Today is Tax Day 2012.  My condolences…

Today on The Western Word I write about the Huffington Post story on Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and politics, Montana’s U.S. House At-Large money race, going after Daines, blanketing Bullock, packing, talking candidly, and much more.

Huff Post & ICBMs:

Andrea Stone, senior national correspondent for The Huffington Post, writes an interesting piece today about “ICBM Coalition Of Rural Senators Fights Nuclear Weapons Cuts” and devotes a lot of her story to the U.S. Senate race between freshman Senator Jon Tester and his challenger, Congressman Denny Rehberg.

Stone writes about the politics surrounding the fight to save the nuclear missions and makes this observation, “Because submarines and bombers can carry out non-nuclear missions, the Cold War-era holdover ICBMs based in the sparsely populated central, northern plains, may be the most vulnerable to cuts if Obama makes good on his vow to deeply slash the nuclear arsenal.”

She brings up several interesting angles in her story like, “Russia, which has been retiring its aging nuclear arsenal at a fast clip, was willing to agree to fewer than 1,550 deployed strategic warheads.  But at that level, the U.S. may have been forced to close a missile wing in a state where Democrats have much on the line this November.  That includes Montana, where freshman Democratic Sen. Jon Tester is battling Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg in a tight race that could tip control of the Senate.”

Stone also delves into campaign donations from the pro-ICBM community writing, “Tester is the biggest recipient so far in the 2012 election cycle, taking in $21,500 from ICBM contractors.  Rehberg has gotten $5,000 from the companies this cycle and $42,050 during his six terms in the House.”

House Money:

The Associated Press (AP) reported late yesterday about the Montana At-Large U.S. House money race reporting, “A trio of Democrats jockeying for top position in a crowded primary field running for Congress released reports Monday showing the race to compile cash for the stretch run remains close.”

But Republican Steve Daines leads everyone in the money grabbing department with a reported “more than $700,000 on hand.”

For the Democrats, State Senator Kim Gillan leads in the “cash on hand” category with State Representative Franke Wilmer second, and businesswoman Diane Smith third.

The AP erroneously reported “Helena lawyer Rob Stutz has shunned fundraising and aimed to build a campaign based on volunteer help.”  Stutz does accept donations – I found a big red “Contribute” button on his website which is a form of fundraising.  Stutz does proclaim on his website that he does not take Political Action Committee (PAC) money.

Going After Daines:

Speaking of Rob Stutz, he is one of the few Democratic House candidates who is going after Republican Steve Daines.  Stutz posted a column on his campaign blog saying “Montana Does Not Need Steve Daines for U.S. Congress” and claiming that Daines “has not been transparent about what Montanans will get if we elect him.”  He’s also posted a video called, “Steve Daines has trouble with the truth.”

Check it out HERE.

Blanketing Bullock:

Last night the Bullock for Montana Governor Campaign sent an e-mail with the subject, “We Must Be Doing Something Right” where he writes, “An out-of-state group, with ties to the Koch Brothers and Karl Rove, has just wired over $100,000 to blanket Montana with misleading TV ads about me.”

Of course, a campaign e-mail would not be a campaign e-mail without a pitch for a donation:  “I need your help to fight back.  Contribute $35, $15 or whatever you can afford.”

Seems everyone wants help against those big bad out-of-state groups and special interests…

Start Packing:

Mitt Romney did an interview with Diane Sawyer of ABC News and when asked if he had anything to say to President Obama, he said “Start Packing.”

Fortunately, Romney did not tell Obama to put his dog on top of the car when they move…

In Private:

It’s always fun to see (and hear) how politicians act and what they say when they think the cameras and microphones are off.

We heard President Obama recently say to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, “This is my last election.  After my election, I have more flexibility.”

Now we hear that the Romneys were overheard by reporters talking candidly at a high-dollar private fundraiser in Florida.  You can read what they said HERE.

Tax Day 2012:

Good read – Check out Robert B. Reich’s column “Thoughts on Tax Day 2012” HERE.

Reminder:

Drive carefully.  Uncle Sam needs every taxpayer he can get…

More Tax Jokes HERE

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