GOP furious after seeing Schweitzer

[AVID]

It seems the MT GOP are out to demonize our new Dem Gov.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?ts=1&display=rednews/2005/03/10/build/state/25-schweitzer-meeting.inc

HELENA - Republican legislative leaders were furious at Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Wednesday when he turned a meeting they requested into a 25-minute filibuster without letting them get a single word in edgewise.

A frustrated Schweitzer spent much of the meeting criticizing Republicans in the evenly divided House for not supporting some of his top priorities. These included bills to offer tax breaks for attract movie and television productions to Montana, promote ethanol production, strengthen the state's stream-access law and fund a commission to find waste in state government.

Without asking the Republican leaders what they wanted to talk about or if they had any reaction to his comments, Schweitzer abruptly terminated the meeting.

But Schweitzer's account differs . . .

Interviewed later, Schweitzer expressed surprise that the GOP legislators hadn't said anything at the meeting. He said he mentioned most of them by name to give them an opening to talk.

"They all just sat there,'' he said. "I didn't know why they didn't step in with anything.''

[cestpaspossible]

1. He should sic his dog on them

[DesEtoiles]

11. kick

[tom_paine]

2. Busheviks LIE? Why I have never heard of anything so preposterous!

</sarcasm off>

[tanyev]

3. Why are they furious?

They love it when GW does it.

[montanacowboy]

4. I LOVE BRIAN!!!!

OMG - DOES HE TELL THE REPUKES HOW IT IS OR NOT!!! I AM SO PROUD OF MONTANA

I TOLD HIM THAT HE SHOULD RUN FOR PRES IN 2008 - AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IF HE KEEPS THIS UP, HE WILL BE DAM HARD TO BEAT -

LET'S SEE WHAT ALL THOSE WHINY DLC TYPES DO WITH HIM

[fujiyama]

12. This guy seems like

an interesting one to watch.

Whether or not he'd be interested in '08, I have no idea but either way I think he has a good future in the party.

[AnnInLa]

14. Is this his first term as governor?

How old is he?

[leyton]

5. This guy's great!

Seriously, from what I have read he plays serious hardball. Making Republican legislators toe the line is just one example. He's also a fierce critic of George W. Bush, I think probably more so than our Senators who are kind of wishy-washy at times. Also, the guy didn't let the GOP take any of their constituencies (small businessmen, hunters) for granted and actually won because of his appeal to those groups.

[AVID]

7. We like him too.

[cornermouse]

6. The next time, he should bring the biggest tape recorder

that he can find, set it in the middle of the table, switch it on before he ever says a word, and keep it on till the last republican is gone from the room.

[Erika]

8. All the Idaho GOP does is bend over

and talk about it being the best way to go as Bush screws Idaho.

[Dr Fate]

9. GOOD. He should keep it up. n/t

n/t

[cestpaspossible]

10. Missoulian: Republicans seem rather easily cowed

What GOP legislators call "harassment" is pretty straightforward politics.

For crying out loud, Republicans! Show a little backbone over there in Helena.

GOP legislators mewled like girlie-men this week over the arm-twisting some of them have gotten from Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer. They say the governor is threatening and harassing freshman Republican legislators to get them to support some of his legislative proposals.

They make it sound like Montana's brawny new governor is serving up knuckle sandwiches in the foyer. That might qualify as harassment, even here in the Wild West. But, as it turns out, all they're whining about is that the Democrat threatens to campaign against Republicans when they run for re-election if they don't support his proposals.

They call that harassment? They're pathetic!

www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/03/15/opinion/opinion5.txt

[demwing]

13. Wow. Read this bit from that editorial...

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/03/15/opinion/opinion5.txt

In the next to last paragraph...

"We don't like one of Schweitzer's legislative proposals any better than some Republicans do. The bill to promote ethanol use is nothing more than an added gas tax that will benefit out-of-state ethanol producers. But we certainly have more respect for Schweitzer and his willingness to push for something he believes in than we do for Republican legislators who whimper about intimidation rather than standing up for what they believe in."

There is the key to political success, straight from the mouths of the opposition.

The DLC has it wrong--OBVIOUSLY.

Here's a person who disagrees with a Dem on policy, but expresses respect for the man because of a willingness to fight hard for what he believes!

Anytime you begin thinking we might need to republicanize our image, remember that editorial, and whimper not.

Stand up for what you believe.

[Boo Boo]

15. Yes.

People infer a lot about the value of your ideas by your willingness to fight for them. They also infer a lot about the person. Not sure why D.C. Dems find this so hard to fathom.

[Toots]

16. That is exactly how we should "Republicanize" the Party

Start standing up to bullies. Republicans are bullies, strong on financial clout but weak on ethics. If we stand up we can win. Dean has stood up and now this guy as well. They get FREE Media attention by doing this... Let us start picking on them for a change. We have an arsonal that gets bigger daily. LIE after LIE is being told daily and all we need to do is call them on it every single time without backing down.....