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GOP Delegates to Gather Saturday
By Hayden Hill
On Saturday, Utah’s 3,500 Republican state delegates are invited to participate in the State Republican Party Organizing Convention at Salt Lake Community College to elect party officers and vote on a handful of resolutions.
Three of the four state party office are being contested this year – chair, vice chair and secretary. Seeking a third term in office, current party chair Joe Cannon will be challenged by entrepreneur and State Central Committee member Patrick Reagan as well as Jeremy Friedbaum, former American Independent Party gubernatorial candidate.
Running against incumbent secretary Candace Daly is State Central Committee member and current Utah County GOP treasurer Lowell Nelson. Both have held an assortment of positions within the Republican Party. Nelson is a software engineer and Daly is a political activist and stay-at-home mother of four.
The most heated of the races may be that of vice chair. Incumbent Enid Greene a former member of Congress and 2004 lieutenant governor contender, is challenged by party stalwarts Todd Weiler and David Spackman. Weiler is an attorney and the current Davis County GOP chair while Spackman is a manager for a major defense contractor and has held seven different party offices since 1998.
In addition to officer elections, the convention will also serve as a sounding board for ideas and concerns from delegates in the form of resolutions. Five resolutions have been filed regarding school choice, the Patriot Act, rights of state delegates, and immigration.
Here is a short summary of each:
School Choice – submitted by Marco Diaz: Proposes that the party fully support government funding options that would assist a parent’s right to choose public, charter, private or home school for their child. States that school choice does not adversely affect public education but provides better tools for parents to help their children succeed.
Limiting Benefits to Those Illegally Within Our Borders – submitted by Robert Wren: Calls upon the Legislature to pass laws limiting benefits to those illegally within Utah’s borders and provide penalties to those who knowingly hire illegal aliens.
Immigration – submitted by Marco Diaz: Asks U.S. Congress to address immigration issues such as national security, legally fulfilling labor needs and encouraging the Republican Party to be more inclusive of legal Hispanics.
Repeal of Unconstitutional Revisions of the USA PATRIOT Act – submitted by Lowell Nelson: Calls for repeal of a number of provisions in the Patriot Act, including unreasonable searches and seizures, delay notice of warrant executions and violations of due process of law.
Affirming Rights of State Delegates – submitted by Nancy Lord: Proposes that the Republican Party Constitution does not grant the Constitution and Bylaws Committee exclusive power to propose amendments; the constitution also does not prohibit state delegates or members of the State Central Committee from proposing amendments.
For more information on candidates and complete resolution texts, visit www.utgop.org.
Convention Watch
Popular Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour will keynote the GOP convention Saturday. Barbour is former chair of the Republican National Committee and is an entertaining speaker. . . . Candidates for office have been making last-minute pitches. Patrick Reagan, candidate for chair, sent a post card to delegates. . . Sen. Bob Bennett sent a letter supporting Sen. Orrin Hatch for re-election. He said he will serve as chair of Hatch’s re-election campaign. . . Incumbent chair Joe Cannon and vice chair Enid Greene have sent letters out to delegates soliciting support. . . . Greene challenger Todd Weiler has been active sending e-mail messages to delegates. . . Utahns for Immigration Reform and Enforcement sent a packet of information to delegates, echoing the concerns of some party dissidents about their voice in the party. . . Teenage Republicans will hold a sleepover and participate in workshops, social events, and elections for teen offices starting tonight. . . . Republicans will hold a Red Cross blood drive during the convention. Call 533-9777 to schedule an appointment.
Sen. Hatch is a Blogger
Sen. Orrin Hatch’s Web site, www.Orrin2006.com is now live. It even contains a blog. Check it out to see what Hatch is thinking.
Podcast Watch
Check out Jennifer Napier-Pearce’s InsideUtah.com podcast featuring the week’s headlines, plus U.S. Congressman Chris Cannon on immigration, war and nuclear power; Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson on his call to protest President Bush…and reaction on the demonstration from citizen watchdog Claire Geddes and Salt Lake Chamber President Lane Beattie.
Blog Watch
Rep. John Dougall defends UDOT on Legacy Parkway and provides a lot of background links on the lawsuit challenging HB260.
Chat on KCPW With Mayor
Bryan Schott, news director for KCPW radio (AM1010, 88.3 & 105.3 FM) sent a note mentioning that SLC Mayor Rocky Anderson will host (yes - host, not be a guest) Midday Metro today from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. He will take calls from listeners.
Reader Response
Even Weak Republicans Win
From Richard Watson, chair, Davis County Democrat:
“The comments in Utah Policy, dated August 25, 2005, about Democrats having a difficult time beating ‘solid’ Republican candidates is nothing more than a fantasy among GOP leaders. The fact is, in areas like Davis County and Utah County, mediocre and weak Republican candidates always win. Furthermore, even strong Republican candidates or Republican incumbents realize that they have the upper hand when a number of voters often cast straight party votes.
“For example, in Davis County, we had a strong Democratic candidate run against an opponent who chose not to campaign much as in previous campaigns. This Republican felt confident enough to limit the campaign efforts and still have more than $30,000 left in their election account. On the other hand, the Democratic candidate, well admired in the community, actually walked and contacted voters in the district, while spending a considerable amount of time placing the issues out for voters to study. What's more, the Republican candidate refused to do any public debates. This, and other races as well, only confirmed my belief that Republicans in Davis County do not care and they somehow feel more superior to anyone who challenges them as they seem to be campaigning less and winning by the same margins as before.
“The real bottom line: It is my experience that voters in Davis County are not studying the issues and/or candidates. Most voters somehow feel that a political party is the only measure of a candidate’s personality and qualifications. Every candidate is different, even Republican candidates. Local issues and concerns are lost in the ridiculous notion that all Democrats are immoral. When voters actually elect some Democrats in Davis County, then the Utah Policy comment about a good Democratic candidate beating a mediocre Republican candidate will stand. Until then, let’s face it, most Republicans know they have a 30 point advantage in the polls when they file as a candidate.”
Washington Watch
$520K for Logan Buses
Sen. Bob Bennett says the U.S. DOT will grant $520,000 to the Utah Transit Authority for the replacement of two current buses in Logan and the purchase of a new bus that will accommodate increased commuter demand in the region.
Water Fights
An AP story says Arizona is bracing for a legal battle over Colorado River Water. State officials “hope to create a $1.5 million legal defense fund to protect its Colorado River allocation in case a simmering dispute among neighboring states turns into a regional water war.” Representatives from all seven Colorado River states were scheduled to meet Thursday in San Diego to consider a plan that might solve some of the issues without legal action.
New American Legion Chaplain
Congratulations to Steven E. Wright, Syracuse, appointed yesterday as National Chaplain of the American Legion.
Intelligent Design in Court
“Is intelligent design science or religion? That's the question a U.S. district court judge in Harrisburg will consider starting Sept. 26, and Dover voters will weigh Nov. 4,” says a story in USA Today.
Casual Friday
Are You Seeing Red Yet?
Fall is upon us. That means the temperatures cool down, the politics heat up, and, in this state, college football takes center stage.
Some University of Utah fans must have paid extra attention in Poli-Sci 101. They have organized a grassroots effort to encourage all Ute fans in the state to wear red on Friday Sept 2 when Utah opens the season against Arizona. The effort has been dubbed Operation: Red Zone. A group of fans called the Utah Guerilla Marketing Team (UGMT) have coordinated with the university, elected officials, local businesses, and several university associations to get the word out. ORZ is in response to Coach Kyle Whittingham's hope of leading his team into a sea of red at Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium next Friday. Click here to learn more.
James Taranto's Newspulper Headlines...
- They Really Ought to Leave This to Doctors: "Mo. Officials Probe Intestine Infections" —Associated Press
- What Would We Do Without Chinese Experts?: "Chinese Experts: No Such Things as 'Lake Monsters"' —People's Daily (in China)
- What?: "Experts Warn of Deafening Growth in Personal Music" —Times (London)
- That's Easy for You to Say!: "Leipheimer Tames Rettenbachferner to Take Lead" —Reuters
- The Next Best Thing to Abstinence: "Study: Tap Water Poses Little Pregnancy Risk" —MSNBC.com
- How Long Before They Surrender to Themselves?: "French Countryside Hit by a Massive Invasion of Frogs" —Independent (London)
Best of Late Night Humor
David Letterman... "Top Signs You Have A Bad Travel Agent": Gets you cheap airfare then asks, "You know how to fly a 737, right?"; The itinerary shows you crossing the Pacific Ocean on Amtrak; Reserves you a great package for seven days and two nights; Books you on something called "Dulta Airlines"; Looks at you funny after hearing there's a "South" America; "Rental car" turns out to be a donkey with cupholders; No matter what your destination, you have a layover in Afghanistan. . . . How hot is it in New York? It's so hot mob informants look forward to getting dumped in the river. It's so hot the Statue of Liberty is holding a slurpee.
Jay Leno... Russia announced that due to a lack of animal feed they're feeding their cows confiscated marijuana. They have over 20 tons of it and they are feeding it to the cows. Do you think that's a good idea? It's only been a week and already some cows have moved up to crack. In fact, three of them knocked off a 7-Eleven in Leningrad. ... [President Clinton] is 59 years old. Hillary gave him a surprise birthday party. Well, actually, Bill was having a party—then Hillary walked in and said, "Surprise!" ... Eight cities in Texas are competing with each other to be the location for the George Bush Library. It's BYOB—bring your own books. ... President Bush woke up this morning, saw his shadow and now—six more weeks of vacation!
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