Happy Monday morning!  Wow – there were oodles of political stories across the state and nation this weekend!  The Western Word has managed to find most of them and bring them to you in one place – and of course I offer some commentary about each!

Today we take a look at state unemployment numbers, the Montana Democratic Convention, reporting about politics, popularity, on the airwaves, the cartel, corporate spending, yawning, and much more. So take a few minutes and catch up on the political news from the past weekend!

Unemployment Rates:

The Democrats are hoping more people obtain jobs before November 2012 and the Republicans are hoping the unemployment rate stays above 9% nationally, because it really is all about getting elected and having one political party in control.

The Associated Press reports: “Unemployment rates rose in a majority of states in August for a third straight month. The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment rates increased in 26 states, fell in 12 and remained unchanged in 12.”

Montana’s unemployment rate increased.  It was 7.8 percent in August.  Nationally, the unemployment rate is 9.1 percent.

Montana Democratic Convention:

One thing we found out from reading and watching the news about the recently held Democratic Convention in Great Falls over the weekend was that Montana lacks political reporters with the experience to report about politics. 

Max Baucus attends the convention:

The Great Falls Tribune ran a story on Saturday about U.S. Senator Max Baucus attending the convention writing, “Baucus made a surprise appearance at Saturday’s convention…”

Imagine that – the senior democratic senator attending a democratic convention in the state he represents.  So it was hardly a surprise – everything Baucus does is carefully calculated to give him maximum exposure for political purposes.

The Tribune reported,

Baucus pointed out that Tester narrowly defeated incumbent Sen. Conrad Burns in 2006 by fewer than 3,000 votes.  “That’s going to change in 2012,” Baucus said. “Voting counts, and organizing and working together really make a difference. “These elections are very, very close and a little bit of extra effort makes a huge, huge difference.

Baucus makes that 2006 race closer than it was (maybe it’s his memory fading with old age) – it was a 3562 vote Tester victory – plus it always helps to have Governor Schweitzer in your corner here in Montana during a tight election – to get the “extra effort” and make a “huge, huge difference.” 

Distortions and Politics:

Lee Newspapers reports from the Democratic convention that U.S. Senator Jon Tester said he “expects distortions of his record” during the 2012 campaign, “But if his campaign and its supporters can successfully tell voters what he’s done, Tester said he can win.”

There’s nothing lower than winning a political race by distorting your opponent’s record, huh Senator Tester?

Most Popular Political Person:

Bloomberg New reports, “The most popular national political figure in America today is one who was rejected by her own party three years ago: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.”

It was interesting to watch the “Clinton Political Machine” be taken down by the Obama team.  Obama ran a great race.  It’s been tough on him since the win, though.

By the way, I think Hillary Clinton has done a good job as Secretary of State.

On The Airwaves:

The Montana Republican Party launched a statewide radio advertising campaign against Democratic candidate for Governor, Steve Bullock.   You can hear the ad HERE.

I’m not too excited about any candidates, be it GOP or Democrat.  Sorry folks…you need a platform that excites people to vote for you…and you need staff to implement that campaign plan…

You’re yawning, too:

It also appears other folks are not too excited about the field of GOP gubernatorial candidates.  The following paragraph was taken from a recent column in the Flathead Beacon:

State Sen. Jeff Essmann from Billings is “actively considering” a run.  And, according to the AP, he is being encouraged to get in the race by GOP consultants with close ties to Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg. Dustin Frost, Rehberg’s former state director and a partner in 47 North Communications, said Essmann would be a “heavyweight” if he runs.

Watch out for the Rehberg “cartel” as they run things on the conservative side of the fence these days in Big Sky Country…

Governor Schweitzer Writes:

Montana’s governor wrote a guest opinion that appeared in several newspapers across the state telling us how much better Montana’s Government is than the Federal Government while telling folks he runs Montana like a ranch – his “old job.”

Schweitzer does make some good points that the boys and girls in Washington, D.C., could use to help the country.

Protect Us:

The Great Falls Tribune has a story out today (Monday) with the headline, “House measure would expand Homeland Security powers, waive environmental laws.”

Of course, Sen. Tester and Rep. Rehberg are on different sides of the fence on this.  Rehberg co-sponsored the bill (HR 1505) and says, “The simple idea of the bill is to provide the border patrol with the same access on federal land that it currently has on state and private land. There is nothing about this bill that creates any new authority to intrude into the lives of Americans.”

Tester used the words “Patriot Act” and “Real ID” to stir up and worry folks.  He was quoted saying, “It’s a federal land grab at its worst.”

I was never that worried about the Patriot Act or Real ID – I figured since I didn’t do anything wrong, then I don’t have anything to worry about.

By the way, the Great Falls Tribune has a poll up today regarding this issue (on the right side of the home screen and down some):  Great FallsTribune.com

Coming Up:

Lee Newspapers reports, “The state Supreme Court will hear a case Wednesday that could have a major impact on future elections, as it decides whether to retain or remove Montana’s 100-year-old ban on direct corporate spending for or against political candidates.”

They are correct – the decision in this case could have major implications on elections in the future.  I’m thinking that the more “liberal” Montana Supreme Court will side with the state on this case (retain the ban).   Readers?

Money (some of it corporate) makes its way into the elections some way no matter what.  For example, watch TV or listen to the radio close to election day and see the out of state ads, or drop by any campaign office in the heat of an election and see how many folks are from “somewhere else” and are there because some group paid for their trip to help their candidate.

Keep Up:

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