News Highlights

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, with strong Utah ties, poised to take over top Demo Senate position (Deseret Morning News).

Jon Huntsman hits ground running (Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune).

Peter Corroon starts early; his office is ready (Tribune and Morning News).

Editorials: On campaign civility (Morning News); What did Utahns say? (Tribune); Bush should reach out (Morning News); Bush’s mandate (Tribune).

Quote of the Day

"If they (Democrats) just throw up their hands and concede Utah County it's to their own peril, because the county is growing. The Democrats have to give people a reason to not vote straight party."

- Kelly Patterson, director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at BYU, discussing the overwhelming Republican vote in Utah County (Deseret Morning News).

Lest the Winners Get Big Heads . . .

Remember what Will Rogers said:

"Elections are a good deal like marriages, there's no accounting for anyone's taste. Every time we see a bridegroom we wonder why she ever picked him, and it's the same with Public Officials."

Life After Election 2004

No need to despair, political junkies. The election is over, but we still have plenty of politics ahead. We have all-important legislative leadership elections next week. We have interesting transitions to watch at the state and county levels. Who will Jon Huntsman select for his staff and key cabinet positions? Same for Peter Corroon at the county level. The Democrats finally hold an office with significant patronage.

We also will be watching President Bush revamp his cabinet and see if Mike Leavitt remains at EPA or takes another cabinet or top-level position. Attention will now turn to the 2005 Legislature and the big issues awaiting a new batch of lawmakers, particularly transportation funding. Sen. Orrin Hatch will soon start organizing his 2006 re-election campaign, and posturing will immediately begin among Republicans to find a candidate to oppose Jim Matheson in 2006. Plenty of things will be happening for you to get your daily dose of politics with Utah Policy Daily.

Country Still Divided

There are many ways to interpret the presidential election. Considering all he has been through, particularly the current difficulties in Iraq, President Bush’s win was clearly of historic proportions. His popular vote margin was terrific, and with pickups in the House and Senate, he can legitimately claim a mandate to move forward with his programs.

But it would surely be a mistake to get too cocky. The big popular vote win was still only 51% to 48%, less than 4 million votes out of 115 million cast.

As one of the nation’s most liberal politicians, John Kerry was probably not the Democrats’ best candidate. Most Americans consider themselves moderately conservative. What if Joseph Lieberman had been the Democratic nominee? I’m not suggesting at all that Bush back away from his conservative positions or move to the mushy middle. It’s more a matter of tone and attitude.

Note from Ruland Gill, government relations guy at Questar:

“A dear friend of mine is an avid Democrat. He was bitterly disappointed in the outcome of the Presidential Election. However, being a great guy, he wanted me to know that bygones are bygones and sent me the following poem. I think it expresses the feelings of a lot of Democrats today.”

The election is over, the results are known.
The will of the people has clearly been shown.
Let’s forget our differences and show by our deeds
That we will give George W the backing he needs.
We’ll all get together and let bitterness pass;
I’ll hug your elephant, and you kiss my ass.

Rep. Darin G. Peterson, District 67, November 5
Sen. Howard A. Stephenson, District 11, November 7
Rep. Ron Bigelow, District 32, November 7

Entire Birthday List

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Publisher: LaVarr Webb
Editor: Bart Barker
News: Golden Webb
Calendar and Subscriptions: Paul Hollingshead

Los Angeles Times
- State bans on gay marriage galvanize sides

Deseret Morning News
- Reid poised to take over as Senate minority leader
- Huntsman hits ground running
- The race that wasn't
- Corroon starts right up
- Just how GOP can we be?
- Orem voters approve road bond
- Only a few Democrats were able to survive Utah's GOP 'sweep'
- 3 incumbents lose in Legislature
- Initiative's defeat surprises backers and opponents
- Gay-rights groups pressing forward
- Editorial: On civility, common sense
- Editorial: Four more years for Bush

Standard-Examiner
- 'Laser-like' focus
- Davis fluoridation likely to endure
- Weber RAMP tax still unresolved
- Weber glitch in counting room makes returns late
- Editorial: Conservatives' grip on Utah tightening

Daily Herald
- Newcomers ready to tackle the Legislature
- Environmentalists file suit against national forests
- Only minor problems on Election Day
- Editorial: The challenge of leadership

KSL
- Editorial: Why KSL editorializes

St. George Spectrum
- Editorial: Parties must work toward unifying U.S.

Salt Lake Tribune
- Mullen: Now, it's time to move on
- Democrats make large strides in S.L. County
- Mayor-elect Cullimore, new council plan huddle in Cottonwood Heights
- Many Davis voters ignored nonpolitical issues as they punched straight-party tickets
- Win anchors Matheson's post
- Huntsman gets to work immediately
- Utahns expect help from Bush
- Initiative One backers puzzled over ballot failure
- Democrats gain a seat in state Senate
- Utah legislators plan to pick party leadership
- Corroon already moving in as mayor
- Yucca Mountain votes could haunt Utah's senators
- Editorial: Song of democracy
- Editorial: The mandate

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Nov 4: Transportation Planning Task Force, 9 am, Rm W135, State Capitol.
- Nov 4: Constitution Party “Open Invitation Victory Party”, 6:30 pm, Jim’s Family Restaurant, 7609 S. Redwood Rd, West Jordan.
- Nov 4: Progressive Democratic Caucus Meeting, 6:30 pm to 8 pm, 455 South 300 East, Suite 102, Salt Lake City. Contact: Craig Axford (801) 918-6017.
- Nov 4: Professional Republican Women’s 2005 Membership Meeting, Noon, Panini’s 299 S Main St, Well’s Fargo Building, Reservations: Dianney5@aol.com.
- Nov 5: House and Senate Rules Committees, 9 am, Rm W135, State Capitol; Transportation Planning Task Force, 9 am, Rm W015.
- Nov 9: Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel, 10 am, Rm W025, State Capitol.
- Nov 10: Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee, 9 am, Rm W125, State Capitol; Health and Human Services Interim Committee, 2 pm, Rm W015.
- Nov 10-12: Utah Association of Counties 2004 Annual Convention, Dixie Center, St. George.
- Nov 11: Sutherland Institute seminar "Bridging the Gap between Principle and Practice--Understanding Analytical Frameworks" 8:30-11:30 am, 6th Floor 150 E Social Hall Ave, SLC. Register: 801-355-1272.
- Nov 11: Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, 9 am, Rm W020, State Capitol.
- Nov 11: Hinckley Institute of Politics presents “U.S./Singapore Relations” a talk by Her Excellency Chan Heng Chee, Singapore’s ambassador to the United States, 10:45 am, KUER-FM 90.1.
- Nov 11-12: Utah State Association of Parliamentarians (USAP) annual workshops, Salt Lake County Government Center North Building, 2100 S State St. $55 registration deadline by Nov 5th, Reta Pehrson 801-532-5212.
- Nov 12-13: Utah Federation of Republican Women Annual Conference, Springville, UT. Keynote address by Shirley Foote, National Federation Board Member.
- Nov 13: 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.
- Nov 23: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 E just past 2100 S, Salt Lake City. Contact: 486-2558.
- Nov 30: Energy Policy Task Force, 10 am, Rm W130, State Capitol.
- Dec 2: Progressive Democratic Caucus Meeting, 6:30 pm to 8 pm, 455 South 300 East, Suite 102, Salt Lake City. Contact: Craig Axford 801-918-6017.
- Dec 2: Professional Republican Women's Holiday Luncheon and Tour at the Governor's Mansion, Noon, Reservations: dianney5@aol.com.
- Dec 7: Utah Log Cabin Republicans Monthly Meeting, 7:30 pm, Room N4010, Salt Lake County Building, 2001 South State Street, Salt Lake.
- Dec 9: Sutherland Institute seminar "The Public You--Applications in Effective Communication" 8:30-11:30 am, 6th Floor 150 E Social Hall Ave, SLC. Register: 801-355-1272.
- Dec 9: Davis Co. Democrats 2nd Annual Christmas Dinner, 6:30 pm.

- See the entire calendar