So now the dust has settled a bit from the primary election and the Ron Paul folks can stop patting themselves on the back before they break their arms. They have a bit of a challenge in front of them. <\/p>\n
While they couldn’t get their big guy enough votes to grab the Montana delegation for the national convention, these passionate political newbies in their fervor for their cause, have achieved a couple of the secondary goals they set for themselves: Knock off Koopman-identified “socialist republicans” in the Montana Legislature and make Bob Kelleher the Republican senate candidate. How fun! How powerful! How juvenile! <\/p>\n
Now what guys? The Montana House wasn’t conservative<\/strong> enough for you in 2007 – so now you hand the Democrats HD84 and a probable majority and somehow you think that you’re making things better? Conventional wisdom holds that Max is a shoo-in, so you gave us a certified nut-job instead of a credible candidate who can at least force Max into a real debate on important issues. What’s the end-game strategy on that move?<\/p>\n Confusing “principals” and “political reality” is generally a really stupid political strategy. Let me explain by using HD84 as a perfect example. HD84 is made up of northern Lewis & Clark County and a part of western Powell County. The majority of voters are in L&C County – not exactly a conservative stronghold. John Ward has been a moderate, pro-business, pro-growth representative who has been able to appeal to independents and conservative Democrats and therefore has been able to garner enough support to win the district. In a good year, uber-conservative Mike Miller couldn’t get elected Dog Catcher in that part of the district. This year, the “republican” vote will be split between Miller and the Libertarian candidate, leaving the liberals a clear shot to the winner’s circle. Ergo – the Republican efforts to regain the Montana legislature have been set back, to say the least. Can someone explain to me how a Democrat-controlled legislature helps advance the “conservative” cause?????<\/p>\n I’m not going to even ask how the now-guaranteed Senate debacle is supposed to be good for conservatives. Having a joke for a candidate doesn’t seem to have any upside in my opinion. <\/p>\n While the Ron Paul Montana coup d’etat may have had a couple of little victories, the celebration will be short lived, and the orchestrators of this silly little comedia dell’ arte must redeem themselves if they expect to be accepted by the mainstream party faithful. I don’t know how they plan to do it, but if they don’t come up with a great “Plan B” they can kiss any hope of long-term credibility and acceptance by the party faithful good-bye. Big time.<\/p>\n They asked for it. They got it. What are they going to do with it?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So now the dust has settled a bit from the primary election and the Ron Paul folks can stop patting themselves on the back before they break their arms. They have a bit of a challenge in front of them. … Continue reading