Imperial Trappings
In today’s Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Joel Connelly gives the best argument I’ve seen to date for 2006 as a “change election”: the arrogance of power.
The evidence is right here in front of us in Montana. Lately, Republicans like Conrad Burns have done their best to alienate voters with their remarks. And the worst part — they don’t seem to know or care about how out of touch they become.
In the Northwest, we can hope Conrad Burns goes down to a flaming defeat.
. . .
Even after the airport incident, Burns persisted in saying that the Virginia firefighters “didn’t do a goddamned thing” and that members of the elite firefighting team “just sit around.”
Now, Burns eventually issued an apology, but only after a public outcry about his remarks. Voters are ready for a change, and candidates like Jon Tester mark a change of pace, and a change of attitude in Washington.
Montana has a history of turning out great U.S. senators. As Senate majority leader, Mike Mansfield tried to steer Lyndon Johnson away from the fiasco of Vietnam.
Burton Wheeler helped block Franklin D. Roosevelt’s bid to pack the U.S. Supreme Court.
A plainspoken organic farmer from Big Sandy, Mont., could be in that tradition. Jon Tester, president of the Montana state Senate, is pulling ahead of Burns in the polls.
Posted on Wednesday, August 30th, 2006 at 9:21 pm. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
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