Welcome to Friday and to Flag Day 2013!

Today is also a big milestone here at The Western Word – it’s the 150th “Caught My Eye!”

If you are a first-time visitor, this is my weekly column where I take a quick look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week. Often I throw in some sarcasm and poke fun at people just to make you smile.

Today I write about Sen. Tester betting the farm, keeping the ICBMs warm, looking for Shannon, School bus drivers, Barry Beach, Rep. Trent Franks, Sen. McCaskill gets tough, Palin and FOX News, internships, the U.S. Army, Making Montana Proud, father’s day cards, and much more!

Betting the Farm:

I first Tweeted this early yesterday – Senator Jon Tester appeared on MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown yesterday and was asked by host Chuck Todd about Montana Senate 2014 and if former Governor Brian Schweitzer was running or not. Tester said, “I don’t bet the farm on many things, but I’d bet the farm he’s running.”

You can watch the whole interview HERE. The Schweitzer question starts around the 6:15 mark.

Keep em Warm:

The U.S. House approved an amendment (235–189) to the National Defense Authorization Act that would require the “DOD to preserve current active ICBM silos in warm status.” According to a story in the Great Falls Tribune, warm status “allows the silo to remain a fully functioning element of the missile field and be made fully operational with a deployed missile.”

Congrats to Representatives Steve Daines of Montana, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota for getting this amendment added to the National Defense Authorization Act.

Shannon…Shannon…Shannon:

The Associated Press (AP) reports that the Blackfeet tribe’s chief prosecutor is “waiting on some stuff” in regard to charging “a state senator (Shannon Augare) who fled a Glacier County sheriff’s deputy who suspected him of drunken driving nearly three weeks ago.”

Maybe “waiting on some stuff” means he is hoping people forget about it and the AP reporter quits calling…

Sen. Augare “has declined to comment” according to the AP story, so we will continue to give him the “Ferris Bueller” treatment.

Bueller…Bueller…Bueller…

Montana School Bus Drivers:

The Associated Press reported that a legislative audit found “there are at least 64 Montana school bus drivers with criminal records, including two with drunken-driving convictions within three years of the study.”

Troubling, very troubling. Background checks should be run every year.

Barry Beach:

He’s not giving up and I still think he deserves a new trial. Great Falls Tribune reporter John Adams has the latest on Barry Beach HERE.

It is worth repeating:

In my opinion, Montanans should face the fact that our state has one of the most incompetent State Supreme Courts in the country. That incompetence seems to trickle down into the state district courts as well. These judges, who are elected to office, are certainly better politicians than they are judges or attorneys and that’s part of the problem with the justice system in Big Sky Country. Shameful is one of the more merciful words I can use to describe the people who occupy these courts.

Rape & the GOP:

You would think the GOP would learn a lesson or two concerning rape. Nope. This week Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) went there during a U.S. House committee hearing about abortions. He said, “Before, when my friends on the left side of the aisle here tried to make rape and incest the subject — because, you know, the incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low.”

Hello Todd Akin.

Everyone would like to see fewer abortions. Many of us would like to see the members of the GOP shut up about something they have little knowledge about, too.

McCaskill gets Tough:

The Kansas City Star reports, “Sen. Claire McCaskill feels so strongly about sexual assault reform in the U.S. armed forces that she is willing to effectively end the career of one of the few women generals in the U.S. Air Force.” The Star report also said, “In a statement for the Congressional Record, the Missouri Democrat said she will continue to hold up the promotion of Air Force Lt. Gen. Susan Helms because of the commander’s handling of a sexual assault case last year.”

Good for McCaskill. Maybe she can teach her fellow senators how to use their power. 

Palin & FOX News:

According to a press release from FOX News Media, “Former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin is rejoining FOX News as a contributor.”

With that re-hire, I think it’s time to watch “The Girls On Fox News Song” once again.

Here are some lyrics to get stuck in your head:  “Oh, I want a girl like the girls on Fox News…Everyone is beautiful, anyone you choose…Whoever does the hiring knows how to light my fuse…I want a girl like the girls on Fox News.”

Unpaid Internships in Jeopardy:

The Associated Press reported this week “a federal judge in New York ruled this week that Fox Searchlight Pictures violated minimum wage and overtime laws by not paying interns who worked on production of the 2010 movie ‘Black Swan.’”

Who will clean the toilets and fridge now?

Making Montana Proud:

Several folks have commented favorably about this new section of “Caught My Eye” called “Making Montana Proud.” The people mentioned in this section actually embarrass Montana (in case you are a little slow today). Enjoy…

-KRTV (CBS) in Great Falls (MT) reports “Jack Greg Malone of Great Falls has been charged with his sixth DUI offense” and that “A breathalyzer test of Malone revealed a blood alcohol content of just under four times the legal limit.”

Judges should be embarrassed that he was still on the street.

-I found this one in the Billings Gazette: “Joshua David Carreno, 29, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Billings to an 11-count indictment, including six counts of distributing controlled substances and five firearms violations. The gun counts include unlawful possession and transfer of a machine gun.”

Controlled substances and a machine gun – good grief…

-And finally, KPAX (CBS) in Missoula reported, “Authorities say a 21-year-old Lolo man was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly driving under the influence, and crashing his truck into Lolo Creek.” A Montana Highway Patrolman said the man “left a large pirate rave party at Lolo Hot Springs around 5:30 a.m., failed to negotiate a curve on U.S. Highway 12, over-corrected, went through a guard rail and then into the creek.”

I guess they figured out he was a pirate when he answered “Arrr!” to all their questions…

Happy Birthday:

The U.S. Army is 238 years old today – still kickin’ butt at 238!

Happy Father’s Day:

One of my favorite blogs, Pajamas & Coffee, has the “12 Funniest Father’s Day E-cards” posted for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.

To all the fathers out there – have a great father’s day!

One More Thing:

Don’t forget to stretch…

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