Staying Alive for 2012
Interesting Politico article by Julian E. Zelizer suggests that Mitt Romney should follow the Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan models of losing presidential candidates who kept their political careers alive and later won the presidency. The two gave speeches, expanded political connections, campaigned for candidates, raised money and published papers.
“If Romney wants to improve his chances for 2012 or 2016, he needs to focus on ideas and politics, just like Nixon and Reagan did,” writes Zelizer, a professor at Princeton University. “Both areas are even bigger weaknesses for him than they were for his predecessors. Romney really suffered from criticism that he did not have any core principles — thus the need to refine and articulate his ideas — and he developed only tenuous loyalty from Republican politicians, thus the need to work on his political connections.”
CPPA Newsletter
The University of Utah's Center for Public Policy & Administration has posted its latest Policy Perspectives newsletter. This month's edition features an analysis of Feb. 5th's "Super-Duper Tuesday" primary/caucus results.
Washington Watch
Cannon Lauds Buckley
Rep. Chris Cannon responds to the death of conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr. (see press release).
People and Nature
The Nature Conservancy and KUER 90.1 are sponsoring “Stories From the Heart of the Land” on March 3 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 West Broadway, Salt Lake City. RadioWest host Doug Fabrizio will talk with award-winning NPR producer Jay Allison about his innovative new radio series exploring the diverse connections between people and nature. “Don’t miss this exploration of how humans are shaped by landscapes and how we, in turn, shape those landscapes – for better or for worse,” says a press notice. See more information at http://www.nature.org/heart.
The Misery Index
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf economic update this week revisits “the misery index” made politically newsworthy back in the ‘70s and ‘80s by presidential candidates Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. Today, the misery index, the sum of the unemployment rate and inflation rate, is fairly low compared to those days. Thredgold also summarizes the most recent quarterly economic forecasts, which suggest a low economy, but not a disastrous one. The forecasts deal with inflation, monetary stimulus, GDP growth, unemployment, etc.
Pres Bush: ‘The Healer’ in Africa
Bob Geldof, the Irish musician, political activist and humanitarian, pays a nice tribute to Pres. George Bush in an essay in the March 3 edition of Time magazine (no link available). Geldof, who organized the massive Live Aid concerts in the ‘80s, accompanied Bush on his recent trip to Africa. He writes, "The great unacknowledged story of America in Africa … was accelerated hugely by [President Bush], increased by him, argued for by him and monitored by him. …It has saved millions upon millions of lives and healed broken bodies; more than 1.5 million Africans are on lifesaving antiretrovirals. It has put millions of the poorest of the earth – an additional 29 million African children – into schools. It has fed, clothed and watered the hurt and ill. … There are no votes in helping the poor of Africa, but Bush did it anyway."
Steve Studdert Writes a Book
By Wes Smith
Stephen M. Studdert is one of Utah’s most fascinating people. His mind works in unique ways, which has served him well as a high-level political operative. Many have said that Steve is a visionary. If so, we would all be well advised to pick up a copy of Steve’s new book, America in Danger: what YOU must know to protect yourself.
Steve began his professional career as a police officer. He loved the excitement and excelled as a law enforcement official. Then, as is typical for Steve, he made something unusual happen. He left his law enforcement career for the White House. He spent over a decade in Washington D.C. as a senior White House official in a variety of key assignments. In fact, Steve’s West Wing office later became Hillary Clinton’s and then Karl Rove’s. Steve has been making things happen in Utah since 1991.
His new book is personality driven. His unique vision and perspective provide for new insight to old problems. His incredible experiences as a senior White House official and diplomat, combined with his uncanny ability to simplify complex issues to several key points make Steve the perfect messenger as to dangers facing America. Much more information about the book, including chapter excerpts and a biography of Studdert, can be found at Critical Issues Press.
Today in Political History
Feb. 28, 1854: About 50 slavery opponents meet in Ripon, Wis., to call for creation of a new political group, which becomes the Republican Party. (Source: NBC5)
Feb. 28, 1994: President Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for gays becomes official military policy. (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.”
-- Henry Ford (Source: Quote Garden)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- The Hill: "Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) confirmed Wednesday that civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, (D-Ga.), until recently a supporter of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), has switched to Obama's team."
-- Politico: Lewis "may not be the last high-profile African American officeholder to change sides. The pressure on Clinton's black supporters to defect has been gradually mounting, rising to the point where some elected officials are being forced to consider whether their backing for Clinton will have adverse consequences for their own political fortunes."
-- RealClearPolitics: Columnist Jack Kelly: "Syndicated columnist Robert Novak and Newsweek's Jonathan Alter have written columns this week urging [Clinton] to drop out of the Democratic race for president now, before the primaries March 4 in Ohio and Texas. This is ridiculous. If Sen. Clinton loses in Ohio or Texas (and especially if she loses in both) 'Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin' not only will be scribbled on the wall of her campaign headquarters, it'll be flashing in neon lights from the Goodyear blimp. March 4 is next Tuesday. We can wait until then to see what the Moving Finger writes. Hillary Clinton certainly will."
-- New York Times: "William F. Buckley Jr., who marshaled polysyllabic exuberance, famously arched eyebrows and a refined, perspicacious mind to elevate conservatism to the center of American political discourse, died Wednesday at his home in Stamford, Conn. He was 82. ... [Buckley] was the popular host of one of television's longest-running programs, 'Firing Line,' and founded and shepherded the influential conservative magazine 'National Review.'"
Lighter Side
Best of Late Night Humor
David Letterman: From “Top Ten Ralph Nader Campaign Promises”: Fund universal healthcare by making Wesley Snipes pay his taxes; Give the presidency a rumpled, Walter Matthau quality; The freezing over of Hell should solve our global warming crisis; Can fill out a pantsuit better than Hillary; Will hover in polls between one percent and “Statistically Insignificant.”
Jay Leno: In political news, Ralph Nader has decided to run for president. Well, you thought Mike Huckabee didn’t know when to quit, huh? There you go. In fact, Ralph Nader’s campaign slogan—”It’s me again.“ ... What do you call somebody at a Ralph Nader campaign rally? Ralph Nader. He’s the only one there. ... He’s gonna be 74 next week. In fact, the good news: If Ralph gets sick, his younger brother, Raul Nader, will then take over. ... Well, you know who’s thrilled that Nader is back in the race? John McCain. He’s not the oldest guy anymore. ... Oh, and Barack Obama made another woman faint today. The bad news, it was Hillary when she saw the poll numbers... The New York Times alleged that John McCain had an inappropriate relationship with a young female lobbyist. I haven’t seen McCain this angry since ”Matlock“ was canceled. ... A lot of people are questioning the source of this story. See, it’s never good when an article begins, ”Dude, guess what I heard.“ (Source: Patriot Post) |
