Congratulations!  Friday has finally arrived and for your reward I’ve prepared another edition of Caught My Eye!

If this is your first time visiting The Western Word, the “Caught My Eye” column is posted every Friday morning right here!  This is where I take a quick look at some of the stories I did not have time to write or comment about during the week – and I often throw in a touch of sarcasm just to keep it zesty.

BE ADVISED:  Everyone and everything is fair game…

Today I write about a difficult boss, political coordination, senate internships, ethics review, a Gallup poll, being polled, packing the beef, a privileged path, the birth to 12 video, the BCS, and I crack open my political inbox and share!

Difficult Boss Remembered:

I have to applaud the Montana Democrats for remembering the story from 1999 about Congressman Rick Hill who “during his tenure in the nation’s capital, was rated by the magazine George as the ‘second most-difficult boss’ in all of congress.”

The “I don’t eat deli” part made me groan (again) with laughter…

Coordination?

Montana Watchdog published a story (HERE) about U.S. Sen. Jon Tester’s re-election campaign and a group called Citizens for Strength and Security Fund telling voters that Congressman Denny Rehberg had taken pay raises.  The campaign and the group did this at the same time.

The reporter wrote, these two things happening at the same time “was either pure luck for the campaign or a possible violation of federal law…”

I hate to break the news, but candidates and outside groups “coordinate” their plan of attack all the time.  For anyone to prove they are coordinating their attacks, well, that is the hard part…unless there’s an e-mail between the two groups saying, “Hey you wanna nail Rehberg on the pay raise thing starting March 15?”

Senate Internship Availability:

According to this story, “Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor says he’s asked the FBI to investigate who auctioned off an internship to his Washington office that the founder of “Girls Gone Wild” says he bought for the winner of a reality show.”

I think we now have an idea of how to lower the National Debt…

High Marks?

One would think the Montana media would grow tired of reporting on the gimmick that Senator Jon Tester has used to tell people that he is as pure as snow in the ethics department.

Nope.  They went for it again.

We all remember candidate Tester saying he would have an ethics review every year, but then he changed his mind.  The one just completed was only his third.  He recently had a retired judge conduct a review, and guess what?  The judge, using information supplied by Tester, found nothing wrong.  Amazing!

Never mind that the judge has no idea how a senate office operates – as long as Tester can get a little publicity through the very gullible Montana media that is all that counts – and he did!

Voters under 30:

A new poll from Gallup tells us “President Obama continues to enjoy a substantial lead over Mitt Romney among voters under 30, but these youthful Americans are significantly less likely than average to be registered to vote, and significantly less likely than those who are older to say they will definitely vote in next November’s election.”

Turnout of the voters under 30 will be a key in many races this November.  That’s why the Obama/Romney folks will be looking for some big names under 30 to help with the get out to vote effort.

Tester Packs His Beef:

In case you missed the new ad from Senator Jon Tester’s re-election campaign, it’s about Tester’s suitcase full of beef that he takes on the airplane from Montana to Washington.  The voiceover on the ad says, “Jon Tester doesn’t pack much when he goes back to Washington, but he always brings his Montana roots.”

It is a cute video that tries to show Tester as being a down-to-earth fellow.  It’s interesting that there’s footage of Tester going through airport security – was it staged or actual screenings?  Is it OK to film security procedures at airports? 

Check it out for yourself, HERE.

Polling:

Last night, Public Policy Polling called me and they were polling registered voters in Montana asking about the Presidential, Senate, Governor, and House races.  They also asked about gay marriage, legalizing marijuana, and the final question about candidates asked if Brian Schweitzer should run for President in 2016.

It was an automated poll.  In the questions about the U.S. House race – Steve Daines’ name was pronounced Daine (no “s”) which should tell him he needs to work on his name ID.  If I remember correctly (there were a lot of questions), the Democrats listed in the poll for the U.S. House only mentioned Kim Gillan and Franke Wilmer.  In the question for the GOP Governor, all candidates running for Governor had their names mentioned.

I imagine the results will be out soon…

Privileged Path:

The Associated Press did some “fact checking” about Mitt Romney saying his father “grew up poor.”  You can read the story HERE.

The AP reports that the father’s, “success ensured a more privileged path for his son, Mitt Romney, who was raised in the posh Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills and attended an elite prep school before receiving degrees from the business and law schools of Harvard University.”

Sounds like little Mitt lived the same privileged life as a couple of candidates here in Montana…

Jack’s Political Inbox:

Every day I receive several e-mails from candidates, elected officials, and/or groups promoting a cause,  many just hoping they get mentioned (in a kind way) on The Western Word website!  I pick a few each week that “Caught My Eye” and share them with my readers.  Here are six that caught my eye…

-The Montanans for Tester Campaign sent me an e-mail with the subject, “Join us Tuesday, May 1st” writing, “Please join Joe and Dr. Leslie Russell Together with Co-Hosts: Peggy & Ralph Beltrone, Robin & Gerry Boland, Tom Boland, Carol & Bill Bronson, Jan and Dennis Conner, Kristina & Max Davis, Bob Mehlhoff, Darci & Doug Neil, Tom Nelson & Paula Harpole, Dr. Mark Ozog, Rosemary & Mark Semmens, Dr. Jeff and Julie Stephenson, Greg Ulmer, Dryck & Karen Van Hyning, and Jane & Jim Weber*”

They tell me it will cost $35 per person or $70 couple to be a “guest.”  If I want to be considered “Friends,” that will cost $50 per person or $100 per couple.  Now, if I have a lot of money to spare, I can be a “co-host” for $125 a person or $250 per couple.

I wonder if the Senator will be wheeling in his suitcase full of beef to feed those attending…

-The Rehberg for Senate Campaign sent me an e-mail with the subject “News from the Trail” where campaign manager Erik Iverson writes, “With less than 200 days until Election Day, attention is turning—both in Montana and nationally—to our race.”

It only took until the second paragraph for Iverson to write about “Tester and his special-interest allies…”

It seems (to me) the Rehberg campaign might just be feeling a little cocky and believe they have this race won…

–President Barack Obama sent me an e-mail with the subject, “Clooney and me” in which he wrote, “Jack –I’ll be going to a special event at George Clooney’s house in a few weeks, and two grassroots supporters and their guests will join us.”

Since George Clooney somewhat resembles me, maybe I should stay home for this one, Mr. President.  We don’t want anyone to be confused…

–Mitt Romney’s campaign sent me an e-mail with the subject, “Thank You, America” and he writes, “We know President Obama and his liberal Democrat allies will stop at nothing to hold on to power.  Our country cannot afford four more years of President Obama and the Democrats — donate $20.12 today.”

No thanks…I will use that money to buy food…

-The Friends of Max Baucus campaign sent me an e-mail with the subject, “It’s time, Mr. President.”  Baucus wants me to sign a petition telling President Obama that it’s time to bring the troops home from Afghanistan.

I bet Jon Tester, and other Democrats running for office in 2012, are a little upset that Baucus is sending campaign e-mails while they are in their own campaign cycle…meanwhile Republicans are hoping Baucus continues trying to corner everyone’s attention…

–Sen. Barbara Mikulski writing on behalf of the “Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee” (DSCC) sent me an e-mail with a one word subject, “Trash.”  She says, “They trash our president, stomp on women’s rights and gut Medicare.  It’s the Republican recipe for taking back the Senate, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

She then adds, “Karl Rove is putting this recipe into action with a new $1.2 million ad blitz against our Democratic candidates in five battleground states.”

I think Karl Rove may be the most hated conservative in America…

Birth to 12:

A father filmed his daughter every week, from birth up until she turned 12 years old and then made a time-lapse film of it that lasts about 2 minutes and 45 seconds.  It is worth the view HERE!

It has about 4.2 million views on Vimeo and 635,000 views on YouTube…

BCS Playoffs?

According to a story from the Associated Press, “Yes, major college football is on the verge of implementing a playoff, its own version of the final four.  Two semifinals and a title game.”

This is great news – please make it happen!!!

One More Thing:

Don’t forget to stretch…

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