Here's a throw out to Secretary of State Brad Johnson. Every day Johnson's office puts together a collection of news stories related to politics and and civic affairs. The Daily News Digest covers a variety of newspapers from across Montana and several blogs.  From our perspective, it has been a proven useful tool to see how different reporters are framing stories. To subscribe to the Daily News Digest by email click here.  Or bookmark this link to check it for yourself.

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Since we began this blog, we have received much positive feedback from many conservatives and liberals for providing information and stories that the mainstream media ignores or just blindly fails to mention for certain reasons. One thing that we can assure you is; that we are not the means know all. This is why we highly encourage you to contact us with any comments, concerns or complaints. Please feel free to contact us via the contact link located on the left menu of the main page. Thanks for your interest in The Hardliner.

While many of you are preparing for tomorrow's event of honoring our Independence from Great Britain, let's remember that freedom isn't free.

This day in history marks the 144th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. On this day after the smoke cleared, over 9,000 troops were laid to rest.

While out doing your last minute shopping, maybe take the time to think about why you're celebrating this great holiday and pick up a few care package items to send to someone you may know who is overseas serving. If you don't know anyone who is currently over there, here is a link to a great website that will be able to help you.

On the hot press: President Bush commutes Scooter Libby's sentence. Recall Clinton's pardons. While Democrats are up in arms, come back and talk to us the next time your feathers get ruffled when someone like President Carter pardons Vietnam War draft resisters.

Today the Helena IR released an editorial praising the Schweitzer Administration and Democratic lawmakers for their work during this last 2007 legislative session. The editorial used this week's Lee poll to back up their rubber stamping article. While we already discussed the legitimacy of the poll and how polls can be conducted in one's favor just by putting a spin on the questions asked, let's not forget the Chamber of Commerce voting review. This report clearly shows the difference between the two political parties. While the Schweitzer administration and fellow democrats blow out a lot of hot air, the business community speaks for themselves.

While Giuliani is busy raising money (17M - 2nd Quarter), Mitt Romney is still riding high with 14M plus 6.5M(personal money invested) totaling 20.6M for the 2nd Quarter.

As over 500 Montana patriots begin packing their bags, we thank Sen. Tester and Sen. Baucus for their hard work on almost accomplishing the job that Sen. Burns and Congressman Rehberg have managed to defend in recent years on protecting Malmstrom Air Force Base. We're sure that the loss of jobs will be a huge boost for the Great Falls community.

As the President begins to issue a Grant of Executive Clemency.

As Al Gore prepares to spend more money and credibility trying to convince the world that there is a fever. A majority isn't buying it.

As Montana residents and tourists can sleep safely at night knowing that Montana's fires are under control - at least until the 4th.

As we begin to prepare for a festival (not festivus) holiday to honor our independence of this great nation.

Let us not forget what we are celebrating. On this day in history, the Second Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia to vote on Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence from Great Britain. A vote that 12 colonies voted in favor of while one state abstained from voting (NY). While John Adams thought future generations would commemorate their Independence Day on the 2nd of July, it turns out that we celebrate the day that we adopted The Declaration of Independence.

In other news, while Sen. John McCain reported high poll ratings here in Montana, he has a few other issues to worry about.

One can only wonder if Romney will pick up more gains with the amount of money he is raising and with his buddy's support?

The Montana GOP held their annual convention this last weekend in Helena and had quite the time. Republicans gathered from each corner of the state to elect their new Chairman Erik Iverson and bring forth a plan to pick up "gains" in the next (2008) election cycle. Interestingly enough many questions remained unanswered as to where the party stands.

It was interesting to see the party members with such diverse ideologies come together to talk about where our party is headed. We had a showing of the strong conservatives such as Sales and Koopman all the way to the opposite end of the spectrum with log cabin Republicans such as the Jones Brothers who sided with the Schweitzer administration that latterly led to Montana's taxpayers receiving the shaft on tax relief.

Rising questions as to, "What is the Party's message?" and "Who is this young gun (Iverson) and what is his plan?" still remain flowing in murky water. Yet Iverson managed to drop a fiery speech that rallied Republican delegates to their feet, but in the end, no candidates emerged from the convention with announcements to challenge Gov. Brian Schweitzer nor Sen. Max Baucus.

The infamous Mike Lange who is better known for his arrogance and political incorrectness which ultimately led to his party firing him at the end of the Special Session, has been hinting for quite sometime about running for one of the two posts. Whatever he decides, the MDP would be happy to hear his announcement considering the lack of support from Lange's own party(http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/06/24/montana_top/a01062407_01.txt).

Whatever the final outcome of the convention, Republicans should feel more secure knowing that at the very least, they have a newly elected leader who has been around the block a few times in his life and as some would say, "This isn't his first rodeo."