Now that we’ve had the opportunity to see and understand the great deliberative process of the august Untied States Senate, it’s all clear to me. Hold-outs like Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, Joe Lieberman, and Ben Nelson obviously have played the game more astutely than most.

What has been revealed to any and all who have been paying attention over the past few weeks is that the Dems who held out for a good deal for their constituents got everything they asked for and more – all at the expense of the taxpayers in the other forty-six states.

This is, of course, nothing more than confirmation of Ronald Reagan’s observation about politicians and practitioners of the world’s oldest profession.

I’m certainly not one to claim to be either shocked or surprised.

What really bothers me is that Max and Jon are so cheap and easy. I mean, really – couldn’t either of them have held out for at least a kiss and fifty cents?

NOT!

With thanks and a H/T to Mike at Last Best Place for the video. He uses it to underscore the basic problem with the healthcare bill. I don’t for a second dismiss his point, but I would like to use the same clip to illustrate a completely different point:

Max Baucus is dumber than a box of hair.

Seriously, listen to the exchange between Senator Coburn and Max.

Honestly, can any of you – with a straight face – say that you would trust Max to make an informed and intelligent decision on even the least important choice in your life?

No wonder so many in Washington DC think we voters are dumb. Look at who we elect to represent us. It’s not even a matter of principles or ethics. Or even that elusive concept of common sense. It’s about basic IQ.

Max, Stanford called, they want their diplomas back.

‘Tis the season for Christmas Bells, Jingle Bells, Silver Bells, I Heard the Bells, Carol of the Bells, Bells Will Be Ringing, and so many other traditional pieces that ring in the glorious holiday festivities.

As I sit here watching the snow gently falling on the frozen – albeit globally warmed – ground, I thought it appropriate to share a few of the dingy people and events from the past year that keep ringing through my mind. This is not a comprehensive list. Feel free to share your own ding-dong winners in the comments section.

10.) The White House’s declaration of war on Fox News.
9.) Obama’s speech to school children at the beginning of the school year.
8.) “We have to spend our way out of this recession.” – Joe Biden
7.) “Every month we don’t pass this economic recovery bill 500 million Americans will loose their jobs.” – Nancy Pelosi
6.) “I went out of my way to be up and up.” – Max Baucus
5.) Obama’s pitch on behalf of Chicago’s bid to the International Olympic Committee.
4.) MIchelle Obama’s fashion stylist and the incredibly obnoxious outfits she has advised the First Lady to wear.
3.) Arlen Specter’s defense of the Justice Department’s decision to hold Kalid Sheik Muhammed’s trial in NYC by explaining that, “It’s important that we are seen as a nation of laws and the world knows that he can get a fair trial. Besides, even if he’s found ‘not guilty’, we aren’t going to release him anyway.”
2.) ACORN staff aiding and abetting efforts to evade taxes and import underage girls for illegal prostitution.

And the biggest dingalings of all….

1.) All those Obama supporters poor suckers who are still out there waiting for for their “Obama money”.

There’s a new Disney movie about to hit the movie theaters this month. Based on the fairy tale about the princess who succumbs to the pleadings of a pathetic amphibian, the Princess and the Frog will undoubtedly become another classic.

Like so many fairy tales, this one is full of real life parallels and metaphors. There’s that whole “judging a book by its cover” theme. And the “no pain – no gain” thing. Not to mention, “try it you’ll like it”.

After watching the movie trailer the other night I’ve been thinking on this subject particularly as it pertains to some of the stuff going on in DC lately, especially the healthcare bill.

(Stick with me on this…)

The stuff we’ve seen coming out of the House and the Senate so far has maybe a wart or two, right? But, perhaps we have judged too harshly.

Ok, so there’s the whole cost issue (aw, what’s a trillion – mostly just a bunch of zeros), rationing (hush, grandma – they won’t really be “panels”), public option (Dingy Harry said they agreed there wouldn’t be a public option and you can believe every word he says), abortion funding (“trust us”), cuts in Medicare, unfunded liabilities to the states, and on and on – over three thousand pages-worth between the two bills. But golly, maybe we need to be a little more open-minded and understanding and at least consider planting a big one on this baby.

After all, it’s not easy being green – and some froggies can be kinda cute….

So, lets imagine that we’re willing to let ourselves be seduced by Obama’s promises of lower costs, unrestricted access, universal coverage, rainbows and unicorns for all. Admittedly, we have to undergo frontal lobotomies first, but what could happen???

The Democrats have sure puckered up for this toad. But I think I’d rather pass. I’m not feeling the happily ever aftering.

Sarah comes to Billings today and hardy Montanans started lining up in sub-zero temperatures before 9 o’clock last evening. Hundreds of dedicated fans braved arctic air for a chance to see the woman that many believe represents their views on how American government should be run. By 6 a.m. this morning the line stretched around three sides of the building and the parking lot was full of cars, trucks, and RV’s serving as on-site warming houses for cold, tired, but enthusiastic, patriots.

The Gazette has the details and will update it periodically.

Anybody who dismisses Governor Palin as stupid, irrelevant, or a non-contender is likely to be shocked, shocked I tell you, to learn that the message and the messenger are resonating with a huge segment of the American public.

Bet you thought this would be another snarky post about wrinkly old Max and his staffer/girlfriend and his recommendation of her to be Montana’s US Attorney. Not so, my friends. If you really want the inside gossip on how this little affaire du coeur is playing out in other venues, you need to check out the venom spewing from the Daily Kos. Hell hath no fury and all that, but did you realize the libs were THAT ticked off by the good Senator? Whoa! The stuff the conservatives are lobbing out there is mere marshmallows compared to the ammo the left-wing nuts are firing off.

Still, I digress.

In these times of slumping revenues and ever-increasing belt-tightening measures, why, pray tell, is Governor Schweitzer flying around the country in first class?

“We will continue to be accountable for every dollar,” Schweitzer said in a release. “This is not the first austerity measure that I have implemented and there will be more.”

The governor previously directed agencies to cut out-of-state travel by 35 percent.

He was recently observed by a state employee, returning from parts unknown, comfortably ensconced in the front of the plane enjoying all the accoutrements thereof.

Certainly, the trip could have been paid for by some special interest group seeking his wisdom and goodwill. Or perhaps he had been delivering one of his rip-roaring speeches ala the Trial Lawyers Association appearance of 2008. Or, hey, he could have been flying on his own dime. Good reasons all; but perhaps he should be just a touch more sensitive to the concerns of the taxpayers and other state employees when traveling the friendly skies.

It’s so hard to convince folks that you’re just really doing the best you can and you have their best interests and pocket books in mind when you keep setting yourself apart in the high-priced section.

Then again, maybe the good gov is practicing for when Max resigns and he appoints himself to be the next senator and doesn’t have to care about what his constituents think.

Who knew? Al was just funning us.

Today’s high is forecast to be in the teens.
I SUPPORT GLOBAL WARMING

Grandma’s getting some well-deserved “grandma time” with the two little guys. They are sooo adorable – if I do say so myself. But – here – you can check them out for yourself…

Gramps and the guys

Mom and her little ones

Nick being silly. It's what 2 yr. olds do.

Micah. What a sweetie.

The holiday shopping season has officially kicked off and – lo and behold – it looks like the Democrats are wrapping up some potentially huge presents for the GOP.

My buds at HillBuzz peeked in the closet and found three goodies for us:

We hope Republicans realize Christmas came early this year; they’ve been handed three vorpal blades with which to strike deep into the heart of the Liberals’ jabberwock.

(1) Climategate

(2) The Khalid Sheik Muhammad 9/11 trial in NYC

(3) ACORN, and more importantly, increasingly embattled Attorney General Eric Holder (see 2+3 = time bomb for the White House)

These are three areas that have the potential to drive a deep and perhaps generational wedge between average Americans and Liberals, in ways that could decimate the DNC if played correctly by the Republicans…

They go on to explain how these gifts could work:

The Climategate scandal has the potential to make people question everything Democrats say. It is the equivalent of finding a secret cell phone your spouse has kept, and reading all the sexts that have messaged back and forth between him and Clay Aiken. No matter what lame explanations are given, after this you will never look at your husband the same way again…and you most certainly will no longer be a Claymate…

The Tea Party movement needs to merge with the 9/11 survivors and family lobbyists to work together to rile regular Americans up over Eric Holder, personally, and specifically over Holder’s gruesome decision to give KSM and the other Muslim terrorists a soap box in NYC to spout hatred at America and justify their actions by claiming how terrible this country is. When regular people see the Democrat party is FOR this nonsense, that’s a wedge that will be hard to heal for most people (already inclined as they are to believe Democrats hate America).

The same is true for ACORN.

Eric Holder is arguing in favor of ACORN receiving federal money. Jerry Brown in California, who is running for governor, believes ACORN is harmless, despite everything ACORN is doing to skirt the law and destroy evidence against it in order to survive. ACORN-backed Democrat Secretaries of State in many blue states work overtime to protect this criminal enterprise.

Republicans need to make regular Americans believe: Democrats = ACORN, criminals, anti-American, pro-Muslim, lying, con artists, Anthropogenic Global Warming fraud, socialists.

Thank you, Santa Claus!!!!

Of course, like most really great Christmas presents “some assembly is required”.

2nd Grade Bike Rack has been doing some intense work on Climategate, so check in there to start working on that part of the puzzle. There’s a ton of good information out there that we must be spotlighting to turn back “Crap and Tax” (aka Cap and Trade). There is absolutely no way we can let the liberals and LSM get away with this abomination.

Same thing goes for the harebrained idea of trials for war criminals. there’s lots of stuff out there to use to highlight that abomination.

It’s the ACORN issue that we in Montana need to spend more time on. Remember Governor Schweitzer’s infamous speech to the Trial Lawyers’ Association where he bragged about how he fixed the 2006 race for Tester? Perhaps a little sunshine in a few dark corners is warranted. As we begin the 2010 census count in Montana, should someone be watching the counters? Not to mention a little review of some numbers in certain precincts in the past few elections. What we need are some bean counters.

I believe I know a very good one. Hmmm…

Put Tab A into Slot B.

But a rose by any other name…