True friends stab you in the front. -Oscar Wilde

I think it was President Harry Truman who once said, “You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.” The same thing could be said for 2014 party politics here in Montana.

Great Falls Tribune Capital Bureau reporter John S. Adams wrote a story for Tuesday’s paper with the headline, “Democratic Party breaks from tradition by backing a candidate in the U.S. Senate primary race.”

It was really not a surprise to me that the Montana Democrats backed John Walsh – he was about the only big name Democrat who did not turn down the chance to run. Besides, most people believe that after everyone else declined, the wheels were set in motion by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Barack Obama, to get rid of Max Baucus and give John Walsh at least a fighting chance against probable Republican nominee Steve Daines. This was done by having Baucus step down to be an Ambassador to whatever country needed one at the time, and for Governor Steve Bullock to select Walsh to fill the remainder of Baucus’ term. Democrats are under great pressure to keep control of the U.S. Senate.

But former Republican now Democrat John Bohlinger would not go down without a fight. He went ahead and filed as a Democrat for U.S. Senate. He recently took the gloves off in an opinion piece writing that, after he refused to step aside, “it has been a long, cold winter in politics, in which I learned the dark side of power and money in politics.”

Speaking of a man with no party, poor Bohlinger was condemned by the Montana Republicans a few years ago for being a running mate with their archenemy, Brian Schweitzer. Back in 2007, Bohlinger was not even allowed to purchase tickets to the GOP’s banquet at their annual convention because they disliked him so much. Meanwhile, Team Schweitzer/Bohlinger racked up two easy wins and ran the state for eight years.

I guess the Montana Democrats have forgotten those wonderful eight years…

The Montana Democrats cranked the machine up another notch or two on Tuesday afternoon with a press release that contained the headline, “Daines, Bohlinger Advanced Government Restrictions on Women’s Health Care.”

This is just a guess, but I don’t think they are lumping Daines and Bohlinger together to save ink.

While the press release is geared about 95% toward Daines and his views on healthcare issues for women, it shows a new angle for the Montana Democrats. It also shows that John Bohlinger is making some waves and causing some concerns in the Montana Democratic Party.

I like both Walsh and Bohlinger – they are both veterans who served their country. They understand a little more than other candidates what service and sacrifice means. It’s too bad it has come to this.

A few leaders in the Montana Democratic Party must be wishing they had a “do-over” on this whole appointment deal. It’s become a mess. Meanwhile, the Montana Republicans are cheering on the mess which is taking the light off their mess between the moderate Republicans and the conservative Republicans.

Somebody like Brian Schweitzer needs to step in and get control of the mess.  He should bring his dog…

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