So Baucus isn't going to run again.

[lonestarnot]

Hmmmf.

[Buns_of_Fire]

1. He ticked off fellow Democrats one too many times. He knows he's toast in 2014. nt

[SugarShack]

12. Got that right, he and three other dinos voted against the only real jobs bill in a decade!

Mark Warners's office said the bill was too bold. It reversed the tax policy, to make the jobs just come back here, simply. Too bold??????? Ben Nelson, was another who voted agaist it along with Warner and this guy....we don't need them. We should primary them.

I called the DNC and the state party of NE regarding Ben Nelson's vote. I asked why they keep him. A guy in the office who was an "intern" and very "chatty", said "Oh yes, our old ball and chain". I said yes,,,,whatzzz up?

He stated he is right on medicare and soc sec so they keep him. So...this klown voted against the jobs bill, and just when these votes are coming up now on these two key issues, where is Ben????????????????

Oh, he said he would not run again, just in time. His reason, they are going to put up a tough republican. Well, across the board voters like Medicare and Soc Sec.

When will our party learn, we don't need these guys?

[hobbit709]

2. One less DINO, but what will replace him?

[lonestarnot]

4. Out of MT there's no telling what that will look like. Could be worse.

[Cleita]

41. Gov. Schweitzer maybe. He would be an improvement. n/t

[Cha]

52. Brian Schweitzer?

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/295539-schweitzer-says-hes-considering-senate-run

[JoePhilly]

3. He's probably ready to "get paid".

[JohnnyBoots]

14. Probably starts

a consulting company to help Fortune 500's interpret the ACA.

[JoePhilly]

15. Yea, aka "avoid parts of it".

[JohnnyBoots]

19. Big bucks

for that I bet.

[backscatter712]

29. That and lobbying.

So he doesn't even have to leave the Capitol - he just upgrades to a much bigger paycheck and a nicer office, and still gets to hang out with the people from his old job.

Nice gig if you can get it...

[PA Democrat]

18. A lot of his former staffers have already gone that route.

They are well-represented on K Street.

[Laurian]

5. Then he should feel free to do the right thing

and vote to reduce gun violence......unless he plans to go to work for the NRA.

[premium]

6. No,

doing the right thing would be doing what his constituents elected him to do. Montana has a long and rich firearms history and Baucus was voting the way they wanted him to vote.

[geek tragedy]

8. Montanans oppose background checks to make sure violent felons can't buy guns?

I doubt the entire state is comprised of gun-humping fanatics.

[premium]

11. You ever lived in Montana?

Just about every one there owns firearms, and they are fiercely protective of their RKBA.
It wouldn't surprise me if Sen. Baucus' office was swamped with calls opposing this bill in it's entirety.

[geek tragedy]

13. I lived in North Dakota for 18 years,

I guess there is not much to say about people who want to make it easy for criminals to buy weapons to indulge their hobby/fetish, other than that such depraved extremists are a minority even in relatively backwards places like North Dakota and Montana.

http://libcloud.s3.amazonaws.com/9/d0/7/1400/MT_MAIG_Release_030513.pdf

[premium]

16. So we were neighbors for awhile.

I tend to agree with you, there are lots of, shall we say, interesting people living in Montana.
Had to leave there for warmer pastures, too damned cold during the winter.

[geek tragedy]

20. North Dakota's #1 export is high school graduates. nt

[DainBramaged]

22. a long and rich firearms history

Once in a blue moon you have to think of the good of the Nation instead of thinking about a long and rich firearms history. Come to think of it the US has a long and VERY rich history of selling arms to everyone.

The Republicans do everything in their power to fuck America without thinking of their constituents.


Jesus I cannot believe so sparsely populated a state has so much say over the rest of the Nation.

[premium]

24. If you've ever lived in Montana,

you'd know what I mean.
No pro gun control candidate is going to get elected.

[DainBramaged]

30. the guy KNEW HE WAS RETIRING you think he woke up this morning and decided

Last edited Tue Apr 23, 2013, 12:49 PM - Edit history (1)

if you think background checks are gun control, you belong elsewhere. Your 250,000 aren't going to tell the rest of the country what's right.


Have a nice life.




Voted Against DREAM Act, Background Checks... Sided With Banks... Backed Bush Tax Cuts... Linked To Lobbyists... 'The Max Baucus Health Care Lobbyist Complex'... Recommended Girlfriend For Federal Job... Delayed Health Care Reform, Ditched Public Option Supporters, Negotiated BIG PHARMA Deal


THIS is voting for his constituency. My ass.

[lonestarnot]

53. Yuck.

[frylock]

46. how do background checks negatively effect a long and rich firearms history?

[premium]

47. They don't

and I never said they did, however, it is Montana.

[graham4anything]

7. So he sold out after all. Calling The Great Equalizer to come in an defeat the NRA $$$to$$

one doesn't really need a name, long as they got the dollars and support.

And heavily focus on the women.
Demographically, anything is possible.

Besides, he was most likely going to lose, so it might turn out better.

[premium]

9. Calling in Bloomie to try to defeat an NRA backed candidate in Montana?

Apparently you have no idea about Montana's long and rich firearms history, the only thing that bringing in Bloomie to try to defeat an NRA backed candidate, or even a pro gun rights candidate would do, is ensure a repub. victory.

[JohnnyBoots]

17. Oh, come on

I am sure Montana loves carpetbagging plutocrats!

[premium]

21. Just about as much as Nevada liked him coming into our state with those

ridiculous gun control ad about 3 weeks ago.
Stupidest fucking ad I ever saw.

[premium]

27. Not even you can believe that Bloomie

can come into Montana with his money and defeat a pro gun/NRA backed candidate.

Oh, wait.............

[Buns_of_Fire]

10. And for those who'd like a link, here it is:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/04/23/baucus-to-retire-rather-than-seek-re-election-in-2014/

[11 Bravo]

23. There's your next "Democrat" to sign on with FoxNoise.

They'll have so much fairness and balance that it will ooze out of their assholes.

[truebluegreen]

26. Too bad he didn't use the opportunity to vote with the people

instead of the money boyz....of course, he needs to think of his next career.

[premium]

28. You don't know much about Montana, do you?

His vote reflects the will of the citizens of Montana.

[truebluegreen]

31. Well, as a former Bozonian,

I might know a little.

[premium]

36. My apologies,

then you definitely know what Montanans' are like, I used to live just outside of Helena, beautiful country, just too damn cold and too much snow during winter.

[truebluegreen]

39. Yeah, I do. The libertarian streak is strong and there are plenty of RWNJs

Last edited Tue Apr 23, 2013, 03:45 PM - Edit history (1)

like the Freemen and some actual crazies like Kaczynski but I don't think the no-regulation-ever stance is that strong. I still have many relatives and friends in Montana and they see the justification for background checks...I haven't seen any stats for Montana per se but if neighboring North Dakota--which I regard as Montana without the liberal bits--is overwhelmingly in favor (94%!), I'd be surprised if Montana isn't at least in play.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/295129-bill-daley-heitkamps-gun-vote-a-betrayal

P.S. no longer live in the Intermountain West but I actually miss the snow, and the winters (admittedly, they are not as hard as they were).

[premium]

40. You could be right,

I moved out of MT. over 15 years ago.
If neighboring ND is in favor, then it would stand to reason that MT is in favor of it also.

[truebluegreen]

42. We can only hope.

[Montana redneck]

38. Great TBBT tie-in

[stevenleser]

32. And we are going to get an ultra-rightwing teabagger as a replacement. I wont be celebrating. nt

[JaneyVee]

33. True, but we may be picking up a Liberal in SC.

[stevenleser]

34. Yes, thank providence for that. I'm really worried about the senate in 2014. nt

[sofa king]

48. I think SC will be harder.

Montana has half the population of Fairfax County, Virginia, which suggests that the state can still be won back by the sort of direct-contact campaign that President Obama has so masterfully run twice. A million dollar campaign could devote almost a buck to reaching each citizen individually, which is a ridiculous bargain almost anywhere else.

I also strongly suspect that much of Montana is undergoing the same demographic shift that my foothill-by-comparison area is undergoing, as Republican policies snap up peoples homes, kill off their jobs, lower their life expectancy, and force them into more urban areas where they can scratch up better transportation and health care. A great many people around America can no longer afford to vote against their own best interests--though some certainly will continue to do so.

Rural areas are being "liberalized" through brutal, shameful attrition. Montana seems likely to me to be among the first states to demonstrate that emerging, and unfortunately now inexorable, trend.

[Cleita]

43. If Gov Schweitzer runs, and that is the rumor, he's not a right

wing Tea Bagger and actually to the left of Baucus on social programs. He will have to dig his heels in though over the gun control issue IMHO.

[stevenleser]

45. That would be the best news I have heard today if that happens!!! nt

[FarCenter]

35. Baucus retirement casts spotlight on Brian Schweitzer in open race

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/04/23/baucus-retirement-casts-spotlight-on-brian-schweitzer-in-open-race/

[Montana redneck]

37. OFA and Jim Messina

Baucus wasn't planning on retiring until Jim Messina and OFA declared war on all who voted against the party on guns... Messina called Baucus and told him Gov. BS was their man. Retiring makes the transition to a new Dem senator in Montana a smooth easy change.BS will wrap himself in the Second Amendment to get elected, just as Testor did 6 months ago, then proceed to fuck the Montana voters.

[Cha]

50. Are you sure about that? So, you don't think expanded background

checks for gun owners is a good idea?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

44. He'll be missed...by the Republicans

[Cha]

49. David Shuster tweet on this..

David Shuster @DavidShuster

Senator @maxbaucus, your '14 retirement makes your vote against background checks even stranger. Insulting Newtown - the legacy you wanted?

http://theobamadiary.com/2013/04/23/chat-away-149/#comments

[Warpy]

51. Gee, I'll cry into my pillow all night over this news.

Too bad he wasn't thrown out a long time ago.

Maybe we'll see a real fluke and get a pro choice, common sense Democrat in there.

Yeah, I know, the state party will make sure it's another Baucus, afraid if they run a real Democrat instead of some GOP lite, they'll lose.

Funny how they never look at Governor Shweitzer and realize that sometimes a good Democrat wins on his own merit.