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Today's political briefing: Key developments
and analysis for Utah policymakers
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News Highlights
Gov. Huntsman's legal counsel in Washington and the Utah congressional delegation blast comments made by the head of Private Fuel Storage that a newly created federal wilderness area won't stop PFS from building a railroad to haul nuclear waste to the proposed Gosute N-waste site (Deseret Morning News).
Utah is rated 11th most livable state (Tribune).
Political editor and columnist Bob Bernick writes about candidate filing bombshells as prominent Democrats leave the Legislature and former lawmakers try to get back in (Morning News).
Tough choices and tuition hikes likely ahead for higher education (Tribune).
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Paid
For by Jana Truman For Davis County Commission
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Quote of the Day
"If the train is like the running group, you should expect a sleek and stylish system that is adorned with matching seats and carpet."
-- Chris Johnson, comparing UTA’s FrontRunner computer rail system to a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender running group with the same name (Morning News).
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Friday Buzz
Written by LaVarr Webb & Associates |
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Making the Decision to Run
Do You Have Enough Fire in the Belly?
People like a little passion in their politicians. Not to the point of being overbearing and obnoxious, but enough to demonstrate a little fire in the belly. You can’t lead, motivate and inspire without passion. Even when a political decision or issue is a very close call and both sides have merit, you have to take a side and then be passionate about it. Passion can cover up a lot of defects. Sen. Orrin Hatch says and does things that make people shake their heads and roll their eyes, but he does it all with such passion that he gets away with it.
Without passion, your supporters have nothing to rally around, nothing to inspire them. You have to be a true believer. Some people, like me, aren’t cut out for elective office because they see both sides too clearly and could often support either side. That’s a good trait for a journalist, but not for a political candidate. You have to decide what your position is, believe it, state it with fervor and passion, and not look back or second-guess yourself.
Many years ago, I wrote in a column about popular former Gov. Scott Matheson that he was “sometimes wrong, but never in doubt.” People want leadership, someone with the courage of their convictions. You can’t always be conflicted or torn. Don’t say, "I tend to be leaning this way, but on the other hand . . ." Making a decision and then sticking with that decision with conviction and passion is sometimes just as important as which decision is made.
Washington Watch
The Cannon Report
Though he still has to face a Republican primary challenge from John Jacob, a wealthy real estate and water developer from Lehi, Rep. Chris Cannon "was spared a potentially dicey three-way race when state Sen. Curt Bramble decided earlier this week to pass up a House bid that he had been openly considering" (CQPolitics); Cannon issues statement regarding AT&T’s plans to buy Bell South Corp. for $67 billion (press release); Cannon endorses H.R. 4472, the Children’s Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act (press release); issues statement on the regulation of dietary supplements (press release); joins with a bipartisan group of House members to amend H.R. 2829, the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act (press release).
Hatch: Illegals Not Necessarily Criminals
Sen. Orrin Hatch says he's reluctant to label all of the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants as criminals (Scripps Howard); Hatch applauds Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for announcing that the Senate will debate Hatch’s “Flag Protection Amendment” at the end of June (see press release).
Bennett Hails Highway Grant
Sen. Bob Bennett announces that the Federal Highway Administration will grant $690,000 to the UDOT for scenic byway development (see press release); representatives from Bennett’s office will be at the Price City Office building on Thursday, March 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help individuals with federal agency questions or problems (press release).
Blog Watch
Yes, Utah Bloggers Have Opinions
Draper is Home defends the City Council's DI decision (see also here)... The Utah Amicus announces that Steve Olsen, a Democrat from Plain City, is filing to run against Rep. Rob Bishop... Reach Upward discusses Mormon doctrine and the theory of evolution (see also here)... This Divided State says Rep. Jim Matheson is a "Republican stooge"... Plaid's Place has a post on Utah tax reform... The Good in Ogden praises Mayor Mathew Godfrey (for a different perspective, as always, see here)... Dee's 'Dotes has a post on the Goshute N-waste site controversy... Paul Rolly reports: "Watch for former Republican Congressman Merrill Cook to announce soon (perhaps today on his K-TALK radio program), that he will challenge Incumbent 3rd Congressional District Rep. Chris Cannon in the Republican Convention this year" (see also here)... An anonymous (and tongue-in-cheek?) mother of all critics at Rep. Steve Urquhart's blog accuses Urquhart of, among many other things, "biggety clericalism," cruelty to animals, "trying to create a kind of psychic pain at the very root of the modern mind," hidden agendas, "operating under a set of beliefs based on the root metaphor of the transmission of forces," dropping names, trying to "anesthetize the human spirit," and "trying to use mass organization as a system of integration and control"; Anonymous also fits in references to chimpanzees, bananas, "warped clunks," "squalid pinheads," "malicious ratbags," "vitriolic reavers," and "recalcitrant jackanapes"... Dow Blog points to Mormon fertility rates as evidence that conservatives will inherit the earth.
Podcast Watch
This week’s InsideUtah.com podcast www.insideutah.com by Jennifer Napier-Pearce features Rep. David Litvack (:40) on what the hate-crimes bill means to him; public relations expert David Politis (7:40) on re-branding Envirocare; Salt Lake Tribune editorial cartoonist Pat Bagley (14:24) on the limits of pen and ink; and Salt Lake Art Center curator Jim Edwards (19:28) on the life and art of Robert Motherwell.
National Politics
Texas Lessons; Impact of Bloggers
National Journal’s John Mercurio writes a column about lessons learned from Texas, where Tom DeLay just won his primary. Also discusses the strength (or lack thereof) of the liberal blogosphere.
Casual Friday
Have a good weekend.
Best of Late Night Humor
Jay Leno: Did you hear about this? Vice President Dick Cheney has donated $2.7 million to the hospital at George Washington University. This is very smart; he wants to make sure the next guy he shoots is taken care of first-class. … Republicans in Congress want to stop the sale of six of our ports to that Dubai company, even though President Bush still supports the deal. Republican congressman say this issue involves something even more important than loyalty to the president: saving their own asses on election day this November. … Hillary Clinton said today that she didn’t know her husband, Bill Clinton, was giving the Arabs advice on the port deal while she was railing against it. Can you believe that? Hillary was clueless about a major political event. You know what that means… she could really be the next president of the United States. … President Bush was in New Orleans today. He stunned the crowd when he asked, "What happened?” … According to a new book called "Vital Statistics,” there are now more than one million lawyers in the United States...see, Dick Cheney was just thinning the herd when he shot that lawyer. |
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Friday
March 10, 2006
Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- Mar 7-17: 2006 election candidate filing period.
- Mar 10: Midday Metro on KCPW 88.3 FM at 10 a.m. features conversations with former U.S. Senator and one-time presidential candidate George McGovern; plus Girls Scouts of Utah CEO Elaine Gause on Partners in Safety; and Hiram Chodosh, the new dean of the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah.
- Mar 10: Policy Round Table, 11:50 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Alta Club, 100 E South Temple, Salt Lake City. Topic: Assessment & Public Ed "How does Utah's achievement in Math and Reading measure up to the nation? Are we satisfied with our progress?" Speakers include Hal Sanderson, Utah Office of Education, and Andrea Rorrer, Professor of Education, University of Utah. Please RSVP by emailing Dan Burton or call 801-358-3613.
- Mar 10: Cassandra Network Monthly Meeting, 12 to 1:30 p.m., room 125 West Capitol Building. Brown bag lunch for all women interested in public policy. Guest Speaker will be Diana Pounder and her topic is "The Power of Learning When and How to Say No."
- Mar 10: Salt Lake City Shundahai Network will host “Thirteen Days,” 7 p.m., Free Speech Zone, 2144 South Highland Drive, Suite 130, Salt Lake City. After the discovery of Soviet weapons in Cuba, events and tension escalate between two military superpowers and within the White House as they struggle to prevent nuclear war. For more information see Shundahai Network website or 801-533-0128.
- Mar 11: Davis County Democrats monthly breakfast, 8:30 a.m., Granny Annie's Restaurant, 286 N 400 W Kaysville. Guests Charles Henderson, democratic chairman of the Black Caucus, and Billie Larson, chairwoman of the democratic Womens Caucus. Please bring an item of food (non perishable) for the Davis County Food Bank.
- Mar 11: Pete Ashdown entry in St. Patrick's Day Parade, 9:30 a.m., The Gateway, Salt Lake City. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Mar 11: Pete Ashdown Ashdown Campaign Caravan Customization Party, 12 p.m., Campaign Headquarters, 780 East South Temple, Salt Lake City. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Mar 11: Utah Rally for Peace meeting, 2:15 to 5 p.m., Salt Lake City Main Library, meeting room C. "911 Eyewitness" by Richard A. Siegel will be presented. For more information contact Director James Valarian at utahrallyforpeace@hotmail.com.
- Mar 12: Pete Ashdown Meet and Greet at the home of Brenda Scheer, 5 p.m., 776 N East Capitol Blvd, Salt Lake City. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Mar 13: Pete Ashdown, Democratic candidate for US Senate, to speak to the Hurricane Rotary Club, 12 p.m., JB's Restaurant, 635 W. State, Hurricane. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Mar 14: Pete Ashdown, Democratic candidate for US Senate, to speak to the Cedar City Rotary Club, 12:15 p.m., Sullivan's Steak House, 301 S. Main Street, Cedar City. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Mar 14: Town Hall Meeting with Rep. Karen Morgan, 7 p.m., Whitmore Library, 2197 East Ft. Union Blvd. (7200 South), Cottonwood Heights City.
- Mar 15: United Way of Salt Lake 1st Annual Report to the Community Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown, 75 S West Temple. Learn about United Way of Salt Lake’s public policy success during the 2006 Legislative Session and receive a comprehensive overview on current initiatives and their impact on the community. For more information, please contact Jennifer Andrs at 801-736-7787 or jennifer@uw.org.
- Mar 17: Utah Democratic Progressive Caucus 3rd Annual Bowling Tournament Fundraiser, 6 to 9 p.m., Sue Rich Lanes, 1376 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City. Cost: $30.00 per player in advance - $35 at the door. Not Bowling? $15.00 per adult and $5.00 per child. For more information call UDPC at 435-336-2123.
- Mar 17: Salt Lake City Shundahai Network to host “The Day After,” 7 p.m., Free Speech Zone, 2144 South Highland Drive, Suite 130, Salt Lake City. The ensuing destruction after the nuclear holocaust is utterly horrific, but a few manage to survive to struggle vainly with the slow, inevitable collapse of society. For more information see Shundahai Network website or 801-533-0128.
- Mar 18: Lincoln Day Breakfast, Emery County 9:00 a.m.
- Mar 18: Green Party sponsored Honk 'n' Wave, 9 to 10 a.m. Meet on the northwest corner of the intersection, 700 East and 2100 South, Salt Lake City.
- Mar 20-21: Utah Farm Bureau Campaign Management Seminar, designed for candidates running for public office, their spouses, their campaign managers, individuals interested in running for public officein the future, and prospective campaign managers. Contact Sterling Brown at 801-233-3020 for registration information.
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- See the entire calendar
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