Brian Schweitzer-Democrat

[Jim Warren]

A great read like a breath of mountainair, with all the flair and country charm that Reagan was said to possess except Schweitzer is the real deal. I can only dream what might be........

WITH the debt crisis and the weakening economy fresh on their minds, most Americans have probably concluded that government, as a rule, cannot manage money responsibly. But it can. Just look at Montana.

For six years it has been one of the only states in America with a budget surplus: this year it is a record $433 million, proportionally equivalent to a federal surplus of $858 billion. Thus we’ve been able to cut taxes, invest in education and infrastructure and keep essential services intact. We recently got our first bond rating upgrade in 26 years.

And we’re not simply riding the Western energy boom. The recession has driven unemployment to 7.5 percent, and while we’ve had a great run with oil, coal and gas, royalties from these commodities account for only 9 percent of our budget surplus.

How do we accomplish what most states and the federal government cannot? I like to say we run government like a ranch. In ranching — my old job — you either pinch pennies or go belly-up. We do the same in government. Perhaps Washington can try it.

more @ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/opinion/cutting-costs-the-montana-way.html

[gateley]

1. Biden/Schweitzer was my dream ticket.

:7

My ONLY complaint about Schweitzer is his belief in "clean coal", but I do realize it represents revenue for the State. What's a governor to do? :shrug:

Thanks for posting this!

[CTyankee]

4. I remember, during the dark days of 2005, hearing Schweitzer interviewed

by Al Franken on his radio show. Al obviously liked the guy enormously.

When I read this article this morning I was reminded what kind of a strong, effective liberal this guy is.

Can you imagine HIM in a match up against Michele Bachmann? It wouldn't even be funny...it'd be OVER. And fast...

[napi21]

2. I REALLY like Brian! I wish he would consider going to Wash. but

I sure can understand why he wants to stay in Mt. It's beautiful there & HE'S the BOSS too!

[Zorra]

3. I absolutely love this guy. If he started campaigning for President tomorrow

I'd be out pounding the pavement for him until my feet bled.

He reminds me of the good-hearted, tolerant, and practical ranchers I knew when I was growing up.

They were honest and would always do the right thing no matter what.

I hope he runs for President in 2016.

[PearliePoo2]

9. I'd wear out shoes too! He's the real deal rancher with genuine shit on his boots

But forget it, sad to say.
He would never leave for Washington and he would NEVER take his Border Collie there (his dog goes everywhere with him)

[Jim Warren]

5. more commonsense

from the NYT piece

We even saved by spending: we stepped up our efforts to collect unpaid tax bills from out-of-state and foreign corporations, an undertaking that more than paid for itself.

This type of penny-pinching rarely occurs in Washington. As a small example, I was recently at a military base where a private firm ran security. Why, with the toughest soldiers on earth, would the federal government spend extra cash to rent security guards rather than let troops take turns guarding the fort? Sure, there might be a convenience to contracting, but is it worth the billions spent? No doubt the lobbyists for the security firm sprinkled plenty of money around Capitol Hill to get the contract.

[musiclawyer]

7. I posted that POTUS should put him on the ticket

a few days ago and got flamed. I like Biden. He's a good guy. But I dont think he is the future. I still maintain that the only way Obama does not end up in a squeeker is by naming Schweitzer as his new VP. It would give badly needed energy to the base and a badly needed enforcer for POTUS.

[CrispyQ]

6. You gotta love a guy who says this:

"I have a 72-hour rule. If I stay in Washington for more than 72 hours, I have to bathe myself in the same stuff I use when one of my dogs gets into a fight with a skunk -- stuff to get the smell out."

-- Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer


:rofl:

[TwilightGardener]

8. He seems like a good guy, but that cornpone shit sounds like so many

Republicans, makes me cringe.

[hfojvt]

10. I don't like the way he leads with Reaganomics

"Thus we’ve been able to cut taxes ..."

I am pretty sure Schweitzer is DLC. Exhibit A - he spoke at Washington Days, the Democratic Convention in Kansas. Here's a list of some of the other speakers

Bill Clinton
Barack Obama
Harold Ford
Tim Kaine
Claire McCaskill

They almost always get somebody who is DLC.