Tester v. Trump

Tester represents Swamp People

My wife and I happily and hopefully moved to Montana 10 years ago (from Illinois) because of its wonderful geography, and friendly, decent, common-sense folks.

Today (Monday the 30th), a Missoulian was in our Daily Inter Lake newspaper box by accident; so wanting to be “well-informed,” I read it cover-to-cover. I was disappointed to see an op-ed starting on the front page, alleging “President distorts claims on nominee.” Au contraire, it was Sen. Tester who was spewing unsubstantiated allegations against Dr. Jackson (nominee for VA Director). All of what Tester said last week was purely hearsay, and came well after thorough vetting by the administration and the Office of Veterans Affairs. But the most notable lie Tester repeated was the “drunken driving” allegation.

The General Services Administration, by law, keeps detailed records of ALL incidents involving government property, without redaction. Dr. Jackson was indeed involved in three minor auto accidents while driving, but NONE were his fault; NONE involved bodily injury; and NONE involved alcohol or any other substance abuse on his part... Methinks Mr. Tester was just playing his well-rehearsed role as one (of many) of Sen. Chuck Schumer’s “lap-dogs.” Remember, before this latest false rant, Sen. Tester has recently voted against the tax reductions passed by Congress (which will benefit almost ALL of Montana’s hard-working taxpayers); against the nomination of Neil Gorsuch for the U.S. Supreme Court, a highly respected and qualified jurist; and against the nomination of Mike Pompeo for secretary of state. It surely seems that Sen. Tester is playing his role as one of the Democrat obstructors very well.

Goodness knows, ANY politician should trumpet his support of our blessed veterans’ rights; but in his latest rant, he tried to elevate himself as Montana’s Sole Protector of Our Veterans, which was not only disingenuous, but was also based upon downright falsehoods and unsubstantiated hearsay.

He airs his “good-old home-boy” and “damn-right” commercials, while all the while he truly represents the “Swamp People” and “Trump haters” who are so full of vitriol and pure hatred, but who, sadly, are so rife in our politics and discourse today. I believe and hope the good folks in Montana will see right through this pile of bull excrement, and then vote in November from both their good hearts and knowing minds.

What do YOU believe most? Their Words, or your own eyes. —Reed L. Yeater, Polson

Tester caught in an ambush

This isn’t about being Republican or Democrat. It’s about a friend caught in an ambush pinned down and fighting back. He’s getting some heavy incoming and needs covering fire.

Sen. Tester is a powerful voice for veterans. He leads the Veterans Affairs Committee. Under his influence, he’s expanded VA health care in Montana. He’s fired bureaucrats that caused vets to die waiting for treatment. He’s sponsored legislation to hold the VA accountable and to protect whistleblowers when they drop the ball. He’s speeding up the disability claims process, improved educational benefits for those returning from war, provided transportation to and from VA facilities, assistance for homeless vets and improved VA services for women veterans. If he says we deserve a better choice to head up the VA, I believe him. He is an ally for Montana vets and their families.

Sen. Tester had covered us, regardless of political stripe, when we needed it. Now he needs to count on us to saddle up and cover his six. —Mike Rippe, Proctor

Tester’s latest ‘big power lie’

While Sen. Jon Tester is not the first senator who lied for money and power, he has recently moved to the top of the political food chain, bringing shame to our magnificent state. The big money lie he continues to promote is Senate Bill 3013, the Salish and Kootenai tribal water compact. His bill substantially amplified and expanded tribal authority, added multi-millions to the compact, and is filled to the brim with illegalities and has been shoved down the throats of 360,000 Montanans in 11 western counties. And if re-elected Tester has promised to resubmit this fraud upon Montanans yet again.

It is fairly common knowledge that Sen. Tester is substantially funded by Montana tribes who count on him to assert tribalism over state authority. As Tester knows, if the Salish and Kootenai water compact succeeds, then the other Montana tribes will follow suit, transferring all Montana waters in trust to the federal government for the seven small tribes. How does this serve the water needs of over a million Montana water customers?

His latest big power lie reveals that he has no problem intentionally and falsely destroying a highly respected individual to gain political praise from his party. Admiral Ronny Jackson has served three presidents as White House physician, receiving continuous high praise from all three for over 12 years, regardless of their politics. Jon Tester couldn’t resist jumping in front of all mainstream media cameras to share anonymous and slanderous allegations, now refuted by Secret Service.

And last but by no means least, we can add alleged voter fraud to the list. In a stunning whistleblower video (https://youtu.be/YeAlWPbBiAM) Kris Kortlander claims that Jon Tester’s election in 2006 was a voter swindle.

Montana has been poorly served by a senator who consistently and blatantly lies for money or power, or both. —Lauralee O’Neil, Kalispell

President trying to bully Tester

I read in the April 28 paper a news story that said President Trump is critical of Montana Sen. Jon Tester for doing his job as one of two senior senators on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. The president is trying to bully Sen. Tester for properly doing his job on the committee. That job is to ensure that the Veterans Affairs agency is led by a person with the experience and competence to run an agency that has an annual budget of over $200 billion, and which provides care to our nation’s veterans in a system of hospitals and clinics across the country.

Sen. Tester has worked diligently since his first election to the Senate to improve the VA system of clinics and hospitals around the country. He has worked cooperatively with the Republicans on the Veterans Affairs Committee, and at least 11 bipartisan bills sponsored by Tester have been passed by a GOP-controlled Senate and signed by President Trump. He gets things done while avoiding the spotlight or grandstand (or Twitter).

Tester and his colleagues on the VA committee passed the VA Accountability Act, ensuring that VA administrators and staff do their jobs. He has worked successfully to establish VA clinics in places like Kalispell, Butte, and Havre to serve Montana veterans.

Jon Tester cares deeply about the men and women who have served our great nation, and, instead of posturing, he has rolled up his sleeves and worked with anyone willing to improve our nation.

As a Vietnam combat veteran who served in the active Army for 30 years, I deeply admire and appreciate Sen.r Tester for the results he gets, and the way he works cooperatively with anyone willing to get things done. Thanks, Sen. Tester! —Scott Wheeler, West Valley

Tester guilty of character assassination

I don’t know the truth about Admiral / Dr. Ronny Jackson’s behavior for 12 years as presidential physician nor do I know if he could have handled the impossible job of reforming a federal bureaucracy, but I do know a character assassination when I see one.

The admiral passed three FBI background checks and had multiple glowing performance reports from Obama while acting as his personal physician. Jon Tester’s attack on the character of a physician and military officer supposedly based on 20-plus anonymous tips from veterans is the exact reason that I and most other reasonable people should vote Tester out as Montana senator this next election.

All Americans — liberal as well as conservative — should be tired of this pattern of personal destruction. Emboldened by their ability to get rid of the head of HHS, Dr. Tom Price, for overusing private jets, the liberal Democrat swamp machine made the mistake of going after Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke with similar accusations. They made the mistake of not appreciating the steely resolve of a Navy SEAL and lost that battle. They then took on the EPA head, Scott Pruitt, not because of the “overspending” they are complaining of, but because he is rolling back the liberal environmental agenda. So far that attempted coup has failed also.

All of the above “overspending” had apparently been approved by each department’s watchdog and was totally consistent with spending by previous Obama appointees. Unable to win at the ballot box with failed policies and divisive claims of racism, sexism and homophobia, the Democrats are trying to interfere with the successful policies of President Trump by trying to remove his Cabinet and agency heads (as well as blocking votes of appointment in the Senate) to derail implementation of his agenda.

Hopefully Americans will recognize this bankrupt progressive conspiracy as a desperate attempt to regain control of the government and vote to keep Republicans in power. Montana can lead the way by voting out Sen. Tester this fall. Tester is right about one thing ... character does matter and he has none! Surely we can do better than this man who can’t hold a candle to a distinguished serviceman like Adm. Ronny Jackson. —P. David Myerowitz, Columbia Falls

Trump’s attack on Tester is laughable

As a veteran I find the alleged President Draft-Dodger Don-the-Con Trump’s attacks on Jon Tester completely laughable but not one bit funny. If he has information that would absolutely prevent Sen. Tester’s election as he claims, what is holding him back, his deep-seated sense of ethics?

Our farmer turned legislator is one of the best friends veterans have in this Congress and has been for many years. I could name several GOP members who are veterans and yet have voted less in veterans’ interests, so the amount of dedication Jon has shown is even more admirable. I must confess his staff worked closely with me in getting surgery done that I had been struggling with the VA over for 20 years and was instrumental in helping me with a few other long-festering problems so I am slightly prejudiced.

I must say in closing though that I find this president’s attacks on our government agencies in so many ways doing the work of Putin operatives really disturbing. Collusion, heck, his SON met with Russian spies in Trump Tower, one of about 40 different links between the Trump campaign and Russia — not collusion, it’s a conspiracy as part of Racketeering Involving Criminal Organizations. And treason, thankfully exposed by HUBRIS, the kryptonite of the GOP. —Bob Petersen, Evergreen Democrat, candidate for House District 9