Does Matheson Want a Safe District?
Utah (and national) Democrats were outraged a few elections ago when Congressman Jim Matheson was reapportioned into a new, heavily Republican congressional district. Now, if Congress grants Utah a 4th congressional seat, the Republican Legislature will get a second shot at carving out a new district for Matheson (and for Utah’s other members of Congress).
Only this time, lawmakers will most likely create a Democratic district that Matheson should be able to win without breaking a sweat. So will Matheson and Democrats be happy as clams? Not necessarily. After coming close to losing his first race in his current district, Matheson has prospered. He likes his district.
What’s more, there is some sentiment among Democrats that having to run in a heavily Republican district is preparing Matheson for a bid at a statewide office sometime down the road. Taking away his rural regions and relegating him back to a safe Democratic district might actually hurt his statewide ambitions.
So it is with mixed emotions that some Democrats view the prospect of a 4th seat and a safe Matheson district.
Miller at School Choice Event
Former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller is coming to town, and it should be a good show. Miller, a conservative Democrat from Georgia, highlights a fundraising dinner Thursday, Oct. 5, for Parents for Choice in Education PAC. Always an entertaining speaker, Miller delivered a keynote address at the 2004 Republican National Convention and is the author of “A National Party No More: Conscience of the Conservative Democrat.”
The dinner is scheduled at the Sheraton City Center, 150 West 500 South. Contributions are $150 per person or $1,500 per table. Contact Lincoln Fillmore at 801.548.0144 for tickets or more information.
Blog Watch
The House Democratic Caucus blog asks: "Governor Huntsman is considering calling a Special Session to have the legislature deal with the boundaries for a 4th Congressional District. What are your thoughts on this?" (see also here, here, here, and here)... In response to this Utah Politics post on the power and effectiveness of blogs, Part of the Plan says: "I am sick and tired of candidates ringing my doorbell and calling me in the middle of a meal or good football game or movie on TV. I am a visual person, anyway, so if you want to educate me, give it to me in writing. A mail flyer is fine, but I am an internet person. I get my news online, and I read blogs. ... [M]aybe that's just me. But I think it is inevitable that electronic media, of which the internet is just a part, will eventually replace the old traditional methods, as more and more people mature and become more comfortable with emerging communications systems. The biggest impediment in the United States right now is the limited availability of broadband. People with dialup and lower-speed DSL just don’t read that many blogs. That’s changing slowly, of course, and for the better"... On the same subject, Rep. Craig Frank says: "Discounting the notion that newspapers are the source of all truth ... I am convinced inexpensive, readily available personal media resources are the next big advancement in setting the record straight. In less than a blink of an eye an individual can advance his/her message to the masses without being misquoted, partially quoted, or taken out of context. And all this is available to the common, ordinary man relatively quick and inexpensive through the wonderful world of electronic, personalized communication -- the Internet. Do you really believe the old-fashioned media doesn’t feel threatened by this? (They’re still using offset printing.)"... Capital Carnage says: "Rumor has it that former State Democratic party leader Meghan Holbrook is gearing up for a run for the mayor of Salt Lake City. I had the privilege of working with Mrs. Holbrook during the last Session, and I [can't] stress enough how impressed I was with her. I admit I don’t know much about her politically, but in all my interactions with her she was a class act"... At Out of Context, Thomas Burr notes: "Human Events, a conservative newspaper in Washington, profiled 26 of the top Senate races in the country in its current edition. There are actually 33 Senate races this cycle, but some of them were not profiled, the magazine says, because 'the incumbents do not face strong challengers and recent polls have not been conducted' in battles for 'Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Kent Conrad (D.-N.D), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.).' By my math, that leaves one senator missing: Utah's Orrin Hatch. Maybe the newspaper decided that one wasn't even interesting enough to officially declare its intention not to cover"... At Evangelicals for Mitt, Charles Mitchell says: "If Gov. [Mitt] Romney wins [the '08 presidential race] (or even comes close), Mormonism will come under more scrutiny than ever before. ... We get e-mails all the time from Mormons who claim their faith is misunderstood -- in fact, I think one is even putting together a documentary meant to clear things up for us. Such things will probably escalate -- as will efforts by others to get at what Mormonism really is. And you know what? If that does happen, I am supremely confident that the truth will come out. And the truth is that, well, the Gospel is the Gospel. The Book of Mormon is not. Why would we not think that if the two are contrasted, the truth will be seen as the truth? If it is really the truth (which it is) and if it is really better (which it is), why should we not believe that it will stand on its own and trump all comers?" (see also here, here, here, here, and here).
National Politics
The Popular Bush Brother
Excellent NationalJournal.com column by Chuck Todd on the other Bush brother, Jeb, the two-term, term-limited Florida governor. The column concludes: “Of all the Bushes that have run for office, the only one that seems like a natural is Jeb, and he'll probably be the only Bush to not ever seek the presidency.”
Many Races Turning Negative
New York Times story by Adam Nagourney notes the nasty nature of campaign ads being aired by both sides in races around the country. We likely won’t see negative ads in Utah.
Washington Watch
Bennett's 'Talk to Power' Interview
Yahoo!’s Talk to Power posts a question-by-question video breakdown of its interview with Sen. Bob Bennett, followed by a full transcript.
Cannon Meets Kazakhstan Leader
Rep. Chris Cannon tells Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, that "America and Kazakhstan have a lot in common" (GAZETA.KZ) (since it's Casual Friday, see also this related movie trailer).
Utahn Wins Sierra Club Award
The Sierra Club's highest honor, the John Muir Award, "was presented earlier in the year to the late Larry Melhaff of Salt Lake City, Utah. Melhaff served as the Club's Deputy Field Director prior to his death in June 2006. 'Larry spent his life speaking for the prairies, mountains and wildlife with passion and good cheer. More importantly, he inspired others to join that work. There are rivers and lands that are protected for generations to come because Larry was there for them,' said Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope. 'John Muir would be honored to have Larry Mehlhaff follow in his footsteps because Larry has helped so many ordinary citizens protect the wild places they love'" (see press release).
Border Security Forum
The National Immigration Advisory Committee will hold a live forum on its website today from 11 a.m. to 12 noon on the topic of border security. NIAC Co-chairs Matt Throckmorton and Tiani Coleman will moderate. The NIAC encourages people interested in immigration policy from around the nation to join the discussion. Go here, create an account for active participation, click on "Border Security," then click on "Border Security before the 2006 Midterms?"
Casual Friday
View Migrating Birds of Prey
You can view and learn more about eagles, hawks and other migrating birds of prey on Saturday, during Utah's annual Raptor Watch Day hosted by the Division of Wildlife Resources.
Viewing on Sept. 30 will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Orem Overlook along Squaw Peak Road, east of Orem. Squaw Peak Road can be reached from the Provo Canyon Road.
"Fall colors will flirt with the eye, the temperature at our high elevation watch site should be crisp and, with any luck, clear skies will offer up-close glimpses of harriers, vultures, eagles, hawks and falcons as they continue their annual fall migration to the south," says Bob Walters, DWR Watchable Wildlife coordinator. Experts will be available to help people identify passing birds of prey and to answer any questions they might have about raptor migration.
Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Outdoors Report
-- Advisories on the duck hunt in the Morning News
-- Tribune takes readers canoeing on the Bear River
-- Early snowfall has the Morning News contemplating skiing and snowboarding at Utah’s resorts
-- Enjoy beautiful vistas in the Tribune’s Short Hike of the Week
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook for recreation activities this week
-- Use the Morning News’ interactive map of Utah to plan your outdoor pursuits across the state
For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
New Films
-- The Guardian: Rotten Tomatoes
-- Open Season: Rotten Tomatoes
-- School for Scoundrels: Tribune review
Concerts
-- Utah Premiere Brass, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Provo Tabernacle, 91 S. University, Provo
-- Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir Concert, Friday and Sunday, 8 p.m., Cathedral of the Madeleine
-- Autumn Classics Music Festival
-- Eccles Organ Festival, Sundays at 8 p.m. through October 22, Cathedral of the Madeleine
Theater
-- “Aladdin Jr.” through September 30, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “Disney's Beauty and the Beast” through September 30, Hale Centre Theatre
-- “The Light Express” through September 30, Royal Palace Theatre
-- “Oklahoma!” through September 30, Heritage Theatre
-- “The Taming of the Shrew” through September 30, Wasatch Theatre Company
-- “West Side Story” through September 30, Heritage Center
-- “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman” through October 2, SCERA Center for the Arts
-- “All My Sons” through October 7, Utah State Theatre
-- “The Music Man” through October 7, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “Rabbit Hole” through October 8, Salt Lake Acting Company
-- “Fat Pig” through October 14, Pygmalion Productions
-- “Footloose” through October 16, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- “Cats” through October 21, Tuacahn Amphitheatre
-- “Seussical the Musical” through October 21, Draper Historic Theatre
-- “Peg o’ My Heart” through October 27, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Dracula vs. Jekyll & Hyde” through October 28, Off Broadway Theatre
-- “Johnny Guitar” through October 28, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “The Merchant of Venice” October 28, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Little Shop of Horrors” through November 4, Desert Star Theatre
-- “Mission: Incredibles,” Desert Star Theatre
-- “The Scarlet Pimpernel” through November 11, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
Museum Exhibits
-- Material Culture: The Art of Fine Textile Exhibition through September 30, Looking Back: 75 Years at the Salt Lake Art Center Exhibition through October 14, Salt Lake Art Center
-- Rooted In Tradition: Art Quilts from the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum through October 15, Utah Museum of Fine Art
-- Ancient Threads, Newly Woven Exhibition through October 17, Utah Cultural Celebration Center
-- Sweetwater Rescue: the Willie and Martin Handcart Story Exhibition through October 31, Museum of Utah Art and History
-- Sideshow through January 28, Utah Museum of Fine Art
Et Cetera
-- Salt Lake City on Board Fundraiser, Friday, 5 p.m., The Gateway
-- Snowbird Oktoberfest, August 26 through October 8, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort
-- Downtown Farmers’ Market/ Downtown Art & Craft Market, Saturdays through October 21, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., Pioneer Park
-- The Organ Loft Fall Silent Movie Series through November 16
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