Tagged: DUI

Posted: September 23, 2012 at 7:43 pm

Sign of the Times

It seems that Brad Johnson has not abandoned his campaign for secretary of state after all. Well, not entirely anyway. A Brad Johnson yard sign appeared this week.

But there’s one small problem.

The sign reads “re-elect Johnson for Secretary of State.” Johnson is not the secretary of state, Linda McCulloch is.

Montanans voted Johnson out of office four years ago after having had enough of his bad ideas. Learning that he has battled alcoholism for many years, has had a few DUIs, and has been in and out of rehab recently didn’t help. (In 2008, he even campaigned from a rehab facility toward the end of the race). Notably, in the article reporting on his announcement for office, Johnson was unable to state a single reason why the current SOS, Linda McCulloch, should be replaced. So his candidacy is not very credible.

To be sure, Johnson may not be intentionally trying to deceive the voters. Rather, it may just be that since he has failed to raise campaign funds, hosing the cobwebs off the signs from his failed 2008 campaign was all he could muster. Not a good sign he’ll be holding elected office anytime soon.

Posted: December 21, 2011 at 7:26 pm

“Knee-Walking Drunk” Endorses Open Container Guy

Bitterroot state senator Jim Shockley’s citation earlier this year for drinking canned red beer while driving inspired the Republican to step down from his position. (He chaired the legislative committee drafting tougher DUI laws.) But, it didn’t stop him from accepting the endorsement of former Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), whose infamous “I’m ready to go get knee-walking drunk!” foot-in-mouth syndrome led to his Senate demise.

Shockley announced the endorsement on his campaign website.

Perhaps this will become a kind of theme, a stream of endorsements by drinking advocates. Maybe those involved in the infamous and tragic Shane Hedges DUI accident and death of the House Majority Leader (in which Judy Martz barely escaped a prosecution for evidence tampering) will chime in. Rs have kept a steady pace since then so there are lots of endorsement opportunities for the campaign.

A review:

Of course, there is Alan Hale, Shockley’s colleague in the state house who is campaigning in favor of drinking and driving.

Brad Johnson, the former Secretary of State, got pulled over for a DUI and went subsequently to treatment, though it didn’t seem to faze him: from a rehab center, he actively continued campaigning in his PSC race and is now running again for Secretary of State, a position voters ousted him from in 2008.

Greg Barkus got a few DUIs on the road over the last decade; Scott Boggio, a GOP legislator from Red Lodge, ran up on a curb while driving around with another repub, Elsie Arntzen, and got pulled over, and turned out to be massively drunk, though of course Arntzen, a DUI Task Force member, expressed the usual right-wing-passenger-shock, and said she “had no idea” driver Boggio was impaired.

And of course then Barkus went for the hat-trick, a third DUI, this time in style by running a boat up into the rocky shore of Flathead Lake, causing injuries all around, with passenger Rehberg, drunk himself, taking a page out of Arntzen’s script and saying he was shocked to hear that the driver was impaired.

Then there was recently Brad Molnar, who mowed his car into that of some hapless girl just last year, and fled the scene and was placed under a restraining order from any contact with the victim.

Drinking, Driving, Boating, Hit and Runs. What is most important is that Republicans will often fight publicly for stiffer sentencing for criminals, and against the evil smoking of marijuana, and in favor of “values”.

Posted: December 19, 2011 at 8:36 pm

TEA Party Legislator Defends DUI Rant that Made Him a National Laughing Stock

The Montana TEA Party Republican lawmaker who took to the floor of the House of Representatives to express his opposition to “all DUI laws” on the grounds that they are destroying the state’s time-honored “way of life” took to the internet this week with an attempt defend the speech that made him a national laughing stock:

Here’s the screenshot:

Rep. Alan Hale (R-Basin) writes:

Ron Paul is absolutely right about the seriousness of our oath of office. The majority of State and local pollitical[sic] figures right here in Montana have a problem with that oath. One example is the DUI laws, stop and read our fifth amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Plainly you cannot be compelled to testify against ones self[sic]. Each time I voted in the house I voted to protect our rights and libertys[sic], no matter how popular it was. So all of us needs[sic]to look at ways to stop irresponsable[sic] behavior without endangering our Constitutional Rights.

It is pretty pathetic that Hale would try to sound the Constitution alarm to take a stand defending drunks who don’t care enough about human life to walk home, take a cab, call a friend, or designate a driver. You have to be a real scumbag to fail to do any of those things considering the harm you could cause.

Posted: December 5, 2011 at 12:07 pm

Phillips County: A 2012 Judicial Race to Watch

On an empty stomach, have a shot of whiskey. Then have another. Then have about a half dozen more shots, until your blood alcohol is over twice the legal limit. Then, go drive a boat at high speed in pitch dark, crash it, gravely wound several people (including a congressman), and put one in a coma. Throw in a prior history that includes reckless driving, a prior DUI, and an incident in which you once refused to take a breathalyzer test when pulled over.

If you are lucky enough to have your trial take place in Malta, Montana, then you apparently won’t need to worry about having to serve any jail time. Because the district judge in that county (Phillips County), a slob named John McKeon, let GOP state senator Greg Barkus off the hook with not a single day of jail-time for engaging in the above-described behavior.

I received word today, from an astute tipster, that Judge McKeon is up for re-election in 2012, having served a six year term. Let’s see whether Malta voters believe in the rule of law.

Posted: November 26, 2011 at 8:22 am

Brad Johnson Letter Compares Johnson’s DUI with Burns’ Stroke

Former Montana Senator Conrad Burns says he and Secretary of State candidate Brad Johnson are a lot alike.

Burns writes, in an endorsement letter to Republicans recently:

Brad and I have faced some challenges in our recent lives and I am pleased and proud to say we are both doing well. Anyone who has been thrown off a horse knows you got to get up, dust yourself off, and get back on.

The letter can be viewed here and here. What is he talking about? Did Conrad Burns get a DUI and spend a stint in rehab? Did Brad Johnson have a stroke? No, the letter is an attempt to conflate the two as basically the same thing–hard times.

Problem with that is, getting DUI means you chose to make yourself a danger to others. No one decides to have a stroke. Burns was the victim of the stroke, Johnson, the perpetrator.

Recall that Brad Johnson’s blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit as he drove down the wrong side of the highway from Bozeman to Helena. The voters declined to give him a second term.

Would Burns have written the same letter if Johnson had killed or maimed someone? It’s a fair question for the self-proclaimed “party of life.”

Posted: October 16, 2011 at 5:34 am

A Busy Day for the GOP

Two surprise candidates jumped into statewide races on Thursday.

First was Jim Lynch, a former Schweitzer administration member who resigned recently under a cloud after it was revealed that he had given his own daughter a job. Lynch will be running as a Republican for governor.

Lynch has run for office before, as a democratic candidate for senate in the Flathead. Whether a Schweitzer man and former Democrat has any hope at all in a GOP primary is an interesting question. With a field of nine yahoos, anything is possible. Perhaps Lynch is banking on a small faction of moderates to pulling him across the finish line, while the rest of field splits up the Tea Party vote.

Also announcing a bid for secretary of State was Brad Johnson, former Secretary of State who as battled alcoholism for many years, has had a few DUIs, and has been in and out of rehab recently (in 2008, he even campaigned from a rehab facility toward the end of the race). Notably, in the article reporting on his announcement for office, he was unable to state a single reason why the current SOS, Linda McCulloch, should be replaced. Not a good start. He also says that he currently works as a “consultant”, although it is unclear who, if anyone, is paying him for his consultations.

And he said that he is now “comfortable in a sober life.” If so, then he probably shouldn’t be running as a Republican.

Posted: July 26, 2011 at 6:02 pm

Finally, It All Makes Sense

Millionaire Congressman Dennis Rehberg has been voting to kill Medicare and Social Security in Washington DC because he’s taking advice from Republicans in the Montana Legislature.

You remember them – the “leaders” who responded to Montana’s economic challenges with theatrics like the spear hunting bill? They just wrote a letter to Congressman Rehberg pushing him to follow their economic policies.

Congressman Rehberg–who has voted to increase the debt ceiling nine times (yes, NINE TIMES) —is more than willing to listen to extremists who had more success embarrassing Montana than actually creating jobs.

Here’s more of what Congressman Rehberg’s council of economic advisors in the state legislature have in store for Montana:

The Gold Standard – Congressman Rehberg can expect to get a letter asking him to replace US dollars with gold any day now. Rep. Bob Wagner (of CNN fame) introduced a bill that could force Montanans to pay their rent with gold.

Cracking Down on DUI Laws – Rep. Alan Hale told Montanans that DUI laws “are not doing small businesses in our state any good.” Congressman Rehberg has had his own brush with drinking-related accidents, so he might be willing to listen if Rep. Hale asked for help in “reigning in” DUI laws.

Tax Breaks for Millionaires – Legislative Republicans voted to protect tax breaks for millionaires, while gutting education and health care for Montanans. Congressman Rehberg has already thought of this one, but as a millionaire, he wouldn’t need much prodding to vote himself another tax cut.

Raising Tuition for College Students – Just like Congressman Rehberg—who thinks Pell Grants are ‘welfare’—Republicans in the state legislature voted to raise tuition on college students.

Posted: June 20, 2011 at 8:01 am

Another Republican With An Alcohol Problem

This time it’s Idaho state Senator John McGee—state senate GOP Caucus chairman, and a past “Republican Legislator of the Year.”

According to the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, McGee started the eventful night Saturday drinking in a golf course clubhouse. McGee left the clubhouse and began walking before coming to a Ford Excursion with a trailer hooked up. The SUV was unlocked with the keys inside. McGee got inside and drove away. At some point, McGee tried turning the vehicle and trailer around in a driveway near Overland and Victory in Boise. McGee was unsuccessful at turning around and the Excursion and trailer jack-knifed. McGee then exited the vehicle and walked back and forth a few times before climbing back in and going to sleep. Two witnesses in a nearby house were watching all of the events transpire and called police. When police arrived McGee told authorities he was on his way to Jackpot.

Here in Montana, we know that aspirations for leadership and higher office don’t prevent Republicans from getting behind the wheel of a car with a drink in hand. While state Sen. Jim Shockley’s citation earlier this year for drinking canned red beer while driving inspired the Republican to step down from his position chairing the legislative committee drafting tougher DUI laws, it’s not going to stop him from painfully going forward with his campaign for Montana Attorney General – though we predict he’ll shift focus to on cracking down on (legal) medical marijuana, since his “tough on DUI dreams” are dead at his own hands.