Stunning Poll Results for Montana GOP

Montana Cowgirl posted a poll today showing that 83% of Montanans believe that state government is being run efficiently, and 55% believe Montana’s economy is on the right track. She then tries to tie those results solely to the Executive branch of the Government. While the Executive branch runs the day to day operations of the government, the everyday citizen does not know the nuts and bolts of how the state government is run.

The vast majority of the news in the past year was about the Tea Party contingent of the Legislature. This is what people read and heard every single day about our government and as a result, in my humble opinion, is how they equate the direction of the Montana economy and the efficiency of the government.

The results of this survey bode very well for the Montana GOP, particularly the Tea Party branch of the GOP.

STATE ECONOMY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?					STATE GOVT EFFICIENT?
FL	27% YES	63% NO				47% YES	51% NO
IL	23% YES	74% NO				23% YES	76% NO
IN	28% YES	53% NO				77% YES	16% NO
MI	23% YES	56% NO				41% YES	53% NO
NY	26% YES	58% NO				62% YES	37% NO
MT	55% YES	37% NO				83% YES	17% NO
NC	18% YES	70% NO				55% YES	39% NO
OH	20% YES	71% NO				49% YES	42% NO
PA	29% YES	62% NO				45% YES	53% NO
WI	39% YES	51% NO				57% YES	37% NO

*Chart from Montana Cowgirl Blog




I get a kick how the circle jerkers at Montana Cowgirl are patting themselves on the back and feeling smug over these results. That will just make it all the more easier to defeat them in the next election and expand our majorities in the Legislature and regain the Governor's seat.

I wonder if any of the CJs will come over here to debate me on this. I know they won't because they don't have the courage or confidence to leave their small minded little world.  

Renter's Rebate

When I read this, I was a bit put off that Democratic Rep. Kendall Van Dyk would propose renters get a $400 rent equivalent property tax rebate. I was ready to fire off a post decrying what a rotten idea it was to redistribute people's earnings this way.

The more I thought, however, the more I liked the idea. It will take $43 million more from the projected $1 billion State Treasury surplus and distribute it to renters. I'm always fine with taxpayers getting to keep more of their money to spend as they see fit. Having been a renter in my younger days for many years, I knew part of my rent paid the property taxes on the property. Most renters work and pay income taxes, license their cars, and pay other state taxes and fees so I am fine with them getting some of that back.

I think the Republican alternative for permanent property tax relief is far better and more fair and would hope that it would pass but I understand it won't be as popular as the $400 rebate. I would certainly benefit more from this alternative but I also am realistic enough to understand it probably won't be successful.

Bottom line, anytime we can get people's money back into their pocket, I am for it! I'll be happy to cash my $400 check and spend it frivolously.

Does Anybody Else Think This is Fishy?

Governor Brian Schweitzer has been heavily promoting renewable and green energy development in the state since he was elected. This is a good thing, particularly for Eastern Montana's economy which has been suffering for a long time.

Yesterday, it was reported that the Public Service Commission approved new prices for small “renewable” power projects in Montana selling to NorthWestern Energy, with Republicans arguing the decision will cost electric ratepayers more money. Democrats said the decision will help encourage development of small wind-power and other alternative energy projects across Montana.

I am 100% certain that the Governor supports this increase so that the development of small wind-power projects will be encouraged. Why wouldn't he?

It appears his brother, Walter, owns a company, Repower Montana, a small energy venture that's investigating a possible wind project in Judith Basin County.

So now we know how Walter is going to be compensated for his adviser role to Brian.

MT GOP Votes Conservatives Into House Leadership

The Montana GOP voted one of it's most conservative members as Speaker of the House. Scott Sales from Bozeman is the right man to lead the party back to prominence in the Montana government.

It's a relief that the House Republicans see the reason they have been weakened. They fell for the Liberal and Moderate call for bipartisanship, compromise, and getting along. What Liberals mean by bipartisanship and compromise is to believe and support Liberal policies. While Moderates just go along with whatever sounds the least controversial.

Speaker-Elect Sales will be pushing forward bills that define them as Republicans - permanent property tax relief, harsher penalties for sex offenders, a "personal defense" bill, and giving parents more rights over a child's decision to have an abortion.

He is also going to try to make some cuts on Schweitzer's $700 million, a 22% budget increase!

To the Republicans in the State House and Senate, fight for what you stand for and for your core beliefs. Don't fall for the getting along bipartisanship smokescreen the Liberals and media promote. It's a one sided proposal where you are on the wrong side.

Kitzenberg's Betrayal

Sam Kizenberg's betrayal to the Republican Party is stirring things up in Montana. In a clear case of Liberal media bias, this article claims Kizenberg is a "moderate Republican" implying "regular" Republicans are extreme and on the fringe and Democrats are closer to the mainstream. Here is the opening line of the article.

HELENA - A moderate Republican state senator who is switching parties was blasted by GOP leadership for giving Democrats firm control of the state Senate...

Kitzenberg is clearly a Liberal who switched parties as a payoff to Schweitzer for hiring him a few months ago as a Revenue Department analyst.

But the timing of Kitzenberg's move, which breaks a 25-25 tie in the Senate following last week's elections and comes on the heals of Kitzenberg's new job, miffs Republicans."We had serious concerns last year when he took that position," said state Sen. Corey Stapleton, R-Billings. "It was quid pro quo, what did they want from him? "Our worst fears came true."

Kitzenberg did not immediately return a call seeking comment Tuesday morning.

It "smelled of political payoff," Valley County GOP chair Peter Hellend said of Kitzenberg's job and party affiliation switch.The Senate now goes to 26-24 in favor of the Democrats.

Rep. John Sinrud, R-Bozeman has even posted Kitzenberg's resume and the Department of Revenue job description on his web site. It's pretty clear to me that Kitzenberg is not qualified for the job.

The Schweitzer Administration is tying themselves in knots trying to defend his hiring. But it's very transparent why they did now that he's switched parties.

Bucks said he heard from the governor's staff that Kitzenberg had applied for a state job, then called him about the outreach position. Bucks said Kitzenberg's experience as a member of the Senate Taxation Committee and as a senator representing a rural district made him perfect for the job.

Kitzenberg was hired as a temporary employee, allowing him to be offered the position without a competitive hiring process. Kitzenberg said he would have been happy to compete for the job. As it is, he must reapply within a year and compete against any other applicants.If he continues in the job, it still expires by 2009, when the reappraisal process will be completed, Bucks said.

It looks like some serious ethical issues here in our State Democratic Party.

Hundreds Show up For Tester Rally (Schweitzer Encourages Voter Fraud) While Thousands Show up For Burns.

Over 300 people showed up for a rally and there were 100 outside the UC center at UM for a Tester rally headed by Governor Schweitzer and Max Baucus! Wow, almost 400 people in Missoula came to rally for Tester. On the same day over 5000 people attended a rally in Billings for Conrad Burns headed by President Bush.

Seems that the Conservative Base is more energized at this critical point in the election while the Liberal Base seems to be fading.

Montana Democrats must be feeling a bit desperate as Gov Schweitzer encouraged the "huge" crowd to "vote early and vote often". Publicly encouraging voter fraud is pretty bold. I am hoping the Missoulian and The Missoula Independent investigates this.

Schweitzer also said something that bothers me. I've heard a lot of Liberals say this about Burns.

Said Schweitzer: “Missoula will decide if a man of the prairie, a man of Montana,” will be the next U.S. senator, or if it will be an “auctioneer from Missouri ... a man bought and paid for by Washington, D.C., lobbyists.”

It's interesting that he is cutting down Burns for not being a born and raised Montanan. I would venture that half of Missoula's population are not native Montanans. So to use this as an argument seems to be foolish as it will alianate those who are not native.

Just another example of Liberal elitism and arrogance.

Governer Schwietzer Wants Oil Refineries in Montana!

It's nice to see our Democrat governer is a common sense guy.

I've met him and have seen him speak and took a liking to him and this makes me like him even more!

Thank you Governer!