Posted: September 14, 2012 at 8:29 pm

Rehberg and Statesmanship: For the Birds

This video is making the rounds, and it’s a must-watch for those of us who follow Montana politics. Congressman Dennis Rehberg (I see the Tester campaign is now calling him, accurately, Lobbyist Dennis Rehberg) responds to a question from some kid with a Sony by flipping the bird.

Although unsurprising, this is a pretty remarkable reaction from Rehberg for two reasons.

One, Rehberg’s floundering campaign is trying very hard to reinvent Dennis Rehberg as some sort of likable, cool-headed cowboy—which is a herculean challenge when all you have to work with is an angry, lazy land subdivider who loves booze and wants to return to the lobbying business.

Rehberg’s handlers know we Montanans see their boss as “that guy who sues firefighters” and puts his staffers on speedboats with drunk drivers.  That attempted nice-guy makeover?  It just went out the window with one raised middle finger.  Dennis Rehberg just can’t keep his cool.

Two, Rehberg’s bird is a setback in his lifelong pursuit of winning a seat in the Senate.  Sure, in the U.S. House of Representatives, maybe it’s just fine to flip off kids and pregnant constituents (Yes, Rehberg made headlines for lewdly offending a pregnant Montanan) and fall off horses drunk and sue firefighters. But senators are supposed to be statesmen and women.  Rehberg’s default mode is more than just a loose cannon.  It’s just not becoming of the Upper House of Congress.

As a lobbyist, however, he’ll probably do just fine.

51 comments

  1. Old Line, Democrat

    Wow, what a succinct recitation of alleged Rehberg malfeasance.

    Please provide us with some verifiable evidence of these events.

    • Doug

      Um, did you watch the video? Google his firefighter lawsuit? Read up on the fact that Rehberg, as the man in charge, didn’t bother to designate a sober driver of the boat? Click on any of the links? You may want to do so.

  2. Paul S.

    Rehberg is angry. It’s the first word that comes to mind whenever the man’s name comes up. He’s always turning all red in the face. When he starts to get upset he starts to blink like he’s about to pop, and the drinking may be the only way he can calm down. Not exactly the mindset of someone you making important decisions. All this stuff about the supposed “statemanship” of the US senate I’m not really buying, since it seems to me there are plenty of slimeballs there too. But I do think a calmer head makes better decisions.

  3. Ely from Culbertson

    Rehberg is basically that chimp that stupid people think is a pet. Then the “pet” gets angry and tears someones face off. Not what you want to have around–not even stupid people deserve Rehberg.

  4. Havre Voter

    Rehberg was a lobbyist for the Realtors just like John Sinrud! Perhaps they’ll both work together at the same firm in the future. Doesn’t Rehberg’s son work at the same lobbying firm and Conrad Burns now?

  5. Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

    Hahahahah! Now THAT’S funny!

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/14/1131926/-The-White-House-Tells-Kansas-Prove-U-S-Membership-or-Risk-Removal-from-Electoral-College

    Sure, it’s probably not pc to LAFF LIKE HELL at all the little rightwinger nutjobs out there, but it is what we should do! We should ALSO laff at little Mr. Oily Tits man, jer jer molen, and his docu-douchey movie! These folks are insane traitors, and that is what we must call them!

    NEVER did I think I would see the day when shit and shinola became so indistuinguishable to so many reetards out there!

    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

      p.s. Ever seen a close up of the human asshole? Well, since I don’t have a pick of Mr. Oily Tits man, jer jer molen, THIS will have to do! bhwhahahahahahahahaa!
      Oily Tits man. LUV IT! He’s a real “values” dude! bhwhahahahahahahaa!
      He LUVS him some jews, but HATES him some black dudes! He’s a great Murcan! From Schindler’s List to Swindler’s SHIT! Great job, jer jer! Them darkies are SCARY to jews, ain’t they?

      http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/gen-jerry-boykin-and-gen-jack-ripper

  7. Aware and Not Stupid

    Amazing…..If it weren’t for LOW class some folks would have any class at all, reminents of the Gov. and Larry the Ranger! Ya’ just can’t fix stupid!

  8. Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

    EVER SEEN THE HUMAN ANUS UP CLOSE? Well, I don’t actually have a picture of jerry jerkoff molen, but I DO have a word picture of his butt buddy, DeNut Sleaza! Oh come ON, Mr. Oily Tits man! If you have HALF a nut, come on this forum, puke boy! From Schindler’s List to Swindler’s SHIT! The jew/nazis in israel must be SO proud of their little Kochk boy!

    “D’Souza goes on to claim that Obama was mentored by anti-American communists and terrorists, but no one in the U.S. knows about it because the media is intentionally trying to “suppress information that’s harmful to Obama because they want him to win again.” Seemingly fixated on finding out the names of Obama’s ex-girlfriends, D’Souza claims that the public hasn’t learned the identities of the President’s ex-girlfriends because they likely came from the same group of “radical, revolutionary and truly dangerous characters” that he had “been hanging out with.”

  9. Drunks for Denny

    So he is a “an angry, lazy land subdivider who loves booze”…..giving the finger to some useless badgering twit badgering him with a microphone and a camera…and this is a bad thing?

    I think 80% of Montana will side with Denny on this one.

    Do you people here think that the Alliance for Wild Rockies is completely infallible, and that all timber sales should be immediately appealed?

    The Democratic Party needs to reject its fringe elements, such as jack-booted thugs who call themselves “Environmental Rangers”, and return to their roots of supporting fair taxation and job growth policies.

    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

      HEAR HEAR! I like your style, Drunk Dude! You see, I like a leetle drinky too! You see, I’m OLD, Drunk Dude. Hell, I actually REMEMBER the days when a fella could stumble into a bar and be drinkin’ next to a judge and congressman! In fact, I DID just that in Billings one time!

      To the left of me was a judge, and to the right of me was a congressman! (or some such bullshit) I LONG for them days! Hell, I liked it back then! BAC was higher and my IQ was lower!

      But you see, it’s all changed now. Back in them days of congenial drinkin’, we was all friends. But now, the Pubbie assholes have gone OFF THE FRIGGIN’ RAILS!

      Drunk Denny Dude, I WANT my old Pubbie Party back! When we was all friends and drinkin’ buddies! Hell, the ONLY time we mentioned god was when we had a GODdamned flat tire or sumthin’! We was friends. Even when we was of differnet parties. Hell, it didn’t really matter!

      But see, Denny Dude, when you insert a BIG KOCKH into Montana politics, it changes everthin’! So, I agree with you, amigo. I may look radical now, but at one time, I was considered NORMAL! And simply a Montanan!

      p.s. I met Dopey Reeburp some forty years ago, and I couldn’t stand him then! I knew he was a phony livin’ off’n his ancestors!

      • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

        p.s. Drunk Denny, please exsqueeze my eccentricities, dude. For you see, I was a drink addled logger as was my buddy Clint Eastwood. You see, when you get to a certain age, you just gotta SHIT! Shit out the TRVHT that is. And although I think that Clint is wrong, I still admire him for shittin’ out HIS truth. Only problem is tha this truht is NOT bullshit.

        I still like Clint, but I think he’s senile. Hell, I remember the days when he was loggin’ out in Oregon and drinkin’ Oly. He was real then. Now, he’s as false as Mittens! Ya gotta know when to fold’em, and poor Clint didn’t know when to fold’em! He’s senile!…..as I soon hope to be!

        • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

          p.s.s. Would someone out there kindly inform me when it’s time to fold’em? You see, I have yet to run out of Oly. Or Bud. Or Pabst! (mi favorite)

        • Drunks for Denny

          A fair enough response. Larry, I suspect you and I could belly up to a bar and find common ground on issues, as you remember, like the good old days. I, too, am descended from old Montana slavic miner stock.

          Problem is, the good old days are gone, all my democrat friends are dead, and all we are left with are hippie chicks throwing buckets of blood on average joes. So we need to vote in guys who are even drunker than ourselves, mainly Representative Rehberg.

          Senator Tester? He is an ORGANIC farmer. Biggest sham shysterism EVER! I doubt he drinks anything other than chardonnay.

    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

      WOW! Take THAT, Mr. Oily Tits birther boy, jer jer molen! Looks like SOMEONE just made you look the bigger fool than you already are, dufus! Mary Moe takes your little docu-douchey-drama on O’Bama right apart!

      Kudos to the GF Spitoon for FINALLY putting some good content on the ed page! And Richard Ecke’s piece is a must read! Go there and read it. FINALLY, an ed with some courage! Richard calls bullshit on the Teatard nonsense!

      http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20120916/OPINION/309160005/-2016-involves-constructing-deconstructing-fiction?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|p

      • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

        P.S. and be sure to read the comment section too for some cogent insights from folks from, you guessed it, TEXass! Is there some sort of inbred quick response team? bhwhahahahahahahahhaa!

        Just what the hell are inbreds from TEXass doing commenting on the Spitoon web site? Weird.

        And I wonder how many of Bibi’s buddies from the israeli zionist mafia put up MONEY for little Mr. Oily Tits birther boy molen’s docu-douchey? Lots I’d say. Maybe we AREN’T as stupid as Bibi thinks!

        Time to put and END to AIPAC, and cut off aid to the nazi illegal state of israel. They are NOT our allies! With friends like them, who needs terrorists?

  12. rls4568

    You know I am with you Larry but please…could you collect your thoughts and put it in one message. I am getting old and I am sensitive about talking to ( and answering ) myself.

    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

      Hey, Rls, I just gotta be me! I’m not very good on the puter. I don’t really know how to do more than one link at a time. Therefore, I don’t. Sorry that that offends, amigo. So, my thoughts are collected, but my puter skills are not.

  14. Dave

    With Rehberg’s bruised ribs after the boat wreak, why not say those bruises came from the steering wheel of the boat. Too bad the fall guy wasn’t Rehberg instead of the state Senator.

    • Dan T.

      As the guy in charge it was up to Rehberg to designate a sober driver. The buck stops with the boss….unless you’re Rehberg I guess. Then you simply fail to take any responsibility for your team and your own safety as well.

        • Rob Kailey

          James, in a purely pragmatic sense, I agree with you. However, here and most elsewhere, pragmatism was abandoned a long time ago. I do point out that several documents and court records remain sealed concerning that night, a dispensation that would not be allowed to you or to me if we were the culprit. Barkus, though drunk, was still an experienced boatman on Flathead Lake, familiar with the shoreline and familiar with the boat’s equipment. Dennis, not so much. In the immortal words of Peggy Noonan, deep in her Grey Goose flavored cups, “Would it be irresponsible to speculate? It would be irresponsible not to!”

          Yes it is practical to hold that Barkus was driving, if that practicality meant anything to comments at a website. But I certainly won’t fault someone for positing otherwise.

  17. Dave

    Barkus never admitted to driving the boat. We just assumed that it was his boat so he was the driver. There was a reason the clean up crew arrived in Kalispell pretty quick, to do all the damage control work of protecting the Congressman. It is likely that the Congressman was driving the boat. The Congressman waited several hours before having his BAC checked, so his blood alcohol level was higher then the .05 he tested at. Barkus was the fall guy, since I think he was termed out anyway in the legislature, and it was better to have Barkus take the fall for Rehberg. Remember Shane Hedges. When they first interviewed him after his accident, Hedges couldn’t recall who was driving. So I’m just saying…

  18. Jennifer Davies

    Rehberg, if he was sober himself, should have taken the keys. If he had been sober himself, he could have had the wits not to force his staff to get on the boat. Even if the wasn’t sober, he should have designated a sober driver in advance.