Gov. Brian Schweitzer to "high minded" GOP governors: Back Obama or give up money

By GottaLaff

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer tells the Party of No to give up their stim money if they think it's such a bad idea:

As the nation's governors prepare to descend on Washington, D.C., this weekend for the annual meeting of the National Governors Association, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, has issued a statement on behalf of his fellow Democratic governors calling on all Republican governors to back Barack Obama's economic recovery plan -- or to give up the federal money.

"You can philosophize in D.C. all you want, but we in the states have to get things done," said Schweitzer in a written statement. "A Governor's job is to deliver for people: to create good jobs, to keep criminals in prison, to educate our children, to make sure we have decent roads. This recovery package does that."

"It's a little late for Republican Governors to get high-minded about accepting federal dollars since this recovery legislation is only a small portion of all the federal money states receive," he added.

Thank you, plain-spoken Governor Schweitzer. Someone has to stand up (loudly) to these hypocrites.

Quote of the Day

Hmm, Sarah bashful? Wonder why she's not there, for real? Via Taegan-

"I don't know where she's going to be. You'll be stuck with me. There will be no glamour, certainly no snappy dressing. I brought my best two pairs of jeans. There's a little bit of a horse shit stain by the knee. But I've been washing that stuff out."

-- Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D), quoted by ABC News, ribbing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) for announcing at the last minute that she will not be attending a panel on energy policy that the two governors were scheduled to lead at this weekend's National Governors Association meeting.

Hey! Pundits! Bob Gates Is Pretty Much OK With Withdrawing Combat Troops From Iraq on a 16-Month Timeline!

By GottaLaff

Spencer Ackerman is having way too much fun:

Gates is OK with Obama’s timetable for withdrawing combat troops from Iraq in 16 months!

[...] Gates was asked about the timetable, and he said working within Obama’s 16-month-ish timetable, with appropriate adjustments along commanders’ recommendations, is an “agreeable approach.” Gates noted that the Status of Forces Agreement compels a full withdrawal by Dec. 2011 and a withdrawal from Iraqi towns and cities by next summer, and said commanders in Iraq are exploring a “potential acceleration” of any drawdown. “I’m less concerned about a timetable,” he said. [...]

All this really speaks to the political wisdom of keeping Gates. The Republican defense secretary who implemented the surge just endorsed withdrawing combat troops from Iraq according to a deadline — something that John McCain, the pre-July George W. Bush and a raft of conservative commenters have said for years would herald the apocalypse. What are they going to say now that Gates is in favor of it?

Chances are, not a whole lot, since they can’t seem to comprehend the idea. Here’s Max Boot on the implications of Gates’ reappointment:

This all but puts an end to the 16-month timetable for withdrawal from Iraq…

And here’s Mara Liasson, the token liberal commentator on Fox News:

16 months has gone out the window, I think we can say that.

This is how a new progressive-realist consensus on foreign policy gets forged.

I love this transition if for nothing more than articles like this one.

Here's another reason: Obama actually listens. Yes, he has actual conversations with governors, no strings attached (as in, say, dictating the one, single, pre-determined question that a Republican and a Democrat are allowed to ask at such a gathering.*) Imagine that. A president who sees constructive input as a positive. Great idea.

Just ask the governors he listened to earlier today.

*That anectdote came to me via Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer on today's Rachel Maddow radio show. I heard it with my own two very ears.

Governor Brian Schweitzer's Speech to the Convention

Stolen from Cesca since I'm still half asleep. Anything interesting happen last night?