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Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

The ink isn't even dry yet on the new rules in the Federal Register to be published this week, regarding how Montana, Idaho and Wyoming can further manage the wolves and already several environmental groups are suing.

All of this began back in 1995 when the infamous "buttinsky" from Arizona, Bruce Babbitt, enlisted all his authority as Secretary of the Interior to bring about one of the most contentious and divisive federal mandates the West has endured by reintroducing gray wolves into the Yellowstone National Park ecosystem.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of NewWest.Net/Politics' "Diary of a Mad Voter" feature, a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. For more columns check in with www.newwest.net/madvoter. And for more information on each of the bloggers, click here.
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Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

Nothing makes an already "Mad Voter" even angrier than the arrogant attitude and actions of an entrenched old politician.

Case in point, is the self-revering, very senior Senator from West Virginia, Robert Byrd. Now at age 90, this "old Byrd" has become the longest serving member of the United States Senate.

He has also fought a good battle to become the pork barrel king by bringing more money to his home state than any other Senator.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of NewWest.Net/Politics' "Diary of a Mad Voter" feature, a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. For more columns check in with www.newwest.net/madvoter. And for more information on each of the bloggers, click here. [more]

Diary Of A Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

You have probably heard the old saying, "Everything I need to know about life, I learned in kindergarten." Think about it for a moment. Kindergarten was for most, their first exposure to life outside of the comfort of their own family. A bunch of kids crammed into a room together with the expectations of learning, formulating ideas, being creative and accomplishing tasks. All with the security and comfort of the teacher's care, snacks, walks together, recess and of course, quiet times.

I sure wish we had more kindergarten teachers serving as political leaders today. Voters seem to be yearning for a peacemaker to lead in government and they're obviously in the process of rejecting those who would make politics an instrument of polarization.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of NewWest.Net/Politics' "Diary of a Mad Voter" feature, a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. For more columns check in with www.newwest.net/madvoter. And for more information on each of the bloggers, click here. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

With the anticipation of the Iowa caucuses and what some consider the make or break conclusions that come with a "win, place or show" in this horse race, you would have thought that every voice that matters would have had their say as to who they or their organizations endorse. But on Friday morning, most cable news programs and primary candidates were waiting with great expectation for the highly coveted and highly sought endorsement of Des Moines Register.

No kidding! The endorsement of one single Iowa newspaper is seen as a pivotal voice in the politics of choosing a presidential primary winner.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of NewWest.Net/Politics' "Diary of a Mad Voter" feature, a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. For more columns check in with www.newwest.net/madvoter. And for more information on each of the bloggers, click here. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

We are always hearing about the human catastrophes of the war against terrorism, via the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Terrorists took the lives of many Americans on September 11th and the lives of many other innocents in attacks in Spain and Great Britain.

It would be a reach to compare anything to the destruction caused by terrorism. That is why I was surprised to read a recent guest editorial by the President of Israel comparing terrorism to global warming.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of NewWest.Net/Politics' "Diary of a Mad Voter" feature, a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. For more columns check in with www.newwest.net/madvoter. And for more information on each of the bloggers, click here. [more]

Diary Of A Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

Politics in the rural West is often a game more similar to the behavior of a dogs than of a humans. You know, all that sniffing around, posturing, staking out your ground, barking loud and snarling to intimidate your competition and let's not forget the inevitable marking your territory.

If you live in Montana and committed the offense of contributing to Republican Bob Brown's campaign for Governor in 2004, you probably received a letter from our current Governor Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, soliciting contributions of the same amount for his 2008 re-election bid.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

In the past couple years, both the Bobcats and Grizzly football teams have been plagued by player misconduct off the field, which has resulted in arrests and brought great shame and embarrassment to both football programs. The previous coach of the MSU Bobcats lost his job, in many ways, because of his players criminal actions.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

In the midst of all that this country has to be aware of and concerned about, last month, Montana's two U.S. Senators, Max Baucus and Jon Tester, both Democrats, introduced a resolution titled "National Be Bear Aware and Wildlife Stewardship Month" on the floor of the Senate. Huh?

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

Just say the word "Money" four times fast and your mind will immediately think of the melody to that old song that was taken hostage by Donald Trump to be the theme music for his defunct reality show.

It seems that all I hear about in the news is money. How much we make, how much we spend, how much more we need! "Money makes the world go around" is a phrase we often hear, and we know "Money makes the political world go around"?

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

Isn't it amazing when someone, or a group of someones, think they need to instruct the rest of us, on what is good and what is bad. Especially when they come into our own neighborhood and try to tell everyone who will listen, that the way we live, is offensive to them and wrong for us.

Those of us who live in the Rocky Mountain West grew up with a certain sense of right and wrong and were raised with a rural sense of values. Those values included honesty, hard work, a love of the outdoors, an appreciation of agriculture and a love of red meat.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter. [more]