My Page: JP Pendleton

Diary of a Mad Voter: JP Pendleton

For a fair amount of time in Montana elections, if you had the rural counties then all you had to do was pull in Yellowstone County (and Billings as its County seat) to win a statewide election. With few exceptions, as went Billings, so went Montana.

I don't think that's so anymore, and let me tell you why I believe that.

First, let me point out that when you use Times Square as the benchmark, all of Montana is rural, but according to the guidelines of the U.S. Census Bureau we've several 'urban' areas in Montana. It essentially boils down to the larger cities and the bedroom communities surrounding them. Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula are what I consider the 'big seven' with Livingston, Havre, Miles City, Hamilton, and a few others on the verge. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: JP Pendleton

I’m looking forward to hearing about a number of issues from our field of Presidential candidates. I have to admit, I’m not paying a whole lot of attention just yet, so it’s entirely possible some of my areas of concern have already been addressed (it’s awfully hard for me to care about a YouTube debate when my boys want to go outside and play.) Still, as a parent and a small business owner, I'm particularly interested in listening for their take on higher education.

Editor's note: JP Pendleton'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: JP Pendleton

It’s easy to paint with a broad brush stroke – whether liberals or neocons, right wingers or lefties – you can hit a wide spectrum in a short amount of time. On more than one occasion I’ve winced at someone saying ‘you Republicans’ when addressing an issue that I may not toe the party line on. Worse yet is when I see prominently identified Republicans doing something I think is completely inane, offensive, or unconstitutional. Think Ann Coulter (among others).

That’s where I sit back and think, “Y’know, maybe it’s time to fire up the plans for that Franklin Party.”

Editor's note: JP Pendleton'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: JP Pendleton

The apparent decline of civility in political discourse would seem to be a fallacy.

On May 22, 1856, Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina marched on to the floor of the Senate and beat Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner so severely with his walking cane that Senator Sumner took three years to recover before he could cast another vote. And I complain about today's sniping?

Editor's note: JP Pendleton'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: JP Pendleton

Voter turnout is low, general approval ratings for Congress are still in the toilet, and one of the bigger complaints you hear about election season is the negativism, the rancor, the breathless hyperbole, and the personal attacks. Sadly, the parties continue to sit in their respective glass houses and pitch stones at the other. And we wonder why political ‘outsiders’ don’t want to step in to the arena?

Editor's note: JP Pendleton'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: JP Pendleton

"Flyover Country." I’d probably call it an overused term if I hadn’t opened this paragraph with it. Nevertheless, much of the area we live in along the Rockies would clearly fall into this geographic region of relatively sparse population and darn nice scenery. One would only need to look at a nighttime photograph of the North American continent to see there is definitely some space between the bright spots out here.

Regardless, the numbers would indicate a fairly low electoral value on Montana and other Mountain West states – but I’m not as convinced that holds water when you take into account the practical views of those living in this easy-to-ignore region.

Editor's note: JP Pendleton'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]