News Highlights

Utah may have a difficult time complying with new EPA pollution rules (Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News).  

Cache County LDS seminary teacher Morgan Bowen, a Democrat, and Weber County Republican Alan Hansen will challenge Rep. Rob Bishop in the 1st Congressional District, and many local races are shaping up as interesting contests (Morning News).

Quote of the Day

"This is not only good for Utah but good for the country. It is fair for the candidates, fair for the electorate or the voters, and fair for those that have to run the elections."

-- Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, who is pushing for a regional presidential primary plan during meetings this week of the National Lieutenant Governors Association in D.C. (Morning News).

Thursday Musing

The Hustings Beckon

Here’s your political word of the day: hustings, as in, “It’s time for state legislators to get out on the hustings and seek re-election.” So what the heck is a hustings? When I was a political journalist, I would, just for the fun of it, throw hustings into stories and columns. Fine word, hustings. A good political word. Something William F. Buckley would use. But I’m afraid it has fallen into disuse, and that’s a shame. I encourage every political candidate to use it two or three times a day. We need to keep this word alive.

The hustings was a temporary platform on which candidates for the British Parliament stood in the 1700s when nominated and from which they addressed the electors (Dictionary.com). Today it can mean any place where political campaign speeches are delivered, or the political campaign trail itself.

So impress your voters. Tell them, “It’s great to greet you out here on the hustings as I seek your support for re-election.” They’ll be in awe of your command of the English language.

Recession Chance: 60%

Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf economic update this week looks at the weak employment numbers and concludes that the chance of recession is now at 60%. Last September Thredgold pegged the chance of recession at 40%. But Thredgold believes four factors will help the nation avoid recession or, more likely, keep a recession “limited in both duration and depth.” The four factors are: aggressive rate cuts by the Fed, the $168 billion fiscal stimulus, attractive stock market prices, and a strong global economy. 

Meanwhile, local economists believe Utah will avoid recession, although Utah and the country suffer from “fearsession” (Morning News and KCPW).

Washington Watch

Cannon: Subpoenas a Waste of Money
On FOX News, Rep. Chris Cannon criticizes Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats "for wasting taxpayer time and money on contempt citations" in the U.S. attorneys firings inquiry (see video clip here).

Hatch: Provide Security for the Disabled
Sen. Orrin Hatch introduces legislation "to allow individuals with disabilities and their families to create tax-exempt savings accounts similar to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) and 529 College Savings accounts to save for the added expenses they will experience over their lifetimes" (see press release).

Leavitt Files Today

Third District congressional candidate David Leavitt was scheduled to formally file his candidacy at the State Elections Office. In a press release, he said, "We have serious challenges that require reasonable and well thought-out solutions. We need someone in Congress who will not just vote, but lead in finding solutions to the nation’s problems.” He said he has “consistently raised more money than his opponents each quarter,” and “A candidate's ability to raise money says a lot about his viability. People putting their hard-earned money to work shows they are committed to making changes that are real.  People seek a candidate who has a vision and the courage to implement real solutions to the challenges facing our nation.”

Leavitt added, "We must end deficit spending.  We must cultivate a renewed understanding that the role of the Federal government is not to attempt to satisfy every human need.  We must move away from the notion that government is here to take care of us.  We need to do all we can to strengthen the family and its role in training our children for the future.  And we must remember that America is a believing nation—a nation that understands the source of its freedom.  These issues are at the root of so many other societal problems we face today.” See more at www.davidleavitt2008.com. 

Today in Political History

Mar. 13, 1868:  The impeachment trial of Pres. Andrew Johnson begins in the United States Senate.  (Source:  NBC5) 

Mar. 13, 1925: Tennessee passes a law banning the teaching of the theory of evolution in schools. The violation of this law by schoolteacher John T. Scopes resulted in the famous "Monkey Trial".  (Source:  Perspicuity) 

Wise Words

“Outside of the Constitution we have no legal authority more than private citizens, and within it we have only so much as that instrument gives us. This broad principle limits all our functions and applies to all subjects.”  

-- Andrew Johnson  (Source:  Brainy Quote) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- CNN: "Former congresswoman and vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro is resigning her fund-raising position with Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign after controversial comments she made about Clinton's rival, Sen. Barack Obama."

-- Tampa Tribune: "Florida's Democratic congressional delegation issued a joint statement Tuesday night opposing any revote in the state's presidential primary ... Supporters of [Clinton] tend to favor a new vote. If the outcome were similar to the Jan. 29 primary, it would benefit the New York senator, who won handily but now trails Obama in the race for delegates to win the nomination."

-- Politico: "With the support of the state’s political establishment and favorable demographic terrain, Pennsylvania's April 22 primary is widely viewed as [Clinton's] to lose. But it’s hardly a lock, especially if [Obama] can make inroads with a few key constituencies outside of his reliable base of affluent whites, liberals, African-Americans and the youth vote."

-- The Hill: "New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) announced his resignation Wednesday, two days after reports emerged that he spent thousands of dollars on trysts with prostitutes. ... In brief remarks to reporters, he signaled his political life was over and that he would look back at his time as governor 'with a sense of what might have been.'"

Lighter Side

Best of Late Night Humor

Jay Leno: New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer has admitted that he has been involved in a prostitution ring. This is the same man who when he was attorney general went after the prostitution rings … So apparently for not giving him good service. ... [This] means Hillary Clinton [is] now only the second angriest wife in the state of New York. ... Neither Barack nor Hillary can win the nomination outright. You know, because it’s so close. So Hillary’s kind of caught between Barack and a hard place. ... Technically, neither of them can win. It shows you how bad it’s gotten for the Democrats. Forget winning the general election, they can’t even win their own election. ... You know, there’s talk in some Democratic circles of letting the states of Michigan and Florida re-vote. Today, Al Gore said, “Oh, now you think of this! Great!” ... They’re talking about a re-vote primary where people would mail in their ballots. That’s a great idea, combine the reliability of the people in Florida who count the ballots with the efficiency of the Post Office. What could go wrong there?

Elected Officials Birthday List

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