Markos Moulitsas, the influential founder of the lefty website DailyKos, used to love Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. Starting back in December 2004, when Moulitsas first praised Tester, then a farmer-turned-state-legislator, as a Democrat who “naturally speaks the language of rural America,” the DailyKos has portrayed Tester as the cutting edge of a movement by which once deep-red western states would become swing states and then, perhaps, permanently blue.

In June 2006, Moulitsas was rhapsodic when Tester won the Democratic primary to challenge then-Sen. Conrad Burns.  “What a great night,” Moulitsas wrote.  “Not only did the best Democrat win, but so did Conrad Burns’ worst nightmare. Say hello to the next Senator from the great state of Montana.”  Electing Tester and other favored progressives would create “a whole new ballgame in Washington DC,” Moulitsas added.  “Let’s do everything we can to make it happen.”