The Western Word marks a milestone today – this is the 52nd straight week of “Caught My Eye!”  That’s a year in some countries!  Thanks to all of my faithful readers for making this happen…and there was just a small tear in the corner of my eye right then…

By the way, there will be cake and punch in the break room after this column is posted (note to staff – don’t get frosting on your keyboard).

It’s Friday and you deserve to take a break from work and relax for a few minutes and read The Western Word’s (TWW) Caught My Eye column.  It’s OK, your boss probably reads TWW, too!

If you are a new visitor, Caught My Eye is a weekly column (posted on Friday mornings) where I take a look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week.  Sometimes I add just a touch of sarcasm to my commentary.

This week I take a look at polling, generic candidates, an invite, visiting New York, job interviews and of course I take a look at what popped up in my political inbox.  There’s a lot more, so read on!

Polling:

Last night I received a telephone call from Public Policy Polling asking me questions about the 2012 U.S. Senate race that appears will be between Congressman Denny Rehberg and U.S. Senator Jon Tester.  It was a press one for this, press two for this poll.

Besides the normal questions, they asked which candidate I felt could best polish off a whole barrel of Utz Cheese Balls driving from Missoula to Billings and which candidate could order the fastest from a Taco Bell drive thru menu…

Before the Montana Democrat and Republican Party operatives start making phone calls and sending e-mails, that last paragraph is a joke…

“Generic” Republican:

Gallup released a new poll yesterday that “Registered voters by a significant margin now say they are more likely to vote for the “Republican Party’s candidate for president” than for President Barack Obama in the 2012 election, 47% to 39%.”  Read the whole story HERE.

Who is that “Generic” Republican Candidate?

Steven Colbert explains HERE.  His name is Ped Xing and he just may get my vote.

The Invitation:

It seems Sen. Jon Tester wanted to play a little politics about the oil spill in Yellowstone County about  an invite he received (or did he?) from Congressman Denny Rehberg to attend a U.S. House Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee meeting in Billings this week.

KTVQ reported that Sen. Jon Tester says he was invited to the hearing by Congresswoman Corrine Brown from Florida, and only received an invitation from Rehberg yesterday-and it wasn’t direct.

“Congressman Rehberg, it’s good to see you,” said Tester before his testimony. “Thank you for your follow-up invitation yesterday, albeit, through the Great Falls Tribune.”

Sen. Tester should realize that his political pettiness detracts from the real problem which is the oil polluting the pristine Yellowstone River.

Job Interview No-Nos:

With so many people out of work, doing a great job during an interview is paramount – like not bringing birds or handcuffs to the interview – or singing your answers… read more HERE.

The Political Inbox:

Just about every week I share some of the e-mails I received from candidates and political groups with my readers.  Of course, I also offer some commentary!  Here are a few….

-The Montana GOP sent an e-mail with the subject “Whoops! Bad timing…” in which they say “Jon Tester was caught at a high dollar trial lawyer fundraiser in New York City at the very time the Democrat party tried to criticize Denny Rehberg over out of state fundraising.”

You can watch the video HERE.

It seems Tester has spent a lot of time in the past few years jetting around the country campaigning and fundraising for his campaign and for fellow democrats.  He certainly does not “come home’ every weekend as he claims, but the media allows him to get away with saying that.

-The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) sent an e-mail with the subject “Bluff” in which they say, “Don’t call my bluff. These were the strong words President Obama had for Eric Cantor, leader of the Congressional “Hell No” Caucus. These Republicans are so bent on destroying the president, they’re willing to create an economic meltdown to try to tie it on the Democrats.”

The boys and girls running the show in D.C. really need to work together…

– Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, sent me an e-mail with the subject “Join me” in which she links to a video and writes, “Watch it, then pledge to join us for some organizing on July 16th — when we’ll register voters and ask supporters to commit to help elect President Obama and Democrats up and down the ticket in 2012.”  You can watch the video HERE.

I like Wasserman Schultz – she is a go getter. 

-A friend forwarded me an invitation from the Cascade County (MT) Democrats “For a Reception Honoring Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock.”  The big event is Wednesday, July 20, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Wrangler Gallery on Central Avenue in Great Falls. Suggested contribution To Friends of Steve Bullock are $50 – Guest, $300 – Sponsor, $600 – Co-Host.

I’m wondering if they have the “stand in the back of the room for $5” suggested contribution…

National Parks Freedom Pass Act:

Although it is not an original idea, I do tip my hat to Sen. Jon Tester for introducing a bill that would, according to KRTV, “give military veterans free access for life to America’s national parks and National Park Service sites.”

As I have mentioned before, the Veteran vote is very important in Montana.

Twitter:

Each and every week I’m picking up more and more followers on Twitter @TheWesternWord.  It’s now cool to follow Jack @TheWesternWord!  So you should follow me and if you don’t have a Twitter account, get one now!

Finally:

Don’t forget to stretch…