Welcome to another Monday and another week!  I’m happy you made it!

Have no fear, The Western Word (TWW) will be with you each and every day throughout the week providing you with that independent commentary you’ve come to love and enjoy!  I promise we will get through this week together.

If you are a new visitor to TWW, “Monday Morning Politics” is where I put together several of the political stories from the past weekend all in one place for your reading pleasure.  I also offer some commentary about these stories often laced with just a little snarkiness…

Today I write about the Montana Democrats Platform convention, birth control, executions, the University of Montana and Veterans, Venus and the Sun and Rehberg, Greenwood’s write in candidacy, Siri and Siri, hit and run, and much more so read on…

Montana Democrats Platform Convention:

In case you missed it, the Montana Democratic Party held their platform convention this past weekend with many of the statewide candidates giving short speeches.  Yawn.

The biggest news to come out of the convention was the Party’s decision to support the repeal of Montana’s constitutional ban on gay marriage.

I have a gut feeling that the Montana Republicans will not agree with the Montana Democrats on the gay marriage issue…

Birth Control Protest:

According to Lee Newspapers, about 75 people protested in front of U.S. Senator Max Baucus’ Helena office on Friday about “the federal mandate that health insurance policies cover birth control and related services for women.” Similar protests were held across the country.

Some protests make me shake my head…

Full Access to Executions:

According to the Associated Press, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision on Friday “ruling that witnesses should have full viewing access to a convicted killer’s lethal injection.”

If we are going to execute people, we should be able to see the whole process…

University of Montana & Veterans:

According to the Missoulian, “Nineteen University of Montana veterans enrolled in summer school learned a week into classes that the university, through the Yellow Ribbon Program, wouldn’t cover their tuition as previously promised.”

Shameful.  This is another black mark on the University of Montana.  I bet if the problem dealt with 19 football players, the leaders of the University would correct the problem quickly…

Venus vs. the Sun:

Congressman Denny Rehberg e-mailed his newsletter over the weekend (with his photo) that showed a photo of Venus and the Sun and he talked about a medical device excise tax.  He tied it all together and you can see how by reading his newsletter HERE.

Please note that I did not tell a Uranus joke…

Bowen…Bowen…Bowen:

I received an update last night from Bowen Greenwood regarding his write in campaign for Clerk of the Supreme Court.

He says, “We didn’t make it.”  He added, “It wasn’t quite done yet on Friday afternoon, but when I left town, the vote count was 3,802.  So we fell well short of the necessary 12,000.  While some more information may come in, right now it looks like we didn’t get it done.”

I do commend Greenwood for trying.  It should be easier for write in candidates to get on the ballot in Montana – just as it should be easier to run as an independent candidate in the state.

Hit and Run:

U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson was cited for felony hit-and-run by police in San Gabriel, Calif., after he allegedly caused two car accidents that left him hospitalized.  Reportedly he has been released from the hospital.  Some reports are saying he suffered a seizure – so I hope he gets well soon!

It is interesting that a Cabinet Secretary was alone and driving his own car…

Siri:

Siri Smillie who works for the Friends of Steve Bullock campaign sent me an e-mail with the subject, “Yard Signs” writing, “Most cities and towns only allow political signs within a certain window of the election.  We hope you will store this sign and put it up again on September 15 for the General Election.”

I wonder if Siri Smillie has an iPhone?  If she does I wonder what the conversations are like…

Auto Leases:

The Montanans for Tester Campaign sent me a note about Congressman Rehberg with a link about automobile leasing by members of Congress.

According to this story, “A review of Congressional spending records shows that 76 members of Congress are spending some of their office account money to lease vehicles, with the highest price coming in at over $1,500 per month.”

It’s legal to do this, but after seeing the list I noticed that Rep. Rodney Alexander of Louisiana was spending just $167.99 per month for a vehicle.

Maybe his folks will e-mail me a photo of the vehicle – I’m thinking it’s a 1987 Volvo with cracked windshield and an air conditioner that does not work.  It’s probably missing a bumper and mirror.

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