Brian Schweitzer: Montana GOP Bills Make State Party Look 'Bat-Crap Crazy'

Brian Schweitzer, Democratic Governor of Montana, took some shots at his state's Republican lawmakers Wednesday, telling Fox News in an interview that some of their legislative proposals made them look "bat-crap crazy."

"Some of these legislators, they draft bills just to get an effect from the people," Schweitzer told Fox News. "And unfortunately, it kind of makes some of them look bat-crap crazy."

Schweitzer continued, picking a few examples of bills that he found particularly worthy of his mammalian colloquialism.

"We're talking about seceding from the union, or getting people who are getting a divorce to go through six more weeks of counseling before they can get a divorce, creating an 11-person Montana commission that can effectively veto any federal law. These are all bills that have been proposed in the Montana Legislature," he said.

"Those are just silly bills," Schweitzer continued. "And I would ask the Montana Legislature, just kind of park that stuff. Let's get back to work making sure we're doing the things that matter. That's good leadership. Hunting with a silencer? Hunting with a spear? That's silly leadership."

Montana Republicans have also proposed legislation designed to create an armed paramilitary militia force and to codify global warming denial in the state, as well as a birther bill. All three measures have failed. No word from the governor on how, if at all, he thinks those might affect the image of the Treasure State's Republican lawmakers.

Comments

[Suzie Conroy]

09:02 PM on 03/27/2011

I would just like to say that as a Montanan I am ashamed of our legislature for even considering these bill at all. From medical marijuana to a woman's right to chose these people have made a mockery of their positions in authority. I love our Gov and I hope he vetoes all this nonsense that they send to him. Let us vote on repeal of med marijuana instead of the crappy bill you are trying to shove through now. I like America and want to stay in it, I do not think silencers are needed for hunting or that everyone should pack heat everywhere they go. If you want a divorce get one the kids will be okay probably better than if you stay together. Obama is as American as you or I deal with it. Let's move on to the important stuff if you have any idea what that even is. I wish Brian could run again he would have my vote. These GOP Tea Party people are pandoring to the few and not listening to the many. Stop!!

[Mayme]

08:16 AM on 03/27/2011

I love this guy. Wish he'd run for President!

[maxfax]

12:57 PM on 03/26/2011

An " armed paramilitary militia force "?  Joking right?  Remember "The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming"?  The vigilante group led by Paul Ford in the pick-up trucks?  That's what I'm picturing.

[Mayme]

08:17 AM on 03/27/2011

You got it!

[Deborah Beck]

10:47 AM on 03/26/2011

WOW, I do believe that sane Republicans have gone into hiding and all the GOP has left is the shall end of the gene pool!

[Russ Klettke]

09:43 AM on 03/26/2011

"...just kind of park that stuff. Let's get back to work making sure we're doing the things that matter. That's good leadership."

I love this guy.

[Belle Starr]

10:25 AM on 03/26/2011

Me too!!!!!!! He'd never be a mainstream Dem considering a number of his views don't jive with the majority of Dems but that is exactly why I like him. For example, his idea of gun control is, "you control your gun and I'll control mine." This won't resonate with many Dems, but it does with those Dems who live on farms and ranches. He's a great example of how we can hold very diverse views and still belong to the same political party.

[Russ Klettke]

11:42 AM on 03/26/2011

Hmmm, now rethinking. The guns used in Chicago, where I live, are bought in those wholesome farmlands of Indiana (Walmart, etc.) while the guns used in the drug wars of Mexico are from the virtually unfettered, legal gun trade of Texas. Your guns do affect me, dangerously, and how a 31-bullet magazine is necessary to keep the deer away from your apples defies any sense of logic.

[maab76]

02:28 PM on 03/26/2011

The topic of situational and regional "logic" seems to never be brought to the fore in our more urbam areas. Having grown up on a farm during the depression and WW II, we always had a loaded rifle above the main entrance to the house. HOWEVER, I only saw my dad take it down once and shoulder it. Perhaps if we thought about our farmers and ranches as the "local militia" we would appreciate just how much they do to enforce local sanity and civility in those remote areas.

For those NOT living there, it is viewed as a different world, not just a different "state."

[mamala4]

10:48 AM on 03/26/2011

Love him too...He needs to be seen nationally.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

08:51 AM on 03/26/2011

Isn't being batcrap crazy a pre-requisite for being a republican or teabagger these days? Add a lot of ignorance,greed, religiosity and bigotry and you are a shoe in for a leadership position.

[maxfax]

12:58 PM on 03/26/2011

Seems so, that's what Bachmann and Palin are relying on.

[TeraWatt60]

01:03 PM on 03/26/2011

spot on! the GOP/Baggers should just put a sign up "Leave Rationality at the Door"

[dfranz]

08:34 AM on 03/26/2011

In case the governor hasn't been paying attention, the GOP in general has gone crazy. They no longer make a pretense of trying to represent the people and have sold their souls to the corporate interests that now own them. As I watch anti middle class bill after bill be passed in various states and the House of Representatives, I can only be thankful that my stste is Democratic and they don't have power over everything to push their destructive agends. What's most disppointing are the average people out there who apparently agree with them. I guess they are getting what they asked for.

[Glenda Sitnek]

12:02 PM on 03/26/2011

I think what troubles me more about this current TPRepub group, in the state and fed legislature, is the bizarreness of the proposed bills. Not only does it appear they are totally lacking in intelligence, but they appear to be mentally deficient as well. I really don't mean that in a negative or degrading way, its just that some of this nonsense proposed is ludicrous. It is scarey that we are electing some of these people to govern. I absolutely support Montana's governor, he has good common sense and a pragmatic approach to governing, but how did these nuts get in office? And, bigger question, is it possible we're going to have one of these nuts in the White House some day?

[buckyupFL]

12:27 PM on 03/26/2011

It makes that Onion article about the first openly drunk person elected to congress not so farfetched.The GOP candidates seem like they're in a race to be the first openly Insane person elected.

[TeraWatt60]

01:07 PM on 03/26/2011

I know what you mean..

[Tonelook]

04:24 AM on 03/26/2011

Radicalization of politics for partisan agendas; sounds like one of them investigations that Congressman Peter King so nicely opened up the possibility for. Obviously there is a concerted effort, state by state and nationally with these 'Bat-Crap Crazy' Republicans and their agenda. We can start with a RICO investigation; go where the money is at. It is unlawful for a person to use an enterprise to launder money generated by a pattern of racketeering activity; if it smells like shunk, sniff it out.

[ellenst]

11:00 AM on 03/26/2011

It's going to take a collaborative effort on part of some wikileak-type organizations to sniff them out and disseminate the information.

[Electriq]

04:19 AM on 03/26/2011

It's so encouraging to realize that there are still people in public life who can see through the game playing and twisted logic of the American extremist party and aren't afraid to call them on it.

[Bostontru2u]

01:40 AM on 03/26/2011

It's good to hear from a Governor with intelligence and good sense. Bravo!

[Rogo99]

08:35 AM on 03/26/2011

Yup, he's the governor, so veto the darn bills!

[Russ Klettke]

09:46 AM on 03/26/2011

He can and it sounds like he will. But in the meantime, the good people of Montana fund the salaries and operations of a state house that is wasting time on political posturing instead of working on true matters of consequence.

[gypsysailor]

11:47 PM on 03/25/2011

How about a bill that states anyone voting GOP or teabaggers must go through 6 months of Civics Lessons and and additional 6 months of American history before they take the test to vote in any election. All text books using this cryteria are not to be certified by the Texas State Board of Education.

[SpaghettyIrish]

05:28 AM on 03/26/2011

F&F, even though I generally support GOPers deportation to the bottom of the ocean.

[artist-53]

08:56 AM on 03/26/2011

"a bill that states anyone voting GOP or teabaggers must go through 6 months of Civics Lessons and and additional 6 months of American history before they take the test to vote in any election"GypsySailor

May I add to the list, NeuroPsych Evals as well?

[johuyik]

11:02 PM on 03/25/2011

IMHO Schweitzer is just RPG and won't get any BFF's in the GOP saying they're NFG, and acting like little boys when PAW. But OMG!.Just checked the OED and by definition the GOP is actually BCC! ..LMFAO!

[johuyik]

01:07 AM on 03/26/2011

Ya, I didn't think many 20-somethings read these pages....

[Lahonda]

05:28 AM on 03/26/2011

You can say that again!

[Callyson]

10:49 PM on 03/25/2011

Governor, I like you and everything, but I'm afraid your state's loons can't keep up with the loons in Arizona...
http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2011/01/26/pearce-oks-lawmakers-to-carry-guns-in-senate/
...or Georgia...
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/480449/ga_legislator_wants_to_create_the_uterus_police_to_investigate_miscarriages/
...or even Minnesota...
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/war-poor-minnesota-republicans-want-b
...heck, I can't keep up either. But thanks for fighting the good fight, Governor!

[4dogs]

09:30 PM on 03/25/2011

Maybe it should be six weeks of counseling before signing up for the Republican Party.

[wolfiegirl]

10:56 PM on 03/25/2011

Ha! I'd go with commitment myself.

[Shrank]

02:15 AM on 03/26/2011

In this case, I'd require mandatory sterilization.

[ltague]

08:53 PM on 03/25/2011

I LIKE this GOVERNOR!