News Highlights

New poll finds that, while 58 percent of Utah voters approve of the job lawmakers did in the 2008 Legislature, "[m]any voters say their state senator and/or representative should not be re-elected" (Deseret Morning News).

Salt Lake Tribune editorial criticizes Legislature for passing omnibus education bill that included provisions earlier defeated in the House.

3rd Congressional District candidates fighting for delegate support (Morning News).

Quote of the Day

“Precinct caucuses are the most fundamental grassroots level of political involvement in Utah. Those who attend caucuses not only play a critical role in nominating candidates, but also in setting the stage for party and public policy."

-- Statement by the First Presidency of the LDS Church, encouraging members to attend precinct caucuses tonight (Morning News). See also Tribune story and editorials by KSL Radio/TV, the Daily Herald, and Morning News.

Biggest Election Year: 2012

If you think 2008 is a big election year, with its fascinating presidential campaign, wait until 2012, four years hence. That year will feature a presidential election, a possible open U.S. Senate  race (if Sen. Orrin Hatch retires), an open governor’s race (because Gov. Jon Huntsman said he would only serve two terms), a brand new Fourth District congressional race (because reapportionment is expected to give Utah a fourth seat), three other congressional races, and a likely open attorney general race.

What’s more, reapportionment will have occurred at the local level, so all Utah House, Senate and school board races will occur in new districts, meaning there will be open districts and districts with two incumbents. There will be more districts in fast-growing Washington County, and a major shift to the booming west side of Salt Lake and Utah counties. Wow. That will be one major election. 

How to Win a Delegate Slot Tonight

Some people attend party caucuses just to be there and participate. Others want to become a delegate. Winning a delegate slot requires running a mini-campaign in your voting precinct. Here are some tips modified somewhat from a Davis County GOP e-mail message I received:

-- Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.  This will allow you to get comfortable and get acquainted with neighbors you may not know.

-- Bring 20 people to the caucus who will vote for you.  This is most important!  Many other groups, including special interest groups and people supporting specific filed candidates, organize for the same purpose of getting delegates to convention.  In some precincts, it can be very competitive.  To be successful, you will need to outnumber others with your own supporters.  Make sure your supporters know the time and location of the caucus, and are committed to vote for you.

-- Find someone to nominate you.  When the floor is opened up to nominations, it is better for you to have arranged beforehand for someone to nominate you.

-- Be prepared to briefly introduce yourself and explain why you want to be a delegate.  Each candidate for state and/or county delegate will likely be asked to give a short speech.  State your name, where you live, and that you support the party platform read earlier in the meeting (if you do not support part of the platform, be honest and let people know where you stand). You may want to speak about any experience you have working in party politics or other civic pursuits.  Keep it brief, speak to the issues that are important to you and don't endorse specific candidates – you will have plenty of time to get to know each candidate prior to county and state conventions. Caucus attendees will feel more comfortable with you if they know (1) how you will represent them, (2) that you will work hard, and (3) that you are not committed to single issues or specific candidates.

BYU Brings Foreign Leaders to Utah

World Trade Center Utah has posted it's latest Global Utah newsletter online. This week's edition features a story about the BYU Ambassadorial Insights Lecture Series, which has brought 150 representatives from 88 countries to Utah since the program started in 1996. Pierre Vimont, the French ambassador, is in Utah this week. He visited BYU on Monday, will meet LDS missionaries heading to France, pay a visit to the Family History Library to look up ancestral names and be hosted at a Friday luncheon with members of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and World Trade Center Utah. Vimont will also meet with Salt Lake Mayor Ralph Becker, a stop he requested largely because of Delta Airline’s new non-stop flight from Utah to Paris.

Today in Political History

Mar. 25, 1989:  The tanker Exxon Valdez runs aground at the Valdez terminus of the Alaskan pipe line, dumping 240,000 barrels of oil into Prince William Sound, causing major environmental damage. (Source:  Perspicuity) 

Wise Words

“The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men.” 

-- Samuel Adams  (Source:  Patriot Post) 

Communications Tip

Feedback is Crucial

When you know something, say what you know. When you don't know something, say that you don't know. That is knowledge.  -- Kung Fu Tzu (Confucius)

In one-on-one or small group communications, it’s crucial to really understand what is being said. The purpose of feedback is to change and alter messages so the intention of the original communicator is understood by the second communicator. It includes verbal and nonverbal responses to another person's message.

Providing feedback is accomplished by paraphrasing the words of the sender. Restate the sender's feelings or ideas in your own words, rather than repeating their words. Your words should be saying, "This is what I understand your feelings to be, am I correct?" It not only includes verbal responses, but also nonverbal ones. Nodding your head or squeezing their hand to show agreement, dipping your eyebrows shows you don't quite understand the meaning of their last phrase, or sucking air in deeply and blowing it hard shows that you are also exasperated with the situation.   (Source:  NWLink) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Slate: Columnist Christopher Hitchens says of Barack Obama's allegation in his speech on racism last week that his white grandmother is "a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe": "You often hear it said, of some political or other opportunist, that he would sell his own grandmother if it would suit his interests. But you seldom, if ever, see this notorious transaction actually being performed, which is why I am slightly surprised that Obama got away with it so easily."

-- New York Times: "Senator John McCain never fails to call himself a conservative Republican as he [campaigns for president]. ... What Mr. McCain almost never mentions are two extraordinary moments in his political past that are at odds with the candidate of the present: His discussions in 2001 with Democrats about leaving the Republican Party, and his conversations in 2004 with Senator John Kerry about becoming Mr. Kerry's running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket."

-- Politico: "At a time when the GOP presidential nominee will need more assistance than ever, a number of state Republican parties are struggling through troubled times, suffering from internal strife, poor fundraising, onerous debt, scandal or voting trends that are conspiring to relegate the local branches of the party to near-irrelevance."

-- The Hill: "Top Democrats on Monday reacted to the 4,000th U.S. death in Iraq by calling for a change in policy."

Lighter Side

“I love the self-checkout aisle at my supermarket. The only problem comes when I leave an item on the scanner too long and the robo-voice scolds, ‘Please move your whole milk (or whatever) to the bagging area.’ Ordinarily, I just ignore it. But on my last shopping trip, I moved fast when the voice began shouting, ‘Please move your pork butt.’”

-- Larry Moretz, in Reader’s Digest

Elected Officials Birthday List

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