Welcome to the first “Caught My Eye” of 2013! Are you ready?

If this is your first time visiting The Western Word, the “Caught My Eye” column is posted every Friday morning right here. This is 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 some sarcasm just to make you smile. So get ready to head into your weekend armed with knowledge and a smile.

Today I write about Daines’ offices, Rehberg’s exit interview, Filibusters, Powder River Training Complex, December’s Unemployment numbers, Most Admired in 2012, Voting for the Speaker of the House, Fallon explains Boehner and Reid’s spat, Rex Ryan’s tattoo, Drones over Missouri, Wacky laws of 2013, and much more!

Daines Website/Offices:

Congressman Steve Daines was sworn in yesterday. He has his official website up and running and I noticed that he does not have an office listed for Great Falls (he does have office addresses listed for Billings, Helena, and Missoula).

It will be too bad if Daines does not keep an office in Great Falls which is the home of the Air National Guard and the Montana’s only active duty military base, Malmstrom. The military is important to Montana and having staff close by and readily available should be a priority for the new Congressman.

Rehberg Exit Interview:

Congressman Denny Rehberg appeared on the “Voices of Montana” radio program yesterday for a final round of softball questions.

Rehberg seemed somewhat bitter in his interview. They did talk about having run-off elections when the winner of an election does not receive 50% of the vote. I think Rehberg has now lost two senate races, one to Max Baucus and one to Jon Tester, and neither received 50% of the vote. Rehberg could talk to his Republican friends in the Montana Legislature about changing it.

Rehberg did say he was not running again, but he and Steve Daines are the best hope the GOP has to unseat Senator Max Baucus in 2014, so we’ll see about that.

Gazette on Filibusters:

The Billings Gazette editorial board weighed in a filibuster reform this week and they got it right in my opinion. They wrote, “Before 1972, no two-year congressional session ever had more than seven filibusters. Between 2006 and 2012, the filibuster rule was invoked 385 times. The Senate has wasted nearly 1,000 hours annually in recent years by delaying debate.”

It’s time to make some changes so work can get done in the U.S. Senate.

Powder River Training Complex:

According to a report from the Associated Press, “An Air Force plan to more than triple the area that can be used in training exercises for the Dakotas-based B-1 and B-52 bombers is still undergoing an environmental review nearly a year after the final report was expected.”

Part of the expansion is in Montana.

It’s too bad this is taking so long – it should be approved no matter what the Montana Congressional Delegation says…

Unemployment:

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, “nonfarm payroll employment rose by 155,000 in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.8 percent.”

Hopefully more people will get jobs as we get further into 2013.

Most Admired in 2012:

According to Gallup, Hillary Clinton (21%) is the most admired woman; Barack Obama (30%) is the most admired man. Interestingly, Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney came in at 2%.

I did not make the list, but I think my Beagle admires me…

Speaker of the House:

Nate Silver over at the Five Thirty Eight Blog takes a look at John Boehner being re-elected House Speaker Yesterday. Twelve Republicans voted against Boehner which is historic according to Silver.

It’s a good read if you are political junkie…

Jimmy Fallon on Boehner and Reid:

Fallon tells us what really happened between House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Reportedly, Boehner told Reid to go do something to himself and Jimmy explains it.

Ray Lewis to ESPN?

This week Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis announced his retirement after the season ends, and ESPN is reporting, “Lewis is expected to have a significant role on ‘Monday Night Countdown’ while being featured on numerous platforms, multiple sources told SI.com. An ESPN spokesperson declined comment when contacted Thursday morning.”

So we read on ESPN.com that SI.Com (Sports Illustrated) is reporting this and ESPN declined to comment. OK, I got it…

Weirdness:

Does New York Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan have a tattoo of his wife dressed in his quarterback’s (Mark Sanchez) jersey?

Oh my…

Wacky Laws of 2013:

Be warned that you can only have four cats per household in Kansas…stealing unused cooking oil in North Carolina is a misdemeanor…and in Kentucky it is now against the law to release a wild hog back into the wild…

Meanwhile, urban chickens may get another look in Great Falls, Montana. Cluck, cluck…

Drones:

According to the Kansas City Star, Missouri State Representative Casey Guernsey (Republican) says that unmanned aerial aircraft patrolling Missouri skies terrifies him.

So he’s drafted some legislation to prevent it (This sounds like something the Montana Legislature would support).

I suggest he stay in his basement or build an underground bunker. It seems to work for me, plus it’s harder for the chemtrails to penetrate the dirt…

Happy Birthday:

Rock singer Michael Stipe of R.E.M. fame turns 53 years old today. To celebrate, here’s “Losing My Religion.” Enjoy!

One More Thing:

Don’t forget to stretch…