In these chaotic times, it's only natural to yearn for simpler days of old. You know, like those halcyon days when the meth in your state was "homegrown" instead of imported.
That may seem a bizarre opinion to hold, but that's how Republican Montana Senator Steve Daines seems to feel. I
n a recent press statement, Daines lamented the local meth in his state being supplanted by "Mexican cartel" meth.
As you might guess, his comments haven't gone over very well.
Daines' comments came during a trip to the Mexican border taken with several of his Republican colleagues, including Senators Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham and Tom Cotton.
Lawmakers from both parties took trips to the border last week to investigate the immigration and refugee crisis along the southern border, which Daines blamed for Montana's methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl crises in his comments.
That analysis is problematic all on its own.
The problems of waves of migrants and refugees, many of whom are unaccompanied children, and drug cartels are two separate issues. But Daines' oddly nostalgic spin on the Montana meth crisis took things to a whole new level
As he put it:
"Twenty years ago in Montana, meth was homemade. It was homegrown."
"And you had purity levels less than 30%. Today the meth that is getting into Montana is Mexican cartel."
Daines went on to blame Montana's meth problem on Democratic President Joe Biden, who has been President for little more than two months.
Montana's meth problem has been going on for far longer than that—at least 20 years according to Daines' own comments.
On Twitter, Daines' longing for Montana's artisanal methamphetamine good-old days had people roasting him to a crisp.
It seemed at least one person not buying Daines' Montana meth analysis came from his own party. Republican Utah Senator Mike Lee seemed to be having trouble not laughing at Daines' comments, frequently looking at the ground during his speech with a giant smile on his face.
We feel you Senator Lee. We couldn't have kept a straight face either.
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