Here we go once again – another Monday!  I hope your Easter was blessed!

For being an Easter weekend, there sure were a lot of political stories.  I’ve managed to put many of them all in one place for you to see.  If you are new to “Monday Morning Politics,” this column is where I take a look at many of the political stories from the past weekend and provide (sometimes snarky) commentary about them.

Today I write about Tester’s new TV ads, Rehberg’s flyers, the F-18 crash, the Governor’s taxes, the Governor’s health clinic, Miller’s photo, candidates and social media, Daines and the GOP field, a personal story about Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes, and much more!

Tester Launches Two New Ads:

As I have noted here at The Western Word several times, the veterans’ vote in 2012 will be the key to victory for Jon Tester and Denny Rehberg because there are over 100,000 of us living in Montana.

Across the nation, about 71% of veterans cast a vote in the last presidential election.  Instead of paying those expensive Washington consultants, all Tester and Rehberg need to do is read The Western Word!

Jon Tester was first out of the gate releasing two new campaign ads on Friday showing his support for veterans – and they are pretty good.  You can watch them HERE and HERE.

Rehberg Campaign Literature:

I saw a few campaign signs pop up around town this weekend and then on Saturday I found a Rehberg for Senate flyer on my front door – showing a photo of a big belt buckle that had “JOBS” on it.  Here’s the front and the back.

Since campaign literature is already being dropped, one can expect this to be a very long campaign season…

F-18 Crash:

Somebody wrote that the F-18 crash that occurred Friday in Virginia Beach was a “Good Friday Miracle” because nobody was killed.  After seeing the crash on TV, it was a miracle.  Thank God for that!

There are better and safer places for training – they should conduct their training, as well as take-off and landings, over less-populated areas.  Montana would be the perfect place, and I just happen to know a place where there’s a runway…

MT Governor Releases Tax Records:

According to the Associated Press, Montana Governor “Brian Schweitzer and his wife Nancy paid nearly $22,000 in federal and state income taxes in 2011 on an adjusted gross income of nearly $158,000.”

The Schweitzers made $10,000 less in 2011 than they did in 2010…so you see even Democrats are feeling (a little) pain…

State Employee Health Clinic:

In what appears to be a “we don’t like it because we did not think of it first” tantrum, the Associated Press reports, “Republican legislative leaders say they’re looking for ways they could delay or block the governor’s proposal for a health care clinic for 11,000 state employees in Helena.”

They claimed it was because “the proposal is being put together too quickly.”

Now instead of fighting during the 90 day legislative session every two years, they find things to fight about the rest of the time – keeping the circus atmosphere going year-round.

Seven-way Showdown for Governor:

The Great Falls Tribune published a story for Sunday’s paper about the GOP race for governor between the seven candidates.  It was a front page, above the fold, type of story – with photos – so it was some free publicity for the candidates.

It was a well-written story but in the actual copy of the newspaper the Tribune appears to have published the wrong photo of Ken Miller.

Ouch…heartbreaker…

Democratic U.S. House Primary:

Lee Newspapers followed up my column last week about the Democratic U.S. House primary with their own article about the race.  You can read it HERE.

Unlike Lee Newspapers, you can read The Western Word for free and access it as many times as you wish during the month…all for free!

Montana Candidates and social media:

Lee Newspapers also did a story about candidates using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Major campaigns should employ at least one person who is responsible for handling the social media for the campaign – that person should also be mature.  Some candidates in Montana have started to notice that they can connect to voters through Facebook and Twitter.  Some newspapers and television stations are also finding out that Facebook and Twitter can help them. 

Most importantly – Everyone should follow me @TheWesternWord, too, because you can’t really afford to be the last to know things…

Lee Newspapers: Daines leads field…

Today Lee published a story about Steve Daines leading the GOP field for the U.S. House race.  It was not a “rocket science” type of story, but the reporter did manage to find his two lesser-known opponents, Vincent Melkus, and Eric Brosten, and interview them for the story.

Daines is the front-runner, but the purists in Montana may not like the fact that Daines was born in California.  His handlers also need to shield him from coming across as Montana’s Mitt Romney – rich and out-of-touch…

Mike Wallace -RIP:

I watch 60 Minutes often and remember Mike Wallace and his 1986 story about a break-in by protestors at a Minuteman missile site in Missouri that was controlled by the Air Force at Whiteman AFB, Missouri.

I was stationed with the Air Force at Whiteman AFB during that time and working that day.  Security personnel detaining the protestors and the 60 Minutes crew had a hard time making officials back at the base believe that “the Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes” was in rural Missouri at a missile site.  Finally one security policeman reportedly told his commander over the radio “I watch 60 Minutes every week and this is the real Mike Wallace!”

Here’s the archived story about the event.  Enjoy!