It’s Friday and the last September weekend is here – so you have my permission to enjoy it to the fullest!

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 Montana gubernatorial debates, Farm Bill, Christie in Montana, Pearl Jam in Missoula, NRSC and Akin, the “My Job” ad, the top 10 beer brands, wet reporters, Samuel L. Jackson’s video, and I pry open my Political Inbox and share! There’s a lot more that you should know about – so read on!

Two of Seven:

Montana Gubernatorial candidates Steve Bullock and Rick Hill took their debate show to Butte America last night in debate number two of seven. There are two stories about it today – one from the Associated Press and one from Lee Newspapers.

This is an important race for Democrats. If Republican Rick Hill wins and the GOP keeps majorities in the State House and Senate, the circus in Helena (still called the legislature by a few) may go wild…

Farm Bill:

Lee Newspapers has a story posted about the lack of a Farm Bill from Congress with all three members of the Montana delegation blaming the U.S. House, and Senator Jon Tester also blaming Congressman Denny Rehberg, who is challenging Tester for the U.S. Senate seat.

Rehberg did a good job of distancing himself from the U.S. House leadership, but Tester scored some political points as he tried to tie Rehberg to the failure of the House to pass a Farm Bill.

Christie to Campaign for Rehberg:

Besides campaigning for gubernatorial candidate Rick Hill on October 5 in Bozeman, Chris Christie (New Jersey Governor) will campaign for U.S. Senate candidate (and current Congressman) Denny Rehberg in Billings that day. The cost to attend is $250 per person and is being held at the Holiday Inn.

I can’t believe they are not holding this fundraiser at the local Mercedes-Benz dealership…

Pearl Jam:

The Pearl Jam concert to help Senator Jon Tester’s reelection is this Sunday in Missoula at the Adams Center. The Great Falls Tribune has a story posted today about Tester and Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament. You can read it HERE.

It’s a party…

About The Next Election:

The Hill (a Washington, D.C. publication) is reporting, “The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has opened the door to getting back in the Missouri Senate race after weeks of insisting it was finished with Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.).”

Repeat after me, “It’s all about the next election in Washington, D.C.”

Democrats are probably cheering this move, and I imagine they have a campaign ad or two ready to run in senate races across the country if the NRSC jumps into the Akin  race.

The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza gave the NRSC his “Worst Week in Washington” award for this.

I’ve mentioned several times over the years that many of the “youth” employed (or formerly employed) at the NRSC are pretty good at screwing up elections. When the smoke of November 6 clears, the Senate Republicans may find themselves still in the minority in an election year in which, by all accounts, they should have run the table.

Jack’s Political Inbox:

I subscribe to receive updates from candidates, elected officials, and/or groups (from all political parties). Several others just send me their info without me asking just hoping they get mentioned (in a kind and gentle way) here at The Western Word! So each week I select a few that “Caught My Eye” and share them with my readers – and sometimes poke fun at them. This week I picked five that I think you will enjoy…

–Kevin O’Brien, the Campaign Manager for Steve Bullock (Montana Governor race), sent me an e-mail with the subject, “That didn’t take long” in which he writes, “While we’re talking about Steve’s record as Attorney General and what he’ll do as our next Governor, the other side is taking the low road. In fact, an out-of-state group just purchased nearly $500,000 worth of TV ads…for next week alone! That is a half-a-million of attack ads in just seven days – desperate commercials coming from a group that wants to buy our elections.”

One of the better campaign ads that I have seen so far in the Governor’s race is THIS ONE from Bullock. It’s positive and he talks about what he will do.

–The Montana Republican Party sent me an e-mail with the subject “Sandy Welch earns bipartisan support in campaign for OPI” in which they said, “Democratic State Senator, Jonathan Windy Boy, Endorses Sandy Welch for OPI.”

That was an interesting endorsement and falls into the “What’s up with that?” category…

–Ted Dick, who is the Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party, sent me an e-mail with the subject, “No surprise” in which he writes, “I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to see folks around the country figure out what people in Helena have known for a long time: Kim Gillan is a problem solver and is not to be underestimated. Emily’s List, the largest women’s group in the country and headed by Montana native Stephanie Shriock, put Kim ‘On the List,’ telling women across the country that Kim was a pro-choice Democratic woman that they should get behind.”

This should help Gillan in the money department; she needs help running against a millionaire…

–The Montana Republican Party sent me an e-mail on behalf of Brad Johnson with the subject “Governor Mike Huckabee Endorses Brad Johnson.” Johnson said, “This major endorsement is another sign of our campaign’s building momentum. This is the most hotly contested secretary of state race in the country and its outcome will have a profound impact on the future of Montana elections.”

That’s nice endorsement for Johnson and it should help him.  I’m betting that when most GOP folks hear Huckabee’s name, they would really like him to be at the top of the Presidential ticket now instead of Mitt Romney…

–The Cascade County Democrats sent me an e-mail with the subject “It’s Tester Time” and it contained some exciting news in that U.S. Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) will be in Great Falls to campaign with Jon Tester on October 1. Webb was born in Missouri and served in the Marines during Vietnam and was highly decorated. He also served as an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs and Secretary of the Navy in the Reagan Administration.

This week the Washington Post reported, “Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), condemned Mitt Romney for failing to mention veterans or the military in his GOP convention speech. The omission was all the more damning, Webb suggested, because Romney is of an age where he might have served in Vietnam but did not.”

Bada Bing Bada Boom…the Great Falls area is a battleground in the Tester/Rehberg Senate race and whichever candidate can get the majority of the Veteran vote will probably walk away the winner.

Powerful Ad:

The Obama Campaign released an ad this week called “My Job” and he hits Mitt Romney pretty hard about his 47% remarks. It was posted yesterday and already has over 315,000 views. Watch it HERE.

Yes, it is powerful…

Hey Beer Drinkers:

The Drinks Business top 10 beer brands is out, and I bet there are several you’ve never heard about. Check out the top ten HERE.

“Trespassers will be WET!”

I guess the reporter failed to read the sign on the door. Watch the video and read the story HERE.

I know a few reporters who I would like to throw water on. How about you?

Samuel L. Jackson:

He has a new video for Obama called, “Wake the F*** Up.” You can watch it HERE. I think it’s funny…

One More Thing:

Don’t forget to stretch…