The Week Ahead

The nation’s eyes will be on the Democratic primary Tuesday in Pennsylvania, where Hillary Clinton has to win to have any chance. …Tuesday is also Earth Day, with all sorts of activities nationally and in Utah, including U. of U. events, Department of Environmental Quality events, and others. The Sutherland Institute is taking its own approach to Earth Day with a whole week of activities. ... FrontRunner begins rail service on Saturday between Ogden and SLC, with celebrations at each stop. ...Some major county conventions will be held Saturday, including Weber, Davis and Salt Lake County Democratic conventions, and the Utah County Republican convention. See the UtahPolicy.com calendar for all the political events this week.

Monday Musing

Life in the City

I like to walk, and I walk a lot more living downtown than I did living in the suburbs. I walk to work and most routine errands I can handle by walking. Now there’s a web site, Walkscore.com, that assesses the “walkability” of any neighborhood, based on what amenities and destinations are within a one-mile radius. It’s very simple. You just type in your address and the web site does the rest. My neighborhood’s score is an impressive 95. Any score above 78 is considered “very walkable.” The computer found numerous grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, movie theaters, schools, parks, libraries, book stores, fitness centers, drug stores, hardware stores, clothing and music stores, etc. close to my condo, most within a half mile. It made some mistakes, thinking there is still a Nordstrom downtown, and mistaking the National Park Service for a park. But overall it was pretty good. For more info, read this New York Times article about walkable neighborhoods, and then check out your neighborhood’s Walkability Score.

GOP National Delegates

According to the Utah GOP web site, more than 200 candidates have filed for various national delegate slots. Selections will occur at the state GOP convention on May 10. For a complete list of candidates, click here. Meanwhile, Republicans who have filed for National Committeeman include Adam Peeples, Don Guymon, Bruce Hough, and Mike Ridgway. Those filing for National Committeewoman include Enid Greene Mickelsen and Cristy Henshaw.

Leavitt Schedules Michael McLean

Numerous delegate meetings are being held this week by the three GOP candidates in the 3rd Congressional District. See the UPD calendar for meetings scheduled by Chris Cannon and Jason Chaffetz. The third candidate, David Leavitt, is inviting delegates and the general public to two concerts by popular musician Michael McLean, the first on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Bingham High School, 2160 West 10400 South, and the second at the Covey Center for the Arts, 425 W. Center in Provo. The concerts also feature B. Murphy, John Batdorf and David Osmond. The concerts are free and everyone is invited. "I am pleased to receive the endorsement and support of these four talented musicians," said Leavitt in a news release.  "I deeply appreciate them volunteering their time in this musical celebration of America's values.  This special event will feature songs which teach about the sacrifice, hope, and cooperation we need to help our country return to its core values and principles." For tickets, contact Lin Godown, (801) 649-5346, or lin@davidleavitt2008.com.  More info at www.DavidLeavitt2008.com.

Regional Politics

Energy Boom Has Negatives

New York Times Op-ed essay by Alexandra Fuller describes the downside of Wyoming’s “energy bender.” Utah native Terry Tempest Williams, a writer-in-residence at the University of Wyoming, is mentioned. She has criticized the oil industry, and an oil executive has tried to get her fired from the university.

Washington Watch

Hatch Pens Tune for McCain
Associated Press: "Not content to sit on the sidelines, longtime senator and one-time presidential hopeful Orrin Hatch has penned a song for his Senate buddy John McCain in hopes of helping his White House bid. Hatch, a Utah Republican who won a platinum award for helping co-write lyrics for a song that sold more than a million records, crafted a tune called 'Together Forever' for the presumptive Republican nominee. Hatch's song, co-written with composer Philip Springer, includes the lines: 'Forever together / America is the land we're fighting for / There's a time in history / for a hero's destiny / together forever more.' Hatch, a former Mitt Romney supporter, has co-written songs for other well-known people, including a song called 'The Difference Makes the Difference,' for Muhammad Ali and 'Souls Along the Way,' for Sen. Edward Kennedy and wife Vicki."

Today in Political History

April 21, 1649:  The Maryland Toleration Act, which provides for freedom of worship for all Christians, passes the Maryland assembly.  (Source:  NBC5) 

April 21, 1971:  The U.S. Supreme Court rules in United States v. Vuitch, upholding a Washington, D.C. law allowing abortion only to preserve a woman's life or health.   (Source:  Perspicuity) 

Wise Words

“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”

-- John W. Whitehead, The Stealing of America, (Source:  Quote Garden) 

Leadership Tip

Build your Confidence

Leadership is developed daily, not in a day. No matter where you are starting from, you have the ability to improve. Take advantage of the many resources and opportunities around you. Strive to learn something new each day. Encourage those around you to do the same.

Everyone has the ability to improve his or her confidence. Contrary to what some people believe, confidence has little to do with the external parts of our lives, such as relationships, career choices, success, etc. Building your confidence starts from the inside out!

The first way to build your confidence is by setting goals: (1) Be clear on your values (2) Make a habit of asking for what you want (3) Remember not to take things personally (4) Trust your own choices. If you are in the habit of always seeking an opinion or asking for approval (even without saying it directly), then resolve to stop doing it. If you have a feeling that you should or shouldn't do something, then follow your own instincts. Nobody will validate your beliefs completely anyhow; so you may as well just live the way you feel is right. More often than not, you'll be glad that you did.  (Source:  Leadership Development Tips) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Gallup: "The peeling away of national Democratic support for Barack Obama seen this past week may have run its course. After trailing Hillary Clinton by one percentage point in Saturday's Gallup Poll Daily tracking report, Obama now leads Clinton by two points, 47% to 45%."
 
-- Politico: "Although John McCain's candidacy is still viewed with suspicion by many conservative leaders, polling suggests he has overcome the concerns of rank-and-file conservatives: McCain isn't viewed more unfavorably by conservative voters today than George W. Bush was at this point in the 2000 election cycle."
 
-- New York Times: McCain's "political advisers said Friday that they believed his potential appeal to independents could make him competitive in up to two dozen tossup states, twice as many as Republicans seriously contested in the 2004 presidential race."

-- Washington Post: Some question whether the easily angered McCain has the right temperament to be president.

Blog Watch

-- At The Senate Site, Ric Cantrell reports: "NCSL invited Utah to join the faculty of an intense four-day workshop with the Algerian Parliament -- part of an initiative created by Colin Powell's State Department to build partnerships with North Africa and the Middle East. I had the honor of spending a memorable week in Algiers working on web 2.0 tools & techniques with members of parliament and their staff. ... My teammates on the NCSL delegation were an impressive collection of talent from around the United States. Our Algerian hosts were equally gifted and soon became good friends. Workshop discussions were intense, informative, hopeful and rewarding for all parties, I believe. ... We built a demonstration site for workshop participants. Check it out ... I have great hopes for the people of Algeria and their budding democracy. Where guns and bombs have proven less effective perhaps communication and citizen engagement will have an impact."

Lighter Side

By now you’ve probably read Mitt Romney’s “top 10 reasons I dropped out of the race.” But if you want to watch the video, click here.