big sky democrats

For over two years, the Big Sky Democrats group of young professionals in Montana has walked across the state organizing our signature Late Night Events. Helena, Butte, Missoula, Kalispell, Lewistown, Billings, Great Falls - if only we could get out to Glendive!

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The controversial right-wing talk show host David Berg is well known in Montana for spewing anti-progressive, conservative rhetoric. We have come to expect ridiculous views, inaccurate statistic generation, and flat-out lies from the Northern Ag Network morning show host.

This time, however, he's gone too far.

Last Thursday, January 25, Dave Berg attempted to twist Governor Brian Schweitzer's State of the State address into something he could criticize. We're fine with that, as we believe in an individual's freedom to talk out loud about issues with which they disagree. (We're also fine with that because we find it difficult to believe that anyone who listens to both the State of the State Address and Dave Berg will have no problem figuring out which one is the delusional misanthrope.)

Our fine Governor, Brian Schweitzer, hit one over the fence again with his national radio address, which took President Bush to task over the war in Iraq and the administration’s misguided approach to energy policy. Brian makes us all very proud of be Democrats in Montana. Click here to read the text of his radio address. Click here to listen to it.

Legislation sponsored by Senator Max Baucus that will protect Montana’s wild Rocky Mountain Front from oil and gas development – forever – has just passed Congress. The threat from energy development has been removed – for good!

Senator Baucus’ legislation will prevent all future oil and gas leases on public lands on “the Front.” The ban on new leases will also allow a coalition of non-profit groups to purchase existing leases and permanently retire them, without fear the federal government could reissue the leases in the future.

 Here’s to Kendall Van Dyk, a founding member of the BSDs, for winning solidly his race for House District 49 in Billings. The Big Sky Dems pegged Kendall’s race as our top priority in this election. He ran one hellava campaign. Congrats, Kendall. Well done.

Stand and be Counted.

I am the daughter of a third-generation Montana wheat farmer.

I was raised to leave the gate open when our neighbor had a bad year, because our bad year may be next year, and they'll help us then.  I was taught to not to trade with local businesses who cheated customers and treated their employees poorly.  I learned by my parents' example not to judge - or even care about - what church my neighbor attended, who they chose to marry or live with, or what happened when they pulled their curtains at night.

If you haven't voted yet get thee to the polls. If you have voted, get your friends to the polls.  We need everyone to get out to vote. If you have questions about where you vote you can visit Jon Tester's website.  Here's details from Tester's website on voting and volunteering on Election Day. 

 Remember your vote counts, stand up and be counted today!

I will hit 'post' right about midnight, after a day of phonebanking and organizing for Montana Democrats, Tester, and Lindeen that began at 10 a.m. I took an hour to have lunch with my sister, husband, brother in law, and nieces, and an hour and a half to take a dozen staffers to dinner. Compared to many others in the state, that was a slacker day.

I have read posts today from here in Montana and across the country postulating upon the trend in polls, the timing of Saddam's verdict, the military's call for Rumsfeld's resignation, and how the giant wave in America will fly Blue this election cycle. That's all super reading, and a valid academic pursuit, for those so inclined, but none of those things will win this race for Jon Tester on Tuesday.

Looks like Conrad Burns and his beltway boys lived on free sushi provided by convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff at his restaurant in DC. In exchange Abramoff had "explicit control over Mr. Burns." Hear all the gory, sushi-related details over at MSNBC.