“Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

This week two of Montana’s highest ranking politicians have taken the gloves off and thrown away whatever masks of respectability they may have been hiding behind to fool the good people of Montana about their true power-hungry, insufferably nasty approach to getting their own way. Senator Max Baucus and Governor Brian Schweitzer have officially taken leadership positions in that disgusting group of politicians who resort to – shall we call them “unsavory” tactics? – to fulfill their personal agendas: The Corrupt Bastards’ Club.

On Wednesday, Politico ran this story about how Maxie is using threats and intimidation to deter donations to Denny Rehberg’s campaign:

Democrats on K Street are warning their corporate clients: Give to Republican challengers in the 2012 election, and you’ll regret it come tax reform time. Lobbyists are getting that message from allies of powerful Democrats such as Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), who is closely watching support for Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Republican challenging Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Baucus supporters fear that if Rehberg ousts Tester, Baucus could be next to face a serious Republican challenge in the state.

One K-Streeter close to the Baucus operation said the senator considers a gift to Rehberg a contribution against him. Another Democratic lobbyist told a client to take his name off a Rehberg fundraising event because it would be hurtful to his company, according to sources. The case K-Streeters are making to their clients: It will be a hard sell next year to get Baucus’s support on business-friendly tax perks set to expire or the Bush-era tax cuts that must get through his committee.

The game of hardball is a bold example of a powerful chairman willing to leverage his power to protect his party’s majority, his home-state colleague and potentially his own seat. “We all know how this particular game is played: A chairman of a committee has his allies downtown quietly put out the word that folks with business before that committee may want to think twice about contributing to a candidate opposing one favored by the chairman,” said a Democratic oil industry executive. “Getting the message out this way provides deniability to the chairman yet ensures that everyone in the lobbying community gets the joke.”

The story tries to make this about Max helping his good buddy, Jon Tester’s campaign, but the money line in the story confirms that this is all about Max keeping his position as Chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee (where he “authored, but did not read, the abominable 2,000+ page ObamaCare bill), and ultimately, his own senate seat in 2014. What do you want to bet that Tester wasn’t thrilled to read this story? Nope, this wasn’t about some altruistic effort to help a fellow Democrat get reelected. Shining a great big spotlight on the dirty business of blackmailing lobbyists – who needs that kind of help? This was very simply a giant “FU” warning to those who might consider displeasing the big guy. Yep, all Max, all the time.

Then Thursday, in an effort to not be bested for the title of “Most Corrupt Bastard in the State”, Governor Schweitzer takes the center stage with his underhanded, over-bearing machinations to extricate himself from the consequences of his patently illegal behavior:

A long-standing ethics complaint filed by the state Republican Party against Gov. Brian Schweitzer was dismissed today, by a “deputized” commissioner of political practices. Bozeman attorney Jim Goetz issued the decision, saying the Democratic governor did not use state funds when his administration produced public-service radio ads in 2008, featuring Schweitzer when he was running for re-election.

Goetz had been appointed as a deputy commissioner in the case by the sitting Political Practice Commissioner Jim Murry, who recused himself from the case. Murry was appointed by Schweitzer as the new commissioner less than four weeks ago. Goetz’s 34-page ruling, released this afternoon, said while the law forbids use of state funds to produce PSAs featuring a candidate for office, it does not forbid the use of “public facilities, equipment, supplies or personnel.”…

The ruling ends four years of proceedings before the political practices commissioner’s office on the complaint, during which the office has had four commissioners, including Murry. The ruling also reverses the rulings of prior commissioners, who had said Schweitzer did violate state ethics laws and had refused his earlier request to dismiss it… [Ed. note: The previous commissioners, Dennis Unsworth, Jennifer Hensley, and David Gallik were all appointed by Schweitzer, but apparently didn’t have the necessary level of chutzpah to commit this kind of political idiocy.]

Brian’s got higher aspirations – senator, president, emperor – who knows how high, but there’s no way he’d get elected with an ethics conviction mentioned every time his name was mentioned: “Brian Schweitzer, who was convicted of violating the ethics law he supported and signed in 2005…”. That conviction, issued by a well-respected, independent University of Montana law professor, had to go away no matter what. Even if it took the shadiest of all shady maneuvers to get it done. I hope Mr. Goetz gets credit for what has to be considered at least a $4100 contribution to Schweitzer’s next run for office.

Montanans tend to know the people they elect and, historically, have been willing to accept the petty foibles of the men and women entrusted with the power of governance. We tell stories, with wry amusement, of the political shenanigans of the Copper Kings. We cringe in embarrassment when we read stories about our political leaders’ personal failings, but understand that, “There but for the grace of God…”, and we go on, expecting that lessons have been learned and ways will be mended. But we have our limits: Politicians who cross the lines for personal enrichment or political gain just don’t sit well with those of us in Big Sky Country.

We understand that our politicians aren’t perfect, but we do have standards. Max and Brian have lowered the bar this week: Using the power of their offices to place themselves above the laws of this state and country.

Make no mistake, The Corrupt Bastards’ Club will never lack for members. We just never intended our politicians from Montana would be vying with those from states like Illinois, Louisiana, New York, and Alaska to win the titles of “Most Corrupt Bastards”.

“Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.”

And Lord, what fools these mortals be…