I happened to catch a story in the Great Falls Tribune on Saturday about Democrats sending their folks with cameras to the listening sessions being held by GOP Congressman Denny Rehberg.

The Montana GOP cried foul about an e-mail they obtained that was sent by a Democrat saying they should show up and “heckle” the Congressman at these listening sessions.

On the other hand the Montana Democratic Party (MDP), with their new mouthpiece from Lee Newspapers, have been sending press release after press release talking down Rehberg’s listening sessions and just about everything else he does.

If I were Rehberg, I’d tell the staff at the Montana GOP to butt out. He is very capable of fighting his own battles. And I’d let the MDP continue to help publicize the listening sessions and his votes.

In regards to MDP’s take on the Rehberg listening sessions, at least some of the die-hard Democrats who attend will get to see an elected official without having to pay.

But really the first thing I thought was we should congratulate Rehberg for being out and about in Montana. He’s just one the three people representing us in Washington, D.C., who is actually out and about meeting constituents, hearing their concerns face to face, and not hiding from his record.

Rehberg has chiseled himself a place as the “people’s representative” because he’s there for Montanans and you can find him – probably holding a listening session somewhere in the state meeting Montanans.

If you don’t like his vote on this issue or that issue, you can attend and ask him about it. If you want to ask him about the Billings Fire Department issue, you can attend one of these sessions and ask him. I imagine you could even bring a camera and film it.

It’s really that simple and it appears to be driving the Montana Democrats wild.

Today, I saw on Rehberg’s website where he has scheduled 15 more listening sessions from July 31 through August 7. Yes, 15 more meetings with constituents. For those keeping score at home, that is listening session number 60 through listening session number 74. These have all been done since January 2009.

74 – That’s freaking incredible to say the least -especially for an elected official with a district the size of the whole state of Montana. Rehberg does deserve accolades for this. When the Montana Democrats saw his schedule, they probably said, “Damn! He’s everywhere.”

It’s probably not all that fun traveling around the big state of Montana. It’s not like Washington, D.C., and I imagine that is why our other two people (Senator Max Baucus and Senator Jon Tester) representing us in Washington have not been too keen on holding listening sessions.

Of course, our two senators claim they care about Montana – and maybe they do. Frankly, they have not shown it much the past couple of years. Their spokespeople claim their bosses have been out and about, but many of their meetings are not “come one come all” and any meetings they do have are not publicized as much as Rehberg’s or they are “one issue” meetings with invited guests.

I kind of feel sorry for Max and Jon. OK, not really. Baucus is like the long-time employee who has lost the skills needed to accomplish the job. Tester had a great interview for the position, but now that he is working for us, he has changed his tune and his work is completely different than what he promised. They get paid very well (yes, the same as Rehberg). Unlike Rehberg, they have staff running out their ears, so they should get it done. It makes one wonder what Rehberg could accomplish if he had the same amount of staff and resources that Montana’s Senators have.

But then again in defense of the Baucus and Tester it’s tougher when your party has not done what they promised voters they would do if put into power – and they do control all the marbles in Washington. It’s tougher when your party’s President has low approval ratings. It’s tougher when you have a personal scandal to answer for or when you’ve lied about what you would do if elected.

Life is just tougher for Baucus and Tester.

As we’ve seen on television many times, open and well-publicized listening sessions are not for wimps. First, you have to show up. Second, you have to be knowledgeable about the issues. Third, you have to be able to string a couple sentences together coherently.

It really is that simple.