4/30/2006
Morrison and Health Care Donations
by Matt Singer on 3:41 pm.
I just got back from the health care forum at Carroll College. I did manage to ask a question about employer and individual mandates — a question that got a tepid response from everyone (although I think Bob Keenan actually expressed the most interest, surprisingly).
One question that did get asked, at the very end by a local dentist, was about the extent to which profit motives are distorting the health care market and corruption is tainting public policy. Although he didn’t say it, I would say that this is clear nowhere more than Medicare Part D, a horrible piece of policy crafted to promote major pharmaceutical profits at taxpayer expense. The wheels were greased largely by pharmaceutical contributions.
The dentist asked all the candidates whether they are receiving money from these industries. Keenan and Tester both said they couldn’t be sure but they didn’t believe so. Morrison spoke generally about corruption. There’s a reason for that. He has at least one high profile donor with connections to big pharma whose support he is almost guaranteed to be aware of.
The donor is Jeff Forbes, who has given $1,500 to Morrison. Forbes is a registered lobbyist for the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America, Amgen, Chlorogen, and the American Health Care Association, all of which are either for-profit corporations or represent some for-profit corporations that operate in the health care industry.
Forbes also does lobbying for UST Public Affairs, which appears to be the public relations side of US Tobacco, maker of fine smokeless tobacco products. In other words, think “Thank You for Chewing!”
Now, this does get to the heart of why Morrison wouldn’t play straight in that answer. But it also speaks pretty damn poorly of the state of our nation. Why are we looking at a potential (some would say likely) general election matchup between two candidates taking big lobbyist money? And while they both say the donations don’t affect their judgment — how are we to believe them?
| Comments (15) | Permanent Link | Categories: political |
U.S. Senate Health Care Forum – Helena
by Matt Singer on 2:00 pm.
Finding Solutions: A U.S. Senate Candidates’ Forum on Health Care
Sunday, April 30, from 2–4 p.m.
“Finding Solutions: A U.S. Senate Candidates’ Forum on Health Care†will be held on Sunday, April 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. at All Saints Hall, Carroll College Campus Center, in Helena.
The ten Montana candidates for the U.S. Senate were all invited to participate in the forum. Candidates who have agreed to participate are: Bob Keenan (R), Bob Kelleher (R), Kenneth A. Marcure (D), John Morrison (D), Paul Richards (D), and Jon Tester (D).
Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger will introduce the event with comments about the importance of the health care issue. Brian Kahn, host of Home Ground Radio and its award-winning community forums, will moderate the forum.
“Our goal is to present a substantive, solutions-oriented discussion on the key challenges to delivering quality health care to all Montanans—and all Americans—and how to solve these problems,†Kahn said.
“The forum will cover important issues such as costs and efficiencies, alternative approaches to providing health insurance, rural health care, and impacts on Montana’s economy,†Kahn added.
Kahn will invite each panelist to respond to a question provided in advance and then will prompt discussion among panelists by presenting questions that explore several issues in depth. During the last twenty minutes of the forum, Kahn will invite audience members to pose questions.
The forum is organized by Health Montana, a grassroots citizens’ think tank with no political affiliation, and is sponsored by over twenty statewide and local organizations in the fields of business, government, education, and medicine, as well as health advocacy organizations.
“The list of cosponsors speaks volumes about how this issue affects everyone in Montana: our youngest and oldest citizens, small and big businesses, ranchers and farmers, doctors and nurses, local governments, community health clinics, and the citizens they serve,†said Health Montana steering committee member Robert Putsch, M.D.
Forum cosponsors include AARP (American Association of Retired People), American Heart Association, Carroll College, Cooperative Health Center, Inc., Golden Nuggets, Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, Home Ground Radio, Indian People’s Action, League of Women Voters of the Helena Area, Montana Community Foundation, Montana Human Rights Network, Montana League of Cities and Towns, Montana Medical Association, Montana Nonprofit Association, Montana Nurses Association, Montana Senior Citizens Association, NAMI–Montana (National Alliance on Mental Illness), National Association of Social Workers: Montana Chapter, The Policy Institute, WEEL (Working for Equality and Economic Liberation), and Women’s Foundation of Montana.
“The Montana Medical Association is proud to cosponsor the Finding Solutions Forum,†said J. Bruce Robertson, M.D., president of the Montana Medical Association. “Given the importance of the health care debate now and in coming years, it is imperative that every Montanan know the positions of the candidates prior to casting their vote for our U.S. Senator.â€
Yellowstone Public Radio will broadcast the forum on May 2, 6:30 p.m. Helena Civic Television–Channel 11 will broadcast the forum frequently during the first two weeks of May and offer the broadcast to other community access cable stations around the state.
| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: Events |
Bush: “You Can’t Pass Laws to Hold Me Down”
by Matt Singer on 9:18 am.
President Pinocchio thinks he has no strings. Greenwald analyzes on a Boston Globe article.
President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.Among the laws Bush said he can ignore are military rules and regulations, affirmative-action provisions, requirements that Congress be told about immigration services problems, ”whistle-blower” protections for nuclear regulatory officials, and safeguards against political interference in federally funded research.
Read and discuss.
| Comments (2) | Permanent Link | Categories: illegal wiretapping, law, policy |
4/29/2006
Geeguy: “John Morrison is Toast.”
by Matt Singer on 9:03 pm.
In a post entitled “It’s Over,” Geeguy reflects on John Morrison’s chances. As you can tell, his conclusion is none too favorable to our State Auditor.
I originally thought it could be written off as typical bureaucratic laziness and ineptitude, but the Independent author makes a good argument that there was actual misconduct here.Too bad. I like John Morrison. He did me a favor once. While I disagreed with him often, I always thought he was a pretty straight, reasonable guy.
Only the Democrats would be crazy enough to nominate him now…
A vote for Morrison is a vote for Burns.
Update — More interesting stuff in Geeguy’s comments from one Walter Greenspan:
Thursday night I, along with 14 other area voters, participated in a two-hour Focus Group, whose hidden aggenda was to figure out how to minimize the impact of Morrison’s infidelity.
Good times.
| Comments (6) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, democrats, political |
Morrison’s Stance on Trade
by Matt Singer on 11:22 am.
Color me curious. Will Democrats be running a free trade candidate against a fair trade Republican this fall? As far as I remember, Morrison never took a public stance on CAFTA, the awful corporate-written deal that even centrist Democrats basically united against. Touchstone also reports:
[Morrison] does stand out, organized, well spoken, he’s got this underlying Friedman-influenced “flat world†philosophy that he consistently weaves in an out of his narrative.
We’ve already got one Democrat in this state who is a Tom Friedman disciple. I think we might need one who reads Tom Frank.
Needless to say, I think trade could be a big issue this fall for Burns to exploit if the Democrat falls on the wrong side for rural Montana.
| Comments (2) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, democrats, political |
Leaving Early for Miles City
by Matt Singer on 11:08 am.
So, John Morrison apparently moved his schedule around a bit to make it to the Missoula candidate forum. There are a few writeups (New West, 4 and 20 Blackbirds, Missoulian). New West noted something rather odd, I though. Morrison “had to depart early for an awards ceremony in Miles City.” Based on Touchstone’s timeline, I’m guessing Morrison may have made it out of Missoula by 4:00 PM at the earliest.
Missoula to Miles City is a road trip of 487 miles. To make it to Miles City by 9:00 PM, Morrison’s vehicle would have to maintain an average speed of roughly 100 mph. Unless he’s now flying around the state, which I suppose is possible.
| Comments (6) | Permanent Link | Categories: montana, political |
I Loves Me Some Internets
by V on 11:02 am.
I loves it, if only for the hillarious responses that some commenters can elicit. I attended the senate candidate forum yesterday and will have some commentary on Monday or so. Feel free to voice any thoughts you have here.
| Comments (1) | Permanent Link | Categories: Front Page |
Statewide Democratic Canvass
by Matt Singer on 10:00 am.
Democrats across Montana are joining with Democrats across the country to knock doors and talk to their neighbors. Find out more details and sign up for a local event in your community at democrats.org.
| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: Events |
4/28/2006
Democratic Senate Candidate Debate – Missoula
by Matt Singer on 3:00 pm.
04/28/2006 3:00 p.m.
Democratic Senate Candidate Debate
University of Montana
University Center Theatre
| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: Events |
The Lobbyist-Funded Hooker Ring Loophole
by Matt Singer on 10:30 am.
| Comments (2) | Permanent Link | Categories: Front Page |
William Kristol Meltdown
by Matt Singer on 10:25 am.
You want to see a PNACer fall apart? Check out Kristol on Colbert. It’s almost painful.
| Comments (1) | Permanent Link | Categories: Front Page |
Tester’s OpEd in Gazette
by Matt Singer on 10:04 am.
| Comments (3) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, democrats, elections, political |
4/27/2006
Bizarre New Morrison Defense
by Matt Singer on 12:05 pm.
I’m hearing this in different places, so I think it may be emanating from his campaign, although I can’t be sure. The basic gist of the argument is that for better or worse, Morrison pursued this case as he pursued every similar case. And if you’ve got a problem with that, you’ve got a problem with the way that the Auditor’s office operates.
Here’s what I don’t understand. If Morrison pursued this case like he pursues every other case, does he “hand off” every case to outside attorneys and have former staff go on the record saying he removed himself from the case. If Morrison handled this case at all, he did the wrong thing.
| Comments (10) | Permanent Link | Categories: Front Page |
The $10,000,000 Conrad Burns Defense Fund
by Matt Singer on 10:49 am.
Conrad Burns pledged to raise ten million for this race. Question: Is that for his campaign or his legal defense fund? As new Montana liberal blogger BlueBarn points out, this isn’t a far cry from DeLay’s actions in Texas, where he kept fundraising after deciding to drop out so that he had more money to beat back the boots of justice marching in his direction.
It’s a good question for Burns’ supporters to ask themselves before donating. Are you looking for a Senate seat or a bail bond?
| Comments (4) | Permanent Link | Categories: Conrad Burns, political |
Markos Changes His Mind on the Morrison Scandal
by Matt Singer on 8:14 am.
When Lee Newspapers covered the Morrison scandal, Markos at Daily Kos yawned. He’s not yawning anymore:
It took the feds to hold Tacke accountable for his actions, which calls into question why Morrison was so unwilling to enforce the settlement. The obvious answer given the circumstances is that Tacke had that big ace up his sleeve — if Morrison aggressively enforced the agreement, Tacke could reveal Morrison’s affair with his wife and damage or end the auditor’s promising political career.Montana’s election will be based in large part on ethics, given that Republican incumbent Max Burns was Abramoff’s BFF in the Senate. Morrison is tainted in this scandal not just by the affair stuff, but by evidence that the affair affected his ability to carry out his official duties.
It shouldn’t take federal investigators to protect Montana investors from sleazy con artists. That was Morrison’s job, and he failed dramatically, all because he apparently wanted to protect his political career.
He also links to Wulfgar and agrees that adulterers have no business telling Montana’s gay community that marriage is too sacred for their involvement.
Comments range from “Vote for Tester” to “Morrison Needs to Drop.” That seems to be the full gamut of public opinion of those who read and digest the Independent article.
| Comments (29) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, democrats |
4/26/2006
Wulfgar Rips Morrison a New Two
by Matt Singer on 10:51 pm.
| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: democrats |
Conservationists and Racists Working Hand-in-Hand to Oppose Immigration
by Matt Singer on 8:21 pm.
Christopher Hayes writes some of the most interesting articles in America. His latest is no exception.
| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: immigration |
Kendall for the House
by Matt Singer on 3:19 pm.
Kendall Van Dyk has released a new website. It’s looking truly excellent. He also just landed the MCV endorsement. If you’re in Billings, please lend Kendall a hand. Even if you’re not, you can still pitch some money his way. He’s running to take Roy Brown’s seat as Roy heads for the Senate. It’s one of our best pickup opportunities in the state.
| Comments (7) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, democrats, elections, political |
Richards Speaks Out on Morrison and Tester; Burns Hires an Attorney
by Matt Singer on 3:02 pm.
U.S. senatorial candidate Paul Richards of Boulder detailed a laundry list of issues that he would tackle if elected, from protecting wildlands, promoting renewable energy, settling Indian claims, and bringing home the troops in Iraq. “It’s expensive playing world cop,” he said.In a separate interview, he said Morrison is a Democratic Leadership Council member and often votes with Republicans. He said Morrison does not have the wherewithal to say no to the lobbyists in Washington. He said Tester would be great as a senator, but he was pro-war when he started running, and now he is for peace. Tester changed his stand, Richards said.
A lot of folks have said they would vote for Richards if they thought he could win. I probably wouldn’t for a few reasons, but I respect his willingness to speak up. As Jon Stewart said on Crossfire, sometimes the people who know they can’t win have the most freedom to say what they believe.
At the end of the day, Richards is definitely to my left. Both Tester and Morrison are probably to my right. But there’s a reason why people who recognize that Tester pulls to the right in areas we don’t necessarily like will be a better U.S. Senator than Morrison. Richards kinda gets to the heart of that here.
As for Tester on the war, he did support it when we initially went in. Heck, so did a lot of people who later changed their mind (yours truly, included). He thinks it is time to get out. That’s not a difference between pro-war and pro-peace. One area where I lean further right than many of my friends is on these security issues. And I think it’s possible to support military action without being anti-peace. Tester’s position isn’t mine, but it’s not a dumb or inconsistent one.
In other news, as a recent email noted, Burns has retained counsel. Probably a wise move for a man whose office is under investigation.
| Comments (12) | Permanent Link | Categories: Front Page, political |
Two Books to Recommend
by Matt Singer on 8:52 am.
I’ve just ordered two fresh new books off of Amazon and I thought I’d take a little time to promote them here. First, my friend David Sirota has his first book Hostile Takeover
It is, hands down, the most thorough explanation in one place of the extent to which our government has been taken over by powerful interests that don’t share the concerns of the vast majority of Americans. And what’s more, he offers clear solutions. Each chapter — focused on a single issue — explains what is happening, who is selling out, who is standing up, and what people could be demanding if we were serious about having a government that represents us.
The second book, which I have not yet had a chance to read is Glenn Greenwald’s How Would a Patriot Act? — “a litany of the gross abuse of power, the novel unconstitutional theories or the excessive fear mongering of the Bush years, although he lays them all out in frightening simplicity. This book is about how these actions debase our national character. [Digby's Hullabaloo]” Already, this book is garnering great reviews. Greenwald is a recent addition to the blogosphere, but managed to make quite a splash. His writings on the NSA wiretapping and other Constitutional issues have been second to none. That’s to be expected. He is, after all, a Constitutional attorney. The reviews that Glenn’s books are getting are top-notch. His writing has always proven superb. I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on a copy.
| Comments (1) | Permanent Link | Categories: books |
