Big Sky Slugfest

[beevul]

Big Sky Slugfest
By TIMOTHY EGAN
Published: April 5, 2008

Here’s some advice for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as they prepare for Montana’s annual Democratic dinner Saturday night in Butte — where the ragged-edged town on the crest of the Continental Divide will be the center of the political universe.

“In Montana, we like our guns. We like big guns. We like little guns. We like shotguns. We like pistols. Most of us own two or three guns. Gun control is hitting what you shoot at. So, I’d be a little careful about blowing smoke up our skirts.”

Thank you, Gov. Brian Schweitzer, he of the bolo tie and border collie accessories, a popular Democrat who showed his party how to get rid of their red-state blues four years ago. He now reigns as kingmaker in a place where the last vote will be held in the Democratic primary marathon.

That’s right: Puerto Rico’s June 7 election date was a misprint, party officials now say. They are scheduled to vote on June 1, which means that South Dakota and Montana, voting on June 3, are the curtain-closers. As Governor Schweitzer helpfully explained, the sun sets later in the Mountain time zone than it does in the prairie half of the Dakotas. That means that people who live in the shadow of the Crazy Mountains will be last call for Democrats.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/opinion/05egan.html?em&ex=1207540800&en=e0716b71180b5955&ei=5087

Definitely a good read. Further proof that Schweitzer gets it.

[Tejas]

1. Engaging might not be the correct term

but that writer has an interesting style. Can't access the rest of the article due to sign-up but bet the rest is just as interesting.