Welcome to the 160th edition of “Caught My Eye.” For some readers, this is the last Friday before school starts. We salute teachers and students. Enjoy yourself and have a great year!

If you are a first-time visitor, “Caught My Eye” is my weekly column where I take a quick look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week. I often throw in some sarcasm and poke fun at people just to make you smile.

Today I write about failure not being a failure, the GOP barbecue, Daines open houses, Rosendale, sequestration and the band, CVS receipts, Danica and Avril, plus I have two winners who are Making Montana Proud!

Failure Not a Failure:

Yesterday (Aug. 22) Great Falls businessman David Weissman, who is chair of the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce’s Montana Defense Alliance, gave us his  perspective about the recent Nuclear Surety Inspection failure at Malmstrom AFB. It was published in the Great Falls Tribune.

Weissman said, “The recent Nuclear Surety Inspection, or NSI, was not a failure.”

I don’t believe that Weissman has served a day in the military and, if he had, he would know that his statement is far from the truth – no matter the spin. In fact, his point of view is asinine. I imagine there are some people at Malmstrom who wish the failure was not a failure, as failures like that can be career-enders. Flunking a major nuclear inspection is just one in a string of embarrassments for the Air Force recently. People are noticing the failures – people who can close bases and end missions.

While exclusive pay-to-participate groups like the Montana Defense Alliance should promote and cheer on the outstanding men and women who serve at Malmstrom (I salute them for that), Weissman may need to take two reality pills to keep from spewing nonsense about something in which he has very little knowledge.

MT GOP Barbecue:

The Montana GOP is having a BBQ TONIGHT! Here are the details:

Join the MTGOP for burgers and dogs as we celebrate the end of summer and support Attorney General Tim Fox. Tim Fox is Montana’s first Republican Attorney General in 20 years, and the left doesn’t like it. He’s under attack by gun control advocates because he stood up for our privacy and Second Amendment rights. Let’s show the liberal extremists how much Montana Republicans love Tim! The barbecue is at 5:30pm on August 23 at the Kleffner Ranch just east of Helena.

Daines Open Houses:

Congressman Steve Daines is holding open houses in his Helena and Great Falls offices next week. Daines’ Helena office open house will be held on Monday, August 26 from 5:00 – 6:30PM MST. The Great Falls open house will take place on Thursday, August 29 from 3:30 – 5:00PM MST.

More details HERE.

Maybe he will serve leftover BBQ from the MT GOP event.

On a related note, it was interesting to see that Daines used “official” (taxpayer) funds to buy web advertising to let people know about the open house. Is that really a good use of taxpayer money?

Rosendale for ?

It’s kind of fun to watch some Republicans in the state tippy-toe around Congressman Steve Daines waiting for him to decide if he wants to run for U.S. Senate. Daines is the big dog for the Montana GOP, so nobody wants to get in his way.

The Associated Press reported on Thursday that state senator Matt Rosendale from eastern Montana-way “filed paperwork last week with the Federal Election Commission” but Rosendale “told the FEC he won’t specify which office he is seeking until current Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Daines decides if he is going to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Max Baucus.”

Somebody should save Rosendale the heartache, and let him know he can’t win a state-wide race.

Sequestration:

Yesterday The Flint Report blog posted a press release from the Alberta Bair Theater informing the public that the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band concert, scheduled for October in Billings was canceled.

Why? They were informed that “Budget cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (also known as sequestration) necessitated this decision…”

There’s a lot of jockeying going on between the Administration and Congress in regards to sequestration. The cancellation is to make a point – sort of a gotcha moment. The cancellation of air shows and flyovers were to make a point, too.

Realistically, these are things that should be cut when money is tight. There are many more things that could be cut or scaled back.

Making Montana Proud:

This is the section where I mention people whose actions embarrass Montana in some way.

-From the Billings Gazette: Jeremy Creed Houchin of Billings “has been charged with endangering his young children by leaving them alone in a house with a large amount of marijuana.”

The two young children evacuated their home and called for help when a carbon monoxide detector alarm sounded. Police investigated and found that it was because of the low battery. They also found about six ounces of marijuana and a scale.

Houchin probably wishes he had changed the batteries in his carbon monoxide detector every six months…

-From the Billings Gazette: “Valentine Deavila Jr. was ordered to serve 10 years at Montana State Prison, with three years suspended, for felony DUI.” This was his fifth DUI. Police found him passed out at an intersection.

Another dangerous person is off the streets!

“Receipts Are Too Damn Long”

Yes, I’m looking at you CVS Pharmacy and others are, too.

Danica Kissed a Girl:

Remember sweet Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar) from The Wonder Years. She’s in Avril Lavigne’s new video, “Rock N Roll” and OMG they KISS…

Watch the video (over 4 million views) HERE – NOTE- It may offend some.

One More Thing:

Don’t forget to stretch…

 

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