In his writings about "libertarian Democrats," Markos "Kos" Moulitsas always cites Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer as Exhibit A. In the current Cato Unbound symposium, he writes:
Mountain West Democrats are leading the charge. At the vanguard is Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, who won his governorship the same day George Bush was winning Montana 58 to 38 percent. While the theme of Republican corruption played a big role in Schweitzer's victory, he also ran on a decidedly libertarian Democrat message.
Hope springs eternal. But alas, in Cato's "Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors," released Thursday, Schweitzer gets an F for his taxing and spending policies. Author Stephen Slivinski writes, "Spending in his first proposed budget exploded." Plus he reinstated an expiring tax. We're still waiting for a libertarian Democrat. Really. We'd love to find one.