Brian Scweitzer Gov. of Montana VP

[redstate_democrat]

There are rumblings that he is in the top 3 for VEEP right now.

What is the deal on him? What is so special about him?

[anonymous171]

1. I hope so. But his Lieutenant Governor is a republican.

[redstate_democrat]

2. I found his biography.

Governor Brian Schweitzer is a farmer and rancher who held no elected office prior to being elected as the first Democratic Governor to serve Montana in 20 years.

The grandson of Montana homesteaders, he grew up on his folks’ cattle ranch in the Judith Basin. Governor Schweitzer went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in international agronomy from Colorado State University, and later earned a Master of Science degree in soil science from Montana State University.

He worked overseas on agricultural projects and has visited 37 countries across the world. Governor Schweitzer oversaw the building of major irrigation projects and the construction of the world’s largest dairy farm in Saudi Arabia.

With his unique global perspective, Governor Schweitzer is a leading national voice to end our addiction to foreign oil by developing clean and green American energy with Montana leading the way.

Under Governor Schweitzer, Montana is on the move:
• Created more jobs at higher wages than anytime in history.
• Cut more taxes for more Montanans than any other time in the state’s history, including a $400 rebate to Montana homeowners.
• Increased Montana’s electrical generation capacity more during his administration than the previous 16 years combined where the state is one of only two states in the country to have increased oil production; in fact it’s up by 50%.
• Invested more in both K-12 and higher education than any previous administration – while also capping tuition at our state’s colleges and universities, the first such effort in a generation.
• Increased the number of children on the Children’s Health Insurance Program by more than 3,000 now providing quality healthcare to more than 16,000 kids and giving the future a healthy start in life.
• Montana’s bond rating has been upgraded for the first time in 26 years with Moody’s, Fitch and Standard and Poor’s Investment Services – a sign of sound fiscal management in state government.

Governor Schweitzer married his college sweetheart Nancy; they have three children and a now-famous border collie, Jag.

http://governor.mt.gov/governor/govbio.asp

[redstate_democrat]

5. After reading his bio, now I know why he's so special.

:D

[berni_mccoy]

18. Wow. I'd like to learn more...

[Drunken Irishman]

3. He'd be awesome.

Catholic, pro-gun, strong moderate, but populist as well.

[redstate_democrat]

7. After reading Schweitzer's bio, I would bet $500 this is the guy who will be VEEP.

He fits right into Obama's message- outsider to Washington, working class white man, farmer, pro-gun etc but populist, turned his state around, his state leads in energy reform, has traveled the world, etc.

[undergroundrailroad]

24. Not my thinking.

Also keep in mind that if Schweitzer is selected as VP, his Lieutenant Governor, John Bohlinger, would have to step in to take his place. John Bohlinger is a Republican. I think the trajectory of Montana is turning blue. Jon Tester, a Democrat, was elected to the United States Senate in 2006.

[redstate_democrat]

35. But Bohlinger would only serve out the rest of Scweitzer's term, which ends next year.

Couldn't we get a Dem to run there. It seems plausible that we could hang on to the state if the state is trending blue.

[undergroundrailroad]

44. Sure we could! Just think of the momentum of an Obama/Kaine ticket!! Two

hot shot Harvard Law School graduates (with humility) with parents that share geographic roots (on Barack's mother's side). The best of the best will be vetted for Montana.

So to answer your question, yes, it's plausible.

Check this article out: Some weigh in on Kaine's possibility of becoming the next vice president

[Wickerman]

4. Be interested how this helps Obama

Not exactly a Southern state, Montana. Could be a very good choice as a pol, but strategy-wise, I'd like to hear more.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. He'd be strong in the west.

Most likely would guarantee Obama Montana and possibly North Dakota. Makes Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada easier to win.

[eleny]

8. I read here today that the Repubs want to take a bunch of governorships in 2012....

This is so that they can influence redistricting for the congressional races so they go their way - to take back Congress.

So, if we can't hold Montana without Brian S, I don't think he should be the one.

[redstate_democrat]

9. That's a good point, but I think we need to focus on this election first.

The Repugs will still be damaged, especially if the Democrats act right in the next 4 years and actually get some things accomplished. Governor Scweitzer would have to run again anyway. Maybe we just need to start running damn good candidates and increase the amount of Dems in the states by following Dean's plan.

[eleny]

26. I think I was mistaken - 2010 not 2012

But i do see your point. Having a Dem president goes a long way in influencing voters.

[MercutioATC]

10. I don't want to lose Montana, either...but to guarantee the White House?

Plus, Schweitzer's endorsement of another Dem for Gov. would go a long way.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Montana only has one congressman, it's not an issue in that state

[eleny]

28. Thanks for that fact! He's making more sense as the choice now

[tekisui]

11. Who would the other 2 be?

Kaine? Richardson?

[redstate_democrat]

13. I would bet Tim Kaine of VA and Bayh of IN.

:D

[Drunken Irishman]

14. Bayh!?! I say Bayh-Bayh to that idea.

[redstate_democrat]

17. I'm with YOU. Bayh is the Unity Ticket option.

Hopefully Bill Clinton will get on board and really go all out for Obama so that possibility won't be necessary.

[sniffa]

19. I think his dirt/supposed dirt would be a disaster

There's a bubbling hump of attacks on Bayh, that hasn't hit the national scene but would be coming if he were on the ticket.

[Drunken Irishman]

21. Do tell!

[sniffa]

29. If I remember correctly...

His wife's money, and how she supposedly got a lot from preferential treatment (state?).

[Hippo_Tron]

32. When I think of Bayh I think of the comment in Charlie Wilson's War

Where Philip Seymour Hoffman's character tells Wilson that he hears he's a five term congressman whose most significant accomplishment is getting elected five times.

[tekisui]

16. Bayh does little to nothing for me.

Other than potentially swing IN.

So, Kaine or Schweitzer?

That'd be fine.

[Pirate Smile]

36. I bet Biden is one.

[dansolo]

43. Kaine and Graham?

With Schweitzer, my top three choices.

[Bombtrack]

15. I don't like that choice at all. Doesn't he have less statewide experience than Barack ?

I know I know we can't make the election about who's got the most of that and I would be ok with someone having no statewide experience if they had the credentials of someone like Wes Clark. But this guy doesn't bowl me over with anything in his resume.

And "Scweitzer" is sort of a nazi-ish sounding name. I've got a much uglier German surname myself so I'm aloud to comment. As superficial as it seems there are millions of dumbshit swing voters who could be influenced in their vote by the sound of the ticket. Similar reason why I'm not a fan of the idea of Vilsack as Obamas runningmate.

[redstate_democrat]

20. I don't think Schweitzer takes anything away from Obama in the name department as far as this ticket

Especially with Barack Hussein Obama being at the top. We can't allow someone's name to be a disqualifier.

[DangerousRhythm]

51. Is your surname Hister or something?

:rofl:

Seriously though, how does Schweitzer sound Nazi-ish to you? Just because it's German? O_O

[Kaylee]

22. I'm for it!

Clark was my first choice, but that seems unlikely.

[redstate_democrat]

23. I think it would be awesome and totally unexpected.

If Montana and Virginia goes Dem this time, the Repugs should just phone it in for the next two decades.

[XemaSab]

25. He's got a cute dog

:D

[redstate_democrat]

27. He would be an instant star. Obama's new dog and Jag would be a hit with America.

:D

[bklyncowgirl]

49. You beat me to it.

The guy is also:
--a cowboy, of the real variety, i.e. owns a ranch, raises cattle and rides horses and uses his very cute dog to herd said cattle.
--has lived in the Middle East
--is an energy expert.

Comes off as a down to earth guy that working people can relate to. All in all not a bad choice.

[Mass]

30. That would be a good choice, I think. A lot of things going for him.

[Colobo]

31. Kick-ass ticket!

[harun]

34. It's too kick ass, which is why I don't think it will be him.

This is America, don't we always have to have to make the bad choice. Like with Lieberman???

[ProSense]

33. There is only one sticking point with Schweitzer

Other than the fact that they grew up on farms, it’s not immediately clear what unites Schweitzer and Tester, Ritter and the Salazars. With his outspoken criticism of the war in Iraq — “I was very public before we went in that it was a bad idea, and history has borne that out,” he told me — Schweitzer has become a hero to progressives, while Ken Salazar has infuriated liberals with his support of Alberto Gonzalez’s nomination for attorney general and his endorsement of Joe Lieberman’s independent re-election bid. Governor Richardson of New Mexico suggests that such differences are evidence that the movement has no overarching strategy. “It’s happening from the bottom up,” he told me. “This is a natural evolution. It’s no grand design.” Or maybe it’s that the region’s Democrats simply don’t have many core beliefs in common. Schweitzer remains an iconoclast; he says he supported John McCain’s presidential bid in 2000, though he has since soured on McCain because of the way he has courted the religious right, and he says he is now intrigued by the possibility of a presidential run by Mitt Romney, the Republican governor of Massachusetts, in 2008. “If he gets the nomination, I might support him,” Schweitzer told me.

link

[redstate_democrat]

37. This just confirms for me that he will be the VP.

He has an independent Dem or bipartisan approach to politics. The article gave me a little more insight into this man. Wow. I think he would be great.

Besides, this was back in 2006. Didn't Kerry ASK John McCain to be his VP in 2004?

[ProSense]

40. "Didn't Kerry ASK John McCain to be his VP in 2004?"

No

[redstate_democrat]

38. I love this line from him.

“I was a critic of Nafta, I was a critic of Cafta and I’ll be a critic of Shafta,” he says of free-trade agreements, long the hobgoblin of even the most articulate liberal politicians. “Why is it that America supposedly creates the best businessmen in the world, but when we go to the table with the third world, we come away losers?”

:rofl:

[nsd]

39. Romney? Seriously?

[tokenlib]

41. The skunk hide on the wall (to represent lobbyists) makes him very special!

Schweitzer is a rancher--he doesn't live on a ranch and pretend. He is a real contrast to Obama and would make for an awesome ticket. He would be an asset on energy policy--and be a plus for foreign policy in the Middle East----

[Eyes_wide_ open]

42. I have to say

I like what I'm reading and he sound like a good fit for Obama to me.

[Jay Landsman]

45. Here's a nice video of him talking in 2006

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUr48lg9Ocs

It seems he hits on many of the themes that Obama likes to talk about. It was honestly one of the few times I was actually captivated by what a politician has to say. I need to learn more about him, but I'm impressed.

[Eyes_wide_ open]

46. excellent video, thanks n/t

[zuul9]

47. Obama Kaine 08

He seems like a nice guy, but Virginia has alot more electoral votes than Montana's 3. Plus, Kaine and Obama have a close friendship. They seem to gel and share the same outlook. So, prediction is in 2 months its Obama Kaine 08. It even sounds nice.

[grillo7]

48. One of the best choices...

I was skeptical, but after watching a few videos of Schweitzer speak and reading more about his background, I think he would be a strong VP choice, and would be extremely effective at courting swing state voters. Certainly a better choice than many of the names that are popularly being tossed around.

[On the Road]

50. He Has a Davy Crockett Kind of Appeal

Would work well with certain swing voters.

Still, I'm not completely sold. He is another outsider short on policital experience. Some candidates (unlike Obama) seem to shrink when they move up on the national stage. And a VP capable of being an attack dog is an asset -- doesn't seem like Schweitzer's personality.

Until I see evidence otherwise, I'll trust Obama's judgment on this one.