In my Inbox:

2008 Sieben Ranch Barbecue & Hoedown:

The Montana Democratic party sent an e-mail about the 2008 Sieben Ranch Barbecue & Hoedown with Max Baucus and Jon Tester. It will be held on August 9. Bring your checkbook; it will cost you $50 each to hoedown with Max and Jon…and listen to some country music…and eat.

There’s just something different about farmers:

That was the subject of an e-mail from Jon Tester telling me he needs more members for the “Senate Tractor Caucus” so I should donate to Scott Kleeb of Nebraska, who is running for Senate. Tester writes:

Unfortunately, the Senate “Tractor Caucus” is looking pretty bare lately. Fortunately, we have a promising new candidate we’d like to have join our ranks: Scott Kleeb of Nebraska.

I heard there are only two so-called farmers in the Senate (Grassley and Tester). Yep, the tractor caucus must be pretty bare…maybe they should allow Senators who own lawn tractors in this “tractor caucus.” Max Baucus could join then.

Get your special edition car magnet now:

That was the subject of the e-mail from the Obama campaign. I guess when you break your pledge to participate in the presidential public financing system, you’ve got to raise money any way possible:

Make a donation of $15 or more by midnight on June 30th and receive a special edition Obama logo car magnet

Next month: Chick magnets?

In the newspaper and on the web:

Obama hires Montana state director

In a campaign advertisement written by the Associated Press, we learn that Barack Obama has hired a state director, who apparently is not from Montana, but previously worked in Missouri. One of the state’s “Political Science professors” said this move was “unprecedented.” I always wonder how many political races these political science professors have actually participated in…

McPeak calls McCain too fat

In this article, former Air Force Chief of Staff, General Merrill A. McPeak, who is now retired, said John McCain had “done very well at the dinner table in Washington.”

I served when McPeak was in the Air Force. His biggest accomplishment (in my opinion) during his tenure as Chief of Staff was to change the style of the blue service uniform. That was about it. As soon as he retired, his successor changed it back. Of course, those blue uniforms do cost money.