Political Gossip, Satire, and Analysis from MT's Capital City "...an uncanny knack for sharp insider information..."--AP "...amazingly accurate inside info..."--Politico.com "...a viral sensation..."--Markos Moulitsas, Daily Kos "Among the best state-based political blogs in the nation."--Washington Post
A small crowd of gun rights advocates came to the Capitol this weekend to protest Obama’s plans to crack down on gun violence in America.
And wouldn’t you know it, one of the speakers at the rally was Neil Livingstone, as you can see from this AP photo. The GOP gubernatorial candidate lost in the primary in 2012 when it was revealed that he had once authored an instructional book for world business travelers which included a chapter on how to solicit a prostitute. Protect Yourself in an Uncertain World: A Comprehensive Handbook for your Personal and Business Security is available for $4.98 at Amazon. Continue reading →
The Montana Republican Party is always ranting about the supposed fraud they claim is being perpetrated in Montana elections. The unfounded belief that our elections are being stolen by fraudulent voters is now an essential piece of right-wing orthodoxy–even though these folks are never able to produce any evidence to back up their claims.
According to one attendee of the recent GOP state convention, those looking for evidence of election shenanigans need search no more.
That person has posted a Youtube video that appears to be an audience member recording of the election process from the GOP State convention. S/he says the video is evidence of how insiders in the “Old Guard” GOP “manipulated” the party leadership election. The notes on the video say this was done to make sure delegates for Ron Paul were blocked from attending the National Republican Convention in Tampa, Florida.
You can take a look at the video here and draw your own conclusions:
TEA Partiers huddle at a GOP event, perhaps to discuss how glad they are that women aren’t present. Pictured are Eric Olsen (left), Rep. Krayton Kerns (center) and Congressman Dennis Rehberg (right)
A new conspiracy is afoot in the Big Sky, according to a TEA Party Republican state legislator.
TEA Party Republican Rep. Krayton Kerns (R-Laurel) has written on his website that returning bison to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation is part of a communist plot to “crush the Republic” and drive gas prices to $25/gallon. In case you’re one of the few people who doesn’t immediately grasp the obvious connection between bison and $25 gas, Kerns kindly explains how the plot will go down.
First, Walt Disney’s cartoon “Bambi” brainwashed the masses to the extent that “state sponsored worship of the earth and creation surpassed worship of our Creator.”
Returning wild bison to the Fort Peck reservation:
“is the second of a four step process to crush the republic and bring our populace into perfect dependence on big government—just as Karl Marx dreamed”
The third step in the Marxist plot, says Kerns, is that “bison will overpopulate” and soon “thousands” will be “ravaging” the area.
Finally, Kerns rationally concludes,
“The world’s economy will grind to a halt due to instability in the Middle East driving the price of gasoline over $25 per gallon.”
Rep. Kerns is outraged that wild, genetically pure bison have returned to tribal lands on the Great Plains. The move reunites American Indians with the iconic species that has been a fundamental part of their culture and the prairie ecosystem. I’m not sure how Kerns would explain the fact that gas prices have actually gone down since the bison were returned to Fort Peck.
Sounding the alarm about this conspiracy will no doubt be a key component of the TEA Party’s message this fall. How anyone could believe this stuff is a puzzle, but what the TEA Party lacks in intelligence, they more than make up in rage. When a TEA Party candidate arrives at your door this fall to share their anger over this latest conspiracy, do not panic. Simply hold up a book, which should make any tea baggers desirous of leaving your immediate vicinity. (It works like a crucifix on vampires.)
Rep. Kerns is the same TEA Party Republican that compared Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke to a rutting bulldog. Sandra Fluke is the woman Rush Limbaugh called a slut for asking that since Viagra is covered by insurance, so should birth control.
Congressman Dennis Rehberg. Rehberg, for proclaiming that campaign spending must be disclosed, while failing to disclose your own campaign spending, you’re this week’s obvious hypocrite.
While defending Citizens United in the Lee papers, Rehberg said that rather than overturning the ruling, “the correct response is strong laws requiring those who spend money on elections to report their spending.”
“I believe that every single dime ought to be accounted for,” Rehberg said during a June 16 debate in Big Sky, Mont. “It ought to be disclosed from dollar one, within 24 hours on the Internet.”
I guess when Rehberg says “disclosed,” he’s talking about his own ability as someone who matters to make sure he gets information about who is donating to his opponents. When the Congressman wants to hide his backers, disclosure doesn’t apply. Just last month, after Rehberg failed to file his last fundraising report on time, the Federal Elections Commisssion sent him this warning.
Earlier this year, Rehberg was caught hiding some $25,000 he took from lobbyists in 2011. As the Associated Press reported, “It turns out Rehberg has been taking donations from some lobbyists without disclosing their place of employment.” Probably his dog ate the list of corporate lobbyists so they could not be reported.
Rehberg was endorsed by the organization Citizens United last fall. He’s benefitted from millions of dollars in secretive special interest money thanks to the controversial ruling.
We Democrats can be proud of our candidates. The Republicans, not so much. The man pictured here is Ronald Lassle, the sole Republican candidate for the Montana Legislature in Helena’s House District 81.
An article on this race in the Helena IR mentioned that the TEA Party Republican candidate is a recipient of government assistance–but not that the GOPer is a convicted felon. The TEA Party opposes government assistance but has not taken a position against felons in office. The Montana GOP’s position on the practice is unknown. However, Lassle said of his recruitment in the IR that:
“he was urged to file for the HD 81 seat and said, “I’m very much a Republican.”
Lassle was sentenced to ten years for forgery, theft, and bad checks, according to the Department of Corrections Correctional Offender Network Search. He is currently on parole. While some states have made it illegal for a person to run for office as a felon, the practice appears to be legal in Montana. Lassle had been running in the GOP primary for Governor but later switched to running for the legislative seat. Perhaps he noticed that there were already several candidates in that race to appeal to the GOP’s seamier side.
Lassle will face Rep. Galen Hollenbaugh-D, who currently holds the seat. Lassle’s former gubernatorial running mate Mark Diaz is now running against Democratic Rep. Chuck Hunter for Helena’s House District 79. Oddly, Diaz lists Godisforus.ning.com as his candidate website.
This weekend, letters to the editor appeared in Sunday dailies across Montana decrying the focus of Montana TEA Party Republicans in the legislature on frivolous, anti-worker, unnecessary and hypocritical bills instead of jobs.
The governor proposes a balanced budget; Republicans counter with $497 million in cuts, but then increase their own per diem expenses. They vehemently oppose health care reform, but then enhance their own personal health insurance benefits. They propose business tax reductions, but underfund education, thereby increasing college tuition and forcing us to raise taxes through local school mill levies.
In its rhetoric, the Republican Party claims to be the party of small government. The reality — at least as reflected in bills proposed in the Montana Legislature this session — suggests something else. Among the Republican proposals are several bills that intrude on privacy rights and individual liberties, including ones to require unnecessary medical tests (ultrasounds before abortions) and mandatory counseling (for couples seeking divorce). Other Republican-sponsored bills seek to take local control away from municipalities (overturning Missoula’s nondiscrimination ordinance) and from school districts.
Americans for Prosperity and its hyped populist Tea Party, was started by the oil industry billionaire Koch Brothers of Koch industries, along with Rupert Murdoch who owns FOX News, and other lesser multimillionaires according to www.SourceWatch.org. Using such secretive front groups as AFP, these extreme right wing elites are engaged in a well-planned strategy to destroy unions, the presidency and the environment.
More evidence of the Montana GOP’s lack of brain trust can be viewed here. See how Montana State Senator Bruce Tutvedt (R-Kalispell), who is depicted behind the speaker in the upper right hand side of this video, behaves on the floor of the Montana Senate.
