Schweitzer watch

Sure, I spend a lot of time talking about a first-term governor of Montana, but I think there's lots of lessons to be learned from this corner of the country. And the guy is entertaining, no doubt about it.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer hand-delivered a new liquor license to the owner of the landmark M&M Cigar Store on Thursday, and used bolt cutters to snip the chain that has held the saloon's doors shut for nearly two years.

"It's great to have it open again," Schweitzer said after throwing back a shot of scotch. "May she never close." [...]

"If I don't get anything else done while I'm governor, we got the M&M open," he added.

Over the top? No doubt. But man, that's some great images of a real guy being a real guy. A genuine version of Bush's fake ranch.

For the more intellectually nuanced amongst us, there's something here for you too -- this bar was declared the "ideal bar" by Jack Kerouac.