Lobbying…
The New York Times is reporting today that “Congress Finds Ways to Avoid Lobbyist Limits.” It’s a pretty good story that is fairly reported showing how both Republicans and Democrats are dealing with (getting around) the new lobbying rules.

Mentioned in the story is none other than Montana’s U.S. Senator Max Baucus who recently held skiing and snowmobile trips to Montana. The story also says he has planned two golfing and fly-fishing weekends for lobbyists here in Montana.
On page two of the story, when Baucus was asked why he was taking lobbyists to Montana it was reported that he said, “To show off the beauty of our state,” then retreated behind a guarded door.

Sure you are.

One has to wonder if the political reporters in the state will check on who attended these fundraisers and if Mr. Baucus has done them any favors lately?

Anna…
It amazed me how much coverage the death of Anna Nicole Smith received this week. It was too much for me, so I turned it off.

The big questions still linger: What killed her and who is the father of the child? One story said that the father may be the 90 year-old billionaire husband. Anna supposedly froze some of his sperm. Yuck. I don’t even want to imagine it.

Molly Ivins…
I enjoyed some of her stories, but did not agree with her too much. In reading some stories, I found this quote very funny and it hits home with the Montana Legislature in session: “….our very own dreaded Legislature is almost upon us. Jan. 9 and they’ll all be here, leaving many a village without its idiot,” from a December 2000 column.

Speaking of the Montana Legislature…
After reading some of the stories from the newspaper and watching some of it on TV, I am left wondering what the hell they are doing in Helena. From what I am seeing so far, the citizens of Montana should be very afraid for these 90 days.

Obama to run for President…
Surprised? Not me. Will he beat Hillary? Maybe. It appears to me that the person anointed by the democrats will have the inside track to be the President. The Republican who runs will have a tougher time because of being tied to Bush. Giuliani and Romney may be able to distance themselves because they have not made the votes like McCain, Brownback and others who are in Congress supporting the President.

Music…
REO Speedwagon will release their new CD on March 26. It is being called, “Everyone Loves a Happy Ending.”
You can hear some of the tracks by going to their MySpace page.

Football is over…
Yes, I watched the Pro Bowl on Saturday. It was entertaining. Now, I have to try and find something to do for the next six months.

The joke…
The latest telephone poll taken by the office of the Governor of Texas asked whether people who live in Texas think illegal immigration is a serious problem.

A) 35% of respondents answered: “Yes, it is a serious problem.”

B) 65% of respondents answered: “No es una problema serio.”