tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592841981416728347.post4766596844927381319..comments2023-05-25T03:08:18.166-06:00Comments on Montana Headlines: Familiar pattern from the state Democratic party -- and yet other eerie similaritiesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592841981416728347.post-31143600361742785652007-06-03T21:11:00.000-06:002007-06-03T21:11:00.000-06:00"Are these the best points that Republicans can ma..."Are these the best points that Republicans can make regarding why the state would be better off with a Republican as governor?<BR/><BR/>These sorts of things run the risk of having Republicans defining themselves as being against the governor."<BR/><BR/>In a time when we have no declared candidate for Governor (on a side note - RUN, DAINES, RUN!) the state party's job is to keep Schweitzer accountable. <BR/><BR/>In a time when the media isn't willing to do the heavy lifting when it comes to investigative reporting, it falls on the shoulders of the state party to shine some light on the activities a governor who gets a free pass.<BR/><BR/>And lastly, we ARE against the governor. Anyone who has had any interaction at all with this man knows that he is a bully and a snake oil salesman. It is only through continuous scrutiny that the people of Montana will finally see the light - and the arrogance of our govornor who believes himself to be above reproach. Some of the accusations may seem petty, but sooner or later they will add up. <BR/><BR/>And with no one else stepping up to the plate, it seems to me that the state party is simply doing their job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592841981416728347.post-72698488778311404482007-06-02T16:51:00.000-06:002007-06-02T16:51:00.000-06:00No argument on any of the above questions. If the...No argument on any of the above questions. If there are rules, everyone needs to follow them -- when something ties a Republican politician in Montana to corporate money, we certainly hear about it then.<BR/><BR/>I think the point I am making is more one of style. I just suspect that the Montana press will be more inclined to follow up on leads that aren't presented as though the sky is falling.<BR/><BR/>It certainly keeps us from looking silly in front of the Montana public if things turn out not to be true.<BR/><BR/>And at the end of the day, what is the message that Republicans are trying to convey by picking at Schweitzer's minor wrong-doings? Are these the best points that Republicans can make regarding why the state would be better off with a Republican as governor?<BR/><BR/>These sorts of things run the risk of having Republicans defining themselves as being against the governor. It didn't work well for Republicans against Clinton, or for Democrats against Bush.<BR/><BR/>In both cases, the tide turned because of a combination of self-destructive acts by the party in power and positive messages by the party out of power. <BR/><BR/>That's what we need to concentrate on here in Montana. People will eventually tire of the act -- the question is whether we give them an alternative that they will immediately turn to.Montana Headlineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16149094528547382638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592841981416728347.post-40997596095358372102007-06-02T12:19:00.000-06:002007-06-02T12:19:00.000-06:00I think that is a good assessment. It isn't a big ...I think that is a good assessment. It isn't a big deal. But it would good to let the governor know that the rules apply to him as well as to Republicans. So let's find out who was paying for the steak and booze he was feasting on in Kentucky and California. Who was picking up the tab for the plane tickets. What does he do for for those freebies? Is he fundraising for other organizations, or for his own campaign? He said he wouldn't take money from corporations, but is he taking money from corporate executives, and is that a distinction without a difference? Where does his brother fit into all this? Is he earning money as a campaign fundraiser? If he is fundraising, is he leaning on businessman and companies that do business with the state? Why am I asking these questions -- and the press is not?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592841981416728347.post-63342374070484173842007-06-01T21:17:00.000-06:002007-06-01T21:17:00.000-06:00It's just fine to file a complaint against the Dem...It's just fine to file a complaint against the Dems when they appear to have broken a campaign law. In fact, it's necessary. <BR/><BR/>But at the same time, we should treat it like taking out a stinking bag of trash -- it's gotta be done, there's no pleasure in it, and we would prefer that the trash wasn't stinking in the first place.<BR/><BR/>The Montana GOP, rather than treat this like a big deal -- as though we've really caught the governor in something bad (which no-one is going to get worked up about) -- should just matter-of-factly file a complaint when the Dems get caught in their own laws and rules.<BR/><BR/>Then, we should remind people that as Republicans we don't think that there should be all of these restrictions on campaign contributions in the first place. But if the Dems want to claim to be the party of the squeaky clean, we'll hold them to it. <BR/><BR/>And then, we should move on and treat such shenanigans as being as boring as they really are. <BR/><BR/>The goal at the end of all of this is to get at least 51% of Montanans to vote for our people, and Republicans have always done better at getting that 51% when we act like the adults.Montana Headlineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16149094528547382638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592841981416728347.post-2651979011536813732007-06-01T09:17:00.000-06:002007-06-01T09:17:00.000-06:00it is time to take the libs to task. We conservati...it is time to take the libs to task. We conservatives, when attacked, shrug our shoulders and hide in the closet. It's time to "come out" and use tactics that expose the dems for what they are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592841981416728347.post-29354919727123158732007-06-01T07:58:00.000-06:002007-06-01T07:58:00.000-06:00Excellent analysis -- agreed. It was amusing that...Excellent analysis -- agreed. <BR/><BR/>It was amusing that one lefty blogger said it was pretty suspicious because it didn't make business sense for someone to invest several thousand dollars to get a $1000 tax refund. <BR/><BR/>I guess it is hard to believe that conservatives can do things for selfless reasons (never mind the fact that studies show that conservatives give significantly higher percentages of their income to charity than do liberals.)<BR/><BR/>The money was probably pocket change to Daines (or at least hardly lifestyle impinging.) But even so, by this logic, anyone who puts their money into a public service campaign from which they won't personally benefit is a suspicious character.<BR/><BR/>And if anyone who gains public attention by giving a lot of money to a non-profit ends up running for public office -- those donations to charity should be treated as campaign dollars. <BR/><BR/>Ridiculous.Montana Headlineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16149094528547382638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592841981416728347.post-16505558634311365402007-05-31T23:23:00.000-06:002007-05-31T23:23:00.000-06:00I think Daines' ads were much more effective at ch...I think Daines' ads were much more effective at challenging the governor's plans for the budget surplus than were the tactics/arguments of the GOP legislative leaders. His ads were simple and humorous, easy for most folks to relate to. I think that's why Democrats are so nervous about Daines. He seems to be bright, capable, and apparently he's got some financial wherewithal. Sounds like they should worry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com