Discussion: Montana Dems Pick First-Term Rep. Curtis For U.S. Senate

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Discussion for article #226552

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So, any chance at all?

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A ‘gal’ for senate? Not sure Montana is ready but go for it.

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Just so she doesn’t issue her first policy position as opposing ACA and Obama as some other DINOS have done. She should lose the nose ring, however, ASAP.

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Um, let me introduce you to someone, Rob…

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Really? I mean, really?

And remember, this was before women could vote.

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I sense an echo in here. :smiley:

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Much as I dislike some of his recent actions, including sitting out this race, she would be wise to see how well her positions dovetail with Brian Schweitzer’s - the Governor has a pretty good grasp of the Montana voter.

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Rankin broke the "gal’ barrier just as Francis Perkins broke a gal barrier by becoming the first female Cabinet member,Secretary of Labor under FDR. I hear women roaring in the background.

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Did she write her own college papers?

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I don’t know enough about Montana Democratic politics to understand her selection. Perhaps she was the only one to step up other than Dirk Adams.

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@ Common and Rambler, Thanks for the incensed attribution to history. Apology to my great grandparent’s peer group and Montana’s colorful past.

The same ancestors who ran a still supplied by the Orange County Sheriff off duty officers who took the train to Bakersfield and Fresno to buy up dried grapes for raisin jack, before, after and during prohibition. :wink:

My post (is) cryptic as we are witnessing a more Teahaddist Montana, past not being prologue.

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Not really Rob. Montana politics have never really coincided with the national trends or definitions. In statewide races, it really is far more about the person than than the party. Witness the state sending Max Baucus (a very conservative Democrat, but a D in any case) to the Senate since the late 70s. The last three Gubenatorial elections have gone D and Jon Tester has been elected twice. On the other hand Montana has also sent Conrad Burns, and Daines to Washington along with a number of equally right-wing nut jobs. The “Teahadist” recipe of thinly veiled racism, evangelical bible thumping and railing against the ACA won’t really work in Montana right now.

A lot of the positions will, like being anti-gun control and states rights (to do whatever the hell they want) play very well. “Outside” money, and “outsiders” in general don’t. Montana is heavily dependent on Agriculture and more recently, Energy, with a smattering of tourism for its livelihood. Don’t mess with those, and you’ll be alright. Does Ms. Curtis have a shot? Maybe. If she can get Schweitzer and Tester (and perhaps even Baucus) behind her and campaigning for her? Absolutely.

(and yes, I was born and raised there, but sadly no longer live there)

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Amanda Curtis has a strong populist message-- in contrast to multimillionaire Daines-- and she has already started to contrast Daines’ 1% mindset with that of ordinary Montanans who are not represented by him.( We like to see ourselves as ‘regular folks’, like Jon Tester…and Amanda Curtis.)

Up to now, Daines has been full of nattering platitudes and vague good feelings set against a backdrop of majestic mountains and rolling plains. The guy is really far right at heart, but has been carefully avoiding his extreme positions (and the Walsh campaign wasn’t going there, either). One of the hottest issues right now is about preserving citizen access to public lands, where Montanans are adamantly opposed to privatization. Daines–naturally–is out of sync with us on this. He is also vulnerable on women’s issues, education, and Medicaid expansion. Curtis has said that she will get Daines to go on record during debates, and she plans to travel across the state for the next three months to meet Montanans face to face, a strategy that worked for both Baucus and Tester.

She’s ready to fight; I like that. I don’t know if she really does have a chance, but we’re not ready to roll over on our backs like dead bugs for the Daines coronation. There’s still time enough to do Jeanette Rankin proud.

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Thanks, I realize that Idaho and Montana were once on balance, mid stream politically. Hope she does well.