First Impressions

April 6, 2008 in 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Democrats, Hillary Clinton, Max Baucus, Montana, Montana Democrats, Montana politics

by Rebecca Schmitz

Okay, so while I’m downloading 139 photos (130 of which will probably be blurry) and a movie of yesterday’s events from my digital camera, I wanted to share something from the Mansfield-Metcalf Dinner: no one cares about Max Baucus.

That might be an exaggeration, but anyone paying attention to the audience couldn’t have thought otherwise. Cece–jhwygirl and I sat with her, Shane, and their families–live blogged about the crowd’s ho-hum reaction to his speech. Just like in the Adams Center people were enthralled with Obama. They were enthusiastic (if slightly less energetic due to the wine, beer and length of the program) for Hillary, and very friendly to Tester, Schweitzer and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. But Max? During his time at the podium, people stepped outside for a smoke, used the bathroom, got themselves another drink or another hors d’oeuvre, wandered around the Civic Center, and visited with friends and colleagues. I think Cece perfectly summed it up in her post. Take note, Max.

do you think baucus is getting the hint yet. Pay attention to your constituents or we won’t pay attention to you. simple enough?

Ouch.

19 Replies

  1. Jim Lang

    April 6, 2008 at 7:31 pm

    like the elephant in the room no one can dislodge

    Reply
  2. jhwygirl

    April 6, 2008 at 7:47 pm

    Awww, come one – no love at all for Max? Seriously? He put out for the lighting and stage, which had to be more extensive because of the guests. He does “bring it home” for Montana – and he’s boosting up Democrats across the state.

    He’s made several attempts and rolling back tax cuts for big oil while adding tax incentives for alternative energy resource development. Isn’t that something we all want?

    Jon has love for Max, or he’s really good at faking it. And I doubt Jon would fake something like that. Doesn’t the fact that Jon hearts Max account for anything?

    CHIP funding?

    All that being said – What, no mention of the Hillary Mosh Pit? The front half of the floor was packed when she came on!

    Both Obama and Hillary had the crowd, I thought. Different styles, but both were fabulous speakers. America will be a far better place when either of them are our next President.

    All eyes (well, maybe not all, but a whole hell of a lot) were on Montana yesterday and today. CNN covered a bunch of stuff, Hillary live today, and the M&M dinner yesterday…I didn’t see any of Obama at the Adam’s Center – but with getting ready and all, I bet it was on – news media were all over the place…..

    Reply
  3. Jim Lang

    April 6, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    Max has been on the wrong side of a lot of key issues for a long time, he mostly votes right when it comes to voting for majority leader and until lately he’s been relatively solid on judicial confirmations. Where he really lost me was on the bankruptcy bill and especially some of its amendments. Of course I’ll vote for him in November, considering the possible alternatives.

    Reply
  4. Rebecca

    April 6, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    True, I did dub the crowd in front of the stage the “Hillary Mosh Pit”. No one was standing there for Obama like that.

    Max might have put up the signs and strung the lights last night, but no one stuck around to enjoy the scenery during his speech. He only courts Democrats during an election year. The rest of his term he’s Republican Lite.

    Reply
  5. Pogie

    April 6, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    More importantly, what did you think of the Pogreba-Neiffer ‘08 sign? :)

    Reply
  6. Rebecca

    April 6, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    Your sign was the first we–well, Shane and Cece–noticed when we sat down, Pogie. I think it added a touch of class to the room. ;-)

    Reply
  7. jhwygirl

    April 6, 2008 at 8:53 pm

    I took a nice shot of the Pogreba/Neiffer sign – that had to cost you – it’s bigger than Brian’s! That’ll definitely be posted!

    When I am fully decompressed, I’ll have some pics of not only Brian and two of my favorites – Art Noonan and Steve Gallus – but also some Missoula politicos.

    The lady I was sitting next to was pretty important – Brian and Monica Lindeen both stopped by to say hello – and a whole bunch of others that I didn’t know.

    Reply
  8. jhwygirl

    April 6, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    Jim – he got some hate mail from me (2 or 3 letters, if my memory serves me) on that bankruptcy ‘reform’ – when was that? 2004? 2005?

    I’m drafting a letter to him on the upcoming discussion on finance reform – and I ask that you do the same.

    He needs to hear from Montanan’s – not after-the-fact, but before. All elected needs to hear from us before the vote.

    Reply
  9. Clearwater

    April 6, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    Max has the unfortunate job at those events of being the most known quantity. As the state’s senior senator, would you want to speak between a master orator presidential frontrunner, a popular new Senator, a dynamic female Senator from another state, and perhaps the most accomplished female politician in US history? If people were using Max’s speech to grab food, etc… It was probably because most of the people in the room have heard him speak umpteen times.

    It should also be said that he apparently spent a heap of money sprucing the place up and providing AV so that we could put on a good show for our visiting POTUS candidates.

    Reply
  10. petetalbot

    April 6, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    He may deserve it but whenever we criticize Max, that numbnuts over at Big Sky Cairn (and other conservative bloggers) pick it up and run with it. So I’m going to stop for awhile. I’ve tried explaining to those right-wing scum-sucking dogs that we criticize Max because we think he’s capable of change. Those Neanderthal cretins running against Max couldn’t evolve in an eon. But try getting that message through to the conservative, knucklehead bloggers.

    Reply
  11. jhwygirl

    April 6, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    Our Senior Senator Max Baucus spent $15,000 on staging and lighting AND worked with Bresnan cable to make sure that the dinner was broadcast live in the 4 markets where it was possible to do so – Billings, Bozeman, Helena, and Missoula.

    I know of several people that watched it live here in Missoula – including at least one little girl who saw a woman running for President of the United States of America.

    Democrats aren’t robots – Considering how herding cats is easier, how in the hell, pray tell, can Max keep everyone happy?

    And yeah – I’m keeping that Max 2008 bumper sticker on my car!

    Reply
  12. JC

    April 6, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    The inside word has the Bresnan home office solidly behind Obama. I think the only work Max had to do to get Bresnan onboard and the event broadcast was to say yes you can.

    I did watch the M&M broadcast. It was a nice respite from the harrowing McDonald pass over and back I did earlier in the day in the middle of a whiteout.

    I just wished someone could have channeled a little Jeanette Rankin at the event. She did give way to Mansfield in the House after her principled vote against WWII turned the public sentiment against her.

    Reply
  13. Rebecca

    April 7, 2008 at 6:13 am

    How can Max keep everyone happy? He can start by not voting for wars of choice, wingnut Supreme Court candidates and anti-consumer protection bills.

    Regardless, most Democrats will still vote for him. Big Sky Cairn and other conservatives don’t get it: they’ve got has-beens, unknowns, and a John Hinckley Jr wannabe (just what is it about Jodie Foster, anyway?) running against Max. Of course he’s gonna win.

    Reply
  14. jhwygirl

    April 7, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    I just hope, Rebecca, that people write Baucus and let him know. During the Alito vote? I must have wrote him 3 emails over 2 days. I wanted him to filibuster the vote, at least – take a stand. Was I alone? I wonder how many that didn’t like that (or the vote for Roberts) actually let him know?

    Same with bankruptcy (although I think that was only 2 letters (not emails) over a longer length of time) and Medicare reform (same again – letters, not emails). Both of those, though, were really years ago.

    I’m guilty, but I’ve promised myself that I’m going to write him on the financial reform that is beginning to be kicked around.

    I hope all of our readers write Baucus and let him know where we think the problem lies in the mortgage meltdown and what we think should or could be done.

    Cause I don’t want to be the only one.

    Reply
  15. Cece

    April 7, 2008 at 12:23 pm

    Sorry guys, yes I did post that, we appear to be having technical difficulties on the post, and will try and get it back up.

    Reply
  16. Rebecca

    April 7, 2008 at 1:36 pm

    I just hope, Rebecca, that people write Baucus and let him know.

    Okay, now you’re just blaming the victim. He’s not a dimbulb who needs half a million pen pals to tell him how to vote like a Democrat. I’m sure many of us have written letters to him over the years; sometimes we get a relevant response, sometimes it’s just a form letter. Rather than making promises to yourself, why not just hold Max to a higher standard? Believe me, his voting record isn’t due to not hearing from you, his Democratic pal in Missoula, on a regular basis.

    Reply
  17. jhwygirl

    April 7, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    Oh, come on Rebecca, I’m not blaming the victim. You just can’t vote and walk away. You know that. It is a republic form of government we have – not a democracy. People have to take steps to have their voice heard.

    Who’s the victim? He’s not a mind reader.

    And, believe it or not, he represents everyone here in Montana, not just Democrats. There’s a whole bunch of those ‘others’ out there that have a voice also. Maybe like 50%???? At least?

    I want to hold Max to a higher standard – and he’s going to know what that higher standard is….and it ain’t gonna be by reading my mind.

    Upcoming finance reform is important – I don’t want this to be driven by Bush. I want our side to know that we want a fight. That we don’t want corporate protection masked as consumer reform. Yelling loudly know, while they’re putting the debate together is far more effective then commenting on it once it’s in the pipeline.

    Keep in mind, he took input from Montanans as well as he could on the stimulus package – which you know I wasn’t happy about. If he was unresponsive to Montana, we’d have no upper income limit, a higher ’stimulus’ check, and no cash for senior citizens and veterans. More so, if he had been able to get what he wanted, we’d of also have seen removals of tax cuts for big oil and addition of tax incentives for development of alternative renewable energy resources and technology.

    Reply
  18. Rebecca

    April 7, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    Really? Max doesn’t read minds? Golly gee, I guess all these years I’ve spent contacting the Senator with my ouija board have come to naught. I assumed it was Max who answered “yes 1 g t u 9″ when I asked the planchette who I would marry and if there would be a vote against the Iraq War.

    You can make all the excuses you want, but there’s only one word for someone who’s “extremely proud” of his work on Medicare Plan D:

    tool

    Reply
  1. 1 Big Sky Cairn » Blog Archive » Where are Max Baucus supporters? Pingback on Apr 6th, 2008 at 6:51 pm

    [...] on a single night out.  He’s out of touch and it’s not just conservatives that are noticing it. They were enthusiastic (if slightly less energetic due to the wine, beer and length of the [...]


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