Thanks for stopping by for your Friday special, “Caught My Eye!”

This is the 190th “Caught My Eye” (No gifts please). With 190 columns under my belt, I’ve been able to make many readers either angry or smile (or maybe both). Good times.

If you are a first-time visitor, “Caught My Eye” is posted right here every Friday morning! This is when I take a quick look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week. I often throw in a touch of sarcasm to make you smile – or to irritate you just a little.

Everyone and everything is fair game!

Today I write about the Appointed One, ICBM assessment, Congressional debate, new communications director, emergency unemployment compensation, first tweet, unusual place names, plus we have TWO winners who are Making Montana Proud!

The Appointed One:

I mentioned “The Appointed One” campaign ad in yesterday’s column, but it’s a big issue so I wanted to talk more about it.

It looks like the Daines campaign team has decided to ride the appointment of Democrat John Walsh as U.S. Senator a little further with “The Appointed One” web video – and they did it with their own money!

Lee Newspapers called it the “first attack ad” and that’s accurate. Being first to go on the attack can sometimes turn moderate and independent voters off.

Republicans voters will like the ad because Montana Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race since 2000. I guess it’s no surprise they are taking the gloves off early.

I wrote in an earlier column that I have no problem with the appointment, but all is fair in politics.

ICBM assessment:

The Great Falls Tribune yesterday reported, “The Pentagon is halting an environmental assessment related to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), including those at Malmstrom Air Force Base.”

Montana’s U.S. Senators Jon Tester and John Walsh issued a press release taking credit for stopping it:

Following Senators Jon Tester and John Walsh’s warnings against ignoring federal law, the Defense Department is suspending its Environmental Assessment on the elimination of the intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) at Malmstrom Air Force Base and nationwide.

I don’t know if Representative Steve Daines issued a press release or not.

While this can be construed as good news for the pro-ICBM crowd or bad news for the anti-nuke crowd, the bottom line is that ICBM bases are still endangered partly because of the need to cut funding in the DoD and due to the recent problems at the bases. This is a very small victory for the pro-ICBM crowd.

Reminder – Debate Time:

I posted this earlier in the week, but it’s worth a reminder that a U.S Congressional primary debate hosted by the College Republicans of Montana State University is scheduled for next Monday (March 24) at MSU-Bozeman — Ballroom A.

There’s a meet and greet 6:00-6:45pm, the doors open at 6:30pm and the official debate is 7:00-8:30pm.

Aaron Flint from the “Voices of Montana” radio show is the moderator. More information can be found HERE.

You stay classy Bozeman and Aaron Flint…

New Communications Director:

I forgot to mention this last week. Congrats to Marneé Banks for her new position as Communications Director for U.S. Senator Jon Tester – and thanks for sending me your contact information and for keeping those press releases flowing!

Speaking of communicating and in case you were wondering, The Western Word is still not receiving press releases from Congressman Daines or from the Daines for Senate campaign team. We’ll keep you updated!

Emergency Unemployment Compensation:

It looks like House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has shot down any chances of the recently-passed senate Emergency Unemployment Compensation bill passing the House.

This is the compensation that expired December 28 – which was pretty cold-hearted. According to CBS News, “Two million people have already stopped receiving their checks, and 1.6 million more stand to lose them by the end of 2014 if the program was not renewed.”

People who have received unemployment compensation (my hand is raised) know how important these checks are to making ends meet.

Happy Birthday Twitter!

To celebrate Twitter’s eighth birthday, you can go back and find your first Tweet!

Way back on September 20, 2008, I sent my first Tweet:

You can go back and find your first Tweet by going HERE.

Making Montana Proud:

This section is where I mention people or groups whose actions embarrass Montana in some way.

-From the Great Falls (MT) Tribune: “City officials responded Wednesday to a neighbor complaint about two small, dead cows in Mike Witsoe’s front lawn at 510 11th St. S.”

It looks like almost everyone in city government showed up to help: “Multiple city officials from sanitation, code enforcement and animal control responded to the complaint.”

Witsoe said he planned on using the hides to make a leather vest.

In other words, let’s get moo-ving along, there’s nothing to see here…

-From the Bozeman Daily Chronicle: It looks like the Bozeman (MT) Law & Justice Center has an open door policy. Thanks to the Chronicle, the public now knows that four individuals have escaped from the Law & Justice Center over the past decade.

Rest easy Bozeman citizens! Police Chief Ron Price is working to correct the problem. The Police Chief “is reviewing the legality of putting a handcuffing fixture in the interview room or having locking doors.”

Having locking doors in a jail? I think that idea may have merit; I wonder if other jails have locking doors?

Montana’s Unusual Place Names:

The Billings Gazette has a photo gallery that “sheds light on the origins of some of the more unusual names in Montana.”

This photo gallery is a must-see for non-native Montanans like me, not to mention Steve Daines and a bunch of other people…

One More Thing:

Don’t forget to stretch…

 

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