{"id":1878,"date":"2011-02-13T15:09:48","date_gmt":"2011-02-13T22:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/2helenahandbaskets.com\/?p=1878"},"modified":"2011-02-13T15:09:48","modified_gmt":"2011-02-13T22:09:48","slug":"a-plethora-of-riches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/2helenahandbaskets.com\/?p=1878","title":{"rendered":"A Plethora of Riches."},"content":{"rendered":"

The lineup of potential Republican candidates vying for the honor of being Montana’s next governor is starting to look like the chorus line of, well, A Chorus Line<\/em>. It’s hard to believe that so many are willing rush into the morass that will be left by the current inhabitant of the office, when wiser men would be loathe to tread. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a> Rick Hill, Corey Stapleton, Ken Miller and Jim O’Hara all have solid Montana roots and can each lay claim to having held elective office and some kind of government as well as private sector experience, even though Rick is the only one to have successfully run a statewide campaign. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a> The last two – Neil Livingstone and Chuck Baldwin (who hasn’t officially announced, but has been dropping hints like a six-year-old three weeks before Christmas) are stretching like Gumby to create a plausible narrative to justify their presence in the ring. It’s hard to see where a background as a DC-based world-wide security\/terrorism expert and erstwhile Fox News talking head (“But I still have a Montana driver’s license.”) or as a southern Baptist preacher-turned radio commentator turned Ron Paul disciple has much to offer this state. But each of them inevitably appeals to a segment of the population. A small segment certainly in some cases, but a segment nonetheless. <\/p>\n

And that’s where the problem lies. Anybody remember the senatorial primary in 2008? There were enough Republican candidates running to replace Max “You Don’t Expect Me to Read the Bills” Baucus to be confused with a sandlot football team. <\/p>\n

That worked out really well, don’t you think? <\/p>\n

Does it help that It’s a long time between now and the 2012 primary? Perhaps one or more of these men will recognize that the guy looking back at them in the mirror every morning is not <\/strong>the next governor of Montana. <\/p>\n

Lest history continue to repeat itself…<\/p>\n