Posted: October 28, 2012 at 8:54 am
A constitutional crisis in the making? Governor Essmann?
On Friday, the Gov jumped into the Rick Hill fundraising hootenanny. Schweitzer held a press conference in Great Falls, at which he expressed grave fear that Hill’s refusal to handover his ill-gotten $500,000 donation could trigger a succession of power crisis in Montana if Hill gets elected.
Why? The penalty for a major violation of Montana election law is mandatory removal from office.
The scofflaw Hill is now under a restraining order from a state judge not to spend the tainted loot, and she will make a final ruling on the issue on Monday. If she rules against him, then Schweitzer’s nightmare scenario is very much alive. The Montana code says that a candidate “must be removed from office” for breaking election law.
The GOP’s response was to point out that Bullock, too, has incurred an infraction of campaign law. But it appears that dog don’t hunt, because the GOP is pointing to a small violation, a few checks that were signed incorrectly. Trivial or minor violations–the type that every campaign commits incidentally in the course of doing business–do not subject an officeholder to the Ultimate Penalty.
True, I expect Bullock to beat Hill by more than a few thousand votes, so Schweitzer’s doomsday scenario will probably be mooted on election day.
Schweitzer’s theory is an interesting one, especially if you play it out. In the unlikely event of a Hill victory, Hill and his lieutenant Jon Sonju would both be removed from office (and maybe go the pokey, too) for having taken too big a donation ($500,000, when the law allows only $22,000). According to Montana law, in the event of a double vacancy the Senate President ascends to Governor and appoints a number 2.
The 2013 Senate President, alas, does not yet exist.
But here’s where it gets juicy. The betting now is that the Senate President might be none other than Jeff Essmann, the anti-pot crusader. If Essmann became governor via this scheme, then he’d have done so by getting only about two dozen votes, those of his fellow senators. It’d be the easiest, cheapest governor’s campaign in American history. He might even roll himself a fatty, just to celebrate the coup.
So Hill is playing with fire. He needs to give back the money, and that right soon.
Crap!
That’s crap Essmann, not crap story.
No, you were right the first time.
Ironically, two dozen votes is about as many as Essman would have received had he not dropped out of the race for governor.
If Essman were to turn down or be unable to serve, then potential Speaker of the House, Krayton Kerns, could become governor.
Good lord Elizabeth, don’t scare is like that!
Speaking of scary! The Holy Roman Kiddy Diddlers LUV them some crazy bastards! Krazy Krayton, the ol’ Cow Flopper, could be the next Pope!
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/10/28/wisconsin-bishop-voting-pro-choice-puts-your-soul-in-jeopardy/
I think God trumps cross dressing pedophiles! What say you, Fundiwackmentalists? Does you or doesn’t you believe the word of God?
http://tucsoncitizen.com/freethought-arizona/2011/04/03/bible-says-god-performs-abortion/
Sorry, Noam, but I said this twenty years ago. No one listened then, and not many will listen now.
http://www.alternet.org/story/146523/facing_the_threat_from_the_far_right%2C_noam_chomsky_says_he_%27has_never_seen_anything_like_this%27/
If true, very good news.
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/administration-sponsor-nationwide-hea
He must’a been listening to Schweitzer. Brian for Health Czar! Why not?
Bob’s doin’ the yeoman’s work.
http://www.leftinthewest.com/diary/4783/montanas-constitutional-crisis-a-vote-for-rick-hill-is-a-vote-for-jeff-essmann
That is ASSMANN to uninformed.
I guess YOU are uninformed and spelling challenged. Generally, there are 2 “s” and 1 “n” in assman.
Anyone would be better than Bullock so I don’t really care if it’s Essman, Skees, Kerns or whomever. Maybe even Priest or Wittich.
Actually “informed” Assmann is Essmann’s official nickname, so the above spelling is correct.
I guess I am confused. Why is following the Montana State Constitution and Montana laws should a candidate be disqualified a “Constitutional Crisis”?
Isn’t following the Constitution and Montana laws a good thing whether you like the outcome or not?
We should be glad that this kind of thing is already covered and won’t require months of debate and court cases to solve if it does indeed happen (which I doubt it does).
Larry or Cowgirl – got a good answer?
The confusion come is because it isn’t known whether a special election or the senate prez option is the method to determine te governor. As with anything, factions will form and legal fights will be launched.
Comes in rather.
aNOTHER gubmint titsucker claiming to be a Randian, Mr. Aynus Daines! Gentlemen, start you lips! bwwhahahahahaha!\
http://mtstreetfighter.com/steve-daines-rightnow-technologies-paid-a-d-c-lobbying-firm-90000-for-government-contracts/#comments
p.s. this is a very good site.
I’m sure that Aynus Daines finds Jose Pinera to be a fine chap! What’s NOT to like about Pionchet’s henchmen, right? But we must ask, do we REALLY want to become the South American model? This is where Aynus Daines and Dopey Reeburp would take us. Time to wake the f*ck UP, America.
And really, Jose Pinera heading up the Cato Institute? What’s the matter, is modern Hitler Pinochet dead? (sarcasm, dudes)
http://www.alternet.org/speakeasy/brucewilson/born-under-punches-ryan-social-security-ideas-pioneered-brutal-military
Big Bully Brian and Scare tactics that have absolutely NO validity, does he think we’re all as damn dense as he is! Cripes, I’ll be glad to see that bloated pig we call a governor down the road in January. I don’t care who the Gov. is next 4 years as long as it’s not Mr. Mouth! What an embarassment to himself, our great state and his family.
Guess that’s why he’s been one of the most POPULAR governors in our state’s history!, ’cause little Beware I’m Stoopid don’t like him! Methinks that maybe you should re-evaluate your OWN thinking there, Stoopid! OOPS! Did I insult you by suggesting that you think? I’m sorry, please accept my public apology!….bwhwhahahahaha!
BTW, “scare tactics”??? Hmm. Maybe we can get Bibi’s Bitch, Jerkoff jerry molen, to do a scary MOVIE ’bout brian a la O’Bama! Think Bibi’s Bitch is UP to it? bwahahhaha!
I dunno! Brian’s awfully white lookin’! And his ancestry is pretty well known! Maybe he had a Kenyan in the wood shed somewhere’s along the way, ya never know! ‘Sides, it don’t HAVE to be truthful, jus’ like bibi’s bitche’s OTHER movies! Bibi’s bitch’s motto: From Schindler’s List to Swindler’s Shit! Never forget! You can parlay LOTS of holocaust shit into even BIGGER shit! He done’er! I mean, could a jerkoff who did schindler’s list REALLY be such a big jerkoff? Answer: YES!
bwhahahahahahhahahaa!
What a dink you are, Stoopid! Watcha gonna do if Schweitzer becomes prez???? Better buy LOTS of cold BEER to cry in, loser boy!
Most POPULAR by what measure Scary?
People who sit on their asses all day and answer calls by pollsters?
Ride the tidal wave baby!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2224391/Republicans-gain-governors-seats-haven-t-won-half-century-extending-potential-claim-30-33-seats.html
HOIST BY YOUR ONE’S OWN TEATARD! bwhahahaha!
Ingy, your moronic pals are outing themselves now daily. Ever time they open their mouths, they scare the HELL outta people, ’cause, the TRVTH be told, they’re morons!
Now, where WERE you when I asked for folks from the Pubbie side to defend all the examples of idiocy coming from your teatards?
Give’em enough rope, Ingy. Give’em enough rope. And it’s all over. Why? ‘Cause they’re little “gifts from god”!
bwhahahahahahahahhahahahaaa! Too funny.
Was Pinochet a good buddy of yours, Ingy? Did you approve of THEIR Sept. 11 U.S. sponsored military coup of a democratically elected government? Is THIS really what you want for our country, Ingy, a banana republic? For that is EXACTLY what your policies insure! And the exact same people who orchestrated the coups in Latin America are the exact same people attempting to take over OUR government! In FACT, Mittens got his START from the death squads in El Salvador! Is Mittwitt OUR salvador, Ingy?)
Come on, Ingy. Don’t just fart and leave. Let’s debate, cupcake! Leave your platitudes up your ass where they belong!
http://www.alternet.org/speakeasy/brucewilson/born-under-punches-ryan-social-security-ideas-pioneered-brutal-military
There you go again Scary.
Digging up Pinochet.
Let save you some typing.
Here’s the next chapter in your playbook.
Scary’s link.
http://www.gifbin.com/981768
Come on, Ingy. If you’re not a buffoon, don’t play one on the blogs! Again, put the racism and platitudes BACK up your ass where they belong and try debating!
Here, this is NOT Pinochet but one of his henchman!, and good Pubbie Pal!
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/10/world/americas/10iht-chile.html?_r=0
From nazi to respected Pubbie overnight! Wow! You got some strange BEDfellows there, Ingy! Maybe this nazi found GOD, jus’ like Bibi’s Bitch Jerkoff jerry molen!
http://www.cato.org/people/jose-pinera
Hell, jerkoff jerry even RESEMBLES his mentor!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Goebbels
Like father like son!
Could it be? Nah. Ol’ Joe G. COULDN’T have been jerkoff jerry’s REAL daddy, could he? Well, ANYthing’s possible in 2016 world! I’ve seen stranger!
bwhahahahahahaaa!
good lord! You guys have the cure for cancer rolling around in your heads if you can come up with this crap. put your minds to good use!
I have been convinced for quite some time now that blogger Farmboy is the Governor himself, I’m beginning to think he’s really “Larry” off his meds!
Actually, this is trumped up hoooooooey.
Besides, there’s nothing to be afraid of here. Even if Rick and Jon go to the slam (ya, right), Essman would make a far better gubberner than any of the Dem candidates currently on offer. So what’s not to like?
Corruption of the democratic process, violation of trust in electing our representation, perversion of the will of the people … all Republicant values rolled into one handy Christmas Gift Boutique item. Yeah, what’s not to like?
Dave, could you at least go back to pretending that you’re the smart Republicant?