The Kaimin reporter turns to the president of the College Democrats, of course, who pooh-poohs the candidates as sacificial lambs. I see, sort of like Jim Hunt - ? Anyway, I know Steve, Dan and Jed, and think they would be great, energetic antidotes to the Democrat deadweights who let the governor lead them around by the nose in the last session.Three University of Montana students are running to become Montana state representatives in Helena and will be on Missoula ballots in November. All three are members of the College Republicans and are running in Democrat-dominated districts in Missoula.
They are not swayed by the odds, though, and all said they have a good chance of winning. Jedediah Cox is running in House District 99 against incumbent Betsy Hands; Steve Dogiakos is running in House District 93 (which includes UM) against retired economics professor Richard Barrett; and Dan Stusek is running in House District 92 against incumbent Robin Hamilton.
The House of Representatives is an entry-level job. The seats are supposed to be filled by a wide cross section of citizen lawmakers, not just by a privileged class of nonprofit mavens and public employees who can so easily, it seems, get a leave of absence to lobby from the floor of the House.
Naturally, Jeering Jay Stevens sniffs at the temerity of these young guys, who have the gall to run for office as Republicans in a Democrat college town, discommoding at least two comfortable incumbents. Now they have to deal with an opponent instead of casually waltzing into office while stumping for their more challenged Democrat candidates up the Bitterroot. Why, it's outrageous that they should have to campaign at all!
And they these new guys have the nerve to run on education issues - aren't they responsible for funding decisions in the 1990s? Oh, wait...
So, what is Jay's problem with these three young candidates - that they are running as Republicans or that they might lose? Somehow I don't think it's the latter. As for the former, that's democracy, bud.
7 comments:
“That’s democracy, bud.”
People like Jay Stevens, Montana’s premiere stay-at-home mom, just love democracy as long as it is lurching leftward toward the abyss of socialism. But when democracy yields a contrary result, that’s an abomination. That has to be election fraud!
Enough cracks on SAHMs. Some of us do work our butts off to make sure our kids grow up right in this crazy world.
Back on topic: Good for those three young men for at least trying. Hope they succeed!
-Cammy
Carol, I think it's great that some of the younger people - no matter which party they are from - are throwing their hats in the ring and running to be state Rep.
However, I wonder why you can't just focus on that (ie the positive of young people running for office) rather than taking some unnecessary shots at the people who are currently serving as Reps of those districts? I mean, I live in HD 92 and my understanding is that my Rep (who I support and have voted for...and will vote for again) is a retired high school teacher. Somehow that qualifies my Rep as part of the "privileged class" in your book? That's just strange.
Carol, I just now went and read the Kaimin's article and based on that article I'd like to point out some instances where you are completely not telling the whole story.
For starters, based on your post I was expected a "hack job" by the reporter. Instead, upon reading the article for myself, I think the reporter did a great job talking to the three young republicans from UM running for the state house. I learned quite a bit about each of them and some of their stances on important issues. The reporter also talked to quite a few additional sources. I thought everyone was dealt with in a very even handed manner.
I didn't see anywhere in the article where the president of the college Dems (Scott Martin) "pooh-poohs the candidates as sacificial (sic) lambs" as you claim. While he doesn't think they have much of a chance in these historically democratic districts, he never used the word "sacrificial lamb."
I also wonder why you'd leave out this quote from the Martin about the three young republicans?
“They’re all great guys, they’re all nice guys, but their views don’t walk in step with the students on this campus."
Carol, you then go on to say "The House of Representatives is an entry-level job. The seats are supposed to be filled by a wide cross section of citizen lawmakers, not just by a privileged class of nonprofit mavens...."
Apparently this is a dig at Betsy Hands. Ok, so what did Hands have to say about these candidates? Y Oh, you don't tell us that, but at the end of the story there is this:
"Hands said she takes these candidacies very seriously, and said having young people in the Legislature is encouraging. “I think there are a lot of young people in the Legislature that are showing great promise,” Hands said. “I respect that kind of diversity.”
Finally, you take on Jay Stevens saying he "sniffs at the temerity of these young guys" and you provide a link back to the Kaimin article. I've looked the article and the comment over 3 times now and unless I'm completely blind I don't see Jay's name anywhere...??? Did you link to the wrong thing?
Regardless, I just wanted to point out a few instances of where I thought you were playing pretty lose with what was actually in the article.
No I didn't think the story was a hack job at all. I'm glad the Kaimins finally saw the story here. It's just funny the reporter had to run it by the College Dems. What were they expected to say?
And yeah, I get tired of all the public employees and nonprofit entrepreneurs who can get away to Helena to work the levers of government. There are a LOT of teachers in the legislature, and maybe three lawyers. ;-)
There are also a lot of rabidly partisan Republicans who deliberately stop things from getting done.
Choose.
'Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind.
--King Lear, IV, I
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