Does Montana have a Political “Formula?”

By Courtney Lowery, 12-03-06

Weeks after the election, we're starting to see fewer and fewer references to what color the West is turning, but that doesn't mean writers and thinkers have stopped mulling those key Western wins over and over, trying to figure out what happened and better yet, what can the rest of the nation learn from it.

At counterpunch.org today, writer Joshua Frank looks at the "Montana Formula" and Jon Tester's win over Sen. Conrad Burns. The piece makes some rather large leaps on Tester's behalf, but the tone does show some insight into the overall situation in the Rockies. These days, it's refreshing to see even a little admission (hell, even an insinuation) that some of the changes going on in the West are the fruits of independent choices made by independent voters on behalf of (we hope) independent candidates.

Speaking of, Anne C. Mulkern has a interesting story this week on Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard and his possible bid for reelection in 2008. Allard -- known for his ultra-conservative voting record -- wants people to first know about his environmental record, which as Mulkern writes, might be a hint as to how he might campaign in 2008.

In other Western political news this week...

• It seems everybody wants to work for newly-elected Colorado Governor Bill Ritter.
  
  
• Kirk Johnson looks at what Denver is doing in its bid for the Democratic National Convention in the New York Times
  
  
• Utah's Sen. Orrin Hatch might be the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee next year.
  
  
• Montana Sen. Max Baucus pushed Korea to amend its policies on Montana beef while cutting into a steak at a trade meeting in Gallatin Gateway this weekend.
  
  
• Colorado Senators say the wilderness bill for Rocky Mountain National Park is likely a lost cause for passage in Congress this year.
  
  
• Rep. Tom Tancredo's fight with Florida Governor Jeb Bush is over, Bush says.
  
  
• After a razor-thin recount, Republicans will have the majority in Montana's House of Representatives. Democrats hold the majority of the Senate and the Governor's mansion, so if anyone really wants to study this whole "purple" state thing, the Montana Legislature would be a good place to watch.

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