Joan Barron: A Timely Tribute to a Beleaguered Politician

The June 8, 2024, Cowboy State Daily featured an op-ed by renowned Wyoming political columnist Joan Barron, who shared information about Lester Hunt and tied it to similarities in today’s Wyoming. From Joan’s column:

But his downfall also was fueled by Hunt’s suicide which was not much publicized at the time but the U.S. Senate knew all about it.

McCarthy was dead meat. He was censured by the Senate and defeated by Wisconsin voters. He died three years later of chronic alcoholism.

The McCarthy era was the result of fear. And I think fear is what is driving many people today, particularly the MAGA crowd.

They fear the culture is changing, changing too fast and they are being left behind.

The Hunt story and memorial is important; it reminds us what can happen when a demagogue gains power.