Thanks for stopping by to read “Caught My Eye” – the first one for May! Tighten your belts and let’s get started!

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.

Today I write about Political Practices and Cyndi Baker, Randy Vogel v. Ken Miller, the Missoula shooting, John Walsh – “Kennedy,” Elsie Arntzen – “We Can Do Better,” The Weather Channel, Sprint’s Framily plan, plus we have a winner who is Making Montana Proud!

Political Practices & Cyndi Baker:

The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices made a ruling regarding the Ben Graybill and Dyrk Van Hyning complaints against Cyndi Baker and the Parent Coalition for Accountability in Schools.

Thanks to all the readers who sent me copies of the 12-page report. Here’s the “conclusion” from the Commissioner:

Based on the preceding discussion as Commissioner, I find and decide that there is sufficient evidence to show that Candidate [Cyndi] Baker violated Montana’s campaign practices laws, as set out above, and that the civil penalty action, including the possible invocation of office ineligibility under §13-35-106 MCA is warranted. This matter is hereby submitted to [or “noticed to”] the Cascade County Attorney for his review for appropriate civil action.

After reading the report, two things amazed me (and I am not easily amazed). First, I was amazed that someone would spend almost $2100 on fliers to be against something that might only cost them $20 per year. Second, I was amazed that someone who has been around political campaigns as much as Baker has could fail to file the required documentation as a candidate or as a political committee.

Like many campaign shenanigans, the harm may already be done. The school election will be over before the final decision is reached. The anti-mill levy fliers are already out there doing irreversible harm. That is not fair for the pro-levy folks, the children, and the citizens of Great Falls.

I was a little dismayed that the Great Falls Tribune placed this story on page 3M. It’s much more important than that.

When campaign violations are discovered, the penalty must be severe. It must be severe enough that it sends a message to anyone wanting to cheat during an election. The Cascade County Attorney needs to take this case – and make a statement that cheating will not be tolerated.

Randy Vogel v. Ken Miller:

You probably read about Republican Ken Miller sending an e-mail saying that Republican U.S. House candidate Ryan Zinke was not conservative enough. I wrote about it in a column I titled, “The Circular Firing Squad.”

It gets better.

Former Congressman Denny Rehberg and Steve Daines staffer Randy Vogel responded to Miller’s e-mail over at the PolyMontana blog. Vogel is listed as the Political Director for the Zinke campaign in the column. It was nice to see him put Miller in his place, but one thing that was missing in the Vogel column was the name Rick Hill. Hill basically said the same thing about Zinke – that Zinke was not conservative enough – and Hill probably did more damage to Zinke than Miller.

My advice for Randy Vogel is that you will feel better when you completely clear the air. Sure, the righties will threaten you with never getting another political job or any job for that matter, and your phone will go quiet and the e-mails will all but cease except for the haters, but you’ll feel better when you completely clear the air. So tell it like it really is, Randy.

After that, the sky will be bluer, the sun will be shining, and the air will smell much better…

The Missoula Shooting:

While Montana is known as the Wild West to some people who don’t live here, the recent shooting in Missoula has placed Montana and Missoula in a negative light all around the world.

Markus Kaarma is 29 and he “faces a felony charge of deliberate homicide for the death of Diren Dede, a German exchange student who was studying at Big Sky High School” in Missoula. Dede is 17.

This was a senseless death.

It was reported in the Missoulian that Kaarma allegedly set a trap for burglars in his garage and announced that he was waiting up at night to “shoot some (expletive) kid.” It was also reported that he fired four times into the garage.

There were so many other ways to handle it. I think the biggest piece of evidence in the shooting was that Kaarma and his family were not in imminent danger. Yes, there was someone in his garage that did not have permission to be there, but Kaarma and his family were not in the garage – they were in the house. Reportedly the garage is connected to the home, so that adds another twist.

It will be interesting to see how our judicial system handles this case. Nonetheless, it is a stain on Montana and nobody needed to die. We’re better than this.

John Walsh – “Kennedy”

This week I reviewed the U.S. Senate candidate John Walsh’s commercial called “Lonely Road” and he has another one out called “Kennedy.” No, it’s not about JFK. Watch it HERE.

The 30-second ad starts with a clock showing 4:30 a.m. and then coffee being made and Walsh taking a sip (a lot like my day). Then it shows Walsh riding a mountain bike (unlike me). Next it shows Walsh in his military uniform and then it shows a forest fire. The ad shows Walsh in his combat gear, probably in Iraq (with a disclaimer on the screen about the military not endorsing him). Next it shows him holding his grandchild (Kennedy) and reading a book. The commercial ends with Walsh playing with Kennedy. His campaign logo appears in the screen.

The script goes like this:

FEMALE NARRTATOR: John Walsh knows what it takes to protect Montana. Courage. Taking responsibility. Putting others first. During his 33 years in the Montana National Guard, John led Montanans fighting forest fires here at home, and over 700 of Montana’s finest into combat in Iraq – preparing him for his most important mission: Grandpa. John Walsh: Montana courage.
WALSH: I’m John Walsh and I approve this message because it’s about the Montana we leave behind.

My analysis – When I reviewed the commercial “Lonely Road” I said, “I don’t think you can go wrong by showing a Harley-Davidson.” You can’t really go wrong by showing a baby or toddler in your campaign ads, either.

This commercial attempts to show Walsh as the tough soldier leading men and women into combat and then the softer side of being a grandfather. I particularly like the line, “it’s about the Montana we leave behind.”

I give Walsh’s campaign ad “Kennedy” a nine out of 10. I give the star of the ad, Kennedy, a ten.

Elsie Arntzen – We Can Do Better #1/#2:

The Arntzen campaign posted two 30-second videos about a week ago. They are pretty similar. You can watch them HERE and HERE.

The videos start with a photo of mountains and trees and then the campaign logo appears on the screen. Then Arntzen appears on the screen inside a room with some American flags and she is dressed in red. She talks directly to the camera. Her name appears on the screen. Then when she says “a new approach” the words appear on the screen. When she says, “we can do better” the words appear on the screen. Then the camera gets closer. The ad closes with her campaign logo and her photo.

Here’s the script for #1:

ELSIE ARNTZEN: Our country is threatened by unsustainable spending and out-of-touch policies. I’m Elsie Arntzen, a conservative legislator, teacher, parent and wife. I’m running for U.S. Congress to provide a new approach. As I travel the state that I love, I find that Montanans are troubled by the liberal polices of Obama and Pelosi. We can do better, and with your vote, we will. My conservative legislative record is strong and clear, and on your behalf, I will take that leadership and experience with me to Washington. I’m Elsie Arntzen. I approve this message.

Script #2:

The line “As I travel the state that I love, I find that Montanans are troubled by the liberal polices of Obama and Pelosi” is replaced by “As a born and raised Montanan, it troubles me to see Obama and Pelosi’s liberal policies hurting our state.”

My analysis – While I don’t understand why someone would spend money on two campaign ads so similar, they are pretty well done, and Arntzen seems more natural in her delivery than Congressman Steve Daines has been in all of his commercials. Her matter-of-fact delivery may not come across well to some folks, but I liked it. The tone of her voice during the commercial came across well. Mentioning Obama and Pelosi in her commercial will help her in the Republican primary.

I give Arntzen’s “We Can Do Better” campaign ads eight out of 10.

Making Montana Proud:

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

-From the Daily Inter Lake: A Whitefish man (David Lamb, 32) “has admitted stealing from a Flathead County deputy on whose house he had been contracted to work.” The deputy was in a Washington hospital recuperating after being seriously injured in a head-on collision.”

I think that’s lower than low. Maybe Lamb should pay someone else to do the work he was contracted to do?

The Weather Channel:

On this day in 1982 the Weather Channel debuted. I remember feeling proud when the “Local on the 8s” actually showed the weather for my city.

Sprint’s Framily Plan:

You may have seen the new Sprint commercial called “Meet the Frobinsons.” There’s a hamster in a ball – who talks. The hamster is the father. There are animated blue birds flying around a little girl, who speaks French. She calls the hamster papa. Another male in the commercial calls the hamster dad. There’s a woman who is the mother.

Is it just your typical cell phone commercial? According to the Sprint website, the commercial is getting positive feedback with about 63% saying it was “Spot On” and about 37% saying “Boo.” See it HERE and vote.

One More Thing:

Don’t forget to stretch…

 

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