tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post7851809270733560093..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Max BaucusJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-92100018116932846992013-04-24T22:43:19.695-05:002013-04-24T22:43:19.695-05:00Hey, speaking of the ACA, did y'all see this a...Hey, speaking of the ACA, did y'all see <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/obamacare-exemption-lawmakers-aides-90610.html" rel="nofollow">this article</a> from Politico on alleged Congressional scheming to keep their staffers out of the exchanges?<br /><br />I couldn't care less about the political scheming. I'm worried about the alleged reasoning. The exchanges, it seems, would be too damn expensive for a low-level staffer without the backstop of the federal government, prompting low-level staffers to leave for private industry, which will retain (we guess?) better backstops....<br /><br />CSHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-36458317623888189572013-04-24T01:20:25.542-05:002013-04-24T01:20:25.542-05:00Wyden is pretty pretentious by Oregon standards. ...Wyden is pretty pretentious by Oregon standards. I think of him as a version of Joe Lieberman who opposed the Iraq war.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-30849642389507644332013-04-23T15:11:31.510-05:002013-04-23T15:11:31.510-05:00I agree that Schweitzer seems a very probable succ...I agree that Schweitzer seems a very probable successor to Baucus. Given Montana's very high rate of gun ownership, Schweitzer's opposition to gun control fits state opinion perfectly. But given that Schweitzer is widely seen as a VP possibility, I would expect him to amass a "surprisingly" liberal record in 2015-16, at least one that appeases most Democratic-leaning interest groups.Richard Skinnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-19426188279047009552013-04-23T13:52:00.041-05:002013-04-23T13:52:00.041-05:00Brian Schweitzer is 14 years younger than Baucus, ...Brian Schweitzer is 14 years younger than Baucus, if he runs. Not exactly a youngster, but still. Schweitzer seems more liberal than Baucus, but interestingly and unsurprisingly, not on guns. Geoff Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17117921607237662932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-62668655390652521142013-04-23T13:09:57.606-05:002013-04-23T13:09:57.606-05:00The fact that his staff is firmly entrenched in lo...The fact that his staff is firmly entrenched in lobbying efforts shows how truly corruptible his politics were. He may have been a deal maker, but not for his constituents. Wonder what his next job will be?Jamie Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08579007138576584958noreply@blogger.com