Utah Blogging Community is Growing Fast
In less than two years, political blogging in Utah has taken off like wildfire. When we first started monitoring local blogs in Utah Policy Daily some 20 months or so ago, there were a very few political blogs. We even tried to start a group blog and couldn’t find enough interest to keep it going.
Today, several dozen bloggers write about Utah politics, so many that it’s difficult to monitor all of them, even using aggregation services and RSS. Golden Webb, who produces Blog Watch for every edition, spends several hours checking out blog posts. As more and more blogs appear, he will have to be more selective about what is included in Blog Watch.
It appears to me that the Utah blogosphere is following national trends. I think more liberal/Democratic blogs exist in Utah than conservative/Republican blogs. Conservatives tend to rule talk radio, but liberals dominate the blogosphere (with a few exceptions). Why is that? I don’t know, but I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts.
Is it because it’s mostly young people who blog, and young liberals are more inclined to be vocal about their ideology than young conservatives? Are the conservatives too busy making a living and raising families? It’s an interesting phenomenon.
An clear difference in content is also apparent. Center-left and lefty Utah bloggers write more about the major races and national politics, generally highly critical of Republican, of course. (Orrin Hatch is always a favorite target.) Conservative Utah bloggers tend to write more about local politics and their target is often the GOP establishment, rather than the Democrats.
The Right is basically a circular firing squad, obsessively dwelling on whatever soap opera is currently unfolding within the Utah GOP, while the Left has arrayed itself into a platoon and is marching forward into battle, as evidenced by the recent well-organized blogswarm supporting Pete Ashdown. Part of the explanation, I believe, is simply the difference in being the party in power and the party on the outside, trying to win power.
There are a few Angry-Left, Daily Kos-style liberal blogs in Utah, and they probably do their cause more harm than good. They preach to the choir, but they don’t win any converts.
All-in-all, Utah is developing a rich and diverse blogosphere, and over time the impact of blogging on politics and public policy will grow. It will be fun to see where it all leads.
Podcast Watch
This week’s InsideUtah.com podcast by Jennifer Napier-Pearce features Salt Lake County Councilman Joe Hatch (:37) on not funding a soccer stadium; an undocumented immigrant (7:32) on life in limbo; Utah Foundation’s Stephen Kroes (13:20) on Utah’s education paradox; and life coach Mary Cosgrove (20:39) on finding your purpose in life.
Blog Watch
The Senate Site blog notes that recent posts by Sens. Michael Waddoups and Gene Davis on the health care industry have drawn "an intense reaction" of "over 100 comments ... Interestingly, almost all of them have been 1. impressively substantive, and 2. safely anonymous" (see also here)... The Third Avenue says of SL County Mayor Peter Corroon: "A Democrat that stands tall and calls it like it is to save his constituent's money? That's a winner" (see also here and here)... Senate candidate Pete Ashdown says: "One of the motivations I had for getting politically involved was watching many in the Republican party, who purported to be against regressive regulation and excessive taxation, reverse course when it came to the Internet" (see also here, here, here and here)... The Utah Amicus spotlights House District 25 candidate Chris Ferguson... Media Relations warns: "Bloggers, use care. Angry or exaggerated comments can be unfair and very injurious. Sleep on it before you decide to lash out"... Woods Cross Citizen offers some counsel to SL City Mayor Rocky Anderson: "If you don't like, or don't have time for, cleaning bird poop, don't have a bird!"
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
Washington Watch
Senate Passes Hatch Bill
U.S. Senate passes Sen. Orrin Hatch's Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, which received prominent support from Utahn Ed Smart (see press release); Hatch urges Utahns to participate in the nationwide Citizens' Health Care Working Group discussion "on how best to improve our health care system" (press release).
Matheson Votes With GOP
Rep. Jim Matheson bucks Democratic Party leadership, votes with the House Republicans to pass lobbying reform bill; article connects Matheson's defection with his upcoming fight for re-election in conservative Utah (The Hill -- see also here); Matheson says new legislation to fund control of tamarisk and Russian olive "is an important step towards halting the spread of these invasive plants throughout Utah" (see press release); Matheson opposes the Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act, which he says "masquerades as relief to consumers from rising fuel prices" (press release).
Utahns Receive Interior Dept. Award
Utahns Michael D. Stuver, Fredrick S. Liljegren, Larry Rupp, Roger Kjelgren, and Kelly Kopp receive "Cooperative Conservation" awards from the Dept. of the Interior for their Utah water conservation research (see press release).
Local Government Watch
Boomtown Ogden
The Ogden City website notes that Inc. Magazine has ranked Ogden the 18th most desirable midsize city for business relocation in the country: "An outdoors paradise, Ogden is now working to attract the companies that make equipment for all the fun and games. So far, a ski-pole maker and an outdoor apparel company have moved in and bicycle manufacturer Scott USA recently decided to build a production and distribution center there."
Five Legislators Win DWR Awards
At the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources recent Annual Awards Dinner, director Jim Karpowitz presented Legislative Recognition Awards to Sen. Tom Hatch, and state Reps. Ben Ferry, Brad Johnson, Curtis Oda and Mike Noel for their support of wildlife, conservation, and the DWR.
SUWA Protests BLM Lease Sale
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance formally protests a scheduled BLM oil and gas lease sale that "will open to oil and gas development 18 parcels of land near Capitol Reef National Park and 5 parcels of land in a historic district near Nine Mile Canyon" (see press release).
Casual Friday
Outdoors Report
-- Explore Mesa Verde National Park in this Tribune article.
-- Morning News reports Lake Powell is primed to be the hottest fishing spot in the country this summer.
-- Check out this lesser-known Hike of the Week in the Morning News.
-- A Park City man creates world-class bike races; read about it in the Tribune
-- Visit the Tribune’s Recreation Roundup for information about upcoming community sporting events.
-- The latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report on the DWR website
Weekend Events
New Films Friday
-- Bandidas: Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek star as a bank-robbing duo, set in turn-of-the-century Mexico
-- Mission: Impossible 3: San Fransisco Chronicle review.
-- Alpha Dog: Sundance drama based on the life of Jesse James Hollywood
-- Best Movie Bet For Families: Akeelah and the Bee. Read the Tribune review.
Concerts
-- Journey to the Highlands of Scotland with the Utah Symphony Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- Ed Lyman and Gypsy Jazz, IAMA Concert, Friday, 7:30 p.m., South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, 6876 S. Highland Drive, $5 at the door (children under 12 free)
-- Gospel and American Music, Choral Arts Society of Utah, Spring Concert Friday, Rose Wagner Center
-- Rocky Mountain Strings, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Assembly Hall, Temple Square, free
-- International Children's Choir, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Assembly Hall, Temple Square, free
-- Salt Lake Children's Choir performs Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 12 C St., Salt Lake City.
-- Meeting of the Tribes, Kismet Dance Saturday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Masonic Temple Auditorium, 650 E. South Temple, $6
-- Viva Voce! Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Thompson Chamber Hall, U., $7-$36
-- The Madeleine Choir Festival continues until June 11, events Sundays at 8 p.m.
Theater
-- "Five Guys Named Moe" through May 20, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- "The Foreigner" through June 3, Alpine Playhouse
-- "Always . . . Patsy Cline" Desert Star Dinner Theatre
-- "Desperate Homemakers: The Big Fat Sequel to My Big Fat Utah Wedding” Desert Star Cabaret Theatre,
-- "The Rat Pack Remembered" Desert Star Dinner Theater
-- "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" through May 6, U. Youth Theatre, Babcock Theatre, U. campus
-- "The Miracle Worker" through June 3, Hale Centre Theatre
-- "The Secret Garden" through May 6, Provo Theatre Company
Et cetera
-- Cinco de Mayo celebrations this weekend
-- Wild Oats Market hosts Thrill of the Grill to support Habitat for Humanity, May 5
-- Celebrate National Astronomy Day May 6, with Clark Planetarium
-- Former Wasatch Community Gardens Director, Don Anderson offers gardening advice
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