Brian Schweitzer, Would-Be Liberal Hero, is an NRA Darling (he also supports Keystone XL)

[Cali_Democrat]

BY SAM KLEINER

For a man who says that running for President would “ruin his life,” Brian Schweitzer certainly looks to be heading in that direction. Dividing his time between rancorous stump speeches in Iowa and Sunday morning talk shows, the former governor of Montana is angling to position himself as the populist alternative to Hillary Clinton. Firing shots about her tendency to “shift hard right,” Schweitzer is trying to position himself as the progressive for 2016. After a widely-lauded speech to the Democratic Convention in 2008, Schweitzer is hoping to follow in the footsteps of an earlier convention standout who went on to win an unexpected primary against Clinton.

Despite the hype, the reality is that Schweitzer comes with a troublingly conservative record that ought to undercut populist credentials.

<...>

The problem is that the story he is selling about his own career is based on lore, not reality. While liberals may like the bolo ties and screeds about hating Washington, Schweitzer will have a difficult time selling his conservative record on guns and the environment to a primary audience.

Becoming famous as a “blue man in a red state,” Schweitzer compromised on core liberal commitments to gun control and allied himself with the NRA. In his 2008 run, Schweitzer was endorsed by the NRA with an “A” rating and a personal visit by Wayne LaPierre for a campaign rally. Schweitzer signed an array of NRA-backed bills into law, including a 2009 “stand your ground” bill that the NRA called a “victory.”

<...>

On the environment, Schweitzer has similarly been far to the right of the Democratic Party, and he isn’t sorry about it. He blamed “jackasses” in Washington for the delays on the building of the Keystone Pipeline. <...> He has been one of the strongest advocates for expanding coal production, with extensive plans to ship coal to China. That plan has been met with fierce resistance from groups such as the Sierra Club. Western Democrats have a rich tradition of being the vanguards of the party’s environmentalist wing, but Schweitzer does not fit there.

Read more: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116138/brian-schweitzer-2016-populist-hopeful-nra-darling

[Nye Bevan]

1. A governor of Montana opposing gun control?

That's about as surprising as the Pope opposing public gay sex in Saint Peter's Square.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Ya, not surprising

But his record on the environment is pretty absurd. He supports Keystone and expanding coal production.

[Common Sense Party]

3. So he's a Democrat that would poll well in flyover country.

We can't have that.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. He also wants to repeal the ACA. nt

[laundry_queen]

5. And replace it with single payer.

the previous threads aren't enough for you guys? Got sad they were sinking?

[Cali_Democrat]

6. Don't worry...this guy will be super easy to tear down

Like taking candy from a baby.

[laundry_queen]

7. Why are you enjoying destroying a fellow dem so much?

Why don't you go attack some Republicans? Isn't that what you always tell 'liberal dems'??

[Cali_Democrat]

9. I don't even consider this guy a Dem

He's a Republican posing as a Dem IMO.

[laundry_queen]

10. You should look up the definition of hypocrisy. Really. nt

[baldguy]

15. Schweitzer is trying to make news by tearing down a popular Democratic President

and you accuse the OP of hypocrisy?

[laundry_queen]

16. Yes, I do, because it's exactly what is happening.

And enough with the hyperbole - "tearing down". Oy. Where do you guys get this stuff?

[baldguy]

17. Makes one think of people living in glass houses casting stones...

[laundry_queen]

18. Sure does. nt

[baldguy]

20. I'll await your thread criticzing Schweitzer & anyone else working on "destroying a fellow dem".

Or is that only acceptable when Obama the one targeted for destruction?

[laundry_queen]

21. You're a hoot

that comment was said tongue in cheek in response to all the ZOMG!!! hyperbolic threads.

I don't really give a shit about Schweitzer as a contender...if you go have a look in an other thread, I criticize him for his gay rights stance. I just think it's highly ironic the attacks on a Dem are okay when the Dem isn't Obama. From now on, I don't want to EVER again hear, in a thread criticizing Obama POLICY "why RU attacking dEMS? Attack the repukes!" because these multiple threads today show it's not about Democrats at all - it's about one man only.

[baldguy]

22. Hamlet, act III, scene II

You've been caught out.

[laundry_queen]

24. Cryptic. nt

[DisgustipatedinCA]

23. You'll be here all week? Should we be sure to tip waitstaff?

[geek tragedy]

8. Loves guns and Keystone, hates Medicaid and the ACA.

Awesomeness.

[TheKentuckian]

11. Who are these Democrats that oppose Keystone that are running?

I thought the "company line" was to learn to love the pipeline?

I vehemently oppose the pipeline but it would seem we'll be thin on environmental stewards as options and it seems silly to bag Sweitzer on this but give Obama and Clinton a pass. Obama has put some resources into green energy, unlike his predecessors so he deserves an ovation for that though I consider it like a bucket (much more than a drop) in an endless sea and he has been pretty damned carbon friendly. Hillary appears to have her fingerprints all over this pipeline. Bill is all for it.

Who is the potential environmental candidate and would we be considered "purists" for insisting on them?

As far as the gun rights, I'm more than good with that piece of the puzzle so I see it as a feature rather than a bug, I'm not clear on how curtailing the Bill of Rights is liberal but lots seem hot and heavy on it so on this subject we just have to agree to disagree as we have a form of government argument in play, even though we agree on its role.

[SidDithers]

12. The libertarian left is loving Schweitzer...

How long before Greenwald is writing a glowing puff-piece.

Sid

[dionysus]

13. if obama had gotten a personal visit from wayne lapierre, the outrage bucket would runneth over...

this from a crew who supposedly hates red state "DINOs".

smells like, hypocrisy...

anything to use as a cudgel against the evil Obama\Hillary menace, i suppose...

[NoOneMan]

14. If the Democratic Inevitable Candidate didn't sign a blank check on the Iraq War and....

...sell out on free trade, then maybe this dude would clearly appear like the greater of all evils.


In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy some popcorn. This shit's going to get real.

[Fumesucker]

19. I shift back and forth from feeling depressed to being entertained

Depressed at the prospects, vastly entertained at the resulting food fights/mud wrestling that ensues.