It’s Friday and it’s a three-day Labor Day weekend for many people!  Congratulations.  Labor Day is the day that we honor the working men and women of the United States – the people who make this country go.  Thank you!   Sadly, about 23 million people are out of work.  Let’s remember them during this weekend, too.  It’s tough going out there.

If this is your first time visiting The Western Word the “Caught My Eye” column is posted every Friday morning right here!  It’s where I take a quick look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week – and I often throw in a touch of sarcasm just to make you smile.  So, get ready to head into your weekend armed with knowledge and a smile.

Today I talk about the Republican National Convention, the upcoming Democratic National Convention, Mitt Romney’s speech, Clint unscripted, Derek Parra’s speech, Montana’s U.S. Senate race, Montana Governor’s race, Unions, Haves and Have Nots, plus I share some e-mails from my political inbox!  You really need to read the rest of this column…

Republican National Convention:

It’s over!  The Republican National Convention ended last night and now the scene shifts to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Democratic National Convention.

Did Romney and company motivate you to vote for him?

During the Republican National Convention (RNC) Fox News was the main cheerleader for the Republicans.  Next week, MSNBC will be leading the cheers for the Democrats.  Yes, I will be writing about the Democrats, too. All is fair…

Mitt Romney’s Speech:

The final chapter in making Mitt Romney look like a regular fellow ended last night with his speech.  It was a good speech and Romney delivered it pretty well.  Some observers say it was his best speech ever.  I think it was the third or fourth best speech of the week (way behind Condi Rice, Mike Huckabee, and Paul Ryan), but Romney should get a bump in the polls from this week’s pep rally.

The big question is can Romney hold on to the lead?  Obama and the Democrats hold their pep rally next week (Sept. 4 through Sept. 6) in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Obama will tear him apart in the speech department – and will undoubtedly get his own bump in the polls at the end of the week.

From Romney’s professional wrestling style entrance to the massive balloon drop at the end, the event was carefully scripted (OK, maybe not Clint’s part) to maximize candidate Romney.  Romney will not have another opportunity to be the whole show during this campaign.  The cute children from the candidates’ family running around the stage playing with the balloons was a nice touch.

Both Mitt and Ann Romney just seem to have a faraway and stiff look when they are supposed to be excited and energized.  Ann Romney wants people to believe her husband running for President is a sacrifice – but I don’t buy that line.  They just seem a little uppity and no matter how hard they try to hide it, they come across as rich – almost like they have a case of royal snootiness.

Supposedly Mitt Romney went through 17 drafts of his speech before deciding on the final one for last night.  Normally Romney would request a deferment from a draft – anyway that’s what he did when he was younger – bada bing bada boom…

Make My Day, Clint:

82 year-old Clint Eastwood was the “mystery guest” last night.  He spoke “unscripted” for about 12 minutes just before Senator Marco Rubio introduced Mitt Romney.  Eastwood also talked to an empty chair in which he said an imaginary Barack Obama was sitting.

Some people loved Eastwood’s speech, others thought it was terrible.  I thought it was awkward.  Romney’s campaign issued a statement saying, “Judging an American icon like Clint Eastwood through a typical political lens doesn’t work. His ad libbing was a break from all the political speeches, and the crowd enjoyed it. He rightly pointed out that 23 million Americans out of work or underemployed is a national disgrace and it’s time for a change.”

Although I think Eastwood is a great fellow, maybe the Democrats can have Eva Longoria attend the Democratic National Convention to talk to an empty chair (or do whatever she wants)…

Derek Parra:

Last night Olympian Derek Parra spoke for a few minutes and he talked about the 2002 Winter Olympics and being one of the eight athletes who carried the World Trade Center flag into the Opening Ceremonies.  It was powerful and my favorite speech of the evening.

You can read his remarks HERE.

Jack’s Political Inbox:

Each week I receive hundreds of 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!  So I select a few that “Caught My Eye” and share them with my readers.  This week I picked four “convention-themed” e-mails that I think you will enjoy…

–Mitt Romney sent me an e-mail a few hours before his big speech with the subject, “Tonight” where he writes, “In a few hours, I’ll take the podium before a Republican Party that has been united and inspired by a common conviction:  We believe in America.”

I think we all believe in America no matter if we are on the right, the left, or in the middle…

–Vice President Joe Biden sent me an e-mail during the final hour of the convention last night with the subject, “This could swing the election” writing, “If we win this election, it will be because of what you did in moments like this to help close the spending gap.”  He continued, “Tonight Mitt Romney will deliver a speech that millions of Americans will hear.  He’s going to say a lot of things about Barack Obama, and belittle what we stand for.”

Next week the Democrats get to put on their show and “belittle” what Romney stands for…

–President Barack Obama sent me an e-mail right after the convention ended with the subject, “Their night” in which he writes, “Tonight was their night. But our focus must be on tomorrow. The fundraising deadline tomorrow is one of the last we get to build the campaign it takes to win.  Will you donate $5 or more right now?”

Obama will tear Romney apart in the speech department.  After the Democrats meet next week, the bump Romney received from this week’s show in Tampa will probably evaporate quickly.

–Kim Gillan, who is running for U.S. House in Montana, sent me an e-mail with the subject, “2,332” in which she writes, “Tampa, Florida is 2,332 miles away.  This week Steve Daines went all those miles just to talk to a room filled with DC insiders.  While he spoke to this hushed crowd, I was here in Montana talking to voters about my record as a problem solver.”

Gillan needs to raise the excitement in her race.  Daines received a lot of media coverage from the convention speech, but he did come across as a little goofy when giving his speech.  For the record, when Brian Schweitzer spoke at the Democratic convention several years ago, I thought he came across as goofy, too.

Politico August Senate Winners:

Politico says the “GOP’s path to Senate control narrows in August” due to the Todd Akin issue in Missouri.  They also comment on the Tester/Rehberg race in Montana saying it is the 3rd ranked senate race.  They also report, “The Libertarian Party candidate (Dan Cow) isn’t included in public polling, but several Democrats say internal numbers show him pulling at least 6 percent, with much of that support coming from Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg.”  They also contend Rehberg’s “flippant comments to a lobbyist group defending the ‘revolving door’ on Capitol Hill weren’t the wisest choice of words for a candidate locked in a margin-of-error race.”

Like I said yesterday, with all the problems in the country (unemployment, high debt, gas prices) if you are challenging an incumbent in the upcoming election and the polls show you virtually tied or behind, there’s something wrong with you…

Union – Yes: 

Just in time for the Labor Day holiday, a new poll from Gallup tells us “A slim majority of Americans, 52%, approve of labor unions, unchanged from 2010 and 2011, and up only slightly from the all-time low of 48% in 2009.  Americans had been far more approving of unions before 2009 than they have in the last few years.”

I like unions. My dad was a very strong union member (Operating Engineers) and supporter.  My wife is a union member.

Montana Governor’s Race:

Today, Lee Newspapers “analyzes” a Republican Governors Association ad that criticizes Democratic Governor Candidate Steve Bullock.  You can read that story HERE.

Yesterday, Lee Newspapers “analyzes” an ad they contend is “financed primarily” by the Democrat Governors Association that criticizes Republican Governor Candidate Rick Hill.  You can read that story HERE.

The Haves and the Have Nots:

Gallup released a poll yesterday saying, “Republicans have greater access to basic necessities” with “Democrats, independents twice as likely to lack money for food, shelter.”

It was a very interesting poll and you can read it HERE.

There was a lot of proof of this during the last week…

This Weekend:

Please buckle up while traveling.  People will have automobile accidents this holiday weekend and many will die because they were not wearing their seatbelts.  We want you back on Tuesday!

One More Thing:

Don’t forget to stretch…