If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that I should have learned some other stuff. – Unknown

Welcome to the big column to end the week, “Caught My Eye” (CME)!

If you are a first-time visitor, welcome! CME is the once a week column that is posted here every Friday morning. This is when I take a look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week. There may be some sarcasm and pointed independent commentary so be warned!

Here are the topics that “Caught My Eye” this week:

• Federal Jury Duty
• Bullock Bumper Stickers
• Healer-in-Chief
• Shep & Don
• One More Thing

FEDERAL JURY DUTY:

I received a postcard in the mail telling me that I have been identified as a prospective juror for United States District Court, District of Montana.

Is this a great country or what?

On the little postcard, they added some things in bold red letters to try and scare me like, IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED, and Federal Law requires that you complete a Juror Qualification Questionnaire.

So I went to the website and completed it (not because I was scared, but because I am a great American). I could receive a summons for jury service sometime between 09/01/2019 and 08/31/2021. Yippee…

I’ve kept all my documents related to jury duty from past years, and the funny thing is this is the third or fourth time I’ve been “identified as a prospective juror” for Federal Court in the last decade. I’ve asked a few folks and my family and they have never been “identified as a prospective juror” for the Federal Court, ever.

One time I was summoned to the Federal court for jury selection, but I was not chosen. When the judge let us go, it was like being sprung from jail! The Federal Courts treat their jurors pretty well. Nice food and drinks. You get paid more, too.

One thing to remember is that the Federal District Court Judges are all political appointees. They serve for life. The Magistrate Judges are appointed by the Federal District Court Judges in that district for a certain number of years depending on whether they are full or part-time.

Nonetheless, it is all political.

During my time sitting through the jury selection process, I remember thinking that the Magistrate Judge who was overseeing the jury selection was trying too much to be a comedian. He was kind of making an ass of himself. I’m glad I was not called up to be questioned or I might have answered a question inappropriately. As the Magistrate’s audience, we were kind of captive – like prisoners, we could not go anywhere.

I wish I was as lucky in the lottery as I am at being “identified as a prospective juror” in the Federal Court system.

BULLOCK BUMPER STICKERS:

I subscribe to receive many of the Presidential candidate’s updates via email.

I like to get free stuff, like political bumper stickers, and feature them on this blog when they are received. So far the only Presidential candidate that has sent me a free bumper sticker in this election season is Bernie Sanders.

In fact, I’ve received two from Sanders. Free.

I thought for a few minutes today that Montana Governor Steve Bullock, who is running for President, was giving away free bumper stickers. I received an email with the subject “Official Bullock stickers in Montana!” and the email stated, “Want your own official Bullock sticker in Montana?? Get yours here” and there was a red “Get my Sticker” button to click on.

So I did.

There were two bumper stickers available and each one was $5.00.

No thanks, Steve. I see what you’re doing there – you’re trying to get me on a donor list.

If any candidates, no matter which office, wants to send me a free bumper sticker, send me an email at Western_Word@yahoo.com and I will give you the address.

HEALER-IN-CHIEF:

Oh, Donald…

It was reported that President Donald Trump had an unusual idea for raising the morale of medical staff recovering from last weekend’s mass shooting in Texas: boast to them about the size of his campaign rally in the city. (AFP)

The Washington Times reported:

In a video obtained by KDBC-TV, Mr. Trump praised the hospital staff before bragging about his rally sizes and mocking Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke’s counter-rally.
“Look at this group of people. Can you believe this? Good looking people. I was here three months ago, we made a speech, and we had a — what was the name of the arena?” he asked.
Someone provided the name of “El Paso Coliseum” to which the president immediately asked, “packed right?”
“That was some crowd, and we had twice the number outside, and then you had this crazy Beto. Beto had like 400 people in a parking lot,” Mr. Trump said of the former Texas congressman.

It’s all about Donald Trump and it always will be.

SHEP & DON:

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith is being targeted by President Donald Trump basically because Smith fact-checks Trump often.

On Wednesday Trump tweeted:

Watching Fake News CNN is better than watching Shepard Smith, the lowest rated show on @FoxNews. Actually, whenever possible, I turn to @OANN!

Shepard Smith Reporting is the only Fox News program I watch these days. Smith and Chris Wallace are two of the more moderate anchors on the Fox News Channel that actually try to report the facts.

ONE MORE THING:

You really need to follow me on Twitter @TheWesternWord and like The Western Word Facebook Page (HERE) so that you will be in the know!

You can also subscribe to this blog so that you get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox!

Tell your friends! 

One other thing that you really need to do is have a great weekend!

 

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