Welcome to the first Friday of August and to the latest edition of Caught My Eye!

If this is your first time visiting The Western Word (TWW), the “Caught My Eye” column is posted every Friday morning right here!  Here 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 make you smile – so get ready to slide into your weekend armed with knowledge and a smile!

Today I talk about C-130s, Olympic rings, write-in candidacy, unemployment numbers, Romney’s taxes, NBC, On This Date, and I crack open my political inbox and share!  There’s a lot more so read on…

C-130s Staying in Texas:

The Associated Press is reporting “A Senate panel voted Thursday to keep eight Texas Air National Guard cargo transport planes on the Gulf Coast for post-hurricane evacuations until at least 2014.”  They were supposed to be moved in Montana.

Meanwhile, two-thirds of Montana’s Congressional Delegation was campaigning and unable to stop the process in the senate…

Although it’s not a done deal yet, it is not looking too good for Montana in the C-130 department…

Olympic Rings:

The Montana Republican Party fired off a press release saying that “Embattled liberal Senator Raymond Jon Tester was caught using the Olympic Rings in partisan attacks against his opponent, an apparent violation of trademark law” and that they were telling the International Olympic Committee.

The Tester campaign has been telling folks that Rehberg is a former gymnast and that he “knows how to flip, flop, somersault and straddle.”  You can read about it HERE.

Really boys and girls, REALLY?

Write-In Fails:

Lee Newspapers is reporting, “Bowen Greenwood failed to get enough write-in votes in the June primary election to appear on the November ballot as the Republican nominee for clerk of the Montana Supreme Court.”

I salute Greenwood for trying.  Getting on the ballot as a write-in candidate in Montana is about as high a mountain to climb as trying to run as an independent candidate.  It should not be that hard to participate in the democracy…

Unemployment Rises:

This morning (August 3) the U.S. Department of Labor reports “Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 163,000 in July, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 8.3 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.”

The unemployment rate for June was 8.2%.

The Republicans can scream about the rate rising from 8.2% to 8.3% and the Democrats can applaud the fact that 163,000 jobs were added.  The winner will be which party can sell (spin) it best.

Jack’s Political Inbox:

Every week I receive e-mails from candidates, elected officials, and/or groups (from all political parties) promoting a cause, many just hoping they get mentioned (in a kind and gentle way) on The Western Word website!  I select a few each week that “Caught My Eye” and share them with my readers.  I picked four that I think you will enjoy…

-The Rick Hill for Montana Governor Campaign sent me an e-mail with the subject, “Get excited” in which they say, “July was an absolutely huge month for our campaign” and they tout several areas where they did well in July.

And I thought Hill and his campaign took a few weeks off…

-The Pam Bucy for Montana Attorney General Campaign sent me an e-mail with the subject, “Montana Sportsmen Alliance Endorses Pam Bucy” saying, “I’m thrilled to share the news that we just received the endorsement of the Montana Sportsmen Alliance!  This bipartisan group shares my belief that hunting, fishing and wildlife management issues are too important to get caught up in political games.”

I wonder if the Montana Sportsmen Alliance will run some third party ads for Bucy…

-The Obama for America Campaign sent me an e-mail with the subject, “Say you’re with me” in which the President writes, “I have one question for you: If you’re with me in this election, will you say it right now?  Every day I’m reminded of how much more there is to do, and how hard we have to fight if we want to finish the job we started four years ago.”

I think Obama will beat Romney because Obama is cooler…

-The Friends of Max Baucus Campaign sent an e-mail with the subject, “Reminder: Join us August 11th at Sieben Ranch” in which he writes, “U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester Attorney General Steve Bullock | House Candidate Kim Gillan Invite you to join them for the 2012 Sieben Ranch Barbecue & Hoedown”

Wow…I bet Republican Steve Daines is thinking, “This is the largest event ever in the history of Montana politics.”

Reid v. Romney:

Although these two guys are about as exciting to watch as watching paint dry, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) was able to get a response out of Mitt Romney (R) over Reid’s remarks that he had heard Romney did not pay taxes.

It was a simple shot across the bow from Reid and Romney was dumb enough to respond.  With it, Reid raised more speculation and brought the tax issue to the forefront again.

All this could be settled if Romney released as many years of his taxes as his daddy did (12 years) when he ran for President…

On This Date:

-On this day in 1492 Columbus started sailing the ocean blue…

-On this day in 1943, General George S. Patton slapped a private at an army hospital in Sicily, accusing him of cowardice.

-Today is one of my favorite President’s birthdays: Actor Martin Sheen (“The West Wing”) turns 72.

-On This Date information courtesy of the Associated Press’ Today in History.

Olympics:

I am disappointed with NBC and their Olympic coverage on several fronts.  One is their decision to delay the airing of some events until primetime.  Another problem is with the local NBC station not having a HD signal yet – plus the signal they do have is poor quality video and audio.

I like to know the results as soon as possible and I think NBC could use primetime to do a highlight show of the day’s best events.  I did watch a streaming video of the 200-meter individual medley race on Thursday between Phelps and Lochte, but most of the time I find out the results via Twitter.

Some folks are trying their best to not find out the results until primetime.  Read about that HERE.

One More Thing:

Don’t forget to stretch…