Disqus - Latest Comments for dpogreba

Re: How a City Became Nation’s 1st to Remove and Replace Confederate Monument

dpogreba — Tue, 14 May 2019 19:58:59 -0000

What a surprising turn of events that a racist would hide under a pseudonym AND be dumb enough to realize that it was a different mayor who helped decide to remove the monument.

Re: 'Campaign Beat:' Undecided Voters; Ballot Initiatives; Erroneous Voter Information

dpogreba — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 22:34:29 -0000

Just a quick note about the Montana Post, "Which sounds like a credible news outlet, but it's not."

Professor Saldin incorrectly identified the author of the piece the ad is referring to.

You know, because being a credible news outlet is important.

Re: Zinke Reconsidering Trump Support: "We've got to have this conversation"

dpogreba — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 22:35:43 -0000

Where was Congressman Zinke headed tonight? Shouldn't he be in the district he represents?

Re: In the Shadow of a Tragedy

dpogreba — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 11:20:23 -0000

This is a really great piece of writing and reporting, Tristan.

Re: Democratic Lawmakers To Caucus In February

dpogreba — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 17:57:55 -0000

Fair enough. Thanks for responding.

Re: Democratic Lawmakers To Caucus In February

dpogreba — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 14:03:45 -0000

Isn't "secret" a bit loaded for this headline? Private, perhaps? Off-site?

Re: Religion Central to Gianforte’s Life, But Not His Campaign

dpogreba — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 13:05:32 -0000

I can't understand why, because Gianforte is claiming to only be a potential candidate, the public has to endure these repeated hagiographies in the Montana press. There are surely critics who would have gone on the record to criticize his positions on discrimination and education, but there aren't any in this piece, just quotes from his admirers.

If Gianforte "declines" to talk about how his religious views, the press should decline to run pieces that allow him to, without substance or specifics, suggest he will magically improve the economy of Montana.

What makes Gianforte immune from the same treatment other political figures receive?

Re: Navy SEAL skills serve Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke well

dpogreba — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 17:02:18 -0000

Strange that the story doesn't mention that Ryan Zinke ran to press all over the country within 12 hours of the announcement of the bin Laden raid to say that SEAL Team Six ran the mission.

Re: Using the Restroom: a Privilege (if You’re a Teacher)

dpogreba — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 18:03:41 -0000

Really credible stuff to link to a blogger at The Federalist to support the claim that teachers have a "tendency to complain." Exceptional journalism there.

Re: Comments?

dpogreba — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 17:02:34 -0000

Mr. Pogreba? That makes me feel quite important. :)

I think you're right that the volume of comments is hardly problematic. My questions is, though, do some comments discourage others from participating? Should there be real moderation of comments to perhaps encourage more people to discuss the posts or is that unlikely to change anything?

Thanks for the perspective.

Re: Keep Helena’s Confederate Memorial Fountain, But…

dpogreba — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 13:26:35 -0000

It's interesting to think about how the things we're taught stick with us. I certainly remember being taught that the war was more about the rights of Southern states. Even the textbook we have used in Helena (changing this year) deemphasizes the role of slavery, talking about "Southern culture" and rights more than slavery as the cause of secession.

Re: General Derek “Ain’t No Stonewall” Skees Makes a Bigoted Ass of Himself

dpogreba — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 23:19:24 -0000

That's an excellent point. He's even worse than I thought.

Re: General Derek “Ain’t No Stonewall” Skees Makes a Bigoted Ass of Himself

dpogreba — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 23:19:00 -0000

Thanks for the comment, Tom, and for looking out for kids.

Re: I’ve Seen the Future of Political Coverage in Montana, and the Future Isn’t Bright

dpogreba — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 19:04:40 -0000

Thanks for the input. I will give it due consideration.

Re: I’ve Seen the Future of Political Coverage in Montana, and the Future Isn’t Bright

dpogreba — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:47:38 -0000

But, seriously. You're over hear complaining at my site because I don't link to yours--and you don't link to any other sites? That seems kind of rude.

The reason I don't spend a great deal of time on your site is that I just don't find it incredibly useful. I've been trying to be polite and avoid saying that, but there it is. In a world of sources of information, we can only visit so many. Except on rare occasions, your site just doesn't make that cut for me. I'm sorry if that offends you, but I think it makes some sense.

Re: I’ve Seen the Future of Political Coverage in Montana, and the Future Isn’t Bright

dpogreba — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:33:57 -0000

I've always found some people's obsession with blogrolls hard to understand. I just don't give it much thought. That being said, I really feel you need to add a link to my site on your page.

Re: I’ve Seen the Future of Political Coverage in Montana, and the Future Isn’t Bright

dpogreba — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:27:31 -0000

I don't think you've captured precisely why I don't often mention your site or 4and20 blackbirds, but do keep speculating.

A quick look at the archives here would show a huge number of links to 4and20 over the decade I have been writing here, too.

Re: I’ve Seen the Future of Political Coverage in Montana, and the Future Isn’t Bright

dpogreba — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:39:51 -0000

Not all of us can be on top of every story immediately. Sounds like you'd be an ideal fit for the job.

Re: The Republican Convention: Bigots and Crackpots, Oh My!

dpogreba — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 00:08:47 -0000

Not at all. No worries about any angst here.

I think you have a valid point, and the media is likely to be even less a watchdog this time around. I just have this feeling that Gianforte is too arrogant to hide his extremist views, where Daines was more willing to dissemble and Fox was able to hide without saying anything at all.

Re: The Republican Convention: Bigots and Crackpots, Oh My!

dpogreba — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 17:55:37 -0000

Oh, sure. If, for some reason he didn't want to run, they'd probably beg him for two days. I just don't think he's likely to beat a successful governor on an agenda of bigotry and telecommuting.

Re: A Story about Plagiarism

dpogreba — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 19:27:02 -0000

Yeah, our outrage certainly does seem selective, doesn't it?

That's why, now that I am a better teacher, my punishment is the worst of all: making them re-write a piece.

Re: Guest Post: Why We Must Improve the Conversation About Sexual Assault in Missoula and Montana

dpogreba — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 20:27:47 -0000

Did you actually read the reports I cited? They make exactly the argument that I assert: that one of the reasons for prosecution is to prevent future assaults. That they are from White House report on the need to do more to prevent sexual assault does nothing to undermine their credibility, either.

Your second paragraph perfectly encapsulates what was so wrong with the Missoula Co. Attorney's office: obsessed with win rates, they didn't take cases they worried they might lose. That they feared being terrible prosecutors is hardly an argument for letting rapists walk. Again, I encourage you to read the DoJ report. In clear-cut cases, the Missoula Co. Attorney walked away from trial.

You're reading something into the post that simply isn't there. There's no call for prosecuting the innocent, or putting them in jail if they are found not guilty. There are FAR more cases of unreported rape because of a culture in which police, school officials, and attorneys simply don't prosecute. When victims of sexual assault are disbelieved, inappropriately questioned, and judged by LEO and county attorneys, as happened repeatedly in Missoula, it makes it even less likely for victims to report.

No one is calling for innocent people to be put away, but it's important to realize there is a far greater problem with under-reporting and under prosecution than there is with false accusation.

Re: Guest Post: Why We Must Improve the Conversation About Sexual Assault in Missoula and Montana

dpogreba — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 19:11:08 -0000

You're wrong on one count for sure. Prosecuting those who commit sexual assault reduces offenses, because it puts rapists behind bars. Here are two cites:

Abbey, A., Parkhill, M., Clinton‐Sherrod, A. M., Zawacki, T. (2007). A Comparison of Men Who Committed Different Types of Sexual Assault in a Community Sample. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 22(12), 1567‐580.; Lisak, D., & Miller, P (2002). Repeat Rape and Multiple Offending Among Undetected Rapists. Violence and Victims, 17, 73‐84.

Loh, C., Gidycz, C., Lobo, T., Luthra, R. (2005). A Prospective Analysis of Sexual Assault Perpetration Risk Factors Related to Perpetrator Characteristics. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 20(10), 1325‐348.

I also reject the notion that somehow "county" people lack the sophistication and values to bring convictions. The DoJ report demonstrated that the issues were a refusal of county attorneys to believe victims and to prosecute even people who were seen on video tape drugging a drink or confessing!

Education is crucial. But so is prosecution.

And I don't think either you or Kauffman make the case that prosecution of suspected rapists will whittle down the "4th, 5th and 6th amendments. In what way do you believe that is happening?

Re: Representative Zinke Took Campaign Donations from White Supremacists

dpogreba — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 10:46:50 -0000

I imagine that the ADL spokesman was using air quotes when he said that.

Re: In Wake of Charleston Tragedy, Gun Nuts Call for More Guns!

dpogreba — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 18:17:32 -0000

Enough to read statistical reports about the impact of too many guns in our society. Ever tried to read one yourself?