Hang in there – It’s Wednesday and the weekend is starting to come into sight! It may all end on Friday anyway…

Today several issues in the news caught my attention, like the NRA comes out of hiding, Max Baucus and the NRA, Montana Shooting Sports Association, Joe Biden, Person of the Year, a “think tank” person, a new App, a lump of coal, and much more…

National Rifle Association:

The National Rifle Association (NRA) was unusually silent for a few days after the Newtown shootings, but yesterday they said in a press release, “Out of respect for the families, and as a matter of common decency, we have given time for mourning, prayer and a full investigation of the facts before commenting.”

The NRA then added, “The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again. The NRA is planning to hold a major news conference in the Washington, DC area on Friday, December 21.”

It will be interesting to see what “meaningful contributions” they plan to offer. Most people will be wary of anything the NRA offers…

Joe Biden:

Reuters is reporting, “President Barack Obama will announce on Wednesday that Vice President Joe Biden will lead an effort to come up with policies to address gun violence amid calls for action following the massacre of 26 people including 20 children in a Connecticut elementary school last week.”

Good deal. Let’s get moving…

Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA):

Gary Marbut is the President of MSSA. Gwen Florio from Lee Newspapers interviewed him about the Newtown shootings. You can read the story HERE.

Marbut lends his “perspective” to the Newtown shootings. He probably should have shut up instead of comparing the odds of getting shot by an insane shooter to getting struck by lightning, killed in an automobile, or drowning.

But on the other hand, gun control advocates probably hope Marbut’s wild musings get plenty of national attention…

Max and the NRA:

On Monday the Washington Post reported the U.S. Senate rankings from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Gun Owners of America.

Montana U.S. Senator Max Baucus was the only Democrat to receive an A+ from the NRA.

Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” for 2012:

It’s President Barack Obama.

I am fine with that. I wanted Malala Yousafzai to win. She is the Pakistani teenager who was shot in the head because she was an advocate for girls’ education.

Lump of Coal:

Gallup reported, “Eighteen percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, as leaders continue to work toward a solution to the looming fiscal cliff. That approval rating is unchanged from last month, but remains low from a historical perspective.”

Ho, ho, ho…

Fox Announces Second Round of Appointments:

I happened to receive the press release from Montana Attorney General-elect Tim Fox announcing more appointments to his administration. Here’s the story from KRTV (CBS). The Fox team takes over in January.

Most appointments were yawners, but I was surprised he hired a Communications Director from outside Montana. Fox hired John Barnes who hails from Seattle, where “since 2007 he has been the communications director for Washington state’s most prominent public policy think tank.”

A “think tank” person from Seattle…

Montana Legislature App:

According to the Great Falls Tribune, “A new iPhone, iPad and Android app set for a Jan. 1 release will help Montanans more easily and quickly connect with members of the 63rd Montana Legislative Assembly.”

I wonder when you click on the App if we’ll hear circus music because we all know the Montana Legislature is like one big three-ring circus!  Maybe some circus clowns will dance across our screen, too…

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