometimes I feel I'm ready to fill in every single (R) bubble without knowing a single fact about the individual or even what position i'm filling out an (R) bubble for.

 

[406dn]

I have long been resistant to term limits. It has played out, about how I thought.

It takes time to learn the job, longer to make meaningful relationships with members from across the aisle. You arrive, fairly certain that everyone on the opposite side is wrong, and question their motives. Once you get to know someone, from a few legislative sessions, respect and insight to a solution of a problem emerges.

I can much more easily agree to age limits. Age brings wisdom, to a point. At some point, you won't live with your votes. Where to draw the line? I'm 75, healthy, and have most of my wits, I think. But it is getting to where any decision made, minimally affects me. I think 70 is a decent place to draw the line.