It was a lovely Op-Ed, one that surely comes from the heart. I’m writing about the editorial that appeared in Friday the 13th edition of the Great Falls Tribune which they titled, “Baucus keeps national spotlight on Montana.”

Is it bad luck to have an Op-Ed written about you on Friday the 13th?

Basically, the Tribune is saying that U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., IS the man. He is in the national spotlight. He is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance (notice I left out the word “powerful” because it does not say that on the senate website). To prove it, they said Baucus is being mentioned on CNN, in the Wall Street Journal, and in the New York Times.
Another place Baucus was mentioned that the Tribune Editorial Board must not have seen is a story about him called, “K Street’s Favorite Democrat.”
Psst, I even saw him on Fox Noise, I mean News. But, there’s only so much space in each editorial.

Yes, Baucus is in a powerful position. 32 Years of service to the folks in Montana. I read his website and get his senate (political) updates almost every day. But, I’ve never had Wednesday morning coffee and donuts with him.

The Tribune contends that Montana is in the news and they write about Brian Schweitzer breaking the hex on the Republican rule and then say, “Jon Tester kept us there last year with his victory over veteran Republican U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns.”

By saying “us” did the Tribune mean Liberals or Montanans?

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of things that Baucus does right for Montana (a highway bill every six years, and I’m sure there are other things that I can’t remember). There are also a lot of things that he takes credit for, which he had nothing to do with. He’s also gotten a free pass from the Montana media, so far, in lobbying, fundraising, etc.

But, as I said before, he’s in a pickle trying to be everything to everyone and the Tribune agrees when they said, “But the coming months will test Baucus’ brand of independent political fortitude.”

I can imagine that every press release and statement is reviewed about a hundred times before Baucus’ staff hits the send button.

Baucus has to keep the far lefties happy and the moderate righties happy to win election in 2008. One problem that comes to mind is the leadership of the Democratic Party in Washington, especially in the senate where it comes from the far leftie side and that’s probably why Baucus has never (that I have ever seen) gained a leadership position in the U.S. Senate.

We all know about the Progressive Democrats of Montana not being too happy with Baucus.

Montanans don’t care too much for seniority or federal funding from their elected folks. They have state term limits (which have turned the legislature into a zoo or a three ring circus) and they also threw out former Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., in 2006, who was a good partner for Baucus in the senate and provided a lot of funding for the state.

The Western Word (TWW) contends that in 2008, Max Baucus will have virtually a free pass unless he is challenged by Congressman Denny Rehberg, R-Mont. It would be a great contest and it would also place Montana in the national spotlight. And, they both took contributions from Tribes who were working with Jack Abramoff, so that should not be a campaign issue in 2008.