Tag Archives: Dennis McDonald

Politics 2010: The Morning After

It’s the morning after and the political junkies across the country are wiping sleep from their bloodshot eyes, sipping on that cup of coffee, and hoping that the caffeine kicks in soon so that they can go about their day.

To many of us, election night is better than the Super Bowl or any game seven.

There are a few things to take away from the 2010 election. Yes, I have to comment on the media coverage, too. And, there are awards at the end!

Hundreds of people followed me on Twitter last night and thousands more read the commentaries on this website about the elections over the last few weeks. A few years ago a friend said this about me, “You know more about politics and elections than anyone who follows or works in politics in Montana and the Rocky Mountain West.” I said, “That and a dollar will get me a cup of coffee.”

Or I can just Tweet about it and write commentaries on this website!

Late last night I sent a few congratulatory e-mails around the country to friends who had won races. One person who had crushed her opponent in a highly Democratic district replied, “I learned from the best.” That was nice…

Armed with a few glasses of Merlot and some food, I watched the races until about 1:00 a.m. and here are some observations:

Things that made me happy: Continue reading →

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Caught My Eye…

Here we are – another Friday and it’s time for another edition of “Caught My Eye…”  This weekly column is when I take a look (with a little sarcasm) at some of the stories that I did not have time to comment about during the week.

This week I take a look at German photos, a corn dog assault, my inbox, Halloween, Campaigning in Missouri, and I offer up some predictions. And, there’s more!

So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s look at the news…and pass on the link to your friends… Continue reading →

Montana Politics 2010: The Campaign Ad

Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg’s campaign team faced an interesting decision on Tuesday:  Should they contest the new campaign commercial by Democrat Congressional candidate Dennis McDonald and give him a day or two of free publicity, with links to the commercial in most newspapers, not to mention several news stories about it across the state, or should they just let it go because they are probably far ahead of him in the race.

Rehberg’s legal team decided to fight the McDonald advertisement firing off a 29-page document to the six Montana television stations telling them line by line how many errors were in the campaign commercial. You see the document HERE. It is written by lawyers, so it’s wordy.

Today on the state’s largest newspaper’s website (Billings Gazette) you can find the McDonald television commercial, the internet commercial, the script to the television commercial, the script to internet commercial, and a photo of McDonald. The same things are probably published across the state (as this state is a basically a two newspaper state) – and that’s publicity money can’t buy. Continue reading →

Caught My Eye…

Congratulations! You have made it to another Friday and with that honor comes another edition of “Caught My Eye…” This is where I take a look (sometimes with a little sarcasm) at some of the stories that I did not have time to comment about during the week.

This week I take a look at naked Woodstock, a Cowgirl, calling 911, my inbox and more! So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s look at the news… Continue reading →

Tough Being at the Top

As most of my readers know, I follow politics very closely. It’s the competition I enjoy watching. Over the years, I’ve gathered information on just about every person who has run for office – just in case I need to write something about them down the road.

It’s too bad the Montana media does not have any political reporters or they would probably being writing a story like the one below. Continue reading →

Caught My Eye…

TGIF! Since it’s Friday, you know it’s time for “Caught My Eye” the weekly column where everything and everybody is fair game! Today I take a look (sometimes with a little sarcasm) at some of the stories that I did not have time to comment about during the week.

This week I take a look at a bus tour, an initiative, my inbox, a trip on a horse, Shorty, Halloween, and much more!

So get yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy the read… Continue reading →

Caught My Eye…

Happy Constitution Day!!

If it’s Friday, then it’s time for another edition of the highly popular “Caught My Eye.” The staff here at The Western Word has been busy looking for stories that appeared across the globe during the week that I did not have time to write about. So grab a cup of coffee and enjoy! Continue reading →

Montana Politics 2010: Gun lock…trigger lock…

Congressman Denny Rehberg was touring a tool and machine shop in Hamilton, Montana, when a reporter for the Ravalli Republic quoted Rehberg saying:

“If Obama is president, maybe you need to spend more time developing a gun lock, a trigger lock…”

I knew when I first read it the lefties would try to twist it into something else, and they did – like saying Rehberg was joking about shooting the President or that the President’s life was in danger.

Silliness. Continue reading →

Caught My Eye…

Today is Friday, so it is time to take a quick look at some of the things that “Caught My Eye” during the week that I did not have time to comment about.

Today I offer my commentary about News Corp., Dr. Laura, silly stimulus comments, a new BFF, suckered reporting, and Roger Clemens. Enjoy! Continue reading →

Montana Politics 2010 – McDonald vs. Rehberg: Every Breath You Take

I happened to be trolling the net this morning and saw that the Billings Gazette was streaming a meeting between Congressman Denny Rehberg and the members of the Montana State Fireman’s Association. The Fireman’s Association was holding their 121st Annual Convention in Billings.

So I watched it. You can watch it here, too. Later in the day, the Gazette followed up the video with a story. You can read it here.

I had commented before about this being politics as normal in Montana after Rehberg Ranch LLC filed a civil complaint against the City of Billings and Billings Fire Department about the handling of a 2008 fire on his property – basically asking for information about why management removed firefighters when the blaze was contained at 10 acres. Later, the fire flared up and consumed about 1200 acres.

I would think most people would want to know why. I know I would. It was also important for Rehberg to talk face to face with those being used as political footballs and explain to them his reasons for the civil complaint, and he did.

Most of us remember that the firefighters were used this same way in the 2006 Montana Senate race and look what it got them.

The Gazette reported that Rehberg told the firefighters: Continue reading →