A former Lt. Governor of Montana announced his bid to run for the US Senate on the Democratic ticket Wednesday, comparing the tea party to "the Taliban" and the 16-day government shutdown to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 terrorist attacks,
reports the Daily Caller.
Former Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger, 77, who is eyeing the senate seat vacated by Democrat Max Baucus, told reporters, "We need to challenge the tea party representatives who, like the Taliban, shut our country down."
He also likened the tea party's actions to help shut down the government in October to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and the terrorist attacks on 9/11, but without the loss of life.
The marine veteran said he would vote to change the senate rules so it doesn't take 60 votes of the 100 senators to pass anything, the Billings Gazette reported.
He also endorsed overhauling the federal tax system, bringing U.S. troops back from the Middle East, and the need for healthcare, although he didn't offer any specifics.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.