Candidate Information Source
Project Vote Smart is a bi-partisan voter education initiative attempting to provide objective, in-depth information, particularly positions on key issues, about candidates all over the country. It’s board of directors consists of prominent Republicans and Democrats, many of them U.S. House and Senate members.
Project Vote Smart provides voluminous information about candidates and administers a detailed questionnaire to candidates. However, a lot of candidates decline to respond to the questionnaire. Check out Project Vote Smart’s Utah pages for good information about Utah candidates.
A Hat Gift for Bennett
Richard Watson, Democratic candidate in House District 19, dropped off an “LDS Democrat” baseball cap at the office of Republican Sen. Bob Bennett in Salt Lake City. He received back a hand-written note thanking him for the gift, saying:
”Thanks for the hat. I doubt I’ll wear it in public, but I’m glad to have it, nonetheless. I’m sorry the Examiner story didn’t cover my full remarks, but went with the sensational one liner. I applaud you and other LDS Faithful for your efforts to change the perception that many Utahns have of the Democratic Party.”
An image of the hand-written note has been posted at Rob Miller’s Utah Amicus blog.
Podcast Watch
This week’s InsideUtah.com podcast by Jennifer Napier-Pearce features two perspectives on the upcoming elections from Democratic consultant Maura Carabello and Republican consultant LaVarr Webb (:37); Sgt. Marshall Thompson (11:32) on a trek across Utah for peace; and a new podcast in the new media landscape, Rocky Mountain Voices (20:08).
Blog Watch
Rep. Craig Frank, in a reference to this post by Rep. John Dougall on "the first natural law of the legislative process," says: "The real legislative law is 3 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1. As I see it, the future of Utah's viability over the next couple years, to a large degree, is in the hands of nine individuals, the House and Senate Majority Leadership Teams (3 + 3), the Speaker of the House, the Senate President, and John Huntsman, Jr. These are the individuals who really drive the policy and monetary future of our state. These are the individuals ... [who] should be the best of the best, cream of the crop, top of the heap, etc. ... These are the ones who should be the most virtuous among us. They are the leaders entrusted by the people to lead us ... into the future"... At SouthernUtahBlog, Ed Kociela says: "Could it be that the reddest of the red states is getting a little infusion of blue? We can only hope. But, there are some promising indicators. ... [T]his year, there are a number of contenders from the Democratic Party. They come with a wide range of qualifications and, admittedly, some disqualifications, but that's the political world. Now, I don't expect Ted Kennedy to be invited as the grand marshall of the Pioneer Day parade in Salt Lake City any time soon, but I get the feeling things are changing. And, whether you are a Republican or Democrat, that's good news. If we don't have a healthy two-party system, pretty soon we'll have only one party, one voice in this country and that would spell the end of democracy and the United States as we know it. Tolerance, compassion, patriotism and faith ... they don't only belong to one political party"... Utah Taxpayer says: "In 2005, the 45% primary residential exemption shifted $230 million in property taxes from primary residences to other types of properties, primarily businesses, according to calculations by the Utah Taxpayers Association based on Utah State Tax Commission data. ... In addition, residential non-vehicular personal property such as computers, washing machines, refrigerators, furniture, etc. are 100% exempt from property taxes while businesses pay property taxes on personal property ($111.5 million in 2005). ... The spending lobby complains that businesses benefit from 'loopholes', but in Utah home owners get the property tax breaks"... Conservative columnist Victor Davis Hanson says: "The Hoover Institution has been hosting Presidential hopefuls. The latest visitor was Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney who spoke to, and received questions from, the Senior Fellows yesterday. For about one hour, he heard some tough inquiries, answered without notes, kept his cool, and talked analytically rather than in platitudes. I was impressed, and came away thinking that being a conservative governor in Massachusetts must have sharpened his debating skills and given him insights about dealing with the therapeutic mindset. I don't know what he thought of us, but most of us thought him quite impressive" (hat tip: Nutmeggers for Mitt) (see also here and here).
Washington Watch
Matheson Maneuver Used to Target GOP
Rep. Jim Matheson's annual crusade against the automatic congressional pay raise is causing headaches for GOP candidates running for reelection in California and Indiana. Reps. Richard Pombo, R-CA, and John Hostettler, R-Ind, are being criticized in Democratic campaign ads for voting to raise their own salaries -- a technically incorrect reference to Matheson's yearly attempt to block the pay hike through an unrelated bill, which is a violation of House rules (Contra Costa Times and Evansville Courier & Press).
Hatch: Contractor Needed to Move Tailings
Sen. Orrin Hatch applauds "the Department of Energy (DOE) for taking steps to hire a contractor to clean up the radioactive mill tailings pile near Moab, Utah. Hatch helped secure $28 million in 2005 to fund the project, which will move the tailings away from the Colorado River, a critical water supply for Utah and its surrounding states" (see press release).
Casual Friday
The latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report have been updated at the DWR website
Outdoors Report
-- Discover southern Utah rock art in the Tribune
-- History of Ski School in the Morning News along with information about registration for this season’s classes, equipment rentals, and the University of Utah instructor program
-- Learn about Alta ski classes and Snowbird ski and snowboard classes also in the Morning News
-- Tribune in search of the best energy products
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notes and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
-- Use the Morning News’ interactive map of Utah to plan your outdoor pursuits across the state
New Films
-- Catch a Fire: Rotten Tomatoes
-- Running with Scissors: Tribune review
Concerts
-- LDS Church Relief Society Music Festival, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Assembly Hall, Temple Square, free
-- “Music From Beyond the Grave,” University of Utah Philharmonia, Halloween concert, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall
-- Martha Graham's "Panorama," U. Performing Dance Company, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Marriott Center for Dance, U., $7-$10
-- OcTUBAfest, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, Brigham Young University, Provo, free
-- Awadagin Pratt with the Utah Symphony, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- Buz Bryant-Greene, piano, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Assembly Hall, Temple Square, free
-- Salt Lake Men's Choir, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
-- The Salt Lake Choral Artists’ "Carmina Burana," Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Hall
Theater
-- “Peg o’ My Heart” through October 27, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Dracula vs. Jekyll & Hyde” through October 28, Off Broadway Theatre
-- “Die Fledermaus” through Oct. 28, Harris Fine Arts Center
-- “Johnny Guitar” through October 28, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “The Merchant of Venice” October 28, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Wiley and the Hairy Man” through October 28, Egyptian Theatre Company
-- “Bed ... or Dead” through October 31, Gardner Village
-- “Frankenstein” through October 31, Academy of Performing Arts
-- “Insane Asylum” through October 31, Academy of Performing Arts
-- “Murder Room” through October 31, Bountiful Performing Arts Center
-- “Little Shop of Horrors” through November 4, Desert Star Theatre
--“The Pajama Game” through November 9, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “Confessions of a Mormon Boy” through November 11, Rose Wagner Center
-- “Mission: Incredibles,” Desert Star Theatre
-- “The Scarlet Pimpernel” through November 11, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” through November 18, StageRight TheaterCompany
-- “Wait Until Dark” through November 18, Hale Center Theater
-- “Man of La Mancha” through November 25, Hale Centre Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- 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
-- Park City Gallery Stroll, Friday, 6 – 9 p.m., Kimball Art Center
-- Monster Block Party, Saturday, 4- 8 p.m., Gallivan Center
-- The Organ Loft Fall Silent Movie Series through November 16 |
