Posted: January 6, 2011 at 11:52 am
Dueling Youtube Videos: Second PSC Repub’s Shady Behavior Captured
Rival GOP members of the Public Service commission engaged in a skirmish over ethics have taken their battle to Youtube this week, with dueling videos of each other’s shady behavior now posted online.
By now, you’ve probably already had a chance to laugh with your co-workers over the Great Falls Tribune captured video of Brad Molnar sparring with fellow Republican Travis Kavulla (below) after Kavulla asked Molnar to sign an ethics pledge before Kavulla would support Molnar’s bid for PSC chair:
For Blackberry users, Great Falls Tribune Exclusive: Brad Molnar and Travis Kavulla argue over chairmanship vote.
Now, video has surfaced that shows, according to the video’s Youtube title, “Travis Kavulla caught pilfering through Brad Molnar’s private paperwork and then steals documents.” h/t MTMom.
This is so F-ing funny. Thanks Montana Mom for posting this Kavulla video in the comments!
This is hilarious — Mt Cowgirl needs to join up with the conspiracy faction of my party. They’re like peas in a pod!
Fwiw (i.e., not much in the conspiracy crowd), it was a public document that had been distributed to reporters, and there were extra copies sitting on the desk.
What Travis… can’t handle the fact that you got caught showing your true colors?
This time Republicans are caught looking silly. The next time, Democrats might find themselves in the spotlight.
In meantime, the voters are in the dark regarding the competence of the PSC as a whole, and have good reason to wonder whether electing commissioners is a good idea. On that latter point, I certainly have my doubts.
I think Brad Molnar needs to run on a ticket with Denny for Governor. I can hear the campaign motto now: “Free mustache & boat rides for anyone who thinks we’re credible!”
Didn’t Denny just win against the Chairman of the Democratic Party by 61% Truffle? I think the credibility problem is more than obvious in this state.
Welcome new commenter Truxton. This would be a truly fantastic ticket.
but Travis had to take this one from Brads stash of papers, didnt he get his own….
So Molnar is PPL’s flunky and Kavulla is NWE’s flunky right? Looks like Gallagher gets to be the flunky who breaks the tie…he can hold a lot of steak and whiskey though it aint gonna be cheap.
We owe Travis a huge Thank You! He absolutely did the right thing by taking the stand that he took. I can’t imagine the embarassment Brad Molnar would have been to the PSC, The Montana GOP or to himself being turned lose to speak on behalf of the people of Montana before the Montana Legislative Body. Molnar is a lose cannon and Travis knew it and had the integrity to step forward and do something about it before a very bad situation got much worse. Commissioner Kavulla showed leadership and common sense at a critical time. Now let’s hope Commissioner Molnar got the message and has enough sense to take his seat on the end of the bench, shut his loud mouth for the next 2 year and quietly slip away from Montana politics before he causes anymore trouble. Thank You Travis Kavulla!
I agree with you … to some degree.
On the one hand, I’ve dealt with Kavulla enough to believe that Molner is right that Travis is seeking power. After all, his only youthful claim to importance is being the recipient of wingnut welfare. On the other hand, we’ve all followed Molner enough to know that every thing he does is seeking personal power.
On the one hand, Travis was only seeking to control Molner for the benefit of the Republican party. That’s hardly serving the state of Montana. On the other hand, Molner’s self serving behavior needs control, and who better than by his ‘own kind’.
On the one hand, Travis attempted to establish rules of support that show the partisan nature of a board that should be in service to all Montanans. On the other hand, the schism among the Republicans may actually benefit all Montanans. The problem here isn’t Molner’s intemperance or Kavulla’s arrogance. The problem is Republican control of the PSC.
The best result we can hope for is that the PSC does very little or nothing over the next 2 years. Travis isn’t an idiot, and I hope he grows into the statesman he sees himself being. Molner is just a corrupt and needy man. But they are now our overlords, and we are at their mercy. So, yes, I do agree that Travis did us a favor by derailing Molner’s ambition.
Ok first I will say I have met Travis and have had two or three conversations with him and Im willing to take him at his word that it was a public document. Even if it was not a public document given the history of Mr. Molnar and given the sunshine laws and open public infromation, if this document was at a public meeting being paid for with our tax dollars, by an offical on our tax dollar payroll, then in my opinion and granted Im not a lawyer and have never done a day of law school in my life, but I would say it is a public document. Now these videos and the whole situtation regarding the chairmanship of the PSC shows me that the Republicans are not a united party. Also it shows me that there is a lack of trust between Mr. Molnar and Mr. Kavullla. And they have to serve together for the next two years atleast. So my question is first does Bill Gallagher is he going to have to be a peacemaker and referree for the next two years? Will the PSC be able to get anything done? And third given that Mr. Molnar was convicted of ethics violations and owes the state of Montana approximently 20K should he be impeached or recalled?
If I follow your reasoning claiming the document that Commissioner Kavulla took from Commissioner Molnar’s stack of private paperwork was a public document (sunshine laws, open information, tax dollar payroll, etc.) and therefore not a theft; that should mean that you or I or any member of the general public should be able to simply go up to any public official’s desk area during any public meeting (or break) and take any document(s) we want to. I don’t think so. BTW, even with the Sunshine Laws, a formal request as well as a fee payment have to be satisfied before viewing any public documents. Sadly, when Commissioner Kavulla took the document from Commissioner Molnar without permission, he committed a theft, plain and simple.