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Lots of politics in all the papers today. See links to the right.
Fun While it Lasted . . .
Rep. Steve Urquhart has nothing to be embarrassed about in withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race. He ran as good a race as could be expected under the circumstances and he provided a nice wake-up call for Sen. Orrin Hatch. Urquhart tapped in to a lot of grassroots discontent with Hatch but, unfortunately for Urquhart, Hatch had plenty of time to respond and to re-connect with opinion leaders and political activists. Hatch worked hard at doing so.
The test for Urquhart, all along, was winning some high-profile public endorsements and raising enough money to mount a credible campaign. He was wise to swallow his pride and get out of the race at this juncture when it became obvious he wasn’t making enough progress. I don’t believe Urquhart has damaged his political career or closed off any opportunities in the future.
Analyze School Performance
The Utah Foundation has partnered with the U of U's Center for Public Policy & Administration to develop a system that reports Criterion Referenced Test (CRT) results for every Utah school and every test. The system allows a user to drill down to any school in the state and view results for any of the tested subjects. The test results are compared to statewide averages to show how well each school performs. Also analyzed are student characteristics like gender, ethnicity, and special education status. The CRT reporting system is worth checking out.
Blog Watch
Follow the blow-by-blow action at the Legislature’s special session at The Senate Site, which includes links to vote tallies so you can see who voted for and against the Legacy Parkway agreement. … Randy Harward at New West describes his post-election day hangover and doesn't even try to rationalize why he didn't make the effort to vote ... Phil Windley reports that when he "went to vote at 7:30 [Tuesday] night only 75 people from my precinct had voted out of about 700 registered voters. 10% turn-out—ouch!" ... Wilf Sommerkorn urged legislators to approve the Legacy settlement agreement ... the Weber County Forum has a series of posts exulting in Tuesday's Ogden City election results ... Jim Knowlton, aka the Beehive Donkey, offers his take on the Provo School District newly-adopted Gay-Straight Alliance club policy ... Ken at Obligatory Anecdotes says that if the GOP doesn't change its ways "the saying may change to 'spending like drunken Republicans.'"
Washington Watch
Sen. Orrin Hatch teams with Deputy Secretary of Energy Clay Sell to try to convince Xcel Energy, the majority owner of Private Fuel Storage that the plan to build a nuclear fuel storage site at Skull Valley should be scrapped in favor of better alternatives that would have the support of the federal government (See press release).
Group Using Technology Tools
Utah’s school choice movement has launched a new media campaign with radio ads and a new website, www.believeinparents.org. Direct mail pieces will also hit targeted audiences over the next several weeks. At the Web site, the group is using some pretty cool e-card technology where you can upload a family photo onto an electronic card and send it to a state legislator with a message supporting school choice. No doubt such cards will get attention. What legislator wouldn’t look over an electronic card from a constituent containing a family photo?
Royce Van Tassel said the focus of the campaign “is to help Utahns appreciated the critical impact parents have on a child’s education. Although all research shows that parental involvement is the most important factor in the success of a child’s education, too often they are relegated to making cookies or supervising holiday parties. When we begin to believe in the power of parents, we will give them the opportunity to select curriculum, teachers, schools, etc, by empowering them with a tuition tax credit or a voucher.”
National Politics
Barone Reads the Tea Leaves
Michael Barone, co-author of the Almanac of American Politics, interprets Tuesday's election results in this fascinating, encyclopedic, four-page article for the US News & World Report. Barone also has a blog with further analysis.
National Journal’s Chuck Todd provides another good analysis of Tuesday’s election from a national perspective. It wasn’t a great day for Republicans.
Gingrich Makes Utah Appearance
The Sutherland Institute continues to attract top-tier conservative speakers. After sponsoring an event featuring columnist George Will a few weeks ago, the Institute has announced that it’s 10th Anniversary Celebration on Dec. 1 will feature Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the US House of Representatives. There will be a ‘Giving Hope’ reception at Shriners Hospital, 5 pm, and ‘Winning the Future’ Dinner & Keynote Address at Downtown Marriott, 6:30 pm. For more information call (801) 355-1272 or visit www.sutherlandinstitute.org.
Wise Words
"Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones."
—Phillips Brooks |
