News Highlights

Annual analysis of legislator effectiveness in getting bills passed shows Republicans sponsored 9 of every 10 bills passed in 2008 (Deseret Morning News).

Some staffers to Rep. Chris Cannon get paid by taxpayers and also by re-election campaign (Salt Lake Tribune).

Quote of the Day

"I learned from watching several successful lawmakers that you work hard during the interim, and it pays off during the (general) session."   

 -- Rep. Todd Kiser, who scored a rare double-double, passing all six bills he sponsored and attending all his committee votes, according to Morning News analysis).

The Week Ahead

Seems like March is ending as it started – with a snow storm. The county convention phase of Utah’s election process begins this week as Beaver, Millard, Juab, Tooele, Wasatch and Summit counties all hold their conventions. For all the week’s political events, see the UtahPolicy.com calendar.

Monday Musing

Spring? in the High Country

The sandhill cranes have already returned to the marshy (and mostly snow-covered) meadows in the foothills of the north slope of the high Uintas. When I arrived at our place Saturday afternoon, a couple of long-necked, long-legged cranes were strutting their stuff in the open areas where the snow had pulled away from some of the creeks running through the pasture. A pair of Canada geese stayed close to the cranes, as if hanging with cranes somehow improves goose status.

It was a pretty Saturday afternoon, with dark clouds scuttling across the sky, allowing sheets of sunlight to periodically break through. Wondering how the place had fared through the long winter, I put on some cross-country skis and glided across the sagebrush flat, through a grove of quaking aspen, and down into the meadow.  Hayduke the dog, getting old but still energetic, ranged out ahead. I was surprised at the amount of new deadfall in the aspen grove, including tall trees that appeared to be alive and well before toppling over.

Down in the meadow the cranes spotted us and clearly resented the intrusion, flapping their wings and performing their bobbing dance, cackling a warning to stay away. We gave them wide berth because I hope they will nest in the pasture this year.

The snow had thawed and frozen, creating a hard surface with a few inches of fresh powder on top, making for excellent skiing. It was crusty enough that Hayduke didn’t fall through much, but his paws got rubbed a little raw.

Sunset was beautiful, set to the refrain of hundreds of blackbirds in the willows, singing their evening song.

Winter does not retreat graciously from the high country. The cranes might have wondered if they’d come north a little early as a big snowstorm pounded us Saturday night, dropping six inches by morning. By noon Sunday it was 10 inches and I started to worry about driving home.  I didn’t see the cranes all morning, but by noon one had emerged from the willows, along with three geese, who sat in the snow with their heads tucked in. 

The snow let up by Sunday evening and I drove home without difficulty. It may look like winter out there, but the arrival of sandhill cranes in the high country is a sure sign of spring.

Washington Watch

WSJ: No to Cannon Bill
The Wall Street Journal editorializes against Reps. Chris Cannon's and John Conyer's Credit Card Fair Fee Act.

Today in Political History

Mar. 31, 1968: Pres. Lyndon Johnson announces that he would neither seek nor accept nomination for a second term. His presidency becomes a casualty of the Vietnam War. (Source:  Perspicuity)

Wise Words

“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed -- else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.” 

-- Dwight D. Eisenhower  (Source:  Quote Garden)

Leadership Tip

Leadership cannot function in a vacuum.  Variables exist that both act and are acted upon by those in positions of leadership.  Thus, mistakes will certainly happen and sometimes people will become upset.  Two points to consider:

1.  A mistake is an opportunity to be better, and to show remorse and a lesson learned. (If a leader cannot get over an honest mistake by a subordinate or even themselves then they don’t have what it takes to be an effective leader) This is how civilization progresses.

2.  A leader should be brave enough to talk when lesser people want to fight. Anyone can resort to threats and aggression. Being aggressive is not leading. It might have been a couple of thousand years ago, but it's not now. The nature of humankind and civilization is to become more civilized. Leaders should enable not obstruct this process.  (Source:  Business Balls) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Washington Post: Hillary Clinton on Saturday "put to rest any notion that she will drop out of the presidential race, pledging in an interview to not only compete in all the remaining primaries but also continue until there is a resolution of the disqualified results in Florida and Michigan."

-- New York Times: Barack Obama "had a few words of advice Saturday for [Clinton]: Do not drop out on my account. 'My attitude is that Senator Clinton can run as long as she wants,' Mr. Obama, of Illinois, said at a news conference [in Pennsylvania]."

-- Sunday Telegraph: "Plans for Al Gore to take the Democratic presidential nomination as the saviour of a bitterly divided party are being actively discussed by senior figures and aides to the former vice-president."

-- The Hill: "Democrats are sharpening their differences with Republicans over economic policy ahead of a two-month session in Congress in which the stalling economy will dominate."

Blog Watch

-- Paul Rolly reports: "Any doubts that Utah Sen. Bob Bennett will seek a third term in 2010 can be put to rest. Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller played host to a campaign strategy meeting for Bennett's campaign Friday at the Jazz practice facility. Most of the Utah Republican Party's movers and shakers were in attendance and 65 attendees pledged to raise $10,000 each to launch Bennett's campaign. The senator, who currently is 74, will be 77 on election day, 2010, which makes him old enough to be Strom Thurmond's son during Thurmond's last term in the Senate."

Lighter Side

“My wife wanted to play the violin at our wedding reception, but right before, a string snapped. Her mother made the announcement to our guests: ‘I’m sorry to say that Amy cannot perform today. Her G string broke.’”

-- Bret Walker, Saratoga Spring, Utah, in Reader’ Digest.

Elected Officials Birthday List

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