Day 41
9:04 PM MT.

We just arrived in cold, snowy Livingston, MT. It’s dark, so I can’t tell what the landscape around us is like but I can imagine we will be greeted with some amazing views at first light tomorrow morning.

We are staying at chez Reinhart and what a family they are! We met Michelle Reinhart a couple days ago in Missoula. Michelle is dating a good friend of mine from campaigns past and she is about to be sworn in as one of the youngest members of the Montana State Legislature. Michelle beat Lloyd Kilcrease in a June primary with 85% of the vote and barring the unexpected, she will represent the people of House District 97 the next time the legislature meets in Helena.

If you have anything else to give this cycle, please donate to Michelle’s campaign. She’s a great progressive and since her seat is now safe, she’s spreading out her contributions to other members who are in tough election or re-election fights.

Not only did Michelle, Kevin and Sarah put us up for the weekend and cook us delicious meals, but Michelle also arranged for us to stay with her parents who live right outside of Yellowstone National Park, which just happens to be our next destination.

So, here we are in Livingston getting a good night’s rest and pulling out our winter gear so we will be ready to hit the park early tomorrow morning.

We went out last night to celebrate an early Halloween. I met this nice old lady at one of the bars we stopped into. I couldn’t believe she was out so late and I was also a little put off by her facial hair. Oh well…

-Peter

Day 40
2:06 PM MT.

Our farthest western and farthest northern location on the trip. Yes, that’s right dear Left Coast. We’re not finishing our climb over the mountains to California, Oregon, and Washington State. We’ve got a lot more to do east of of here on way home to GOTV in Pennsylvania on Election Day.

Though I think we’ll all be a bit sad to leave Montana. It’s not only one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, but it’s clearly home to a growing brand of bravely progressive new Democrats. People you’d really be excited to vote for.

UPDATE: Obviously, Great Falls was the farthest northern point. Just look at the map. Oops. I apologize to any rectangle fanatics out there for the slight.

-Josh

Day 39
5:10 PM MT.

Team DoubleSpeak has reached the Continental Divide. We got our first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains and we’re headed up to Missoula for a weekend of recording, production and much tomfoolery. We’re also seeking out our first delicious steak dinner of the trip (though we have had our share of delicious meat cuts).

Here we are, pulled over on the side of highway 200W to mark the passing over of the Continental Divide.

As my brother wrote earlier, today was a peach of a day. We got to hang out with Sen. Baucus, Gov. Schweitzer and Jon Tester at a Montana Farmer’s Union annual meeting in Great Falls, MT.

Montana certainly has a special brand of politics and it’s a brand that could spread and be effective in other regions of America. I get the sense of a very populist politics, racked full of progressive ideas, that also incorporate the more conservative values of the people who live here.

The Governor talked for over an hour about renewable energy and about the advancements that Montana has made in alternative energies that could free America from its grip on foreign oil.

Those are true progressive values. Forget the social wedge issues that shatter the conversation, these Democrats out here are an evolving brand that sells their record of accomplishment on issues that truly effect the 920,000 people that live in Montana. The people here may not be ready for the national Democratic Party, but there is something happening from the ground on up and I’d watch for a dramatic shift out here over the coming years. Especially if Montana keeps producing politicians like Gov. Brian Schweitzer and future Senator Jon Tester.

Enjoy the weekend. More from this American later.

-Peter