big sky democrats

10. "Well, you won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore?" – RICHARD NIXON

9. "It's time to stop bashing Geraldo." – GERALDO

8. "If you had to leave your children with Bob Dole or Bill Clinton, I think you'd probably leave them with Bob Dole." – BOB DOLE

7. "Rickey don't like it when Rickey can't find Rickey's limo." – RICKEY HENDERSON

6. "Bernard Loiseau is a spokesman for French cuisine." – (French Chef) BERNARD LOISEAU

5. "Hulk will smash like he smashed puny stick-men!" – THE HULK

If you post your thoughts or observations on Montana blogs, then dig this: Rep. Dennis Rehberg is reading.

In a wide-ranging interview with the AP, Rehberg defends Sen. Conrad Burns in his fight to shed the Abramoff scandal, tries to put to bed rumors he was considering running for Burns’ seat or against Burns himself or even against Baucus in 08, and, perhaps most importantly, refers to himself in the third person as if he were “The Rock” or some other egomaniac: more

National Public Radio's Morning Edition ran a feature this morning on our Junior Senator and his questionable decisions regarding Casino Jack Abramoff's clients.

John Ydstie does a great job of laying out the history of Jack Abramoff's client, the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Minnesota's quest for a $3 million dollar gift.

Everyone knows Burns is going to be facing some serious competition this year for his re-election bid.

As heard on Hotline today in their story titled
"MONTANA: No Last-Minute Surprises, Except For The Blue Guy":

"A total of 10 candidates had filed by day's end," a number "so unwieldy that it prompted Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) to wander down the hall," hollering: "Is it too late to file for U.S. Senate?"

Schweitzer, referring to State Senate Min. Leader Bob Keenan (R) filing from Costa Rica: "Is there any statute that limits the number of candidates for U.S. Senate? I probably would have filed for the U.S. Senate race, but I couldn't get to a tropical beach fast enough to mail it in."

The Smoking Gun has it - apparently our Vice President is too important to turn on his own damn television...chriminy.

Whaa...?

The Secretary of State's listing of non-legislative candidates has two candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.

And they're both Democrats.

Check out the Kalispell Daily Interlake story on Bob Keenan. This is awesome. At the beginning of the story he says he’s not going to attack Burns, then, a few paragraphs later, wham: “If people are happy with the situation in Washington, D.C., then I urge them to vote for Conrad Burns, because he is eminently qualified to give you more of the same,” Keenan said.

I think most Democrats join me in thanking Bob Keenan for jumping in this race. Not only does it mix things up for Burns, but it’s clearly going to provide an endless stream of banter on sites like this one as well.

Living in Montana, immigration isn't an issue that hits the front burner issue very much. In fact, about the only immigration discussion I remember hearing in the news recently was Conrad Burns flip-flopping on a Marianas islands immigration bill after pocketing Abramoff cash.

But its a big issue, and its one that we'll hear about as it comes up in Congress. Its also a really complicated issue that is full of cross pressures. I thought it might be interesting having a policy discussion on it.

New study proves what we've known all along. Whiny, insecure children who think everyone's out to get them grow up to be conservatives.

and on the flip side...

The confident kids turned out liberal and were still hanging loose, turning into bright, non-conforming adults with wide interests. The girls were still outgoing, but the young men tended to turn a little introspective.

Intelligent Discontent has the story, but one needs only to read Jason "fairly close to assault" Klindt's comment on the Keenan/Burns primary to figure out how this one's going to play out.

From yesterday's IR:

"Conrad Burns has voted to lower taxes; Bob Keenan has a record of voting to increase your taxes. He will need to explain to Montanans why he thinks the government needs more of their money."