Watching this entire discussion over Kitzenberg's defection and whether or not it was proper, I'm struck by how anyone thinks he should have stayed in the party. On top of saying that it was inappropriate of Kitzenberg to switch parties, the Republicans have called him too liberal, unethical, and said that they sought to primary him out of the party in 2004.
So, what exactly is unfair about him leaving?
Honestly, do they think that yelling, "You're incompetent and unethical, now vote for us for leadership!" is a compelling message?
I know Sam mostly by reputation, having only met him once or twice in my life (and I don't think he would know me from a hole in the wall). What I do know is that his reputation for independence precedes him and that no one I've ever met would speak ill of him as a person (this is obviously because I've never met John Sinrud, who is, hands down, the dumbest and most vitriolic partisan in the Montana legislature).
Let's go back to this piece shortly after Kitzenberg announced his decision:
Valley County Republicans said they were not totally surprised Kitzenberg switched. [...] It "smelled of political payoff," Valley County GOP chair Peter Hellend said of Kitzenberg's job and party affiliation switch.
[...]
Hellend said Kitzenberg has long been an unwelcome Republican by siding with Democrats.
"It's nothing new for us up here that are Republicans," Hellend said of Kitzenberg. "He hasn't had the support of the Republicans that are active in politics up here for years."
Meanwhile, Sinrud is saying that Kitzenberg was deceitful to his district. Yeah, sure, whatever. The active Republicans in hist district have apparently opposed him for years.
Remember, of course, that John Sinrud is the nut who got up in arms about having to do his job in a special session last year (his wife had the temerity to compare going to a special session with being dispatched to Iraq, cause Helena and warzones are so, um, similar).
The man has no sense of perspective and I really have to doubt if he has a damn clue about what is on the minds of people in Glasgow.
Kitzenberg was elected to represent the people of his district. If they've got a problem with him, they can recall him. Until then, it is Kitzenberg, not me, not John Sinrud, not any other nutbag, who speaks for those folks.
The thing I hate most about this standard? It also indicates that Sinrud really has the ability to speak for other Montanans. Man, that must be a crazy corner of the state.
