22 October 2013

The RSZ of the GOP a House seat seek

The third hat is in the ring for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House, thrown there yesterday by former State Senator Ryan Zinke of Whitefish. His Stetson joins those of Glendive’s Matt Rosendale, who threw his in last week, and Billings’ Corey Stapleton, whose hat has been there so long it’s turning to stone.

Incumbent Rep. Steve Daines still has not announced his intentions for 2014, and according to the Flathead Beacon won’t until next year, but it’s now certain he’ll run for the U.S. Senate and therefore quietly flashed a green light at Zinke, Rosendale, and any other Republican who prefers the House near the Potomac to a home on the range.

Butte born John Lewis announced on 1 October that he’s running for the Democratic nomination for the House.

The best summary of Zinke’s announcement is Don Pogreba’s at Intelligent Discontent. He begins, “In a speech so cliché-laden that Peggy Noonan is considering suing, to a crowd almost numbering dozens, Ryan Zinke announced his candidacy for the US House today in Billings.”

I have some advice for Zinke:

1. Get endorsed by the Libertarian Party. Otherwise, if you win the GOP nomination, you’ll face not only the Democratic nominee, John Lewis, but a Libertarian candidate who will give Republicans who can no longer stand their party, who cannot vote for a Democrat, and who always vote, someone they can live with voting for — and you’ll end up in a home on the range while Lewis takes a seat in the House.


2. Don’t use your bus from 2012. It will remind voters of the questionable judgment you displayed in teaming up with the likes of Neil Livingstone.


3. Don’t hand out Livingstone’s booklet on bargaining with hookers, either. You’re not running for that kind of House. But it’s okay to sip a little wine and to whistle the tune for which Manos Hatzidakis won an Oscar in 1960.