Here are the stories that caught my eye this week, of course with my commentary. Enjoy!

Town Hall Meetings:
This week I received an e-mail from the DSCC (Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee) telling me, “All week, fringe, far-right organizations funded by shady, unreported sources have been ginning up their supporters to disrupt Democratic town hall meetings. The goal: kill every attempt at health care reform and wound President Obama.”

Whaaa. It’s funny that the Democrats are complaining about something in which they are so good. It’s not like they have not disrupted a few Republican meetings in the past. What goes around comes around, children.

Hit back:
The White House held an hour-long meeting to pump up their teammates (Senators) before they went on August recess. Former Baucus Chief of Staff, Jim Messina, who now has Josh Lyman’s job from the TV show West Wing (Deputy Chief of Staff), is quoted in this story as saying, “If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard,” Messina said, according to an official who attended the meeting.

Saying things like that may have worked for Messina when he was working for Max Baucus here in Montana, but not in his new job.

To me, it seems like the constituents of these elected officials are getting mad at the spending that is going on and they are afraid that the health care bills being proposed will spend billions of more taxpayer money. Let’s face it, the grass seemed greener on the other side of the fence for many folks during the 2006 and 2008 elections. 2010 may swing the pendulum back the other way.

Many of these elected folks don’t get to see or hear much from normal folks, so the anger and yelling at these Town Hall meetings really gets to them. It reminds me of this story I read somewhere about Harry Truman when he became President. Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the House during Truman’s term, took the new president aside and told Truman that he was going to have lots of people around him and that these people would try to cut him off and put up a wall around him – to keep him from being in touch with his constituents. Rayburn also told Truman these people would tell Truman what a great man he was, but then he added, “Really Harry, you and I both know you ain’t.”

Town Hall Meetings Part 2:
Congressman Denny Rehberg is holding 16 Town Hall meetings across Montana during the August recess. He visits all 56 Montana counties each term.

I say good job to Congressman Rehberg for holding these meetings. It was interesting that a possible challenger to Congressman Rehberg announced a location that Rehberg was holding a meeting urging his supporters to show up with signs. As for our two Senators here in Montana, are you holding any meetings besides fundraisers?

The Big Man is coming to Bozeman:
President Barack Obama will be in Bozeman this month and he’s also visiting Yellowstone National Park with his family.

That’s nice. I read somewhere that Obama may be holding a fundraiser, too. It looks like our two senators (and their staff) will be a little busy this week. Seriously though, welcome to Montana, Mr. President & family.

Fishy:
On the Whitehouse.gov website, I find this: “If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.”

Fishy? FISHY? I think I will send them a link to their Health Care site…..

Trouble in State Government:
According to this story, the brother of Governor Brian Schweitzer, was accused of soliciting campaign donations in the State Auditor’s office (where he is employed) and of verbally assaulting an employee.

Most of the folks involved with this issue were on vacation when the story broke. Interesting. One of my friends in Government mentioned this story to me adding, “Everyone in Helena knows the Governor’s brother is the designated ‘leg breaker’ for the Governor in the state.” These kinds of tactics kind of remind me of the Godfather, “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

The State Auditor did say she would have an “independent auditor outside of state government” review the allegations. I suggest she ask her opponent in the last election to do the “independent” review – that is if she really wants it to be independent.

Unemployment:
The unemployment rate dropped for the first time in 15 months from 9.5% to 9.4%.

These are people who are getting or recently applied for unemployment. Obama and his folks are happy. I am skeptical, but glad to see it decrease slightly. There are millions of Americans who fell off the chart because their unemployment ran out. You can’t get it forever.

Florida Senate:
Republican U.S. Senator Mel Martinez of Florida announced his resignation today, saying that he was going to work in the private sector.

What the heck is it about Republicans leaving office early?
Maybe Florida Governor Charlie Crist will name Jeb Bush as Martinez’ replacement?

I’ll catch you on Twitter (if it’s working), Until next time…..