Hinckley Institute Update

The Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah is a busy place. Read all about the Institute’s activities in its latest monthly update, which includes information about upcoming events like Hinckley Forums, internship opportunities, student and faculty awards, voter education resources, and links to news stories featuring the Institute.

Get Ralph on the Ballot

A petition campaign to get independents Ralph Nader for president and Matt Gonzalez for vice president on the Utah ballot will begin at this Saturday’s Peace/Justice/Environment Rally at the SLC Government Center, 451 South State at noon. The Nader for President table will have petitions for voters to sign.  Some 1,000 verified signatures are required to get Nader/Gonzalez on the ballot in Utah. A meeting for people who want to help the campaign will be held on Wednesday, April 9, 7 pm, Sprague Library, 2131 S 1100 E, SLC. A press release says, “The Nader campaign gives anti-nuclear, anti-war citizens someone to vote for.”

Pessimist’s View of Economy

Utah economist Jeff Thregold’s Tea Leaf economic update this week reviews the economic predictions of popular author and futurist Harry Dent, who predicts big stock market gains in the next year or two, followed by a major economic collapse in 2010. Some of Dent’s past predictions have been accurate, but others have been major blunders, Thredgold says. As for Dent’s prediction of major depression for at least a decade beginning in 2010, Thredgold says, “It’s more fun being optimistic.”

Thredgold also discusses proposals by the two Democratic presidential candidates to increase the capital gains tax from the current 15% level. Thredgold says history shows that when the capital gains tax is increased tax revenue declines, and when it is reduced, tax revenue increases. “The capital gains tax is one of very few taxes where the taxpayer can choose when and if to pay such a tax.”  When the cap gains tax was reduced from 20% to 15% as part of the Bush tax cuts of 2003, revenues rose by $152% in four years.  

Leavitt is Blogger in New Site

Leavitt for Congress has announced the release of a newly updated campaign Web site, located at www.DavidLeavitt2008.com. It includes new features such as a user-friendly interface to make it easier for more people to get involved with the campaign.  David Leavitt also posts blog entries reporting on the progress of the campaign as he travels around Utah's Third District holding town meetings and other events. The updates “will help us better connect with people in the district,” Leavitt said.  “Visitors now have greater accessibility to our campaign as well as the potential to be much more informed about campaign news and upcoming events ….”

Today in Political History

April 3, 1860:  The Pony Express is started between St. Joseph, MO, and Sacramento, CA. Postage is $2 to $10 per ounce.

April 3, 1948:  Pres. Harry Truman signs the "Economic Cooperation Act" implementing the Marshall Plan. Secretary of State George C. Marshall had proposed allocating more than $5 billion in financial help to 16 war-torn European nations.

April 3, 1961:  Washington, D.C. residents are given the right to vote for president and VP by enactment of the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution.   (Source:  Perspicuity) 

Wise Words

“The weirder you're going to behave, the more normal you should look.  It works in reverse, too.  When I see a kid with three or four rings in his nose, I know there is absolutely nothing extraordinary about that person.” 

-- P.J. O'Rourke  (Source:  Quote Garden) 

Utah Political Highlights

In 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower defeated Adlai M. Stevenson for president in Utah.  This was the first time in many years that a majority of Utah voters supported a GOP presidential candidate.

Question:  What year prior to 1952 did Utah go Republican in a presidential race?   

Answer:  In 1928, Utahns supported Herbert Hoover  (Source:  Utah. Edu) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Politico: "Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is surging in Pennsylvania, according to several new polls. In one survey ... Obama is now leading New York Sen. Hillary Clinton for the first time, 45 percent to 43 percent. That represents a closing of a 26-percentage-point Clinton advantage from only two and a half weeks ago."

-- New York Magazine: Columnist Peter Keating: "[I]t's been clear for more than a month that [Clinton's] candidacy is in mortal danger. But as long as she was battling [Obama] at the polls every week, she could hope to control the narrative of the Democratic race, even if she was losing individual contests. ... No more. We're now halfway through the six weeks between Mississippi and Pennsylvania, and this long interlude has washed away Clinton's spin. Now her campaign is not only over. It's obviously over."
 
-- The Hill: Columnist Dick Morris: "Even as the rest of the Democratic Party around him takes sides in the epic struggle of Clinton against Obama, Al Gore remains inscrutable, silent, above the battle. ... What's his game? A source close to him confirms that he does not plan to make any endorsement until after the primaries are over on June 3. But then? All they'll say is 'stay tuned.'"
 
-- Wall Street Journal: John McCain still hasn't won over key conservatives like James Dobson.

Blog Watch

-- At Out of Context, Thomas Burr reports: "Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt's working hard in Washington, D.C. Working hard to improve his game, that is. Golf Digest is out with its latest top 200 Washington golfers and Leavitt, now the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, clocks in at 45th of the Capital City's best golfers. And he's doing better than last year when he tied for 49th place. The golf enthusiast is improving his game, too, narrowing his handicap to 7.5 from last year's 9.2. Sen. Orrin Hatch, meanwhile, kept his same handicap of 20, but fell down in the rankings from 152nd to 159th. Maybe the 74-year-old senator needs more time on the links. Any openings in the administration?"

Lighter Side

Best of Late Night Humor

David Letterman: From the “Top Ten Contest” on “Top Ten Dumb Guy Ways to Boost the Economy”: Rummage through rich folks’ trash to see if they’ve tossed any cash—Fresno, CA; Release that “Titanic” movie again—East Greenbush, NY; Each person collects $200 when they pass “Go”—Arcola, IL; Reduce America’s oil dependency by inventing nacho cheese-powered car—Orlando, FL; Two words: bake sale—Chatsworth, CA; Just turn the graphs upside down—Pound Ridge, NY; Give tax refunds in Cheetos (I’m not sure how that would help the economy, but boy am I hungry for some Cheetos)—Hoover, AL; Put Chuck Norris in charge of collecting money from deadbeat taxpayers—Meridien, CT

Jay Leno: Here’s kind of a philosophical question: If a sniper fires a gun in the woods and nobody’s around, does Hillary Clinton still hear it? ... Hey, have you heard Hillary Clinton’s new campaign slogan? “Incoming!” ... As you know, Hillary Clinton now blaming her embellishment of her Bosnia trip on lack of sleep. See, that’s the difference between Hillary and Bill right there. After a night of no sleep, Bill never had a problem coming up with a believable story. ... Actually, new revelations about Hillary’s trip to Bosnia. You know that whole thing? It turns out it was a misunderstanding. Now she says she went there looking to hire a sniper.... It looks like there’s a little more fudging of Hillary’s records. Remember when she said she was deeply involved in the Irish Peace Process? Turns out, she just saw “Lord of the Dance.” ... It’s getting nasty. Hillary and Barack really going at it. They’re insulting each other, trading barbs, attacking each other’s credibility. In fact, the only break they take from attacking each other is when they promise the American people, if elected, they can unite the country.