MT Representative Ryan Zinke is NOT running for re-election!!!

He's citing a health problem. I am over the moon. We've got some really good Dems running for his seat.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke said he won’t seek reelection on Monday, citing health problems.

Zinke, who has been elected to represent Montana the U.S. House four times since 2014, said injuries sustained during his Navy SEAL career had caught up with him and that he needed surgery and time to recover.

“I have made the decision to leave office at the end of my fourth term and not seek re-election,” Zinke said in a letter to constituents, which he posted online.

https://montanafreepress.org/2026/03/02/rep-ryan-zinke-retire-health/

Shenanigans at my local USPS office - Heads up, people!

Went in to my local post office this afternoon to do some parcel shipping. I've noticed that the station closest to my house recently removed 3 of the 4 outdoor drive up mail drop boxes and the main USPS station in the middle of my city has removed 4 of the 6 outdoor drive up drop boxes. The little station on the west side of town has gone from 4 drop boxes to 1. I asked the desk clerk if he had any intel on why this was happening. I was the only person at the desk and he said "How do I say this without getting political?" My response was "Get political, I'm here for it." He said "USPS doesn't want ballots." I said "For real?" He said "Yes and you didn't hear it from me."

There you have it. Take it for what it's worth. I live in blue Missoula, Montana. Of course they don't want our ballots. PLEASE make sure you have a voting plan. I do not believe we can count on our USPS any longer.

I'm missing DU's beloved elleng for some reason today.

It’s so strange how people pop into your consciousness out of the blue. Maybe it’s not out of the blue at all. This heart ❤️ is for her, wherever she is.

Here’s to all our friends on this platform who left us sooner than we would have liked. 💙

JD Vance is in Butte, MT

and apparently headed to the little town of Dillon, MT. His trip here to Missoula was cancelled at the last minute last Saturday. At least here in Missoula, we’ve got a luxury resort that’s a draw…Dillon? Not so much. It’s a little cowboy town. Crypto scheme? Peter Thiel’s data center? Curious.

https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/air-force-2-lands-in-butte-vp-enroute-to-dillon

Why are Musk, Vance, Homeland Security coming and going

in and out of Missoula freaking Montana? Last weekend, Elon Musk flew into Missoula. He was shuttled up to the Paw’s Up resort for a three hour-ish meeting. His jet shuttled wealthy well connected people in and out all weekend. They also went to the Paws Up. The pilot of his plane spoke with my kiddo and when asked who these people were, the pilot said “I can’t tell you their names but what these people are involved in is on the front page of the paper every day”.

JD Vance is coming tomorrow and headed to the Paws Up. The FAA has restricted our air spade for his arrival and departure. Secret Service has been busy at the private FBO where he will be received and all employees at that FBO have signed NDA’s. Two C17’s are also coming with Homeland Security on board. 50 rooms have been reserved at one hotel to house them. Guess the government doesn’t want to pay to keep them at the swanky Paws Up.

WTH is happening? Why here?

ETA: UPDATE…The FAA has lifted the airspace restrictions for today. It appears Vance has cancelled his trip. Curiouser and curioser. If I hear anything else, I’ll post it here. Thanks for your interest everyone.

https://www.reddit.com/r/missoula/comments/1l552mb/update_missoula_airport_restriction_for_unnamed/

Elmo Mush flew into Missoula, MT today.

Ugh. The tail number on the Gulfstream jet is registered to him as of November 2024. My kiddo works at the FBO where the plane is scheduled to land later today. The pilot has asked for a private parking place for the plane and two limos are arriving from the Paws Up luxury resort north of town. I can't even go out there to flip him off or protest with a sign without outing my kid. Damn it. I hate when the nutters come to town. They aren't welcome.

ETA: Musk indeed landed late afternoon today. My kiddo had eyes on him. Kenneth Copeland, televangelist and grifter is here too. The private jets are coming one after another. The manifests are secret and the limos from the Paws Up luxury resort are picking these yahoos up.

ETA:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ElonJetTracker/s/85hIoLXZiC

At the Bernie AOC rally in Missoula MT!

We are at the Adams Center at the Universiry of Montana. The lines to get in wrap through the campus. The place is filling up. Energy is high. People are happy.

My kiddo works at a private aviation company where Bernie and AOC’s jet will arrive. He said the security detail is tight.

A small but meaningful way to support Ukraine.

My neighborhood began a postcard campaign to let folks in the Ukrainian embassy know that we support them and denounce the ambush of President Zelenskyy by FOTUS and Hillbilly Davenport. Will it change the world? No. But sending good energy to Ukraine felt like something positive to do.

Here’s an example of one of the cards:

Serious question about social security solvency.

Maybe some of you are in my shoes or some version of my shoes and have some thoughts on this…

I 60 and my husband is 63. We are recently retired. We had planned to take money from our investments for living expenses until we are 67 and can draw our full social security benefits. At that time we planned to ratchet back what we take from our investments.

Reputable economists have said that with the felon’s economic “plan” and project 2025, SS could be insolvent in 6 years.

Should we take our SS early in the hopes of getting something out of what we’ve put in over our lifetimes or should we gamble that it might still be there?

If fascism begins to take hold, I don’t believe we can count on a free and fair election in 4 years…but maybe? This too seems like a gamble.

Anybody else thinking about these things?

My Halloween display is UP!

My neighbor took this pic from his kiddo’s second story window across the street. This is, imho, the most wonderful time of the year. I hope the snow holds off until after 11/1. 🎃💀



Sorry about my recycling bins out front…🙄