Schweitzer ruling out a Senate bid

Woah ... (0.00 / 0)

I realize this might be a totally radical concept, but how 'bout this:

So...if the Guv is going to bow out...why the coal letter? Why the sniping at the Democratic delegation? Why the smack talk about single-payer?

because he actually believes what's coming out of his mouth?  I'm not saying he's right or wrong.  That would be the party job.  He's wrong because he's a DemoRat (Conservative stance).  He's wrong because we think he might or has or will disagree with us (liberal stance).

Some point out that a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth.  I would contend that when a politician tells the truth, there is almost never a base from which to recognize it as the truth, and that's why the majority see a 'gaffe'.

Maybe Schweitzer will run for higher office and maybe he won't.  People still have the right and reason to change their fricking minds.  Schweitzer won't run against Tester in 2012.  Bank on it.  But running against Denny some time?

The fact is, it was  stupid 'gotcha' question, loaded with ridiculous expectation.  "Are you going to conform to what you lead me, and everybody who obviously think like me, to expect right this very finite moment?!'  Expect it to be used as a 'truth variable' should Brian choose to run for the Senate, or even for the House, in the future.

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by: Rob Kailey @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 21:12:27 PM UTC

hm... (0.00 / 0)

Well, like the single-payer thing below, I just don't see how you could say some of that stuff and believe it...but maybe I follow this stuff too closely and ascribe meaning to things that don't have meaning.

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by: Jay Stevens @ Tue Jul 20, 2010 at 01:16:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Gotta go with Wulfgar. (0.00 / 0)

Have you EVER known Schweitzer to be hesitant to give his opinion on anything?  Me neither.  Would I like to see him run for another office  some day?  Sure.  He's a mover and a shaker as is shake things up.  And I like that. And his honesty is damn refreshing.  I believe him to be a real man of integrity who is truly  concerned about helping people.  He is also uncorruptable.  And that right there is something we could use in D.C.  Couple that with his undaunted courage and old school values, and I think we'd have ourselves a good man in D.C.  And for kicks, I'd LOVE to see him kick Dopey's ass.  He could do it.

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by: Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers! @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 21:27:54 PM UTC

Corey Stapleton announces for Gov. (0.00 / 0)

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/...

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by: Doug @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 21:51:14 PM UTC

Jay's Smack Talk (0.00 / 0)

By Jay's logic, a Democratic elected official can only speak the "party" line and if they stray from the party line, then that means they're running against someone. Using just one of Jay's examples, single-payer health care, the state's U.S. Senators must have made the decision for the whole party and everyone else had to toe the line. But was opposing single-payer the "party" line or Max's line? And if a Democrat -- be it the Good Guv or a local legislator -- supports single-payer, then by golly they're running against Max or Jon according to Jay. Bizzare.

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by: Viola @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 23:39:52 PM UTC

"party line"? (0.00 / 0)

Did I say Schweitzer's single-payer rhetoric was "smack talk" because it didn't speak the "party line"? Nope. I say it's "smack talk" because it's hollow, a meaningless gesture, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Why?

Because there are provisions in the health care bill that not only allow individual states to create their own single-payer plan, but facilitate it. That's right, Viola, if Brian Schweitzer really likes single-payer health care, he could something about it, right now, and right in Montana.

If Brian had the guts, he could flex his impress rhetoric prowess, his nationally-known genius for framing issues, and expend all of his political capital to enact a Montana single-payer health care system, ensuring his legacy for as long as there is a Montana.

But he won't. For whatever reason he's content with the jab without the political risk of actualizing his "belief." In my book, that makes him just as bad as Max on the issue.  

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by: Jay Stevens @ Tue Jul 20, 2010 at 00:56:36 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sorry, Jay, but you're off base on this one. (0.00 / 0)

When Schweitzer called for single payer, there was NOTHING written in stone yet.  Nothing had been decided.  Everything was still in play, including single payer. No O'bamacare, etc.  I for one loved the fact that he came out and added his voice to the debate.  Now, if there had been more politicos to call for the same, that certianly would have helped.  But they were all to shy.  Schweitzer is not shy.

But the larger point is that EVER since Schweitzer has entered the political arena, he has been advocating for health care policies that would help the average American.  This is nothing new.  Did you MISS all that?  And he's been doing that by taking on both the feds and the corporations.

And seriously, you would REALLY question Schweitzer for not taking any politcal risks??  Strange.  Where WERE you when he selected a Republican running mate?  Geez, I defended him vigorously.  And I'm tellin' you that there were some very, very upset Dems out there.  It was very ugly for a while.  You seem to misread Schweitzer big time.  For you see, with Schweitzer, what you see  is what you get.  He is completely without artifice and guile, and he doesn't give a damn who knows it.  He's not into games.  I kinda like that in a politician.

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by: Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers! @ Tue Jul 20, 2010 at 01:12:58 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Read Ochenski and see why Schweitzer isn't the only one frustrated (0.00 / 0)

Jay,
Maybe the distance is getting to you, but Schweitzer isn't the only Democrat who is pulling their hair out over the miss steps of Washington, D.C. Democrats.

As ol' George points out we have corporate Baucus selling out to insurance companies long before Obama did, but then again who is Obama's deputy chief of staff none other than Jim 'corporate bucks' Messina. Who by the way ran the worst MDLCC election campaign in Montana Democratic history before Baucus hired him.  

Then Tester who has some great issues that would make him a leader in the Senate and people back home happy by filling his campaign promises in calling for the end of the patriot act and getting out of Afghanistan, yet Tester is just happy to go along to get along.  That is not what people elected him for.

Guess what Jay, I am as pissed as Schweitzer about the failed leadership and policies coming from Congressional Democrats who have super majorities.    

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by: Junior @ Tue Jul 20, 2010 at 18:19:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

...JR... (0.00 / 0)

Oh, Junior, don't mistake my criticism of the Guv for praise of Max. (I admit I like Jon.) It's not. In the Max v Brian war, I am neutral. I am tired of Baucus throwing Democrats under the bus, backing big business and wealthy friends over families like mine, and setting the bar very, very low on healthcare from the outset. Do I think Max, who has a lot of power and influence, isn't realizing the potential of his office? Hell, yeah. He could actually do a lot of good for this country if he wanted to.

But I feel the same about Schweitzer. He's spoken out in favor of single-payer...so...let's do something!

 

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by: Jay Stevens @ Tue Jul 20, 2010 at 23:28:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sound and Fury (0.00 / 0)

Jay, I will concede your point that you weren't promoting toeing the "party-line." In my world, smack talk means you're talking bad about someone, but whatever.

Today I did some Googling, and noted that other people have described the Guv as supporting single-payer; he supported the public option (from an Atlantic article/I lost the link). In addition, in his remarks at President Obama's town hall meeting in Belgrade last August, the Guv noted that Tommy Douglas (voted Canada's most beloved figure) brought universal health care to that country in the 1940s. The point I got was that he was refuting right-wingers' charges that health care reform was being rushed and that Canada was doing just fine with its version of health care. I can't imagine why Max would have been so upset about these 6 minutes, as Chuck Johnson implied in his Sunday article.

Anyway, it's an entertaining speech, and only about 6 minutes. Folks can take a look at it here: http://bit.ly/ahmZVh

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by: Viola @ Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 01:42:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

How about a Montana public option? (0.00 / 0)

That would be cool...

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by: Jay Stevens @ Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 14:02:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

let's start a citizens initiative petition and get it on the ballot (0.00 / 0)

to hell with politicians

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by: problembear @ Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 15:50:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

heck... (0.00 / 0)

aim high! how about single-payer?

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by: Jay Stevens @ Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 18:00:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'll concede... (0.00 / 0)

...it wasn't "smack talk." Still, I invoke my blogger's right to hyperbole.

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by: Jay Stevens @ Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 14:03:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Interesting Story... (0.00 / 0)

Jay, I think you're right on a lot of this. Joey, at www.montanacommonsense.blogspot.com, offers some different views.

I think he makes a valid point, that Brian will do whats best for Brian.  

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by: William Selph @ Tue Jul 20, 2010 at 05:22:16 AM UTC