11/3/2006
The Most Corrupt Man in Montana
by Shane Mason on 6:35 am.
Scandals, bribery and greed follow Burns like dust followed Pigpen on Peanuts. It’s all over him like a cheap suit (or white on rice). This isn’t really new, but it is rearing its head again. I have never seen his Washington office, but I am pretty sure that Burns has a sign outside his office that says:
FEDERAL JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS
$5000
I wonder if he issues coupons or has bluelight specials? It constantly amazes me how cheap that dude will sell us all out for. A new report called Money Trails to the Federal Bench details how American justice is up for sale to the highest bidder. It details how Burns took the maximum donation from a judge candidate just one day before recommending him for a federal appointment.
Burns is crooked and it stinks to high heaven. Read the full report here [PDF Document].
| Comments (23) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Conrad Burns, dickhead, elections, political |
11/1/2006
Max Does the Right Thing. Thanks.
by Shane Mason on 11:14 pm.
I pointed out how sleazy it is that Burns has been trying to piggy back on Max Baucus’s popularity. He has been pulling a page from the Rehberg playbook and campaigning as a democrat, using Baucus’s record and hiding his own. Following the radio ad that ran in the Butte area disputing Burns’s claims, Tester is now running a television ad where Max sets the record straight. Matt McKenna says the ad will be running statewide and
you would have to be under a large rock in a deep hole not to see this ad over the next week
In truth, I think that the ad is very powerful. See for yourself.
| Comments (7) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Conrad Burns, dickhead, elections, montana, political |
Burns is Embarrassing Us Again…
by Shane Mason on 10:15 am.
Burns once again made the state of Montana look stupid in the national spotlight. This time it was the Daily Show. They showed clips from the Helena debate where Tester claimed there was no plan in Iraq and Burns responded that there was a plan, only it was a secret plan. Stewart looked completely bemused and thanked Burns for protecting Bush’s super secret plan that was so secret he was not even telling the Army about it…
Stewart notes that a vote for Jon Tester is a vote for blowing Bush’s elaborate super secret plan…
Video of the debate
See the whole episode at Comedy Central.
UPDATE: Touchstone let us know in the comments that the video is up at Crooks and Liars.
| Comments (7) | Permanent Link | Categories: Conrad Burns, dickhead, montana, political |
They Are The Dividers…
by Shane Mason on 12:00 am.
President Bush will be here later this week to stump for Conrad Burns. Is he coming here as the decider? The uniter? No, he coming as the divider. Here is a preview from speeches he has made this week:
“When it comes to listening to the terrorists, what’s the Democrats’ answer? It’s just say no. When it come to detaining terrorists, what is the Democrats’ answer Just say no. When it comes to questioning terrorists, what’s the Democrats’ answer? Just say no. When it comes to trying terrorists, what’s the Democrats’ answer. Just say no.â€
He is not saying ‘the Republican plan to keep America safe is better than the Democrats’. What he is saying here is that we want the terroris to succeed. We want to see American lives lost. This isn’t how we work together, this is how we marginalize 50% of the American population.
“The Democrat approach in Iraq comes down to this: The terrorists win, and America loses.â€
I could point out that with over 100 Americans killed in Iraq this month, his approach to Iraq is working out really poorly. I am not saying that he wants us to fail. I am simply pointing out that he is incapable of a coherent strategy. There is a difference here. I am not questioning his motivation as he questions all democrats.
You can say that my ideas are wrong and I will have an active and spirited debate with you on that. However, if you question my motivations or patriotism then the debate is off the table and a fight is on the table. Too often that is what it comes down to from both sides and it is simply not OK. We have heard it time and again from this president and Conrad Burns. I hear it echoed here from thoughtless commenters “The democrats want us to fail in Iraq“. No, we don’t want to see people die. We don’t want to hear the death tolls everyday. If that was our goal we would not be trying to force a strategy, we would let Bush’s ’secret’ plan continue. Failure is where that secret plan is headed.
We want America to succeed with its values intact: the values of acceptance, equality and all the right granted us in the constitution. We want us to be the nation that works together to solve it’s problems. We don’t want to be a country that marginalizes 50% of it’s population. We want to be a country called The United States of America. We are done with dividers, we want uniters. We are taking our country back and we are starting on Tuesday.
| Comments (17) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Conrad Burns, dickhead, elections, ideologues, montana, political, republicans |
10/30/2006
Never Never Never. Well, sometimes.
by Shane Mason on 12:34 am.
OK, a lot then.
Oh yeah. This is very real folks. Get the fact sheet here. Conrad, you got pwnd!
| Comments (6) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Conrad Burns, dickhead, elections, political |
10/29/2006
Legislative races
by Shane Mason on 8:46 am.
As Matt noted last week, the legislative races are in the final stretch. Many of these races are important but have been overshadowed by the US senate race. The Helena IR is running a story on the battle for control of the legislature. Also, there is a thumbnail sketch of several of the key races.
As you go out next week to knock on doors and deliver literature for Tester and Lindeen, perhaps you can double you effort with one of these candidates.
| Comments (2) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, democrats, montana, political |
Really Really dirty little man
by Shane Mason on 1:25 am.
OK, I have not seen this article, but I heard a radio ad for Tester where Baucus talks about it. Then tonight I saw one of the Burns commercial that started it all. I will summarize it here:
Burns and Baucus. Baucus and Burns. Burns and Baucus. Baucus and Burns. Baucus Baucus Baucus, so vote Burns.
Heh, you’ld think they were best friends. Not so, it seems:
HELENA - Democratic Sen. Max Baucus cried foul Friday over Republican Sen. Conrad Burns and the national GOP using his name in advertisements and fliers that suggest he backs Burns over Jon Tester for the Senate.
“I don’t like it,†Baucus said in a phone interview. “It misleads Montana voters and it implies that I don’t support Jon Tester. I strongly support Jon Tester. I think he’s the better man.â€
Baucus said Burns has ignored a letter from his chief of staff and a phone call from Baucus asking him to refrain from using his name in the radio ads, which have now expanded to television.
Talk about a sniveling little man trying to piggyback on another’s record! The central message is: “Baucus is a senator and you like him. I am a senator too, so you must like me.”
“It’s very misleading,†Baucus said. “I’ve raised a lot of money for him (Tester). I think he’s going to be by far the better senator. He’s honest, he’s hard-working, he’s smart.â€
That’s all Burns has left folks. “You like Max because he is a good guy, so vote for me. I think that Tester should take Maxes radio message to the TV:
“You might have heard ads from Conrad Burns using my name. Well, let me be very clear: I support Jon Tester. I believe in Jon because he is a straight shooter, a real Montanan and just a good guy.â€
| Comments (14) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Conrad Burns, democrats, dickhead, elections, montana, political |
10/27/2006
Burns: D for Veterans, A for the Military-Industrial Complex
by Matt Singer on 2:16 pm.
This says something about his priorities.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Fund, an organization (clearly) for veterans of those two wars says Burns gets a D+ for his efforts for vets. In 2005, he earned a 29% from Disabled Veterans of America.
On the other hand, the Contract Services of America, a trade association for military contractors like Kellog Brown and Root and Wackenhut, gives our Senator an A.
I suppose that makes sense, though. Montana doesn’t have many veterans and we’ve got a lot of military contractors.
Oh, wait. I guess our Senator just doesn’t actually represent this state very well.
(Hat tip to regular commenter ‘jed’ for the heads up on the Vets’ stuff.)
| Comments (1) | Permanent Link | Categories: Conrad Burns, Front Page |
10/26/2006
Terrible Trio Off the Ballot
by Matt Singer on 4:13 pm.
Haven’t had a chance to read the decision, but it is online (have to poke around a bit for it).
Judge Sandefur’s decision was upheld.
I-154, CI-97, and CI-98 are off the ballot.
| Comments (17) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Front Page, ballot initiatives, elections, montana, political |
DSCC Has Tester Up 6
by Matt Singer on 4:09 pm.
48-42 with Burns at 39% approval.
| Comments (39) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Conrad Burns, Front Page, democrats, elections |
Can We Just Cut the Crap on this Whole We Need the Seniority Thing?
by Matt Singer on 10:00 am.
Honestly, I feel like we’re having a discussion where people are taking some sort of supposed “long view” and weighing the pros and cons of having a crook who can bring back money, but aren’t really thinking any more into the future than one or two plays.
Here’s the reality of Montana’s seniority status after this election and for the next decade or so:
- Burns Gets Reelected, Gets Indicted, Resigns: In this scenario, we’re in the absolute worst case we could be. Whoever gets appointed to finish Burns’ term doesn’t go in tied with his or her fellow newly elected Senators for seniority, they’re always a step behind. That will matter. And there’s no promise from caucus leadership for a seat on approps, so kiss that committee behind, if it’s truly a big deal to you.
- Burns Gets Reelected, Serves One More Term, Finally Leaves D.C.: In this scenario, it makes a bit more sense to keep Burns, for the short-term. Both Burns and Baucus have about one more term in each of them. So we can send them both back (and if pork is what you want, it appears Max is your man more than Conrad is), lose Burns in six, Baucus in eight, and start from complete scratch. Again, if seniority is what you’re after, that just strikes me as a silly way to handle this situation.
- Elect Tester, Get a Seat on Approps, and Start Building Some Seniority: Start building seniority with a new Senator now, so that when Max leaves, we’re not left with no seniority and no seats on powerful committees, but rather have a man who is by all accounts an able and honest legislator well into his second-term on Approps.
Here’s the final thing. Pork isn’t really my bag. If it was, I might at one point have been mildly conflicted in this race. But the seniority question is really one of short-term v. long-term thinking. We can horde seniority for about six more years or we can be smart and shift some new leadership in who can stay a while.
Personally, I think Jon is honest enough to end up in D.C. for three terms and not lose his mind. I could be proven wrong in 18 years. If I am, I like to think I’ll be calling for his ouster no matter how much pork he’s bringing home.
But if seniority is your bag, the smart move is to vote for Tester. We won’t have more seniority next year. But in 2014, it will mean we won’t have two folks with a combined two years in the Senate.
Yeah, and these are talking points for those water cooler conversations with your co-workers hemming and hawing about pork. Ask ‘em where Montana will get its share in a decade if we have no seniority at all.
| Comments (5) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Conrad Burns, Front Page, elections |
10/25/2006
Crahing the States Diary
by Shane Mason on 4:13 pm.
Last week, three guys traveling across country blogging and filming a documentary called Crashing the States came through Montana. They stayed at our house for a few days while visiting with the Tester campaign. They were able to attend the debate in Great Falls AND watch V for Vendetta with me. What more could you want in life? You can read more about their visit here.
It is, in its essence, the heart of the Libertarian Democratic ideal–the idea that personal freedom, open space and opportunity are paramount, and any government policies that interfere with that ideal, whether they come from the left or the right, are unwelcome. The conservatives in these states are along the lines of the more traditional conservative–they do not buy into the new corporate-funded theocratic authoritarianism of the current manifestation of the Republican Party.
On their last day they interviewed my good buddy Craig and I at the General Merchantile. I thought the conversation went well, but we’ll have to see if it makes it into the movie. The best part of the whole thing to me? Craig gets his picture and quotes in the DailyKos!
We met up with bloggers on opposite ends of the political spectrum: On the left side, we had Shane, whom I have previously introduced; and on the other was Craig of MontanaPolitics. The discussion that ensued was very interesting, and Craig made a lot of interesting points concerning the nature of the political atmosphere in Montana. He agreed that Tester’s supporters were far more energized than Burns’, and that from his standpoint it was more likely that Tester would win.
But here again, Craig’s attitude says a lot about the rise of Libertarian Democracy in the state. Craig is a traditional conservative who doesn’t feel like he has a horse in the race. Craig talked about the fact that Burns is running ads that attack Tester for making the statement that he would repeal the Patriot Act. What Craig said that the Burns campaign apparently doesn’t understand is that among Montanans, the Patriot Act simply isn’t very popular because it is seen as an unnecessary intrusion of government power into the personal arena. And while Craig strongly disagrees with Shane and with Tester about the best way to solve America’s problems, he says that the national party didn’t seem to be interested in solving problems any more. Craig said that he didn’t view himself as a Republican–he viewed himself as a conservative, and that the Republican candidates still fit in with his views more often than not, but in the case of Bush and Burns, it was hard to see exactly what is so conservative about them.
| Comments (2) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, democrats, elections, montana, political |
Conrad Burns: Kicked Back, With His Mind on His Money and His Money and His Mind
by Matt Singer on 9:39 am.
This morning’s Missoulian:
A new accounting review shows, among other things, the organization’s chief executive received three different salaries at the same time. And one of the company’s former employees said in a Missoulian interview that staff members were expected to contribute to Burns’ re-election campaign.
Multiple salaries? Expectations to send money back to Burns?
Why that all sounds corrupt as Hell to me. This whole expectation of feudal loyalty smacks of Resodyn buying debate seats and guaranteeing them for Burns’ supporters.
Can we rename Burns’ office Tamany Hall?
As another note, I have no real idea whether there was ever an explicit agreement between George Bailey and Burns or Burns’ staff to kickback these federal appropriations to Burns’ reelection campaign. I do know that a man, who when discussing federal appropriations would howl, “That’s my money. My outpatient clinics,” is a man who has so thoroughly lost touch with reality and all sense of decency that demanding favors in exchange for how he uses his power to earmark our money certainly isn’t outside the realm of possibility.
It’s his money after all. It belongs in his campaign coffers.
Also worth noting, Lee Newspapers is doing an analysis of whether Burns really is bringing major money into the state (notably, all of the Lee papers are running this Burns story, only the Missoulian appears to be reporting on the INSA corruption developments). They singled out Burns’ Butte claims and found that he does bring money to the state. They also found that some of the money Burns claims he brought to Montana went elsewhere, that former staffers of his turned lobbyists had a hand in much of it (can we all say “revolving door” together?), and 80% of the money Burns is claiming he secured was also requested by Baucus, so it’s tough to give exclusive credit.
Notably, Burns is doing these things when these companies hire his former staff as lobbyists. I’ve written it before, but it appears I’ll have to write it again. I’m not really sure how much Burns is a part of this, but it appears some Republicans long ago figured out a game: find a dumb man on the appropriations committee, work for him for several years and line up approps for his former staffers turned lobbyists, when you leave to start your lobbying career just find a replacement who will do the same for you. Make it easier the Senator’s new staff by mostly finding your clients in the Senator’s home state. Then, charge Montanans high prices for access to their own Senator. That’s a damn good way to make a living.
In fact, it’d be about $20 million they’ve made via our Senator, their former boss.
Tamany Hall
| Comments (8) | Permanent Link | Categories: Conrad Burns, Front Page, corrupt, dickhead |
10/24/2006
They have had 6 years
by Shane Mason on 10:07 pm.
I have a question. The republicans have had almost complete control for the last 6 years. What have they done for us? I don’t want to know what they haven’t done or what they have done poorly. I don’t want to hear about the bad things. There are plenty of conservatives lurking around here, I want to know why you support Burns and the Bush administration. What have they done to prove themselves worthy of your vote? This is your open microphone, say what you will.
| Comments (21) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Conrad Burns, elections, montana, political |
Why Lindeen Will Win This Race
by Shane Mason on 10:00 am.
Lindeen will win this race because the people in Montana are sick and tired or representatives who wont stick up for honesty, integrity and decency. We want real change, we are hungry for it. Lindeen will help restore decency to Washington. Monica Lindeen will be elected because it is the right thing to do for our future and Montanans generally do the right thing. She needs your help though, please volunteer. Two weeks people. After that, you can get ready for the holidays with a good clean conscience that you did all you could and we are sending to decent people to Washington to represent our state and our future.
| Comments (20) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, elections, montana |
10/23/2006
Burns: Part of the Ministry of Truth?
by Shane Mason on 6:33 pm.
Enough Said? Maybe not.
Need some insight?
| Comments (18) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Conrad Burns, dickhead, elections, political |
GOP Writing Burns Off?
by Shane Mason on 1:55 am.
First, I ask the question cautiously, because I want you to get out there and work for it. Burns is a damn good closer, else Schweitzer would be our senator right now. Tester needs your help now more than ever. Montana needs your help more than ever. Deliver literature, man the phones, convince your friends. Whatever you can do, please do it. Now is NOT the time to rest and celebrate. Please Please Please volunteer. Matt has made it easy for you, just fill out the form at the top-right part of the page and you will get an email letting you know how you can help.
With that said, has anyone seen any nationaly sponsored Burns ads on TV lately? Some analyst are already writing this race off, though I wouldn’t be so sure with the recent tightening poll numbers. I have seen plenty of advertisements for Tester from the DSCC, but nothing from the national party for Burns in a few weeks. With GOP races going to hell all over the map, have they lost confidence in Burns’s ability to pull this one off and refocusing their money on more winnable races?
Anything? Remember, Burns has a big war chest. Big enough to blitz the airwaves from now to November 8th. Nothing would make the old man and the crooked lobbyist friends snicker more than to pull off this victory. We need to shut him down on November 7th. Tester has done what he can, and he has done it well. It is in our hands now. Let’s do this!
| Comments (1) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Conrad Burns, democrats, elections, political |
10/22/2006
Did Burns reveal the secret plan?
by Shane Mason on 2:00 pm.
As I mentioned earlier, in the recent Billings debate between Jon Tester and Conrad Burns, Burns claimed that Bush has a secret plan for victory in Iraq. While this is amusing on one hand, it is disturbing because thousands of American troops have died in Mr Bush’s war. Past that, an estimated 650,000 Iraqi’s have died at the hands of a ’secret plan’ that Bush isn’t going to share with us.
(It occurred to me that everyone might not know about the ‘Secret Plan Declaration’, see it over at the Ravings of An Insane Fisherman)
Is it possible that Mr Burns gave the real secret plan away? While defending the strategy of ‘win at all costs’ at the Helena debate, Burns said this
It is the best interests of the United States, it’s the best interests of the Middle East. After all, this is the first time that we can change the economic culture of the Middle East, and do it in a country that has the wherewithal to get it done.
So, it’s all about money? There was no mention of what was best interest for the Iraqi people (democracy?), only the economic interest. Is that what it is all about Conrad? Were you supposed to tell us that, or did you blow the secret plan? Just so you remember what is at stake here, look at the headlines:
35 die in new Iraq violence
Bombings, shootings kill 32 in Iraq
Military Families Cope With Increase Of Iraq Violence
Iraq’s violence heading toward two-year high
Bush admits Iraq violence echoes Vietnam during Tet
Limbaugh: Recent Iraq violence shows “terrorists have voted Democrat”
| Comments (8) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Conrad Burns, elections, foreign, ideologues, iraq, political, republicans |
10/20/2006
They were waiting for him…
by Shane Mason on 9:38 pm.
Great coverage again from Intelligent Discontent. Here is part one. That implies there will be a part two?
The Tester campaign is fighting back on Burns’s lie hardcore. Now, if the Montana press would do their duty to the state of Montana and report these lies and half-truths. Here is one on senator Burns and ethics.
I noted in my blog coverage that Burns was still repeating the old lines. Seems like the Tester campaign was ready for them. Impressively, they cover most of the lies that I noted in the debate. Everything from Pell Grants and increased taxes to this:
When asked about priorities for spending, Burns said he starts with national defense, yet he has already cast devastating votes against providing our troops with adequate armor.Burns Failed to Provide Armored Humvees to Soldiers.
In October 2005, Burns voted against $360.8 million “to rebuild the Army’s stocks of up-armored Humvees.†[Vote #248, 10/5/05; Bayh Press Release, 10/5/05]
Read it here.
For a good out-of-state view of the debate on the DailyKos. These guys are passing through through on the ‘Crashing The State’ tour. Check them out.
| Comments (9) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, elections, montana, political, republicans |
What was Dennis saying?
by Shane Mason on 12:14 am.
During the Billings debate this week with Monica Lindeen, Dennis said an interesting thing. Unveiling his new ‘energy plan’ he unleeshed the genius that is Dennis Rehberg: tell everyone to get new and efficient cars. That’s right, you heard the man. Let them eat hummers.
How does Mr Rehberg propose that we go about getting these new cars? Incentives? Government vouchers? What kind of conservative is Denny Rehberg? Is that really the job of the federal government? To help us all get new cars?
Seriously though, this is coming from the guy who in the very next breath said everything is Iraq was going just fine. Yeah that’s right. Just fine. Vote Rehberg! Stay the peachy-keen course in Iraq and a Hummer in every garage. Use the act blue link above and lets get past this silliness.
| Comments (12) | Permanent Link | Categories: '06, Dennis Rehberg, elections, montana, political |
