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Today's political briefing: Key developments
and analysis for Utah policymakers
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Note to Candidates:
Send Links to Press Releases
Utah Policy Daily is receiving numerous press releases from candidates on various topics, and we want to help candidates get their messages out. However, it is impossible to publish all the press releases in UPD, or even excerpts from all of them.
The obvious solution is for UPD to make use of the interactive power of the Internet and provide links to press releases posted on candidates’ own Web sites. Therefore, we encourage candidates to create their own Web sites (or blogs), post their press releases there, and then send us the press release and include a link to the Web page where the press release is posted.
That way we can do a periodic roundup of candidate news and press releases, provide a sentence of information, and link to the full press release (sort of like how we do Blog Watch, only perhaps not in that format).
If you’re a candidate and you don’t have the resources to create a full-blown Web site, you can easily create a blog at a site like Blogger.com in just a few minutes and post your press releases there.
Wednesday is Transportation Watch
Check out Transportation Watch each Wednesday in UPD. The section includes a feature story, plus links to transportation news stories and other information. We welcome your ideas and comments at daily@utahpolicy.com.
Reach Utah’s Policymakers
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News Highlights
Gov. Huntsman has until midnight tonight to sign, veto or allow a bill to become law without his signature; about 30 bills remain yet unsigned (Deseret Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune).
Huntsman signs "Lori's Law" legislation (Tribune and Daily Herald).
Tribune editorial condemns single-party governance, lauds LDS Church statement on political parties and caucus attendance, and says, “you can be a Mormon Democrat and hold up your head in Republican Utah. Another Tribune editorial calls Kanab mayor a “big bully.” |
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Paid
For by Jana Truman For Davis County Commission
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Quote of the Day
“Would Abraham Lincoln have delivered such a stirring address at Gettysburg if his closing line had been about preserving government of the ignorant, by the ignorant and for the ignorant?”
-- Morning News editorial decrying voter apathy and encouraging participation at party caucuses tonight. |
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Tuesday Buzz
Written by LaVarr Webb & Associates
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Publisher’s Opinion
Angry Left Helps Republicans
Republicans could hardly be more vulnerable in the congressional elections this year. If ever the Democrats should be able to pick up congressional seats and even win control of Congress, this is the year.
And yet, Democrats can’t seem to really get traction. There are a number of reasons for this, but a big factor, in my opinion, is that the Angry Left has seized control of the heart and soul of the Democratic Party and mainstream Americans are not liking what they see.
Democrats face a big problem because it is Bush-hating, anti-war activists like MoveOn.org, George Soros, Howard Dean, Michael Moore, and liberal bloggers like Daily Kos that are providing most of the intellectual heft of the Democratic Party. These guys can fire up the liberal base, raise scads of money, generate armies of grassroots workers, and create enthusiasm and a sense of mission.
The only thing they can’t do is win elections. These are today’s Democratic stalwarts, the leading lights of the Democratic Party. And they are far to the left of most Americans. Even as President Bush’s approval rating sinks into the sunset and congressional Republicans continue to disappoint, polls show the majority of Americans are conservative, not liberal. They don’t want a bunch of leftys, and probably not even Ted Kennedy or Nancy Pelosi, running Congress. As long as the Democratic Party is epitomized by Michael Moore and MoveOn.org, the Republicans will have a fighting chance. A recent column in the Wall Street Journal noted that the Angry Left has “a disastrous 0-17 record stretching back to 2004.” They haven’t won a single race.
And they attempt to cannibalize their own party members. They went after moderate Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar (and lost big) in a recent primary election, despite a nationwide liberal campaign that raised oodles of money and produced an outpouring of liberal support for Cuellar’s opponent. Now they are targeting centrist Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who has the audacity to support the war in Iraq. They will fail there, too.
Let’s keep those wild-eyed liberal bloggers writing, the George Soros money flowing, and the Michael Moore “documentaries” coming. The Angry Left is the best friend the beleaguered Republicans have these days.
Blog Watch
The Senate Site blog calls Sen. Carlene Walker's Credit Freeze Bill, which Gov. Huntsman signed yesterday, "one of the crown jewels of the 2006 Legislative Session"... The Third Avenue has a post on Arthur Frommer's proposed Kanab boycott... Davis County Watch endorses Ronald W. Mortenson's candidacy for the Utah House... Slam Smith "would like to see full value vouchers issued to the parents of every student in Utah"... The World, According to Me discusses how to pump up Senate candidate Pete Ashdown's name recognition... The House Majority blog has a post about HB309... New West discusses Utah teacher benefits, or the lack thereof... Phil Windley has a post on Utah math standards... Paul Rolly reports: "Rep. Dave Hogue has just filed to run against Sen. Howard Stephenson in a race that will showcase two competing philosophies in Utah's Republican Party."
Washington Watch
Hatch Praises Oil Refiners
Sen. Orrin Hatch lauds petrochemical refiners for their efforts in piecing back together the U.S. energy infrastructure after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (Dow Jones).
SUWA Redrock Report
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance has posted its latest Redrock Report. This edition features items on the Wilderness Week Warriors' lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., Pres. Bush's proposed public lands sale, the resignation of Interior Sec. Gale Norton, HB141, and Utah BLM oil and gas lease sale activities. To read it, click here.
Reader Response
Engaging in Politics
Thoughtful comment by Hugh Matheson, who wrote:
“Coverage of the recent candidate filing deadline, combined with today’s poll showing most Utahns don’t know who their legislators are, remind me of the quote from Sen. Eugene McCarthy:
“'Being in politics is kind of like being a football coach—you have to be smart enough to understand the game and dumb enough to think it’s important.’
“Of course governing is important. We owe a debt of gratitude for those who will put up with politics enough to be involved in governing, and a healthy dose of skepticism toward those who are in governing so they can be involved in politics.”
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Tuesday
March 21, 2006
Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- 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.
- Mar 21: Last Day for Governor to Sign or Veto Bills.
- Mar 21: Statewide political party precinct caucus meetings.
- Mar 21: Hinckley Forum "Can Democrats Retake the West?" 9:10 a.m. Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-MT). Presented by the Sam Rich Program in International Politics.
- Mar 21: Midday Metro at 88.3 FM at 10 a.m. is hosted today by Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. Topics include the latest selections for Salt Lake City Reads, information on SLC Gets Fit, and a report on Bridging the Religious Divide. Your calls welcome at 801-355-TALK; send emails to midday@kcpw.org.
- Mar 21: Lt. Gov. Herbert to attend Bill Signing, 1 p.m., Utah Valley State College.
- Mar 21: Salt Lake County Democrats Mass Meeting to elect delegates and precinct officers, 7 to 9 p.m. Location information can be found at www.slcountydems.com or by calling 801-220-0122.
- Mar 21: Republican Neighborhood Caucus Meetings, 7 p.m. Find caucus locations here.
- Mar 22: Republican Training for Newly elected Precinct Officials begins.
- Mar 22: Hinckley Forum "Hamas Victory: What it Means?" 10:45 a.m., Omar Kader, President PaL-Tech, Inc.
- Mar 22: Meet and greet with Pete Ashdown, candidate for U.S. Senate, 6 p.m., the home of Barb Guy, 1191 S 800 E, Salt Lake City.
- Mar 23: Hinckley Forum "Washington Update," 10:45 a.m., Congressman Jim Matheson (D-UT).
- Mar 23: Pete Ashdown, Democratic candidate for US Senate, to speak to the Logan Rotary Club, 12 p.m., Coppermill Restaurant, 55 North Main, Logan. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Mar 23: Pete Ashdown Meeting with USU College Democrats, 5 p.m., Old Main Building, Room 326, Logan. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Mar 23: Salt Lake County Libertarian Party Meeting, 7 p.m., Rocky Mountain Pizza Company, 3977 Wasatch Blvd., Holladay.
- Mar 23: Lt. Gov. Herbert to attend Pandemic Flu Summit Reception, 7:30 p.m., Governor's Mansion, 603 East South Temple, Salt Lake City.
- Mar 24: Hinckley Forum "Cambodian-U.S. Relations," 11 a.m., Ambassador Sereywath Ek, Cambodia's ambassador to the United States.
- Mar 24: Lt. Gov. Herbert to attend and moderate board at Pandemic Flu Summit, 1 p.m., Governor's Mansion, 603 East South Temple, Salt Lake City.
- Mar 24: Pete Ashdown to be Featured Speaker at the Cache County Democratic Party Annual Jefferson-Jackson Fundraising Dinner and Auction, 6 p.m., Birch Creek Golf Course, 550 E 100 N, Smithfield. RSVP to Lanta Rasmussen of the Cache County Democratic Party, ljmr@comcast.net.
- Mar 25: Green Party Peace and Justice Community Market, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 2416 East 1700 South.
- Mar 25: Utah Rally for Peace meeting, 2:15 to 5 pm, Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium. “911 In Plane Site,The Director’s Cut” by David von Kleist, will have a free encore performance. For more information contact Director James Valarian at utahrallyforpeace@hotmail.com.
- Mar 26: Green Party Peace and Justice Community Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 2416 East 1700 South.
- Mar 27: Lt. Gov. Herbert to speak at Utah State University Water Initiative Conference, 11:30 a.m., Utah State University, Eccles Conference Center, Logan.
- Mar 28: Hinckley Forum "Immigration Reform," 10:45 a.m., Mickey Ibarra, White House Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Clinton Administration.
- Mar 30-31: The Legacy Law Foundation in collaboration with the Sutherland Institute and the Lighted Candle Society are holding a two-day combined event entitled “Stand Up. Step Forward. Speak Out.” Register online at www.LegacyLeader.com.
- Mar 31: Hinckley Forum "Tax Cuts, Deficit & The Economy," 9:40 a.m., Randal K. Quarles, Under Secretary for Domestic Finance, U.S. Treasury.
- Mar 31: Lt. Gov. Herbert to attend Con-Source Sandra Day O'Connor Reception, 6 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, 23rd Floor Atrium, 299 South Main Street, Salt Lake City.
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- See the entire calendar
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