Lamnidae

Roy Brown’s call for 18 debates between himself and Gov. Schweitzer yesterday is likely the most ridiculous pander of the campaign cycle. Brown may not have a lot of responsibilities, but I don’t think a whole lot of Montanans want their governor spending the next 5 1/2 months traveling to debate after debate.

I dunno how he came up with the 18 number. If he using newspapers as a qualifier, why not ask for debates hosted by the 100 plus members of the MT Newspaper Association. Brown’s flack Tyler Matthews mentioned high schools… But there are 174 of those in the state. Does Brown really feel like doing 174 debates? This kind of rural pander treats Montanans as if we’re a bunch of Luddites living in the 19th century. As if the minute the Montana Economic Developers Association is finished in Billings, horseman will ride to Kalispell with news of Gov. Schweitzer’s great one-liners, and the telegraph operators will furious tap messages to their counterparts in the hinterland (Bozeman).

I’m sure the fine citizens of Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, Helena, Havre, Hardin, Miles City, Dillon, Glasgow, Sidney, Lewistown, Livingston and Polson will be very relieved that Roy Brown is saving them the trouble of having to turn on their television, hop on the Internet, or unfold one of those ghastly newspapers. I’d feel patronized by Mr. Brown if I were living in one of those cities.

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