A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.

30 September 2015

Founder of Montanans for Ron Paul files C-1 for House District 3

rose_taylor_100

His name? Taylor Christian Wildebour Rose. His party? Republican. His ambition? To replace Democrat Rep. Zac Perry as Columbia Falls’ representative (HD-3, map) in the Montana legislature. His platform? As yet, unknown, but it may include white planks. His C-1 was received by Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices on 21 September 2015.

Wildebour, in case you’re wondering, is an established surname, probably with roots in Dutch, German, or Afrikaans. Wilde roughly translates as “wild.” Bour may be Romanian for aurochs, the now extinct wild ox from which domestic cattle derive. Wildebour: an interesting name.

And, Taylor Rose, an interesting man.

He graduated in 2011 from Jerry Falwell founded Liberty University in Lynchberg, VA, with a “B.A. in International Relations with a minor in Strategic Intelligence at the Helms School of Government.” He’s bilingual in English and German.

According to his résumé, he’s “…affluent with modern campaign technology such as i360,” and has an “Affluent knowledge of international, national and local politics.” I probably should have inserted [sic] after “affluent,” but perhaps he became a rich man through his association with campaign technology, and perhaps his vast knowledge of politics is that of a rich man.

Rose has been organizing for the Montana Republican Party in Great Falls and Kalispell. Of more interest, perhaps, is his association with the Selous Foundation for Public Policy Research, and his former association with World Net Daily, a right leaning internet news outlet that does not enjoy universal respectability.

The Selous Foundation dates from 1985. It’s executive director, Morgan Norval, says:

As William F. Buckley and M. Stanton Evans’ Sharon Statement affirmed over a half century ago on September 11, 1960, when the forces of international communism presented “the greatest single threat” to our liberties, we are now confronted by another ideology, both foreign and domestic, promoting the totalitarian supremacist Islamic doctrine of shariah calling for ‘civilization jihad’ against America, while threatening the very foundations of Western civilization. And, today, as in 1960, “the United States should stress victory over, rather than coexistence with this menace,” which is accurately described as international communism with a god.

Unfortunately, America is having difficulty coming to terms with this seditious campaign – a very real clear and present danger. Yet, ignoring history, many are promoting a re-birth of socialism – now taking the more insidious form of a ‘Red-Green’ alliance, ultimately, the path to poverty and ruin.

Norval has written several books on foreign policy, several of which were mentioned in a post on Stormfront. Take everything on Stormfront with the proverbial grain of salt, but some of the information in the post does seem to check out.

One Selous Foundation project is the Freedom Tax, a ten percent flat tax that would replace all other taxes.

Rose doesn’t seem to have a campaign website yet, but he does have a Twitter account where he describes himself as:

Columnist and researcher @SelousFoundation on #Eurozone #EUPol & #MtPol. Working to build an #Anglosphere and #Montana of values & identity.

Do check out the #Anglosphere hashtag. I don’t think that former State Rep. Jerry O’Neil, whom Perry defeated in 2014, was ever associated with something like that.

Rose has received several mentions (here, and here, for example), none that I would characterize as flattering, at Montana Cowgirl.

Can Rose win HD-3? Yes, but I wouldn’t consider him the favorite. Perry won by a plurality in 2014, which suggests that at least in midterm elections the district leans right. But in a Presidential year, the district’s a tossup, with a slight advantage for an experienced, savvy, and hard working incumbent like Perry. As a tyro, Rose may make mistakes. He may also find that his ideology and history are not that welcome with HD-3’s voters.

Keep an eye on HD-3. It may be one of the most interesting elections in Montana next year.