Bush job approval at all-time low (first time in Montana under 50%)

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2005/12/25/montana_top/a01122505_02.txt

HELENA — Montana voters gave Gov. Brian Schweitzer the highest job approval rating of the state’s top elected officials, a new Lee Newspapers’ poll found.

Sixty-four percent of voters gave Schweitzer a positive job performance score in his first year in office. U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., was next with 59 percent.

A trio of Republicans followed. Rep. Denny Rehberg was at 58 percent, Sen. Conrad Burns at 51 percent and President Bush at 48 percent, falling below 50 percent for the first time in a Lee poll. All three Republicans saw their job performance scores drop since the last Lee poll in May.

<snip>

n Bush: 48 percent positive (18 percent “excellent’’ and 30 percent “pretty good’’) and 42 percent negative (17 percent “only fair’’ and 35 percent “poor’’). Men gave Bush the better scores, with 51 percent positive and 49 percent negative, while women handed him a 55 percent negative and 45 percent positive score.

...more at link...

You're beginning to awaken!

Clinton won Montana? It was presented in the media as a fluke. Who would've thought it was the beginning of a trend?
Looking forward to a blue Montana in 2006 and 2008.

And 2012, too. :)

They have long been indicative of the bright red western voters but it's a different kind of red voting. They first and foremost don't trust the government. Over the last twenty years or so Democrats were seen (by them) as the party of big gummint, not least because of environmentalists. I've suspected for a few years now that this might turn as the Republicans are seen as the gummint meddlers--Schialvo, big, unwinnable wars in foreign lands, huge deficit spending, and, now, listening in on your phone calls. This spying thing might be the straw that breaks the camel's (horse's?) back with ranchers and the like.

what are your relatives opinions about "big gummint" re: agricultural subsidies? (price supports, western ranch-land lease rates, etc etc)

they're fine with getting to use big gummint's land (BLM) at subsidized rates. I'm not nominating them for the Nobel Prizes for Logic or Consistency--just pointing out that a switchover to the Dems is internally logical.

That's a contradiction I'll never understand.

is that the people have been given this choice: Jobs OR the Environment and people who have no means will choose a job over anything.

that is the way it always was; Montana has a very low tax base, a lot of the land is federally held. Workers have always been pitted against the environment - it's an us or them thing, but I believe that is changing.

I cannot think of any Montanans I know that are comfortable with Georgy Porgy listening in on their phone calls - This is the wake up call for the Red West, the chimperor has really fucked himself.

BRIAN SCHWEITZER FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It seems like my speculation about mountain west switchover rings true to you. Do you think Montana's situation is unique in any way or is this anger at spying (and other previous excesses) enough to make races competitive elsewhere--like in Wyoming, Idaho, rural New Mexico, etc? From the outside it seems like, for whatever reason, the phenomenon might be more acute in your state.

...how can he be at 50 nationally, according to Rassmussen?

Me thinks Rassmussen is full of Shit.

My Mom and sister live in Western MT, (Troy/Libby area) and very few like Bush. There's alot of hippies up there in addition to the militia types so it does balance out a little. The distrust of government up there crosses party lines.

I'm not just talking about Missoula either.

18 percent “excellent’’

That's scary.

And I believe every word this poll says. People across the state are starting to awaken.

Woo hoo. Way to go Montana. Shit for brains is giving them the benefit of the doubt. I know, it sounds like I'm inviting flames, but just how much patience can you have? I mean, especially if you live in Iraq. Out of sight, out of mind. Iraq who? Ok, I'll shut up and get off the internet now.

Welcome aboard.

Heres a :beer: for the most progressive Governor in one of the reddest states. Keep up the good work Gov. Schweitzer!