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We experienced some glitches yesterday. We think they're all solved and things are back to normal. Today we share some of the feedback we have received from the past five issues of The Earlybird. Most of it is positive because most of the comments have been. Nevertheless, good or bad, we would love to hear what you think.
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Friday, May 14, 2004
Today's Headlines
San
Francisco Chronicle
- Young's
new venture: Former QB looks to call signals on investments with VC team
Christian Science Monitor
- In
Utah, a tale of revival on the dotcom trail
Washington Post
- States
Speed up Spyware Race
KSL
- Commuter Rail
- Growth
on Utahns' Minds
St. George Spectrum
- Parowan
City Council to vote on prayer policy
- Registrars
prepare for GOP primary
Deseret Morning News
- Who's the
conservative?
- Street
artists may get booted
- SUWA leader
is from the trenches
- Cannon
fights highway robbery by tax collectors
- Lee Benson:
Billboard cap a step in the right direction
- Judicial
impasse frustrates Hatch
- Demo to
campaign in Utah on 2 wheels
- Waldholtz
sentenced for stealing
- Will HAFB
get big $$ boost?
- Losing Demo
candidate files formal complaint
- A better
estimate
- Bob Bernick
Jr.: Some rise and some drown in GOP tide
Salt Lake Tribune
- Rocky
against restrictions on where artists may sell
- Race for
Governor: Huntsman, Karras begin to spar, probe for soft spots
-
Rolly
and Wells: Demos do share of dumping
- House panel
OKs base closure delay
- Ex-Utahn
may become ambassador to Belgium
- Mayor's
counsel to aid GOP races
- Walker
honors, applauds students' achievements
- Joe
Waldholtz back to prison
- Plus
for Leavitt
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Political Calendar
May 14: Utah Legislature:
Individual Income Tax and
Corporate Franchise and Income Tax Task Force, 9am - Noon Room 405 State
Capitol.
May 18: Utah Legislature:
Task Force Studying
Water Issues, 8:30am - 10:30am Room 303 State Capitol
Legislative Management Committee, 2:30pm Room 303 State
Capitol
Hazardous Waste
Regulation and Tax Policy Task Force, 3pm Room 403 State
Capitol
May 19: Voice for Moderation Monthly Meeting6
p.m., Foothill Anderson Library, 1135 S. 2100 East.
May 19:
Utah Legislature:
Workforce Services
and Community and Economic Development Interim Committee, 9am Room W25
House Building
Revenue and Taxation
Interim Committee, 9am Room W135 House Building
Judiciary Interim Committee, 9am Room W130 House Building
Natural Resources,
Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee, 9am Room 403 State Capitol
Transportation
Interim Committee, 9am Legacy Parkway Site
Motion Picture Task Force, 1:15pm Room W130 House Building
Health and Human
Services Interim Committee, 2pm Room 403 State Capitol
Education Interim Committee, 2pm Room 303 State Capitol
Business and Labor
Interim Committee, 2pm Room W135 House Building
Political Subdivisions Interim Committee, 2pm Room W25 House
Building
Public Utilities and
Technology Interim Committee, 2pm Room W20 House Building
May 25: Green Party of Utah
Roots Local Monthly Meeting-12:00 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 East, just
past 2100 South, Salt Lake City. Contact: 486-2558.
May 26:
WIR Annual Conference-Eccles Conference Center, Ogden.
May 26: Governor's Candidate Forum, Utah Taxpayers
Association-12:00 pm, Little America Ballroom, Salt Lake City.
May 30: Iron County Tax Freedom Day Governors
Forum-6:00 pm, Sharwan Smith Center Ballroom, SUU, Cedar City.
June 1: Utah Log Cabin Republicans Monthly
Meeting-7:30 pm, Room N4010, Salt Lake County Building, 2001 South State
Street, Salt Lake.
June 3: Progressive Democratic
Caucus Meeting-6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, 455 South 300 East, Suite 102, Salt
Lake City. Contact: Craig Axford (801) 918-6017.
June 4:
Debate between John Huntsman Jr. and Nolan Karras, Provo/Orem
Chamber of Commerce and Daily Herald , First Friday Forum lunch-noon at
the Provo Marriott Hotel . Lunch reservations, 379-2555; debate questions,
Michael Mower 852-6103 .
June 10, 11: Government
Affairs Advisory Committee of the Salt Lake Chamber, 11am Eccles Board
Room, Salt Lake Chamber.
June 12: Davis County
Democrats No-Host Breakfast-8:30 am to 10:00 am, Joanie's Restaurant, 286
North 400 West, Kaysville. Contact: Richard Watson (801) 292-6772.
June 22: Utah Primary Election-7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
June 22: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly
Meeting-12:00 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 East, just past 2100 South, Salt
Lake City. Contact: 486-2558.
June 24: Legislative
Golf Tournament, Thanksgiving Point. 533-9777.
June 26:
Republican Central Committee Meeting.
June 27:
Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting-12:00 pm, Sprague
Library, 1100 East, just past 2100 South, Salt Lake City. Contact:
486-2558.
July 19-23:
National Conference of State Legislatures, Salt Lake City
See the entire calendar.
Friday's
Buzz :
Guns, Speeches and Transportation
By LaVarr Webb
Utah Republican politicians are, for the most part, scared to death of the gun activists. But here's one more bit of evidence that Utahns don't want guns in schools. Even among delegates to the Republican state convention, considered to be the most conservative human beings on the planet, 50 percent oppose allowing concealed weapons permit holders to take their guns into public schools. Forty-six percent support allowing guns in schools.
That's according to a Dan Jones & Associates survey of more than 1,300 delegates taken before the convention. A clear majority of delegates, 56 percent, oppose allowing concealed weapons permit holders to take their guns into churches; 33 percent support allowing guns in churches.
However, guns on college campuses is a different story. 54 percent support allowing concealed weapons permit holders to take their guns to college, with 41 in opposition.
Previous surveys have shown that Utahns in general, by overwhelming margins, don't want guns in public schools. Utahns like their guns, and I like my guns. But do we really have to take them into schools?
Everyone is tired of hearing about the convention, but bear with me for just one observation about the speeches. The speeches were good, but not great (except for Alan Keyes, who was terrific). No grand slam home runs, but no real strikeouts. None of the candidates have mastered the art of storytelling, of connecting on an emotional level, of using symbols and parables to deliver a message. Political insiders got tired of Mike Leavitt's stories and parables, but they worked. They illustrated his values and priorities better than going through a checklist.
Momentum seems to be building for a major transportation initiative in Utah , including both highways and mass transit. Local leaders through the Wasatch Front Regional Council and Mountainlands Association of Governments got the ball rolling. Various other groups, including the Legislature's Transportation Planning Task Force, are weighing in. Consensus seems to be building that the Salt Lake Chamber should take the lead in spearheading the effort. Lots of hard work remains to be done, but developing a long-term funding plan for the state's immense transportation needs is crucial to job development and a strong, sustainable economy.
Casual Friday
Editor's Note : For an end-of-week change-of-pace, on Fridays we will periodically publish a short, non-political feature. It might be a brief travel or hiking vignette, a golf or fly fishing tip, or a nature essay that we think you will enjoy. Just let us know if you get sick of reading about LaVarr Webb and his dog.
Adventures With Hayduke
Man's Best Friend (Previously published, but brought back by popular demand.)
If you're getting beaten up in politics, if your spouse is mad at you and your children are wayward, there's only one thing to do-get a dog.
It's always heartwarming to see how loyal and caring a good dog can be. I am the main feeder, walker and disciplinarian for Hayduke, our yellow lab/golden retriever cross, so to him I'm THE MAN.
A few summers ago, my family was backpacking in the High Uintas, en route to King's Peak, the highest point in Utah . Hayduke absolutely loves these wilderness treks. He thinks he's in heaven. And while on the trail he loves to range a bit out ahead of everyone, staying close, but checking out every stump, mud puddle, rock and tree along the way.
On the hike in to base camp, I walked mostly with the slowpokes, while the college kids moved faster. It drove poor Hayduke crazy. He wanted so much to be out ahead with the faster hikers but didn't want to leave me behind.
He would stay with the fast-hiking group, cavorting ahead of them, loving life, then would run back on the trail just to the point I was in sight, where he'd sit on his haunches and wait for me to catch up. Then he'd whine and bark and try to get me to move faster, and after a few minutes he'd set off at a run to catch up to the faster group. This little ritual was repeated over and over for several miles.
As the older kids got further and further ahead, Hayduke finally gave up and stayed with my group, but not without some obvious dejection and a few disgusted glances in my direction.
My dog's loyal even when he's mad at me. Can't say that about most humans.
-- LaVarr Webb
The Earlybird is a service of Utah Policy.com
Publisher:
LaVarr
Webb
Editor: Bart Barker
News
and Calendar Manager: Golden
Webb
Subscription Manager: Paul
Hollingshead
