It’s been so hot and dry in some places across the United States this summer that one fellow said, “I wish it would rain – not so much for me, cuz I’ve seen it, but for my 7-year-old.”

Welcome to The Western Word!  If this is your first time dropping by, “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 sometimes laced with just a little snarkiness…

Today I talk about a defense meeting in Great Falls, campaign spending and disclosure, an exciting race, rolling your own and Max Baucus, trust and the government, offshore bank accounts and tax returns, Boehner and God, third party, wedding bells for Barney, and much more!

Defending Our Defenders:

You heard it first from The Western Word grapevine – Congressman Denny Rehberg will be hosting a listening session in Great Falls next Monday (July 16) at 9 a.m., with Representative Randy Forbes (R-VA) entitled “Defending Our Defenders.”  It will be at the MSU College of Technology or the Great Falls Vo-Tech or whatever they call the place these days.

As I have written several times, the Great Falls (MT) area is the battleground between Rehberg and U.S. Senator Jon Tester.  The candidate who makes people believe they are more pro-Malmstrom and pro-Air Guard may just win the election.  This will be Rehberg’s latest attempt to sway the pro-defense folks in Cascade County…

Campaign Spending & Disclosure:

Lee Newspapers is doing a two-part story about who is spending political advertising money across Montana.  You can find out who is spending the money, but in Montana (and other smaller-market stations) you will need to drop by the television station to review it.  You can read part one HERE.  Part two digs into what Senator Jon Tester and Congressman Denny Rehberg think about disclosure.  You can read part two HERE.

Maybe the stations should broadcast it as a slideshow at the end of the broadcast day (or around 3:00 a.m.) and anyone interested in this information can set their DVRs and record it…

Exciting Race:

It was so boring in the political world this weekend that Congressional Candidate Steve Daines (R) took time off to climb Ross Peak near Bozeman.  It looks like he even had to take his own photo…

The Montana At-Large House race may be the most boring congressional race in country; both candidates are about as exciting as watching paint dry…

Roll Your Own:

According to this article, “Roll-your-own” (RYO) cigarette operations will soon end because of an amendment tucked into the recently-passed highway bill.  The RYO folks are blaming Senator Max Baucus and saying he received donations from big tobacco and he allowed an amendment to the highway bill that “changed the definition of a cigarette manufacturer to cover thousands of roll-your-own operations nationwide.  The move, backed by major tobacco companies, is aimed at boosting tax revenues.”

Looks like Baucus killed some jobs…

Trust in Government:

According to a new poll from Rasmussen Reports, “Forty percent (40%) trust local government the most.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 23% trust the federal government the most and only 12% have most confidence in state governments.”

Maybe some of those polled visited the Montana State Legislature a few times and watched that circus…

Details Please:

According to the Associated Press, “Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is raising millions of dollars from New York’s elite Sunday, as Democrats push for him to explain offshore bank accounts and release several years of tax returns.”

I’d like to see Romney explain his offshore accounts – he is probably the first presidential candidate to have offshore accounts.  I’d also like to see him release at least 10 years of tax returns, too.  This non-disclosure is starting to smell.

Extending Tax Cuts:

According to The Hill, “President Obama will call for a one-year extension of the Bush-era tax rates for people who earn less than $250,000 per year.”

That’s a good thing!  I imagine that Mitt Romney probably laughed at Obama’s plan because to him those who make $250,000 per year or less are just peons…

Third Party:

According to a new poll from Gallup, “U.S. registered voters show limited support for third-party candidates this year, with the vast majority preferring Barack Obama or Mitt Romney.”

From the national races to the local races, we are not really fielding the best and brightest candidates because people are afraid of being attacked by the two major political parties and their supporters.  Politics is becoming a game for millionaires…

This Just In:

Speaker of the House John Boehner is not God.  He was asked by a woman at an event, “Can you make me love Mitt Romney?”  Boehner responded, “Listen, we’re just politicians.  I wasn’t elected to play God.  The American people probably aren’t going to fall in love with Mitt Romney.”

Americans would probably fall in love with a box of rocks faster…

Boehner then said, “Mitt Romney has some friends, relatives and fellow Mormons … some people that are going to vote for him.  But that’s not what this election is about.  This election is going to be a referendum on the president’s failed economic policies.”

Whoever comes across as most likeable, Romney or Obama, will probably win…and so far Obama is winning that contest…

Barney Weds:

Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass.) wed his long-time partner, Jim Ready, this weekend.  According to The Hill, Frank “becomes the first member of Congress to enter into a same-sex marriage.”

Best wishes, Barney and Jim…

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