Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer ropes them in at convention

[Kolesar]

Source: LA Times

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer ropes them in at convention
The cattle rancher electrifies the hall with a speech that makes him a national figure.
By Peter Wallsten, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 27, 2008
DENVER -- It was Hillary Rodham Clinton's night at the Democratic National Convention, but party activists got a glimpse Tuesday of a surprising new breakout star: a jovial, round-faced warrior with a bolo tie who managed to attack Republicans while keeping a smile on his face.

The unlikely partisan gladiator was Brian Schweitzer, who in 2004 became Montana's first Democratic governor in decades.

Schweitzer, 52, won his office by eschewing partisanship -- campaigning as a pro-gun conservative with a Republican running mate. But on Tuesday he raised the roof at the Pepsi Center by exhorting thousands of party activists to "get off your hind end" and cheer for the demise of GOP rule.

"Can we afford four more years of the same?" asked Schweitzer, bouncing on the convention hall stage as his eyes darted around and his hands waved.

"No!" the crowd roared in unison.

...snip...

His speech focused on energy. Schweitzer accused the Bush White House and Republican candidate John McCain of rewarding the oil and gas industry with tax breaks and failing to embrace alternative solutions such as wind power.

It was purely partisan red meat on a pocketbook issue -- exactly what some Democratic strategists have said was lacking from the convention when the sagging economy is at the forefront of voters' minds.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la...

---

I would like to say his was the best convention speech I have ever seen, but I can surely say Governor Schweitzer's speech Tuesday night was my favorite. His delivery was so compelling and so folksy, with the hand gestures and him leaning into the microphone. All from a guy with a a bolo tie and big smile

[gateley]

1. BIG Schweitzer fan - and I'm so glad

that so many others got a chance to get to see/hear him last night. He was great!

[BlooInBloo]

2. He's the Obama of 2008....

(grumble)Shoulda been VP(grumble).

[Bluzmann57]

3. I sure hope there is a place for him in an Obama administration

Secretary of Energy or something. He truly is a rancher, not some phony like the Crawford buffoon who is nothing but a fake. Heck, last year, Schweitzer even came to a local John Deere ag show, not to campaign, but to check out stuff to buy for his ranch. bush would never do that. Not too many politicians would. In fact, a sharp eyed reporter spotted him, or he would have been anonymous, just another farmer looking to buy something.

[John Q. Citizen]

12. That would leave Montana with the Repo LT Gov. Thanks but no thanks!

[Larkspur]

4. I LOVE Gov. Brian Schweitzer!!!

I knew he'd deliver a knock out punch against the Republicans. The LA Times missed the fact that when running for Governor of MT, Schweitzer blasted Bush and the Repugs for screwing ordinary Americans, whether they be on the right or left.

[NJmaverick]

5. This is the first I saw of him

and I thought he had the best speech of the evening. This guy is a star

[Ediacara]

6. Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKoKHCxWYM8

[Merlot]

21. thanks for video link

network talking heads were in full swing when one of them noticed that something interesting was going on. They were actually saying "hey, lets check this out" and cut to him during the last part of his speech, the cheerleading part.

I was really interested in hearing the whole speech as I know he has some really good ideas on environment as well as tearing into the "read meat." But no, network tv isn't ready for all that truth.

Just like when they showed the clips of Kucinich at the part where he was doing the "wake up America" cheer. But they skiped the actual meat of his speech, making him appear to be nothing more than an excited cheerleader.

I will say that after viewing the networks version of the conventions, I'm not supprised that people still think mccain is a viable option. People don't know how much information they aren't getting. People (like me) who don't have cspan have no clue. I read a lot here and elsewhere, but know that many peple don't have the time or inclination to do research.

Just needed to vent!

[bamacrat]

7. His speech rivaled Hillary's...to me.

Hillary's speech was monumental, and very helpful in bring some of her hold out voters into the family. Schwietzer's speech was what the DNC needed, it was energetic smart and compelling, I saw Bill Clinton telling the late Mrs. Tubbs son that "he was good". If the big dog approves then it must be good. I think we may be able to carry Montana, I know they only have like 3 electoral votes but hey it helps.

[wuushew]

8. Sorry, he is not doing it for me

He is too folksy in his mannerisms. Reminds me of the "guy in van down by the river" from SNL.

[apnu]

10. To each, their own.

I think a bit of folksy mannerisms and grounding is lacking sometimes in this party. The reason we have a reputation of being elitists and intellectuals only is countered by guys like this.

We need more of him, more of everybody. Its a big tent and we should fill it with representations of all American sectors.

[Larkspur]

14. I think Obama is stiff as a board

Can't see how people think Obama is charismatic. he doesn't inspire me.

so I guess charisma is subjective.

[Merlot]

22. I can tell he used to teach, because his voice drones like many professors

who put me to sleep in school. Really, I hear Obama talk, and something in my brain just shuts down.

When I read what he's said, I like it, but hearing it just does me in.

I missed his 2004 speech which was so well regarded, and have never seen him speak so maybe I just need to be there.

on edit: I'm looking forward to his acceptance speech to see if that changes my perception. Either way, he's still got my vote.

[redqueen]

9. I liked Kucinich's more.

I like Schweitzer a lot, and I liked him for VP... but on balance I liked Dennis's speech a lot more.

[doc03]

11. He was great, a real man's man, someone the

white middle class voter we need could relate to. That's where the Republicans always get us, they run the guy you would like to have a beer with and we run someone like Kerry or Gore that could actually be a great President. They are doing the same thing with Obama trying to portray him as an elitist while McCain is worth a fortune. It seems like they get the jump every election cycle defining our nominee and we are on the defence from then on. Why in the hell didn't someone think to peg McCain as the elitist he would probably be the richest President in history if elected.

[DebbieCDC]

13. Schweitzer goes everywhere with his dog Jag

You can tell a lot about a man/woman by how they treat animals. I would have LOVED to see him as VP. He would have been a real plus in the Rocky Mountain West.

[XemaSab]

16. I missed Jag last night

[DebbieCDC]

25. Don't think he had Jag with him at the podium, but I'll be he was at the hotel

[mzmolly]

15. He was a blast to

watch. I hope we'll see more of him in the future.

[hasssan1]

17. Gov. Brian Schweitzer WAS GREAT! I LOVE HIM AND DNC SHOULD SEND HIM TO TWIN CITY NEXT WEEK

DNC MUST SEND HIM TO DEVIL'S CONVENTION AS PART OF RAPID RESPONSE TEAM AND START HAMMERING MCLAME AND REST OF THE SCUMS OVER THERE .


PLEASE DNC DO IT.

[AlinPA]

18. He is my favorite. Along with a good number of DU'ers I picked him for VP. Joe is fine

with me though. We have a lot of great people.

[MasonJar]

19. I wish I had been allowed to see it. MSNBC kept talking and interviewing

over it. It was quite clear from the cheers that the audience was loving every minute of the guv's speech.

[Larkspur]

27. Left in the West web site has Schweitzer's full speech

Schweitzer's speech

[catzies]

29. You would have caught a better version (uninterrupted) on CSPAN - forget any channel

with any talking heads. Go straight to the source.

[Winterblues]

20. I was watching MSNBC and they failed to broadcast it

While he was talking they showed video of him but the only thing we could hear was keith and Chris talking back and forth. Bummer because I really wanted to hear what he had to say. I am enamored by the man

[ElsewheresDaughter]

24. you should have been watching the convention on C-Span...gavel to gavel and ......

with no pundits annoying interuptions and 100% coverage

[Larkspur]

28. Left in the West web site has Schweitzer's full speech

Schweitzer's speech

[ElsewheresDaughter]

23. He was one of the best speakers imho...

I love the bush* landed on 3 base and then stole second with McCain cheering him all the way"

[wiseoldman]

26. Email my Gov in Montana

Brian reads all his mail - let him know you appreciate his kick-ass effort!

E-mail: [e-mail]

Schweitzer Is The Man!