Friday was not a good day for Montana Republicans.

If you heard a sound coming from the legislature on Friday it was not a belch from legislators who had eaten and drank too much lobbyist steak and alcohol the night before. No, that sound was the Montana Republicans in the legislature imploding. This implosion will leave a mark all the way through the 2014 election.

First, the Great Falls Tribune published an article on Friday that should make Republicans in all corners of the state shake their heads. A new website was launched “Llew Jones for Montana” and it was not started or owned by state Senator Llew Jones. Jones is a somewhat moderate Republican.

The Tribune found out that “Jake Eaton, a GOP political consultant with the group 47° North Communications, registered the domain and created the website.” Eaton, a Republican, bought the domain “to defeat Jones in a 2014 primary.”

Great googly moogly! What the…

Trying to take out moderate Republicans, or RINOS – Republican In Name Only, is the reason why so many “moderate-leaning” people were smiling when the young political guns (many with ties to Denny Rehberg) received a butt-kicking by team Tester in the 2012 U.S. Senate race between incumbent Senator Jon Tester and his challenger Congressman Denny Rehberg.

Republicans need moderates and independents to win many elections. They just don’t seem to realize it.

The same issues play out nationally. That’s why Republicans end up with candidates like Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock. Republicans end up being embarrassed and they chase away the moderates and independents – and they lose elections and credibility.

But that was not the only issue to divide Republicans in the Montana Legislature on Friday. There was a little squabble about “dark money” which is money spent on campaigns that the donors’ identities are not disclosed.

The Senate Majority Leader Art Wittich of Bozeman started the squabble when he called some Republicans members the “crossover caucus” and, as the Associated Press reported, he made “an inference over vote trading” all because some Republicans have been siding with the Democrats on a few bills.

Bipartisanship. Finding common ground. Working together. Imagine that.

To quote Pogo (from the former comic strip) “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Republicans just can’t seem to get along – even with all that power of being in control of the state House and Senate – they just can’t seem to handle it.

Poor leadership will do that to you.

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