The Week Ahead
Candidates Chase Delegates
It might seem rather quiet out there, politically, but a lot is happening at the grassroots level. The great delegate chase is underway and continues over the next several weeks through the county conventions, culminating in the Republican and Democratic state conventions, both scheduled for Saturday, May 13.
Candidates in intra-party contested races are meeting delegates one-on-one and in cottage meetings and breakfasts and lunches. They’re making phone calls and sending out mail pieces and e-mail messages. They’re raising money and preparing for county conventions. If you’re not in a political jurisdiction with a contested party race, it might not appear that much is happening. But there’s plenty going on if you know where to look, and plenty of opportunities to volunteer if you’re so inclined.
Technology Watch
Internet TV is Here
You can get a glimpse of the future of television by going to AOL’s on-demand IPTV page and watch any one of dozens of old television shows. The New York Times published an article about AOL’s foray into on-line television. To watch the programs full-screen, you really need a big-broadband Internet connection (as provided by iProvo or UTOPIA). DSL and cable modem connections don’t do the job.
Internet Word Processing is Here
Google is helping to speed along the day when we won’t have to purchase and load software onto our computers. If we have an ultra-broadband Internet connection we will simply subscribe to whatever software applications, programs and services we desire, pay a monthly fee, and access them over the Internet. They will always be up-to-date.
Right now, a lot of people use Internet e-mail programs this way, accessing their in-boxes wherever they happen to be, using any computer that can connect to the Internet.
Word processing is next. Google announced recently that it purchased a company offering a Web-based word processing program that lets users create, edit and share documents online. It offers spell checking and other usual features of word processing programs. With an ultra-high speed Internet connection, using an on-line word processing program and storing documents on-line will be as fast as using programs on a computer hard drive.
Security and privacy are always concerns. But having your critical documents and applications stored on massive servers that are fully redundant and housed in fire-proof, theft-proof, hacker-proof, facilities is just as secure, if not more so, than having your documents on your hard drive in your den at home or business office.
The Lobbying Business
There is lots of discussion about lobbying these days, and the National Journal has produced an excellent cover story on the topic. While it focuses on Washington, D.C., there are some similarities in Utah.
SUWA: Proposal is a 'Developer's Dream'
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance says the Washington County lands legislation unveiled last week by Sen. Bob Bennett and Rep. Jim Matheson "is a developer's dream that will harm wilderness and wildlife and fuel faster growth and sprawl in the St. George area." SUWA is calling for public hearings to debate the proposal. For more info, click here.
Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, South Salt Lake Mayor Robert Gray, and First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman will host a town hall meeting on underage drinking, Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at the University of Utah Fine Arts Building Auditorium (370 South 1530 East). For more info, click here (PDF file).
Washington Watch
Hatch Feeling Heat on Immigration?
In spite of deep divisions within the national GOP over the immigration issue, pro-immigration candidates like Utah Rep. Chris Cannon continue to win re-election (Baltimore Sun); article alleges immigration issue is so contentious that some Republicans who previously backed immigrants' rights, like Sen. Orrin Hatch, refuse to discuss it (New York Times).
Matheson: Upgraded Air Service for Vernal, Moab
Rep. Jim Matheson says both Vernal and Moab will see upgraded air service with the selection of Mesa Air as the carrier for both markets (see press release).
Richeson Appointed to Agriculture Post
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announces the appointment of Bruce Richeson to serve as Farm Service Agency state executive director for Utah (see press release).
Blog Watch
Wilf Sommerkorn says the "time for planning in Washington County is now!"... The Third Avenue looks at Kanab's "natural family" resolution controversy... Gazelem wonders "if any of you other caucus attendees found yourself amongst some non-conservative 'Republicans' at your caucus meeting"... Hot Blava defends special interest groups... One Utah says: "We are seeing the beginning of a bi-partisan reclamation of Utah’s Capitol Hill"... Phil Hallman is running for Congress against Rep. Chris Cannon... At The Utah Amicus, Rep. Sheryl Allen is soliciting recommendations for the Public Utilities and Information Technology Standing Committee... Three Rounds Brisk reports on Sen. Orrin Hatch's recent town hall meeting in Provo... SLCSpin wishes "Utah's voters could have [Montana Gov. Brian] Schweitzer's image in their heads as they hit the polls this year"... Green Jello's unimpressed with an activist group's attempt to cancel a keynote address by Larry H. Miller at an upcoming U of U campus event... Eric Hamilton's Reality Check says: "America is facing an energy crisis, and Utah is leading the way towards positive change." |
