The spectacle of Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer’s speech and the glee Democrats displayed over having a real, live over-the-top, walking (wildly inaccurate) stereotype of “regula Midwest folk” dance like a trick monkey for them was pa-the-tic. Sadly, for me, others have already put this into more eloquent context:
Instead of being a proudly contrarian executive of an oil-drilling state, he became a populist rancher raging against “petro-dictators,” domestic drilling, and “tax breaks for big oil.” Leaning back, then leaning forward with his finger pointed like the guns he didn’t mention, Schweitzer country-drunk slurred his insults against the Republican candidate who’d bring “Mora-tha-same!” Surprise! His performance killed! The buzz among delegates on the interminable path out of the arena, lined with golf carts, blown-up fetus pictures, and bullhorn-hogging bearded loudmouths, was that the large fella with the bolo tie and jeans was this year’s Obama 2004.
When Schweitzer claims “we must invest” in projects he likes, he means government will take it and invest it for you. You see, you must. Then Schweitzer claimed (in a half truth) that Republican nominee John McCain voted “against” solar energy, biofuels and wind energy. Which is weird, because I could swear my neighbor has solar panels, so they must be legal. I know I’ve seen windmills. So I suppose that Schweitzer meant that McCain voted against some federal boondoggle for wind and/or solar energy.
