Happy Monday!  I know that your Christmas break seems so very far away – so hold on – and stay warm.  Here at The Western Word (TWW) we are well into the planning stages for the TWW office Christmas party – and getting ready to decorate for the big event!  We do say “Merry Christmas” here at TWW!

By the way, thanks to my readers for last week – second highest week for visits EVER.  You rock!

Every Monday I take a look at some of the political stories that were published over the weekend and offer some commentary.  This weekend there were a lot of them.  I take a look at Corzine and donations, F-15s, missiles and cowboys, Mr. Senior VP, GOP Governor, Medicare, and Farm subsidies.  So grab some coffee and read on…Jon Corzine:

According to an article in The Hill, “Jon Corzine, former CEO of MF Global, has given tens of thousands of dollars to the Democratic Party in recent months, putting Democratic lawmakers in awkward positions ahead of Corzine’s subpoenaed appearance before a House committee next week.”

If I were an opposition researcher, I’d be checking for donations from Corzine to certain candidates and office holders…I mean it’s there for the finding…but that was only if I was being paid to do opposition research…

F-15s:

(If you follow me on Twitter, you already knew this) The Sacramento Bee Newspaper is reporting that “12 California National Guard pilots disciplined in dual-pay scandal.”

My regular readers may remember that the Montana National Guard’s F-15 fleet is scheduled to be moved to the Fresno-based 144th Fighter Wing – where this scandal took place.

One of the more interesting lines in the story: “None was charged criminally.”

Since the investigation, several inspections have found “marginal” and “disappointing marks” on inspections for the 144th.

It’s too bad the leadership of the National Guard can’t see the best place for the F-15s is for them to stay in Montana…

Missiles and Cowboys:

Rep. Denny Rehberg of Montana, Rep. Rick Berg of North Dakota., and Rep. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming teamed up to save paper and sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta asking him not to cut America’s intercontinental ballistic missile force – at least not too much.

The Great Falls Tribune has the story.

If push comes to shove, these three people along with the senators from their states will go after each other to save their own missile bases…

Senior Vice President:

According to the Billings Gazette, 2010 Rehberg campaign manager Tyler Matthews has joined 47 North Communications as senior vice president of political operations.

It’s always nice to have friends who will help you when you need a job…

Insider Trading:

There’s a new book titled, “Throw Them All Out: How Politicians and Their Friends Get Rich Off Insider Stock Tips, Land Deals, and Cronyism That Would Send the Rest of Us to Prison.” It was written by Peter Schweizer.

According to this article, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., is mentioned in the book and that’s all I have to say about that…

Montana Governor:

The Daily Inter Lake posted an editorial that probably made the GOP field for governor break out in cold sweat saying they might be worried that “the heavily crowded GOP primary race for governor will produce a big surprise in the form of a weak candidate.”

I already wrote about the same issue back on October 4 in my column called, “Too Many.” (Someone should hire me to write political stories…I can also make coffee).

Four Public Meetings:

As was first tweeted here @TheWesternWord, the U.S. Air Force plans to hold four meetings this week in Montana to discuss the elimination of 50 silos that formerly housed nuclear missiles (and still could).

Meanwhile, the United States does not really know the nuclear capability of China…

Medicare Squabble:

Lee Newspapers did a “News analysis” story about the rift between Congressman Denny Rehberg and U.S. Senator Jon Tester over Medicare.

For those wondering what “News analysis” means; it’s when the reporter gives his/her opinion about the issue out in the open and does not try to disguise it as hard news reporting – just kiddin…

The biggest thing to come from the story is that Tester’s guy, Aaron Murphy, called Rehberg a “Washington politician” during the story – oh the name calling – which I bet makes his parents proud.

I guess the “millionaire” title team Tester was using to describe Rehberg was getting old…

Gravy Train: 

The Billings Gazette tells us that “Farm lobby fights for best deal it can get on fading subsidies” in a story published Sunday.

Maybe cutting foreign aid to countries that want to kill us will enable the best farm programs to stay in place – but only the best ones – this should not be a gravy train.

Follow Jack on Twitter @TheWesternWord.