Since today is “Good Friday,” I hope you take a moment to reflect and thank God for the blessings you have received this past year!  I sincerely hope that this weekend you get away from the hustle and bustle of this crazy world and enjoy this special Easter weekend with your family and friends.

For those of you on Spring Break:  P-A-R-T-Y.

Are you ready for another (the 89th) edition of Caught My Eye?  Caught My Eye is posted every Friday morning right here!  In this column I take a quick look at some of the stories I did not have time to comment about during the week – and I often throw in a touch of sarcasm just to make you smile…

ADVISORY:  Everyone and everything is fair game…

Today I write about unemployment, Judge Cebull, the attorney general crime fighter, a campaign strategy with dirt, Petrino and the volleyball player, I open my political inbox and share, and I write about the Rock of Ages!  There’s a lot more!

8.2% Unemployment:

It’s not a good jobs report.  According to the Associated Press, “The unemployment rate fell to 8.2 percent, the lowest since January 2009.  The rate dropped because fewer people searched for jobs.  The official unemployment tally only includes those seeking work.”

Three Cups of Tea:

Montana Attorney General (AG) Steve Bullock released the results of his almost year-long investigation into Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson and the Central Asia Institute.  About an hour before the press conference about the investigation, Bullock sent a fundraising e-mail.  About four hours later, his campaign sent another one.

In my opinion, after a story about Mortenson appeared on 60 Minutes, Bullock saw a chance to get some publicity for himself (he is running for Montana Governor) and went for it.  The media just accepted that Bullock was doing his AG duties.  This investigation was more for publicity than anything.

We can all sleep better tonight knowing that Montana’s crime fighter, Steve Bullock, is on the job…

Special Judicial Committee:

According to the USA Today the, “U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Alex Kozinski has appointed a special judicial committee to investigate allegations of misconduct against Montana Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull.”

Readers may remember that Cebull was busted for sending a tasteless joke about the President.

I doubt this gets handled very quickly…

Lights, Camera, Farming:

It’s a campaign strategy that Team Tester hopes will work.  Senator Jon Tester is getting back to his roots and using his spring break to work in the fields at his farm outside of Big Sandy, Montana.

Most folks thought Tester was going to turn over the operation of the farm to his family while he served in the senate…

Jack’s Political Mailbox:

Almost every week I share some of the e-mails I have received from candidates and political groups – and I often add some commentary.  Here are four that caught my eye this week.  Enjoy!

–Montana Democratic Governor candidate Steve Bullock, while he was protecting us from Greg Mortenson, the co-founder of Central Asia Institute, also found time to send an e-mail with the subject “$34 Million” in which he writes, “We can’t let this election be bought by special interests.”  He goes on to say, “The Republican Governors Association is bragging that they have $34 million to dump into negative ads in competitive governors’ races around the country.”

Oh my, those S-I (Special Interests) folks sure are busy!  I wouldn’t worry too much for Bullock though – he received more than his share of fame by milking the investigation of Mortenson.  The Montana media went for it…

–Montana Republican Governor candidate Rick Hill can’t prosecute the “bad guys” like Bullock does, but he found time to send an e-mail with the subject “we are almost there” writing, “Today is the close of another fundraising quarter and thanks to your continued support we are on track to reach our goal.  We are almost there, but I need your help to raise $1,400 by midnight tonight so that we can hit that goal and close out this fundraising period strong.”

For being what some have termed the frontrunner in the GOP Governor’s race, Rick Hill and his campaign have not generated that much excitement…

–Jim Messina, the Campaign Manager of Obama for America, sent an e-mail with the subject, “Fwd: 2012” where he writes, “One year ago today was the official launch of the Obama 2012 campaign.  On April 4th, 2011, President Obama sent you a message, copied below, to kick this thing off, and about five staffers and I came to work in an empty office in Chicago with nothing but a desire to build this campaign the right way, with you at the heart of it.”

I like it when a plan comes together…

-The campaign of Denise Juneau for State Superintendent of Public Instruction sent an e-mail with the subject, “A birthday wish…” writing, “Denise will be celebrating with Team Juneau supporters in Helena, and we hope you can join her to blow out her birthday candles and raise a little money for her campaign.  If you can’t be in Helena, will you make a contribution of $4, $5, or $45 today in honor of Denise’s 45th birthday?”

I heard that Senator Max Baucus was thinking about doing this type of fundraiser, but nobody had enough money to send in to match his age…

Rock of Ages:

In case you missed my Tweet, Rock of Ages (the movie) is coming out June 15.  I just might end up going to the theater to see it (and I hate going to theaters).  There’s music from the greatest rock band of all time (REO Speedwagon).  There’s also some music from groups you may have heard of like Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Foreigner, Journey, Poison, Europe, and Twisted Sister.

Check out the movie trailer HERE.

Idiots?

In case you’ve missed it, there has been a lot of anger and outrage about the photo of a live trapped wolf that made its way around the internet recently.  The Great Falls Tribune editorial board today wrote that it is “Time to walk away from the wolf trapping flap.”

If you did not read the complete editorial, you missed an interesting closing paragraph:

One more thing.  For all you idiots who use threats and profanity to try to intimidate anti-hunting and trapping groups, you are, for the lack of anything better to say, shooting yourself and your passion for the sports in the foot.  You should give it a rest, too.

Bobby Petrino:

Looks like Arkansas Razorbacks football coach Bobby Petrino (born in Lewistown, Montana, and played football at Carroll College) is in hot water after he “had failed to disclose he had been riding with a female employee half his age when his motorcycle skidded off the road over the weekend.”

To “set” this up, the female employee was a former star volleyball player for Arkansas.

Football fans might remember that Petrino quit as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons back in 2007 after pledging his commitment to the owner of the team.

Oink… Suuuweeee…

Happy Birthday:

Country musician Merle Haggard is 75 today!  My favorite Merle Haggard song is “Mama Tried.”

The first thing I remember knowing, Was a lonesome whistle blowing, And a young un’s dream of growing up to ride; On a freight train leaving town, Not knowing where I’m bound, No-one could change my mind but Mama tried.

On This Date:

According to the Associated Press on this date in 1983, “Interior Secretary James Watt banned the Beach Boys from the 4th of July celebration on the Washington Mall, saying rock ‘n’ roll bands attract the ‘wrong element.’”

I’ve been called the “wrong element” a few times in my life…

One More Thing:

Don’t forget to stretch…