Agenda Utah Daily Newsletter

News Highlights

Convention coverage: Utahns' responses to Bill and Hillary Clinton's speeches are reported in the Deseret Morning News and The Salt Lake Tribune. Anti-war rhetoric stirs Utahns in Tribune story. The Real Rocky coming back to life is refreshing, says Tribune columnist Holly Mullen.

Quote of the Day

"We must have a governor committed to water planning, someone who knows the legal thicket. My pledge is to secure Utah's water future."

- Scott Matheson, Jr., releasing his 13-page water/drought plan, as reported in the Deseret Morning News. Matheson's entire plan can be found on his web site, www.mathesonforgovernor.com.

Excellent Convention Web site

Even a good Republican like me has to admit that the National Democratic Convention has a very nice web site. You can listen gavel-to-gavel to live streaming audio, view video of speeches, read interesting blogs with lot of links, chat with celebrity Democrats, read a wide variety of articles, profiles of speakers, read schedules, and many more things. You can sign up to get involved with the campaign in a variety of ways. There is a great deal of interactivity built into the site.

Imagine if everyone had ultra-broadband Internet access like iProvo and UTOPIA will offer. A web site like this one could become an even more incredibly powerful means of communications, far more interesting and feature-laden than a mere television channel.

- LaVarr Webb

Wireless Democrats

HP has announced that it providing Pocket PCs, Tablet PCs and notebook PCs "featuring integrated wireless connectivity to delegates and staff" (I wonder which delegates are lucky enough to get them) at the Democratic National Convention, "as well as the network infrastructure and professional services to create a comprehensive mobile experience." This clearly will be an advantage to staff members who need to move about the facility yet remain connected. It sounds like delegates also will be able to connect through a wireless network.

Were the nomination in doubt, this technology could provide a tactical advantage to the campaigns that make full use of it.

Utahns on the convention floor can use their laptops to pick up Agenda Utah each morning. But those who use a PDA (Palm or Pocket PC) with a wireless browser might want to just go to our headlines page.

On your PDA: Of course, you don't have to be at the convention to use this service. Anyone with a Palm, a Pocket PC or a smart phone may find it useful. I've set it as my browser's home page on my Pocket PC. It doesn't replace the newsletter, but it's pretty convenient when you're out and about. (Hint: when you click on a news link, you may find the article hard to read on a small screen. Clicking on the print button or link often gives you a more readable version of the article.)

-Bart Barker

Learn How to Campaign

The Professional Republican Women and Utah Federation of Republican Women are sponsoring a Campaign School on Aug. 5 from noon to 6 p.m. at Merit Medical, 1660 W. Merit Parkway (9800 S.), South Jordan. Cost is $45, Contact PRW 801-270-0802. Keynote speaker is Fred Lampropolous, Pres. & CEO of Merit Medical, "Lessons Learned on a Cross-the-State Gubernatorial Campaign Trail."