Watch out!  Yesterday (November 6) we were officially one year out from the 2012 General Election – this should be fun!

To get yourself caught up, check out my highly-read column, “Politics 2010: 10 Most Vulnerable Senators” which appeared in the San Antonio Express-News last month and several other publications across the country.

Today in Monday Morning Politics, we take a look at cartoons, Jesus, Veterans, billboards, preventing wars in Moldova, and some of the newest campaign videos!  So read on…

Rehberg and the Cartoon:

Just imagine if someone with a video camera followed you around from the moment you left your home each morning until you arrived home (or at your hotel room that night).  That’s what the political parties (both Democrats and Republicans) pay people to do during the campaign season.

If I were a candidate, my opponents would probably have enough video to sink me within a few hours – most probably because I would have shoved the video camera up their…but I am not a candidate.  Denny Rehberg is, though.

According to an article that appeared in Talking Points Memo (TPM) on Friday, Congressman Denny Rehberg was handed “this cartoon depicting President Obama as the late bloodthirsty tyrant Muammar Qaddafi.”  Breaking News:  The whole thing was caught on camera.

And, Rehberg looked at the cartoon.  Great googly moogly…

Rehberg and Jesus:

Congressman Denny Rehberg is fighting to keep the statue of Jesus on Big Mountain near Whitefish (Montana).  He is holding a rally in Whitefish on Thursday at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 276 in Whitefish.  The World War II Memorial statue of Jesus that has been located in the Flathead National Forest near Kalispell, MT since 1953.

The Forest Service should leave Jesus alone, period.

If you are in Whitefish on Thursday, drop by the rally which starts at 1:00 p.m. at the VFW Post which is located at 20 Baker Avenue.

Tester and Veterans bill:

Although many things that Sen. Jon Tester has done and voted for I don’t agree with, his support for veterans is refreshing and continues to build on what his predecessor started.

Call it election year posturing or what you want, but Tester announced that he was taking the lead on the President’s job package that deals with veterans.  I’ve mention in several columns that whichever candidate for the U.S. Senate here in Montana (Tester or Denny Rehberg) who can corner the veterans vote has the best chance of winning the election.

So far that person is Jon Tester.

Anything that our elected officials can do to help veterans (especially those of us who are among the long-term unemployed) is very much welcome. Sadly, even if this bill makes it out of the Senate, the House probably won’t take it up.  In Washington, playing politics is an every day job – even if it means playing with the future of those who served to keep us free. 

O’Hara’s Billboards:

In campaigns, candidates try to find an issue they can latch themselves on to like a dog with a bone – something that will make them stand out and get voters’ attention.

GOP Governor Candidate Jim O’Hara is painting billboards of each county’s courthouse to get attention for his campaign.  According to a story over the weekend from Lee Newspapers, O’Hara has “painted one billboard for each of Montana’s 56 counties, plus two extra for each of the seven most populous counties for a grand total of 70.”  They are rather large billboards, too, “Each courthouse he painted took four sheets of plywood — five if it had a clock tower.”

That is a pretty cool way of campaigning. 

Molnar in Moldova:

Almost everyone in Montana enjoyed reading (or watching) the back and forth between the Public Service Commission (PSC) members.  The members made a boring commission fun to watch, but that has subsided some.

Maybe it’s quiet down in Helena because Commissioner Brad Molnar is in Moldova (time to check your world maps) giving energy advice and preventing “a friggin’ war” according to this article from Lee Newspapers.

Hmmm…

Campaign Videos:

Our first video today is about Mitt Romney and his perceived “flip-flops” on the issues.  Enjoy!

My second video is from the Democratic National Committee (DNC)  – it’s a web video about Mitt Romney called Mitt Romney: “Absolutely” Wrong for Women.  Check it out:

The third video today is from the Republican National Committee (RNC) and it’s called, “It’s Been Three Years.”

And finally, the Taxpayers for Common Sense Action has a new ad out about paying pay twice for gas and your electricity through subsidies.  It singles out U.S. Senator Max Baucus.

Have a great week!  Follow The Western Word on Twitter @TheWesternWord