Say what? The Washington Examiner reports that Democrats are proposing to exempt unionized workers from the massive tax hike needed to fund government health care:With cost estimates already as high as $1.6 trillion, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., has proposed paying for the bill in part by taxing health care benefits for workers who earn more than $100,000, or $200,000 for married couples, according to those familiar with the discussions. Baucus is also weighing a tax based on the value of health care benefits that exceed a yet-to-be determined cap. A tax on benefits that exceed the cap by a mere $3,000 could amount to $750 in taxes annually for a worker who earns as little as $34,000, say experts. But those … [Read more...]
Montana Dem Gov. Brian Schweitzer Bragging about Election Abuses
It seems that Montana's Democrat Governor Brian Schweitzer has been out and about bragging to a gaggle of trial lawyers that he abused his power to help skew a close 2006 U.S. Senate election. Schweitzer now says it was all just a big joke. Listen for yourself - just go and check out Montana Pundit for the whole scoop. It kind of hearkens you back to a book written by a national talk radio host. … [Read more...]
Pollster Floyd Ciruli Rehashes Reasons for Bill Ritter’s Sinking Popularity
In today's Rocky Mountain News, Colorado Democrat pollster Floyd Ciruli takes a cold, analytical look at Gov. Bill Ritter's approval ratings -- boiled down, the picture isn't pretty for the potential one-term governor:Surprisingly, new Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter may be in trouble. When compared with his Montana counterpart, Gov. Brian Schweitzer, in recent Rasmussen polls, Ritter's job rating lags behind Schweitzer by 19 points. Only 45 percent of Colorado voters gave Ritter an excellent or good job rating, whereas 64 percent of Montanans rated Schweitzer as doing an excellent or good job. Floyd Ciruli cites a litany of reasons for Bill Ritter's sagging popularity, reasons that have been regular themes of this and other local new media … [Read more...]
Montana GOP Nominates Socialist Octogenarian to Run for U.S. Senate
It sounds like Republican Party ideals are not exactly in their heyday in Montana (H/T Volokh Conspiracy):Republican U.S. Senate nominee Bob Kelleher wants a “nonviolent revolution†to overthrow the foundation of American government. He favors enormous, FDR-style government work programs to reduce poverty; he wants to nationalize the American oil and gas industries and supports government-run, socialized medicine. He has little nice to say about President Bush or former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot. Political scientists and the head of the Montana Republican Party say Kelleher, 85, isn’t really a Republican, at all. And yet, two days ago, Kelleher beat five other, mostly conservative to mainstream GOP candidates to become the … [Read more...]
Barack Obama: Man of Contradiction
Powerline has the goods: Within less than 24 hours, the Obama messiah completely contradicts himself:Barack Obama, last night in Portland, on Iran: "They don't pose a serious threat to us." Barack Obama, today, in Billings, Montana, on Iran: "I've made it clear for years that the threat from Iran is grave." Powerline also has video. So which is it: Is Iran a serious threat, or not? Or is it beyond us mere peons to dare question the great Obama? … [Read more...]