Kristi Noem’s dog-killing embodies the cruel phonyness of today’s Republicans | Ryan Busse

The upcoming memoir of the Republican governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem, revealed that she had marched her young puppy Cricket to a gravel pit and killed her using a shotgun. However, she tried to justify her heinous deed by claiming that Cricket was violent.

The writer mentioned that Noem shared an incident where she utilized the identical gravel pit to hunt for an unnamed goat which had a terrible, pungent and unpleasant smell. However, during the hunt, Noem was unable to kill the animal in one shot and thus left the poor creature to experience unnecessary pain and suffering. She had to quickly return to her vehicle to retrieve an additional shell to end the animal's misery. It is puzzling why Noem, who is believed to be a skilled hunter, did not consider bringing extra shells with her.

Noem has tried to justify her narrative by claiming that Americans desire "genuine" leaders. This rationale is flawed and not accurate since Noem, alongside numerous other impassioned politicians who are making their way into the Republican party and changing its course, lacks authenticity.

She presents a political image that is merely a surface level facade, a cheap imitation of the harmful ideologies of the Trump Republicans. In terms of moral values, her political brand is as superficial as a poorly executed cosmetic procedure. This hollow brand not only falls short of what the Republican party used to stand for, but it is also undermining and fracturing the United States, especially in the western region. This fact is more apparent than ever.

The Republican governor of Montana, Greg Gianforte, has a cattle brand that is registered, however he doesn't actually own any cattle. Furthermore, he takes tax exemptions designated for agriculture on his opulent estate located in Bozeman, despite engaging in very little substantial farming or ranching activities.

This year, Gianforte unlawfully shot and eliminated a collared wolf residing in Yellowstone. Unfortunately, the wolf's leg was stuck in a steel trap, resulting in its demise. Gianforte's intention was to exhibit the wolf in his office after stuffing it, which might have been less impactful if the radio collar was kept on.

Later on, Gianforte found out that he didn't have the necessary certification to kill an animal that was trapped and may have been there for several days. Instead of admitting the truth, he attempted to deceive those investigating the shooting incident. This isn't the first time he's done this, as he also provided false information to the police after assaulting a Guardian reporter in 2017.

Gianforte desires his voters to think that he is a hunter who follows ethical hunting practices. He aims to portray himself as a fearless and robust Montanan despite spending the majority of his life staring at a computer screen while residing in the Philadelphia suburbs. In Montana, we have a term that better describes individuals like Greg Gianforte and Kristi Noem, and that is "posers."

Authentic hunters, true gun enthusiasts, and genuine bird dog owners - often referred to as "true Americans" by the Republican party - can see through the phoniness of politicians like Gianforte and Noem. These politicians are attempting to fabricate a false image of themselves to showcase their ruthless and extreme tendencies, while disregarding any accountability or ethical standards.

As a former executive of firearms, I had a successful career selling millions of guns. However, I have dissociated myself from the Republican party. The reason for my detachment is that I refused to compromise on my values when I witnessed the industry taking a wrong turn. The lack of accountability and ethics in the gun business caused me to leave what I once considered my ideal job.

Although I have grown up, I still enjoy hunting a lot. Ever since I was a child, I have had bird dogs which I have trained exceptionally well. Unfortunately, one of them, which was the same breed as Noem's dog, was killed. Currently, I have three dogs, one of which is a German wire-haired pointer, precisely like Cricket.

These canines make for excellent buddies but require regular physical activity and instruction due to their intense hunting instincts. Personally, I have clocked in many days hiking, shooting, and hunting alongside my furry pals. This fact is common knowledge among those who own bird dogs, leaving Kristi Noem with no valid justification. In the event that Kristi Noem or Greg Gianforte are unable to demonstrate patience, accountability, or compassion towards animals, they have proven themselves to be unfit for the responsibility of governing a state. Fundamental standards of decency must be upheld.

Genuine hunters are appalled by the actions of Gianforte and Noem because we comprehend the importance of our societal agreement. We recognize that genuine and ethical hunting relies on a closely knit set of self-implemented principles, deep admiration for our wildlife, and the responsible protection of the animals who have been our companions throughout history. Noem's decision to kill her pet in a gravel pit using a shotgun because it was "untrainable" goes against everything we stand for.

If Noem uses this type of thinking in her work, which we can reasonably assume she does, it's not surprising that South Dakota's economy has drastically declined and is now one of the poorest in the country since she became governor.

If Gianforte thinks that shooting a collared animal caught in a trap is what "fair-chase" hunting means, it's understandable why the starting salary for teachers in our state is now the lowest in the nation, with even a territory beating us. His approval rating is a lowly 37%, and it's not surprising that he hasn't bothered to explain why the property taxes on his personally owned home have decreased while everyone else around him is experiencing an increase in taxes.

Many sensible individuals in the western world have been frustrated for a long time by imposters such as Greg Gianforte and Kristi Noem, who shamelessly take advantage of the positive reputation and support within our society.

The tragic tale of Cricket's passing and the wolf's misfortune of being trapped after straying from Yellowstone has no positive outcome. Greg Gianforte only worsened the wolf's situation by using a gun to address the issue.

At least now, the dangers of electing these impostors are visible to the entire country.

Ryan Busse, a Democrat and former executive in the firearms industry, is seeking to be elected as Montana's next governor.