Top News Stories for 2012

For my final 2012 show I thought it fitting to talk about the top news stories of 2012--locally and nationally.  Topping the list for statewide news was Tester's victory over Rehberg in the highly contested US Senate race in Montana.  Second to that was Daines victory for the lone Congressional seat.  On a national level here's what you said were tops:

1. Obamacare is Constitutional:   US Supreme Court's ruling that ObamaCare was constitutional as a tax and its impact on the economy and our healthcare system
2. Fiscal Cliff--who will jump first?
3. Newtown, CT massacre and the concern with the push for gun control.  What about allowing teachers to carry a concealed gun with proper training and certification!  Isn't it time we ended the insanity of gun-free zones, i.e. unarmed targets inside and instead replaced them with signs indicating armed and trained personnel inside?
4. Hurricane Sandy and the devastation of NJ and New York
5. Benghazigate and Obama and the State Department's blunders and coverup
6. Fast & Furious scandal of the Obama Administration's sale of assault rifles to the Mexican drug cartel which was later used to kill a US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
7. Penn State fiasco, Jerry Sandusky and the death (figurative and literal) of a supposed football coach icon Joe Paterno. Is he an icon or an accomplice?
8. Andrew Breitbart, the media-lion's untimely death
9. Right To Work passes in Michigan:  Thank you Americans For Prosperity-Michigan. You stood tall in the face of the union thugs who sabotaged your tent and tried to trample on those exercising their freedom of speech.  I guess, for those union members, tolerance is allowed only for those who agree with their progressive/regressive views on labor rights.
10. Governor Scott Walker beats back the recall efforts in Wisconsin winning more votes than he did during the general election of 2010 against the same opponent!
11. America's Credit Downgrading by S&P that dealt yet another blow to America's economy in a sharply worded critique of our political system.  What's next after the Fiscal Cliff?
12. The ongoing controversy over Obama's birth certificate.  The White House posting of his birth certificate served to fuel many people's fire as investigators contended that the birth certificate was photo-shopped.
13. Red Bull Stratos Space Jump:  On October 14, 2012 Felix Baumgartner became the fastest man in a freefall from the earth’s stratosphere above New Mexico reaching a preliminary speed of 833.9 mph, breaking the speed of sound and then parachuting to Earth.
14. Gallatin County Commissioners pass a controversial large predator resolution calling for a seat at the table with Fish, Wildlife and Parks in determining how to best manage the growing wolf population.  I attended two hearings on the resolution and spoke in favor of better wolf management.
15. Marijuana is legalized in Maine, Washington and Colorado by the voters.

A preview for Montana in 2013, according to one caller--the ongoing legal dispute over the water rights in Flathead between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the federal government and the state of Montana.  We'll need to take a closer look at that one.

Next week's broadcast on January 3rd features Rabbi Aryel Nachman Ben Chaim on why Jews vote Democrat and should we have more gun control laws. Rabbi  Nachman is the Senior Rabbi for the world's first virtual synagogue and the founder of Der Alt Weg Chassidus. Should be interesting and controversial. Tune in Thursdays from 9:00 am - 10:00 am on www.kmmsam.com and click on Listen Live, or locally on KMMS AM 1450 Bozeman, and KPRK 1340 AM Livingston.