The previous "All Aboard" post was meant in all seriousness.  While the initial appointment of Jore (C) to Chair the House Education committee was telling, to then appoint Koopman as Vice-Chair and place Butcher on the committee certainly confirms the Leadership's extremist attitude towards public education.  While the appointments may reflect leaderships ideological thinking on education, it certainly doesn't reflect the majority of Montanans' or I dare say a majority of republicans views on education in general.

The republicans should indeed be worried how they will be both portrayed and perceived in the general public. The accident waiting to happen has now occurred, and now the damage needs to be dealt with immediately.  The credibility of the republican party is at stake. 

 Should Leadership not change, or the makeup of this committee remain, there is little doubt democrats will use this committee as the poster boy of republican leadership.  Anything positive republicans may do in this session will be overshadowed by these appointments. Any discussion of education (policy or finance) by republicans will be tainted by these appointments.  This move will last longer than this session, much longer.

Governor Schweitzer is the most politically savvy governor in recent memory. Imagine this in those hands.  That post is next in this series.