With football coaching changes imminent, sports news beats political news today. And Ken Jennings finally lost. I never did see one of those shows. Was he really that smart? Maybe we should run him for something.

Day’s hottest political news is Mike Leavitt’s name surfacing as a possible replacement for Tom Ridge at Homeland Security. But the list of candidates is a long one. Mitt Romney is also mentioned, but says no way. President Bush has been moving fast in replacing Cabinet members, so this could happen quickly. Would Leavitt be interested in the job? Of course.

Matheson to Prestigious Committee?

Committee assignments are being made in the U.S. House and Utah Rep. Jim Matheson could win a plum position on the exclusive Energy and Commerce Committee, according to Roll Call, a newspaper covering Congress.

The paper reported on Monday that Democratic leaders are rewarding a few loyal party “team players” with hard-to-get assignments on the few elite congressional committees. Matheson is mentioned along with Jay Inslee, Washington, as a candidate for the third open position on Energy and Commerce. “ . . . The third slot is less clear, but sources throughout the Caucus suggested Blue Dog conservative Matheson or Inslee are likely choices. Matheson, who held onto a key seat in the red state of Utah, could benefit from a powerful position in Congress to secure his re-election chances, sources said. Inslee, on the other hand, is a top party participant and has expressed a strong interest in alternative energy projects.

”We Want Wi-Fi! We Want Wi-Fi!

On Utah’s Capitol Hill, lobbyists and journalists want a wireless Internet “hot spot” so anyone with a wireless-enabled laptop computer can have access to e-mail and get instant updates on progress of bills and other legislative action. It would be similar to wireless Web access offered in some coffee shops and airport locations.

The Legislature does a terrific job with its Web-based system of bill tracking and committee updates, but Internet access is needed to take advantage of it. The old Capitol building had limited Wi Fi Web access. The new legislative quarters are very cramped for space and lobbyists say that makes Internet access even more important. In a recent discussion with members of the Salt Lake Chamber’s Government Affairs Advisory Committee, new House Speaker Greg Curtis said he would look into it.

Transition Advice

Reader Raymond Takashi Swenson, an attorney and retired Air Force Lt. Colonel from Idaho Falls, submitted this advice to Gov.-elect Jon Huntsman and his transition team:

“As a former Utahn and U of U alumnus who served an LDS mission in Japan with U President Mike Young, I would like to see Gov. Huntsman and Pres. Young draw on their expertise in Asian languages and cultures to establish a permanent infrastructure in Utah for cultural and business relationships with Japan, China, Taiwan, and the other countries of the Pacific Rim. Utah has a tremendous asset in the thousands of men and women who have lived and worked in those countries and acquired language skills that are rare among other Americans. This is an area where Utah should be able to compete with California, Washington and Oregon for cultural and business relationships that will enrich Utah's culture while the state makes it clear to business leaders in Asian countries that Utah is a positive environment for their investment and a friendly source for goods and services.

”There is already a strong base of Asian expertise in Utah that needs coordination, cross-communication, and publication. In the longer term, the University of Utah can lead out in encouraging study of Asian languages, not only for students majoring in business, but also in teaching Asian languages in secondary schools by establishing programs that will start with those having the language skills and qualify them as high school teachers. Gov. Huntsman can use his influence to support establishing Japanese and Chinese language programs in the public schools. The key will be developing Utahns who have both language fluency and expertise in business, science, engineering and computer science, medicine, and other fields, and then providing ways for them to network together and communicate their cross-cultural expertise to investors and customers in the Pacific Rim.”

Newsletter for Conservatives

I sometimes quote material from the Federalist Patriot, an e-mail newsletter I receive. It is a very conservative e-publication (more conservative than I am), but it is intelligently written and does a good job of scouring the history books and current publications for pithy quotes.You can check it out at www.federalistpatriot.us.

One of Those Pithy Quotes

"Speaking of gay marriage, as long as liberals are so big on discussing 'mandates' and whether Bush has one (they say he does not), I think the one thing we can all agree on is that there is definitely a 'mandate' against gay marriage. In fact, a clear majority of us are uncomfortable with the word 'mandate' because it sounds like Wayne asking Stephen out for dinner and a movie."

--Ann Coulter (Source: The Federalist Patriot)