Posted: November 11, 2012 at 1:11 pm

American Traditions Partnership: Beyond Thunderdome

After the FRONTLINE documentary that uncovered potentially illegal collusion between a secretive right-wing group and Republican candidates, the attorney for that organization announced that he is leaving his position at the Doney, Crowley, Payne and Bloomquist firm.

Jim Brown, the Attorney for American Traditions Partnership (formerly Western Traditions Partnership or WTP) sent out an email Friday, Nov 9, saying he is leaving the firm effectively immediately.  Brown wrote that he will be starting his own law firm and “going into the business of political consulting” but will “continue doing association management work” (otherwise known as lobbying.)

Brown writes that he can now be reached at his new email address: thunderdomelaw@gmail.com

Under state law, third party groups like American Tradition Partnership which spend masses of unregulated, unreported money, are legally barred from coordinating with candidates.  But several legislative candidates and the ATP have been caught red handed, working together, in apparent violation of the law.

The FRONTLINE documentary revealed that a secret stash of incriminating documents has been found, showing extensive communications between Republican legislative candidates and the ATP, and showing that the ATP was even preparing campaign material for them.

When asked what ATP was doing with these documents on FRONTLINE (transcript), Brown said:

The answer is, is that I’ve never seen this material before. I don’t know if this was found in WTP materials. I’m not going to comment because I haven’t reviewed any of that material. I mean, I’m not going to, you know, have materials sent— you know, given to me on surprise and then asked to comment on them. I don’t know what they show or what they don’t show. I’m literally not going to comment on that. You can rely on your other sources for those.

Brown’s entire email can be read here:

I am pleased to announce that I started my own law practice, the James Brown Law Firm, PLLC.   In addition, I will continue doing association management work, but will be going into the business of political consulting.

If you are associated with me because of my work for the Montana Wool Growers and the Montana Independent Bankers, please take particular note of this contact information change.

Consequently, please take note that my contact information will change.  After November 9th, please direct your calls, emails, and correspondence to the following:

Phone: ppp-pppp

Cell: ccc-cccc

Email: thunderdomelaw@gmail.com

My new office will be located at 32 South Ewing Street, Suite 324, Helena, Montana, 59601.

I am excited about this new venture, and I look forward to continuing our working relationship after my big move.  Please let me know if you have any questions, and I wish you the best.

Sincerely,

James E. Brown

Attorney

Remember: break a deal, spin the wheel

James E. Brown, LL.M.

Associate Attorney

DONEY | CROWLEY | PAYNE | BLOOMQUIST P.C.

P.O. Box 1185

Helena, MT 59624-1185

13 comments

  3. Craig Moore

    @@@@@@@ OFF TOPIC@@@@@@@@

    Being that we should be honoring Veteran’s Day, never forget the words of John McCrae:

    In Flanders fields the poppies blow
    Between the crosses, row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly
    Scarce heard amid the guns below.

    We are the Dead. Short days ago
    We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    Loved and were loved, and now we lie
    In Flanders fields.

    Take up our quarrel with the foe:
    To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
    We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
    In Flanders fields.

    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

      Hear hear!

      XIX. To an Athlete Dying Young
      by A. E. Housman (1859-1936)

      The time you won your town the race
      We chaired you through the market-place;
      Man and boy stood cheering by,
      And home we brought you shoulder-high.

      To-day, the road all runners come,
      Shoulder-high we bring you home,
      And set you at your threshold down,
      Townsman of a stiller town.

      Smart lad, to slip betimes away
      From fields were glory does not stay
      And early though the laurel grows
      It withers quicker than the rose.

      Eyes the shady night has shut
      Cannot see the record cut,
      And silence sounds no worse than cheers
      After earth has stopped the ears:

      Now you will not swell the rout
      Of lads that wore their honours out,
      Runners whom renown outran
      And the name died before the man.

      So set, before its echoes fade,
      The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
      And hold to the low lintel up
      The still-defended challenge-cup.

      And round that early-laurelled head
      Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
      And find unwithered on its curls
      The garland briefer than a girl’s.

  5. Drifter

    I’m crushed! Beyond Thunderdome is the best movie ever made! To forever sully that title is uncalled for and inexusable! Sir, you are a cad of the deepest dye!

  6. Montana Demo

    i thought this was some kind of joke, but maybe its real. some dude at Reason magazine coined the term “Constitutional Thunderdome” to describe arguments on the affordable care act. http://www.disclose.tv/forum/constitutional-thunderdome-t70128.html wow!

    so i guess this is like a secret-handshake for these ATP guys and their allies. if you say “beyond the thunder dome” they know you’re for real. smart marketing move by Brown.

    for those of you who know the movie and are familiar with the character “master blaster”, Brown is probably the “master” and ATP is like “blaster”. or would it be vice versa? we should probably get this straightened out before the thunder dome starts spreading any further.