Update [2005-3-4 11:36:46 by Armando]: From the diaries by Armando.
This story is just hitting the Montana papers, but it was covered nationally in the LA Time's last Tuesday headlined "Montana Governor Not Cowed by Bush".
WASHINGTON -- President Bush often quips that the aura of the White House intimidates visitors, leaving would-be critics to express only niceties.
But the presidential mansion -- and its current occupant -- apparently did not have that effect Monday on Montana's new governor, who made some sharp comments after Bush tried to promote his Social Security overhaul to a group of governors consumed by other matters.
A no-nonsense rancher and wheat farmer who took office six weeks ago in a Republican state, Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer likened the president's pitch to a magic show trick featuring a rabbit in a hat.
He also compared it to a bull auction hawking lousy studs.
"I was watching the governors around the room," said Schweitzer, comparing the group to potential livestock buyers who assess the wares and express their intentions with head-nods or nose-crinkles.
"I was seeing more of this," he said, crinkling his nose as if detecting a foul odor, "than I was of this," he said, nodding his head. "I didn't see a lot of buyers in the room."
Schweitzer is great with his down home humor, which continues to go over well in most of Montana although even some of my friends role their eyes at more ranch jokes. But some Montana republicans are not laughing, and find his comments "harsh" and too mean:
From the Helena Independent Record:
"Honey works a lot better than vinegar," said Senate Minority Leader, Bob Keenan, R-Bigfork, who wrote the governor expressing his concerns. "The real Brian Schweitzer uses harsh words that don't serve a productive end."
Schweitzer, however, disputes any references to "harsh words." The governor said he was not critical of Bush, but was critical of the president's proposals as were many other governors attending the meeting in Washington D.C.
Schweitzer arrived home late Wednesday and had not yet seen Keenan's letter.
Schweitzer referred to Bush's ideas for revamping Social Security as a magic trick, distracting states with Social Security on one hand while cutting programs that could affect Montana in the other.
"The budget disproportionately is being cut on the backs of states like Montana," Schweitzer said in an interview Thursday. "(Bush) continues to talk about Social Security while he cuts agricultural programs, irrigation and Medicaid. I think this is a grand discussion about something that occurs 20 years from now, but so we can cut programs in the heartland right now."
One thing western repubs don't like is anyone disagreeing with the Dubya, especially while using western ranch jokes, which are only allowed to be used by ranchers such as the departed Ronald Reagan and his ideological heir, the Dubya. The difference between Schwietzer and the two republican presidents, is that he is a real rancher and farmer, and doesn't have to act the role.
It's hilarious to have republicans tell democrats that they are too mean. These are some of the same people who in the fall campaign accused Schweitzer of having ties to terrorists through his work with an irrigation project in Libya. If they are crying, it means you have hit them where it hurts.
I have to give Montnana repubs some credit though. Having been forced into the minority party in the state for the first time in twenty years, they know how to play opposition pretty well. The local repubs have never missed an opportunity to grab headlines, or throw a wrench into the workings of the demo controlled state legislature. But they are up against a master with Brian Schweitzer.