| A bad week for Republicans. First, despite the insistence by Republicans that Brian Schweitzer doesnt know what he is doing, the Wall Street Journal wrote an editorial praising the Governor's solid fiscal management as a national example of how states can operate frugally while still fulfilling important obligations. No response yet from Republican leader Bob Story, who recently argued that Judy Martz is responsible for Montana's current fiscal strength.
Then, a new chapter in Tennisgate. You'll recall Republican Bozeman Mayor Jeff Krauss got into trouble recently when he chose to spend stimulus money on a new rubber-tiled tennis court. Schweitzer publicly chided this expenditure, and the Mayor ended up having to defend himself on Fox 'News'. This past Monday the volume was amplified when Schweitzer decided to attend, as a citizen, the weekly City Commission meeting in Bozeman.
According to several observers, Schweitzer was first accosted outside of the meeting room by Commissioner Chris Mehl, who cursed at him, saying: "what you are doing is bullsh**, Governor."
(Mehl obviously takes his tennis very seriously).
When the meeting came to order, Schweitzer waited in the back of the room as six or seven proponents of the tennis court project gave their testimony. Then it was Schweitzer's turn to speak. The only opponent present, Schweitzer said that he, as a property owner in Bozeman and a tennis player, supported fixing the courts, but believed such a project was inappropriate use of federal stimulus funds. The house was packed mostly with Krauss partisans, and there was some hooting and hollering as Krauss and Mehl tried to razz the Governor, questioning him from their perches. Whatever you think of Schweitzer, this much can be said: not many gunfighters would walk into a saloon like this one.
Krauss and Mehl, in what a number of people saw as disrespectful behavior toward a Governor, started interrupting Schweitzer and attempting to pepper him him with spicy one-liners. But Schweitzer, who did not interrupt the commissioners, hushed the crowd when he said: "Just because somebody puts a chocolate cake in front of you, doesn't mean you have to eat the whole thing," in response to Krauss' argument that Bozeman has the legal right to spend the funds on tennis courts.
Personally I think Krauss has picked a stupid fight. The Governor's position on this issue is very popular, even in Bozeman where the Chronicle online poll of over 900 respondents shows a 74-26% vote against the tennis project. Plus, it turns out that the tennis court contract was awarded to a Minnesota firm, meaning no Montana jobs would be created.
Finally, if Krauss has aspirations beyond city council, he is going to have a tough time. As of now, the notable items on his resume are 1) spending stimulus money on tennis, and 2) a city policy that required all job applicants to hand over their passwords to their e-mail and facebook accounts.
That resume won't get you very far in a Republican primary. |
