7/31/2005
New Montana Blogs
by Matt Singer on 11:28 am.
I’m not sure if I’ve highlighted them before, but I should have. Bryce Bennett, a good friend of mine, a rising star in Montana politics, and a candidate for chair of Montana’s College Democrats, has launched a blog at MontDEM.
Sheena Rice, a yellow dog at Montana State whom you may remember for her, um, rather vocal role in the chair debate over at ProgressMontana, is writing at South West Montana Democrat.
Finally, regular commenter Tony has launched his own effort at spun and spinning. I’m sure there are other efforts of which I am unaware. Please drop me a line if so.
I’m sure there are other Montana progressive blogs
| Comments (3) | Permanent Link | Categories: montucky |
Tester Video
by Matt Singer on 11:12 am.
(Via Democracy for Montana.)
Jon Tester spoke to Democrats at the Yellowstone County picnic yesterday. Scott Dowdle of Democracy for Montana has already put up video of the event. Since I know DfM has bandwidth concerns (and I know there is national interest in Tester), I’ve copied the Tester videos over to my hosting provider.
Jon Tester at Yellowstone County Picnic (4 minutes)
Quicktime Format (8.9 MB)
Windows Media Format (4.6 MB)
Please download and play, rather than attempting to stream.
| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: democrats, montana, political |
OH-02: Great Memory, When She Wants It
by Matt Singer on 11:02 am.
Nearly everyone has owned a dog with selective hearing. The dog will come…when it wants to, sit…when it wants to, and roll over…when it wants to. It seems like Jean Schmidt, the Republican insider in Ohio (where the Republican establishment is unbelievably crooked) has a similar affliction, only it is her memory, not her listening that is a problem.
It seems that Jean Schmidt has a reputation as remembering everyone’s face, name, personal issues, etc. Everyone, that is, except for the various scandal-ridden figures with whom she has crossed paths. Schmidt claims she never met Tom Noe, the man behind Coingate (quite possibly the most humorous-if-it-wasn’t-so-sad scandal in decades). Turns out Noe was on the Board of Regents while Schmidt was on a House higher ed committee. Turns out she testified before him and he testified before her.
She also forgot about her lobbying of the Governor on behalf of a company that gave her a grand for a campaign.
Must be useful forgetting all this stuff. It sure sounds better than taking the fifth.
| Comments (3) | Permanent Link | Categories: political, republicans |
7/30/2005
Graft
by Matt Singer on 4:02 pm.
From Matt Yglesias:
Just a few New York Times headlines that popped out at me this morning:Now this is what really blows my mind about the House’s action against Baucus’s Malmstrom provision. It would make sense if we were really cracking down on graft. But let’s not kid ourselves about what the highway bill and the energy bill represent. The highway bill includes a provision providing millions to build a bridge named after the Congressman who inserted the language. The energy bill specifically includes a clause to help one specific company in Delay’s district and something like $8 billion in handouts to oil corporations making money hand over fist (one analyst recently said they’re not making money, they’re printing it). The GOP leadership specifically used the highway bill to funnel bribes to swing votes on CAFTA.
- Senate Approves Bill Protecting Gun Businesses
- Lawmakers’ Pet Projects Find Home in Bill
- Unending Graft Is Threatening Latin America
This wasn’t a move for integrity in the House. If anything, it was a move to make sure that Max Baucus, member of the minority party, didn’t get credit for helping Malmstrom, because God would that be an embarassment to Dennis “Snug but Comfy in Delay’s Back Pocket” Rehberg and Conrad “Bought and Paid for” Burns, especially with tough reelection campaigns next year.
And if you don’t think the Republicans are nervous about these races, it would be a good time to ask why Dennis “Delay’s Tool” Hastert is being dispatched to aid Rehberg and Karl “Turd Blossom” Rove has been out here for Burns. The National Republican leadership are worried about Montana and, frankly, they probably don’t trust the Montana Republican Party to demonstrate even borderline competency.
But as long as we’re riffing on politicans, why stop with Republicans.
Why is the DCCC already bragging about holding Republicans to account on CAFTA when we can’t even hold our own caucuses together? I don’t expect a party committee to hold these people to account, but I am looking elsewhere (FrontierPAC? Organized labor?).
| Comments (5) | Permanent Link | Categories: montana, political, republicans |
GOP E-Brief: Setting a Lower Bar for Political Writing
by Matt Singer on 3:42 pm.
The latest GOP E-Brief is out and, once again, they’re attacking me and Sirota and whoever. No attacks on the Governor’s dog. That was good to see. Jag’s a good dog.
But I thought I should give them some fodder for next week. When my car threw a rod, I was on my way to Missoula and Whitefish. Missoula to visit my sister who is back in the state for a few days. The Whitefish trip was to meet Markos and Jerome, the Blogfathers.
Anyways, Chuck, Chris, Brock and the rest. I just want to assure you that we’re all getting a kick out of your rants.
| Comments (5) | Permanent Link | Categories: montana, political, republicans |
7/29/2005
Some Nominees Just Aren’t Supremes Material
by Liesa on 4:20 pm.
Including Robert Bork.
The Helena IR has a great Tom Teepen column about how Robert Bork wasn’t Borked. See this previous post on being “Borked.”
Bork argued that the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause didn’t cover women. Excuse me?
He had opposed the Supreme Court ruling that, citing an inherent right to privacy in the Constitution, finally freed up the sale of contraceptives at a time when some states, under religious pressure, still outlawed them.
That’s just not acceptable. And then there is this.
Most crucially, Bork was undone by his oft-recorded opposition to most civil rights legislation as unconstitutional, criticizing, for instance, the Civil Rights Act provision that assured African Americans access to public accommodations — stores, theaters and so on.
So, Bork wasn’t confirmed to the court because of his judicial philosopy. It was outside of the mainstream. And that’s how it should have happened.
Bork just wrote a book called ‘‘Slouching Toward Gomorrah” that calls for government censorship of everything EXCEPT political speech. That’s right, he wants to regulate all else to enforce what Teepen calls “a culture-wide morality — books, movies, TV, you name it.”
Keep this in mind as the Roberts process continues.
| Comments (2) | Permanent Link | Categories: law |
StemPAC Wins
by Matt Singer on 12:30 pm.
StemPAC’s pressure of Bill Frist has worked. Frist has signed on to the Stem Cell legislation.
Good.
Update — And while we’re huzzahing victories, we should note the janitors’ victory in Texas, where SEIU got a fired worker his job back after the janitor was fired for union activity. Rather than appealing to the NLRB, SEIU organized and won. Good.
| Comments (4) | Permanent Link | Categories: health care, policy |
What a bizarre question
by Matt Singer on 12:26 pm.
The Bozeman Chronicle editorial board muses:
All this begs a larger question: Why should all teachers get health insurance when many Montanans are without it?What? That’s the determining question these days? In a society with unemployment, why should teachers be paid for their work? In a society where many go hungry, why should teachers be able to eat?
I can’t believe that this question was begging to be asked.
| Comments (14) | Permanent Link | Categories: health care, health insurance, policy |
Rehberg Shuts Up, Doesn’t Put Up, on Malmstrom
by Matt Singer on 11:37 am.
Both Baucus and Burns have been working overtime trying to keep Malmstrom’s flying mission alive. In order to do that, Baucus inserted a provision into the highway bill in conference committee to reopen a runway that would allow Malmstrom to retain its flying mission.
Notably, Dennis Rehberg called for precisely such a move two years ago and this year has repeatedly said that he wants to work to protect Malmstrom.
But the House removed this action from the conference committee package, an extraordinary move requiring unanimous consent. In other words, pretty much all Rehberg had to do to prevent this was literally raise a finger. He didn’t.
The House wasn’t outraged about the more than 6,000 special projects costing $23 billion, like a $200 million bridge renamed after Alaska’s Congressman. But Rehberg was whipped into shape by his caucus leadership. And he broke his word to Montanans.
| Comments (2) | Permanent Link | Categories: Dennis Rehberg, montana, political |
If national Dems are interested in Montana’s movement,
by Gerik on 11:02 am.
They should read the writing on the wall. It can be argued that energy deregulation was one of the biggest nails in the coffin of inept republican leadership in Montana. Once our energy bills went through the roof, we knew that we had fallen victim to snake oil salesmen.
I heard on NPR that today is the vote on our national energy bill in the senate. The bill contains a repeal of the Public Utilities Holding Company Act (PUHCA). They are about to let the cat out of the bag. PUHCA is the law that has protected energy consumers from price gouging and protected energy companies from bankruptcy.
Kos and community have discussed this at length. PUHCA repeal will create massive energy company mergers and monopolies. The result could well be a disaster of Enrons across the nation. I only wish Senate Democrats would put their money where there mouth is and follow the leadership of Montana.
| Comments (3) | Permanent Link | Categories: energy, policy |
7/28/2005
Many thanks to my host.
by Gerik on 10:36 pm.
I have recently been invited to add to the discussion here at Left in the West. My name is Gerik Kransky. Matt and I have been involved in a handful of projects and adventures together over the years. I am very pleased to be a part of this project/online magazine.
I am a third generation Montanan, my family comes from Miles City and Lewistown, I grew up in Billings. I am currently chasing my fortunes in Portland, Oregon. I can’t seem to pull myself away from Montana politics so I will chime in here from time to time.
| Comments (7) | Permanent Link | Categories: biographical |
Phone Bankers Needed!
by cgnick on 6:27 pm.
I have a good friend working on Paul Hackett’s campaign in Ohio. They need help phone banking! Swing State reports that Hackett is within five points of Jean Schmidt and some republicans are planning to boycott the election. If you can’t easily hop on a plane or take a bus out to Ohio, and most of us out West can’t, you can do the next best thing… phone bank! From the campaign:
Hi. Please direct anyone who would like to phone bank from out of state
to my office at 513-421-0495 or intern@hamiltoncountydems.org. Tell them
to mention that they are from out of town.Aryeh Alex
Intern
Hamilton County Democratic Party
513.421.0495
www.HamiltonCountyDems.org
You know what to do…
| Comments (2) | Permanent Link | Categories: democrats, general, political |
Heh
by Matt Singer on 5:32 pm.
When the President says there is no higher calling than public service, remember it is unfair for the Democrats to quote him.
That damn Paul Hackett, rubbing his patriotism in their faces.
(Via Atrios.)
| Comments (1) | Permanent Link | Categories: political |
Montana Does it Ebay
by Matt Singer on 5:13 pm.
It looks like Montana will move toward auctioning unneeded state property on Ebay. Oregon has a similar system and saw its revenues triple when it moved from live to internet auctions. That is good news for Montana.
It also speaks well for Brian Schweitzer’s initiative and willingness to take ideas from state employees.
Schweitzer’s Administration is also contesting the effort to trademark “The Last Best Place.”
Good. Maybe we should keep that term protected for all Montana businesses by incorporating it into our “Made in Montana” program.
| Comments (4) | Permanent Link | Categories: montucky |
Deborah Orin: Like Don Quixote (Only Without the Principles)
by Matt Singer on 4:47 pm.
Deborah Orin tried to find a scandal and walks away looking like an idiot instead. Surprise, surprise.
What’s the big story?
Well, it seems that Valerie Plame donated money to an anti-Bush group in order to see Bruce Springsteen play a show. For shame!
She notes with horror that this was done while Plame still worked at the CIA. Of course, the concert in question was in 2004, more than a year after two of Bush’s Senior Administration officials outed her work as a CIA operative.
Know what? If I was covert CIA, outed by an Administration, I’d give a couple hundred bucks to see them defeated too. Any red-blooded American would.
| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: political |
David E. Lipson: Republican Donor (Surprise!)
by Matt Singer on 4:21 pm.
David Lipson, the ass who is trying to take “The Last Best Place” off the market, was a big donor to Mike Taylor. That would be Mike “Disco” Taylor, of losing in a horrible landslide to Max Baucus fame.
He’s also given a grand to the RNC in the last four years.
| Comments (8) | Permanent Link | Categories: montucky, republicans |
Who Indeed?
by Matt Singer on 10:13 am.
Brian Schweitzer yesterday announced that he’ll infuse public pensions with some one-time money in order to avoid problems he says were caused by an increase in benefits without a commensurate increase in revenues in the late ’90s. He blames the legislature for the bad move.
Former House Speaker John Mercer and Racicot budget advisor Dave Lewis have taken exception to Schweitzer’s characterization:
John Mercer, a former House speaker and sponsor of the 1999 measure raising teacher retiree benefits, said Wednesday the legislation was requested by the very people who ran the programs at the time. They considered the increase to be a financially sound move, he said.Who indeed?In addition, other public employees had received an increase from the previous Legislature and it was only fair to extend that to teachers, Mercer said.
“It doesn’t make any sense to engage in a blame game,” he said of Schweitzer’s comments. “The people who recommended the increase could not have foreseen what happened to investment income. It’s a simple matter of the systems having to be made sound” by increasing government contribution.
Sen. Dave Lewis, a Helena Republican and sponsor of the public employee pension increase bill in 2001, said that measure didn’t cause today’s financial shortage in PERS.
“The investment loss caused it,” he said. “At the time we passed the bill, the fund had a $1 billion surplus. I don’t apologize for putting the bill in. It needed to be done. It helped a lot of people. Who would have ever imagined an $800 million loss in two years?”
This should be raising red-flags for advocates of Social Security privatization, a proposal that walks, looks and quacks like a really stupid idea.
That said, it’s unfair to pick out Lewis and Mercer for being alone in their foolishness in the late ’90s. Everyone, it seems, embraced the idea that new technology had ushered in an era of unending growth when pension benefits would grow on stock market trees and capital wealth would allow us all to be rich.
Sadly, no one repealed the laws of economics and the business cycle went into a downturn, hardly the most surprising event in history.
But I’d hope we could learn from these things, so that in 20 years, we don’t have people asking, “Who could imagine that the market would bankrupt millions of retirees?”
Who indeed.
| Comments (4) | Permanent Link | Categories: economic, policy |
I Think I Smell a Rat
by Matt Singer on 9:29 am.
The Las Vegas based owner of Paws Up is moving closer to trademarking the phrase “The Last Best Place.” He says he can’t deny Montanans from using the term, which is true. That doesn’t improve, in my mind, the notion of laying claim, even in a limited fashion, to intellectual property that simply isn’t his. William Kittredge coined that particular turn of phrase and bequested it to all Montanans. Now a damn out-of-stater is going to say that Montana ranchers can’t use the phrase to market their own beef.
So, clearly, we have an asshole on our hands.
Then, the son-of-a-bitch has the temerity to describe Missoula County as anti-business because he couldn’t get his paperwork in place to have safe drinking water or a liquor license for his booze. He must have been too busy stealing our heritage. He thought it was unfair that Missoula County would threaten him with a shutdown for breaking state law.
Yeah, stupid motherfuckers from Las Vegas are apparently above the law. God, this guy’s an asshole.
| Comments (8) | Permanent Link | Categories: general |
Ohio Republicans Shit on Veterans in hopes of a Victory
by Matt Singer on 9:00 am.
Read the whole thing.
| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: general |
What Happened?
by Matt Singer on 8:43 am.
I was supposed to be in Missoula by now and on my way to Whitefish later today. But my car threw a rod 4 miles outside Columbus, so I’m back in Billings, living it up B-town style. Pretty sweet, huh?
| Comments (9) | Permanent Link | Categories: general |
