As stated in a previous post, Melinda Gopher is sure to be the most outspoken critic of her competition for the Democratic Party’s nomination. And it already looks like things are shaping up that way. From Gopher’s Facebook page:
The post Gopher is referencing is a pretty heavy-handed attack on Kim Gillan, but there is absolutely no mention of Gopher in the post. In fact, the post goes on to praise Franke Wilmer and, in particular, Dave Strohmaier.
Dave Strohmaier, for his part, has done quite well, picking up a number of endorsements. Strohmaier’s also been hard working and well received around the state. At this weekend forum he got glowing reviews. His answer to the Keystone XL question called for more thorough economic and environmental studies – and he questioned the moving target on the number of long-term jobs it would create.
Franke Wilmer is a strong candidate, having served 3 legislative sessions in the House, representing moderate Bozeman. She’s a scrapper, too – just read her biography).
When I wrote “I’m sure Kim Gillan’s camp is excited to see Gopher get in the race because it only further fractures the left-wing of the party, making her nomination all the more likely,” this is exactly what I meant. Gopher attacks Gillan while bringing positive attention to two other candidates who share her possible base of voters, inevitably dividing that block of voters while leaving Kim’s base untouched.
While I’m just a humble classroom teacher and not a campaign strategist, I feel confident saying that posting this photograph might not have been the best public relations strategy for whatever office Brad Johnson is planning to lose the race for this year.
In case you can’t read it, the caption reads Successful DC fundraiser for Brad Johnson candidate for Montana Secretary of State.
I’m not sure that chasing Washington cash for a state job or highlighting the fact that only two people showed up makes the case that Mr. Johnson has overcome his recent electoral difficulties as effectively as he might hope.
Surely a candidate for PSC Commissioner of Political Practices Secretary of State can do a bit better.
Not only is Representative Rehberg championing the right of corporations to pollute Montana politics, he’s benefiting financially from those who were responsible for the Supreme Court decision to allow limitless, secret corporate contributions to campaigns:
In a news release, Tester’s campaign will point out that Rehberg accepted a $10,000 donation from the conservative group Citizens United, the plaintiff in the controversial Supreme Court decision, on Sept. 21. Tester believes that decision “undermines democracy” and supports overturning it through a constitutional amendment.
For 100 years, Montana has protected its political process from the pernicious influence of corporations. We saw firsthand the dangers corporate control of politics as people like William Clark bought their way into the US Senate, using corporate wealth to fuel his rise to power.
A century later, Montana has a candidate for the Senate who is not only advocating an ahistorical “right” for corporations to access the Bill of Rights and undermine Montana law, but taking money from the very corporate interests responsible for this absurd Supreme Court decision.
Representative Rehberg was wrong. Montanans have been right on this issue for 100 years.
Rehberg certainly hasn’t been shy about promoting constitutional amendments for frivolous, political causes. Surely he should support one, like Jon Tester and Max Baucus do, that would actually protect the integrity of our political process.
There is a growing debate in Montana and it revolves completely around “development.” With something like 70% of Montanans being “pro-development,” strick, no-development-anywhere conservationists have a lot of minds to change. But this post isn’t about that. This post is about a very interesting project a man named Tony Bynum has begun. From the Great Fralls Tribune:
Tony Bynum of East Glacier has photographed grizzly bears, elk and Glacier National Park.
Oil drilling rigs are the focus of his latest work.
Mr. Bynum plans on spending the next ten years documenting, through photography, the oil development on the Blackfeet Reservation. Bynum wants “to show the changes development brings to the plains-meets-mountains landscape.”
Bynum’s original project was going to be focused on the development of a wind farm.
You can check out the work he has already done on this project by visiting his website.
Senator Tester and Senator Baucus are standing up for Montana’s law and the relatively obvious idea that free speech rights attach to people, not multinational corporations, reports KXLH’s Marnee Banks.
Representative Rehberg, on the other hand, likes the idea of massive corporate polluting the electoral process:
Congressman Denny Rehberg won’t support the amendment. He says a healthy democracy is made up of many voices.
“I don’t think we should deny people their Constitutional right to free speech just because they’re part of a corporation instead of a different form of organization like a non-profit, a campaign or a union,” Rehberg says.
It’s probably not too difficult to understand why Rehberg feels this way, give the reciprocal love he enjoys with corporations of all kinds.
In another note, Rehberg claimed that he believed that “all campaign contributions should be posted online within 24 hours.”
Well, then, Mr. Rehberg, why don’t you do it? It seems that a man who believes in transparency and immediate disclosure of campaign contributions should the lead and start doing it.
Wow! Melinda Gopher, who recently entered the race for congress, is going after her competition in the Democratic primary:
Gopher tends to spend a lot of her time attacking other members of her own party instead of a GOP that is focused on tearing down every institution and ideal Democrats hold dear. In fact, she often equates the two parties as the same (maybe she should run as an Independent?).
I have a feeling this won’t be the last we see from Gopher when it comes to attacking her competition and maybe that’s fine. And to be sure, Gopher is not the first candidate in the race to take a swipe at her competition (Franke’s campaign has taken subtle swipes at Kim Gillan when it comes to choice) – Gopher is simply going to be the most direct in her criticisms and attacks.
