Welcome to “Caught My Eye!” Hopefully this column will help make the time go by quickly for those of you counting the hours before you are on vacation for the rest of the year!
By the way, be careful at today’s office Christmas party!
If this is your first time visiting The Western Word, the “Caught My Eye” column is posted 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 just to make you smile – or to irritate you just a little.
Today I write about the MT Senate jockeying, Brian Schweitzer, Tester’s Forest Jobs bill, Rep. Mike Miller and a Secretive Conservative Group, Smoking Shelters, a Book Sale, Phyllis from Mulga, plus we have a winner who is Making Montana Proud!
MT Senate Jockeying:
It’s fun to watch the jockeying already going on for the temporary U.S. Senate seat if Senator Max Baucus is nominated and confirmed as U.S. ambassador to China.
I heard the reason why the Obama Administration has not made the announcement about Baucus being ambassador to China is that they are having a hard time choosing between him and Dennis Rodman. They think Rodman has done a good job with North Korea and this has moved him toward the top of the list for the China post.
Note: I was joking in the last paragraph. After this column was posted President Obama announced he would nominate Baucus. Read the official release HERE.
Yesterday I wrote, “Since the Democrats need to hang on to their majority in the senate, this will enable Montana’s Democratic Governor, Steve Bullock, to nominate his Lt. Governor, John Walsh, to fill Baucus’ seat until the November 2014 election. Walsh is already a candidate. This might give them a better chance of winning the seat, as Walsh is way behind Republican Steve Daines in the polls. Democrats probably believe this is the best way to keep the Montana seat in Democratic hands – kind of their version of a “Hail Mary” to help them retain their majority in the senate.”
The supporters of former Republican and now Democrat John Bohlinger for U.S. Senate would like to see someone appointed to the seat besides Walsh as this might give him an advantage in the Democratic primary.
The Associated Press (AP) reported, “Montana Republican Party Executive Director Bowen Greenwood said in a statement that any appointment should be open, transparent and fair.”
Probably most Republicans are thinking, “Those $%&$# Democrats pulled a fast one on us.”
The AP added, “A qualified individual should be the focus of a [sic] selecting a replacement, not ‘jumpstarting a political campaign,’ Greenwood said.”
It looks like the Bohlinger folks and the Montana GOP sort of agree on this issue! It’s funny how things work out in the political world. Will dinner and a movie be next?
I would be very surprised if Bullock did not appoint Walsh.
Tester’s Forest Jobs Bill:
When I heard that his bill passed a committee vote, my first thought was, “Is that damned bill still around?”
I guess it is. Former Congressman Denny Rehberg basically blocked the bill in the past – will Steve Daines be the culprit now or will he embrace the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act?
I don’t see Daines supporting it. He does not want to be seen as siding with Jon Tester on much of anything. That would hurt him with the Tea Party.
The bill will need 60 votes to pass the full senate, which may be a problem, too.
Brian Schweitzer:
I always get a good laugh when Brian Schweitzer is in the news. Back in 2008, I said that Brian Schweitzer reminded me of the Flim-Flam man. I wrote:
Schweitzer kind of reminds me of George C. Scott, who played Mordecai Jones in the 1967 movie, “The Flim-Flam Man.” The synopsis tells us that Mordecai was the master of back-stabbing, cork-screwing and dirty-dealing-dealing. I’m sure there are some folks in Helena who feel the same way about Schweitzer, especially those on the right.
Schweitzer is a master of manipulation – especially in the way he manipulates the press – and the way he angered the right during his two terms as governor. He’s in full throttle mode since he’s been out if the spotlight, and no matter how many counties he visits in Iowa or New Hampshire, he’s not going to be elected President.
His Oscar-worthy performance will be fun to watch, though…
Secretive Conservative Group:
The Associated Press (AP) yesterday reported, “A Montana legislator (state Rep. Mike Miller of Helmville) broke state campaign laws by coordinating with a secretive conservative group that attacked his opponent in fliers and letters in the 2010 Republican primary, a state official (commissioner of political practices Jonathan Motl) ruled Thursday.”
But that was not all, the AP also reported, “Motl’s decision was one of six released Thursday related to the involvement of dark-money groups in Montana politics, an issue the commissioner said has confounded candidates and his office for the past three election cycles.”
Miller responded via e-mail about the report (while he was on vacation) telling the AP there was no coordination between himself and any third-party group, and that his campaign did not violate any laws.
It’s important to remember that Motl is from the left side of the fence and Rep. Miller is from the right, but I’m thinking Rep. Miller might want to cut his vacation short – this sounds like it could become expensive.
Smoking Shelters:
A little local news – the Great Falls Tribune has an interesting story about smoking shelters.
Here in Montana, “the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act banned smoking in enclosed public places in 2009.” It really hit the owners hard as smokers quit going to bars.
Some bars/casinos built “smoking shelters” that “are intended to circumnavigate the law to create spaces where gamblers can smoke while they play.” A local district judge recently said the shelters were OK, but the county may appeal his ruling to the Montana Supreme Court.
Some of the shelters are quite expensive. One owner spent $84,000.
I thought the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act was a little far-reaching. I am not a smoker, so going into bars and restaurants where smoke filled the room bothered me. I would not frequent those places if it did.
The authors of the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act could have saved a lot of time and money if they would have left the decision to the consumers and the owners. A cheap $5 sign placed at every entrance telling customers that “Smoking is Allowed in this Establishment” or “Smoking is NOT Allowed in this Establishment” would have allowed the consumer to make the decision to use the business or not. Owners could determine if they wanted to be a smoking establishment or not.
It’s a Book Sale!
If you follow politics, work in the political world, vote, or plan on running for office, my newest book “Preparing for the Race: 50+ Questions for the Potential Candidate” will be on sale starting tomorrow (Saturday December 21) through Saturday, December 28.
It’s 60% off the regular price – just $1.99 on Amazon.com. Click HERE for details.
Making Montana Proud:
This section is where I mention people or groups whose actions embarrass Montana in some way.
-From the Helena Independent Record: Tanya Brancamp, who was the scorekeeper, “was cited for misdemeanor assault after a fight broke out at a youth basketball game held Thursday at the Helena YMCA.” Reportedly, “a coach had disagreed with an official, the scorekeeper got involved and numerous people from the crowd got involved.”
The story continues, “As a result of the incident, the remainder of the 5th grade Fall Spirit League tournament – during which the incident occurred – has been cancelled.”
Nice work folks. I refereed flag football for two years and some of the parents and coaches were pretty much jerks – but the kids were great.
“Phyllis from Mulga”
I am a big Kansas City Chiefs and Missouri Tigers fan. My “man cave” has their stuff proudly displayed, but I am not even close to being a fan like “Phyllis from Mulga” is as a fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
ESPN personality Colin Cowherd made some comments about the Crimson Tide that Phyllis took exception to. She started calling him Colin “Cow Turd” and it went downhill from there.
Listen to Phyllis defend her beloved Crimson Tide and slam Colin HERE.
One More Thing:
Don’t forget to stretch…
////////////MERRY CHRISTMAS/////////////
