Pages

Tuesday, September 04, 2018

Bluegrass banjo style, a song, perhaps a later post or two.

YouTube. Greg Gianforte's favorite band.

It's nostalgia from their last special election perhaps, enough to want to send a fifty-four buck check to Big Sky Values PAC.

However, this cycle there're so many needy hands, the PAC can wait for 2020. Testing of the waters, and it is not Tester. People giving speeches in Iowa this cycle likely have the next cycle in mind anyway, and being there if helpful then may play well later.

This cycle -

Kathleen Williams now will get my high plains and Rockies attention, my 2 x $27 check this cycle; and you should contribute too.

About:

. . . well, you've the link so read about the Berkeley degree and the public and private land stewardship
that background and competence stuff, the years of hard time in public service
. . .

Danni

ActBlue online contribution page.

Snail mail:

Williams for Montana
PO Box 548
Bozeman, MT 59771

_____________UPDATE______________
Opposition research. That one was easy, but in general Oppo research is hard.

__________FURTHER UPDATE___________
Those here in Minnesota worried now over threats to the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness should heed the bill mischief of the incumbent Republican who Williams seeks to unseat. USA Today via an AP feed explains the incumbent's effort to undermine wilderness protections, presumably so some private sector profit to somebody may be forthcoming from his effort. Somebody Republican old-boy-net connected, perhaps. Oppo research yesterday during posting found two cryptically worded bills the incumbent had sequentially entered into the House bill queue; here and here, online, in "as introduced" form.

The bill wording is so terse to outside readers that more certainty was needed before posting, which certainty was provided by the AP/USAToday publishing.

The incumbent, who defeated Sanders backed Rob Quist in the special election where Quist was the better man, now faces the better woman.

The incumbent resembles his predecessor, Trump favorite Ryan Zinke, in being a throwback to days when Montana was ruled by copper baron mining interests to the detriment of the world, indeed, the earth, our nice and hospitable planet which we all love and need.

History teaches: There is a mining pit in Butte Montana - a left-over from outrageously handled copper mining, which is feared by Minnesota environmentalist for the eco-threat sulfide mining entails - and it is a killer of migrating snow geese, in the thousands, but somebody made money in the past and likely cares not a hoot how many birds die, since the money's reinvested in whatever.

Williams is sane and not rapacious nor crony to those who are rapacious. As a hint of disdain earned by the incumbent, Don Jr. went to Montana to beat the GOP drum, and likely left behind an oil slick. Minnesota should learn from Montana's worse moments, and not poison the Boundary Waters as Republican CD8 candidate Stauber advocates via his ignorant "Just Do It" mentality toward a handful of temporary jobs which would result while taconite is the basis of Iron Range employment. Not earth-threatening could-be, might-be, risk taking for a few bucks. A/k/a Repubicanism in the spirit of the Gipper who people other than me voted into high office in the 1980's.

Leaving that home state based observation aside, Congress needs competent Democrats who eschew the taint of money-politics; and Williams stands out as one of the better candidates to move Congress in a progressive direction; per her highlight of her priorities. There is everything to like in her platform, and her dog's better than many politicians, per the Danni video.

The incumbent has an enviro rating he's fully earned, it not being zero being the only confusion.

NEXT TO LAST: Earlier Crabgrass opinion and reporting on the Quist-Gianforte contest, Gianforte's creationist museum, and all, this websearch and in sidebar commenary. Some criticism was leveled at beltway folks for how they hung Quist's effort out to dry, with a guess such folks are not keen on Williams since her Danni video puts their slickly produced costly dreck to shame. But that's a story that is ongoing and apart from why people should back Kathleen Williams.

Just win, Kathleen Williams. Not that it will get you a Nike shoe contract for a "Just Do It" run for Congress, but because the nation needs improvements in DC. Also, the Congressional run seems several cuts above just doing it; the best feature being doing it to win.

FINAL: A post from the past; about the incumbent and a multi-millionaire status he's used, his way. Another. One more.

For a litmus test, multimillionaire Gianforte voted for a tax cut for himself and others holding great wealth; proving any act can be rationalized in Karl Roveian ways. Sen. Tester was less a weasel in critique of the Republican tax bonanza for the crony rich.

____________FURTHER UPDATE___________
Dumb as a brick but running for a different DC seat. Mentored.

__________FURTHER UPDATE____________
Republican incumbent Gianforte is going negative with false advertising, and has a ton of money to do more.

Missoulian reports:

While Kathleen Williams prevailed over slightly better-financed opponents in the recent Democratic primary, her general election opponent, Congressman Greg Gianforte, is reputed to be the richest member of the House of Representatives. With a net worth of hundreds of millions of dollars, in addition to connections to money all over the country, Gianforte will have a clear advantage in campaign cash. [...M]aybe Gianforte’s presumed advantage in buying the airwaves will be matched by a real rising of women. Arching over it all is the unpredictable factor of Donald Trump. This race could tip either way.

Numbers, getting thus far but now it's one of Teddy Roosevelts malefactors of great wealth, and not this reported smaller scale of primary spending:

Kathleen Williams said her win in the primary election for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. House race is indicative of what needs to happen in the general election: Unite progressive, independent and moderate Republican voters in the state.

Williams was declared the Democratic nominee early Wednesday morning, beating out opponents John Heenan, Grant Kier, John Meyer and Jared Pettinato, with 34 percent of the state’s votes.

[...] Williams raised $286,210 and spent $196,177 for the primary race. Kier raised nearly $772,500 and spent a little more than $600,000. Heenan raised nearly $970,000 and spent roughly $875,000.

Williams attributed the success of her campaign to getting out and talking to Montanans across the state, calling the effort a “broad grass roots organization.” While making phone calls during the primary race, Williams said she heard from voters that favored other Democratic candidates, but said they would support her if she won the nomination.

“I think it’s not going to be difficult to unite and really sprint to the finish with a broad collection of people who are excited about this – my candidacy,” she said.

David Parker, associate professor of political science at Montana State University, said he was surprised when Williams won because of the money that was raised and spent in her campaign compared to the others. But, he said Williams is a strong candidate because of her history serving in the state’s Legislature.

Gianforte's fiscal heft could bury the Williams message, which in large part is to not go negative as Ginaforte did from the outset:

“There are five priorities: fixing health care, sponsoring opportunity, protecting our environment and our heritage, returning civil dialog to Congress and rebuilding our place in the world,” Williams said. “Above those specifics, I think we need to return to people committed to public service in Congress.”

She shared her skills as a communicator and relationship builder and gave examples of gently correcting, coaching and working with members from any party.

“We need those experienced in legislating,” Williams said. “I have more experience in the Legislature than the incumbent does right now. We need people experienced in the art of building relationships, and it really is an art; people who know Montana and who are there to represent all of Montana not just special interest groups.”

Williams won the chance to challenge Gianforte, a first-term Republican, by winning an upset in the Democratic primary in June, joining a strong showing across the country by women candidates this year.

Williams said her years of statewide experience provide her the overview and the details of Montanans' concerns, goals and preferences.

“If you’re in the Legislature voting on 15 to 16 bills on the House floor every day, you need the knowledge and what the specifics are,” she said.

Williams said promoting civil discourse comes from leading by example and listening.

With that said it is a coherent and refreshing thing to see, but it can easily be snowed under. Indeed, the message with its positive cordiality may mean Williams if reading this might think my critical disrespect for her opponent as posted here and earlier when Quist ran is over the top, undisciplined, and undiplomatic. Which would be a fair criticism. With that thought in mind a sidebar entry was composed to be less aggresive and to carefully make it about the candidate and not my own opinions.

It is good to see Williams getting attention from Montana news outlets. With the fiscal imbalance Williams faces, paid advertisement imbalances can be negated in strength by sound reporting, which so far is the case.

Invest in a better Montana by contributing to the Williams effort, whether you live there or in New Jersey or Minnesota. It is the nation's Congress and putting one better person there this election, multiplied by twenty-five or so others, could open eyes and improve everybody's lot. But it is one office at a time, and Williams offers a lot for people everywhere in the nation. Figure out what you can afford between Williams and other candidacies, and give what you can. Making it twenty-seven bucks or multiples of that can add a statement.