There were several exciting developments on display at the GOP Winter Kickoff in Great Falls this past weekend, most noticeably the increased sense of unity and purpose. For any who think there is a deep divide within the various factions of the Party – nay, not so my friends. Despite the best efforts of Koopman (see previous post) and his apostle, John the Sinrud, to hijack the Party by demanding some sort of religious/conservative litmus test, the inclusive messages of Michelle Bachman, Chairman Will Dechamps, and Denny Rehberg provided a strong foundation for a broad conservative coalition. TEA Party organizations and members from all over the state were very much a noticeable and welcome part of the gathering.

But the most exciting thing remarked on by attendees was the changing face of the Party. This Isn’t Your Grandpa’s GOP Montana anymore! The party of “old white men” where the average age of the party leaders was somewhere between 70 and dead, is looking a whole lot more vibrant and much younger. And women – who quite frankly have always been the driving force in the organization behind the scenes – are stepping into the spotlight and taking a more visible role as precinct captains, county chairmen, and candidates.

Soccer moms and dads were very much in evidence with a firm conviction that smaller government, lower taxes, and Constitutional principles were the key to their children’s future. These folks were visibly and vocally angry about the current Administration’s and Congress’ reckless spending and closed-door, arm-twisting, bribery to pass bloated unpopular legislation. The 25 – 45 demographic – which historically has been politically pretty quiet because their attention has been focused on the day-to-day demands of young families – is most likely to be a huge factor in the 2010 and 2012 elections. And they aren’t the easily led, unsophisticated 18 – 25 year-olds. These are grown-ups with kids, careers, mortgages, budgets – and they’re paying attention to not just the words – but the actions – of Washington and Helena. They aren’t baffled by the bullsh*t that has passed for political dialog in the past. And they aren’t buying the hopey, changey, rainbows and unicorns fairytale that Obama is selling. Many of them have been on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan and they know the scoop. They’re internet-savvy and they don’t rely on the establishment media for information – they do their own research and they make up their own minds.

Montana’s Republican Party has arrived in the twenty-first century – and it’s not the same Grand OLD Party. It’s strong, spirited, healthy, exciting, and more than capable of handling the responsibilities.

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. John F, Kennedy, January, 1961

They didn’t start the fire – but they sure know how to use the flames:

Self-appointed filter of worthy republicanism – Roger KookKoopman – seems to be walking around with a pretty big log in his eye these days. [Luke 6:42]

Sources at the Department of Labor have confirmed that Roger Koopman, the arch-conservative leader and former legislator from Bozeman, has been notified by the Department of Labor that he is violating Federal Law. It appears that he could face criminal prosecution if he continues to defy multiple cease and desist orders.
Koopman’s employment firm, Career Concepts, has been collecting massive fees, which sources say are as high as $1500 in some cases, from job applicants who are unemployed and have been answering job offers on the state jobs website. That is a federal crime.

I probably don’t rate very high on Koopman’s scale of “good” conservatives, but I’m pretty sure that the conservative values I subscribe to would not include bilking unemployed job seekers out of thousands of dollars for information that should be free, and breaking the law in the process. Not my kind of conservatism.

So maybe it’s time to call in an ophthalmologist, ’cause I just can’t see him having a role in the Montana Republican Party any more.

h/t Montana Cowgirl – great reporting!

After watching another of the totally inane daily briefings held by “Beltway Bob” Gibbs where he ineptly tried to inject some humor into the situation – to the groans of the Washington press corps [pronounced ‘core’, not ‘corps’, Mr. President], I couldn’t help but make the comparison: Class versus crass. It’s become a theme of this administration – over and over and over and over…

“When you’re 0 for 3, you’d better stop lecturing and start listening.”

Sarah Palin just left the stage at the TEA Party convention in Nashville. To say that she excoriated Obama, the Democrats in Congress, and their liberal budget-busting agenda would be like saying that it snowed a little in Washington DC today. To use the vernacular, she delivered a rousing bitch-slapping that ought to scare the living daylights out of any politician she puts in her crosshairs.

She made it quite clear that she fully intends to play an active role in this year’s elections. “The process may not always be pretty or perfect, but the message is loud and clear: We want a government worthy of the fine Americans that it serves. And we’re going to keep spreading that message one convention, one town hall, one speech and one election at a time.”

Sarah – America’s Real Advocate for Hope.

Reprise:

As long as you don’t count what he says or how he says it…

Depending on what happens in Washington DC in the next few months on the Cap and Tax legislation, Montana families could be in the unfortunate position of paying up to $4,000 more per year for the energy it takes to run their homes. An increase like that takes a healthy chunk out of paychecks already stretched about as far as they can go.

There’s not much that stands between us and that kind of economic devastation – except for the Montana Public Service Commission. And right now, wet toilet paper offers more consumer protection than the present PSC chaired by Ken Toole, a progressive liberal democrat with a political philosophy in lockstep with Obama, Reid, Pelosi, and the puppet master, George Soros, himself.

But there is exciting news on the horizon!!! Bill Gallagher, a local Helena attorney with roots in Dillon, Plains, and Polson, has officially thrown his hat in the ring for the District 5 seat on the Montana PSC. His announcement today attracted a rather substantial crowd at Jorgenson’s Restaurant where the consensus was that Bill is the real deal and will very capably serve the energy consumers of Montana as a strong Reagan conservative.

In his “fiery” announcement speech, Gallagher pointed out that decisions made by the PSC in the next few years will have huge impacts on all Montana families. He noted that he is not a career politician and the PSC is not a “sexy” office, but he can “stand up to those who would take our money and deprive us of our rights and liberty and stifle our economy under the guise of globalism, environmentalism, and socialism.”

You can read more about Bill and his views on the issues central to the PSC on his website: http://www.gallagher4psc.com/

And if you decide that this is the kind of guy you want in your corner, go ahead and get involved in his campaign. What’s a $4000 a year savings worth to your family?

From today’s IR comes an interesting story about the relative integrity of our two senators:

As health-reform has dominated the national news, Montana’s congressional delegation has been swamped with constituent mail and telephone calls on the issue — and it’s certainly not been all positive.
U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Republican who’s been opposing Democrat-sponsored health-reform bills, reports that 77 percent of the 16,500 calls, letters, e-mails and faxes his office has received in the past six months have been against the Democratic health-care plans.
The other members of Montana’s delegation — Democratic U.S. Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus, who’s been a key figure in crafting the reform bills — say health care has generated more mail and calls than any other topic the past six months.
Yet both offices declined to categorize whether those contacts are running “for” or “against” the bill that Tester and Baucus supported on floor votes last month.
Tester’s spokesman Aaron Murphy said the 40,200 contacts received by the senator the past six months represent a “spirited and evenly divided debate,” while a spokesman for Baucus said the office doesn’t break things down “pro versus con” on its 49,400 health-care contacts from constituents.
“Because health care is a very complex issue, people express a bunch of different views, all in the same call,” said Ty Matsdorf.

Even Craig Wilson, MSU-Billings, can’t buy what they’re selling:

And as for Tester’s and Baucus’ claim that they don’t categorize the nature of the calls, Wilson isn’t buying it.
“If it was running for their position, why wouldn’t they release it?” he said. “The educated guess is that they are getting more negative (comments) than they are positive.”

Which begs the question – Just who the hell do they think they’re representing?

Certainly not Montanans.

Made me think of this. (I saw the original on Broadway a long time ago – nothing’s changed much.)

The verdict is in, but the jury’s still out.

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision has struck down much of the McCain/Feingold legislation. A few minutes online will provide the reader with a broad variety of responses – everything from “A Landmark Decision in Favor of Free Speech” to “The Horrible Consequences of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission”. On a more local level, the analysis goes from the judicious to those expressing concerns that go beyond the scope of this case to speculate on how campaigns laws from almost a hundred years ago may fair in light of this ruling.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, generally regarded as the swing vote in the Roberts Court, penned the majority opinion, which came down on the side of the Constitution and our First Amendment right to free speech:

“When government seeks to use its full power, including the criminal law, to command where a person may get his or her information or what distrusted source he or she may not hear, it uses censorship to control thought. This is unlawful. The First Amendment confirms the freedom to think for ourselves.”

It is not the role of the Supreme Court to concern itself with the practical implications of it’s decisions, so it is left to the rest of us to figure out what the real results will be.

What say YOU?

Anyone want the Kleenex concession? Me neither.

I hope that Jon Tester is watching the election returns tonight.

Senator, if you aren’t listening to what your constituents are telling you, please understand: THEY WILL FIRE YOUR SAME SELF!!! If you continue to support the Party over the People, if you take more direction from Obama than you do from Opheim, if you believe what Barack, Harry, and Nancy are telling you over what is coming from Billings, Havre, and Noxon then you should be sent back to the farm in 2012. You have a Constitutional obligation to represent US – the citizens of Montana. You are not a stupid person. There is no way that you can look at the man in mirror and honestly admit that the abomination drafted in the most partisan way imaginable, behind closed doors, in the darkest hours of the night is a good bill. You owe it to the people of Montana to go in to work tomorrow morning and begin working for us.

Today’s election should be a wake-up call for the United States Congress. Martha Coakley offered some very wise advice tonight when she said she respected the people’s voice – even if she didn’t agree with it. Beginning tomorrow morning, the people of this country are going to expect a whole new level of respect from our elected officials. We have a right to disagree with you – and to let you know our opinions. You do not have the right to ignore our concerns and belittle us with derogatory labels. We are your employers. You cannot ignore our concerns in some misguided attempt to push through an agenda that was never communicated to the voters and clearly does not have our support. You cannot pretend that a 2,000 page bill that you haven’t even read, let alone studied and understood, that has never been openly debated, that has required all sorts of bribes and back room deals in order to pass – is something that Montanans – or Americans – deserve.

Start over. Go talk to the junior senator from Massachusetts. He’s been listening – carefully. He gets it.

Just in case you’ve forgotten your Latin from high school, let me reprieve a picture I posted a while back – it translates the message pretty well: