Commentary and opinion about current events from Jack the Blogger…

Grilling…
It looks like today is Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ day in front to the U.S. Senate Judiciary committee. Let the grilling begin.

Are you going to San Francisco…
It looks like Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer is. But first, The Western Word (TWW) would not be a good blog if we did not list the lyrics to the song, “San Francisco” so you can hum it and keep it in your mind all day long. Please feel free to sing along:
If you’re going to San Francisco…Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you’re going to San Francisco…You’re gonna meet some gentle people there
For those who come to San Francisco…Summertime will be a love-in there
In the streets of San Francisco…Gentle people with flowers in their hair
All across the nation such a strange vibration…People in motion
There’s a whole generation with a new explanation…People in motion people in motion

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer is heading to San Francisco for a fundraiser and a spot on “Real Time with Bill Maher.” Of course, some folks from the other side of the aisle don’t think this is right. TWW says, “So what?”
As for the Montana Legislature winding down and the Governor needing to be around; he’s probably as embarrassed as most Montanans are about this circus.
Maybe he wants to meet some gentle people there…

Let it go; your guy won…
There was a short statement about former U.S. Senator Conrad Burns, R-Mont., on the Political Money Line website yesterday that turned into a full-blown Associated Press story with comments from the Montana Democratic Party.
Here’s the brief statement:
Sen. Conrad Burns Pays $160K in Legal Fees
4/18/2007
Sen. Conrad Burns reported paying Powell Goldstein LLP $72,348 on 1/3 and $88,029 on 3/28 for legal fees.

One headline said, “Burns still paying big bucks to criminal attorney”
Since the dates of the payments were January 2007 and March 2007, TWW wonders if these were payments from the work the firm did in 2006. We all know how the billing process goes and big-time attorneys cost big-time bucks and bill big-time later and you need big-time attorneys to prove your innocence in today’s world.
Nonetheless, the spokesman for the Montana Democratic Party still took the opportunity to comment with some “we told you so” verbiage. TWW wonders why paying a lawyer means you’re guilty in the eyes of some people?
Even after winning the seat, it seems odd to TWW that the Montana Democratic Party would still feel the need to proclaim “gotcha” after seven months. Let it go. Your guy won. It’s over.

Speaking of Political Parties in Montana…
It looks like the Erik Iverson, Chief of Staff for Congressman Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., is running for the head of the Montana GOP.
There were rumors on blogs about this, but today there is a STORY in the Billings Gazette.
TWW feels Iverson would be a good addition as the leader of the Montana GOP. He’s young and energetic. Hopefully they will upgrade their website, react more quickly to the issues, and reach out to many other groups in Montana instead of the rank and file Republicans. It seems to TWW that the Montana Democratic Party has done a much better job in this the past few years. TWW receives e-mails from both groups and visits their websites frequently.