Why I think Sen. Obama should consider Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana for V.P.

[Douglas Carpenter]

I'm for Brian Schweitzer - at least as my personal first choice.

The Democratic Party's weakest points is in a general election is in small towns, rural areas and mid size cities. In the state by state counting that Obama would need in order to win a general election this would play out very differently than exclusive Democratic Party caucuses and primaries in places like Wyoming or North Carolina. Sen. Obama does need to broaden his appeal in the West, the South and border-states and making a respectable showing in small towns, rural areas and mid size cities to insure victory. Governor Brian Schweitzer won even solid Republican Montana by almost 70% of the vote last time he ran. From my point of view, the V.P. candidate needs to be a populist Southerner or Westerner or border stater who would have appeal in small towns, rural areas and mid size cities.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/countymap.htm

Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana is a populist rancher from an old Montana family who is generally populist and progressive on most issues - except gun control where he is strongly supported by the NRA. That speaks for his region. And frankly that would remove a huge electoral liability in the South, the West and in rural and small town America. However he is a strong environmentalist and was vehement vocal opponent of the Iraq War even calling for withdrawing the Montana National Guard from Iraq. Oh yes, he is a practicing Roman Catholic.

--- And get this he lived and worked in Riyahd for seven years and speaks perfect fluent Arabic. Just imagine what it would do for the world and for the interest of peace in the Middle East if the President of the United States had the name Barak Hussein Obama and the Vice President spoke perfect fluent Arabic!

And take a look at the image that he portrays that helped him sweep Republican Montana with 70% of the vote -- would this sell in small town American and among the white working class in the West and the South and border states?





From the actblue website: "Brian Schweitzer is a different brand of politician who has earned our support based on his willingness to speak truth, and let the chips fall where they may.

A businessman first, he understands Main Street issues at his core, fighting for lower taxes, better health care and education, and the creation good-paying jobs.
A soil scientist by education, Brian lived in Saudi Arabia for seven years, speaks Arabic, and created the largest dairy farm in the Middle East.

As Governor, he has become the nation’s strongest voice for sensible energy policies in an effort to reduce our dependence on foreign oil while protecting the environment from the dangers of global warming.
Brian understands that energy security will create new jobs and technology for export, expanding our tax-base, reducing our trade deficit, and saving our
environment.

An opponent of the Iraq invasion from the start, he further understands that you can’t win a war when you’re funding both sides of it."

[anonymous171]

1. The question is: Could he survive the vetting process? And would he even accept?

[Douglas Carpenter]

3. that I don't know. I doubt there is any scandal on his part. He's a REAL boy scout

Although, he is running for reelection this year. And in that almost all expert opinion agrees that Sen. Obama will likely win, he might be interested.

[havocmom]

61. Well, he DID try to get lots of elders across the border to get RX at affordable prices...

And he IS standing up to DHS on Real ID like th voters of MT want him too.... He's an outlaw, alright! :D

[XemaSab]

2. The more I see of him the more I like him

:patriot:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I've heard of this guy, and he looks good...

I hope that Obama is considering him...

[napi21]

5. I LOVE Brian, and I was rooting for him to run for Prez, but every time

someone asks him about either job, he says "I've got the best job in the World, why would I ever want to leave?" Then a week or so ago, he said "My dog says he hates the smell of Washington! I doubt he would consider it!

[anonymous171]

6. That's the problem. I don't think he would accept.

Dammit.

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. as I heard somene say about the V.P. nomination, "Everyone says they don't want it and nobody seems

to turn it down."

Being that the Democrats will most likely win the White House this year (if we are to believe the consensus of expert opinion) - he might just find it appealing.

[napi21]

16. If you've ever listened to Brian, you know he's different than most politicians.

I'm sure there are transcripts on the net of his different interviews. I remember seeing one a while back where he was taking the reporter on a tour of his ranch, introducing his dog, and explaining how his dog goes to work with him every day and everywhere else! He's really the real deal, and I don't think he's swayed by power! It sure never sounds like he is.

[Douglas Carpenter]

18. I take your point. That just makes him a more perfect candidate if he will accept it.

[Douglas Carpenter]

22. one kikc for the morning shift

[MercutioATC]

25. True, but he openly states that he wants to help change the world.

If he's reluctant to take the VP spot, it could be sold as an incredible chance to do just that.

[havocmom]

62. He is SERIOUSLY driven to see America become energy independent

And he is a 'why not' sorta guy instead of a 'won't work' stick in the mud for the status quo on matters relating to energy.

He looks to find win/win solutions.

Sorta a bubba Gore feller. ;)

[Stephanie]

23. He would accept. He was here in NYC a few years ago gauging support.

He would accept in a heartbeat. He's very well aware that the sky's the limit for him.

[anonymous171]

26. Really? That's great then.

:woohoo:

[Douglas Carpenter]

47. that IS good news to hear

[havocmom]

64. If Steph says so, believe it, boys and girls!

:woohoo: Thanks for that, Stephanie! I was not real sure if he was interested, but hoped he was. Much as I would hate for Montana to loose him just yet, I realize the nation is in deep trouble and he is the sort of outside the box thinker who could get things going in better directions at a national level

The nation needs leaders like Brian. He is the real deal.

[mrgorth]

92. Same here

I think he would be perfect.

[tokenlib]

7. Good post for raising awareness here on DU...

Schweitzer would be an unconventional pick. But picking a governor would be smart, and he does have international business experience. Not that Barack would ever go hunting (especially with his cousin)--but if he had Schweitzer, he wouldn't have to go shopping for a Carhardt for a photo op. The ticket would be really balanced by two opposite types--the constitutional lawyer-community organizer and the rancher-sportsman--businessman.

It's kind of crazy--almost too good to be true...

[XemaSab]

15. The city mouse and the country mouse

The man has a degree in soils, and I can't argue with that. :P

[havocmom]

65. Made food grow in the desert

and wants independence from oil imports.

[Honeycombe8]

8. I like the NRA part. As a gun owner, I don't have a huge problem w/the NRA.

I DO favor some forms of gun control, but believe in the right of the individual to bear arms. It would help to have a tough guy on the ticket. Oh, my...did I just make a sexist remark? Hard to know what opinion a person can give anymore!

[anonymous171]

11. Obama believes in a personal right to bear arms, but his record is spotty on the issue

Having a strongly pro-gun governor on the ticket could help assuage gun owners doubts about Obama.

[saltpoint]

9. It's just no wonder he was elected with such wide support.

His appeal is obvious, bordering on tremendous.

i don't know if he wants the job. But if he's the choice in Denver for the veep slot, I'd be real pleased.

[EFerrari]

12. I LOVE Brian and I hope he doesn't go into the shark tank. n/t

[gateley]

13. In addition to the fine points you make,

he's very personable -- would come across great in a debate with the Rep VP nom. People would LIKE him.

Besides his ability to speak Arabic, his living in Saudi Arabia for 7 years has given him an UNDERSTANDING of the culture. That is sorely needed.

He doesn't take any flak. He told Bushco to go to hell regarding National ID.

He's also dedicated to pursuing clean energy via clean coal (MT has LOTS of coal).

He's not one of the "old school" -- he represents the CHANGE and new way of going forward that is what Obama is all about.

The more I learn of him, the more I think he would be an optimal choice for VP. Strategically I can't think of anyone else who brings the same plusses he does.

[BlooInBloo]

17. Talk about foreign experience!

[anonymous171]

21. And it's the kind of experience everyone--even repugs--value.

Not just edumication, but actual living experience.

[Muttocracy]

20. very interesting! thanks for that info! nt

[havocmom]

66. He advocates more use of clean coal technology as a bridge to other choices

Wants coal to liquid fuel while we work on other methods AND is getting a LOT of wind turbines going up in our state.

I just LOVE seeing trucks with those huge windmill blades goin by. Love seeing more and more little clusters of them standing up and making wind into power. Went by a Hudderite colony as the men were proudly watching their windmills and making plans for the irrigation they can add to their fields with that locally harvested power to run pumps.

When you live in a state this big with so many remote areas, power lines are expensive to install and maintain with such harsh weather. Encouraging communities to create their own power, Schweitzer is assuring better futures for them, free of corporate whims and crushing cost increases.

[CitizenLeft]

14. okay.

I'm SOLD! :hi:

[Douglas Carpenter]

19. may I be so bold as to ask for more kicks and recommends...I think this is just too good!

[MercutioATC]

24. He's fantastic. Only two issues...

1) His stance on same-sex marriage isn't as strong as I'd like to see.

2) I'd like to see him talk about other "alternative energy" sources than clean coal, biodeisel and nukes.

I don't personally know enough about carbon sequestering to judge his position on clean coal.


That said, I think he'd complement Obama very well. Hell, we might even pick up some Ron Paul supporters with him on the ticket.

[anonymous171]

27. My conservative friend loves the guy.

Swears that if Obama picks Schweitzer, he will vote for him.

[Douglas Carpenter]

28. I expect he will pick up the votes of a lot of people who are "natural Democrats", but they feel

culturally isolated from the Democratic Party.

If one talks with small town Americans, one discovers that most are not particularly right-wing, but many do think of the Democratic Party as a bunch of latte drinking city slickers who look down on them. But issue by issue many if not most actually hold pretty progressive ideas about most things.

[BlooInBloo]

29. Regarding your 1) : True, but the issue is basically a fait accompli with this development...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/nyregion/29marriage.html

Gov. David A. Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada.

In a directive issued on May 14, the governor’s legal counsel, David Nocenti, instructed the agencies that gay couples married elsewhere “should be afforded the same recognition as any other legally performed union.”

The revisions are most likely to involve as many as 1,300 statutes and regulations in New York governing everything from joint filing of income tax returns to transferring fishing licenses between spouses.

In any case, we're gonna have to work on Obama himself to get him to come around better on that, too.

[Hippo_Tron]

42. Al Gore was a dinosaur on gay rights and abortion when he was in the Senate

His stances on social issues were far more liberal by the time he was running for President in 2000. That's partly why he couldn't carry Tennessee.

The honest truth is that most of these politicians don't really have any problem with same-sex marriage. Unfortunately some of them have to get elected by people that do have a problem with it, though.

And as far as environmental issues, goes, again it's a state thing. He's Governor of a state that sits on tons of coal and so naturally he's going to advocate for clean coal research. But if he's running for Vice President he will be trying to get the votes of the entire country, not just Montana and so his stance will likely change

[havocmom]

67. Look up thread at some of my replies. He is for coal for interim as we move to other methods

He knows it will take time to make real change and we have to maintain some of the present structure as we also make changes.

I live within view of a State Highway in a real remote part of Montana. I see LOTS of big ol windmill blades go by and see lots of clusters of them in operation in various areas. He is a BIG proponent of alternative energies. Coal is for the transition and because he is smart enough to know he has to get the folks here who work with it to be happy enough to back his other energy strategies.

He has progressive goals with pragmatic approaches to help NOW and to help get people behind the orderly shifts that need to take place.

[gateley]

30. Kickin' for the Night Owls. nt

[newmajority]

31. Well, since I just booted Wes Clark off my short list, there's room for Schweitzer

Even if he's not on the ticket this time, I suspect we will see more of him in the future.

[tokenlib]

33. I think a lot of us who have supported Clark are losing patience with...

..his dutiful soldiering on for Hillary. And as a result Clark is slipping on our lists, especially after stuff like his behavior on Abrams last night.

And honestly, I think Schweitzer offers more potential benefits to the ticket than Clark would.

[Bongo Prophet]

32. G=happy to K&R this. Brian is a good example of what western populism might look like.

He has been on my short list of "outside-the-box" VP picks, but I doubted he would want to leave Montana for DC. Might miss fresh air, space, horses...:)

But his take on environment really is geared for pragmatic folks outside the perceived core enviro demographic, and that could help spread some cultural shifts from which we could all benefit.

If not VP, then Sec of Interior?
Operating outside of DC, to shake up the big gov paradigm? hmm.

A very well considered post here.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bongo Prophet]

45. Ah, well played - I bow to your reasoned and thoughtful analysis.

Welcome (back?) to DU. Get those post counts up, dog.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. Works for me. nt

[reggie the dog]

36. damn I knew Illinois, my home state, sucked, but damn

outside of Cook County, only blue because of the city of Chicago (I grew up in Republican suburbs of Cook County) the state is blood red. Look at Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, as well as the lower Mississippi valley.; Far out.

[BlooInBloo]

38. Heh. IL is the only state I can think of that's like WA in just that way...

Chicagoland vs rest of the state, Seattle vs rest of the state.

Other states are either not as bad on average, or else have more than one population center to sway the votes toward reasonableness.

[reggie the dog]

37. way to go RI and MA!!!!! all blue...

[woolldog]

39. k-r

[monomach]

40. One problem with Brian Schweitzer as VP

The Vice Presidency is a good springboard. Can anyone see this guy winning the Presidency after Obama?

...Do we want him to? Don't we want someone a little more progressive to build on the foundation Obama lays?

[Hippo_Tron]

41. Schweitzer's pretty liberal on everything except gun control

Which is a different matter when you're Governor of a state that has no major cities and virtually no gun crime.

[benEzra]

83. Schweitzer's position on guns is no less "liberal" than that of the repubs at the Brady Campaign.

Historically, attempting to restrict gun ownership by noncriminals have been the domain of the Right, not the Left, and don't forget that it was the DLC (not liberals) that made new gun bans Priority One in the '90s, as a way to look "tough on crime" to right-leaning law-and-order types.

The Conservative Roots of U.S. Gun Control

Most states are more like Montana/New Hampshire than Massachusetts/California in their views on lawful gun ownership, FWIW. The number of states with California-style gun laws, you can count on one hand.

[Douglas Carpenter]

43. David Sirota was his campaign manager - Also the cordinator for Bernie Sanders

He actually tends to put the two in more or less the same category of progressives with a strong working class appeal and capable of winning in rural and traditionally Republican areas.

[Hippo_Tron]

44. Yup and we all know how much the DLC hates David Sirota

Also when Schweitzer was running for Senate in 2000 he stood up in front of a bunch of drug industry lobbyists at a DSCC fundraiser and trashed them for practicing legalized bribery.

Schweitzer is a bona-fide liberal who takes a few conservative stances to be politically viable in a state that is still red (although trending blue)

[havocmom]

68. Progressive? He is VERY progressive in energy, health care

He does not like America being dependent on the Sauds, he knows US policy would be better if we didn't have to consider and run everything by the Sauds.

He is a very pragmatic man who builds coalitions to get things done. He would be great.

Oh, and we have a medical marijuana law.... Progressive, practical, supports real health care reform and thinking outside the BIG PHARMA box. The people wanted the marijuana initive and the gov did not jump in to stop the movement.

When he ran for Senate in 2000, he chartered buses to take elderly people to Canada to save money on prescriptions. The feds made him stop, but he DID get people here discussing health care reform and better care for the elderly who are on limited budgets. He played it beautifully. Didn't see that blonde woman doing anything that clever when she was running for senator from New York ;)

[Douglas Carpenter]

46. If you agree with me that Gov.Schweitzer should be considered for V.P. Please recommend this thread

[gateley]

49. Go to

www.ohboyobama.com

It's like a grass roots think tank, and people vote on the ideas with which they agree. I don't know if Obama's campaign will pay any attention to it, but it would be a fantastic resource for him to find, in an easy to glance at format, what we the people want and are suggesting.

The VP noms are mostly listed in the Policy category.

Add Schweitzer and your reasons. I was going to do it but I tend to ramble and felt someone else (you!?!?!) could do a much better job of presenting him.

I also was trying to find where I could contact the webmasters to request a VP/Cabinet suggestion category, but don't see any link to that. Maybe you can figure it out.

I'd like to start a buzz there and elsewhere about Schweitzer. I really feel he's unique in what he brings to Obama's ticket, and we would reap rewards at the polls in November.

Let us me know if you post there, and I'll -- and we, I'm sure -- will recommend and add comments.

Thanks!!

[Douglas Carpenter]

50. thanks

[Douglas Carpenter]

71. I tried to sign up -- but there seems to be some problem with the page

[Upfront]

79. Agree

K&R He would be a great choice.

[tokenlib]

48. Kick for the morning..n/t

[Traction311]

51. You think he would deliver Montana to Obama?

Not sure, bud he might make it a toss-up state, forcing McLame to spend money and time there.

[Douglas Carpenter]

53. what him on the ticket would likely do is to make the West much more competitive

and make much of small town American and rural areas more competitive.

It could help alter the image of the Democratic party as only a bastion of Eastern and West Coast city slickers

[Skwmom]

76. He will have GREAT appeal in OH, PA, and WV.

[MercutioATC]

60. He does have one of the highest approval ratings in the country...

I'm thinking he could deliver Montana.

[Douglas Carpenter]

52. one more kikle

[Straight Shooter]

54. I would vote for Obama if Schweitzer were on the ticket.

I admire his ability to get down to brass tacks. Not much bullsh*tting from him.

I just like his style. And, I think he's hot. :D

[Thrill]

55. How long before the Repukes say Schweitzer is an undercover for the Saudi Government?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

56. 3 Ev's.

If you're lucky.

[Douglas Carpenter]

57. one more kikle

[progdog]

58. Here's another

Kick for Schweitzer. :kick:

[Douglas Carpenter]

59. one kikle

[AtomicKitten]

63. I'm stuck on him getting the nod. Then I'll think about VP.

[Douglas Carpenter]

69. kick

[aaroh]

70. Brian Schweitzer's communication skills is second to none

The guy doesn't even need any notes for public speeches, one of the best impromptu speakers I've seen.

[Skwmom]

77. Obama is an exceptional public speaker and I think confident enough

with his own abilities not to worry about any ability his VP might have. Schweitzer as VP would just further elevate Obama.

[Zomby Woof]

72. Cabinet post maybe

Interior Department, best shot.

No VP pick should ever come from a small population western state.

Far better to go with Jim Webb, who has a better resume than any of the candidates do/did, with many of the same creds you listed. We need a southerner on the ticket, and VA has double digit electoral votes.

I do like that you supported your argument. That is very rare around here. :-)

[Douglas Carpenter]

73. Rasmussen Reports believes Sen. Webb would be the strongest, however

Here is the link:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_gerald_m_pomper/obama_s_vice_president

However, some believe he might add to problems with some woman voters. He did at one time oppose woman in certain positions in the military, although he has recanted that position. He has also been publicly accused of sexism in stray off-the-cuff comments he has made.

I also understand that some people are concerned about some personal matters. He has been married three times. Of course that does not bother me. But it is the sort of thing that some people would look at as a minus that could draw enemy fire. Also he has been criticized for some extremely graphic fictional writing; to put it politely. Again not that I would hold that against him. But it is the sort of thing that some people would be concerned about the issue being raised even though that involves somewhat shocking writing he did quite a long time ago. It did cause a flap during his Senatorial campaign.

From The Times - October 28, 2006

Porn accusations turn up heat: Republican dredges up his opponent's fictional scenes of incest as campaign gets even more vicious:

link:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article616016.ece

[Skwmom]

75. The Clintons have made putting Webb on the ticket extremely difficult b/c

the GOP will paint him as a sexist.

[Zomby Woof]

87. It didn't work in VA

And it won't work nationally. Besides being a pot-kettle type of accusation, they would have to go back to ONE piece of writing from nearly 30 years ago to get their "evidence".

His strengths far outweigh his weaknesses. He knows how to fight smears. He won't roll over like Kerry or Dukakis or other effetes from New England.

[Zomby Woof]

86. The "flap" over his writing

Was a complete Karl Rove style tactic started by George Allen and his gang.

Webb writes realistic fiction, which includes depictions of how certain cultures live. Based on his extensive travels and experience in SE Asia, he writes with journalistic precision about the various practices and mores of the people. There is nothing exploitative or sensationalized about his writing. People learned that quickly, and the "flap" got nowhere.

As for being married 3 times - well, that makes him no worse than McCain and his second trophy wife/heiress, or a hundred other Republicans - so go for it, but it would be disingenuous. Webb doesn't trump "family values", which doesn't set him up for hypocrisy charges. Nor has he ever been dogged with allegations of infidelity.

I do admit his biggest blot was the piece, written back in 1979, about why women should not have a role in combat. It was well-intentioned, and based on factors such as women being at greater risk for exposure to rape and torture, etc. It was not a "women are weak and would be hysterical" type of sexism - but it was still something he was right to denounce - because true equality demands women be allowed to fight (as we saw with Jessica Lynch, both Webb and his opponents in that debate were right to large extents). For the 6 women who publicly spoke out against him, there were 9 who came to his defense, citing his personal conduct and policies in the various offices he has held. All 15 were Naval Academy grads like himself. It was a failed 'swiftboating'. When you learn of the kind of childhood his current wife had - she fled Vietnam as a youngster and lived in deplorable conditions, came to America with nothing, had to learn English at a late age, made her way through school with an advanced degree - well, when you read of the admiration he has for her intellect, courage, and determination, then you see that not only has he learned something (I like leaders who learn from their past mistakes), but that he truly means it when he calls her a "Warrior". That is atonement from my view.

I'll take his few weaknesses over the myriad problems Biden or other Establishment Democrats would bring to the ticket.

I have no problem with the Montana governor - except for electoral strategy purposes. I consider Interior an important post, and would love to have a westerner who values the great resources and natural beauty of our country at the helm.

[Skwmom]

74. That ticket would win in a landslide!

The GOP is trying to negatively define Obama. Schweitzer as VP would kill any chances of the GOP succeeding.

Plus:

1. He reinforces the message of change and authenticity.
2. By his mere appearance, the voters will think him qualified to keep this nation safe.
3. He will hammer the GOP but in a way that does not turn off voters.
4. If McCain taps Romney, he will make Romney seem like a phony, fake (another plastic politician). If McCain were to tap Hucklebee, he will be able to counter Hucklebee's awe shucks appeal to voters.
5. He will appeal to older voters b/c he seems like a REAL, down to earth person.
6. He will appeal to the voters in OH, PA, and WV.
7. He will appeal to Republicans and Independents.
8. He will reinforce EVERY POSITIVE perception of Obama.

Plus, he would be GREAT at getting the Democratic agenda through Congress.

Here is an article about Schweitzer:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/magazine/08governor.h...

He shot guns, rode horses, took his dog to work and decimated his opponents with off-the-cuff one-liners heavy on the bull-and-horse metaphors.

Schweitzer’s grandparents were homesteaders who immigrated to Montana from Ireland and Germany. (Which you will find in OH, PA, and WV).

Six-foot-two and a beefy 205 pounds, Schweitzer has seized the heartland imagery generally monopolized by Republicans. “Schweitzer is the antithesis of the Democrat stereotype,” Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, of dailykos.com, the partisan Democratic blog, told me. “Too many Democrats look like targets for the school bully. Schweitzer is a tough guy. And people like guys who will bar-fight their way across a state.”

Schweitzer has the ability to reduce a complicated issue to a few sharp lines, reframing it with themes of patriotism and underdog know-how. “I was a critic of Nafta, I was a critic of Cafta and I’ll be a critic of Shafta,” he says of free-trade agreements, long the hobgoblin of even the most articulate liberal politicians.

[Douglas Carpenter]

82. I think that pretty much sums up the strengths he would add to the ticket

[Hutzpa]

78. Very interesting....

he seem to have the right credentials for a veep.

Thank you for posting, will bookmark this for
future reference.

[meow mix]

80. he's "Mr Rural" and a "Change-man"

i dont want to lose my govenor but i guess you can have him ;p

[Douglas Carpenter]

81. another kick for Brian

[Skwmom]

85. I think he's the only one who could offset Huckebee (and based on polls, I wouldn't be

surprised if McCain picked him).

[Skwmom]

84. In an interview, Schweitzer talked about "changing the world!"

Now, who does that remind me of.....

[joeybee12]

88. I will always have hig esteem for Brian stopping the slaughter of the

bison...at least for the summer.

[Douglas Carpenter]

89. one little kick

[Phoonzang]

90. He's my first or second choice depending

on how he's polling with the "working class". My other first choice is Gov. Sebellius, depending on how much Clinton has damaged him with women. My second choice is Richardson, if he's feeling particularly adventurous.

[Skwmom]

91. The GOP and Media will use his VP to DEFINE Obama. Schweitzer would ENHANCE all of

Obama's good points:

Change.
Not another politician.
A populist.
LIKABLE.
They want to CHANGE the World and SOLVE our problems.
They are UNITERS.


As far as national security goes: McCain and Bush are stuck on stupid. We want people who are SMART on national security, not DUMB on national security.

National security is NOT ABOUT the resume. It is ABOUT THE IMAGE you portray. You can take someone with a great resume but if they don't project the image that they will keep you safe, they will NOT be viewed as strong on national security. Schweitzer, by his mere PRESENCE exudes I will keep you safe.


National Security: Bush/McCain stuck on stupid. It's like watching the movie Groundhog Day (HMMM... I think that might make a great ad). Let's waste trillions of dollars in Iraq while failing to SECURE this country. Have we even properly trained and funded first responders?

Bush/McCain on National Security: Stuck on Stupid. Just keep repeating this until November.