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The Case Against Ryan Zinke

November 2, 2017
15 Comments
by Nathan Kosted
3 min read
Written by Nathan Kosted
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I decided to research a piece on Ryan Zinke and his record as a Navy SEAL, as a Montana State Senator, as a Congressman and as Secretary of the Interior. I spent hours and hours researching. So much.

I am not going to even try to write an article on this material. I am just going to give you a quick summation of the article and you can decide what you want to read. Don Pogreba has done such thorough and exhaustive research and cataloging over the years that this will be a lot.

The Case Against Ryan Zinke

I will start with some highlights that could have been missed over the years, a shocker even for me at the beginning.

While running for Congress in 2014 Zinke Took a Donation from Richard Spencer

https://themontanapost.com/2015/06/22/representative-zinke-took-campaign-donation-from-white-supremacists/

Ryan Zinke Touts a White Supremacist Endorsement

https://themontanapost.com/2013/12/17/ryan-zinke-touts-a-white-supremacist-endorsement/

Zinke Pushes Hate Groups Legislation with bonus Puerto Rico involvement

https://themontanapost.com/2016/03/24/representative-zinke-chums-with-bigots-from-hate-groups/

Zinke’s Poll Numbers are not looking good of late

http://westernvaluesproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MT-National-Parks-Public-Memo-F08.31.17.pdf

Zinke’s Phony PAC Scam

https://themontanapost.com/2014/10/28/zinkes-sofa-house-looks-like-a-front-to-me/

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/07/ryan-zinke_n_5273076.html

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/11/ryan-zinke-stephen-colbert-super-pac-sofa/

https://themontanapost.com/2013/11/03/a-primer-on-ryan-zinkes-ethical-lapses-did-he-lie-to-the-fec/

https://themontanapost.com/2014/01/18/special-operations-for-america-coordinating-with-ryan-zinke/

https://themontanapost.com/2017/10/25/zinkys-skanky-pacs/

Zinke’s Ethics Violations Led to his Dismissal from Navy SEALs

http://themontanapost.com/2014/05/30/his-former-commander-exposes-ryan-zinkes-navy-seal-career-and-defective-moral-make-up/

Zinke Lawsuit

https://themontanapost.com/2017/02/12/why-is-the-montana-press-ignoring-the-zinke-lawsuit/

Zinke and the Ponzi Schemer

https://themontanapost.com/2016/10/01/ryan-zinke-and-paul-vallely-lied-about-their-ponzi-scheming-friend-to-the-missoulian/

Campaign Complaint Filed on Sweetheart RV Sale to Politician Friend

https://apnews.com/471f2db5bf8543dc9ce34bc21108ed97

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/30/ryan-zinke-campaign-fec-complaint-244313

Teddy Roosevelt IV calls out Zinke

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Roosevelt-IV-Interior-secretary-must-defend-11950870.php

Zinke Opposes Women in Combat

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/rep-zinke-wh-should-focus-on-fighting-not-feminism/

Ryan Zinke Breaks Department of Defense Policy, more than once

https://themontanapost.com/2016/02/24/ryan-zinke-just-cant-stop-breaking-department-of-defense-policy/

Ryan and Lola Zinke live in California

http://www.independent.com/news/2016/jul/20/part-time-hope-ranch-resident-ryan-zinke-speaks-rn/

http://helenair.com/news/local/why-does-ryan-zinke-have-campaign-signs-in-california/article_d431f1f4-db2f-11e3-94f1-0019bb2963f4.html

https://themontanapost.com/2016/10/04/california-dreaming-with-ryan-zinke/

That Time Ryan Zinke Called Hillary Clinton the Anti-Christ

https://themontanapost.com/2014/01/30/classy-ryan-zinke-calls-hillary-clinton-anti-christ/

And Later, When She Confronted him at the Inauguration About it

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-ryan-zinke-antichrist_us_59b87e38e4b02da0e13d4666

 

Whitefish Energy, No-Bid Contract in Puerto Rico

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/small-montana-firm-lands-puerto-ricos-biggest-contract-to-get-the-power-back-on/2017/10/23/31cccc3e-b4d6-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html?utm_term=.166eb3b99eef

http://mtpr.org/post/whitefish-company-wins-power-restoration-contract-puerto-rico

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/10/ryan-zinke-neighbor-puerto-rico-power-contract

http://flatheadbeacon.com/2017/10/24/democrat-urges-probe-power-contract-zinke-neighbor/

https://themontanapost.com/2017/10/26/zinkes-pals-whitefish-energy-busy-tweeting-insults-at-mayor-puerto-ricos-largest-city/

http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/36722429/zinke-connection-to-whitefish-energy#.Wfiu7umgp3c.twitter

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/29/us/whitefish-cancel-puerto-rico.html

http://thehill.com/homenews/news/357818-fbi-investigating-whitefish-energy-deal

 

National Monuments Review

https://www.nrdc.org/experts/nrdc/leaked-zinke-memo-urges-trump-shrink-national-monuments

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/shrink-at-least-4-national-monuments-and-modify-a-half-dozen-others-zinke-tells-trump/2017/09/17/a0df45cc-9b48-11e7-82e4-f1076f6d6152_story.html?utm_term=.0308d5076da9

https://www.forbes.com/sites/monteburke/2017/10/02/with-his-national-monument-proposal-sec-zinke-proves-he-is-no-teddy-roosevelt/#5217e8306c64

https://kobi5.com/news/merkley-wyden-concerned-secret-cascade-siskiyou-natl-monument-report-64062/amp/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/conservative-hunters-and-fishers-may-help-determine-the-fate-of-national-monuments1/

https://themontanapost.com/2017/08/14/why-is-ryan-zinke-playing-political-games-with-our-national-monuments-what-happened-to-him/

https://themontanapost.com/2017/08/17/secretary-zinke-takes-a-vacation-while-montana-burns-and-monuments-are-at-risk/

https://themontanapost.com/2017/09/04/secretary-zinke-fishes-while-montana-burns/

https://themontanapost.com/2017/08/24/secretary-zinkes-sham-review-of-monuments-fizzles-to-an-uncertain-end-insults-the-public/

https://themontanapost.com/2017/06/13/congressman-zinke-is-coming-for-your-national-monuments-and-campgrounds/

https://themontanapost.com/2016/06/17/ryan-zinke-flip-flops-on-public-lands-on-one-day/

 

Travel Concerns

https://themontanapost.com/2017/10/16/ryan-zinke-would-rather-fire-4000-people-than-fly-coach/

http://nypost.com/2017/10/11/ryan-zinkes-official-business-included-trips-to-ski-resort-alaskan-steakhouse/

 

Investigations

Threatening Murkowski Investigation

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/349901-gao-to-investigate-zinkes-alleged-alaskan-threat

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ryan-zinke-under-investigation-for-healthcare-pressure-play/article/2630573

 

Las Vegas Travel Investigation

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/04/politics/ryan-zinke-vegas-golden-knights/index.html

https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060062089

 

Public Lands

https://themontanapost.com/2016/06/17/ryan-zinke-flip-flops-on-public-lands-on-one-day/

http://mtpr.org/post/house-candidates-zinke-lewis-battle-over-public-lands

http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/columnists/see-past-the-rhetoric-and-look-at-the-facts-of/article_8d7e5134-cee2-11e3-b70e-001a4bcf887a.html

http://flatheadbeacon.com/2014/10/16/zinke-wants-locals-approve-feds-land-plans/

Double cost of National Park Visit

https://themontanapost.com/2017/10/24/secretary-zinke-wants-to-more-than-double-the-cost-of-a-glacier-or-yellowstone-visit/

 

Environmental Concerns

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/322058-interior-secretary-repeals-ban-on-lead-ammunition

https://themontanapost.com/2017/08/22/zinke-continues-his-anti-science-crusade/

https://themontanapost.com/2015/01/24/the-climate-its-a-changin-and-so-is-ryan-zinkes-position-on-climate-again/

http://meic.org/2015/07/zinke-votes-for-toxic-coal-ash-bill-removing-safeguards-for-montanas-water/

 

Military Concerns

https://themontanapost.com/2016/01/07/commander-zinke-politicizes-the-death-of-an-american-soldier/

https://themontanapost.com/2016/04/01/disabled-veteran-ryan-zinke-warns-disabled-veterans-about-economic-slavery-of-veterans-benefits/

https://themontanapost.com/2016/03/15/ryan-zinke-misrepresents-his-service-record-again-in-pathetic-plea-for-cash-2/

https://themontanapost.com/2014/08/12/ryan-zinkes-abhorrent-plan-to-address-the-veteran-mental-health-crisis/

 

Miscellany

Ryan Zinke’s Special Flag

http://www.newsweek.com/queen-elizabeth-trumps-zinke-has-department-interior-fly-special-flag-just-him-683988

Zinke Claims Interior Employees Not Loyal to Trump

https://apnews.com/570c910d21be41869f76d45a2c55c359

Horse Slaughter

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/38560/wild-horse-advocates-ponder-zinke-nomination

Zinke’s daughter

http://missoulian.com/news/government-and-politics/zinke-s-veteran-daughter-excoriates-trump-in-response-to-transgender/article_3b731feb-8f36-5335-a9d1-2a17e4c0d686.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share

Zinke Floats own name as Speaker of the House as Congressional Freshman

http://www.kxlh.com/story/30228505/montanas-rep-zinke-undecided-on-us-house-leadership-choice

Zinke tries to take credit for Bin Laden raid

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/article_3555963a-2fd5-11e4-b152-0019bb2963f4.html

Zinke Military Records

http://missoulian.com/news/local/zinke-releases-some-military-records-democrats-seek-more/article_303fa82c-201f-11e4-bad7-0019bb2963f4.html

Zinke Military Discharge Document

http://missoulian.com/zinke-certificate-of-discharge-pdf/pdf_333067f4-201c-11e4-8317-0019bb2963f4.html

Zinke’s Effort to Undermine Indian Sovereignty

https://themontanapost.com/2017/08/08/forget-the-beer-cover-ryan-zinkes-efforts-to-undermine-indian-sovereignty/

Favors cutting Interior Budget

http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/kcfw/presidents-budget-proposal-cuts-glacier-funds/529701200

Zinke Turned down VA head job for Interior

https://themontanapost.com/2017/06/16/secretary-zinke-turned-his-back-on-veterans/

Zinke Praises Saddam Hussein

https://themontanapost.com/2016/07/18/ryan-zinke-commends-praises-saddam-hussein/

Flip-Flopping Gun Record

https://themontanapost.com/2016/09/14/a-gentle-reminder-about-ryan-zinkes-real-second-amendment-record/

Zinke Praises Putin

https://themontanapost.com/2016/09/09/congressman-zinke-becomes-vladimir-putins-number-one-fan-boy/

Zinke Tours Fort Harrison with Leading Voice to Privatize the VA

https://themontanapost.com/2016/08/03/congressman-zinke-tours-fort-harrison-with-the-leading-voice-to-privatize-the-va/

Zinke Speaks out against NATO

https://themontanapost.com/2016/08/01/congressman-zinke-could-not-be-more-wrong-on-nato/

Zinke RNC Speech Recap

https://themontanapost.com/2016/07/18/howd-that-zinke-speech-turn-out-a-twitter-recap/

Zinke Opposes Same-Sex Marriage

https://themontanapost.com/2015/04/06/daines-and-zinke-join-reactionary-gop-caucus-to-oppose-same-sex-marriage/

Zinke Voted to Destroy Medicare and Slash Pell Grants as Congressman

https://themontanapost.com/2015/04/02/congressman-zinke-votes-to-slash-pell-grants-and-end-medicare-as-we-know-it/

Zinke Voted to End Amtrak Funding(One of the Main Employers in his Hometown of Whitefish)

https://themontanapost.com/2015/03/06/representative-zinke-votes-to-end-amtrak-funding-for-montana/

Zinke Votes to Restrict Abortion and Increase Taxes on Small Businesses

https://themontanapost.com/2015/01/22/congressman-zinke-votes-to-restrict-abortion-and-increase-taxes-on-vast-majority-of-small-businesses/

Ryan Zinke Endorses Torture

https://themontanapost.com/2014/12/13/ryan-zinke-the-billings-gazette-and-torture/

Zinke’s Losing Campaign as a Lieutenant Governor Candidate

http://helenair.com/news/article_103d93cc-ab74-11e0-a8fd-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story

Zinke on Confederate Statues

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/10/zinke-we-cant-take-down-confederates-because-of-indians.html

 

LOLA ZINKE

https://themontanapost.com/2017/10/22/no-mrs-zinke-in-a-democratic-society-we-absolutely-can-and-must-criticize-the-military/

https://themontanapost.com/2017/10/02/ryan-and-lola-zinke-are-living-it-up-on-the-taxpayers-dime-too/

http://mtcowgirl.com/2016/10/13/five-super-awkward-moments-lola-zinke-stumped-for-trump/

 

 

Articles Detailing that he’s involved in Multiple Scandals

http://www.hcn.org/articles/scandals-pile-up-for-interior-secretary-zinke

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/27/ryan-zinke-environment-public-lands

https://thinkprogress.org/zinke-scandals-papertrail-26c2e725f345/amp/

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/13/politics/ryan-zinke-flag-flights-horse-dogs/index.html

 

 

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15 Comments

  • Good collection of links and information.

    Since it’s #ThrowbackThursday, it’s worth remembering that a bunch of “Sportsmen’s” groups in Montana (including groups that count Donald Trump Jr as a supporter and/or board member) praised Ryan Zinke, and made Zinke out to be a public lands champion and Teddy Roosevelt re-incarnated.

    Many of us (including folks on this blog) have spoken the truth about Zinke’s real public lands record all along.

    From my December 16, 2016 press statement:

    Rep Ryan Zinke has an established track record of being pro-coal, pro-fracking, pro-logging, anti-science and anti-endangered species act when it comes to managing America’s public lands and wildlife. This has earned Zinke an environmental voting record of 3% from the League of Conservation Voters and a National Parks voting record of just 9% from the National Parks Conservation Association.

    Let’s also not forget that Rep Zinke was just hand picked by President-elect Donald Trump, someone who is clearly assembling the most anti-environmental, anti-public lands, pro-oil and gas and pro-wall street cabinet and administration in U.S. History.

    To think that Congressman Ryan Zinke is going to be a strong advocate for America’s public lands, our national parks and fish and wildlife species – and not just do the bidding of his boss, Donald Trump and campaign contributors in the resource extraction industry – is simply delusional, and not being honest with the American public.

    Simply because someone has stated that they would not sell-off, or give away, America’s public lands, does not in any way make that person a huge public lands champion, or a “Teddy Roosevelt Republican” especially when the voting record clearly exposes the truth.

  • This is such a strange post that I have to ask you a few questions:

    First – are you under the impression that Secretary Zinke is a politician, running for re-election?

    (He isn’t, he works for President Trump)

    Second, do you think his job is making policy, or enforcing the policy sent down from the President?

    Third, are you under the impression that he is still representing Montana, and should care what the Hillary Democrats think?

    • AFAIC, hinky Zinke is always looking for an elected office to take a run at. He is banking all kinds of favors for his next campaign.

      I wonder if he will fly his flag over his location in WF today.

    • 1. Yes, ZInke is still a politician. I’m quite willing to bet he’ll run for office again. Surely you know that at least, right?

      2. Given that he writes policy recommendations for the President, it’s important to know what policies he’s promoting, right?

      3. I don’t think many of us (Republicans included) ever thought he was representing Montana.

  • I just wish that most of your research were from more main stream sources and not predominantly the Montana Post, Huffington Post etc. – which are known to have a strong left lean. Don’t get me wrong – i’m a left leaner myself however if I’m not going to recommend or argue a point unless I can back it up with more mainstream sources who can’t be dismissed as just liberal “spin” from liberal “spin rags”.

    • The problem that Don has shown and this article proves is that the mainstream media ignores evidence of impropriety by Zinke. Take the first article about Richard Spencer’s donation to Ryan Zinke for instance. This is newsworthy, yet no one covered it until I brought the story back up today. The evidence in the article is a federal election commission report. That is a fact. It is evidence of the point made. The Montana media has chosen not to cover it. This is the reason this website exists. To cover the stories that no one else will. If you come here for nothing else then just pay attention to the evidence.

      • From your post(s) it appears that this blog is simply to attack Republicans.

        Please keep it up! The politics of complaining are one of the reason the Democrat brand is toxic in rural America.

        • But they give us so much ammunition, Eric. Trump, Zinke, Daines, Gianforte — I can’t even keep up.

        • Purpose of Column = to expose a Machiavellian and dangerous political person.’s

          *Eric’s comment = What biased and closed to truth people do when they have no specific facts to dispute something that is alleged, and completely miss the point (attack the messenger!)

        • The politics of complaining?

          You are perhaps the least self-aware human being on the planet.

          The entire Republican agenda is based on resentment, anger, and complaining.

          You don’t need to look any farther than their failure to pass their health care bill, despite controlling the House, Senate, and White House.

          You really ought to read something that isn’t Breitbart or the Fox chyron sometime.

    • The problem is, who would a Republican consider a reliable, mainstream source in light of the ongoing attacks on mainstream media? CNN, NBC, Washington Post, New York Times are all definitely out. Probably ABC and CBS as well. Certainly the Guardian and the Independent are fake news. So I’m curious what news outlet would pass the ‘real’ news test thrown down by this administration and friends?

    • I get your point, Lynn, but a great deal of the coverage and attention here has happened simply because the media was so soft on Zinke for so long. And I do stand by everything I’ve written. My personal politics have never led me to write anything that wasn’t true. I’d be happy to correct anything that is factually inaccurate.