It's easy to see why Tester won Montana. This debate video is awesome!

[Quixote1818]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2z4CL9VdVc&NR

[Hand]

1. Pretty amazing.

Why the hell Tester didn't win by a damn landslide is beyond me. I think this is the only debate I've seen where one of the candidates (Tester) actually laughed at his opponent! :rofl:

I really hope Tester works out.

[John Q. Citizen]

8. It was probably a bigger margin, which is why Burns didn't seek a recount.

It wouldn't have been a landslide, though, because for all of burns obnoxious remarks and his close ties to Abramoff, burns was very good at reponding to constituents concerns, even if he didn't agree with the constituent. He didn't try to bullshit you at all. he just told you why he thought you were wrong and he was right, which is smart politics. He also brought a lot of money into the state.

Burns has a well run constituent office and you got a reply quickly, even if you opposed what he was doing.

Tester is going to be great I think. He's a populist and he understands that many voters vote their identity at least as much as they vote issues. He's got both the issues and the identity thing down.

[Hand]

15. Hmm. Interesting.

I think the most telling moment in this debate came when Tester said, "He wasn't always this way. He changed after he got to Washington..."

I'm pretty sure you're right about Tester. He went out on a limb to ensure that people heard that he would NOT kowtow to corporate money, and I don't doubt that Montanans are going to hold him to that! Not an easy bunch to BS, I'm sure. :hi:

[Bicoastal]

2. You're right. And it's hard to see...

...why it was so damn close!

[kerstin]

5. It wasn't.

The "pre-adjusted" exit polls showed Tester winning by 5-6 percentage points!
:eyes:

[pacalo]

3. Thanks, Quixote -- going to watch it right now.

On election night in a Montana tv studio, Jon Tester was sitting behind a desk, apparently waiting to be filmed for a segment, there was talk among those around him who were off-camera about Butte being still out, then he turned his head toward someone off-camera in back of him, & he said, "Butte's still out?" Yes, he was told, then a moment of silence...Tester's subtle smile evolves into a grin, & he said, "That's good."

When I saw that, I think I developed a little crush on him. :)

This was included in Keith O's "Memorable Election Night Moments" video, with thanks to Crooks & Liars.

[wellstone dem]

13. I love that clip.

He looks so tired, and then as the news that Butte is still out sinks in and as his tired mind computes that fact, his smile widens. It is so sweet.

[pacalo]

16. That moment had a lot of charm to it. I think he's going to be a star in the Senate.

[Berserker]

4. Before Tuesday

I didn't know who Tester was. But I can say after seeing that I sure do like him. Best debate I can remember I had to watch it again it looks like a skit.

[kerstin]

11. I know.

All the clips I've seen of these new populist Democrats seem like scenes from a Capra movie, especially the ones of Tester, Webb and Congressman Hall in New York. And who does Meet the Press have on tomorrow? McCain and Lieberman! Can't have these charismatic new Dems inspiring our youth and shifting the ole' cultural paradigm, now can we?

It's clear they're motivated by a desire to serve. I've never been prouder to be a Democrat.

:puffpiece:

[jgraz]

6. Oh my god Burns is such a fucking moron

:rofl:

I half think the Dems won this time just because people were paying attention.

[Crunchy Frog]

7. OMG! That was incredible. Tester mopped the floor with him.

The laughter in that auditorium should have told Burns he was toast.

We've got some pretty incredible new people going to Washington.

[jgraz]

10. Word, Crunchy

We've got some pretty incredible new people going to Washington.

Ain't it nice to be proud of our leaders for a change?

[Irreverend IX]

9. "I believe in light bulbs and sunshine."

What a cretin! Montana's voters must really have been stuck in the GOP rut if that guy didn't lose by a landslide.

[Carla in Ca]

12. I followed all the races, but

this was the first time I've seen Tester. I was really impressed. The audience told us all we needed to know about Burns.

Thanks for posting!

[maddezmom]

14. I'm on my second viewing, thanks for posting

:rofl: Tester was fantastic!!!!

[Ignacio Upton]

17. Burns is just naturally an asshole

Not to demean southerners or people from the area of Missouri from where he's originally from, but it seems like once you are angry and conservative, that accent just makes you look more like an asshole. Same goes for New Yawker accents (I should know since I live in the area.)

[blondeatlast]

18. I still so love Montana and remember hearing Tester a few times on Franken's

show and others. It just made me beam.

What a gem! Thanks for posting it.

[originalpckelly]

19. Well, thank goodness for good guys like Tester...

this country would be up a creek without them.