I HAVEN'T HAD WYOMING ON MY MIND MUCH SINCE GETTING TO INDIA-- OR EVEN BEFORE THAT

You don't find much at DWT about Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal. That's because he's the worst kind of self-serving opportunist you'll find in politics, someone who can always be counted on to be looking out for his own career and never someone who pushes progressive-- or even Democratic Party-- values or principles. Last we covered him, he was in the midst of some kind of reactionary diatribe against Howard Dean. Yesterday he went one better, denouncing all the candidates running for president.

Freudenthal says none of the candidates--from either party-- has addressed important issues facing the West. "I frankly would reach beyond just my party, the Democrats, and say that my sincere hope is that I wouldn't have to vote for any of these people, on either side," Freudenthal boasted to the Associated Press. He acknowledges, perhaps with a sense of regret, that "in the end, somebody's going to be elected president." Let's just pray he doesn't get any ideas about a lunk-headed Wyoming governor who, for some inexplicable reason, calls himself a Democrat. One of Bush's strongest states-- in terms of support in 2000, 2004 and even in recent job-approval surveys-- Wyoming reelected Freudenthal last year with 70 percent of the vote.

WYOMING SENDS CONGRESS A FOURTH HOMOPHOBIC GAY REPUBLICAN SENATOR-- MEET JOHN BARRASSO

When right wing extremist Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY) died 2 weeks ago, state law dictated that the Wyoming governor, Dave Freudenthal, a conservative Democrat, pick a Republican. The Wyoming State Republican Party submitted 3 candidates and today Freudenthal picked conservative state Senator John Barrasso, an orthopedic surgeon, to fill the Senate until next year's general election. Barrasso is said to have a good working relationship with Freudenthal and isn't considered as much an extremist as most Wyoming Republican officials. In 1996 when he ran for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Alan Simpson, he ran as a pro-choice Republican (and was beaten by extremist maniac Michael Enzi, an anti-choice fanatic and complete Bush Regime rubber stamp).

Barrasso wrote, "I believe in limited government, lower taxes, less spending, traditional family values, local control and a strong national defense. In the state Senate... I have voted for prayer in schools, against gay marriage and have sponsored legislation to protect the sanctity of life." I guess he learned his lesson about being in pro-choice in the GOP. As for the anti-gay stuff, this is especially interesting because it has long been rumored that the 54 year old doctor is homosexual himself. He doesn't talk about his sexuality but it is pretty well known in Wyoming politics that he has a lover and is only semi-closeted. A Wyoming gay rights organization has rated his voting record on issues impacting gays and lesbians an F- ("extremely anti-gay").

Completely closeted Senate Minority Leader Miss McConnell welcomed Barrasso to the Senate and said he hopes Barrasso can be sworn in as soon as Monday. Now there are 4 gay Republican U.S. senators all of whom opposed gay marriage equality. I should add that one looks like he may be a political goner. Lindsey Graham's approval ratings in South Carolina have sunk to 31%, not because he's a hypocritical closet case but because he favors what extreme right wing elements of the GOP consider an "amnesty bill." Luckily for Graham the right wing extremist who was being pushed by the religious right, State Treasurer Tommy Ravenel was busted for selling cocaine. (He was also the director of Giuliani's South Carolina presidential campaign. Graham, of course, is supporting McCain, whose cabinet he hopes to serve in.)