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The Week Ahead
Unless a compromise occurs, the showdown vote in the U.S. Senate on judicial nomination filibusters is scheduled Tuesday. The New York Times published an interesting story Sunday about how the impasse is hurting both parties politically as Congress’ approval rating declines.
The Legislature’s Health Care Task Force holds its first meeting Thursday, 9 a.m., and begins to scrutinize Intermountain Health Care. (See agenda.)
In their Sunday Morning News column, Pignanelli & Webb discussed the IHC issue.
Lobbyist Watch
Speaking of IHC, the controversy surrounding the big health care company has apparently been tough on John T. Nielsen’s retirement plans. The IHC government affairs director was looking forward to retiring later this year, but now says he will stay involved until the Legislature’s Health Care Task Force finishes its work and reports to the 2007 legislative session. In the meantime, Alan Dayton, who was Nancy Workman’s deputy mayor in Salt Lake County, will be brought along to fill John T.’s big shoes.
Blog Watch
After taking a vacation from blogging for a couple of months, Rep. Steve Urquhart is back in action with an interesting post on legislative life during the interim (it’s still very busy). It’s nice to have Rep. Urquhart blogging again. Posting regularly takes a great deal of time and effort and demonstrates a real commitment to constituent communications.
Some Things Never Change
Modern politicians can, no doubt, sympathize with the sentiments of Thomas Jefferson regarding the news media, almost most wouldn’t have written it quite so eloquently:
"During the course of administration, and in order to disturb it, the artillery of the press has been leveled against us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be regretted...." --Thomas Jefferson
Media Watch
Everything on the Web
All forms of media and communications are rapidly converging on the Internet, and the ramifications for political communications are enormous. Relatively soon, every TV station, radio broadcast and newspaper will be a channel on the Web, and the interactive audio, video and text capabilities of the Internet will blur the distinctions of the different types of media.
The Wall Street Journal reports that several newspapers are getting into Podcasting, in effect starting their own little Internet-based radio stations. Here is a New York Times story on Podcasting.
The most recent edition of Newsweek features a fascinating story on the future of television, which will change dramatically over the next decade. Every Web site will become a potential TV microchannel, with the ability to broadcast audio and video using inexpensive equipment.
To fully take advantage of these developments, Internet users will need ultra-broadband connections like those provided by UTOPIA and iProvo. Political communications will change as politicians have even more ways to communicate directly to citizens without being filtered by the news media.
Spam Watch: Subject Lines
Good riddins to thighs
Grand theft Rolex
Male Muscle Boosting System
Case of fine wine and connoisseur corkscrew
5 great cigars plus the cigar caddy travel case
Christian family loans has the lowest rates
This secret built a small empire
Protect your pet now flea and tick season is here
The stock trading gunslingers
Does your girl like surprises?
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